South China Normal University 12 articles published in JoVE Bioengineering Label-Free Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Bioanalysis Based on Au@Carbon Dot Nanoprobes Ying Zheng1, Xia Xiao1, Zhenzhen Li1, Yong Shao1, Jieyi Chen1, Zhouyi Guo1, Huiqing Zhong1, Zhiming Liu1 1MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University In this study, we developed a low-cost surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based fingerprint nanoprobe with favorable biocompatibility to show label-free live cell bioimaging and detect two bacterial strains, showing in detail how to get SERS spectra of living cells in a non-destructive method. Neuroscience Multichannel Extracellular Recording in Freely Moving Mice Maria Ghouse*1, Meng Li*1, Cheng Long1,2, Jinxiang Jiang1 1School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 2Panyu Central Hospital Joint Laboratory of Translational Medical Research, Panyu Central Hospital, South China Normal University The protocol describes the methodology of extracellular recording in the motor cortex (MC) to reveal extracellular electrophysiological properties in freely moving conscious mice, as well as the data analysis of local field potentials (LFPs) and spikes, which is useful for evaluating the network neural activity underlying behaviors of interest. Biology Efficient PAM-Less Base Editing for Zebrafish Modeling of Human Genetic Disease with zSpRY-ABE8e Shaohui Zheng1,2, Fang Liang3, Yu Zhang1,2, Ji-Feng Fei4, Wei Qin1,2, Yanmei Liu1,2 1Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Science, Ministry of Education, 2Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, 3Institute of Modern Aquaculture Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Environmentally Friendly Aquaculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Healthy and Safe Aquaculture, School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 4Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences This protocol describes how to perform efficient adenine base editing without PAM limitation to construct a precise zebrafish disease model using zSpRY-ABE8e. Developmental Biology Applications of RNA Interference in American Cockroach Liang Li*1, Andi Jing*1, Minxin Xie1, Sheng Li1,2, Chonghua Ren1,2 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 2Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University The present protocol describes step-by-step guidelines for the RNAi operation techniques in P. americana. Biology Microsurgical Obstruction of Testes Fusion in Spodoptera litura Xiaolin He*1, Qianqian Ma*1, Baozhu Jian1, Yucheng Liu1, Qiong Wu1, Meixin Chen1, Qili Feng1, Ping Zhao2, Lin Liu1 1South China Normal University-Shipai Campus: South China Normal University, 2Southwest University Aluminum foil was microsurgically inserted between the testes of Spodoptera litura to obstruct the fusion of testis. The procedure includes freezing, fixing, disinfection, incision, placing the barrier, suturing, postoperative feeding, and inspection. This approach provides a method to interfere with tissue formation. Bioengineering Dual Raster-Scanning Photoacoustic Small-Animal Imager for Vascular Visualization Fei Yang1,2, Zhiyang Wang1,2, Sihua Yang1,2 1MOE Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science & Institute of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University, 2Guangzhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Laser Life Science, College of Biophotonics, South China Normal University A dual raster-scanning photoacoustic imager was designed, which integrated wide-field imaging and real-time imaging. Bioengineering Cerebral Blood Flow-Based Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Human Brain using Optical Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy Chien Poon1, Ben Rinehart1, Jun Li1,2, Ulas Sunar1 1Department of Biomedical, Industrial and Human Factors Engineering, Wright State University, 2South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University This protocol demonstrates how to measure resting state functional connectivity in the human prefrontal cortex using a custom-made diffuse correlation spectroscopy instrument. The report also discuss practical aspects of the experiment as well as detailed steps for analyzing the data. Chemistry Experimental Methods for Efficient Solar Hydrogen Production in Microgravity Environment Katharina Brinkert1,2, Ömer Akay3, Matthias H. Richter1,4, Janine Liedtke2, Katherine T. Fountaine5,6, Hans-Joachim Lewerenz7, Michael Giersig3,8 1Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 2European Space Agency/ ESTEC, 3Department of Physics, Freie Universitat Berlin, 4Applied Physics and Sensors, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus, 5Resnick Sustainability Institute, California Institute of Technology, 6NG Next, Northrop Grumman Corporation, 7Division of Engineering and Applied Science and Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, California Institute of Technology, 8International Academy of Optoelectronics at Zhaoqing, South China Normal University Efficient solar-hydrogen production has recently been realized on functionalized semiconductor-electrocatalyst systems in a photoelectrochemical half-cell in microgravity environment at the Bremen Drop Tower. Here, we report the experimental procedures for manufacturing the semiconductor-electrocatalyst device, details of the experimental set-up in the drop capsule and the experimental sequence during free fall. Neuroscience Evaluation of Hemisphere Lateralization with Bilateral Local Field Potential Recording in Secondary Motor Cortex of Mice Yunan Chen1,2, Ming Li3, Ying Zheng3, Li Yang1 1School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, 2Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, South China Normal University, 3School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University We present in vivo electrophysiological recording of the local field potential (LFP) in bilateral secondary motor cortex (M2) of mice, which can be applied to evaluate hemisphere lateralization. The study revealed altered levels of synchronization between the left and right M2 in APP/PS1 mice compared to WT controls. Genetics Direct Gene Knock-out of Axolotl Spinal Cord Neural Stem Cells via Electroporation of CAS9 Protein-gRNA Complexes Wilson Pak-Kin Lou*1,2, Liqun Wang*3, Cheng Long1, Lei Liu3, Ji-Feng Fei3 1School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 2The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 3Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation (IBRR), South China Normal University Presented here is a protocol to perform time- and space-restricted gene knock-out in axolotl spinal cords by injecting CAS9-gRNA complex into the spinal cord central canal followed by electroporation. Neuroscience Whole-cell Currents Induced by Puff Application of GABA in Brain Slices Yangjian Feng*1,2, Binliang Tang*1,2, Ming Chen2, Li Yang1,3,4,5 1School of Psychology, South China Normal University, 2School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 3Brain Science Institute, South China Normal University, 4Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, 5Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University We describe the puff technique, by which pharmacological reagents can be administered during whole-cell patch-clamp recording, and highlight various aspects of the features that are crucial for its success. Neuroscience Recording EEG in Freely Moving Neonatal Rats Using a Novel Method Qing-Wei Huo*1, Sidra Tabassum*1, Afzal Ali Misrani1, Cheng Long1,2 1School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, 2Brain Science Institute, South China Normal University Here, we introduce a novel technique designed to record electroencephalography (EEG) in freely moving neonatal epileptic pups and describe its procedures, features, and applications. This method allows one to record EEG for more than 1 week.