Synthesis and Characterization of Eugenia uniflora L. Silver Nanoparticles and L-Cysteine Sensor Application.

L-Cysteine (Cys) is a non-essential sulfur-containing amino acid, crucial for protein synthesis, detoxification, and several metabolic functions. Cys is widely used in the agricultural, food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. So, a suitable sensitive and selective sensing approach is of great interest, and a low-cost sensor would be necessary.

Antimicrobial Activity of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Prepared by Photoreduction Process with Leaves and Fruit Extracts of and .

The increased number of resistant microbes generates a search for new antibiotic methods. Metallic nanoparticles have emerged as a new platform against several microorganisms. The nanoparticles can damage the bacteria membrane and DNA by oxidative stress.

SARS-CoV-2, hemoglobin and protoporphyrin IX: Interactions and perspectives.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 attacks hemoglobin through its structural protein ORF3a, dissociating the iron from the heme, as iron is necessary by cell machinery for virus replication. In this process protoporphyrin (PpIX) is released.

Methods: The decrease in the hemoglobin levels observed in patients with Covid-19 is frequently accompanied by an increase in PpIX levels.

Tryptophan Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Photoreduction Method: Characterization and Determination of Bactericidal and Anti-Biofilm Activities on Resistant and Susceptible Bacteria.

The high rates of antibiotics use in hospitals have resulted in a condition where multidrug-resistant pathogens have become a severe threat to the human health worldwide. Therefore, there is an increasing necessity to identify new antimicrobial agents that can inhibit the multidrug-resistant bacteria and biofilm formation. In this study, antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of tryptophan silver nanoparticles (TrpAgNP) were investigated.

Porphyrins are increased in the faeces of patients with prostate cancer: a case-control study.

Background: Experimental models of prostate cancer have demonstrated increased levels of protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in the blood and faeces of mice. Hence, the quantification of these autofluorescent molecules could be hypothesized to be a potential marker for this type of tumour. In this case-control study, the autofluorescence of porphyrins in human faeces from patients with prostate cancer and control subjects was analysed using fluorescence spectroscopy.

Aminolevulinic acid with gold nanoparticles: a novel theranostic agent for atherosclerosis.

In this study, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) gold nanoparticles (ALA:AuNPs) functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) were synthesized and administered to rabbits to evaluate their use in clinical practice as theranostic agents for atherosclerosis. This was done by measuring the porphyrin fluorescence extracted from the rabbits' blood and feces. An increase in blood and feces porphyrin emission after ALA:AuNP administration suggests that ALA was incorporated by gold nanoparticles, its structure was preserved, and a rapid conversion into endogenous porphyrins occurred, overloading the synthetic pathway that led to protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) accumulation.

Liquid biopsy of atherosclerosis using protoporphyrin IX as a biomarker.

Protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), a derivative of hematoporphyrin, can accumulate in rapidly growing tissues, including tumors and atherosclerotic plaques. The objective of this study is to employ PPIX fluorescence to detect the changes in blood caused by the formation of atheromatous plaques in arteries; this measurement can function as a liquid biopsy. For this purpose twenty four rabbits were randomly divided into groups: control group (CG)--fed with a normal diet, and an experimental group (EG)--fed with a hypercholesterolemic diet (1% cholesterol).

Enhancement of blood porphyrin emission intensity with aminolevulinic acid administration: a new concept for photodynamic diagnosis of early prostate cancer.

Background: The objective of this paper was to verify if the oral administration of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in animals with prostate tumor can increase the sensitivity of cancer diagnosis by protoporphyrin IX blood autofluorescence. In this study, the autofluorescence of blood porphyrin was analyzed using fluorescence spectroscopy on healthy male NUDE mice and in those with prostate cancer induced by the inoculation of DU145 cells.

Methods: A total of 18 male NUDE mice, ∼8 weeks old on arrival were divided into 3 groups: Control, Tumor and ALA Tumor.

Intrinsic fluorescence of protoporphyrin IX from blood samples can yield information on the growth of prostate tumours.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men, and unfortunately many prostate tumours remain asymptomatic until they reach advanced stages. Diagnosis is typically performed through Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) quantification, Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) and Transrectal Ultrasonography (TU). The antigen (PSA) is secreted by all prostatic epithelial cells and not exclusively by cancerous ones, so its concentration also increases in the presence of other prostatic diseases.

Erythrocyte protoporphyrin fluorescence as a potential marker of diabetes.

Protoporphyrin (PpIX), a porphyrin derivative, is the intermediate metabolic precursor of the heme molecule. Abnormal metabolism of total erythrocyte PpIX has been observed in diseases such as cancer, lead poisoning, psoriasis, iron deficiency anemia and acute porphyries. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex metabolic syndrome in which hyperglycemia is the primary clinical manifestation and contributes to the diabetic complications.

Analytical quantification of low-density lipoprotein using europium tetracycline indicator.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is known as 'bad' cholesterol. If too much LDL circulates in the blood it can be retained in the walls of the arteries, causing atherosclerosis. In this paper we showed an alternative method to quantify LDL using the europium tetracycline (EuTc) indicator.

Correlation between autofluorescence intensity and tumor area in mice bearing renal cell carcinoma.

Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is a porphyrin derivative that is accumulated in cancerous tissue in consequence of the tumor-specific metabolic alterations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of PpIX in mice bearing renal cell carcinoma by spectroscopy analysis. A total of 24 male Balb/c mice, 6 weeks old, were divided into six groups: Normal (without inoculation of tumor cells) and 4, 8, 13, 16, and 20 days after inoculation of tumor cells.

Enhancement of europium emission band of europium tetracycline complex in the presence of cholesterol.

We report here the observation, for the first time, of the enhancement of Europium-Tetracycline complex emission in cholesterol solutions. This enhancement was initially observed with the addition of the enzyme cholesterol oxidase, which produces H(2)O(2), the agent driver of the Europium tetracycline complex, to the solution. However, it was found that the enzyme is not needed to enhance the luminescence.

Study of blood porphyrin spectral profile for diagnosis of tumor progression.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for approximately 3% of new cancer incidence and mortality in the United States. Unfortunately many RCC masses remain asymptomatic and nonpalpable until they are advanced. Diagnosis and localization of early carcinoma play an important role in the prevention and curative treatment of RCC.