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Biophysical Journal Feb 2020
Topics: Biophysical Phenomena; Biophysics; Cell Membrane; Membrane Proteins; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 32061271
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.02.001 -
Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering Jun 2020Central nervous system (CNS) tumors come with vastly heterogeneous histologic, molecular, and radiographic landscapes, rendering their precise characterization... (Review)
Review
Central nervous system (CNS) tumors come with vastly heterogeneous histologic, molecular, and radiographic landscapes, rendering their precise characterization challenging. The rapidly growing fields of biophysical modeling and radiomics have shown promise in better characterizing the molecular, spatial, and temporal heterogeneity of tumors. Integrative analysis of CNS tumors, including clinically acquired multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) and the inverse problem of calibrating biophysical models to mpMRI data, assists in identifying macroscopic quantifiable tumor patterns of invasion and proliferation, potentially leading to improved () detection/segmentation of tumor subregions and () computer-aided diagnostic/prognostic/predictive modeling. This article presents a summary of () biophysical growth modeling and simulation,() inverse problems for model calibration, () these models' integration with imaging workflows, and () their application to clinically relevant studies. We anticipate that such quantitative integrative analysis may even be beneficial in a future revision of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for CNS tumors, ultimately improving patient survival prospects.
Topics: Algorithms; Animals; Biophysics; Brain; Brain Neoplasms; Calibration; Genome, Human; Glioma; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Models, Neurological; Models, Theoretical; Neoplasms; Prognosis
PubMed: 32501772
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-062117-121105 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Nov 2021Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent degenerative joint disease and the main cause of pain and disability in elderly people. OA currently represents a significant... (Review)
Review
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent degenerative joint disease and the main cause of pain and disability in elderly people. OA currently represents a significant social health problem, since it affects 250 million individuals worldwide, mainly adults aged over 65. Although OA is a multifactorial disease, depending on both genetic and environmental factors, it is reported that joint degeneration has a higher prevalence in former athletes. Repetitive impact and loading, joint overuse and recurrent injuries followed by a rapid return to the sport might explain athletes' predisposition to joint articular degeneration. In recent years, however, big efforts have been made to improve the prevention and management of sports injuries and to speed up the athletes' return-to-sport. Biophysics is the study of biological processes and systems using physics-based methods or based on physical principles. Clinical biophysics has recently evolved as a medical branch that investigates the relationship between the human body and non-ionizing physical energy. A physical stimulus triggers a biological response by regulating specific intracellular pathways, thus acting as a drug. Preclinical and clinical trials have shown positive effects of biophysical stimulation on articular cartilage, subchondral bone and synovia. This review aims to assess the role of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in the prevention and treatment of joint degeneration in athletes.
Topics: Aged; Athletes; Biophysics; Cartilage, Articular; Electromagnetic Fields; Humans
PubMed: 34833424
DOI: 10.3390/medicina57111206 -
Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics May 2022Lipid-DNA conjugates have emerged as highly useful tools to modify the cell membranes. These conjugates generally consist of a lipid anchor for membrane modification and... (Review)
Review
Lipid-DNA conjugates have emerged as highly useful tools to modify the cell membranes. These conjugates generally consist of a lipid anchor for membrane modification and a functional DNA nanostructure for membrane analysis or regulation. There are several unique properties of these lipid-DNA conjugates, especially including their programmability, fast and efficient membrane insertion, and precise sequence-specific assembly. These unique properties have enabled a broad range of biophysical applications on live cell membranes. In this review, we will mainly focus on recent tremendous progress, especially during the past three years, in regulating the biophysical features of these lipid-DNA conjugates and their key applications in studying cell membrane biophysics. Some insights into the current challenges and future directions of this interdisciplinary field have also been provided.
Topics: Biophysics; Cell Membrane; DNA; Lipids; Nanostructures
PubMed: 35570679
DOI: 10.1017/S003358352200004X -
Current Opinion in Structural Biology Oct 2021Biomolecular phase separation that contributes to the formation of membraneless organelles and biomolecular condensates has recently gained tremendous attention because... (Review)
Review
Biomolecular phase separation that contributes to the formation of membraneless organelles and biomolecular condensates has recently gained tremendous attention because of the importance of these assemblies in physiology, disease, and engineering applications. Understanding and directing biomolecular phase separation requires a multiscale view of the biophysical properties of these phases. Yet, many classic tools to characterize biomolecular properties do not apply in these condensed phases. Here, we discuss insights obtained from spectroscopic methods, in particular nuclear magnetic resonance and optical spectroscopy, in understanding the molecular and atomic interactions that underlie the formation of protein-rich condensates. We also review approaches closely coupling nuclear magnetic resonance data with computational methods especially coarse-grained and all-atom molecular simulations, which provide insight into molecular features of phase separation. Finally, we point to future methodolical developments, particularly visualizing biophysical properties of condensates in cells.
Topics: Biophysics; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Organelles; Proteins
PubMed: 34144468
DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2021.04.004 -
Current Biology : CB Dec 2016Rainer Hedrich studies phytosensorics and plant electrical signaling at the University of Würzburg.
Rainer Hedrich studies phytosensorics and plant electrical signaling at the University of Würzburg.
Topics: Biophysics; Germany; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Plant Physiological Phenomena
PubMed: 28050949
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.10.002 -
AAPS PharmSciTech Jun 2015Biophysics and thermodynamics are considered as the scientific milestones for investigating the properties of materials. The relationship between the changes of... (Review)
Review
Biophysics and thermodynamics are considered as the scientific milestones for investigating the properties of materials. The relationship between the changes of temperature with the biophysical variables of biomaterials is important in the process of the development of drug delivery systems. Biophysics is a challenge sector of physics and should be used complementary with the biochemistry in order to discover new and promising technological platforms (i.e., drug delivery systems) and to disclose the 'silence functionality' of bio-inspired biological and artificial membranes. Thermal analysis and biophysical approaches in pharmaceuticals present reliable and versatile tools for their characterization and for the successful development of pharmaceutical products. The metastable phases of self-assembled nanostructures such as liposomes should be taken into consideration because they represent the thermal events can affect the functionality of advanced drug delivery nano systems. In conclusion, biophysics and thermodynamics are characterized as the building blocks for design and development of bio-inspired drug delivery systems.
Topics: Biocompatible Materials; Biophysics; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Liposomes; Nanostructures; Nanotechnology; Pharmaceutical Preparations; Temperature; Thermodynamics
PubMed: 25899798
DOI: 10.1208/s12249-015-0321-1 -
Biomolecules Jul 2022Red blood cells (RBCs, erythrocytes) are highly specialized cells devoted to the transport of respiratory gases [...].
Red blood cells (RBCs, erythrocytes) are highly specialized cells devoted to the transport of respiratory gases [...].
Topics: Biophysics; Erythrocytes
PubMed: 35883479
DOI: 10.3390/biom12070923 -
Philosophical Transactions. Series A,... Dec 2020While many fields have contributed to biological physics, nanotechnology offers a new scale of observation. High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) provides... (Review)
Review
While many fields have contributed to biological physics, nanotechnology offers a new scale of observation. High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) provides nanometre structural information and dynamics with subsecond resolution of biological systems. Moreover, HS-AFM allows us to measure piconewton forces within microseconds giving access to unexplored, fast biophysical processes. Thus, HS-AFM provides a tool to nourish biological physics through the observation of emergent physical phenomena in biological systems. In this review, we present an overview of the contribution of HS-AFM, both in imaging and force spectroscopy modes, to the field of biological physics. We focus on examples in which HS-AFM observations on membrane remodelling, molecular motors or the unfolding of proteins have stimulated the development of novel theories or the emergence of new concepts. We finally provide expected applications and developments of HS-AFM that we believe will continue contributing to our understanding of nature, by serving to the dialogue between biology and physics. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Dynamic microscopy relating structure and function'.
Topics: Biophysical Phenomena; Biophysics; Cell Membrane; Computer Simulation; Intrinsically Disordered Proteins; Membrane Proteins; Microscopy, Atomic Force; Models, Molecular; Molecular Motor Proteins; Nanotechnology; Protein Folding; Single Molecule Imaging; Systems Biology
PubMed: 33100165
DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0604 -
Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal... Mar 2011Understanding of the functional role of the trabecular bone is very important for the analysis and computer-aided simulations of bone remodelling processes. The aspired... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Understanding of the functional role of the trabecular bone is very important for the analysis and computer-aided simulations of bone remodelling processes. The aspired wide clinical applications remain a remote future despite a great number of developed up-to-date approaches and theories and collected data on both material properties of the trabecular bone and its reaction to various stimuli. It is widely accepted that the mechanical loading plays the major role for the structure of the cancellous bone. The in vivo loading conditions of the cancellous bone are not known. Hence, for the computer-aided analysis and modelling of the trabecular bone specimens, simplified loading conditions are used. Also for the analysis of the cancellous bone as a part of a whole bone simplified loading conditions are assumed based on previous research without questioning its accuracy or relevance to the real in vivo conditions. In particular, the bending loading of the bone, which originates from the well-known observations made more than a century ago that have evolved in the trajectorial theory or "tensile trabeculae tradition", is often assumed to reflect the physiological loading conditions of bones. Some studies show that the bending or tensile-compressive orthogonal loading conditions for the cancellous bone may lead to plausible results. However, some other research works suggest that the presence of the tensile trabecular structures (particularly in the proximal femur) is doubtful and the bending loading conditions in bone should be treated with caution. Moreover, the loading conditions with compensated (or minimised) bending also produce results that correlate with the material distribution in the bone. The purpose of this review is to analyse some of the data and ideas available in the literature and to discuss the question of the major factors that define the shape and structure of the trabecular bone during the process of functional adaptation.
Topics: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Biophysics; Bone and Bones; Humans; Tensile Strength
PubMed: 21364269
DOI: No ID Found