Importance of Standardizing Analytical Characterization Methodology for Improved Reliability of the Nanomedicine Literature

Understanding the interaction between biological structures and nanoscale technologies,dubbed the nano-bio interface,is required for successful development of safe and efficient nanomedicine products.The lack of a universal reporting system and decentralized methodologies for nanomaterial characterization have resulted in a low degree of reliability and reproducibility in the nanomedicine literature.As such,there is a strong need to establish a characterization system to support the reproducibility of nanoscience data particularly for studies seeking clinical translation.Here,we discuss the existing key standards for addressing robust characterization of nanomaterials based on their intended use in medical devices or as pharmaceuticals.We also discuss the challenges surrounding implementation of such standard protocols and their implication for translation of nanotechnology into clinical practice.We,however,emphasize that practical implementation of standard protocols in experimental laboratories requires long-term planning through integration of stakeholders including institutions and funding agencies.

Advances in nanomaterials for brain microscopy

Microscopic imaging of the brain continues to reveal details of its structure, connectivity, and function. To further improve our understanding of the emergent properties and functions of neural circuits, we need to directly visualize the relationship between brain structure, neuron activity, and neurochemistry. Advances in the chemical and optical properties of nanomaterials, and developments in deep-tissue microscopy, may help to overcome the current challenges of in-vivo brain imaging, particularly when imaging the brain through optically-dense brain tissue, skull, and scalp. Developments in nanomaterials may enable the implementation of tunable chemical functionality for neurochemical targeting and sensing, and fluorescence stability for long-term imaging. In this review, we summarize the current methods used for brain microscopy and describe the diverse classes of nanomaterials recently offered as contrast agents and functional probes for microscopic optical imaging of the brain.

Nanoparticle-Mediated Genetic Engineering of Plants

Genetic engineering of plants is at the core of sustainability efforts,natural product synthesis,and agricultural crop improvement.The past several decades have brought remarkable progress in biotechnology with the improvement of genome editing and sequencing tools,which stand to advance plant synthetic biology and bioengineering.In agriculture,genetic engineering can be employed to create crops that have in creased yields and nu tritio nal value,are resista nt to herbicides,in sects,diseases,and abiotic stresses,in cludi ng drought and heat .In pharmaceuticals and therapeutics,genetically engineered plants can be used to synthesize valuable small-molecule drugs and recombinant proteins.

Measurement of copy number variation in single cancer cells using rapid-emulsification digital droplet MDA

Uniform amplification of low-input DNA is important for applications across biology,including single-cell genomics,forensic science,and microbial and viral sequencing.However,the requisite biochemical amplification methods are prone to bias,skewing sequence proportions and obscuring signals relating to copy number.Digital droplet multiple displacement amplification enables uniform amplification but requires expert knowledge of microfluidics to generate monodisperse emulsions.In addition,existing microfluidic methods are tedious and labor intensive for preparing many samples.Here,we introduce rapid-emulsification multiple displacement amplification,a method to generate monodisperse droplets with a hand-held syringe and hierarchical droplet splitter.Although conventional microfluidic devices require >10 min to emulsify a sample,our system requires tens of seconds and yields data of equivalent quality.We demonstrate the approach by using it to accurately measure copy number variation(CNV)in single cancer cells.

Science:研究首次从结构上揭示细菌细胞器的结构和组装过程

在一项新的研究中，来自美国能源部劳伦斯伯克利国家实验室和密歇根州立大学等研究机构的研究人员提供有史以来一种完整的被称作细菌微区室（bacterialmicrocompartments，BMC）的细胞器的最为清晰的图片，从而揭示出这种细胞器的蛋白外壳（proteinshell）在原子水平分辨率下的结构和组装过程。他们研究的这种细胞器的蛋白外壳来自一种生活在海洋中的粘细菌，

Biology by the numbers on the Hawaiian Islands

One could imagine it might be hard to focus on science at a beautiful location such as the famous Waikiki Beach on Oahu Island, Hawaii. Amazingly, however, that＇s just what more than 330 participants did at the First Annual Winter Q-Bio Meeting at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort February 18 21, 2013.