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A healthy gut microbiome is crucial for the immune system and overall development of infants. Bifidobacterium has been known to be a predominant species in the infant gut; however, an emerging concern is the apparent loss of this genus, in particular, Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis (B. infantis) in the gut microbiome of infants in industrialized nations, underscoring the importance of restoring this beneficial bacterium. With the growing understanding of the gut microbiome, probiotics, especially infant-type human-residential bifidobacteria (HRB) strains like B. infantis, are gaining prominence for their unique ability to utilize HMOs and positively influence infant health. This article delves into the physiology of a probiotic strain, B. infantis M-63, its symbiotic relationship with HMOs, and its potential in improving gastrointestinal and allergic conditions in infants and children. Moreover, this article critically assesses the role of HMOs and the emerging trend of supplementing infant formulas with the prebiotic HMOs, which serve as fuel for beneficial gut bacteria, thereby emulating the protective effects of breastfeeding. The review highlights the potential of combining B. infantis M-63 with HMOs as a feasible strategy to improve health outcomes in infants and children, acknowledging the complexities and requirements for further research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulation of cell–cell interactions via cell surface engineering has potential biomedical applications in tissue engineering and cell therapy. However, manipulation of the comprehensive and multiple intercellular interactions remains a challenge and missing elements. Herein, utilizing a DNA triangular prism (TP) and a branched polymer (BP) as functional modules, we fabricate tunable DNA scaffold networks on the cell surface. The responsiveness of cell–cell recognition, aggregation and dissociation could be modulated by aptamer‐functionalized DNA scaffold networks with high accuracy and specificity. By regulating the DNA scaffold networks coated on the cell surface, controlled intercellular molecular transportation is achieved. Our tunable network provides a simple and extendible strategy which addresses a current need in cell surface engineering to precisely manipulate cell–cell interactions and shows promise as a general tool for controllable cell behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanum doped lead titanate ferroelectric thin films were grown on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrates using rf magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction patterns show that the main phase of the films is tetragonal perovskite with preferred orientation of (111) perpendicular to the substrate. We investigated the ferroelectric domain patterns and the corresponding polarization arrangements of the films using piezoresponse force microscopy. Head-to-tail polarization configurations were often found to exist, indicating that the low electrical energy configurations are quite common in these thin films. Nanoscale banded 90° a-a domain patterns as small as 30–60 nm in width were observed. The banded domains alternated with adjacent lamellae can be attributed to mechanical strains at the surface and at the interface between the substrate and the film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study prepared lanthanum doped lead titanate ferroelectric thin films on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(100) substrates using rf magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal that the main phase of the films is tetragonal perovskite with preferred orientation of (111) perpendicular to the substrate.

Abstract: Polycrystalline Pb(Zr0.55Ti0.45)O3 thin film was deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si(1 0 0) by radio-frequency-magnetron sputtering method, and the writing of charge bits on the surface of PZT thin film was studied by Kelvin probe force microscopy. It is found that the surface potential of the negative charge bits are higher than those of the corresponding positive ones. When ferroelectric polarization switching occurs, the potential difference becomes even more remarkable. A qualitative model was proposed to explain the origin of the asymmetric charge writing. It is demonstrated that the internal field in the interface layer, which is near the ferroelectric/electrode interface in ferroelectric film, is likely to be the cause for the occurrence of this phenomenon. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aptamers are emerging as promising molecular tools in cancer-targeted theranostics. Improving their in vivo stability has been a critical issue in promoting clinical translation, but such efforts could lead to more serious side effects resulting from prolonged retention in healthy organs. To address this problem, we developed an environment-responsive stabilization strategy for the selective enhancement of aptamer biostability in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Briefly, by means of the end extension of an ATP-responsive protection (ARP) module, the designed aptamer could be protected from nuclease degradation through the specific incorporation of ATP. Based on our in vivo results, this ARP-aptamer probe was effectively accumulated in tumors via aptamer-based molecular recognition. It showed selectively prolonged tumor retention time, but rapid digestion in healthy organs. Our strategy should provide a new paradigm for the development of organ-specific nucleic acid-based imaging and therapeutic agents., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Manipulation of cell-cell interactions via cell surface engineering has potential biomedical applications in tissue engineering and cell therapy. However, manipulation of the comprehensive and multiple intercellular interactions remains a challenge and missing elements. Herein, utilizing a DNA triangular prism (TP) and a branched polymer (BP) as functional modules, we fabricate tunable DNA scaffold networks on the cell surface. The responsiveness of cell-cell recognition, aggregation and dissociation could be modulated by aptamer-functionalized DNA scaffold networks with high accuracy and specificity. By regulating the DNA scaffold networks coated on the cell surface, controlled intercellular molecular transportation is achieved. Our tunable network provides a simple and extendible strategy which addresses a current need in cell surface engineering to precisely manipulate cell-cell interactions and shows promise as a general tool for controllable cell behavior., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)