Physico-chemical characterization and in vitro biological evaluation of a bionic hydrogel based on hyaluronic acid and l-lysine for medical applications

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an endogenous polysaccharide, whose hydrogels have been used in medical applications for decades. Here, we present a technology platform for stabilizing HA with a biocrosslinker, the amino acid L-Lysine, to manufacture bionic hydrogels for regenerative medicine. We synthetized bionic hydrogels with tailored composition with respect to HA concentration and degree of stabilization depending on the envisaged medical use. The structure of the hydrogels was assessed by microscopy and rheology, and the resorption behavior through enzymatic degradation with hyaluronidase. The biological compatibility was evaluated in vitro with human dermal fibroblast cell lines. HA bionic hydrogels stabilized with lysine show a 3D network structure, with a rheological profile that mimics biological matrixes, as a harmless biodegradable substrate for cell proliferation and regeneration and a promising candidate for wound healing and other medical applications

A 3D insight on the catalytic nanostructuration of few-layer graphene

The catalytic cutting of few-layer graphene is nowadays a hot topic in materials research due to its potential applications in the catalysis field and the graphene nanoribbons fabrication. We show here a 3D analysis of the nanostructuration of few-layer graphene by iron-based nanoparticles under hydrogen flow. The nanoparticles located at the edges or attached to the steps on the FLG sheets create trenches and tunnels with orientations, lengths and morphologies defined by the crystallography and the topography of the carbon substrate. The cross-sectional analysis of the 3D volumes highlights the role of the active nanoparticle identity on the trench size and shape, with emphasis on the topographical stability of the basal planes within the resulting trenches and channels, no matter the obstacle encountered. The actual study gives a deep insight on the impact of nanoparticles morphology and support topography on the 3D character of nanostructures built up by catalytic cutting

Epstein-Barr Virus-Encoded BARF1 Protein is a Decoy Receptor for Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor and Interferes with Macrophage Differentiation and Activation

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), like many other persistent herpes viruses, has acquired numerous mechanisms for subverting or evading immune surveillance. This study investigates the role of secreted EBV-encoded BARF1 protein (sBARF1) in creating an immune evasive microenvironment. Wild-type consensus BARF1 was expressed in the human 293 cell line and purified. This native hexameric sBARF1 had inhibitory capacity on macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF)-stimulated, and not on granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-stimulated growth and differentiation of myeloid cells. Antibodies specific to hexameric sBARF1 were able to block this effect. M-CSF was shown to interact with sBARF1 via the protruding N-terminal loops involving Val38 and Ala84. Each BARF1 hexamer was capable of binding three M-CSF dimers. Mutations in the BARF1 loops greatly affected M-CSF interaction, and showed loss of growth inhibition. Analysis of the activation state of the M-CSF receptor c-fms and its downstream kinase pathways showed that sBARF1 prevented M-CSF-induced downstream phosphorylation. Since M-CSF is an important factor in macrophage differentiation, the effect of sBARF1 on the function of monocyte-derived macrophages was evaluated. sBARF1 affected overall survival and morphology and significantly reduced expression of macrophage differentiation surface markers such as CD14, CD11b, CD16, and CD169. Macrophages differentiating in the presence of sBARF1 showed impaired responses to lipopolysaccharide and decreased oxygen radical formation as well as reduced phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. In conclusion, EBV sBARF1 protein is a potent decoy receptor for M-CSF, hampering the function and differentiation of macrophages. These results suggest that sBARF1 contributes to the modulation of immune responses in the microenvironment of EBV-positive carcinoma

A novel mechanical cleavage method for synthesizing few-layer graphenes

A novel method to synthesize few layer graphene from bulk graphite by mechanical cleavage is presented here. The method involves the use of an ultrasharp single crystal diamond wedge to cleave a highly ordered pyrolytic graphite sample to generate the graphene layers. Cleaving is aided by the use of ultrasonic oscillations along the wedge. Characterization of the obtained layers shows that the process is able to synthesize graphene layers with an area of a few micrometers. Application of oscillation enhances the quality of the layers produced with the layers having a reduced crystallite size as determined from the Raman spectrum. Interesting edge structures are observed that needs further investigation