Gustation-Inspired Dual-Responsive Hydrogels for Taste Sensing Enabled by Machine Learning.

Human gustatory system recognizes salty/sour or sweet tastants based on their different ionic or nonionic natures using two different signaling pathways. This suggests that evolution has selected this detection dualism favorably. Analogically, this work constructs herein bioinspired stimulus-responsive hydrogels to recognize model salty/sour or sweet tastes based on two different responses, that is, electrical and volumetric responsivities. Different compositions of zwitter-ionic sulfobetainic N-(3-sulfopropyl)-N-(methacryloxyethyl)-N,N-dimethylammonium betaine (DMAPS) and nonionic 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) are co-polymerized to explore conditions for gelation. The hydrogel responses upon adding model tastant molecules are explored using electrical and visual de-swelling observations. Beyond challenging electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements, naive multimeter electrical characterizations are performed, toward facile applicability. Ionic model molecules, for example, sodium chloride and acetic acid, interact electrostatically with DMAPS groups, whereas nonionic molecules, for example, D(-)fructose, interact by hydrogen bonding with HEMA. The model tastants induce complex combinations of electrical and volumetric responses, which are then introduced as inputs for machine learning algorithms. The fidelity of such a trained dual response approach is tested for a more general taste identification. This work envisages that the facile dual electric/volumetric hydrogel responses combined with machine learning proposes a generic bioinspired avenue for future bionic designs of artificial taste recognition, amply needed in applications.

Advances in research regarding the roles of non-coding RNAs in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate by means of a literature review, what non-coding RNAs engage in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) and how they lead to the occurrence of this malformation. DESIGN: A literature search of online databases (Medline via PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase) was performed using appropriate keywords (e.g. non-coding RNA, miRNA, lncRNA, NSCL/P, non-syndromic cleft lip only, and non-syndromic orofacial cleft). The risk of bias in the included studies was then assessed, and a comprehensive review of reported non-coding RNAs associated with NSCL/P was performed. RESULTS: The initial search retrieved 133 studies reporting non-coding RNAs associated with NSCL/P; after excluding 18 replicates and 77 ineligible studies, 35 remained. Of these, 16 studies fulfilled all the criteria and were included in the systematic review. These studies established the roles of non-coding RNAs in the development of craniofacial structures. The differential expression of these non-coding RNAs could lead to orofacial clefts, indicating their significance in NSCL/P and their profound research value. CONCLUSION: There is evidence that non-coding RNAs are involved in the formation of NSCL/P. Specifically, they play significant roles in the regulation of genes and signalling pathways related to NSCL/P.

Identification of novel susceptibility loci for non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate.

Although several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) have been reported, more novel association signals are remained to be exploited. Here, we performed an in-depth analysis of our previously published Chinese GWAS cohort study with replication in an extra dbGaP case-parent trios and another in-house Nanjing cohort, and finally identified five novel significant association signals (rs11119445: 3' of SERTAD4, P = 6.44 × 10-14 ; rs227227 and rs12561877: intron of SYT14, P = 5.02 × 10-13 and 2.80 × 10-11 , respectively; rs643118: intron of TRAF3IP3, P = 4.45 × 10-6 ; rs2095293: intron of NR6A1, P = 2.98 × 10-5 ). The mean (standard deviation) of the weighted genetic risk score (wGRS) from these SNPs was 1.83 (0.65) for NSCL/P cases and 1.58 (0.68) for controls, respectively (P = 2.67 × 10-16 ). Rs643118 was identified as a shared susceptible factor of NSCL/P among Asians and Europeans, while rs227227 may contribute to the risk of NSCL/P as well as NSCPO. In addition, sertad4 knockdown zebrafish models resulted in down-regulation of sox2 and caused oedema around the heart and mandibular deficiency, compared with control embryos. Taken together, this study has improved our understanding of the genetic susceptibility to NSCL/P and provided further clues to its aetiology in the Chinese population.

Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Immobilized with Sugar-Containing Poly(ionic liquid) Brushes for Efficient Trapping and Killing of Bacteria.

Poly(ionic liquid)s (PILs) such as polymeric quaternary ammonium compounds (PQACs) are among the most widely used disinfectant agents due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. However, the high cytotoxicity and difficult reclamation of PQACs remain as challenges for practical water treatment. Herein, we present the synthesis of sugar-incorporated PQACs, which could efficiently decrease the cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells (mouse fibroblast cells, L929). On the basis of the mussel-inspired surface chemistry, the functional glycopolymers could then be immobilized onto the surface of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, which are successfully used for the trapping and killing of bacteria. The sugar-containing PILs have combined the lectin-recognition behavior of glycopolymers and the antibacterial activity of PQACs. Antibacterial experiments demonstrate the high-performance of cationic hybrid nanocomposites in killing pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli), up to 100% sterilization efficiency. The nanocomposites could be facilely recovered under external magnetic field, and a high sterilization efficiency of 94% could be retained during a five-circulation use. Such hybrid nanocomposites are highly efficient, expediently recyclable, and low-cytotoxicity disinfectant agents and may have potential application for water disinfection treatment.