Design of self-assembly dipeptide hydrogels and machine learning via their chemical features.

Hydrogels that are self-assembled by peptides have attracted great interest for biomedical applications. However, the link between chemical structures of peptides and their corresponding hydrogel properties is still unclear. Here, we showed a combinational approach to generate a structurally diverse hydrogel library with more than 2,000 peptides and evaluated their corresponding properties. We used a quantitative structure-property relationship to calculate their chemical features reflecting the topological and physicochemical properties, and applied machine learning to predict the self-assembly behavior. We observed that the stiffness of hydrogels is correlated with the diameter and cross-linking degree of the nanofiber. Importantly, we demonstrated that the hydrogels support cell proliferation in culture, suggesting the biocompatibility of the hydrogel. The combinatorial hydrogel library and the machine learning approach we developed linked the chemical structures with their self-assembly behavior and can accelerate the design of novel peptide structures for biomedical use.

Lip position analysis of young women with different skeletal patterns during posed smiling using 3-dimensional stereophotogrammetry.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to explore the internal relationship between posed smile characteristics, lip position, and skeletal patterns in young women. METHODS: Fifty women between the ages of 20 and 30 years were enrolled and divided into 3 groups-vertical, average, and horizontal patterns- using the following parameters: FMA, GoGn-SN, and Jarabak ratio. Each subject was scanned in natural head position and with a posed smile. The interlabial gap, intercommissural width, and smile index were calculated. The frontal region was selected as the reference plane for superimpositions. The changes of the lip landmarks in the vertical, sagittal, and coronal directions were investigated. RESULTS: The smile indexes were listed in the following sequence: vertical < average < horizontal. Significant differences were found in the interlabial gap among the 3 groups. Compared with the average and horizontal groups, the upper lip landmarks of the vertical group showed differences and changed more only in the vertical direction. However, the lower lip landmark showed no differences in any direction. CONCLUSIONS: Different skeletal patterns have characteristic smile features. The vertical skeletal pattern affects upper lip movements because there is more space for upper-lip elevation. However, the vertical skeletal pattern has no effect on lower lip movement.

Combined orthodontic-periodontal treatment in periodontal patients with anteriorly displaced incisors.

INTRODUCTION: Flared and elongated incisors are associated with different types of periodontal bone defects, usually horizontal. Combined orthodontic-periodontal treatment is being used in periodontal patients with anterior displacement of the incisors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in periodontal health and the shape of bone defects in the incisors after such combined treatment. METHODS: Fourteen adults were included in the study. In total, 56 elongated maxillary incisors with horizontal bone defects received orthodontic-periodontal treatment with circumferential supracrestal fibrotomy. To improve bone morphology, periodontal regenerative surgery and guided tissue regeneration were performed on the anterior teeth with angular bone defects after orthodontic treatment. Cone-beam computed tomography scans were taken before treatment (T0), at the end of the orthodontic intrusion (T1), and 6 months after the guided tissue regeneration surgery (T2). Probing pocket depth and clinical attachment loss were examined at T0, T1, and T2. The data were analyzed using paired t tests. RESULTS: From T0 to T1, clinical attachment loss decreased significantly by 0.29 mm (P <0.05). The distance from the cementoenamel junction to the marginal bone crest decreased by 0.66 mm (P <0.05). The labial side of alveolar bone thickness increased by 0.54 mm (P <0.05), and the lingual side of alveolar bone thickness decreased by 0.46 mm (P <0.05). The shape of the bone defect was changed from horizontal to vertical on some teeth. From T1 to T2, both probing pocket depth and clinical attachment loss improved significantly, and the radiographic examinations showed bone redepositions of 2.15 ± 0.68 mm (P <0.05) vertically and 1.44 ± 0.92 mm (P <0.05) horizontally. The distance from the most apical point of the bone defect to the cementoenamel junction after combined treatment decreased by 2.11 ± 1.30 mm (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combined orthodontic-periodontal treatment improved the periodontal conditions of the defective bone sites. Bone morphology, altered by orthodontic intrusion with fibrotomy, can improve the results of subsequent guided tissue regeneration.

Magnetic bead-based salivary peptidome profiling for periodontal-orthodontic treatment.

BACKGROUND: Patients with periodontitis seek periodontal-orthodontic treatment to address certain functional and aesthetic problems. However, little is known of the effect of periodontitis on orthodontic treatment. Thus, we compared the differences in peptide mass fingerprints of orthodontic patients with and without periodontitis by MALDI-TOF MS using a magnetic bead-based peptidome analysis of saliva samples. In this way, we aimed to identify and explore a panel of differentially-expressed specific peptides. RESULTS: Saliva samples from 24 patients (eight orthodontic patients without periodontitis, eight with periodontitis and another eight with periodontitis but no orthodontic treatment) were analyzed, and peptide mass fingerprints were created by scanning MS signals using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) combined with magnetic beads. Nine mass peaks showed significant differences. Orthodontic patients in the group without periodontal disease showed higher mass peaks for seven peptides of the nine, whereas the mass peaks for the other two peptides were higher in the periodontal-orthodontic patients. Besides, these differentially-expressed peptides were sequenced. CONCLUSIONS: The elucidated candidate biomarkers indicated interactions between periodontal condition and orthodontic treatment and their contributions to the changes of saliva protein profiles. Our results provide novel insight into the altered salivary protein profile during periodontal-orthodontic treatment, and may lead to the development of a therapeutic monitoring strategy for periodontics and orthodontics.

Modular Assembly of MXene Frameworks for Noninvasive Disease Diagnosis via Urinary Volatiles.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urine are valuable biomarkers for noninvasive disease diagnosis. Herein, a facile coordination-driven modular assembly strategy is used for developing a library of gas-sensing materials based on porous MXene frameworks (MFs). Taking advantage of modules with diverse composition and tunable structure, our MFs-based library can provide more choices to satisfy gas-sensing demands. Meanwhile, the laser-induced graphene interdigital electrodes array and microchamber are laser-engraved for the assembly of a microchamber-hosted MF (MHMF) e-nose. Our MHMF e-nose possesses high-discriminative pattern recognition for simultaneous sensing and distinguishing of complex VOCs. Furthermore, with the MHMF e-nose being a plug-and-play module, a point-of-care testing (POCT) platform is modularly assembled for wireless and real-time monitoring of urinary volatiles from clinical samples. By virtue of machine learning, our POCT platform achieves noninvasive diagnosis of multiple diseases with a high accuracy of 91.7%, providing a favorable opportunity for early disease diagnosis, disease course monitoring, and relevant research.

Lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA antibody provides long-term protection against SARS-CoV-2 in mice and hamsters.

Monoclonal antibodies represent important weapons in our arsenal to against the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this potential is severely limited by the time-consuming process of developing effective antibodies and the relative high cost of manufacturing. Herein, we present a rapid and cost-effective lipid nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulated-mRNA platform for in vivo delivery of SARS-CoV-2 neutralization antibodies. Two mRNAs encoding the light and heavy chains of a potent SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody HB27, which is currently being evaluated in clinical trials, were encapsulated into clinical grade LNP formulations (named as mRNA-HB27-LNP). In vivo characterization demonstrated that intravenous administration of mRNA-HB27-LNP in mice resulted in a longer circulating half-life compared with the original HB27 antibody in protein format. More importantly, a single prophylactic administration of mRNA-HB27-LNP provided protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge in mice at 1, 7 and even 63 days post administration. In a close contact transmission model, prophylactic administration of mRNA-HB27-LNP prevented SARS-CoV-2 infection between hamsters in a dose-dependent manner. Overall, our results demonstrate a superior long-term protection against SARS-CoV-2 conferred by a single administration of this unique mRNA antibody, highlighting the potential of this universal platform for antibody-based disease prevention and therapy against COVID-19 as well as a variety of other infectious diseases.

[Analysis of the plaster casts of Class II division 1 non-extraction patients treated with Alexander technique].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the changes of arch width and arch length in Class II division 1 non-extraction patients treated with Alexander technique. METHODS: Dental casts of 21 Class II division 1 non-extraction patients treated with Alexander appliance were taken before (T1) and after treatment (T2). All the casts were laser scanned. The arch width and arch length were digitally measured. The differences of arch width and arch length between T1 and T2 were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The upper arch length decreased from (32.82 ± 2.51) mm to (31.97 ± 2.17) mm (P < 0.05). The lower arch length increased from (27.53 ± 2.61) mm to (28.80 ± 1.81) mm (P < 0.05). The intercanine width in the upper arch changed significantly from T1 to T2. The intermolar width in the upper and lower arches increased significantly from T1 to T2. CONCLUSIONS: Class II division 1 non-extraction patients could be treated successfully by increasing the upper arch width.

A poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(L-glutamic acid) diblock copolymer with improved cell adhesion for surface modification.

A novel PAA-b-PLGA diblock copolymer is synthesized and characterized that has excellent cell adhesion and biocompatibility. Fluorescent DiO labeling is used to monitor the attachment and growth of hASCs on the film surface, and cell proliferation over time is studied. Results show that PLLA modified by a CS/PAA-b-PLGA multilayer film can promote the attachment of human hASCs and provide an advantageous environment for their proliferation. The multilayer film presents excellent biocompatibility and cell adhesive properties, which will provide a new choice for improving the cell attachment in surface modification for tissue engineering. Hydroxyl, carboxyl and amine groups in the CS/PAA-b-PLGA multilayer film may be combined with drugs and growth factors for therapy and differentiation.