Research Outputs
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14288/2
Browse
177 results
Filters
Advanced Search
Filter by
Settings
Search Results
Publication Metadata only 3D printed styrax liquidus (liquidambar orientalis miller)-loaded poly (l-lactic acid)/chitosan based wound dressing material: fabrication, characterization, and biocompatibility results(Elsevier, 2023) Cakmak, Hanife Yuksel; Ege, Hasan; Yilmaz, Senanur; Agturk, Gokhan; Enguven, Gozde; Sarmis, Abdurrahman; Cakmak, Zeren; Gunduz, Oguzhan; Ege, Zeynep Ruya; Yöntem, Fulya Dal; Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Translasyonel Tıp Araştırma Merkezi (KUTTAM); School of MedicineThe medicinal plant of Styrax liquidus (ST) (sweet gum balsam) which extracted from Liquidambar orientalis Mill tree, was loaded into the 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA)/chitosan (CS) based 3D printed scaffolds to investigate its wound healing and closure effect, in this study. The morphological and chemical properties of the ST loaded 3D printed scaffolds with different concentrations (1 %, 2 %, and 3 % wt) were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), respectively. In addition, the me-chanical and thermal properties of the materials were investigated by Tensile test and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The antimicrobial activities of the ST loaded 3D printed scaffolds and their incubation media in the PBS (pH 7.4, at 37 degrees C for 24 h) were investigated on two Gram-positive and two Gram -negative standard pathogenic bacteria with the agar disc diffusion method. The colorimetric MTT assay was used to determine the cell viability of human fibroblast cells (CCD-1072Sk) incubated with free ST, ST loaded, and unloaded 3D printed scaffolds. The 1 % and 2 % (wt) ST loaded PLA/CS/ST 3D printed scaffolds showed an increase in the cell number. Annexin V/PI double stain assay was performed to test whether early or late apoptosis was induced in the PLA/CS/1 % ST and PLA/CS/2 % ST loaded groups and the results were consistent with the MTT assay. Furthermore, a wound healing assay was carried out to investigate the effect of ST loaded 3D printed scaffolds on wound healing in CCD-1072Sk cells. The highest wound closure compared to the control group was observed on cells treated with PLA/CS/1 % ST for 72 h. According to the results, novel biocompatible ST loaded 3D printed scaffolds with antimicrobial effect can be used as wound healing material for potential tissue engineering applications.Publication Metadata only 3D printing of cytocompatible gelatin-cellulose-alginate blend hydrogels(Wiley-V C H Verlag Gmbh, 2020) Erkoc, Pelin; Uvak, Ileyna; Odeh, Yazan Nitham; Akdogan, Ozan; Odeh, Yazan Nitham; Akdogan, Ozan; N/A; Department of Chemistry; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Nazeer, Muhammad Anwaar; Batool, Syeda Rubab; Kızılel, Seda; PhD Student; Researcher; Faculty Member; Department of Chemistry; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Sciences; College of Engineering; N/A; N/A; 283763D bioprinting of hydrogels has gained great attention due to its potential to manufacture intricate and customized scaffolds that provide favored conditions for cell proliferation. Nevertheless, plain natural hydrogels can be easily disintegrated, and their mechanical strengths are usually insufficient for printing process. Hence, composite hydrogels are developed for 3D printing. This study aims to develop a hydrogel ink for extrusion-based 3D printing which is entirely composed of natural polymers, gelatin, alginate, and cellulose. Physicochemical interactions between the components of the intertwined gelatin-cellulose-alginate network are studied via altering copolymer ratios. The structure of the materials and porosity are assessed using infrared spectroscopy, swelling, and degradation experiments. The utility of this approach is examined with two different crosslinking strategies using glutaraldehyde or CaCl2. Multilayer cylindrical structures are successfully 3D printed, and their porous structure is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analyses. Moreover, cytocompatibility of the hydrogel scaffolds is confirmed on fibroblast cells. The developed material is completely natural, biocompatible, economical, and the method is facile. Thus, this study is important for the development of advanced functional 3D hydrogels that have considerable potential for biomedical devices and artificial tissues.Publication Metadata only A CLOCK-binding small molecule disrupts the interaction between CLOCK and BMAL1 and enhances circadian rhythm amplitude(Elsevier, 2020) Akyel, Yasemin Kübra; Yılmaz, Fatma; Öztürk, Nuri; Öztürk, Narin; Okyar, Alper; N/A; N/A; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; N/A; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Department of Industrial Engineering; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Doruk, Yağmur Umay; Yarparvar, Darya; Gül, Şeref; Taşkın, Ali Cihan; Barış, İbrahim; Türkay, Metin; Kavaklı, İbrahim Halil; Master Student; PhD Student; Researcher; Other; Teaching Faculty; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics; Department of Industrial Engineering; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Engineering; N/A; College of Sciences; College of Engineering; College of Engineering; N/A; N/A; N/A; 291296; 111629; 24956; 40319Proper function of many physiological processes requires a robust circadian clock. Disruptions of the circadian clock can result in metabolic diseases, mood disorders, and accelerated aging. Therefore, identifying small molecules that specifically modulate regulatory core clock proteins may potentially enable better management of these disorders. In this study, we applied a structure-based molecular-docking approach to find small molecules that specifically bind to the core circadian regulator, the transcription factor circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK). We identified 100 candidate molecules by virtual screening of ?2 million small molecules for those predicted to bind closely to the interface in CLOCK that interacts with its transcriptional co-regulator, Brain and muscle Arnt-like protein-1 (BMAL1). Using a mammalian two-hybrid system, real-time monitoring of circadian rhythm in U2OS cells, and various biochemical assays, we tested these compounds experimentally and found one, named CLK8, that specifically bound to and interfered with CLOCK activity. We show that CLK8 disrupts the interaction between CLOCK and BMAL1 and interferes with nuclear translocation of CLOCK both in vivo and in vitro. Results from further experiments indicated that CLK8 enhances the amplitude of the cellular circadian rhythm by stabilizing the negative arm of the transcription/translation feedback loop without affecting period length. Our results reveal CLK8 as a tool for further studies of CLOCK's role in circadian rhythm amplitude regulation and as a potential candidate for therapeutic development to manage disorders associated with dampened circadian rhythms.Publication Metadata only A comparative molecular analysis of DNA damage response, cell cycle progression, viability and apoptosis of malignant granulosa cells exposed to gemcitabine and cisplatin(Springer, 2020) Bildik, Gamze; Esmaeilian, Yashar; Vatansever, Doğan; Bilir, Esra; Taşkıran, Çağatay; Öktem, Özgür; Teaching Faculty; Researcher; Faculty Member; Researcher; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; N/A; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; School of Medicine; N/A; N/A; 193687; N/A; 134190; 102627We aimed to provide a comparative characterization of DNA damage response elements, survival/apoptosis and cell cycle progression of the malignant granulosa cells exposed to gemcitabine and cisplatin. Malignant granulosa tumor cell lines COV434 and KGN were used for the experiments. Cell viability, proliferation, DNA damage response and apoptosis were investigated. Cell cycle progression was assessed. In vitro estradiol (E-2) and AMH productions of the cells were measured. Exposure of asynchronous malignant granulosa cells to gemcitabine caused growth arrest, induced DNA damage and activated cellular stress pathways, cell cycle checkpoint sensors and triggered apoptosis as evidenced by increased expression of phospho-p38, gamma-histone H2AX, phospho-Chk-1/phospho-Chk-2, and cleaved forms of PARP and caspase-3 in a dose dependent manner. In vitro E-2 and AMH productions of the cells were decreased along with reduction in viable cell mass. Cisplatin treatment produced a similar response but it was associated with JNK activation rather than p38. When the cells were synchronized and treated with gemcitabine at G(2)/M transition, the degradation of cyclin B1 and dephosphorylation of cdc-2 at Tyr 15 residue did not occur, resulting in cycle arrest. Similar effects on cell cycle progression was also observed in cisplatin. However, it was associated with JNK activation and higher expression of gamma-histone H2AX and cleaved forms of caspase-3 and PARP, indicative of more extensive DNA damage and apoptosis in the cells. This descriptive study provides evidence that gemcitabine exerts cytotoxic effects and causes perturbations in cell cycle progression of malignant granulosa cells.Publication Metadata only A computational model for controlling conformational cooperativity and function in proteins(Wiley, 2018) Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Erman, Burak; Faculty Member; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; College of Engineering; 179997We present a computational model that allows for rapid prediction of correlations among a set of residue pairs when the fluctuations of another set of residues are perturbed. The simple theory presented here is based on the knowledge of the fluctuation covariance matrix only. In this sense, the theory is model independent and therefore universal. Perturbation of any set of fluctuations and the resulting response of the remaining set are calculated using conditional probabilities of a multivariate normal distribution. The model is expected to rapidly and accurately map the consequences of mutations in proteins, as well as allosteric activity and ligand binding. Knowledge of triple correlations of fluctuations of residues i, j, and k, 〈ΔRiΔRjΔRk〉 emerges as the necessary source of information for controlling residue pairs by perturbing a distant residue. Triple correlations have not received wide attention in literature. Perturbation–response–function relations for ubiquitin (UBQ) are discussed as an example. Covariance matrix for UBQ obtained from the Gaussian Network Model combined with the present computational algorithm is able to reflect the millisecond molecular dynamics correlations and observed NMR results.Publication Metadata only A detailed investigation of the effect of calcium crosslinking and glycerol plasticizing on the physical properties of alginate films(Elsevier, 2020) Berberoglu, Melisa; Bener, Semira; Aydelik-Ayazoglu, Sena; Bayraktar, Halil; Catalgil-Giz, Huceste; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Alaca, Burhanettin Erdem; Giz, Ayşe Su; Faculty Member; Master Student; Department of Mechanical Engineering; Koç University Surface Science and Technology Center (KUYTAM) / Koç Üniversitesi Yüzey Teknolojileri Araştırmaları Merkezi (KUYTAM); College of Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; 115108; N/AAlginates attract growing interest due to their biocompatible and biodegradable nature. Here, a wide spectrum of glycerol added alginate films (from 0 to 30% w/w, glycerol/alginate) were prepared and crosslinked by four different concentrations of calcium chloride solutions (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2%, w/w). This is the first investigation involving variation of both the plasticizer and crosslinker concentrations in twenty different compositions. It is shown that glycerol and calcium have a synergic effect on the mechanical properties and the behavior of crosslinked and plasticized alginate films cannot be predicted by studies, which vary only one of these, keeping the other constant. Without glycerol, crosslinking had a negligible effect on tensile behavior, but with glycerol addition, the effect of crosslinking became evident in mechanical properties. Calcium and glycerol concentrations exhibited a combined effect, displaying optimum combinations with good strength and fracture strain properties. Crosslinking increased the thermal resistance of all films. Low crosslinked high swelling films and highly crosslinked low swelling films were prepared. Water vapor permeability of films decreased regularly with increasing calcium concentration. The films exhibited high transmittance in the visible region. The results showed that alginate films have an appreciable potential in wound dressing and food packaging applications. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Publication Metadata only A fast approximate method of identifying paths of allosteric communication in proteins(Wiley, 2013) Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Erman, Burak; Faculty Member; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; College of Engineering; 179997Fluctuations of the distance between a pair of residues i and j may be correlated with the fluctuations of the distance between another pair k and l. In this case, information may be transmitted among these four residues. Allosteric activity is postulated to proceed through such correlated paths. In this short communication a fast method for calculating correlations among all possible pairs ij and kl leading to a pathway of correlated residues of a protein is proposed. The method is based on the alpha carbon centered Gaussian Network Model. The model is applied to Glutamine Amidotransferase and pathways of allosteric activity are identified and compared with literature. Proteins 2013; 81:1097-1101. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Publication Metadata only A genome-wide functional screen identifies enhancer and protective genes for amyloid beta-peptide toxicity(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023) Picon-Pages, Pol; Bosch-Morato, Monica; Subirana, Laia; Rubio-Moscardo, Francisca; Guivernau, Biuse; Fanlo-Ucar, Hugo; Herrera-Fernandez, Victor; Vicente, Ruben; Fernandez-Fernandez, Jose M.; Garcia-Ojalvo, Jordi; Oliva, Baldomero; Posas, Francesc; de Nadal, Eulalia; Munoz, Francisco J.; N/A; N/A; N/A; Department of Computer Engineering; Department of Computer Engineering; Zeylan, Melisa Ece; Şenyüz, Simge; Gürsoy, Attila; Keskin, Özlem; PhD Student; Master Student; Faculty Member; Faculty Member; Department of Computer Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; Graduate School of Sciences and Engineering; College of Engineering; College of Engineering; N/A; N/A; 8745; 26605Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to be caused by amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) misfolded into beta-sheets, but this knowledge has not yet led to treatments to prevent AD. To identify novel molecular players in A beta toxicity, we carried out a genome-wide screen in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using a library of 5154 gene knock-out strains expressing A beta(1-42). We identified 81 mammalian orthologue genes that enhance A beta(1-42) toxicity, while 157 were protective. Next, we performed interactome and text-mining studies to increase the number of genes and to identify the main cellular functions affected by A beta oligomers (oA beta). We found that the most affected cellular functions were calcium regulation, protein translation and mitochondrial activity. We focused on SURF4, a protein that regulates the store-operated calcium channel (SOCE). An in vitro analysis using human neuroblastoma cells showed that SURF4 silencing induced higher intracellular calcium levels, while its overexpression decreased calcium entry. Furthermore, SURF4 silencing produced a significant reduction in cell death when cells were challenged with oA beta(1-42), whereas SURF4 overexpression induced A beta(1-42) cytotoxicity. In summary, we identified new enhancer and protective activities for A beta toxicity and showed that SURF4 contributes to oA beta(1-42) neurotoxicity by decreasing SOCE activity.Publication Metadata only A homozygous pathogenic missense variant broadens the phenotypic and mutational spectrum of CREB3L1-related osteogenesis imperfecta(Oxford Univ Press, 2019) Guillemyn, Brecht; Demuynck, Lynn; Sips, Patrick; De Paepe, Anne; Syx, Delfien; Coucke, Paul J.; Malfait, Fransiska; Symoens, Sofie; N/A; Kayserili, Hülya; Faculty Member; School of Medicine; 7945The cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive element binding protein 3-like 1 (CREB3L1) gene codes for the endoplasmic reticulum stress transducer old astrocyte specifically induced substance (OASIS), which has an important role in osteoblast differentiation during bone development. Deficiency of OASIS is linked to a severe form of autosomal recessive osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), but only few patients have been reported. We identified the first homozygous pathogenic missense variant [p.(Ala304Val)] in a patient with lethal OI, which is located within the highly conserved basic leucine zipper domain, four amino acids upstream of the DNA binding domain. In vitro structural modeling and luciferase assays demonstrate that this missense variant affects a critical residue in this functional domain, thereby decreasing the type I collagen transcriptional binding ability. In addition, overexpression of the mutant OASIS protein leads to decreased transcription of the SEC23A and SEC24D genes, which code for components of the coat protein complex type II (COPII), and aberrant OASIS signaling also results in decreased protein levels of SEC24D. Our findings therefore provide additional proof of the potential involvement of the COPII secretory complex in the context of bone-associated disease.Publication Metadata only A mixed basis with off-center Gaussian functions for the calculation of the potential energy surfaces for pi-stacking interactions: dimers of benzene and planar C-6(Springer, 2015) Department of Chemistry; Yurtsever, İsmail Ersin; Faculty Member; Department of Chemistry; College of Sciences; 7129A practical mixed basis set was developed to facilitate accurate calculations of potential energy surfaces for pi-stacking interactions. Correlation consistent basis sets (cc-PVXZ) were augmented by p-type Gaussian functions placed above and below the planes of C-6 moieties. Moller-Plesset (MP2, SCS-MP2) and coupled cluster [CCSD(T)] calculations show that such generated basis sets provide an accurate description of p-stacking systems with favorable computation times compared to the standard augmented basis sets. The addition of these off-center functions eliminates the linear dependence of the augmented basis sets, which is one of the most encountered numerical problems during calculation of the oligomers of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). In this work, we present a comparative study of the general characteristics of the potential energy surfaces for the parallel stacked and T-shape conformations of benzene and planar C6 clusters, using a combination of cc-PVXZ and our optimized functions. We discuss properties, such as the depth and curvature of the potential functions, short and long distance behavior, and the frictional forces between two model monomers.