Hansang Cho

We describe an aptamer-based surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) sensor with high sensitivity, specificity, and stability for the detection of a coagulation protein, human α-thrombin. The sensor achieves high sensitivity and a limit of detection of 100 pM by monitoring the SERRS signal change upon the single-step of thrombin binding to immobilized thrombin binding aptamer. The selectivity of the sensor is demonstrated by the specific discrimination of thrombin from other protein

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) pathology leads to neurovascular disorders and is an important target for therapies. However, the study of BBB pathology is difficult in the absence of models that are simple and relevant. In vivo animal models are highly relevant, however they are hampered by complex, multi-cellular interactions that are difficult to decouple. In vitro models of BBB are simpler, however they have limited functionality and relevance to disease processes. To address these limitations, we

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a major component among air pollutants, highlights as a global health concern. Several epidemiological studies show the correlation between chronical PM2.5 exposure and incidents of neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease. However, the mechanisms have not been well understood, partly due to the lack of model systems that reflect the physiologically relevant innate immunity in human brains. Here, PM2.5-polluted human brain models (PMBs) are created in

Early cancer diagnosis is very important for the prevention or mitigation of metastasis. However, effective and efficient methods are needed to improve the diagnosis and assessment of cancer. Here, we report a single-step detection method using a nanoplasmonic aptamer sensor (aptasensor), targeting a vascular endothelial growth factor-165 (VEGF(165)), a predominant biomarker of cancer angiogenesis. Our single-step detection is accomplished by (1) specific target recognition by an aptamer-target

In this paper, we present a method combining surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy to detect biomolecules in a label-free way with an electrokinetic preconcentration technique (electrophoresis) to amplify biomolecular signals at low concentrations. A constant electric field is applied to charged biomolecules in solution, attracting them to an oppositely charged electrode, which is also used as a SERS substrate. Within 5 min, we observed that the SERS signal of 10 fM adenine was a

Progressive microglial accumulation at amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques is a well-established signature of the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, but how and why microglia accumulate in the vicinity of Aβ plaques is unknown. To understand the distinct roles of Aβ on microglial accumulation, we quantified microglial responses to week-long lasting gradients of soluble Aβ and patterns of surface-bound Aβ in microfluidic chemotaxis platforms. We found that human microglia chemotaxis in gradients of soluble Aβ4

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative illness and the exact etiology of the disease remains unknown. It is characterized by long preclinical and prodromal phases with pathological features including an accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides into extracellular Aβ plaques in the brain parenchyma and the formation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) within neurons as a result of abnormal phosphorylation of microtubule-associated tau proteins. In addition, pro

Recent epidemiological studies show a noticeable correlation between chronic microbial infections and neurological disorders. However, the underlying mechanisms are still not clear due to the biological complexity of multicellular and multiorgan interactions upon microbial infections. In this review, we show the infection leading to neurodegeneration mediated by multiorgan interconnections and neuroinflammation. Firstly, we highlight three inter-organ communications as possible routes from infec

"Engineered human organs" hold promises for predicting the effectiveness and accuracy of drug responses while reducing cost, time, and failure rates in clinical trials. Multiorgan human models utilize many aspects of currently available technologies including self-organized spherical 3D human organoids, microfabricated 3D human organ chips, and 3D bioprinted human organ constructs to mimic key structural and functional properties of human organs. They enable precise control of multicellular acti

Neuroinflammatory roles of central innate immunity in brain parenchyma are well-regarded in the progression of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD), however, the roles of peripheral immunity in central nervous system (CNS) diseases are less clear. Here, we created a microfluidic environment of human AD brains: microglial neuroinflammation induced by soluble amyloid-beta (Abeta), a signature molecule in AD and employed the environment to investigate the roles of neutroph

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, typically showing progressive neurodegeneration in aging brains. The key signatures of the AD progression are the deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, the formation of tau tangles, and the induction of detrimental neuroinflammation leading to neuronal loss. However, conventional pharmacotherapeutic options are merely relying on the alleviation of symptoms that are limited to mild to moderate AD patients. Moreover, some of these

Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cells in the circulation, protecting the body against pathogens and responding early to inflammation. Although we understand how neutrophils respond to individual stimuli, we know less about how they prioritize between competing signals or respond to combinational signals. This situation is due in part to the lack of adequate experimental systems to provide signals in controlled spatial and temporal fashion. To address these limitations, we d

<i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i> is a gram-negative bacterium found in the human oral cavity and is responsible for the development of chronic periodontitis as well as neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Given the significance of the roles of <i>P. gingivalis</i> in AD pathogenesis, it is critical to understand the underlying mechanisms of <i>P. gingivalis</i>-driven neuroinflammation and their contribution to neurodegeneration. Herein, we hypothesize that <i>P. gingivalis<

Non-neural extracellular matrix (ECM) has limited application in humanized physiological neural modeling due to insufficient brain-specificity and safety concerns. Although brain-derived ECM contains enriched neural components, certain essential components are partially lost during the decellularization process, necessitating augmentation. Here, it is demonstrated that the laminin-augmented porcine brain-decellularized ECM (P-BdECM) is xenogeneic factor-depleted as well as favorable for the regu