Biology subjects

Ghoroi, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Ghoroi, C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

2D MXene-DNA Hybrid Hydrogel for Thrombin Detection: A Versatile Approach for Biomedical Sensing

The delaminated MXene (2D MXene) and DNA hydrogel created enormous opportunities due to their versatility and ability to be tailored for specific applications. MXene offers high aspect ratio morphology and electrical conductivity, while DNA provides stimuli responsiveness and specificity in binding to ligands or complementary sequences. This synergy makes DNA an ideal actuator when combined with 2D MXenes. Present work makes the first effort to combine and exploit them for detecting the thrombin levels; a crucial proteolytic enzyme that plays a pivotal role in regulating blood clotting by cleaving fibrinogen into fibrin and plays a critical role in bleeding disorders such as Haemophilia and Von Willebrand disease. This study introduces a novel hybrid DNA hydrogel by leveraging the properties of 2D MXene with a thiol-modified thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) as a crosslinking agent. The TBA and its complementary DNA oligos are immobilized on 2D MXene sheets, forming a packed hydrogel. Upon thrombin binding, the TBA releases its complementary DNA, resulting in a loosened hydrogel and a change in resistance, which is used as a read-out for thrombin detection. The concept is successfully demonstrated, achieving 90-92% accuracy in detecting thrombin in artificial samples. This robust technique holds promise for biomedical sensing devices, allowing customization for the detection of various target molecules using specific aptamers.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2022

pH - responsive, reversible A-motif based DNA hydrogels: synthesis and biosensing applications

Functional DNA hydrogels using various motifs and functional groups require perfect sequence designing to avoid cross-bonding interference with self or other structural sequences. The present work reports an A-motif functional DNA hydrogel that does not require any sequence design. A-motif DNA is a non-canonical parallel DNA duplex structure comprises homopolymeric deoxyadenosines (poly-dA) strands that undergo conformational changes from single strands at neutral pH to a parallel duplex DNA helix at acidic pH. Despite many advantages over other DNA motifs like no sequence, design is required and no cross-bonding interference with other structural sequences, A-motif has not been explored much. We successfully synthesized DNA hydrogel utilizing A-motif as a reversible handle to polymerize DNA three-way junction (3WJ). The composed A-motif hydrogel was first characterized by EMSA, & DLS, which shows the formation of higher-order structures. Further, we utilized imaging techniques like atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) validating its hydrogel like highly branched morphology. pH-induced conformational transformation from monomers to gel is quick and reversible, and was analysed for multiple acid-base cycles. The sol-to-gel transitions and gelation properties is further examined using rheological studies. The use of A-motif hydrogel in the visual detection of pathogenic target nucleic acid sequence is demonstrated for the first time using the capillary assay. Moreover, the pH-induced hydrogel formation is observed in-situ as a layer over the mammalian cells. The proposed A-motif DNA scaffold has enormous potential in designing stimuli-responsive nanostructures that can be utilized for many biological applications.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2021

DESIGNER DNA HYDROGELS TO STIMULATE 3D CELL INVASION BY ENHANCED RECEPTOR EXPRESSION AND MEMBRANE ENDOCYTOSIS

DNA has emerged as one of the smartest biopolymers to bridge the gap between chemical science and biology to design scaffolds like hydrogels by physical entanglement or chemical bonding with remarkable properties. We present here a completely new application of DNA based hydrogels in terms of their capacity to stimulate membrane endocytosis, leading to enhanced cell spreading and invasion for cells in ex-vivo 3D spheroids models. Multiscale simulation studies along with DLS data showed that the hydrogel formation was enhanced at lower temperature and it converts to liquid with increase in temperature. DNA hydrogels induced cell spreading as observed by increase in cellular area by almost two-folds followed by increase in receptor expression, endocytosis and 3D invasion potential of migrating cells. Our first results lay the foundation for upcoming diverse applications of hydrogels to probe and program various cellular and physiological processes that can have lasting applications in stem cells programming and regenerative therapeutics.

bioengineering↗