DNA molecules provide the “source code” for life in humans, plants, animals and some microbes. But now researchers report an initial study showing that the strands can also act as a glue to hold together 3-D-printed materials that could someday be used to grow tissues and organs in the lab.
This first-of-its-kind demonstration of the inexpensive process is described in the brand-new journalACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering.
Andrew Ellington and colleagues explain that although researchers have used nucleic acids such as DNA to assemble objects, most of these are nano-sized — so tiny that humans can’t see them with the naked eye. Making them into larger, visible objects is cost-prohibitive. Current methods also do not allow for much control or flexibility in the types of materials that are created. Overcoming these challenges could potentially have a big payoff — the ability to make tissues to repair injuries or even to create organs for the thousands of patients in need of organ transplants. With this in mind, Ellington’s group set out to create a larger, more affordable material held together with DNA.
The researchers developed DNA-coated nanoparticles made of either polystyrene or polyacrylamide. DNA binding adhered these inexpensive nanoparticles to each other, forming gel-like materials that they could extrude from a 3-D printer. The materials were easy to see and could be manipulated without a microscope. The DNA adhesive also allowed the researchers to control how these gels came together. They showed that human cells could grow in the gels, which is the first step toward the ultimate goal of using the materials as scaffolds for growing tissues.
The Latest on: DNA glue
[google_news title=”” keyword=”DNA glue” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: DNA glue
- UK researchers unveil face of 75,000-year-old Neanderthal womanon May 1, 2024 at 10:41 pm
The skeleton and the surrounding sediment had to be strengthened in situ with a glue-like consolidant before being removed ... extent that almost everyone alive today still has Neanderthal DNA”.
- Face of Neanderthal woman buried in Iraq cave 75,000 years ago revealedon May 1, 2024 at 10:31 pm
Face of Neanderthal woman buried in Iraq cave 75,000 years ago revealed - Shanidar Z found in cave where Neanderthals repeatedly returned to ritually bury their dead ...
- Meet Shanidar Z: 75,000-Year-Old Neanderthal Woman's Face Reconstructedon May 1, 2024 at 7:35 pm
A UK team of archaeologists on Thursday revealed the reconstructed face of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman, as researchers reappraise the perception of the species as brutish and unsophisticated.
- Facial reconstruction reveals what a 40-something Neanderthal woman may have looked likeon May 1, 2024 at 4:04 pm
A Neanderthal was buried 75,000 years ago, and experts painstakingly pieced together what she looked like. The striking recreation is featured in a new Netflix documentary, “Secrets of the ...
- Revealed: face of 75,000-year-old female Neanderthal from cave where species buried their deadon May 1, 2024 at 4:02 pm
“It’s perhaps easier to see how interbreeding occurred between our species, to the extent that almost everyone alive today still has Neanderthal DNA.” Neanderthals are ... and used a glue-like ...
- Recreating the face of a 75,000-year-old female from a cave where Neanderthals buried their deadon May 1, 2024 at 4:00 pm
A new Netflix documentary has recreated the face of a 75,000-year-old female Neanderthal whose flattened skull was discovered and rebuilt from hundreds of bone fragments by a team of archaeologists ...
- I probed ‘Nazca alien mummies’ – DNA proves they are REAL & co-existed with humans, claims investigatoron April 29, 2024 at 4:40 am
THE ‘Nazca alien mummies’ are real and DNA evidence proves they co-existed with humans, an investigator has claimed. Jois Mantilla, who worked closely with the mummies to identify ...
- Man who DNA tested ‘alien mummies’ says he’s made a discovery that could ‘change course of history’on April 26, 2024 at 11:40 am
The man who DNA tested ‘alien mummies’ says he’s made a discovery that could ‘change the course of history’. Yeah, that’s quite the claim and you’d of course expect quite the evidence to back it up.
- Jon Bon Jovi's 35-year marriage doesn't 'need rules' to be successfulon April 25, 2024 at 1:31 am
"She’s the glue," he said. "I’m the crazy visionary with all kinds ... "Well, he's certainly my son, isn't he? You know that DNA is strong," Jon said of Jake. "I saw the film. I think it's a wonderful ...
- Riding the baddest bulls made him a legend. Then one broke his neck.on April 20, 2024 at 3:05 am
Arctic Assassin came out of the chute and wrenched right, then left. Mauney was okay for the first couple of bucks. But then he sat down hard and lurched sharply forward. The bull’s rising hips caught ...
via Bing News