Nanowerk January 10, 2022 Understanding the relationship between protein structural dynamics and function is crucial for both basic research and biotechnology. However, methods for studying the fast dynamics of structural changes are limited. Researchers in Canada have developed fluorescent nanoantennas as a spectroscopic technique to sense and report protein conformational changes through noncovalent dye-protein interactions. Using experiments and molecular simulations, they detected and characterized five distinct conformational states of intestinal alkaline phosphatase, including the transient enzyme–substrate complex. They explored the universality of the nanoantenna strategy with another model protein, Protein G and its interaction with antibodies, and demonstrated a rapid […]
Category Archives: Biotechnology
Speeding up directed evolution of molecules in the lab
MIT News December 30, 2021 Evolution is commonly used to engineer proteins and RNA, but experimental constraints have limited the ability to reproducibly and reliably explore factors such as population diversity, the timing of environmental changes and chance on outcomes. Researchers at MIT have developed a robotic platform termed phage- and robotics-assisted near-continuous evolution (PRANCE) to comprehensively explore biomolecular evolution by performing phage-assisted continuous evolution in high-throughput. PRANCE implements an automated feedback control system that adjusts the stringency of selection in response to real-time measurements of each molecular activity. In evolving three distinct types of biomolecule, they found that evolution […]
New copper surface eliminates bacteria in just two minutes
Phys.org December 13, 2021 The ions released from the metal’s surface are toxic to bacterial cells. But this process is slow when standard copper is used. Researchers in Australia used a special copper mold casting process to make the alloy, arranging copper and manganese atoms into specific formations. The manganese atoms were then removed from the alloy using dealloying leaving pure copper full of tiny microscale and nanoscale cavities in its surface. The resulting copper is composed of comb-like microscale cavities and within each tooth of the comb structure are much smaller nanoscale cavities; it has a massive active surface […]
The discovery of red blood cells acting as micro-electrodes opens new doors in medical research
Phys.org October 8, 2021 Through intricate experiments with red blood cells an international team of researchers (UK, France) has shown that the voltage appears outside the cell as well. This means that cells effectively act as tiny transmitters, electrically changing the environment around them. Similar results in other types of biological cells could play a significant role in determining new types of medical treatment. They demonstrated that the electrical characteristics of red blood cells exhibit circadian rhythms with peaks coinciding with the time of day when most cardiovascular disease events occur, such as heart attacks and strokes, presenting an important […]
Scientists develop the ‘evotype’ to unlock power of evolution for better engineering biology
Phys.org June 8, 2021 Researchers in the UK have developed the concept of the evotype to help biological engineers both harness, design, and capture the evolutionary potential of a biosystem. The evotype can be broken into three key parts: Variation, Function, and Selection, with each of these offering a tuning knob for bioengineers to control the possible paths available to evolution. Many of the tools already available to bioengineers fitted nicely into their framework when considered from an evolutionary perspective. Their concept of the evotype not only provides a means for developing biotechnologies that can harness evolution in new ways, […]
COVID-19 testing method gives results within one second
Phys.org May 18, 2021 An international team of researchers (USA – University of Florida, Taiwan) has developed a sensor system which amplifies the binding signal for a target biomarker using a disposable and biofunctionalized strips, which can be connected externally to a reusable printed circuit board for signal amplification with an embedded MOSFET. The sensor was externally connected to the gate electrode of the MOSFET, and synchronous pulses were applied to both the sensing strip and the drain contact of the MOSFET. The resulting changes in the dynamics of drain waveforms were converted into analog voltages and digital readouts, which […]
Rapid COVID-19 diagnostic test delivers results within 4 minutes with 90 percent accuracy
Science Daily May 13, 2021 The test called RAPID developed by an international team of researchers (USA- U Penn, Brazil) uses electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), which transforms the binding event between the SARS-CoV-2 viral spike protein and its receptor in the human body into an electrical signal that clinicians and technicians can detect. The signal allows the test to discriminate between infected and healthy human samples. The signal can be read through a desktop instrument or a smartphone. In tests it has proved to be quick and reliable. The technology is affordable and scalable, electrodes used in the test can […]
Inspired by nature, the research to develop a new load-bearing material
Phys.org April 22, 2021 Researchers in the UK developed a method to fabricate interconnected macro-porous elastomers based on sintering poly(methyl methacrylate) beads. The porous elastomer imparted structural support and resilience to its composite with an infused-grafted hydrogel. The composite exhibited a load-bearing behavior that was 14–19 times greater than that of pristine hydrogel and approximately 3 times greater than that of the porous elastomer. The equilibrium elastic modulus of the composite was close to the values reported for the modulus of cartilage tested with similar experimental parameters defined in this study. The composite immediately recovers its load-bearing properties with the […]
New biomaterial regrows blood vessels and bone, RCSI research
EurekAlert April 20, 2021 Researchers in Ireland used mechanobiology-informed approach to design a functionalized scaffold for the dose-controlled delivery of PGF which is capable of promoting regeneration of critically sized bone defects. Alginate microparticles and collagen/hydroxyapatite scaffolds were shown to be effective PGF-delivery platforms. Although this PGF-functionalized scaffold demonstrated only a modest increase in osteogenic capacity in vitro, robust bone regeneration was observed after implantation into rat calvarial defects, indicating that the dose-dependent effect of PGF can be harnessed as an alternative to multi-drug systems for the delivery of both pro-angiogenic and pro-osteogenic cues. The research provides a framework for […]
Superbug killer: New nanotechnology destroys bacteria and fungal cells
Nanowerk April 13, 2021 Researchers in Australia developed nano thin coating of black phosphoros. As BP breaks down, it oxidizes the surface of bacteria and fungal cells (process called cellular oxidization) ultimately works to rip them apart. They tested the effectiveness of nano thin layers of BP against five common bacteria strains, including E. coli and drug-resistant MRSA, as well as five types of fungus, including Candida auris. In just two hours, up to 99% of bacterial and fungal cells were destroyed. Importantly, the BP also began to self-degrade and was entirely disintegrated within 24 hours – an important feature […]