Search results for "Bioengineering"
showing 10 items of 1963 documents
Comparison of linear and hyperbranched polyether lipids for liposome shielding by 18F-radiolabeling and positron emission tomography
2018
Multifunctional and highly biocompatible polyether structures play a key role in shielding liposomes from degradation in the bloodstream, providing also multiple functional groups for further attachment of targeting moieties. In this work hyperbranched polyglycerol (hbPG) bearing lipids with long alkyl chain anchor are evaluated with respect to steric stabilization of liposomes. The branched polyether lipids possess a hydrophobic bis(hexadecyl)glycerol membrane anchor for the liposomal membrane. hbPG was chosen as a multifunctional alternative to PEG, enabling the eventual linkage of multiple targeting vectors. Different hbPG lipids (Mn = 2900 and 5200 g mol-1) were examined. A linear bis(h…
Improvement of charge-transfer indices for multifunctional amino acids: Application to lysozyme
2008
Valence topological Charge-Transfer (CT) indices are applied to the calculation of pH at the isoelectric point (pI). The model is generalized for molecules with heteroatoms. The ability of the indices for the description of molecular charge distribution is established by comparing them with the pI of 21 amino acids. Linear correlation models are obtained. The CT indices improve multivariable regression equations for pI. The variance decreases by 95%. No superimposition of the corresponding G(k)-J(k) and G(k)(V)-J(k)(V) pairs is observed in most fits, which diminishes the risk of collinearity. The inclusion of heteroatoms in pi-electron system is beneficial for the description of pI, the bec…
Immobilisation increases yeast cells' resistance to dehydration-rehydration treatment.
2014
This study was performed with the goal of revealing if the dehydration procedure used in our new immobilisation method noticeably decreases the viability of yeast cells in immobilised preparations. Various yeasts were used in this research: Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells that were rather sensitive to dehydration and had been aerobically grown in an ethanol-containing medium, a recombinant strain of S. cerevisiae grown in aerobic conditions which were completely non-resistant to dehydration and an anaerobically grown bakers' yeast strain S. cerevisiae, as well as a fairly resistant Pichia pastoris strain. Experiments performed showed that immobilisation of all these strains essentially incre…
Recombinant avidin and avidin-fusion proteins.
2000
Both chicken egg-white avidin and its bacterial relative streptavidin are well known for their extraordinary high affinity with biotin (Kd approximately 10(-15) M). They are widely used as tools in a number of affinity-based separations, in diagnostic assays and in a variety of other applications. These methods have collectively become known as (strept)avidin-biotin technology. Biotin can easily and effectively be attached to different molecules, termed binders and probes, without destroying their biological activity. The exceptional stability of the avidin-biotin complex and the wide range of commercially available reagents explain the popularity of this system. In order by genetic enginee…
Formation of protein multilayers and their competitive replacement based on self-assembled biotinylated phospholipids.
1994
Based on specific recognition processes the build-up of protein multilayers was achieved using streptavidin layers as a docking matrix. For this purpose, streptavidin was organized at biotin-containing monolayers, liposomes, and self-assembled layers on gold. Thus, mixed double and triple layers of streptavidin, Con A, Fab fragments, and hormones were prepared and characterized by fluorescence microscopy and plasmon spectroscopy. Using biotin analogues with lower binding constants several cycles of multilayer formation followed by competitive replacement could be achieved.
Defined-size DNA triple crossover construct for molecular electronics: modification, positioning and conductance properties.
2011
We present a novel, defined-size, small and rigid DNA template, a so-called B-A-B complex, based on DNA triple crossover motifs (TX tiles), which can be utilized in molecular scale patterning for nanoelectronics, plasmonics and sensing applications. The feasibility of the designed construct is demonstrated by functionalizing the TX tiles with one biotin-triethylene glycol (TEG) and efficiently decorating them with streptavidin, and furthermore by positioning and anchoring single thiol-modified B-A-B complexes to certain locations on a chip via dielectrophoretic trapping. Finally, we characterize the conductance properties of the non-functionalized construct, first by measuring DC conductivi…
Protein-membrane interaction probed by single plasmonic nanoparticles.
2008
We present a nanosized and addressable sensor platform based on membrane coated plasmonic particles and show unequivocally the covering with lipid bilayers as well as the subsequent detection of streptavidin binding to biotinylated lipids. The binding is detected on membrane covered gold nanorods by monitoring the spectral shift by fast single particle spectroscopy (fastSPS) on many particles in parallel. Our approach allows for local analysis of protein interaction with biological membranes as a function of the lateral composition of phase separated membranes.
Prospects of in vivo 31P NMR method in glyphosate degradation studies in whole cell system
2009
Abstract The degradation of the phosphonate herbicide glyphosate ( N -phosphonomethylglycine) by four taxonomically distinct microorganisms was studied in vivo in whole cell system using phosphorus nuclear magnetic spectroscopy ( 31 P NMR). The time-course of glyphosate metabolization in dense cell cultures was followed by means of 31 P NMR up to 21 days after the addition. The results obtained by this non-invasive way confirmed that the cells of Spirulina platensis and Streptomyces lusitanus biodegrade herbicide. Moreover, phosphorus starvation influenced the rate of glyphosate degradation by S. platensis . On the other hand, the results of similar measurements in the cultures of green alg…
Poly(γ-Glutamic Acid) as an Exogenous Promoter of Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells
2015
Cartilage damage and/or aging effects can cause constant pain, which limits the patient's quality of life. Although different strategies have been proposed to enhance the limited regenerative capacity of cartilage tissue, the full production of native and functional cartilaginous extracellular matrix (ECM) has not yet been achieved. Poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA), a naturally occurring polyamino acid, biodegradable into glutamate residues, has been explored for tissue regeneration. In this work, γ-PGA's ability to support the production of cartilaginous ECM by human bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) and nasal chondrocytes (NCs) was investigated. MSC and NC pellets were cultur…
Multicellular tumor spheroids: an underestimated tool is catching up again.
2009
The present article highlights the rationale, potential and flexibility of tumor spheroid mono- and cocultures for implementation into state of the art anti-cancer therapy test platforms. Unlike classical monolayer-based models, spheroids strikingly mirror the 3D cellular context and therapeutically relevant pathophysiological gradients of in vivo tumors. Some concepts for standardization and automation of spheroid culturing, monitoring and analysis are discussed, and the challenges to define the most convenient analytical endpoints for therapy testing are outlined. The potential of spheroids to contribute to either the elimination of poor drug candidates at the pre-animal and pre-clinical …