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Leal-Alves C, Deng Z, Kermeci N, Shih SCC. Integrating microfluidics and synthetic biology: advancements and diverse applications across organisms. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:2834-2860. [PMID: 38712893 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc01090b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is the design and modification of biological systems for specific functions, integrating several disciplines like engineering, genetics, and computer science. The field of synthetic biology is to understand biological processes within host organisms through the manipulation and regulation of their genetic pathways and the addition of biocontrol circuits to enhance their production capabilities. This pursuit serves to address global challenges spanning diverse domains that are difficult to tackle through conventional routes of production. Despite its impact, achieving precise, dynamic, and high-throughput manipulation of biological processes is still challenging. Microfluidics offers a solution to those challenges, enabling controlled fluid handling at the microscale, offering lower reagent consumption, faster analysis of biochemical reactions, automation, and high throughput screening. In this review, we diverge from conventional focus on automating the synthetic biology design-build-test-learn cycle, and instead, focus on microfluidic platforms and their role in advancing synthetic biology through its integration with host organisms - bacterial cells, yeast, fungi, animal cells - and cell-free systems. The review illustrates how microfluidic devices have been instrumental in understanding biological systems by showcasing microfluidics as an essential tool to create synthetic genetic circuits, pathways, and organisms within controlled environments. In conclusion, we show how microfluidics expedite synthetic biology applications across diverse domains including but not limited to personalized medicine, bioenergy, and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Leal-Alves
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W, Montréal, QC, H4B1R6 Canada.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, 1515 Ste-Catherine St. W, Montréal, QC, H3G1M8 Canada
| | - Zhiyang Deng
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W, Montréal, QC, H4B1R6 Canada.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, 1515 Ste-Catherine St. W, Montréal, QC, H3G1M8 Canada
| | - Natalia Kermeci
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W, Montréal, QC, H4B1R6 Canada.
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W, Montréal, QC, H4B1R6 Canada
| | - Steve C C Shih
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W, Montréal, QC, H4B1R6 Canada.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, 1515 Ste-Catherine St. W, Montréal, QC, H3G1M8 Canada
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W, Montréal, QC, H4B1R6 Canada
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Zhu Y, Tang Y, Miao P. Intramolecular Charge Transfer of Gold Nanoclusters for pH Indicating. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2024; 40:1130-1136. [PMID: 38149375 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c03497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
The investigation of the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process of gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) is critical to understand the unique features of the nanomaterials, which also benefits their further applications. Herein, 6-methyl-2-thiouracil (CH3-2-TU) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-stabilized AuNCs are prepared, and the ICT behaviors are carefully studied. Protonation or deprotonation of the ligands around AuNCs could be used to regulate the ICT state, influencing the electron distribution and band gap. Shifted fluorescence emission phenomena are thus observed, which respond to external pH stimuli. In addition, the AuNCs are developed as color-switchable indicators for the highly sensitive detection of biogenic amines. As a proof of concept, the performance of this strategy in the evaluation of food spoilage by probing pH conditions is validated with satisfactory results. The discoveries in this work offer a convenient route to regulate the optical properties of AuNCs and the design of pH-based sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulin Zhu
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Yuguo Tang
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
| | - Peng Miao
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou 215163, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Biomaterials and Medical Devices in Weihai, Weihai 264200, China
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Calabretta MM, Gregucci D, Desiderio R, Michelini E. Colorimetric Paper Sensor for Food Spoilage Based on Biogenic Amine Monitoring. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:126. [PMID: 36671961 PMCID: PMC9855854 DOI: 10.3390/bios13010126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Biogenic amines (BAs), nitrogenous molecules usually present in different foods, can be considered an indicator of freshness and food quality since their amount increases during food spoilage. Their detection, possibly in real time via the use of smart packaging, is therefore of crucial importance to ensure food safety and to fulfill consumers' demand. To this end, colorimetric sensors are considered one of the most feasible solutions. Here, we report a user-friendly colorimetric sensing paper able to detect BAs via the naked eye. The sensing molecule is the aglycone genipin, a natural cross-linking agent extracted from gardenia fruit, able to bind BAs producing water-soluble blue pigments. The paper sensor was applied to chicken meat quality monitoring and a quantitative analysis was performed with image acquisition via a smartphone camera, achieving a limit of detection equivalent to 0.1 mM of putrescine. The suitability of the BA sensing paper was assessed by integrating the sensor into smart packaging and analyzing commercial chicken meat samples stored at different temperatures; the results of the sensor paralleled the "best before date" indicated on the label, confirming the potential applicability of the sensor as a smart label.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Maddalena Calabretta
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), IRCCS St. Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Denise Gregucci
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), IRCCS St. Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Riccardo Desiderio
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Michelini
- Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), IRCCS St. Orsola Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Health Sciences and Technologies Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (HSTICIR), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Sánchez-Costa M, López-Gallego F. Solid-Phase Cell-Free Protein Synthesis and Its Applications in Biotechnology. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 185:21-46. [PMID: 37306703 DOI: 10.1007/10_2023_226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cell-free systems for the in vitro production of proteins have revolutionized the synthetic biology field. In the last decade, this technology is gaining momentum in molecular biology, biotechnology, biomedicine and even education. Materials science has burst into the field of in vitro protein synthesis to empower the value of existing tools and expand its applications. In this sense, the combination of solid materials (normally functionalized with different biomacromolecules) together with cell-free components has made this technology more versatile and robust. In this chapter, we discuss the combination of solid materials with DNA and transcription-translation machinery to synthesize proteins within compartments, to immobilize and purify in situ the nascent protein, to transcribe and transduce DNAs immobilized on solid surfaces, and the combination of all or some of these strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Sánchez-Costa
- Heterogeneous Biocatalysis Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Fernando López-Gallego
- Heterogeneous Biocatalysis Laboratory, Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián, Spain.
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