Northwest University

7 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Bioengineering

Generation of Dynamical Environmental Conditions using a High-Throughput Microfluidic Device

Bingchen Che^*1, Jie Zhu^*1, Dan Sun¹, Xiaoqiang Feng¹, Ce Zhang¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Cultivation Base for Photoelectric Technology and Functional Materials, State Key Laboratory of Photon-Technology in Western China Energy, Institute of Photonics and Photon-Technology, Northwest University

We present a microfluidic system for high throughput studies on complex life machinery, which consists of 1500 culture units, an array of enhanced peristaltic pumps and an on-site mixing modulus. The microfluidic chip allows for the analysis of the highly complex and dynamic micro-environmental conditions in vivo.

Genetics

ACT1-CUP1 Assays Determine the Substrate-Specific Sensitivities of Spliceosomal Mutants in Budding Yeast

Clarisse van der Feltz¹

¹College of Arts and Sciences, Northwest University

The ACT1-CUP1 assay, a copper growth assay, provides a quick readout of precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing and the impact mutant splicing factors have on spliceosomal function. This study provides a protocol and highlights the customization possible to address the splicing question of interest.

Bioengineering

Isolation and Culture of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells from the Human Mandible

Chunlin Zong^*1, Lu Zhao^*1, Chong Huang², Yuanli Chen¹, Lei Tian¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Shaanxi Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, ²College of Life Sciences, Northwest University

The present protocol describes an efficient procedure for isolating and culturing of human mandibular bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells using the whole bone marrow adherence method. The cultured cells were identified by cell proliferation assays, flow cytometry, and multilineage differentiation induction.

Biology

Isolation and Analysis of Traceable and Functionalized Extracellular Vesicles from the Plasma and Solid Tissues

Yuan Cao^*1,2, Ji-Yu Qiu^*1,3, Da Chen^1,2, Chen-Yao Li^1,4, Shu-Juan Xing^1,5, Chen-Xi Zheng¹, Xin Liu², Yan Jin^1,6, Bing-Dong Sui¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, ²Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, ³Department of VIP Dental Care, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University, ⁴School of Basic Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, ⁵College of Life Science, Northwest University, ⁶Xi'an Institute of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

The present protocol describes a method to extract extracellular vesicles from the peripheral blood and solid tissues with subsequent profiling of surface antigens and protein cargos.

Biology

Isolation, Characterization, and Therapeutic Application of Extracellular Vesicles from Cultured Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Shu-Juan Xing^1,2, Kai-Chao Zhang^2,3, Si-Yuan Tang^2,4, Lu Liu^2,5, Yuan Cao^2,5, Chen-Xi Zheng², Bing-Dong Sui², Yan Jin^2,3

¹College of Life Science, Northwest University, ²State Key Laboratory of Military Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & Shaanxi International Joint Research Center for Oral Diseases, Center for Tissue Engineering, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University, ³Xi'an Institute of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, ⁴School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, ⁵Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Fourth Military Medical University

The present protocol describes the differential centrifugation for isolating and characterizing representative EVs (exosomes and microvesicles) from cultured human MSCs. Further applications of these EVs are also explained in this article.

Environment

A Complete Method for Evaluating the Performance of Photocatalysts for the Degradation of Antibiotics in Environmental Remediation

Bing Wang¹, XuXia Zhang¹, LeCheng Li¹, MengTing Ji¹, Zheng Zheng¹, ChuanHui Shi¹, Zhuo Li¹, Hong Hao¹

¹School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University

Presented here is a protocol to explore a universal set of experimental procedures for comprehensive laboratory evaluation of photocatalysts in the field of environmental purification, using the example of photocatalytic removal of antibiotic organic pollutant molecules from water by phthalocyanine sensitized silver phosphate composites.

Bioengineering

Construction, Characterization, and Regenerative Application of Self-Assembled Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Aggregates

Shijie Li^1,2, Peisheng Liu^1,2,3, Ting Zhu^1,2,3, Bingdong Sui¹, Yan Jin¹, Kun Xuan², Chenxi Zheng¹

This study describes a method to construct aggregates based on the self-assembly of human mesenchymal stem cells and identifies the morphological and histological characteristics for the regenerative treatment of cranial bone defects.