Research articles

A protocol for setting up, calibrating and validating a semi-automated sample processing pipeline for cell-free RNA isolation from clinical samples using the Opentrons 1.0 or 2.0 open-source robotic platform.

A protocol for broad-spectrum, in vivo fluorescent labeling and tracking of extracellular matrix proteins through the systemic or local application of N-hydroxysuccinimide esters. This flexible approach can be adapted for a variety of organ systems and wounding models.

This protocol describes how to measure the rate of racemization in atropisomers by (i) kinetic analysis of the racemization of an enantioenriched sample, (ii) dynamic HPLC and (iii) variable-temperature NMR.

Protocol for the fabrication of a microfluidic device and its implementation in three-dimensional human neural cultures, allowing the study of neuron–glia interactions in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

In this protocol, layered semiconductor crystals undergo electrochemical intercalation of organic cations followed by exfoliation to form 2D nanosheets in solution. These nanosheets can assemble into thin films for diverse electronic applications.

Combining surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy with surface-accessible nanomaterials allows molecule–metal interactions to be probed in the complex environments that are directly relevant to their application. This will underpin the development of improved functional nanomaterials.

The authors provide a protocol for cytosine base editing to introduce precise substitutions into the genome of zebrafish, an important model for genetic studies and in vivo disease modeling.

The authors provide a detailed protocol for the isolation of four membrane protein complexes (transmembrane channel-like proteins 1 and 2, lipid transfer protein and ‘Protein S’) from transgenic C. elegans.

Laser-based sampling techniques are commonly used in many mass spectrometry imaging approaches. With this protocol, subcellular spatial resolution is achieved by focusing the laser with an optical fiber with an end rounded to form a microlens.

A protocol for the construction of acoustic tweezers to manipulate single cells in a high-throughput, precise, selective and contact-free manner, which can be broadly adapted for investigations across the materials, physical and life sciences.

This protocol describes how to coat polymeric nanoparticles (e.g., bare poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (50:50, acid terminated) Resomer 504H nanoparticles) with ionic liquids to improve their circulation half-life and biodistribution after intravenous injection. This is achieved via red blood cell hitchhiking in whole blood.

Understanding how proteins and materials interact is useful for evaluating their safety and function. This protocol describes a dimethyl labeling strategy for determining the protein-material interface and discovering allosteric structural changes.

A protocol for differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into three-dimensional ureteric bud organoids that exhibit complex morphological development and the capacity to differentiate into functional collecting duct tissues.

A general approach, via solution-based self-assembly, for the preparation of two-dimensional mesoporous conducting polymer nanosheets with tunable pore size and thickness, and defined morphology and composition.

This Protocol Extension combines optogenetics with juxtacellular recordings and describes procedures for targeting, recording and labeling individual genetically defined neurons in freely moving mice.

A protocol for fabricating quantum mechanical tunneling probes via carbon and gold deposition, functionalized by surface modifications such as biotinylated thiols, that enable conductance to be measured in single proteins in solution for up to several hours.

We provide an updated protocol for image-based profiling with Cell Painting. A detailed procedure, with standardized conditions for the assay, is presented, along with a comprehensive description of parameters to be considered when optimizing the assay.

Here the authors describe a protocol for generating bacterial cell lysates and freeze-dried, cell-free reactions for on-demand synthesis of glycoprotein therapeutics and vaccines, as well as aglycosylated proteins (for example, conjugate vaccine carrier proteins).

This protocol enables ex vivo immunocapture of cell-type-specific mitochondria directly from their tissue context in heterogeneous tissues such as the nervous system, using MitoTag reporter mice.

The authors present a FACS-based protocol for the purification of human skeletal stem cell lineages from a variety of tissue sources, alongside in vitro and in vivo skeletogenic functional assays, human xenograft mouse models and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis.