scholarly journals A sandcastle worm-inspired strategy to functionalize wet hydrogels

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghui Zhang ◽  
Jingjing Liu ◽  
Qi Chen ◽  
Weinan Jiang ◽  
Yibing Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractHydrogels have been extensively used in many fields. Current synthesis of functional hydrogels requires incorporation of functional molecules either before or during gelation via the pre-organized reactive site along the polymer chains within hydrogels, which is tedious for polymer synthesis and not flexible for different types of hydrogels. Inspired by sandcastle worm, we develop a simple one-step strategy to functionalize wet hydrogels using molecules bearing an adhesive dibutylamine-DOPA-lysine-DOPA tripeptide. This tripeptide can be easily modified with various functional groups to initiate diverse types of polymerizations and provide functional polymers with a terminal adhesive tripeptide. Such functional molecules enable direct modification of wet hydrogels to acquire biological functions such as antimicrobial, cell adhesion and wound repair. The strategy has a tunable functionalization degree and a stable attachment of functional molecules, which provides a tool for direct and convenient modification of wet hydrogels to provide them with diverse functions and applications.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suhua Li ◽  
Gencheng Li ◽  
Bing Gao ◽  
Sidharam P. Pujari ◽  
Xiaoyan Chen ◽  
...  

The first SuFEx click chemistry synthesis of SOF<sub>4</sub>-derived copolymers based upon the polymerization of bis(iminosulfur oxydifluorides) and bis(aryl silyl ethers) is described. This novel class of SuFEx polymer presents two key characteristics: First, the newly created [-N=S(=O)F-O-] polymer backbone linkages are themselves SuFExable and primed to undergo further high-yielding and precise SuFEx-based post-modification with phenols or amines to yield branched functional polymers. Second, studies of individual polymer chains of several of these new materials indicate the presence of helical polymer structures, which itself suggests a preferential approach of new monomers onto the growing polymer chain upon the formation of the stereogenic linking moiety.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Workentin ◽  
François Lagugné-Labarthet ◽  
Sidney Legge

In this work we present a clean one-step process for modifying headgroups of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold using photo-enabled click chemistry. A thiolated, cyclopropenone-caged strained alkyne precursor was first functionalized onto a flat gold substrate through self-assembly. Exposure of the cyclopropenone SAM to UV-A light initiated the efficient photochemical decarbonylation of the cyclopropenone moiety, revealing the strained alkyne capable of undergoing the interfacial strain-promoted alkyne-azide cycloaddition (SPAAC). Irradiated SAMs were derivatized with a series of model azides with varied hydrophobicity to demonstrate the generality of this chemical system for the modification and fine-tuning of the surface chemistry on gold substrates. SAMs were characterized at each step with polarization-modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) to confirm successful functionalization and reactivity. Furthermore, to showcase the compatibility of this approach with biochemical applications, cyclopropenone SAMs were irradiated and modified with azide-bearing cell adhesion peptides to promote human fibroblast cell adhesion, then imaged by live cell fluorescence microscopy. Thus, the “photoclick” methodology reported here represents an improved, versatile, catalyst-free protocol that allows for a high degree of control over the modification of material surfaces, with applicability in materials science as well as biochemistry.<br>


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1059-1079
Author(s):  
Fei Xing ◽  
Changchun Zhou ◽  
Didi Hui ◽  
Colin Du ◽  
Lina Wu ◽  
...  

AbstractHyaluronic acid (HA) is widely distributed in the human body, and it is heavily involved in many physiological functions such as tissue hydration, wound repair, and cell migration. In recent years, HA and its derivatives have been widely used as advanced bioactive polymers for bone regeneration. Many medical products containing HA have been developed because this natural polymer has been proven to be nontoxic, noninflammatory, biodegradable, and biocompatible. Moreover, HA-based composite scaffolds have shown good potential for promoting osteogenesis and mineralization. Recently, many HA-based biomaterials have been fabricated for bone regeneration by combining with electrospinning and 3D printing technology. In this review, the polymer structures, processing, properties, and applications in bone tissue engineering are summarized. The challenges and prospects of HA polymers are also discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiulin Jiang ◽  
Baiyang Liu ◽  
Zhi Nie ◽  
Lincan Duan ◽  
Qiuxia Xiong ◽  
...  

AbstractN6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent, abundant and conserved internal cotranscriptional modification in eukaryotic RNAs, especially within higher eukaryotic cells. m6A modification is modified by the m6A methyltransferases, or writers, such as METTL3/14/16, RBM15/15B, ZC3H3, VIRMA, CBLL1, WTAP, and KIAA1429, and, removed by the demethylases, or erasers, including FTO and ALKBH5. It is recognized by m6A-binding proteins YTHDF1/2/3, YTHDC1/2 IGF2BP1/2/3 and HNRNPA2B1, also known as “readers”. Recent studies have shown that m6A RNA modification plays essential role in both physiological and pathological conditions, especially in the initiation and progression of different types of human cancers. In this review, we discuss how m6A RNA methylation influences both the physiological and pathological progressions of hematopoietic, central nervous and reproductive systems. We will mainly focus on recent progress in identifying the biological functions and the underlying molecular mechanisms of m6A RNA methylation, its regulators and downstream target genes, during cancer progression in above systems. We propose that m6A RNA methylation process offer potential targets for cancer therapy in the future.


Genetics ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-627
Author(s):  
Etta Käfer

ABSTRACT To analyze mitotic recombination in translocation heterozygotes of A. nidulans two sets of well-marked diploids were constructed, homo- or heterozygous for the reciprocal translocations T1(IL;VIIR) or T2(IL;VIIIR) and heterozygous for selective markers on IL. It was found that from all translocation heterozygotes some of the expected mitotic crossover types could be selected. Such crossovers are monosomic for one translocated segment and trisomic for the other and recovery depends on the relative viabilities of these unbalanced types. The obtained segregants show characteristically reduced growth rates and conidiation dependent on sizes and types of mono- and trisomic segments, and all spontaneously produce normal diploid sectors. Such secondary diploid types either arose in one step of compensating crossing over in the other involved arm, or—more conspicuously—in two steps of nondisjunction via a trisomic intermediate.—In both of the analyzed translocations the segments translocated to IL were extremely long, while those translocated from IL were relatively short. The break in I for T1(I;VII) was located distal to the main selective marker in IL, while that of T2(I;VIII) had been mapped proximal but closely linked to it. Therefore, as expected, the selected primary crossover from the two diploids with T2(I;VIII) in coupling or in repulsion to the selective marker, showed the same chromosomal imbalance and poor growth. These could however be distinguished visually because they spontaneously produced different trisomic intermediates in the next step, in accordance with the different arrangement of the aneuploid segments. On the other hand, from diploids heterozygous for T1(I;VII) mitotic crossovers could only be selected when the selective markers were in coupling with the translocation; these crossovers were relatively well-growing and produced frequent secondary segregants of the expected trisomic, 2n+VII, type. For both translocations it was impossible to recover the reciprocal crossover types (which would be trisomic for the distal segments of I and monosomic for most of groups VII or VIII) presumably because these were too inviable to form conidia.—In addition to the selected segregants of expected types a variety of unexpected ones were isolated. The conditions of selection used favour visual detection of aneuploid types, even if these produce only a few conidial heads and are not at a selective advantage. For T2(I;VIII) these "non-selected" unbalanced segregants were mainly "reciprocal" crossovers of the same phenotype and imbalance as the selected ones. For T1(I;VII) two quite different types were obtained, both possibly originating with loss of the small VII-Itranslocation chromosome. One was isolated when the selective marker in repulsion to T1(I;VII) was used and, without being homo- or hemizygous for the selective marker, it produced stable sectors homozygous for this marker. The other was obtained from both coupling and repulsion diploids and showed a near-diploid genotype; it produced practically only haploid stable sectors of the type expected from monosomics, 2n-1 for the short translocation chromosome.


Author(s):  
Lav Singh ◽  
Atul K. Upadhyay ◽  
Pooja Dixit ◽  
Arpit Singh ◽  
Divyanshu yadav ◽  
...  

Background: Pinus and other related conifers belonging to family pinaceae are most commonly used medicinal plants in Indian North-western Himalayas. Various parts of these plants including needles are source of several well known alkaloids. Of all the alkaloids, piperidine group is one of important component and hold considerable medicinal importance. Methods: The group of alkaloids was initially identified from genus Piper through which a large variety of piperidine molecules have been extracted. The planar structure of this heterocyclic nucleus enables acetamide groups to be added at various ring configurations. Results: In the area of drug research, the piperidine heterocycle has gained considerable interest. To produce a new therapeutic profile, the broad range of its therapeutic application paved the way for researchers to implant the nucleus from time to time in diversified pharmacophores. Discussion: However, biological functions of piperidine metabolites have been mostly examined on a limited scale and that most of the findings are thus preliminary. We have tried to present different clinical applications of piperidine alkaloids in this study that researchers have already attempted to demystify from time to time. Conclusion: Given the importance of the piperidine nucleus, the study will enable the researcher to produce scaffolds of the highest therapeutic efficacy. We have also illustrated different types of piperidine, its sources in different member of family pinaceae with special emphasis on Pinus.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yutao Huang ◽  
Zijian Jiang ◽  
Xiangyu Gao ◽  
Peng Luo ◽  
Xiaofan Jiang

Armadillo repeat-containing proteins (ARMCs) are widely distributed in eukaryotes and have important influences on cell adhesion, signal transduction, mitochondrial function regulation, tumorigenesis, and other processes. These proteins share a similar domain consisting of tandem repeats approximately 42 amino acids in length, and this domain constitutes a substantial platform for the binding between ARMCs and other proteins. An ARMC subfamily, including ARMC1∼10, ARMC12, and ARMCX1∼6, has received increasing attention. These proteins may have many terminal regions and play a critical role in various diseases. On the one hand, based on their similar central domain of tandem repeats, this ARMC subfamily may function similarly to other ARMCs. On the other hand, the unique domains on their terminals may cause these proteins to have different functions. Here, we focus on the ARMC subfamily (ARMC1∼10, ARMC12, and ARMCX1∼6), which is relatively conserved in vertebrates and highly conserved in mammals, particularly primates. We review the structures, biological functions, evolutions, interactions, and related diseases of the ARMC subfamily, which involve more than 30 diseases and 40 bypasses, including interactions and relationships between more than 100 proteins and signaling molecules. We look forward to obtaining a clearer understanding of the ARMC subfamily to facilitate further in-depth research and treatment of related diseases.


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