Protein corona formation and its constitutional changes on magnetic nanoparticles in serum featuring a polydehydroalanine coating: effects of charge and incubation conditions.

The inevitable formation of a protein corona upon contact of nanoparticles with different biological fluids is of great interest in the context of biomedical applications. It is well established that the surface chemistry of the respective nanomaterial has tremendous impact on protein adsorption, both in terms of the actual amount as well as the type of proteins adsorbed. In that regard, especially polyzwitterions are discussed as coating materials as they are known to partially inhibit protein adsorption.

Magnetic Nanoparticles Interact and Pass an In Vitro Co-Culture Blood-Placenta Barrier Model.

Magnetic nanoparticles are interesting tools for biomedicine. Before application, critical prerequisites have to be fulfilled. An important issue is the contact and interaction with biological barriers such as the blood-placenta barrier.

Influence of Sterilization and Preservation Procedures on the Integrity of Serum Protein-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles.

Protein-coated magnetic nanoparticles are promising candidates for various medical applications. Prior to their application into a biological system, one has to guarantee that the particle dispersions are free from pathogens or any other microbiologic contamination. Furthermore, to find entrance into clinical routine, the nanoparticle dispersions have to be storable for several months.

Intentional formation of a protein corona on nanoparticles: Serum concentration affects protein corona mass, surface charge, and nanoparticle-cell interaction.

The protein corona, which immediately is formed after contact of nanoparticles and biological systems, plays a crucial role for the biological fate of nanoparticles. In the here presented study we describe a strategy to control the amount of corona proteins which bind on particle surface and the impact of such a protein corona on particle-cell interactions. For corona formation, polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) were incubated in a medium consisting of fetal calf serum (FCS) and cell culture medium.

Navigation at the spine.

Computer aided and computer navigated operative techniques have been used for the first time in neurosurgery and surgery of the spine. For computer aided surgery of the spine there are currently two different methods: CT-based and C-arm based techniques. The advantage of the CT-based technique is its accuracy especially in difficult anatomical regions like the cervical and upper thoracic spine, and the possibility of preoperative planning.