Biofabrication of aligned structures that guide cell orientation and applications in tissue engineering

The organized alignment of cells in various tissues plays a significant role in the maintenance of specific functions.To induce such an alignment,ideal scaffolds should simulate the characteristics and morphologies of natural tissues.Aligned structures that guide cell orientation are used to facilitate tissue regeneration and repair.We here review how various aligned structures are fabricated,including aligned electrospun nanofibers,aligned porous or channeled structures,micropatterns and combinations thereof,and their application in nerve,skeletal muscle,tendon,and tubular dentin regeneration.The future use of aligned structures in tissue engineering is also discussed.

Simulation of magnetization behaviours of Sm(Co,Fe,Cu,Zr)z magnet with low Cu content

The effects of microstructure, cell orientation and temperature on magnetic properties and the coercivity mechanism in Sm（Co,Fe,Cu,Zr）z with low Cu content are studied by using the micromagnetic finite element method in this paper. The simulations of the demagnetization behaviours indicate that the pinning effect weakens gradually with the thickness of cell boundary decreasing and strengthens gradually with the cell size decreasing. Because of the intergrain exchange coupling, the coercivity mechanism is determined by the difference in magnetocrystalline anisotropy between the cell phase and the cell boundary phase. And the coercivity mechanism is related to not only the cells alignment but also temperature. With temperature increasing, a transformation of the demagnetization mechanism occurs from the domain pinning to the uniform magnetization reversal mode and the transformation temperature is about 650 K.

Planar cell polarity regulators in asymmetric organogenesis during development and disease

The phenomenon of planar cell polarity is critically required for a myriad of morphogenetic processes in metazoan and is accurately controlled by several conserved modules.Six“core”proteins,including Friz zled,Flamingo(Celsr),Van Gogh(Vangl),Dishevelled,Prickle,and Diego(Ankrd6),are major components of the Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway.The Fat/Dchs protocadherins and the Scrib polarity complex also function to instruct cellular polarization.In vertebrates,all these pathways are essential for tissue and organ morphogenesis,such as neural tube closure,left-right symmetry breaking,heart and gut morphogenesis,lung and kidney branching,stereociliary bundle orientation,and proximal-distal limb elongation.Mutations in planar polarity genes are closely linked to various congenital diseases.Striking advances have been made in deciphering their contribution to the establishment of spatially oriented pattern in developing or gans and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis.The challenge remains to clarify the complex interplay of different polarity pathways in organogenesis and the link of cell polarity to cell fate specification.Inter disciplinary approaches are also important to understand the roles of mechanical forces in coupling cellular polarization and differentiation.This review outlines current advances on planar polarity regulators in asymmetric organ formation,with the aim to identify questions that deserve further investigation.

Optical trapping and orientation of Escherichia coli cells using two tapered fiber probes

We report on the optical trapping and orientation of Escherichia coli(E.coli) cells using two tapered fiber probes.With a laser beam at 980 nm wavelength launched into probe I, an E. coli chain consisting of three cells was formed at the tip of probe I. After launching a beam at 980 nm into probe II, the E.coli at the end of the chain was trapped and oriented via the optical torques yielded by two probes. The orientation of the E. coli was controlled by adjusting the laser power of probe II. Experimental results were interpreted by theoretical analysis and numericalsimulations.

X-ray microscopic investigation of molecular orientation in a hole carrier thin film for organic solar cells

As dipyranylidenes are excellent hole carriers, applications in organic solar cells or organic light emitting diode are envisaged. In the present study, we investigate the morphology of 2,2＇,6,6＇-tetraphenyl-4,4＇-dipyranylidene （DIPO-Ph4） deposited under vacuum on a silicon nitride （Si3N4） substrate, a paradigmatic system for the study of molecular crystal/inorganic substrate interfaces. Samples with various coating ratios and different thermal treatments were prepared. The films were characterized by atomic force microscopy and scanning transmission X-ray microscopy to gain insight into material growth. The results show a change in orientation at a molecular level depending upon the evaporation conditions. We are now able to tailor an organic layer with a specific molecular orientation and a specific electronic behavior.

Superaligned carbon nanotubes guide oriented cell growth and promote electrophysiological homogeneity for synthetic cardiac tissues

With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the research team led by Professor Li Yigang(李毅刚)at Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Professor Peng Huisheng(彭慧胜)at Fudan University presented a new type of

Redox-dependent regulation of end-binding protein 1 activity by glutathionylation

Cytoskeletal proteins are susceptible to glutathionylation under oxidizing conditions,and oxidative damage has been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases.End-binding protein 1(EB1)is a master regulator of microtubule plus-end tracking proteins(+TIPs)and is critically involved in the control of microtubule dynamics and cellular processes.However,the impact of glutathionylation on EB1 functions remains unknown.Here we reveal that glutathionylation is important for controlling EB1 activity and protecting EB1 from irreversible oxidation.In vitro biochemical and cellular assays reveal that EB1 is glutathionylated.Diamide,a mild oxidizing reagent,reduces EB1 comet number and length in cells,indicating the impairment of microtubule dynamics.Three cysteine residues of EB1 are glutathionylated,with mutations of these three cysteines to serines attenuating microtubule dynamics but buffering diamide-induced decrease in microtubule dynamics.In addition,glutaredoxin 1(Grx1)deglutathionylates EB1,and Grx1 depletion suppresses microtubule dynamics and leads to defects in cell division orientation and cell migration,suggesting a critical role of Grx1-mediated deglutathionylation in maintaining EB1 activity.Collectively,these data reveal that EB1 glutathionylation is an important protective mechanism for the regulation of microtubule dynamics and microtubule-based cellular activities.