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The integrated BioCryo Facility (RRID:SCR_021288) provides a comprehensive source for the characterization of biological, soft matter, and hybrid samples with TEM (Transmission Electron Microscopy), SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), and STEM (Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy) at cryogenic or ambient temperature. We provide expertise and access to equipment for cryofixation and processing of frozen-hydrated samples by high-pressure freezing, plunge freezing, cryo fracturing, cryo ultramicrotomy, and freeze substitution. We also process samples  at ambient temperature with chemical fixation, dehydration, and resin embedment, or critical point drying.

BioCryo Highlight

Featured Article: Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2025

Supramolecular Copolymerization of Glycopeptide Amphiphiles and Amyloid Peptides Improves Neuron Survival.

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Gao, Zijun, Ruomeng Qiu, Dhwanit R. Dave, Palash Chandravanshi, Gisele P.  Soares, Cara S. Smith, J. Alberto Ortega, Liam C. Palmer, Zaida Álvarez, and Samuel I. Stupp. "Supramolecular Copolymerization of Glycopeptide Amphiphiles and Amyloid Peptides Improves Neuron Survival." Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025).

Zijun Gao et al. (2025) present a novel therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer’s disease by using trehalose-functionalized peptide amphiphiles (TPAs) that self-assemble into nanofibers capable of trapping amyloid beta (Aβ42) peptides. These TPAs form hybrid supramolecular structures with Aβ42, preventing its toxic aggregation and uptake by neurons. In vitro studies showed that this approach significantly improved neuron survival and reduced markers of cell death. The findings suggest that supramolecular copolymerization could be a powerful, non-immunological method to neutralize amyloid toxicity and protect neurons in Alzheimer’s and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases.

Zijun is a long time user of the BioCryo Core and used BioCryo equipment for the TEM and cryo-TEM parts of the Study.

Interactions between amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42) and annealed or nonannealed E2 or TPA supramolecular assemblies. Scale bars correspond to 200 nm.

Internal structures and morphology of annealed or nonannealed E2 and TPA assemblies. Scale bars correspond to 500 nm.