Interaction of Serum and Plasma Proteins with Polyelectrolyte Microparticles with Core/Shell and Shell-Only Structures.

Polyelectrolyte microparticles (MPs) synthesized on calcium carbonate cores are considered a promising basis for new drug delivery systems. It is known that microparticles entering a physiological environment absorb proteins on their surface, which can change the properties of the microparticles and alter their functional activity. This study aimed to compare the compositions of the adsorbed protein layer formed on microparticles with the core/shell and shell structures obtained by layer-by-layer deposition.

Functionalized Calcium Carbonate-Based Microparticles as a Versatile Tool for Targeted Drug Delivery and Cancer Treatment.

Nano- and microparticles are increasingly widely used in biomedical research and applications, particularly as specific labels and targeted delivery vehicles. Silica has long been considered the best material for such vehicles, but it has some disadvantages limiting its potential, such as the proneness of silica-based carriers to spontaneous drug release. Calcium carbonate (CaCO) is an emerging alternative, being an easily available, cost-effective, and biocompatible material with high porosity and surface reactivity, which makes it an attractive choice for targeted drug delivery.

Label-Free Multiplexed Microfluidic Analysis of Protein Interactions Based on Photonic Crystal Surface Mode Imaging.

High-throughput protein assays are crucial for modern diagnostics, drug discovery, proteomics, and other fields of biology and medicine. It allows simultaneous detection of hundreds of analytes and miniaturization of both fabrication and analytical procedures. Photonic crystal surface mode (PC SM) imaging is an effective alternative to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging used in conventional gold-coated, label-free biosensors.

Dependence of Quantum Dot Toxicity In Vitro on Their Size, Chemical Composition, and Surface Charge.

Semiconductor nanocrystals known as quantum dots (QDs) are of great interest for researchers and have potential use in various applications in biomedicine, such as in vitro diagnostics, molecular tracking, in vivo imaging, and drug delivery. Systematic analysis of potential hazardous effects of QDs is necessary to ensure their safe use. In this study, we obtained water-soluble core/shell QDs differing in size, surface charge, and chemical composition of the core.

Some properties of three αB-crystallin mutants carrying point substitutions in the C-terminal domain and associated with congenital diseases.

Physico-chemical properties of G154S, R157H and A171T mutants of αB-crystallin (HspB5) associated with congenital human diseases including certain myopathies and cataract were investigated. Oligomers formed by G154S and A171T mutants have the size and apparent molecular weight indistinguishable from those of the wild-type HspB5, whereas the size of oligomers formed by R157H mutant is slightly smaller. All mutants are less thermostable and start to aggregate at a lower temperature than the wild-type protein.

[Activation of caspases in lymphocytes of patients with depression and anxiety].

The processes in the nervous and immune systems are closely interrelated. In particular, increased apoptosis was reported in lymphocytes of patients with depression. The aim of this study was to assess activities of proteases associated with cell death in lymphocytes of patient with personality disorders accompanied by depression and anxiety.