Multiple phylogenetically-diverse, differentially-virulent Burkholderia pseudomallei isolated from a single soil sample collected in Thailand.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a soil-dwelling bacterium endemic to Southeast Asia and northern Australia that causes the disease, melioidosis. Although the global genomic diversity of clinical B. pseudomallei isolates has been investigated, there is limited understanding of its genomic diversity across small geographic scales, especially in soil.

Dissolving microneedle based transdermal delivery of therapeutic peptide analogues.

Microneedle technology offers a viable means of delivering biologically active pharmaceutical agents across the skin in a minimally invasive and virtually pain free manner. Previous work detailed the first successful transdermal delivery of a model peptide drug, polymyxin b, utilising a dissolving polymer-based microneedle system. The focus of this study was to examine the ability of a dissolving microneedle system to deliver a range of peptides of different sizes and properties.

Hybrid Synthetic Receptors on MOSFET Devices for Detection of Prostate Specific Antigen in Human Plasma.

The study reports the use of extended gate field-effect transistors (FET) for the label-free and sensitive detection of prostate cancer (PCa) biomarkers in human plasma. The approach integrates for the first time hybrid synthetic receptors comprising of highly selective aptamer-lined pockets (apta-MIP) with FETs for sensitive detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) at clinically relevant concentrations. The hybrid synthetic receptors were constructed by immobilizing an aptamer-PSA complex on gold and subjecting it to 13 cycles of dopamine electropolymerization.

A Comparative Pulse Accuracy Study of Two Commercially Available Patch Insulin Infusion Pumps.

Patch pumps are a relatively new method of Insulin delivery. This study explores the accuracy of patch-pumps by reporting on comparative pulse-accuracy study of two patch pumps. The accuracy of two patch pumps (Cellnovo, [Cellnovo Ltd.

Evaluation of geometrical effects of microneedles on skin penetration by CT scan and finite element analysis.

Computerized tomography scan (CT scan) imaging and finite element analysis were employed to investigate how the geometric composition of microneedles affects their mechanical strength and penetration characteristics. Simulations of microneedle arrays, comprising triangular, square and hexagonal microneedle base, revealed a linear dependence of the mechanical strength to the number of vertices in the polygon base. A laser-enabled, micromoulding technique was then used to fabricate 3×3 microneedle arrays, each individual microneedle having triangular, square or hexagonal base geometries.

Evidence of Nonuniformity in Urothelium Barrier Function between the Upper Urinary Tract and Bladder.

Purpose: We compared the relative permeability of upper urinary tract and bladder urothelium to mitomycin C.

Materials And Methods: Ex vivo porcine bladder, ureters and kidneys were dissected out and filled with 1 mg ml(-1) mitomycin C. At 60 minutes the organs were emptied and excised tissue samples were sectioned parallel to the urothelium.

Aptamer-MIP hybrid receptor for highly sensitive electrochemical detection of prostate specific antigen.

This study reports the design and evaluation of a new synthetic receptor sensor based on the amalgamation of biomolecular recognition elements and molecular imprinting to overcome some of the challenges faced by conventional protein imprinting. A thiolated DNA aptamer with established affinity for prostate specific antigen (PSA) was complexed with PSA prior to being immobilised on the surface of a gold electrode. Controlled electropolymerisation of dopamine around the complex served to both entrap the complex, holding the aptamer in, or near to, it's binding conformation, and to localise the PSA binding sites at the sensor surface.

Investigating detrusor muscle concentrations of oxybutynin after intravesical delivery in an ex vivo porcine model.

Intravesical oxybutynin is highly effective in the treatment of overactive bladder. Traditionally the mechanism of action was explained by antagonism of muscarinic receptors located in the detrusor, however evidence now suggests antimuscarinics may elicit their effect by modifying afferent pathways in the mucosal region. This study aimed to investigate the bladder wall distribution of oxybutynin in an ex vivo setting providing tissue - layer specific concentrations of drug achieved after intravesical delivery.

Structural characterisation and transdermal delivery studies on sugar microneedles: experimental and finite element modelling analyses.

Dissolving microneedles are especially attractive for transdermal drug delivery as they are associated with improved patient compliance and safety. Furthermore, microneedles made of sugars offer the added benefit of biomolecule stabilisation making them ideal candidates for delivering biological agents such as proteins, peptides and nucleic acids. In this study, we performed experimental and finite element analyses to study the mechanical properties of sugar microneedles and evaluate the effect of sugar composition on microneedle ability to penetrate and deliver drug to the skin.

An ex vivo investigation into the transurothelial permeability and bladder wall distribution of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory ketorolac.

Transurothelial drug delivery continues to be an attractive treatment option for a range of urological conditions; however, dosing regimens remain largely empirical. Recently, intravesical delivery of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory ketorolac has been shown to significantly reduce ureteral stent-related pain. While this latest development provides an opportunity for advancing the management of stent-related pain, clinical translation will undoubtedly require an understanding of the rate and extent of delivery of ketorolac into the bladder wall.

Controlling the Nanoscale Patterning of AuNPs on Silicon Surfaces.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of vapour-phase deposition for creating sub-monolayer coverage of aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) on silicon in order to exert control over subsequent gold nanoparticle deposition. Surface coverage was evaluated indirectly by observing the extent to which gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) deposited onto the modified silicon surface. By varying the distance of the silicon wafer from the APTES source and concentration of APTES in the evaporating media, control over subsequent gold nanoparticle deposition was achievable to an extent.

Current practices for describing the performance of molecularly imprinted polymers can be misleading and may be hampering the development of the field.

A contributing factor to the labored advance of molecularly imprinting as a viable commercial solution to molecular recognition needs is the absence of a standard and robust method for assessing and reporting on molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) performance. The diversity and at times inappropriateness of MIP performance indicators means that the usefulness of the literature back-catalogue, for predicting, elucidating or understanding patterns in MIP efficacy, remains largely inaccessible. We hereby put forward the case that the simple binding isotherm is the most versatile and useful method of assessing and reporting MIP function, allowing direct comparison between polymers prepared and evaluated in different studies.

Design and evaluation of thin and flexible theophylline imprinted polymer membrane materials.

The aim of this work was to produce a thin, flexible and diffusion able molecularly imprinted polymeric matrix with good template accessibility. Membranes were prepared using a non-covalent molecular imprinting approach and their physical characteristics and binding capabilities investigated. Two materials were used, a poly(tri-ethyleneglycol dimethyacrylate-co-methyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid) copolymer containing 14% cross-linker and a monomer (g) to porogen (ml) ratio of 1:0.

Molecularly imprinted polymers: a bridge to advanced drug delivery.

Specific molecular recognition is a fundamental requirement of living systems on which processes as diverse as neural transmittance, respiration, immune defence, cellular differentiation and nutrition rely. It is therefore not surprising that scientists have invested huge amounts of time and effort into harnessing, and more recently mimicking, biological function. A number of synthetic approaches have been developed and one of the most promising of these is molecular imprinting.