Classification and biological identity of complex nano shapes

Everywhere in our surroundings we increasingly come in contact with nanostructures that have distinctive complex shape features on a scale comparable to the particle itself. Such shape ensembles can be made by modern nano-synthetic methods and many industrial processes. With the ever growing universe of nanoscale shapes, names such as “nanoflowers” and “nanostars” no longer precisely describe or characterise the distinct nature of the particles. Here we capture and digitise particle shape information on the relevant size scale and create a condensed representation in which the essential shape features can be captured, recognized and correlated. We find the natural emergence of intrinsic shape groups as well-defined ensemble distributions and show how these may be analyzed and interpreted to reveal novel aspects of our nanoscale shape environment. We show how these ideas may be applied to the interaction between the nanoscale-shape and the living universe and provide a conceptual framework for the study of nanoscale shape biological recognition and identity

A Nanoscale Shape-Discovery Framework Supporting Systematic Investigations of Shape-Dependent Biological Effects and Immunomodulation

Since it is now possible to make, in a controlled fashion, an almost unlimited variety of nanostructure shapes, it is of increasing interest to understand the forms of biological control that nanoscale shape allows. However, a priori rational investigation of such a vast universe of shapes appears to present intractable fundamental and practical challenges. This has limited the useful systematic investigation of their biological interactions and the development of innovative nanoscale shape-dependent therapies. Here, we introduce a concept of biologically relevant inductive nanoscale shape discovery and evaluation that is ideally suited to, and will ultimately become, a vehicle for machine learning discovery. Combining the reproducibility and tunability of microfluidic flow nanochemistry syntheses, quantitative computational shape analysis, and iterative feedback from biological responses in vitro and in vivo, we show that these challenges can be mastered, allowing shape biology to be explored within accepted scientific and biomedical research paradigms. Early applications identify significant forms of shape-induced biological and adjuvant-like immunological control

A Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Platform for Long Time-Scale Observations of Bio-Nano Interactions

We know surprisingly little about the long-term outcomes for nanomaterials interacting with organisms. To date, most of what we know is derived from in vivo studies that limit the range of materials studied and the scope of advanced molecular biology tools applied. Long-term in vitro nanoparticle studies are hampered by a lack of suitable models, as standard cell culture techniques present several drawbacks, while technical limitations render current three-dimensional (3D) cellular spheroid models less suited. Now, by controlling the kinetic processes of cell assembly and division in a non-Newtonian culture medium, we engineer reproducible cell clusters of controlled size and phenotype, leading to a convenient and flexible long-term 3D culture that allows nanoparticle studies over many weeks in an in vitro setting. We present applications of this model for the assessment of intracellular polymeric and silica nanoparticle persistence and found that hydrocarbon-based polymeric nanoparticles undergo no apparent degradation over long time periods with no obvious biological impact, while amorphous silica nanoparticles degrade at different rates over several weeks, depending on their synthesis method.Irish Research CouncilPrincess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University Projec

Classification and biological identity of complex nano shapes

Everywhere in our surroundings we increasingly come in contact with nanostructures that have distinctive complex shape features on a scale comparable to the particle itself. Such shape ensembles can be made by modern nano-synthetic methods and many industrial processes. With the ever growing universe of nanoscale shapes, names such as “nanoflowers” and “nanostars” no longer precisely describe or characterise the distinct nature of the particles. Here we capture and digitise particle shape information on the relevant size scale and create a condensed representation in which the essential shape features can be captured, recognized and correlated. We find the natural emergence of intrinsic shape groups as well-defined ensemble distributions and show how these may be analyzed and interpreted to reveal novel aspects of our nanoscale shape environment. We show how these ideas may be applied to the interaction between the nanoscale-shape and the living universe and provide a conceptual framework for the study of nanoscale shape biological recognition and identity.Irish Research CouncilScience Foundation Ireland -- replaceGuangdong Provincial Education Department Key Laboratory of Nano-Immunoregulation Tumor MicroenvironmentChinese Scholarship CouncilCNP

A nanoscale shape-discovery framework supporting systematic investigations of shape-dependent biological effects and immunomodulation

Since it is now possible to make, in a controlled fashion, an almost unlimited variety of nanostructure shapes, it is of increasing interest to understand the forms of biological control that nanoscale shape allows. However, a priori rational investigation of such a vast universe of shapes appears to present intractable fundamental and practical challenges. This has limited the useful systematic investigation of their biological interactions and the development of innovative nanoscale shape-dependent therapies. Here, we introduce a concept of biologically relevant inductive nanoscale shape discovery and evaluation that is ideally suited to, and will ultimately become, a vehicle for machine learning discovery. Combining the reproducibility and tunability of microfluidic flow nanochemistry syntheses, quantitative computational shape analysis, and iterative feedback from biological responses in vitro and in vivo, we show that these challenges can be mastered, allowing shape biology to be explored within accepted scientific and biomedical research paradigms. Early applications identify significant forms of shape-induced biological and adjuvant-like immunological control