5 research outputs found
DataSheet1_Stretching of porous poly (l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) membranes regulates the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.docx
Background: Among a variety of biomaterials supporting cell growth for therapeutic applications, poly (l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) has been considered as one of the most attractive scaffolds for tissue engineering owing to its superior mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and processibility. Although extensive studies have been conducted on the relationship between the microstructure of polymeric materials and their mechanical properties, the use of the fine-tuned morphology and mechanical strength of PLCL membranes in stem cell differentiation has not yet been studied.Methods: PLCL membranes were crystallized in a combination of diverse solvent–nonsolvent mixtures, including methanol (MeOH), isopropanol (IPA), chloroform (CF), and distilled water (DW), with different solvent polarities. A PLCL membrane with high mechanical strength induced by limited pore formation was placed in a custom bioreactor mimicking the reproducible physiological microenvironment of the vascular system to promote the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into smooth muscle cells (SMCs).Results: We developed a simple, cost-effective method for fabricating porosity-controlled PLCL membranes based on the crystallization of copolymer chains in a combination of solvents and non-solvents. We confirmed that an increase in the ratio of the non-solvent increased the chain aggregation of PLCL by slow evaporation, leading to improved mechanical properties of the PLCL membrane. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the cyclic stretching of PLCL membranes induced MSC differentiation into SMCs within 10 days of culture.Conclusion: The combination of solvent and non-solvent casting for PLCL solidification can be used to fabricate mechanically durable polymer membranes for use as mechanosensitive scaffolds for stem cell differentiation.</p
Video1_Stretching of porous poly (l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) membranes regulates the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.MP4
Background: Among a variety of biomaterials supporting cell growth for therapeutic applications, poly (l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) has been considered as one of the most attractive scaffolds for tissue engineering owing to its superior mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and processibility. Although extensive studies have been conducted on the relationship between the microstructure of polymeric materials and their mechanical properties, the use of the fine-tuned morphology and mechanical strength of PLCL membranes in stem cell differentiation has not yet been studied.Methods: PLCL membranes were crystallized in a combination of diverse solvent–nonsolvent mixtures, including methanol (MeOH), isopropanol (IPA), chloroform (CF), and distilled water (DW), with different solvent polarities. A PLCL membrane with high mechanical strength induced by limited pore formation was placed in a custom bioreactor mimicking the reproducible physiological microenvironment of the vascular system to promote the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into smooth muscle cells (SMCs).Results: We developed a simple, cost-effective method for fabricating porosity-controlled PLCL membranes based on the crystallization of copolymer chains in a combination of solvents and non-solvents. We confirmed that an increase in the ratio of the non-solvent increased the chain aggregation of PLCL by slow evaporation, leading to improved mechanical properties of the PLCL membrane. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the cyclic stretching of PLCL membranes induced MSC differentiation into SMCs within 10 days of culture.Conclusion: The combination of solvent and non-solvent casting for PLCL solidification can be used to fabricate mechanically durable polymer membranes for use as mechanosensitive scaffolds for stem cell differentiation.</p
Integrated Magneto–Electrochemical Sensor for Exosome Analysis
Extracellular
vesicles, including exosomes, are nanoscale membrane
particles that carry molecular information on parental cells. They
are being pursued as biomarkers of cancers that are difficult to detect
or serially follow. Here we present a compact sensor technology for
rapid, on-site exosome screening. The sensor is based on an integrated
magneto–electrochemical assay: exosomes are immunomagnetically
captured from patient samples and profiled through electrochemical
reaction. By combining magnetic enrichment and enzymatic amplification,
the approach enables (i) highly sensitive, cell-specific exosome detection
and (ii) sensor miniaturization and scale-up for high-throughput measurements. As a proof-of-concept,
we implemented a portable, eight-channel device and applied it to
screen extracellular vesicles in plasma samples from ovarian cancer
patients. The sensor allowed for the simultaneous profiling of multiple
protein markers within an hour, outperforming conventional methods
in assay sensitivity and speed
Hybrid Silicon Nanocone–Polymer Solar Cells
Recently, hybrid Si/organic solar cells have been studied
for low-cost
Si photovoltaic devices because the Schottky junction between the
Si and organic material can be formed by solution processes at a low
temperature. In this study, we demonstrate a hybrid solar cell composed
of Si nanocones and conductive polymer. The optimal nanocone structure
with an aspect ratio (height/diameter of a nanocone) less than two
allowed for conformal polymer surface coverage via spin-coating while
also providing both excellent antireflection and light trapping properties.
The uniform heterojunction over the nanocones with enhanced light
absorption resulted in a power conversion efficiency above 11%. Based
on our simulation study, the optimal nanocone structures for a 10
ÎĽm thick Si solar cell can achieve a short-circuit current density,
up to 39.1 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, which is very close to the theoretical
limit. With very thin material and inexpensive processing, hybrid
Si nanocone/polymer solar cells are promising as an economically viable
alternative energy solution
Integrated Kidney Exosome Analysis for the Detection of Kidney Transplant Rejection
Kidney
transplant patients require life-long surveillance to detect
allograft rejection. Repeated biopsy, albeit the clinical gold standard,
is an invasive procedure with the risk of complications and comparatively
high cost. Conversely, serum creatinine or urinary proteins are noninvasive
alternatives but are late markers with low specificity. We report
a urine-based platform to detect kidney transplant rejection. Termed
iKEA (integrated kidney exosome analysis), the approach detects extracellular
vesicles (EVs) released by immune cells into urine; we reasoned that
T cells, attacking kidney allografts, would shed EVs, which in turn
can be used as a surrogate marker for inflammation. We optimized iKEA
to detect T-cell-derived EVs and implemented a portable sensing system.
When applied to clinical urine samples, iKEA revealed high level of
CD3-positive EVs in kidney rejection patients and achieved high detection
accuracy (91.1%). Fast, noninvasive, and cost-effective, iKEA could
offer new opportunities in managing transplant recipients, perhaps
even in a home setting