We describe a planar MEMS silicon structure to record ion channel currents in biological cells. The conventional method of performing an electrophysiological experiment, 'patch-clamping', employs a glass micropipette. The micropipette tip is a source of thermal noise because of its inherent, tapered, conical structure, giving rise to a large pipette resistance. This pipette resistance, when coupled with the biological cell capacitance, limits the available bandwidth of single ion channel recordi...

Taxonomy  Microbiology  Biochemistry  Biodiversity  Developmental Biology  Bioengineering  Bioinformatics  Environmental Sciences  Agricultural Science  Computational Biology  Genetics  Cell Biology  Food Science & Technology  Parasitology  Synthetic Biology 

Doi:10.1016/j.sse.2004.05.072

Computer simulations of realistic ion channel structures have always been challenging and a subject of rigorous study. Simulations based on continuum electrostatics have proven to be computationally cheap and reasonably accurate in predicting a channel's behavior. In this paper we discuss the use of a device simulator, SILVACO, to build a solid-state model for KcsA channel and study its steady-state response. SILVACO is a well-established program, typically used by electrical engineers to simula...

Biological Chemistry  Photochemistry  Taxonomy  Medicinal Chemistry  Ecosystem Science  Developmental Biology  Computational Robotics  Complex network models  Artificial Intelligence  Genetics  Theoretical Chemistry  Analytical Chemistry  Neuroscience  Biological Materials  Nanometer Materials  Green Chemistry  Mathematical Biology  Molecular Biology  Microbiology  Biochemistry  Biodiversity  Bioengineering  Bioinformatics  Biophysics  Biotechnology  Functional Materials  Computational Biology  Synthetic Biology 

Doi:10.1016/j.cmpb.2006.08.007

Infections from parasitic nematodes (or roundworms) contribute to a significant disease burden and productivity losses for humans and livestock. The limited number of anthelmintics (or antinematode drugs) available today to treat these infections are rapidly losing their efficacy as multidrug resistance in parasites becomes a global health challenge. We propose an engineering approach to discover an anthelmintic drug combination that is more potent at killing wild-type Caenorhabditis elegans wor...

Neuroscience  Marine Biology  Toxicology  Taxonomy  Microbiology  Ecosystem Science  Biodiversity  Developmental Biology  Bioengineering  Environmental Sciences  Animal Behavior  Agricultural Science  Biotechnology  Computational Biology  Food Science & Technology  Parasitology  Plant Science  Synthetic Biology 

Doi:10.1126/sciadv.aao1254

In this paper, we present a movement-based assay to observe adaptability in Caenorhabditis elegans locomotion behavior. The assay comprises a series of sinusoidal microchannels with a fixed wavelength and modulating (increasing or decreasing) amplitude. The channel width is comparable to the body diameter of the organism. Worms are allowed to enter the channel from the input port and migrate toward the output port. Within channel sections that closely match the worm's natural undulations, the wo...

Animal Behavior  Agricultural Science  Veterinary Medicine  Parasitology  Plant Science  Soil Science  Biodiversity  Bioengineering 

Doi:10.1063/1.3604391

Grewia asiatica L., is a species native to south Asia from Pakistan, east to Cambodia, cultivated primarily for its edible fruit and well-reputed for its diverse medicinal uses. Fruits are a rich source of nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals and contain various bioactive compounds, like anthocyanins, tannins, phenolics and flavonoids. Different parts of this plant possess different pharmacological properties. Leaves have antimicrobial, anticancer, antiplatelet and ant...

Biological Chemistry  Cardiology  Toxicology  Photochemistry  Taxonomy  Medicinal Chemistry  Environmental Sciences  Agricultural Science  Genetics  Food Science & Technology  Nutrition  Analytical Chemistry  Biological Materials  Environmental Chemistry  Green Chemistry  Pharmacology  Public Health  Organic Chemistry  Evidence Based Medicine  Gastroenterology & Hepatology  Microbiology  Global Health  Biochemistry  Biodiversity  Biophysics  Biotechnology  Translational Medicine  Respiratory Medicine 

Doi:10.3390/molecules18032663