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| Open AccessDiscovery of human cell selective effector molecules using single cell multiplexed activity metabolomics
Bioactive metabolites from plant and microbial extracts hold therapeutic potential. Here, the authors combine untargeted metabolomic arrays with flow cytometry-based single cell response profiling and identify metabolites with cell subset-specific activities in the bone marrow from an AML patient.
- David C. Earl
- , P. Brent Ferrell Jr
- & Brian O. Bachmann
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| Open AccessThermal annihilation of photo-induced radicals following dynamic nuclear polarization to produce transportable frozen hyperpolarized 13C-substrates
Hyperpolarized molecules provide unique contrast for MRI but due to their short relaxation time need to be prepared shortly before injection. Here the authors report a method for eliminating the main source of relaxation and producing frozen polarized substances that can be stored and transported.
- Andrea Capozzi
- , Tian Cheng
- & Arnaud Comment
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| Open AccessAntibody-powered nucleic acid release using a DNA-based nanomachine
Responsive molecular machines can perform specific tasks triggered by environmental or chemical stimuli. Here, the authors show that antibodies can be used as inputs to modulate the binding of a molecular cargo to a designed DNA-based nanomachine, with potential applications in diagnostics and drug delivery.
- Simona Ranallo
- , Carl Prévost-Tremblay
- & Francesco Ricci
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| Open AccessCarbene footprinting accurately maps binding sites in protein–ligand and protein–protein interactions
Mapping protein-ligand interactions is fundamental to advance the understanding of cellular processes and to develop drug discovery strategies. Here, the authors present a photo-activated probe that allows highly efficient labelling and identification of protein binding sites using mass spectrometry.
- Lucio Manzi
- , Andrew S. Barrow
- & Neil J. Oldham
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Article
| Open AccessSimple direct formation of self-assembled N-heterocyclic carbene monolayers on gold and their application in biosensing
Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have shown tremendous number of applications but can suffer from low stability. Here, the authors report air and bench stable carbene precursors allowing facile SAM formation, and furthermore demonstrate an application in biosensing
- Cathleen M. Crudden
- , J. Hugh Horton
- & Akiko Yagi
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Article
| Open AccessProgramming a topologically constrained DNA nanostructure into a sensor
DNA nanostructures with interlocked topologies will tend to display different behaviour to the linear counterparts. Here, the authors show a DNA catenane that is inactive for rolling circle amplification but is activated upon cleavage of one ring, and exploit this for the development of a biosensing system.
- Meng Liu
- , Qiang Zhang
- & Yingfu Li
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| Open AccessA wearable chemical–electrophysiological hybrid biosensing system for real-time health and fitness monitoring
Wearable sensors can provide continuous, convenient feedback for users but typically focus on a small number of physiological parameters. Here, the authors report a skin-worn sensing system that combines a biosensor for lactate detection with an electrocardiogram in one patch, with applications for exercise monitoring.
- Somayeh Imani
- , Amay J. Bandodkar
- & Patrick P. Mercier
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| Open AccessUltrasensitive visual read-out of nucleic acids using electrocatalytic fluid displacement
Point-of-care analytical devices are of interest for diagnostic applications where larger scale laboratory instruments are not feasible or available. Here, the authors present a direct read-out colorimetric sensor which uses catalytic gas production to visualize picomolar concentrations of DNA.
- Justin D. Besant
- , Jagotamoy Das
- & Shana O. Kelley
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Article |
Quantification of plasma HIV RNA using chemically engineered peptide nucleic acids
There is a great need for inexpensive and sensitive tests to measure HIV viral load in patients’ samples. Here, Zhao et al. describe a cost-effective colorimetric method based on synthetic peptide nucleic acids that quantifies HIV RNA molecules from infected patients’ plasma.
- Chao Zhao
- , Travis Hoppe
- & Daniel H. Appella
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Article
| Open AccessStructural analysis and mapping of individual protein complexes by infrared nanospectroscopy
Mid-infrared spectroscopy offers important chemical and structural information about biological samples but diffraction prevents nanoscale studies. Amenabar et al.demonstrate Fourier transform infrared nanospectroscopy for analysing the secondary structure of protein complexes with 30 nm spatial resolution.
- Iban Amenabar
- , Simon Poly
- & Rainer Hillenbrand
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Article
| Open AccessEffective localized collection and identification of airborne species through electrodynamic precipitation and SERS-based detection
Effective collection of molecules on a small sensing area is not possible based on diffusion alone and the employment of a directed force is required. The authors report a localized electrodynamic precipitation concept to collect, spot and detect airborne species in an active-matrix array-like fashion.
- En-Chiang Lin
- , Jun Fang
- & Heiko O. Jacobs