Tianjin University 10 articles published in JoVE Biology A Magnetic Separation-Assisted High-Speed Homogenization Method for Large-Scale Production of Endosome-Derived Vesicles Dujuan Wang1,2, Shili Yao2,3, Peng Guo1,2,3,4 1Academy of Medical Engineering and Translational Medicine, Tianjin University, 2Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, 3School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, 4Zhejiang Cancer Hospital Here, we describe a magnetic separation-assisted high-speed homogenization method for large-scale production of endosome-derived nanovesicles as a new type of exosome mimics (EMs) that share the same biological origin and similar structure, morphology, and protein composition of native extracellular vesicles (EVs). Bioengineering Gene Digital Circuits Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems and Anti-CRISPR Proteins Lifang Yu*1, Yadan Zhang*1, Mario Andrea Marchisio1 1School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University CRISPR-Cas systems and anti-CRISPR proteins were integrated into the scheme of Boolean gates in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The new small logic circuits showed good performance and deepened the understanding of both dCas9/dCas12a-based transcription factors and the properties of anti-CRISPR proteins. Engineering A Random-displacement Measurement by Combining a Magnetic Scale and Two Fiber Bragg Gratings Lianqing Zhu1,2, Lidan Lu3,4, Wei Zhuang2,5, Zhoumo Zeng3,4, Mingli Dong1,2 1School of Instrument Science and Opto-electronics Engineering, Beijing Information Science and Technology University, 2Beijing Engineering Research Center of Optoelectronic Information and Instruments, Beijing Key Laboratory for Optoelectronics Measurement Technology, 3School of Precision Instrument & Opto-electronics Engineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, 4School of Precision Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, 5School of Instrument and Opto-electronics Engineering, Hefei University of Technology A protocol to create a full-range linear displacement sensor, combining two packaged fiber Bragg grating detectors with a magnetic scale, is presented. Biology Photostimulation by Femtosecond Laser Activates Extracellular-signal-regulated Kinase (ERK) Signaling or Mitochondrial Events in Target Cells Shaoyang Wang1,2, Minglie Hu2, Tao Ren1, Hao He3 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2Ultrafast Laser Laboratory, College of Precision Instrument and Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, 3School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Tightly-focused femtosecond laser can deliver precise stimulation to cells by being coupled into a confocal microscopy enabling the real-time observation and photostimulation. The photostimulation can activate cell molecular events including ERK signaling pathway and mitochondrial flashes of reactive oxygen species. Engineering Measuring the Interaction Force Between a Droplet and a Super-hydrophobic Substrate by the Optical Lever Method Shuya Zhuang1, Meirong Zhao1, Zhiyi Wang1, Lele Zhang1, Yinguo Huang1, Yelong Zheng1 1State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University The protocol aims to investigate the interaction between droplets and super-hydrophobic substrates in the air. This includes calibrating the measurement system and measuring the interaction force at super-hydrophobic substrates with different grid fractions. Biochemistry Crystal Structure of the N-terminal Domain of Ryanodine Receptor from Plutella xylostella Bidhan Chandra Nayak*1, Jie Wang*1, Lianyun Lin*1,2,3,4, Weiyi He2,3,4, Minsheng You2,3,4, Zhiguang Yuchi1,2 1Tianjin Key Laboratory for Modern Drug Delivery & High-Efficiency, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 2State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian/Taiwan Crops and Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, 3Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, 4Fujian-Taiwan Joint Centre for Ecological Control of Crop Pests, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University In this article, we describe the protocols of protein expression, purification, crystallization and structure determination of the N-terminal domain of ryanodine receptor from diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). Engineering Measurement of Dynamic Force Acted on Water Strider Leg Jumping Upward by the PVDF Film Sensor Lele Zhang1, Meirong Zhao1, Zhiyi Wang1, Yunxi Li1, Yinguo Huang1, Yelong Zheng1 1State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University The protocol here is dedicated to investigating the free and quick maneuvering of water strider on water surface. The protocol includes observing the microstructure of legs and measuring the adhesion force when departing from water surface at different speeds. Bioengineering Microhoneycomb Monoliths Prepared by the Unidirectional Freeze-drying of Cellulose Nanofiber Based Sols: Method and Extensions Zheng-Ze Pan1,2, Hirotomo Nishihara3, Wei Lv1, Cong Wang1,2, Yi Luo1,2, Liubing Dong1,2, Houfu Song1,4, Wenjie Zhang2, Feiyu Kang1,2,4, Takashi Kyotani3, Quan-Hong Yang1,4,5 1Engineering Laboratory for Functionalized Carbon Materials and Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Graphene-based Materials, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, 2School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, 3Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 4Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute (TBSI), Tsinghua University, 5School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Here, we present a general protocol to prepare a variety of microhoneycomb monoliths (MHMs) in which fluid can pass through with an extremely low pressure drop. MHMs obtained are expected to be used as filters, catalyst supports, flow-type electrodes, sensors and scaffolds for biomaterials. Engineering Iridium Oxide-reduced Graphene Oxide Nanohybrid Thin Film Modified Screen-printed Electrodes as Disposable Electrochemical Paper Microfluidic pH Sensors Jiang Yang1,2, Tae-Joon Kwak3, Xiaodong Zhang4, Robert McClain5, Woo-Jin Chang*3,6, Sundaram Gunasekaran*1 1Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Center, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 3Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 4Department of Physics, School of Science, Tianjin University, 5Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 6School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee The study demonstrates the growth of iridium oxide-reduced graphene oxide (IrO2-RGO) nanohybrid thin films on irregular and rough screen-printed carbon substrate through a green electrochemical synthesis, and their implementation as a pH sensor with a patterned paper-fluidic platform. Engineering SSVEP-based Experimental Procedure for Brain-Robot Interaction with Humanoid Robots Jing Zhao1, Wei Li1,2, Xiaoqian Mao1, Mengfan Li1 1School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Tianjin University, 2Department of Computer & Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, California State University The overall goal of this method is to establish an SSVEP-based experimental procedure by integrating multiple software programs to enable the study of brain-robot interaction with humanoid robots, which is prospective in assisting the sick and elderly as well as performing unsanitary or dangerous jobs.