Cellular response of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) is strongly dependent on their surface chemistry. By taking advantage of robust single-particle fluorescence and giant Raman enhancements of unique polycrystalline silver NPs (AgNPs), we quantitatively investigated effects of two well-known surface chemistries, passive PEGylation and active c-RGD peptide conjugation, on in vitro behaviors of Ag...

Using molecular dynamics simulations and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques we explored the conformational preferences of linear and chiral analogs of acetyl-arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (Ac-RGD) and acetyl-arginyl--Alanyl-aspartic acid (Ac-RXD). Using tinker molecular modeling program and 5nano second molecular dynamics simulations in water/dimethyl sulphoxide to mimic the varying environm...

Biochemical and topographical features of an artificial extracellular matrix (aECM) can direct stem cell fate. However, it is difficult to vary only the biochemical cues without changing nanotopography to study their unique role. We took advantage of two unique features of M13 phage, a non-toxic nanofiber-like virus, to generate a virus-activated aECM with constant ordered ridge/groove nanotopo...

The relationship between the form of cell adhesion, ligand presentation, and cell receptor function was characterized using model Langmuir-Blodgett supported films, containing lipid-conjugated peptide ligands, in which isolated variables of the ligand presentation were systematically altered. First, the conformation of an adhesive Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic acid (RGD) peptide was varied by synth...

The potential of the fluorescent protein scaffold to control peptide sequence functionality is illustrated by an exploration of fluorescent proteins as novel probes for targeting integrins. A library of fluorescent mCitrine proteins with RGD motifs incorporated at several positions in loops within the protein main chain was generated and characterized. Amino acid mutations to RGD as well as RGD...

An amphiphilic polymer RGD-PEG-Chol which can be produced in large scale at a very low cost has been synthesized successfully. The synthesized intermediates and final products were characterized and confirmed by ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum (¹H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FT-IR). The paclitaxel- (PTX-) loaded liposomes based on RGD-PEG-Chol were then prepared by film...

We herein present a novel platform of well-controlled ordered and disordered nanopatterns positioned with a cyclic peptide of arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) on a bioinert poly(ethylene glycol) background, to study whether the nanoscopic order of spatial patterning of the integrin-specific ligands influences osteoblast adhesion. This is the first time that the nanoscale order of RGD ligand...

This paper describes a molecular strategy to restore adhesion of cells to surfaces that otherwise do not present ligands that can mediate adhesion. The approach is based on a carbonic anhydrase fusion protein that binds benzenesulfonamides and that also includes the RGD peptide motif that can bind to cell-surface integrin adhesion receptors. In this way, the fusion protein can bind to a monolay...

A major challenge in the use of HepG2 cell culture models for drug toxicity screening is their lack maturity 2D culture. 3D Matrigel promotes formation spheroids that express liver-relevant markers, yet they still various primary hepatocyte functions. Therefore, alternative matrices where chemical composition and materials properties are controlled to steer maturation remain desired. Herein, a ...

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute phase reactant, and its level in the blood is elevated to 1000-fold in response of the body to trauma, infection, inflammation, and neoplasia. SAA was reported to inhibit platelet aggregation and to induce adhesion of leukocytes. This study looked at adhesion of human platelets to SAA. Immobilized SAA supported the adhesion of human washed platelets; level of a...