PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Xingyu Jiang

Publications and source records attributed to Xingyu Jiang.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Unlocking Zeptomolar Single-Molecule Detection by Synergizing Digital Microfluidics and Digital CRISPR.

Accurate diagnosis relies on the highly sensitive and quantitative detection of multiple immune-related biomarkers. However, current detection methods still face significant limitations in sensitivity, specificity, and background signal control. Here, we introduce DDA (Dual-Digital immunoAssay), a fully automated, universal immunoassay platform that synergizes digital microfluidics with digital Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-based amplification. This "dual-digital" strategy pushes the detection limit into the zeptomolar (zM) regime, enabling unprecedented sensitivity for single-molecule analysis. The DDA platform is built upon a digital microfluidic microwell array chip, integrating magnetic bead-based immunocapture with RNA-guided CRISPR/Cas13a signal amplification. This system enables a fully automated, "sample-in, answer-out" workflow. By systematically optimizing the entire process, DDA significantly reduces background noise and enhances detection sensitivity, achieving a limit of detection (LOD) down to 100 zM for key protein biomarkers. This represents a >100-fold improvement over leading commercial ultrasensitive assays. With single-molecule resolution and full automation, DDA provides a robust solution for the precise quantification of low-abundance immune biomarkers. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate its ability to accurately quantify key heart-failure-associated biomarkers, including NT-proBNP (LOD: 1 aM), IL-6 (LOD: 1.5 aM), and TNF-α (LOD: 2.5 aM), directly in complex serum samples. This platform holds great promise for automated multibiomarker screening and risk assessment, showcasing its powerful potential for the early diagnosis of major diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and infectious diseases.

Humans↗

Conservation of the salt overly sensitive pathway in rice.

The salt tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa) correlates with the ability to exclude Na+ from the shoot and to maintain a low cellular Na+/K+ ratio. We have identified a rice plasma membrane Na+/H+ exchanger that, on the basis of genetic and biochemical criteria, is the functional homolog of the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) salt overly sensitive 1 (SOS1) protein. The rice transporter, denoted by OsSOS1, demonstrated a capacity for Na+/H+ exchange in plasma membrane vesicles of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells and reduced their net cellular Na+ content. The Arabidopsis protein kinase complex SOS2/SOS3, which positively controls the activity of AtSOS1, phosphorylated OsSOS1 and stimulated its activity in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, OsSOS1 suppressed the salt sensitivity of a sos1-1 mutant of Arabidopsis. These results represent the first molecular and biochemical characterization of a Na+ efflux protein from monocots. Putative rice homologs of the Arabidopsis protein kinase SOS2 and its Ca2+-dependent activator SOS3 were identified also. OsCIPK24 and OsCBL4 acted coordinately to activate OsSOS1 in yeast cells and they could be exchanged with their Arabidopsis counterpart to form heterologous protein kinase modules that activated both OsSOS1 and AtSOS1 and suppressed the salt sensitivity of sos2 and sos3 mutants of Arabidopsis. These results demonstrate that the SOS salt tolerance pathway operates in cereals and evidences a high degree of structural conservation among the SOS proteins from dicots and monocots.

Arabidopsis Proteins↗

Formation of rectangularly shaped Pd/Au bimetallic nanorods: evidence for competing growth of the Pd shell between the 110 and 100 side facets of Au nanorods.

In this letter, we report the competing growth of a Pd shell on the {110} and {100} facets of Au nanorods (Au NRs). This results in the disappearance of unstable {110} facets and the formation of rectangularly shaped Pd/Au bimetallic nanorods that show only four stable {100} side surfaces. The energy minimization to a more stable morphology is believed to be the driving force for the formation of the rectangular shape of the Pd shell.

Crystallization↗

A general method for patterning gradients of biomolecules on surfaces using microfluidic networks.

This report outlines a general method for the fabrication of immobilized gradients of biomolecules on surfaces. This method utilizes a microfluidic network that generates a gradient of avidin in solution and immobilizes this protein on the surface of glass or poly(dimethylsiloxane) by physical adsorption. The immobilized gradient of avidin is then translated into gradients of biotinylated ligands (e.g., small molecules, oligomers of DNA, polysaccharides) using the specific interaction between biotin and avidin. This method can also generate immobilized gradients of certain proteins and artificial polymers by a direct transfer of gradients from solution onto the surface. The major advantage of this method is that almost any type of molecule can, in principle, be immobilized in a well-defined surface gradient of arbitrary shape with dimensions of a few micrometers to a few centimeters. It is possible to tailor the precise shapes of gradients on surfaces from gradients in solution, either kinetically or competitively. Kinetic methods rely on controlling the time that the surface is exposed to the gradient in solution: when a single protein adsorbs from solution, the amount that adsorbs depends both on its concentration in solution and on the time allowed for adsorption. Competitive methods rely on exposure of the surface to a complementary gradient of two proteins in solution (In these experiments, the sum of the concentrations of the proteins in solution is independent of positions although the concentration of each, individually, depends on the position. In this procedure, the relative amount of each protein, at saturation on the surface, depends only on its concentration.).

Adsorption↗

Directing cell migration with asymmetric micropatterns.

This report shows that the direction of polarization of attached mammalian cells determines the direction in which they move. Surfaces micropatterned with appropriately functionalized self-assembled monolayers constrain individual cells to asymmetric geometries (for example, a teardrop); these geometries polarize the morphology of the cell. After electrochemical desorption of the self-assembled monolayers removes these constraints and allows the cells to move across the surface, they move toward their blunt ends.

Animals↗

Compatibility of mammalian cells on surfaces of poly(dimethylsiloxane).

This paper describes the influence of the composition of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) on the attachment and growth of several different types of mammalian cells: primary human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAECs), transformed 3T3 fibroblasts (3T3s), transformed osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells, and HeLa (transformed epithelial) cells. Cells grew on PDMS having different ratios of base to curing agent: 10:1 (normal PDMS, PDMSN), 10:3 (PDMSCA), and 10:0.5 (PDMSB). They were also grown on "extracted PDMS" (normal PDMS that has reduced quantities of low molecular-weight oligomers, PDMSN,EX) and normal PDMS that had been extracted and then oxidized (PDMSN,EX,OX); all surfaces were exposed to a solution of fibronectin prior to cell attachment. Generally, fibronectin-coated PDMS is a suitable substrate for culturing mammalian cells. Compatibility of cells on some surfaces, however, was dependent on the cell type: PDMSN,EX,OX caused cell detachment of 3T3 fibroblasts and MC3T3-E1 cells, and PDMSCA caused detachment of HUAECs and HeLa cells. Growth of cells on PDMSN, PDMSN,EX, and PDMSB was comparable to growth on tissue culture-treated polystyrene for most of the cell types. All cells grew at similar rates on PDMS substrates regardless of the stiffness of the substrate, for substrates having Young's moduli ranging from E=0.60 +/- 0.04 to 2.6 +/- 0.2 MPa (for PDMSB and PDMSN,EX, respectively).

Animals↗

Palladium as a substrate for self-assembled monolayers used in biotechnology.

This paper describes self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on palladium that resist the nonspecific adsorption of proteins and the adhesion of mammalian cells. These SAMs form when thin films of palladium are exposed to solutions of alkanethiol with the general structure HS(CH(2))(m)()(OCH(2)CH(2))(n)()OH (m = 2, 11; n = 3, 6, 7). Ellipsometry and surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (using a palladium-on-gold substrate) showed that these SAMs resist adsorption of all proteins present in bovine serum. Microislands of SAMs of octadecanethiol on palladium allowed patterned adhesion and growth of mammalian cells (in a "sea" of oligo(ethyleneglycol)-terminated SAM). The oligo(ethyleneglycol)-terminated SAM resisted the invasion of cells for over four weeks under standard conditions of cell culture; similar SAMs on gold remained patterned for only two weeks.

3T3 Cells↗

Potentiometric titrations in a poly(dimethylsiloxane)-based microfluidic device.

This paper describes a microfluidic device, fabricated in poly(dimethylsiloxane), that is used for potentiometric titrations. This system generates step gradients of redox potentials in a series of microchannels. These potentials are probed by microelectrodes that are integrated into the chip; the measured potentials were used to produce a titration curve from which the end point of a reaction was measured.

Dimethylpolysiloxanes↗

Rapid prototyping of 2D structures with feature sizes larger than 8 microm.

This paper extends rapid prototyping for several types of lithography to the 8-25-microm size range, using transparency photomasks prepared by photoplotting. It discusses the technical improvement in photomask quality achieved by photoplotting, compared to the currently used image setting, and demonstrates differences in the resolution that can be obtained with photomasks with features in the 8-100-microm size range. These high-resolution photomasks were used to microfabricate microelectrodes, microlenses, and stamps for microcontact printing, following methods described previously.

Biological Assay↗

A miniaturized, parallel, serially diluted immunoassay for analyzing multiple antigens.

This paper describes a microfluidic immunoassay that is applicable to the parallel determination of multiple analytes and that requires only a few microliters of sample. This assay relies on a microchannel network that achieves serial dilution of analytes; this network replaces manual dilutions employed in traditional immunoassays and enables the analysis of multiple analytes simultaneously. The immunoassay was demonstrated by an analysis of concentrations of antibodies against the HIV viral proteins gp120 and gp41 in human serum.

Antibodies↗

Electrochemical desorption of self-assembled monolayers noninvasively releases patterned cells from geometrical confinements.

This report describes a method to pattern mammalian cells using self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), and then to use electrochemical desorption of these monolayers to release cells from their patterns. This method uses an oligo(ethyleneglycol)-terminated SAM to prevent,-and a methyl-terminated SAM to allow-adsorption of proteins and attachment of bovine capillary endothelial cells. Electrochemical removal of the oligo(ethyleneglycol)-terminated SAM allowed proteins to adsorb onto areas that had been previously inert and enabled cells to migrate into these areas. This straightforward technique is useful in bioassays for drug screening and for fundamental studies in cell biology.

Animals↗

Geometric determinants of directional cell motility revealed using microcontact printing.

Mammalian cells redirect their movement in response to changes in the physical properties of their extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesive scaffolds, including changes in available substrate area, shape, or flexibility. Yet, little is known about the cell's ability to discriminate between different types of spatial signals. Here we utilize a soft-lithography-based, microcontact printing technology in combination with automated computerized image analysis to explore the relationship between ECM geometry and directional motility. When fibroblast cells were cultured on fibronectin-coated adhesive islands with the same area (900 micrometers2) but different geometric forms (square, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, trapezoid, various parallelograms) and aspect ratios, cells preferentially extended new lamellipodia from their corners. In addition, by imposing these simple geometric constraints through ECM, cells were directed to deposit new fibronectin fibrils in these same corner regions. These data indicate that mammalian cells can sense edges within ECM patterns that exhibit a wide range of angularity and that they use these spatial cues to guide where they will deposit ECM and extend new motile processes during the process of directional migration.

Animals↗

Gradients of substrate-bound laminin orient axonal specification of neurons.

Little is known about the influence of substrate-bound gradients on neuronal development, since it has been difficult to fabricate gradients over the distances typically required for biological studies (a few hundred micrometers). This article demonstrates a generally applicable technique for the fabrication of substrate-bound gradients of proteins with complex shapes, using laminar flows in microchannels. Gradients that range from pure laminin to pure BSA were formed in solution by using a network of microchannels, and these proteins were allowed to adsorb onto a homogeneous layer of poly-l-lysine. Rat hippocampal neurons were cultivated on these substrate-bound gradients. Analysis of optical images of these neurons showed that axon specification is oriented in the direction of increasing surface density of laminin. Linear gradients in laminin adsorbed from a gradient in solution having a slope of nabla [laminin] > about 0.06 microg (ml.microm)(-1) (defined by dividing the change of concentration of laminin in solution over the distance of the gradient) orient axon specification, whereas those with nabla [laminin] < about 0.06 microg (ml.microm)(-1) have no effect.

Animals↗