Advanced Biosensing towards Real-Time Imaging of Protein Secretion from Single Cells

Protein secretion of cells plays a vital role in intercellular communication. The abnormality and dysfunction of cellular protein secretion are associated with various physiological disorders, such as malignant proliferation of cells, aberrant immune function, and bone marrow failure. The heterogeneity of protein secretion exists not only between varying populations of cells, but also in the same phenotype of cells. Therefore, characterization of protein secretion from single cell contributes not only to the understanding of intercellular communication in immune effector, carcinogenesis and metastasis, but also to the development and improvement of diagnosis and therapy of relative diseases. In spite of abundant highly sensitive methods that have been developed for the detection of secreted proteins, majority of them fall short in providing sufficient spatial and temporal resolution for comprehensive profiling of protein secretion from single cells. The real-time imaging techniques allow rapid acquisition and manipulation of analyte information on a 2D plane, providing high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we summarize recent advances in real-time imaging of secretory proteins from single cell, including label-free and labelling techniques, shedding light on the development of simple yet powerful methodology for real-time imaging of single-cell protein secretion

Mass Transfer in Amperometric Biosensors Based on Nanocomposite Thin Films of Redox Polymers and Oxidoreductases

Mass transfer in nanocomposite hydrogel thin films consisting of alternating layers of an organometallic redox polymer (RP) and oxidoreductase enzymes was investigated. Multilayer nanostructures were fabricated on gold surfaces by the deposition of an anionic self-assembled monolayer of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid, followed by the electrostatic binding of a cationic redox polymer, poly[vinylpyridine Os(bis-bipyridine)2Clco-allylamine], and an anionic oxidoreductase. Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared external reflection spectroscopy (FTIR-ERS), ellipsometry and electrochemistry were employed to characterize the assembly of these nanocomposite films. Simultaneous SPR/electrochemistry enabled real time observation of the assembly of sensing components, changes in film structure with electrode potential, and the immediate, in situ electrochemical verification of substrate-dependent current upon the addition of enzyme to the multilayer structure. SPR and FTIR-ERS studies also showed no desorption of polymer or enzyme from the nanocomposite structure when stored in aqueous environment occurred over the period of three weeks, suggesting that decreasing in substrate sensitivity were due to loss of enzymatic activity rather than loss of film compounds from the nanostructure

Enzymatic Logic Gates with Noise-Reducing Sigmoid Response

Biochemical computing is an emerging field of unconventional computing that attempts to process information with biomolecules and biological objects using digital logic. In this work we survey filtering in general, in biochemical computing, and summarize the experimental realization of an AND logic gate with sigmoid response in one of the inputs. The logic gate is realized with electrode-immobilized glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme that catalyzes a reaction corresponding to the Boolean AND functions. A kinetic model is also developed and used to evaluate the extent to which the performance of the experimentally realized logic gate is close to optimal.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figures, PD

Enzymatic AND-Gate Based on Electrode-Immobilized Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase: Towards Digital Biosensors and Biochemical Logic Systems with Low Noise

Electrode-immobilized glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is used to catalyze an enzymatic reaction which carries out the AND logic gate. This logic function is considered here in the context of biocatalytic processes utilized for the biocomputing applications for "digital" (threshold) sensing/actuation. We outline the response functions desirable for such applications and report the first experimental realization of a sigmoid-shape response in one of the inputs. A kinetic model is developed and utilized to evaluate the extent to which the experimentally realized gate is close to optimal

(Invited) Biomaterials Research Support at the National Science Foundation

The NSF/DMR/BMAT perspective on biomaterials research and education will be presented, as well as a description of ongoing and forthcoming research funding opportunities. It will start by providing an overview of divisions and programs at the NSF where an applicant may consider submitting proposals for biomaterials related research. Additionally, an information about several priority areas where progress in basic research is vital to addressing key national challenges will be provided. This presentation will be particularly useful to early career researchers in the field of biomaterials and biosensors. The Biomaterials program supports fundamental materials researchrelated to (1) biological materials, (2) biomimetic, bioinspired, and bio-enabled materials, (3) synthetic materials intended for applications in contact with biological systems, and (4) the processes through which nature produces biological materials.  Projects are typically interdisciplinary and may encompass scales from the nanoscopic to the bulk.  They may involve characterization, design, preparation, and modification; studies of structure-property relationships and interfacial behavior; and combinations of experiment, theory, and/or simulation.  The emphasis is on novel materials design and development and discovery of new phenomena. General information on all the programs in DMR can be found on the DMR Web page: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DMR. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to interact “one on one" with NSF BMAT Program Director.</jats:p

(Invited) Brain Initiative &amp; Biomaterials Research Support at the National Science Foundation

In this presentation, the NSF perspective on the BRAIN Initiative research and education, as well as a description of the NSF/DMR/BMAT program perspective on biomaterials research and education will be presented. The BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) is a collaborative, public-private research initiative with the goal of supporting the development and application of innovative technologies that can create a dynamic understanding of brain function. In support of the BRAIN Initiative, the NSF announced a funding opportunity to support transformative and integrative research to accelerate our understanding of neural and cognitive systems as part of The BRAIN Initiative. NSF Director France Cordova commended the initiative, stating, "The BRAIN Initiative is truly an exciting and potentially game-changing effort to unlock the secrets of one of humankind's most enduring mysteries". The BRAIN Initiative was kicked off with a total of $100 million in initial commitments from NSF, the (U.S.) National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and a number of private research institutes. Since its launch, the initiative has expanded to include the participation of several other federal agencies, scientific societies, and nonprofit organizations. The Biomaterials program supports fundamental materials researchrelated to (1) biological materials, (2) biomimetic, bioinspired, and bio-enabled materials, (3) synthetic materials intended for applications in contact with biological systems, and (4) the processes through which nature produces biological materials. Projects are typically interdisciplinary and may encompass scales from the nanoscopic to the bulk. They may involve characterization, design, preparation, and modification; studies of structure-property relationships and interfacial behavior; and combinations of experiment, theory, and/or simulation. The emphasis is on novel materials design and development and discovery of new phenomena. General information on all the programs in DMR can be found on the DMR Web page: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DMR. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to interact “one on one" with NSF BMAT Program Director. </jats:p

Biomaterials Research Support at the National Science Foundation

The NSF/DMR/BMAT perspective on biomaterials research and education will be presented, as well as a description of ongoing and forthcoming research funding opportunities. It will start by providing an overview of divisions and programs at the NSF where an applicant may consider submitting proposals for biomaterials related research. This presentation will be particularly useful to early career researchers in the field of biomaterials and biosensors. The Biomaterials program supports fundamental materials researchrelated to (1) biological materials, (2) biomimetic, bioinspired, and bio-enabled materials, (3) synthetic materials intended for applications in contact with biological systems, and (4) the processes through which nature produces biological materials.  Projects are typically interdisciplinary and may encompass scales from the nanoscopic to the bulk.  They may involve characterization, design, preparation, and modification; studies of structure-property relationships and interfacial behavior; and combinations of experiment, theory, and/or simulation.  The emphasis is on novel materials design and development and discovery of new phenomena. General information on all the programs in DMR can be found on the DMR Web page: http://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?div=DMR. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to interact “one on one" with NSF BMAT Program Director.</jats:p

Electrochemical Sensor with Multifunctional Nanocomposite Interface for Detection of Several Analytes

Abstract not Available.</jats:p