EV uptake plays a role in intercellular communication in various research fields; cancer biology, neuroscience, and drug delivery. Fluorescently labeled EVs were prepared using a nano-filtration-based microfluidic device, Exodisc, visualized by 3D confocal microscopy, and then analyzed through advanced image-processing software. The protocol provides a robust methodology for analyzing EVs on a cellular level and a practical approach for efficient EV uptake analysis.

Here, we investigated whether longitudinal analysis of CTCs could monitor disease progression, response to chemotherapy, and survival in patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

The well-coordinated migration of DCs under various immunological or inflammatory conditions is
essential to ensure an effective immune response. Here, we studied the cellular migration of exhausted DCs in tissue-mimicked confined environments. We report a unique intrinsic cell migration behaviour of exhausted mature dendritic cells, which exhibit a slower, less persistent, and less diffusive random motility, which results in the DCs remaining at the site of infection, although a well preserved CCR7-dependent chemotactic motility is maintained.

Dendritic cells (DCs), the sentinels of the immune system, are exposed to complex tissue microenvironments with a wide range of stiffnesses. Here, immature DCs were found to navigate confined spaces in a rapid and persistent manner, surveying a wide range when covered with compliant gels mimicking soft tissues. However, the speed and persistence time of random motility were both decreased by confinement in gels with higher stiffness, mimicking skin or diseased, fibrotic tissue. Our study provides evidence for a role for environmental mechanical stiffness in the surveillance strategy of immature DCs in tissues.

Platelet function tests, a group of assays that measure the ability of platelets to aggregate and promote clotting in a sample of blood, are performed in various medical fields to assess inherited platelet function disorders and monitor antiplatelet therapies. Here, we describe the design, fabrication, and operation of a centrifugal microfluidic disc that can perform a fully automated Light transmission aggregometry (LTA) assay from a small volume of a whole blood sample (<1 mL), achieving highly reproducible results (3.2% coefficient of variation) within a short period (<25 min). The assays performed with this device yield more precise and accurate results than traditional LTA because of the automation of the reaction steps, minimal human operation, and quick analysis that minimizes the adverse effects of platelet instability.

The clinical significance of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and TWIST expression in CTCs remains unelucidated in patients with gastric cancer (GC). Here, we evaluated CTCs and TWIST expression in CTCs and explored their correlation with prognosis in patients with metastatic GC. Our study demonstrated that high levels of CTCs and TWIST (+) CTCs were associated with worse OS.

Despite recent advances, some patients with pancreatic cancer are refractory to treatment and the disease rapidly progresses, resulting in early death. The potential prognostic value of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been demonstrated in other cancer types, but the clinical validity in pancreatic cancer remains elusive. Here, we show that CTC clusters, which show mesenchymal characteristics and platelet marker expression, are highly correlated with poor prognosis in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Reliable, inexpensive, and rapid diagnostic tools are essential to control and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In this Account, we detail the recent progress made by our group and others in the development of centrifugal microfluidic devices or lab-on-a-disc (LOAD) systems. Considering the urgent need for cost-effective and reliable POC infection diagnostic tools, especially in the current pandemic crisis, the current limitations and future directions of fast and broad adaptation in real-world settings are also discussed. With proper attention to key challenges and leverage with recent advances in biosensing technologies, molecular biology, nanomaterials, analytical chemistry, miniaturization, system integration, and data management, LOAD systems hold the potential to deliver POC infection diagnostic tools with unprecedented performance regarding time, accuracy, and cost. We hope the new insight and promise of LOAD systems for POC infection diagnostics presented in this Account can spark new ideas and inspire further research and development to create better healthcare systems for current and future pandemics.

The design of artificial organelles for applications in living cells faces several challenges such as cellular uptake, stability and bio compatibility. Here, fusion of exosomes creates beneficial nanoreactors and their use for compartmentalized biocatalytic cascade reactions in cells is demonstrated. Exosome membrane proteins were chemically engineered with a catechol moiety to drive fusion by supramolecular complexation to bridge the membranes. This strategy successfully encapsulated multiple enzymes and assembled the minimal electron transport chain in the plasma membrane, leading to tuneable, enhanced catalytic cascade activity capable of ATP synthesis inside of tissue spheroids. This nanoreactor was functional for many hours after uptake into living cells, showed successful penetration into tissue spheroids and repaired the damaged region by supplying ATP, all of which represent an advance in the mimicking of nature’s own organelles.

Cysteamine (CA) is a cystine depleting agent used in the treatment of cystinosis and many other diseases. However, high dose of CA can be toxic and thus point-of-care-test devices measuring blood CA level can be highly beneficial. Here, we report a highly sensitive, straightforward, and quantitative assay for the colorimetric and spectroscopic determination of CA concentration using plasmonic nanoparticles. The principle is based on the chemical etching-induced exchange of the surface ligands of plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) upon the addition of CA. This plasmonic AuNPs sensor displays a clear red-to-blue colorimetric transition in the presence of CA among various biothiols with high specificity and sensitivity within a short time (<15 s). This fully automated lab-on-a-disc platform approach for naked eye detecting the CA concentration in human blood samples (20 μL) is highly simple and time-efficient (<6 min), and it would be potentially useful for the careful selection of CA doses in the hospital industry.

The need to appropriately diagnose and guide the serial treatment of men with prostate cancer has led to the implementation of many studies to apply liquid biopsies to prostate cancer management. This review describes recent advancements in isolation and detection technology and the strength and weaknesses of the three circulating biomarkers. The clinical studies based on liquid biopsy results are summarized to depict the future perspective in the role of liquid biopsy on prostate cancer management.

Here, we report a single-step spray-coating technique for the formation of a superhydrophobic layer of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) on a melt-blown polypropylene (PP) surgical mask. Owing to the cumulative effect of the superhydrophobicity and photothermal performance of the SWCNTs, the CNT-coated masks show 99.99% higher bactericidal performance toward Escherichia coli than pristine masks. Further, the virucidal ability of the SWCNT-coated mask, tested by using virus-like particles, was found to be almost 99% under solar illumination. As the spray-coating method is easily scalable, the nanotube-coated mask provides cost-effective personal protection against respiratory diseases.

We introduce a “confine and shine” strategy to homogeneously modify the different surface curvatures of plasmonic NCs with ultrathin conformal layers of diverse catalytic noble metals. This self-limited epitaxial skinlike metal growth harvests the localized surface plasmon resonance to induce reduction chemistry directly on the NC surface, confined inside hollow silica. Unlike the conventional thick, anisotropic, and dendritic shells, which show severe nonradiative damping, the skinlike metal lamination preserves the key plasmonic properties of the core NCs. Consequently, the plasmonic–catalytic hybrid nanoreactors can carry out a variety of organic reactions with impressive rates.

This study reports bioengineered EVs with CD14, a natural glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein and a selectively enriched native membrane protein on EVs. We demonstrated that producer cells transfected with genes encoding for GPI-anchored and transmembrane glycoproteins selectively display the former over the latter on bioengineered EVs. Natural GPI-anchored proteins are conserved receptors for bacterial toxins; for example, CD14 is an innate immune receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a gram-negative bacterial endotoxin. We reported that unlike soluble CD14, bioengineered EVs harboring CD14 reduce (50–90%) LPS-induced cytokine responses in mouse macrophages, including primary cells, possibly by reduced cell surface binding of LPS. These findings highlight the importance of harnessing the native EV membrane proteins, like GPI-anchored proteins, for functional studies such as toxin neutralization.

Here, using a range of optical and non-optical techniques, we showed that the differences in molecular composition of EVs isolated using two isolation methods correlated with the differences in their biological function. Our results demonstrated that the isolation method determines the composition of isolated EVs at single and sub-population levels. Besides the composition, we measured for the first time the dry mass and predicted sedimentation of EVs. These parameters were likely to contribute to the biological and functional effects of EVs on single cell and cell cultures.

Patterning wrinkles on three-dimensional curved or enclosed surfaces can be challenging due to difficulties in application of uniform films and stresses on such structures. In this study, we demonstrate a simple one-step wrinkle-formation method on various hydrogel structures utilizing the oil-water interfaces. By diffusion of the photoinitiator from the oil phase to the prepolymer solution in water through the interface, a characteristic crosslinking gradient is set up in the hydrogel.

Günther et al. report that their control experiment using randomized magnetic field gradient sequences disagreed with findings we had reported using linear gradients. However, we show that measurements in our laboratory are consistent using both methods.

The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has transformed the daily lifestyles of people worldwide. COVID-19 was characterized as a pandemic owing to its global spread, and technologies based on engineered materials that help to reduce the spread of infections have been reported. Nanotechnology present in materials with enhanced physicochemical properties and versatile chemical functionalization offer numerous ways to combat the disease. Facemasks are a reliable preventive measure, although they are not 100% effective against viral infections. This study provides a comprehensive review on face masks, from the manufacturing stage to the practical application, and their ability to combat COVID-19. Further, we discuss the impacts of masks on the environment, while considering safe industrial production in the future. We also discuss the available options for the future research directions without negative environmental impacts.

Existing antimicrobials cannot function in the complex and stressful chemical conditions found in biofilms, and as a result, they are unable to infiltrate, diffuse into, and eradicate the biofilm and its associated matrix. Here, we introduce mixed-FeCo-oxide-based surface-textured nanostructures (MTex) as highly efficient magneto-catalytic platforms. These systems can produce defensive ROS over a broad pH range and can effectively diffuse into the biofilm and kill the embedded bacteria.

Here, we applied a dual-channel spray-assisted nanocoating hybrid of shellac/copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) to a nonwoven surgical mask, thereby increasing the hydrophobicity of the surface and repelling aqueous droplets. The resulting surface showed outstanding photoactivity (combined photocatalytic and photothermal properties) for antimicrobial action, conferring reusability and self-sterilizing ability to the masks.