Biology subjects

Walia, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Walia, S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

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↗

bioRxiv2021

Water soluble, red emitting, carbon nanoparticles stimulate 3D cell invasion via clathrin-mediated endocytic uptake

Bright, fluorescent nanoparticles with excitation and emission towards the red end of the spectrum are highly desirable in the field of bioimaging. We present here a new class of organic carbon-based nanoparticles (CNPs) with robust quantum yield and fluorescence towards the red region of the spectrum. Using organic substrates like para-phenylenediamine (PPDA) dispersed in diphenyl ether and reflux conditions, we achieved scalable amounts of CNPs of the average size of 25 nm. These CNPs were readily uptaken by different mammalian cells, and we show that they prefer clathrin-mediated endocytosis for their cellular entry route. Not only can these CNPs be specifically uptaken in cells, but they also stimulate cellular processes like cell invasion from 3D spheroid models. These new class of CNPs, which have sizes similar to proteinaceous ligands, hold immense potential for their surface functionalization, whereby they could be explored as promising bioimaging agents for biomedical imaging and intracellular drug delivery.

bioengineering↗