With the optical tweezers system for optical micromanipulation built within the confocal fluorescence microscope system, the adhesion dynamics of cells on the surfaces of different biocompatible tissue engineering scaffolds with different surface molecular physical properties was investigated. The time window and the dynamics of adhesion sites formation on the cell-material interface was quantitatively determined by submicron-resolution, optical tweezers force induced, displacement analysis of a loosely bound cell. It was found that the adhesion strength on the surfaces of different scaffolds correlates with the scaffolds polymer molecular mobility and has a direct impact on further cell growth, measured on a days scale. The study was published in a journal with an impact factor of 6.7 (ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2015, 7 (12), pp 6782-6791). The developed experimental system for studying the direct contact of cells with tissue engineering materials in real time could, with some additional future optimizations, contribute to the better understanding of biocompatibility of materials, which is one of the main challenges in the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28541479
At Ca²⁺ concentrations found in the maturing platelet plug (2-5 mM), fVa can compete fXa off of inactive fXa dimers to significantly amplify thrombin production, both because it releases dimer inhibition and because of its well-known cofactor activity. This suggests a hitherto unanticipated mechanism by which PS-exposing platelet membranes can regulate amplification and propagation of blood coagulation.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28273959
TIn this paper we have shown that magnetic resonance electric impedance tomography (MR EIT) can be used for determining electric field distribution in situ during electroporation of tissue. The exeriments were successfully performed on live mice with tumors. MR EIT results were also verified by histology. Implementation of MR EIT in electroporation-based applications, such as electrochemotherapy and irreversible electroporation tissue ablation is of a great importance as it can enable corrective interventions before the end of the procedure and therefore additionally improve the treatment outcome.
COBISS.SI-ID: 10729556
Magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) was used to study water distribution and its mobility in common bean seed during soaking and cooking. Two complementary MRI methods, the T2-weighted 3D RARE method and the 3D SPI method, were used to determine the total water uptake into the seed. Based on these results of water distribution in bean seeds it was possible to precisely determine where in the seed water enters how it is distributed at any time. It was also observed that the imbibition rate increases with an increasing soaking temperature.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28410151
DC-SIGN, an antigen-uptake receptor in dendritic cells (DCs), has a clear role in the immune response but can, conversely, also facilitate infection by providing entry of pathogens to DCs. The key action in both processes is internalization to acidic endosomes and lysosomes. Molecular probes that bind to DC-SIGN could thus provide a useful tool to study internalization and, at the same time, constitute potential antagonists against pathogens. So far, only large molecules have been used to directly observe DC-SIGN mediated internalization into DCs. To fill this gap, we designed and synthesized an appropriate small glycomimetic probe. Two particular properties of the probe were exploited: activation in a low-pH environment and an aggregation-induced spectral shift. Our results indicate that small glycomimetic molecules could compete with antigen/pathogen binding not only outside but also inside the DC, hence preventing harmful action of pathogens that are able to intrude the DC.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3970417