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SLAS Technology May 2024Lab Automation facilitates high-throughput processes and improves reproducibility and efficiency while removing human action, primary source of contaminating particles....
Lab Automation facilitates high-throughput processes and improves reproducibility and efficiency while removing human action, primary source of contaminating particles. Handling poses a risk of contamination due to close contact with the objects. We propose a novel gripper (CrocoGrip) relying on compliant mechanisms to reduce the amount of contaminating particles generated by the gripper rather than preventing their emission, the latter being the common approach in current grippers. Our novel gripper is actuated by linear solenoids and purely relies on deformation for its motion. As a result, abrasive behavior and, therefore, the generation of particles is reduced without the need for additional sealing. We experimentally proved that only particles smaller than 3.0µm are emitted by the gripper, with a large proportion of the particles being generated by the actuation. The CrocoGrip fulfills the demands of ISO14644 class 5. The gripping relies on the deformation energy of the compliant mechanism, making the gripping energy-efficient and safe. The maximum gripping force achieved by the CrocoGrip was 5.5N. Because the force transmitted to the handling object depends on the design of the gripping jaws, which are interchangeable, the force can be reduced for more sensible handling objects. Using three different sets of jaws, CrocoGrip was able to handle a microplate in SBS-standard, a 50mL Falcon tube, and a Ø60mm Petri dish using a robotic arm. Due to the monolithic design of the CrocoGrip and, as a result, the need for few components, we achieve a simplicity of design, making cleaning, sterilization and maintenance easy, even for nonexperts. The CrocoGrip exploits the advantages of compliant mechanisms, especially for applications requiring clean-room environments. This approach of compliant-mechanism-based grippers enables an increase in the cleanliness of handling processes without an increase in system complexity of the gripper to facilitate the lab automation of highly sensible processes, such as in tissue engineering.
PubMed: 38801858
DOI: 10.1016/j.slast.2024.100148 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Straw covering is a protective tillage measure in agricultural production, but there is relatively little research on the allelopathic effects of corn straw on weeds and...
Straw covering is a protective tillage measure in agricultural production, but there is relatively little research on the allelopathic effects of corn straw on weeds and foxtail millet. This experiment studied the allelopathic effects of corn straw on four weeds (, , and ) in foxtail millet fields, and also measured the growth indicators of foxtail millet. The study consisted of Petri dish and field experiments. Five treatments were used in the Petri dish experiment: clear water as control (0 g/L, TCK) and four types of corn straw water extracts. They were, respectively, the stock solution (100 g/L, T1), 10 X dilution (10 g/L, T2), 50 X dilution (2 g/L, T3), and 100 X dilution (1 g/L, T4) of corn straw water extracts. Additionally, seven treatments were set up in the field experiment, consisting of three corn straw covering treatments, with covering amounts of 3000 (Z1), 6000 (Z2) and 12,000 kg/ha (Z3), and four control treatments-one treatment with no corn straw cover (CK) and three treatments involving the use of a black film to create the same shading area as the corn straw covered area, with black film coverage areas of 50% (PZ1), 70% (PZ2), and 100% (PZ3), respectively. The results showed that the corn straw water extract reduced the germination rate of the seeds of the four weeds. The T1 treatment resulted in the allelopathic promotion of growth but the inhibition of , , and growth. Treatments T2, T3, and T4 all induced the allelopathic promotion of the growth of the four weeds. The order of the effects of the corn straw water extracts on the comprehensive allelopathy index of the four weed seeds was as follows: > > > . With an increase in the corn straw mulching amount, the density and total coverage of the four weeds showed a gradual downward trend, whereas the plant control effect and fresh weight control effect showed a gradual upward trend. All indices showed the best results under 12,000 kg/ha of mulching and returning to the field. Overall, corn straw coverage significantly impacted the net photosynthetic rate and transpiration rate of foxtail millet and increased the yield of foxtail millet. Under coverages of 6000 and 12,000 kg/ha, the growth of foxtail millet is better. Based on our findings, we recommend a corn straw coverage of 12,000 kg/ha for the allelopathic control of weeds in foxtail millet fields.
PubMed: 38794386
DOI: 10.3390/plants13101315 -
International Journal of Environmental... May 2024Air pollution poses a significant health hazard in urban areas across the globe, with India being one of the most affected countries. This paper presents environmental...
Air pollution poses a significant health hazard in urban areas across the globe, with India being one of the most affected countries. This paper presents environmental monitoring study conducted in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, to assess air quality in diverse urban environments. The study involved continuous indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring, focusing on particulate matter (PM) levels, bioaerosols, and associated meteorological parameters. Laser sensor-based low-cost air quality monitors were utilized to monitor air quality and Anderson 6-stage Cascade Impactor & Petri Dish methods for bioaerosol monitoring. The study revealed that PM levels were consistently high throughout the year, highlighting the severity of air pollution in the region. Notably, indoor PM levels were often higher than outdoor levels, challenging the common notion of staying indoors during peak pollution. The study explored the spatial and temporal diversity of air pollution across various land-use patterns within the city, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions in different urban areas. Additionally, bioaerosol assessments unveiled the presence of pathogenic organisms in indoor and outdoor environments, posing health risks to residents. These findings underscore the importance of addressing particulate matter and bioaerosols in air quality management strategies. Despite the study's valuable insights, limitations, such as using low-cost air quality sensors and the need for long-term data collection, are acknowledged. Nevertheless, this research contributes to a better understanding of urban air quality dynamics and the importance of public awareness in mitigating the adverse effects of air pollution. In conclusion, this study underscores the urgent need for effective air quality management strategies in urban areas. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and researchers striving to address air pollution in rapidly urbanizing regions.
Topics: India; Environmental Monitoring; Particulate Matter; Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Cities; Air Pollution, Indoor; Aerosols
PubMed: 38791837
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph21050623 -
Frontiers in Robotics and AI 2024Oral administration is a convenient drug delivery method in our daily lives. However, it remains a challenge to achieve precise target delivery and ensure the efficacy...
Oral administration is a convenient drug delivery method in our daily lives. However, it remains a challenge to achieve precise target delivery and ensure the efficacy of medications in extreme environments within the digestive system with complex environments. This paper proposes an oral multilayer magnetic hydrogel microrobot for targeted delivery and on-demand release driven by a gradient magnetic field. The inner hydrogel shells enclose designated drugs and magnetic microparticles. The outer hydrogel shells enclose the inner hydrogel shells, magnetic microparticles, and pH neutralizers. The drug release procedure is remotely implemented layer-by-layer. When the required gradient magnetic field is applied, the outer hydrogel shells are destroyed to release their inclusions. The enclosed pH neutralizers scour the surrounding environment to avoid damaging drugs by the pH environment. Subsequently, the inner hydrogel shells are destroyed to release the drugs. A set of experiments are conducted to demonstrate the wirelessly controllable target delivery and release in a Petri dish and biological tissues. The results demonstrated attractive advantages of the reported microrobot in microcargo delivery with almost no loss, remote controllable release, and drug protection by the pH neutralizers. It is a promising approach to advance next-generation precision oral therapies in the digestive system.
PubMed: 38680620
DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2024.1392297 -
Biomedicines Apr 2024Stroke is a common neurological disorder, the second leading cause of death, and the third leading cause of disability. Unfortunately, the only approved drug for it is... (Review)
Review
Stroke is a common neurological disorder, the second leading cause of death, and the third leading cause of disability. Unfortunately, the only approved drug for it is tissue plasminogen, but the therapeutic window is limited. In this context, preclinical studies are relevant to better dissect the underlying mechanisms of stroke and for the drug screening of potential therapies. Brain organoids could be relevant in this setting. They are derived from pluripotent stem cells or isolated organ progenitors that differentiate to form an organ-like tissue, exhibiting multiple cell types that self-organize to form a structure not unlike the organ in vivo. Brain organoids mimic many key features of early human brain development at molecular, cellular, structural, and functional levels and have emerged as novel model systems that can be used to investigate human brain diseases including stroke. Brain organoids are a promising and powerful tool for ischemic stroke studies; however, there are a few concerns that need to be addressed, including the lack of vascularization and the many cell types that are typically present in the human brain. The aim of this review is to discuss the potential of brain organoids as a novel model system for studying ischemic stroke, highlighting both the advantages and disadvantages in the use of this technology.
PubMed: 38672231
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12040877 -
Methods and Protocols Apr 2024To mineralize their shells, molluscs secrete a complex cocktail of proteins-collectively defined as the calcifying shell matrix-that remains occluded in the exoskeleton....
To mineralize their shells, molluscs secrete a complex cocktail of proteins-collectively defined as the calcifying shell matrix-that remains occluded in the exoskeleton. Nowadays, protein extracts from shells are recognized as a potential source of bioactive substances, among which signalling molecules, bactericides or protease inhibitors offer the most tangible perspectives in applied sciences, health, and aquaculture. However, one technical obstacle in testing the activity of shell extracts lies in their high insolubility. In this paper, we present a protocol that circumvents this impediment. After an adapted shell protein extraction and the production of two organic fractions-one soluble, one insoluble-we employ a hand-operated tablet press machine to generate well-calibrated tablets composed of 100% insoluble shell matrix. FT-IR monitoring of the quality of the tablets shows that the pressure used in the press machine does not impair the molecular properties of the insoluble extracts. The produced tablets can be directly tested in different biological assays, such as the bactericidal inhibition zone assay in Petri dish, as illustrated here. Diverting the use of the hand-operated tablet press opens new perspectives in the analysis of insoluble shell matrices, for discovering novel bioactive components.
PubMed: 38668137
DOI: 10.3390/mps7020030 -
European Journal of Pharmaceutical... Jun 2024Research on pharmaceutical dry powders has been increasing worldwide, along with increased therapeutic strategies for an application through the pulmonary or the nasal...
Research on pharmaceutical dry powders has been increasing worldwide, along with increased therapeutic strategies for an application through the pulmonary or the nasal routes. In vitro methodologies and tests that mimic the respiratory environment and the process of inhalation itself are, thus, essential. The literature frequently reports cell-based in vitro assays that involve testing the dry powders in suspension. This experimental setting is not adequate, as both the lung and the nasal cavity are devoid of abundant liquid. However, devices that permit powder insufflation over cells in culture are either scarce or technically complex and expensive, which is not feasible in early stages of research. In this context, this work proposes the development of a device that allows the delivery of dry powders onto cell surfaces, thus simulating inhalation more appropriately. Subsequently, a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was used to establish a technique enabling the determination of dry powder deposition profiles. Additionally, the determination of the viability of respiratory cells (A549) after the insufflation of a dry powder using the developed device was performed. In all, a prototype for dry powder insufflation was designed and developed, using 3D printing methods for its production. It allowed the homogenous dispersion of the insufflated powders over a petri dish and a QCM crystal, and a more detailed study on how dry powders disperse over the supports. The device, already protected by a patent, still requires further improvement, especially regarding the method for powder weighing and the efficiency of the insufflation process, which is being addressed. The impact of insufflation of air and of locust bean gum (LBG)-based microparticles revealed absence of cytotoxic effect, as cell viability roughly above 70 % was always determined.
Topics: Insufflation; Dry Powder Inhalers; Humans; Powders; Cell Survival; Administration, Inhalation; A549 Cells; Quartz Crystal Microbalance Techniques; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Particle Size; Equipment Design
PubMed: 38643941
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106775 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024A new chitosan-based protective film containing rosemarinic acid (0.282% /) has been elaborated. The film was formed from a water-oil emulsion system and applied to...
A new chitosan-based protective film containing rosemarinic acid (0.282% /) has been elaborated. The film was formed from a water-oil emulsion system and applied to poultry meat samples using a dip-coating technique. Various physicochemical parameters of the coatings, such as thickness, Young's modulus, elongation at break, water vapor transmission rates, and antioxidant activity, were tested with free-standing film samples peeled from a Petri dish. Compared to neat chitosan films obtained similarly, new films cast from the emulsion showed significantly better elasticity (Young's modulus was diminished from 1458 MPa to about 29 MPa). Additionally, barrier properties for moisture transition decreased from 7.3 to 5.8 g mm m day kPa. The coated poultry samples were subsequently evaluated in juxtaposition with uncoated ones in a storage test. Levels of selected biogenic amines (histamine, tyramine, tryptamine, phenylethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, spermine, and spermidine), total bacterial count, and lipid oxidation levels in the meat samples were analyzed during storage at 4 °C (up to 96 h). The results obtained for the biogenic amines, total bacterial content, calculated biogenic amine index, and the ratio of spermidine to spermine in meat samples suggest the advantage of the proposed coatings with rosmarinic acid in protecting poultry meat against environmental factors and rapid spoilage.
PubMed: 38611289
DOI: 10.3390/foods13070985 -
Potential of Plant-Based Extracts to Alleviate Sorbitol-Induced Osmotic Stress in Cabbage Seedlings.Plants (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024In light of expected climate change, it is important to seek nature-based solutions that can contribute to the protection of our planet as well as to help overcome the...
In light of expected climate change, it is important to seek nature-based solutions that can contribute to the protection of our planet as well as to help overcome the emerging adverse changes. In an agricultural context, increasing plant resistance to abiotic stress seems to be crucial. Therefore, the scope of the presented research was focused on the application of botanical extracts that exerted positive effects on model plants growing under controlled laboratory conditions, as well as plants subjected to sorbitol-induced osmotic stress. Foliar spraying increased the length and fresh mass of the shoots (e.g., extracts from , , and ) and the roots (e.g., , , and ) of cabbage seedlings grown under stressful conditions, as well as their content of photosynthetic pigments (, , and ) along with total phenolic compounds (, , and ). The antioxidant activity of the shoots measured with the use of DDPH (, , , and ), ABTS (, , , , and ), and FRAP (, , , , and ) assays was also enhanced in plants exposed to osmotic stress. Based on these findings, the most promising formulation based on was selected and subjected to transcriptomic analysis. The modification of the expression of the following genes was noted: (glutathione S-transferase), (chlorophyll A-B binding protein), (S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferases), (chlorophyll A-B binding protein), (GDSL lipase/esterase), (heat shock protein 70 family), (DnaJ Chaperone), (pre-mRNA splicing Prp18-interacting factor), (heat shock protein Hsp90 family), (gibberellin regulated protein), (B-box-type zinc finger), (RmlC-like cupin domain superfamily), (myb_SHAQKYF: myb-like DNA-binding domain, SHAQKYF class), (DA1-like Protein). Gene Ontology functional analysis indicated that the application of the extract led to a decrease in the expression of many genes related to the response to stress and photosynthetic systems, which may confirm a reduction in the level of oxidative stress in plants treated with biostimulants. The conducted studies showed that the use of innovative plant-based products exerted positive effects on crops and can be used to supplement current cultivation practices.
PubMed: 38592867
DOI: 10.3390/plants13060843 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Mar 2024The small amount of human tissue available for testing is a paramount challenge in cancer drug development, cancer disease models, and personalized oncology....
The small amount of human tissue available for testing is a paramount challenge in cancer drug development, cancer disease models, and personalized oncology. Technologies that combine the microscale manipulation of tissues with fluid handling offer the exciting possibility of miniaturizing and automating drug evaluation workflows. This approach minimizes animal testing and enables inexpensive, more efficient testing of samples with high clinical biomimicry using scarce materials. We have developed an inexpensive platform based on an off-the-shelf robot that can manipulate microdissected tissues (µDTs) into user-programmed positions without using intricate microfluidic designs nor any other accessories such as a microscope or a pneumatic controller. The robot integrates complex functions such as vision and fluid actuation by incorporating simple items including a USB camera and a rotary pump. Through the robot's camera, the platform software optically recognizes randomly-seeded µDTs on the surface of a petri dish and positions a mechanical arm above the µDTs. Then, a custom rotary pump actuated by one of the robot's motors generates enough microfluidic lift to hydrodynamically pick and place µDTs with a pipette at a safe distance from the substrate without requiring a proximity sensor. The platform's simple, integrated construction is cost-effective and compact, allowing placement inside a tissue culture hood for sterile workflows. The platform enables users to select µDTs based on their size, place them in user-programmed arrays, such as multi-well plates, and control various robot motion parameters. As a case application, we use the robotic system to conduct semi-automated drug testing of mouse and human µDTs in 384-well plates. Our user-friendly platform promises to democratize microscale tissue research to clinical and biological laboratories worldwide.
PubMed: 38586030
DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.21.586169