2 research outputs found
Mussel-Inspired Anchoring for Patterning Cells Using Polydopamine
This Article introduces a simple method of cell patterning, inspired by the mussel anchoring protein. Polydopamine (PDA), artificial polymers made from self-polymerization of dopamine (a molecule that resembles mussel-adhesive proteins), has recently been studied for its ability to make modifications on surfaces in aqueous solutions. We explored the interfacial interaction between PDA and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) using microcontact printing (μCP). We patterned PDA on several substrates such as glass, polystyrene, and poly(dimethylsiloxane) and realized spatially defined anchoring of mammalian cells as well as bacteria. We applied our system in investigating the relationship between areas of mammalian nuclei and that of the cells. The combination of PDA and PEG enables us to make cell patterns on common laboratorial materials in a mild and convenient fashion
A Peptide-Based Nanofibrous Hydrogel as a Promising DNA Nanovector for Optimizing the Efficacy of HIV Vaccine
This report shows that a nanovector
composed of peptide-based nanofibrous
hydrogel can condense DNA to result in strong immune responses against
HIV. This nanovector can strongly activate both humoral and cellular
immune responses to a balanced level rarely reported in previous studies,
which is crucial for HIV prevention and therapy. In addition, this
nanovector shows good biosafety <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. Detailed characterizations show that the nanofibrous
structure of the hydrogel is critical for the dramatically improved
immune responses compared to existing materials. This peptide-based
nanofibrous hydrogel shows great potential for efficacious HIV DNA
vaccines and can be potentially used for delivering other vaccines
and drugs