As well as actual, canonical time marked by ticking of a clock, time can be marked by events. Pseudotime and canonical expression time are concepts used in the study of gene expression dynamics, particularly in the context of developmental biology and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).
The ability of cells to generate exosomes varies significantly between different types of cells. Cancer cells, for example, reliably yield large amounts of exosomes when grown in culture. Immune cells and MSCs are also relatively high-yielding. But what about exosome ingestion?
Scientific fraud, while not extremely common, is a significant concern within the scientific community. Does the lack of reproducibility point to a greater problem?
Drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) is challenging. CNS drugs, for example, that are unable to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) cannot be delivered orally or intravenously. Developing drug delivery technologies that can address the specific challenges of delivery to the CNS is a very active area of research. The interaction between drugs and immune cells modulates pharmacodynamics. A new paper from researchers at Keele University explores the interaction between a candidate drug microparticle technology and brain immune cells.
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, can be used therapeutically. Rion, a company spun out of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, recently began phase II trials to evaluate the use of a powdered formulation of platelet-derived exosomes to treat diabetic foot ulcers.
When discussing 3D Cell Culture, researchers and scientists will talk about collagen, as it is quite popular as a matrix material. Collagen does have limitations as a scaffold though, in a similar way to many other natural scaffold materials, which is one of the reasons why Cell Guidance Systems are offering a fully synthetic alternative – PeptiGels.
3Rs aims to reduce, refine and replace the use of animals in research. Matrigel and similar basement membrane extracts are widely used in cell culture as an extracellular scaffold support and also provide key matrix proteins. The sacrifice of mice to generate Matrigel is one of the biggest single uses of animals in research. A new method to culture mammary epithelial cell (MEC) organoids shows that Matrigel use can be dramatically reduced or even (at a cost) eliminated.
Within our bodies, microbes have developed an essential, commensal role and are found in many niches. A comprehensive study, recently published in Cell, provides a fascinating insight into the role of microbes in cancer and how they can modulate prognosis and responses to treatment.
3D cell culture has emerged as a pivotal technique for mimicking the natural environment of cells. This method offers a more physiologically relevant context compared to traditional 2D cultures, better enabling the study of cell behavior, drug responses, and disease mechanisms. In this article, we will delve into the pros and cons of various hydrogels used in 3D cell culture and highlight the unique benefits of using PeptiGel.
For proteins, size does matter. The size of proteins is related to their function. Most of the really big proteins are found in muscles. Muscle cells are specialized for contraction and force generation, processes that rely on the precise organization and interaction of several large protein complexes.
