A novel miniaturized sensor for electrochemical detection that contains graphene- and gold nanoparticles was functionalized with proteins. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) it was possible to observe and quantify interactions of molecules with these proteins. The protein binders included carbohydrate ligands as small as carbohydrates up to COVID-19 spike protein variants engaged in protein-protein interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPseudomonas aeruginosa is a widespread opportunistic pathogen that is capable of colonizing various human tissues and is resistant to many antibiotics. LecA is a galactose binding tetrameric lectin involved in adhesion, infection and biofilm formation. This study reports on the binding characteristics of mono- and divalent (chelating) ligands to LecA using different techniques.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) as biomarkers of the hangover state.
Methods: Thirty-sixhealthy social drinkers participated in this study, being of naturalistic design. Eighteen participants experience regular hangovers (the hangover group), whereas the other 18 claim to not experience a hangover (the hangover-immune group).
J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci
July 2015
Cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) plays an important role in drug metabolism. Caffeine (CAF) is converted into paraxanthine (PX) by this enzyme and is used as a xenobiotic substrate to determine the CYP1A2 phenotype in humans. A method for the quantification of CAF and PX in saliva was developed using liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate and analysis with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnalyte-wall interaction is a significant problem in capillary electrophoresis (CE) as it may compromise separation efficiencies and migration time repeatability. In CE, self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayer films of Polybrene (PB) and dextran sulfate (DS) or poly(vinylsulfonic acid) (PVS) have been used to coat the capillary inner wall and thereby prevent analyte adsorption. In this study, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to investigate the layer thickness and surface morphology of monolayer (PB), bilayer, (PB-DS and PB-PVS), and trilayer (PB-DS-PB and PB-PVS-PB) coatings on glass surfaces.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To study the in vitro photocytotoxicity and cellular uptake of biodegradable polymeric micelles loaded with the photosensitizer mTHPC, including the effect of lipase-catalyzed micelle degradation.
Methods: Micelles of mPEG750-b-oligo(epsilon-caprolactone)5 (mPEG750-b-OCL5) with a hydroxyl (OH), benzoyl (Bz) or naphthoyl (Np) end group were formed and loaded with mTHPC by the film hydration method. The cellular uptake of the loaded micelles, and their photocytotoxicity on human neck squamous carcinoma cells in the absence and presence of lipase were compared with free and liposomal mTHPC (Fospeg).
Angiogenic endothelium plays a crucial role in tumor growth. During angiogenesis, complex alterations in the microenvironment occur. In response, the endothelium undergoes phenotypic changes, for example overexpression of alpha(v)-integrins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe enzymatically degradable poly(amino acid)-lipid conjugate poly(hydroxyethyl l-glutamine)-N-succinyl-dioctadecylamine (PHEG-DODASuc) has been shown to effectively prolong liposome circulation times. In this paper, we investigated whether PHEG-DODASuc can stabilize liposomes composed of the fusogenic, non-bilayer-forming lipid dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE). Moreover, we evaluated the release of an entrapped compound after enzyme-induced shedding of the PHEG-coating, interbilayer contact and membrane destabilizing phase changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe purpose of this research was to develop a stable bladder instillation of EO-9 for the treatment of superficial bladder cancer. First, stability and dissolution studies were performed. Subsequently, the freeze-drying process was optimized by determination of the freeze-drying characteristics of the selected cosolvent/water system and differential scanning calorimetry analysis of the formulation solution.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiomacromolecules
September 2007
The aim of the present study was to design amphiphilic oligopeptides that can self-assemble into vesicular structures. The ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic block length was varied, and peptides were designed to have a hydrophobic tail in which the bulkiness of the amino acid side groups increases toward the hydrophilic domain (Ac-Ala-Ala-Val-Val-Leu-Leu-Leu-Trp-Glu(2/7)-COOH). These peptides were recombinantly produced in bacteria as an alternative to solid-phase synthesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPH-PLCdelta1 [the PH domain (pleckstrin homology domain) of PLCdelta1 (phospholipase C-delta1)] is among the best-characterized phosphoinositide-binding domains. PH-PLCdelta1 binds with high specificity to the headgroup of PtdIns(4,5)P2, but little is known about its interfacial properties. In the present study, we show that PH-PLCdelta1 is also membrane-active and can insert significantly into PtdIns(4,5)P2-containing monolayers at physiological (bilayer-equivalent) surface pressures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to compare the sperm protein expression profile (proteome map) from a patient who experienced failed fertilization at IVF with fertile controls. One patient and three fertile donor sperm samples were characterized using two-dimensional electrophoresis. Differences in protein expression were established using gel analysis software before attempted protein identification.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis research aims firstly to understand, in cellular and molecular terms, how a mature human spermatozoon is prepared for fertilization, and secondly, to identify what factors are involved in the initial signalling interactions between the egg and spermatozoon. In order to achieve these objectives, a combination of approaches is being used, including single-cell imaging, patch clamping and proteomics. Single-cell imaging reveals hidden complexity and heterogeneity in signalling responses in spermatozoa.
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