Aptamer-Engineered CuO Nanocubes as a Surface-Modulated Catalytic Optical Sensor for Lung Cancer Cell Detection.

Herein, fine and homogeneous CuO nanocubes are synthesized and sensitized with a hairpin-structured AS1411 aptamer for the establishment of a biosensor for lung cancer cell detection. The Apt-CuO nanocubes feature a recognition function in identifying a cancer-associated surface nucleolin protein. The intrinsic reduction catalytic ability is also confirmed by the use of two benchmark substrates, methylene blue (MB) and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP).

Exploiting the Catalytic Ability of Polydopamine-Remodeling Gold Nanoparticles toward the Naked-Eye Detection of Cancer Cells at a Single-Cell Level.

In this study, a catalytic polydopamine-remodeling gold nanoparticle sensitized with an antinucleolin AS1411 probe (pAu nanoprobe) is synthesized, where the surface of the gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is modified with a spontaneous self-polymerization of a polydopamine coating that imparts the probe functionalization ability and antispecific protein binding while the intrinsic catalytic property of the AuNPs is preserved. The functionalized AS1411 probe exerts specific recognition with nucleolin protein that is found to be overexpressed on the surface of breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms that the specific binding of the pAu nanoprobe occurs at the cancer cell surface.

Imaging of Cancer Cells and Dictated Cytotoxicity Using Aptamer-Guided Hybridization Chain Reaction (HCR)-Generated G-Quadruplex Chains.

DNA nanotechnology provides powerful tools for developing cancer theranostics. Here we introduce the autonomous surface-nucleolin-guided HCR that leads to the polymerization of G-quadruplex polymer chains, in which the Zn -protoporphyrin IX is intercalated. We demonstrate that MDA-MB-231 (Triple Negative Breast Cancer cells, TNBC) with overexpressed surface nucleolin were able to induce HCR leading to the formation of the Zn PPIX-loaded G-quadruplex polymer chains, while the M10 epithelial breast cells served as control.

Polydopamine-gold composite-based electrochemical biosensor using dual-amplification strategy for detecting pancreatic cancer-associated microRNA.

Herein, we developed a dual-amplification-boosted, translational electrochemical biosensor for the detection of pancreatic cancer-associated microRNA, miR-196b. A biosensing event occurred when a hairpin target probe recognized miR-196b as a result of the opening of an electrode hairpin probe on a polydopmine-gold (PDA-Au) composite-modified screen-printed carbon electrode. The PDA-Au composite was synthesized in a alkaline condition where dopamine polymerized into polydopamine while gold(III) ion was in-situ reduced to gold nanoparticle, characterized by FT-IR, SEM, cyclic voltammetry and gel electrophoresis.

Diagnosing the RGS11 Lung Cancer Biomarker: The Integration of Competitive Immunoassay and Isothermal Nucleic Acid Exponential Amplification Reaction.

Lung cancer is the primary cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide, which makes the identification of reliable lung cancer biomarkers a pressing need for early diagnosis and prognosis. RGS11, which is a regulator of G-protein signaling and also a lung cancer biomarker, plays an important role in cancer-related metastasis. However, trace levels of RGS11 (in the range of pg/mL) in serum samples make it difficult to quantify using currently available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and, therefore, this hinders progress in the discovery of new approaches for treating lung cancer.

Use of liposomal amplifiers in total internal reflection fluorescence fiber-optic biosensors for protein detection.

Evanescent-wave excited fluorescence technology has been demonstrated to enhance sensitivity and reduce matrix effects, making it suitable for biosensor development. In this study, we developed a liposome-based, total internal reflection fluorescence, fiber-optic biosensor (TIRF-FOB) for protein detection, which integrates a liposomal amplifier and sandwich immunoassay format with TIRF-FOB. In addition, the antibody-tagged and fluorophore-entrapped liposomes for heterogeneous detection of target molecules were designed and synthesized.

Diagnosing the miR-141 prostate cancer biomarker using nucleic acid-functionalized CdSe/ZnS QDs and telomerase.

The microRNA, miR-141, is a promising biomarker for prostate cancer. We implement here a two-step sensing platform for the sensitive detection of miR-141. The first step involves the use of semiconductor CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) modified by FRET quencher-functionalized nucleic acids, that include the recognition sequence for miR-141 and a telomerase primer sequence for the second step of the analytical platform.

Monitoring the subcellular localization of doxorubicin in CHO-K1 using MEKC-LIF: liposomal carrier for enhanced drug delivery.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an extensively used anthracycline that has proven to be effective against a variety of human malignant tumors, such as ovarian or breast cancer. While DOX was administered into cultured cancer cell targets (such as CHO-K1) in either free drug form or in drug carrier-associated form (i.e.

Optical aptasensors for the analysis of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

The vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF, is an important biomarker for different diseases and clinical disorders. We present a series of optical aptasensor-based sensing platforms for VEGF that include the following: (i) A FRET-based sensor that involves the VEGF-induced separation of aptamer-functionalized quantum dots blocked by a quencher nucleic acid (detection limit 1 nM). (ii) A FRET-based sensor based on the VEGF-induced assembly of the aptamer subunits functionalized with QDs and a dye acceptor (Cy5), respectively (detection limit 12 nM).

Development of an immunopredictor for the evaluation of the risk of cardiovascular diseases based on the level of soluble P-selectin.

Due to its physiologic role in modulating adhesive interactions between blood cells and the endothelium during inflammatory processes or at injury sites, the adhesion molecule P-selectin is of great interest. The level of soluble P-selectin in plasma or serum can be detected and used as a clinical predictor for adverse cardiovascular events, leading to the presumption that it is secreted, shed or cleaved from the cell membrane during the process of diseases. Increased levels of soluble P-selectin in the plasma have been shown to be associated with a range of cardiovascular disorders, including coronary artery disease, hypertension and atrial fibrillation.

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-browning activities of hot water extracts of oriental herbal teas.

Traditionally, antioxidants are used to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are harmful by-products of aerobic metabolism. Inulae Flos, Horsetail, Chinese Leucas, Broomweed and Indian Wikstroemia are five herbal teas commonly consumed by Asians. Our aim was to investigate the hot water extracts of these five herbal teas for their total phenolics/flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacities.