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Topic Review
Impact of Thermosensitive Liposome Properties on Drug Delivery
Thermosensitive liposomes (TSL) belong to the category of triggered nanoparticle drug delivery systems (DDS) where a drug associated with the DDS is released in response to an external trigger. TSL are triggered by heat and release the encapsulated drug when exposed to mild hyperthermia (HT), typically ~40–43 °C. TSL were first described more than four decades ago.
  • 988
  • 01 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Emerging Diamond Quantum Sensing in Bio-Membranes
Bio-membranes exhibit complex but unique mechanical properties as communicative regulators in various physiological and pathological processes. Exposed to a dynamic micro-environment, bio-membranes can be seen as an intricate and delicate system. The systematical modeling and detection of their local physical properties are often difficult to achieve, both quantitatively and precisely. The emerging diamonds hosting quantum defects (i.e., nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center) demonstrate intriguing optical and spin properties, together with their outstanding photostability and biocompatibility, rendering them ideal candidates for biological applications. Notably, the extraordinary spin-based sensing enables the measurements of localized nanoscale physical quantities such as magnetic fields, electrical fields, temperature, and strain. These nanoscale signals can be optically read out precisely by simple optical microscopy systems. Given these exclusive properties, NV-center-based quantum sensors can be widely applied in exploring bio-membrane-related features and the communicative chemical reaction processes. Herein, it is focused on NV-based quantum sensing in bio-membrane fields. The attempts of applying NV-based quantum sensors in bio-membranes The challenges and future directions of this novel technology to be utilized in bio-membranes will also be discussed.
  • 985
  • 17 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Changes in Cell Biology under Low-Level Laser Therapy
In clinical practice, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) was introduced by E. Master in the second half of the 1960s. Since that time, this type of radiation has been successfully used in cardiology, hematology, dermatology, surgery, orthopedics, and other clinical specialties. Two main LLLT features seem to have the strongest impact on cell biology. First is the wavelength. Wavelengths from 600 nm up to 1070 nm have the greatest impact on the promotion of cell proliferation. This phenomenon is probably related to the absorption or interference of light beyond this range. Light with shorter wavelengths is strongly absorbed by hemoglobin, while longer wavelengths are absorbed by water. The second important factor is energy density. In general, lower energy density (0.05 J/cm2–10 J/cm2) promotes cell proliferation, while higher energy density (above 50 J/cm2) enhances apoptotic processes. The mutual transition of both phenomena has a continuous nature. This biphasic response is also known as the “Arndt–Schulz law”.
  • 979
  • 27 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Protein-DNA Interactions
Protein-DNA interactions are the core of the cell’s molecular machinery. Conventional biochemical methods served as a powerful investigatory basis of protein-DNA interactions and target search mechanisms. Single-molecule (SM) techniques have emerged as a complementary tool for studying these interactions and have revealed plenty of previously obscured mechanistic details.
  • 977
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Calcium Sources to Somatic Release of Serotonin
The soma, dendrites and axon of neurons may display calcium-dependent release of transmitters and peptides. Such release is named extrasynaptic for occurring in absence of synaptic structures. Emphasis is given to the somatic release of serotonin by the classical leech Retzius neuron, which has allowed detailed studies on the fine steps from excitation to exocytosis. Trains of action potentials induce transmembrane calcium entry through L-type channels. For action potential frequencies above 5 Hz, summation of calcium transients on individual action potentials activates the second calcium source: ryanodine receptors produce calcium-induced calcium release. The resulting calcium tsunami activates mitochondrial ATP synthesis to fuel transport of vesicles to the plasma membrane. Serotonin that is released maintains a large-scale exocytosis by activating the third calcium source: serotonin autoreceptors coupled to phospholipase C promote IP3 production. Activated IP3 receptors in peripheral endoplasmic reticulum release calcium that promotes vesicle fusion. The Swiss-clock workings of the machinery for somatic exocytosis has a striking disadvantage. The essential calcium-releasing endoplasmic reticulum near the plasma membrane hinders the vesicle transport, drastically reducing the thermodynamic efficiency of the ATP expenses and elevating the energy cost of release. 
  • 975
  • 09 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Enhanced Osteogenic Differentiation of hMSCs
Osteogenic differentiations of mesenchymal stem cells are known to be influenced by both intracellular and extracellular factors. In terms of the extracellular factors, extracellular environment which would include biomaterials that are used for tissue regenerations play important role. Surface modifications of biomaterials in both phycial and chemical ways have been investigated to induce osteogenic differentiations. In terms of chemical modifications, induction of chemcial functionalities such as amine, would provide favorable environment for osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Use of devices such as non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (also known as bio-plasma) have been investigated in relation to the osteogenic differentiations.
  • 966
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Mechanisms of Low-Dose Effects on Bacterial Cells
Mechanisms of low-dose responses of bacteria can be considered at the biochemical, chemical, and physico-chemical levels. 
  • 946
  • 01 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Statistical Genetic Physics of COVID-19 Spread
Researchers propose a computational framework for quantitatively coalescing transmitter–recipient–virus interactions, pertaining to the genetic system into a hypergraph. Subsequent transmissions of the virus to other individuals lead to the formation of a new genetic system.
  • 941
  • 06 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Biophysics in Spain
In the 1960s, Biophysics was an unheard of scientific field in Spain, and even outside Spain, the distinction between Biophysics and Molecular Biology was not clear at the time. 
  • 941
  • 23 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Peptide Binding at Class A G Protein-Coupled Receptors
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest membrane protein family and a significant target class for therapeutics. Receptors from GPCRs’ largest class, class A, influence virtually every aspect of human physiology. About 45% of the members of this family endogenously bind flexible peptides or peptides segments within larger protein ligands. While many of these peptides have been structurally characterized in their solution state, the few studies of peptides in their receptor-bound state suggest that these peptides interact with a shared set of residues and undergo significant conformational changes. 
  • 936
  • 06 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Membrane Proteins on Artificial Lipid Membranes
Membrane proteins play an important role in key cellular functions, such as signal transduction, apoptosis, and metabolism. Therefore, structural and functional studies of these proteins are essential in fields such as fundamental biology, medical science, pharmacology, biotechnology, and bioengineering.
  • 908
  • 04 May 2023
Topic Review
Substrate Selection in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurodegenerative diseases express multiple clinical phenotypes. A diversity of clinical phenotypes has been attributed to the ability of amyloidogenic proteins  to acquire multiple, self-replicating states referred to as strains. This article put forward a new hypothesis referred to as substrate selection hypothesis, according to which individual strains selectively recruit protein isoforms with a subset of posttranslational modifications that fit into strain-specific structures. As a result of selective recruitment, strain-specific patterns of posttranslational modifications are formed, giving rise to unique disease phenotypes.
  • 901
  • 24 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Delivery of Nitric Oxide in the Cardiovascular System
Nitric oxide (NO) is a key molecule in cardiovascular homeostasis and its abnormal delivery is highly associated with the occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The assessment and manipulation of NO delivery is crucial to the diagnosis and therapy of CVD, such as endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerotic progression, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiovascular manifestations of coronavirus (COVID-19). 
  • 900
  • 18 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Bifidobacterial α-L-Fucosidases
Fucosylated carbohydrates and glycoproteins from human breast milk are essential for the development of the gut microbiota in early life because they are selectively metabolized by bifidobacteria.
  • 890
  • 12 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Approaches of Studying Lysosomal Ion Channels and Transporters
Lysosomes are acidic organelles, pH of about 4.6, considered as the digestive system of the animal cell. They act as the major compartment for detoxification of both the outer and the inner content of the cell. In fact, lysosomes represent the key players in degradation, recycling, autophagy, cell death, cell proliferation, cell defence, immunity–autoimmunity processes and therefore in maintenance of cellular homeostasis.  A distinct set of channels and transporters regulates the ion fluxes across the lysosomal membrane. Malfunctioning of these transport proteins and the resulting ionic imbalance is involved in various human diseases, such as lysosomal storage disorders, cancer, as well as metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. As a consequence, these proteins have stimulated strong interest for their suitability as possible drug targets.
  • 890
  • 23 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Photodynamic Therapy and Hyperthermia
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in humans. Despite the progress in cancer treatment, and an increase in the effectiveness of diagnostic methods, cancer is still highly lethal and very difficult to treat in many cases. Combination therapy, in the context of cancer treatment, seems to be a promising option that may allow minimizing treatment side effects and may have a significant impact on the cure. It may also increase the effectiveness of anti-cancer therapies. Moreover, combination treatment can significantly increase delivery of drugs to cancerous tissues. Photodynamic therapy and hyperthermia seem to be ideal examples that prove the effectiveness of combination therapy. These two kinds of therapy can kill cancer cells through different mechanisms and activate various signaling pathways. Both PDT and hyperthermia play significant roles in the perfusion of a tumor and the network of blood vessels wrapped around it. 
  • 889
  • 08 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Mechanobiology of Colorectal Cancer
It is well documented that colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer type, responsible for high mortality in developed countries, resulting in a high socio-economic impact. Several biochemical and gene expression pathways explaining the manifestation of this cancer in humans have already been identified. However, explanations for some of the related biophysical mechanisms and their influence on CRC remain elusive. In CRC, biophysics and medical research have already revealed the importance of studying the effects of the stiffness and viscoelasticity of the substrate on cells, as well as the effect of the shear stress of blood and lymphatic vessels on the behavior of cells and tissues. A deeper understanding of the relationship between the biophysical cues and biochemical signals could be advantageous to develop new diagnostic techniques and therapeutic strategies. Being a disease with a high mortality rate, it becomes crucial to dedicate efforts to finding effective, alternative therapeutic strategies. 
  • 885
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Artificial Intelligence-based Algorithms for Cryo-Electron Microscopy
Single particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) has emerged as the prevailing method for near-atomic structure determination, shedding light on the important molecular mechanisms of biological macromolecules. However, the inherent dynamics and structural variability of biological complexes coupled with the large number of experimental images generated by a cryo-EM experiment make data processing nontrivial. In particular, ab initio reconstruction and atomic model building remain major bottlenecks that demand substantial computational resources and manual intervention. Approaches utilizing recent innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, particularly deep learning, have the potential to overcome the limitations that cannot be adequately addressed by traditional image processing approaches.
  • 879
  • 08 Sep 2023
Topic Review
QED Coherence and Hormesis: Foundations of Quantum Biology
“Quantum biology” (QB) is a promising theoretical approach addressing questions about how living systems are able to unfold dynamics that cannot be solved on a chemical basis or seem to violate some fundamental laws (e.g., thermodynamic yield, morphogenesis, adaptation, autopoiesis, memory, teleology, biosemiotics). Current “quantum” approaches in biology are still very basic and “corpuscular”, as these rely on a semi-classical and approximated view. The important considerations of theory and experiments of the recent past in the field of condensed matter, water, physics of living systems, and biochemistry to join them by creating a consistent picture applicable for life sciences is summarized. Within quantum field theory (QFT), the field (also in the matter field) has the primacy whereby the particle, or “quantum”, is a derivative of it.
  • 872
  • 29 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Biomolecules and Prebiotic Information Systems
Prebiotic information systems exist in three forms: analog, hybrid, and digital. The Analog Information System (AIS), manifested early in abiogenesis, was expressed in the chiral selection, nucleotide formation, self-assembly, polymerization, encapsulation of polymers, and division of protocells. It created noncoding RNAs by polymerizing nucleotides that gave rise to the Hybrid Information System (HIS). The HIS employed different species of noncoding RNAs, such as ribozymes, pre-tRNA and tRNA, ribosomes, and functional enzymes, including bridge peptides, pre-aaRS, and aaRS (aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase).
  • 869
  • 13 Jun 2022
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