Biomedical subjects

Ming Su

Publications and source records attributed to Ming Su.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Miniaturized chemical multiplexed sensor array.

Miniaturized tin oxide semiconductor sensors are fabricated directly by site-specific dip-pen nanopatterning using precursor inks derived from the sol-gel method. The good flow characteristics and strong affinity of the sols to measurement electrodes enable intimate contact. The measurable, reproducible, and proportionate changes in the resistance of the sensors when exposed to trace quantities of oxidative and reducing gases constitute the basis for such sensors. These sensors show rapid response and ultrafast recovery for the detection of nitrogen dioxide and acetic acid. Furthermore, an array of eight miniaturized sensors is created by doping the pristine tin-based sol ink with different metal ions; the different responses of each sensor to certain gases constitute a reference response spectrum that can be used to recognize the gas. Such recognition ability, instant response and rapid recovery, compact size, and integration with the current microelectronics platform make the miniaturized sensor array a significant development for the on-site and real-time detection of life-threatening gases.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2002

Transcriptional regulation of a contractile gene by mechanical forces applied through integrins in osteoblasts.

We examined mechanotranscriptional regulation of the contractile gene, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), in osteoblastic cells. Tensile forces were applied through collagen-coated magnetite beads to ROS17/2.8 cells. These cells were desmin-, vimentin+ and expressed low levels of SMA. After force application (480 piconewton/cell), SMA protein and mRNA were increased but beta-actin was unchanged. Beads coated with bovine serum albumin or poly-L-lysine produced no change of SMA. In cells transiently transfected with plasmids containing the SMA promoter fused to beta-galactosidase or green fluorescent protein coding sequences, SMA promoter activity was increased by approximately 60% after 4 h of force, whereas control (Rous sarcoma virus) promoter activity was unaffected. Transfections with beta-galactosidase or green fluorescent protein reporter constructs showed that force-loaded cells exhibited higher beta-galactosidase activity than cells without force. Cytochalasin D and latrunculin B inhibited force-induced increases of SMA promoter activity. Deletion analyses showed that SMA promoter activity was increased approximately 70% after force with a minimal construct containing 155 bp upstream of the translation start site. The force effect on the SMA promoter was abrogated in cells transfected with CArG-B box mutants. Gel mobility shift analyses of nuclear extracts showed strong binding to the CArG-B motif after force. We conclude that the CArG-B box is a force-responsive element in the SMA promoter.

Actins↗

PubMed2002

Moving beyond molecules: patterning solid-state features via dip-pen nanolithography with sol-based inks.

Herein, we described a new dip-pen nanolithography (DPN)-based method for the direct patterning of organic/inorganic composite nanostructures on silicon and oxidized silicon substrates. The approach works by the hydrolysis of metal precursors in the meniscus between an AFM tip and a surface according to the reaction 2MCln + nH2O --> M2On + 2nHCl; M = Al, Si, and Sn. The inks are hybrid composites of inorganic salts with amphiphilic block copolymer surfactants. Three proof-of-concept systems involving Al2O3, SiO2, and SnO2 nanostructures on silicon and silicon oxide surfaces have been studied. Arrays of dots and lines can be written easily with control over feature size and shape on the sub-200 nm level. The structures have been characterized by atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. This work is important because it opens up the opportunity for using DPN to deposit solid-state materials rather than simple organic molecules onto surfaces with the resolution of an AFM without the need for a driving force other than chemisorption (e.g., applied fields).

Aluminum Oxide↗