1. |
- Grandfield, Kathryn, et al.
(author)
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Characterization of dental interfaces with electron tomography
- 2014
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In: Biointerphases. - : American Vacuum Society. - 1934-8630 .- 1559-4106. ; 9:2, s. 029001-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Understanding the interface between dental materials and tooth is critical in the prevention of secondary caries. Assessing this interface with high-resolution clarity has traditionally been challenging. This work highlights electron tomography, carried out in the transmission electron microscope, as a novel technique to obtain both three-dimensional and nanometer scaled information on dental materials in contact with dentin. In this study, commercial calcium aluminate and glass ionomer based luting agents in contact with human dentin were prepared for electron microscopy via focused ion beam milling. Imaging with high-angle annular dark field provided compositional contrast, and combined with tilting over large angular ranges, enabled the reconstruction of the three-dimensional interface between tissue and cement. The characteristics of the interface were observed with this extra dimensionality and superior resolution, providing evidence for the viability of this technique in interfacial studies of dental materials.
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2. |
- Bally, Marta, 1981, et al.
(author)
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A virus biosensor with single virus-particle sensitivity based on fluorescent vesicle labels and equilibrium fluctuation analysis
- 2013
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In: Biointerphases. - : American Vacuum Society. - 1559-4106 .- 1934-8630. ; 8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Biosensors allowing for the rapid and sensitive detection of viral pathogens in environmental or clinical samples are urgently needed to prevent disease outbreaks and spreading. We present a bioanalytical assay for the detection of whole viral particles with single virus sensitivity. Specifically, we focus on the detection of human norovirus, a highly infectious virus causing gastroenteritis. In our assay configuration, virus-like particles are captured onto a supported lipid bilayer containing a virus-specific glycolipid and detected after recognition by a glycolipid-containing fluorescent vesicle. Read-out is performed after illumination of the vesicle labels by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. This allows for visualization of individual vesicles and for recording of their binding kinetics under equilibrium conditions (equilibrium fluctuation analysis), as demonstrated previously. In this work we extend the concept and demonstrate that this simple assay setup can be used as a bioanalytical assay for the detection of virus particles at a limit of detection of 16 fM. Furthermore, we demonstrate how the analysis of the single vesicle-virus-like particle interaction dynamics can contribute to increase the accuracy and sensitivity of the assay by discriminating specific from non-specific binding events. This method is suggested to be generally applicable, provided that these events display different interaction kinetics.
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3. |
- Klarström-Engström, Kristin, 1986-, et al.
(author)
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Toll like receptor 2/1 mediated platelet adhesion and activation on bacterial mimetic surfaces is dependent on src/Syk-signaling and purinergic receptor P2X1 and P2Y12 activation
- 2014
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In: Biointerphases. - : American Vacuum Society. - 1934-8630 .- 1559-4106. ; 9:4, s. 041003-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Platelets are considered to have important functions in inflammatory processes as key players in innate immunity. Toll like receptors (TLRs), expressed on platelets, recognize pathogen associated molecular patterns and trigger immune responses. Pathogens are able to adhere to human tissues and form biofilms which cause a continuous activation of the immune system. The authors aimed to investigate how immobilized Pam(3)CSK(4) (a synthetic TLR2/1 agonist) and IgG, respectively, resembling a bacterial focus, affects adhesion and activation of platelets including release of two cytokines, regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). The authors also aim to clarify the signaling downstream of TLR2/1 and Fc gamma RII (IgG receptor) and the role of adenine nucleotides in this process. Biolayers of Pam(3)CSK(4) and IgG, respectively, were confirmed by null-ellipsometry and contact angle measurements. Platelets were preincubated with signaling inhibitors for scr and Syk and antagonists for P2X1 or P2Y1 [adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptors] prior to addition to the surfaces. The authors show that platelets adhere and spread on both Pam(3)CSK(4)- and IgG-coated surfaces and that this process is antagonized by scr and Syc inhibitors as well as P2X1 and P2Y antagonists. This suggests that Pam(3)CSK(4) activated platelets utilize the same pathway as Fc gamma RII. Moreover, the authors show that ATP-ligation of P2X1 is of importance for further platelet activation after TLR2/1-activation, and that P2Y12 is the prominent ADP-receptor involved in adhesion and spreading. RANTES and MIF were secreted over time from platelets adhering to the coated surfaces, but no MIF was released upon stimulation with soluble Pam(3)CSK(4). These results clarify the importance of TLR2/1 and Fc gamma RII in platelet adhesion and activation, and strengthen the role of platelets as an active player in sensing bacterial infections.
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4. |
- Tymchenko, Nina, 1977, et al.
(author)
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Reversible Changes in Cell Morphology due to Cytoskeletal Rearrangements Measured in Real-Time by QCM-D
- 2012
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In: Biointerphases. - : American Vacuum Society. - 1559-4106 .- 1934-8630. ; 7:1-4, s. 43-9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The mechanical properties and responses of cells to external stimuli (including drugs) are closely connected to important phenomena such as cell spreading, motility, activity, and potentially even differentiation. Here, reversible changes in the viscoelastic properties of surface-attached fibroblasts were induced by the cytoskeleton-perturbing agent cytochalasin D, and studied in realtime by the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technique. QCM-D is a surface sensitive technique that measures changes in (dynamically coupled) mass and viscoelastic properties close to the sensor surface, within a distance into the cell that is usually only a fraction of its size. In this work, QCM-D was combined with light microscopy to study in situ cell attachment and spreading. Overtone-dependent changes of the QCM-D responses (frequency and dissipation shifts) were first recorded, as fibroblast cells attached to protein-coated sensors in a window equipped flow module. Then, as the cell layer had stabilised, morphological changes were induced in the cells by injecting cytochalasin D. This caused changes in the QCM-D signals that were reversible in the sense that they disappeared upon removal of cytochalasin D. These results are compared to other cell QCM-D studies. Our results stress the combination of QCM-D and light microscopy to help interpret QCM-D results obtained in cell assays and thus suggests a direction to develop the QCM-D technique as an even more useful tool for real-time cell studies.
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