Lab

Question 1

What is the working mechanism of Hoechst 33342?

Answer 1

Hoechst 33342 binds preferentially to adenine-thymine (A-T) regions of DNA. This stain
binds into the minor groove of DNA and exhibits distinct blue fluorescence emission
spectra that are dependent on dye:base pair ratios.

Question 2

Explain the MSOE bioink and bioprinting process and mechanism.

Answer 2

The bioink used is a novel Pectin/Pluroinc F127 bioink developed at MSOE. Heat-induced gelation of Pluronic F-127 only occurred in the first few
layers of the printed scaffold; however, once the scaffold is removed from the heat, the scaffold
loses its defined shape, becoming a viscous liquid rather than a solid gel. Hence, once the first
few layers are printed, the rest of the scaffold can form a stable gel (not temperature-dependent)
by introducing Ca 2+.