Lipidoid nanoparticle mediated silencing of Mcl-1 induces apoptosis in mantle cell lymphoma
In this study, we use potent lipidoid nanoparticles to deliver siRNA to silence Mcl-1 expression. Studies were conducted using two different mantle cell lymphoma cell lines, a normal (JeKo-1) and an aggressive (MAVER-1) line, to assess the ability of lipidoid nanoparticles to be used broadly in the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma. Mcl-1 mRNA silencing and protein knockdown was observed as early as one day after treatment and the lipidoid nanoparticles achieved sustained silencing of Mcl-1 mRNA for at least four days in both JeKo-1 and MAVER-1 cells. Eighty percent silencing was achieved at three days post-transfection in...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Knapp, C. M., He, J., Lister, J., Whitehead, K. A. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Nanoallergens: A multivalent platform for studying and evaluating potency of allergen epitopes in cellular degranulation
In this study, we propose a new allergy model system for studying potential allergen epitopes using nanoallergens, liposomes modified to effectively display IgE binding epitopes/haptens. By utilizing the covalently conjugated lipid tails on two hapten molecules (dinitrophenol and dansyl), hapten molecules were successfully incorporated into liposomes with high precision to form nanoallergens. Nanoallergens, with precisely controlled high-particle valency, can trigger degranulation with much greater sensitivity than commonly used bovine serum albumin conjugates. In rat basophil leukemia cell experiments, nanoallergens with ...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Deak, P. E., Vrabel, M. R., Pizzuti, V. J., Kiziltepe, T., Bilgicer, B. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
Evaluation of a bilayered, micropatterned hydrogel dressing for full-thickness wound healing
Nearly 12 million wounds are treated in emergency departments throughout the United States every year. The limitations of current treatments for complex, full-thickness wounds are the driving force for the development of new wound treatment devices that result in faster healing of both dermal and epidermal tissue. Here, a bilayered, biodegradable hydrogel dressing that uses microarchitecture to guide two key steps in the proliferative phase of wound healing, re-epithelialization, and revascularization, was evaluated in vitro in a cell migration assay and in vivo in a bipedicle ischemic rat wound model. Results in...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Magin, C. M., Neale, D. B., Drinker, M. C., Willenberg, B. J., Reddy, S. T., La Perle, K. M., Schultz, G. S., Brennan, A. B. Tags: Original Research Source Type: research
The use of engineered protein materials in electrochemical devices
Bioelectrochemical technologies have an important and growing role in healthcare, with applications in sensing and diagnostics, as well as the potential to be used as implantable power sources and be integrated with automated drug delivery systems. Challenges associated with enzyme-based electrodes include low current density and short functional lifetimes. Protein engineering is emerging as a powerful tool to overcome these issues. By taking advantage of the ability to precisely define protein sequences, electrodes can be organized into high performing structures, and enable the next generation of medical devices. (Source...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Renner, J. N., Minteer, S. D. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
Enzyme-responsive polymer hydrogels for therapeutic delivery
Enzymes play a central role in a spectrum of fundamental physiological processes and their altered expression level has been associated with many diseases and pathological disorders. Enzymes therefore can be exploited as a pristine biological trigger to tune material responses and to achieve controlled release of biomolecules at desired sites. This mini-review highlights enzyme-responsive polymer hydrogels for therapeutic delivery applications developed within the last five years, focusing on protease- and glycosidase-based catalyzed reactions. Strategies employed to produce responsive materials are described. Successful a...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Chandrawati, R. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
In vitro selection technologies to enhance biomaterial functionality
Cells make decisions and fate choices based in part on cues they receive from their external environment. Factors that affect the interpretation of these cues include the soluble proteins that are present at any given time, the cell surface receptors that are available to bind these proteins, and the relative affinities of the soluble proteins for their cognate receptors. Researchers have identified many of the biological motifs responsible for the high-affinity interactions between proteins and their receptors, and subsequently incorporated these motifs into biomaterials to elicit control over cell behavior. Common modes ...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Rosch, J. C., Hollmann, E. K., Lippmann, E. S. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
Immunoisolation to prevent tissue graft rejection: Current knowledge and future use
This review focuses on the concept of immunoisolation and how this method has evolved over the last few decades. The concept of immunoisolation came out of the need to protect allogeneic transplant tissue from the host immune system and avoid systemic side effects of immunosuppression. The latter remains a significant hurdle in clinical translation of using tissue transplants for restoring endocrine function in diabetes, growth hormone deficiency, and other conditions. Herein, we review the most significant works studying the use of hydrogels, specifically alginate and poly (ethylene glycol), and membranes for immunoisolat...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: David, A., Day, J., Shikanov, A. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
Liquid-based three-dimensional tumor models for cancer research and drug discovery
Tumors are three-dimensional tissues where close contacts between cancer cells, intercellular interactions between cancer and stromal cells, adhesion of cancer cells to the extracellular matrix, and signaling of soluble factors modulate functions of cancer cells and their response to therapeutics. Three-dimensional cultures of cancer cells overcome limitations of traditionally used monolayer cultures and recreate essential characteristics of tumors such as spatial gradients of oxygen, growth factors, and metabolites and presence of necrotic, hypoxic, quiescent, and proliferative cells. As such, three-dimensional tumor mode...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Ham, S. L., Joshi, R., Thakuri, P. S., Tavana, H. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
Capturing extracellular matrix properties in vitro: Microengineering materials to decipher cell and tissue level processes
Rapid advances in biology have led to the establishment of new fields with tremendous translational potential including regenerative medicine and immunoengineering. One commonality to these fields is the need to extract cells for manipulation in vitro; however, results obtained in laboratory cell culture will often differ widely from observations made in vivo. To more closely emulate native cell biology in the laboratory, designer engineered environments have proved a successful methodology to decipher the properties of the extracellular matrix that govern cellular decision making. Here, we present an overview of...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Abdeen, A. A., Lee, J., Kilian, K. A. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
Micro- and nanoparticulates for DNA vaccine delivery
DNA vaccination has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional protein-based vaccines for the induction of protective immune responses. DNA vaccines offer several advantages over traditional vaccines, including increased stability, rapid and inexpensive production, and flexibility to produce vaccines for a wide variety of infectious diseases. However, the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines delivered as naked plasmid DNA is often weak due to degradation of the DNA by nucleases and inefficient delivery to immune cells. Therefore, biomaterial-based delivery systems based on micro- and nanoparticles that encapsulate plasmid...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Farris, E., Brown, D. M., Ramer-Tait, A. E., Pannier, A. K. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
Immobilized liquid layers: A new approach to anti-adhesion surfaces for medical applications
Surface fouling and undesired adhesion are nearly ubiquitous problems in the medical field, complicating everything from surgeries to routine daily care of patients. Recently, the concept of immobilized liquid (IL) interfaces has been gaining attention as a highly versatile new approach to antifouling, with a wide variety of promising applications in medicine. Here, we review the general concepts behind IL layers and discuss the fabrication strategies on medically relevant materials developed so far. We also summarize the most important findings to date on applications of potential interest to the medical community, includ...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Sotiri, I., Overton, J. C., Waterhouse, A., Howell, C. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
Rational design of fiber forming supramolecular structures
Recent strides in the development of multifunctional synthetic biomimetic materials through the self-assembly of multi-domain peptides and proteins over the past decade have been realized. Such engineered systems have wide-ranging application in bioengineering and medicine. This review focuses on fundamental fiber forming α-helical coiled-coil peptides, peptide amphiphiles, and amyloid-based self-assembling peptides; followed by higher order collagen- and elastin-mimetic peptides with an emphasis on chemical / biological characterization and biomimicry. (Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine)
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Kumar, V. A., Wang, B. K., Kanahara, S. M. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
Targeting and therapeutic peptides in nanomedicine for atherosclerosis
Peptides in atherosclerosis nanomedicine provide structural, targeting, and therapeutic functionality and can assist in overcoming delivery barriers of traditional pharmaceuticals. Moreover, their inherent biocompatibility and biodegradability make them especially attractive as materials intended for use in vivo. In this review, an overview of nanoparticle-associated targeting and therapeutic peptides for atherosclerosis is provided, including peptides designed for cellular targets such as endothelial cells, monocytes, and macrophages as well as for plaque components such as collagen and fibrin. An emphasis is placed ...
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Chung, E. J. Tags: Minireview Source Type: research
From Biocompatibility to Immune Engineering
(Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine)
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - May 12, 2016 Category: Research Authors: von Recum, H. A. Tags: Introduction Source Type: research
De novo lipogenesis is suppressed during fasting but upregulated at population decline in cyclic voles
In conclusion, DNL was suppressed during acute fasting but upregulated during a long-term population decline—a period of purported scarcity of high-quality food. (Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine)
Source: Experimental Biology and Medicine - April 13, 2016 Category: Research Authors: Nieminen, P., Rouvinen-Watt, K., Harris, L., Huitu, O., Henttonen, H., Mustonen, A.-M. Tags: Brief Communications Source Type: research
