New Unsymmetrical Bisacridine Derivatives Noncovalently Attached to Quaternary Quantum Dots Improve Cancer Therapy by Enhancing Cytotoxicity toward Cancer Cells and Protecting Normal Cells.

The use of nanoparticles for the controlled drug delivery to cells has emerged as a good alternative to traditional systemic delivery. Quantum dots (QDs) offer potentially invaluable societal benefits such as drug targeting and biomedical imaging. In contrast, QDs may also pose risks to human health and the environment under certain conditions.

Reduced graphene oxide doping with nanometer-sized ferrocene moieties - New active material for glucose redox sensors.

Herein, we present that the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) doped with nanometer-sized ferrocene moieties is a new, excellent active material for redox sensors. Two distinct approaches were utilized for the modification of rGO. The first method was based on the covalent decoration of rGO via the addition of azomethine ylide generated from the ferrocenecarboxaldehyde oxime.

The importance of antibody orientation in the electrochemical detection of ferritin.

The way of immobilization of the monoclonal antibody (type IgG) on the electrode surface has a significant effect on the amount of the immobilized protein and in consequence on current signal of protein. Herein, we demonstrate that the application of appropriately functionalized phenyl film allowed us to control the orientation of the antibody (Ab) molecules on the electrode surface. The influence of Ab orientation on the efficiency of antigen-antibody interaction was tested with an example blood plasma protein (ferritin; Ft).

Stable nanoconjugates of transferrin with alloyed quaternary nanocrystals Ag-In-Zn-S as a biological entity for tumor recognition.

One way to limit the negative effects of anti-tumor drugs on healthy cells is targeted therapy employing functionalized drug carriers. Here we present a biocompatible and stable nanoconjugate of transferrin anchored to Ag-In-Zn-S quantum dots modified with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (Tf-QD) as a drug carrier versus typical anticancer drug, doxorubicin. Detailed investigations of Tf-QD nanoconjugates without and with doxorubicin by fluorescence studies and cytotoxic measurements showed that the biological activity of both the transferrin and doxorubicin was fully retained in the nanoconjugate.

Charge-transfer interactions of Cr species with DNA.

Interactions of Cr species with nucleic acids in living organisms depend strongly on Cr oxidation state and the environmental conditions. As the effects of these interactions range from benign to pre-mutagenic to carcinogenic, careful assessment of the hazard they pose to human health is necessary. We have investigated methods that would enable quantifying the DNA damage caused by Cr species under varying environmental conditions, including UV, O, and redox potential, using simple instrumental techniques which could be in future combined into a field-deployable instrumentation.

Conformational control of human transferrin covalently anchored to carbon-coated iron nanoparticles in presence of a magnetic field.

Unlabelled: The control of the interactions of proteins with the support matrix plays a key role in medicine, drug delivery systems and diagnostics. Herein, we report that covalent anchoring of human transferrin to carbon-coated iron magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylic groups (Fe@C-COOH Nps) in the presence of magnetic field results in its conformational integrity and electroactivity. We have found that, the direct contact of human transferrin with Fe@C-COOH Nps does not lead to release of iron and in consequence to the irreversible conformational changes of the protein.