Rapid, label-free genetic detection of enteropathogens in stool without genetic isolation or amplification.

Current genetic detection methods require gene isolation, gene amplification and detection with a fluorescent-tagged probe. They typically require sophisticated equipment and expensive fluorescent probes, rendering them not widely available for rapid acute infection diagnoses at the point of care to ensure timely treatment of the diseases. Here we report a rapid genetic detection method that can detect the bacterial gene directly from patient stools using a piezoelectric plate sensor (PEPS) in conjunction with a continuous flow system with two temperature zones.

Pro-apoptotic and pro-autophagic effects of the Aurora kinase A inhibitor alisertib (MLN8237) on human osteosarcoma U-2 OS and MG-63 cells through the activation of mitochondria-mediated pathway and inhibition of p38 MAPK/PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignant bone tumor occurring mostly in children and adolescents between 10 and 20 years of age with poor response to current therapeutics. Alisertib (ALS, MLN8237) is a selective Aurora kinase A inhibitor that displays anticancer effects on several types of cancer. However, the role of ALS in the treatment of OS remains unknown.

Quantitative assessment of Tn antigen in breast tissue micro-arrays using CdSe aqueous quantum dots.

In this study, we examined the use of CdSe aqueous quantum dots (AQDs) each conjugated to three streptavidin as a fluorescent label to image Tn antigen expression in various breast tissues via a sandwich staining procedure where the primary monoclonal anti-Tn antibody was bound to the Tn antigen on the tissue, a biotin-labeled secondary antibody was bound to the primary anti-Tn antibody, and finally the streptavidin-conjugated AQDs were bound to the biotin on the secondary antibody. We evaluated the AQD staining of Tn antigen on tissue microarrays consisting of 395 cores from 115 cases including three tumor cores and one normal-tissue core from each breast cancer case and three tumor cores from each benign case. The results indicated AQD-Tn staining was positive in more than 90% of the cells in the cancer cores but not the cells in the normal-tissue cores and the benign tumor cores.

High-conjugation-efficiency aqueous CdSe quantum dots.

Quantum dots (QDs) are photoluminescent nanoparticles that can be directly or indirectly coupled with a receptor such as an antibody to specifically image a target biomolecule such as an antigen. Recent studies have shown that QDs can be directly made at room temperature and in an aqueous environment (AQDs) with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as the capping ligand without solvent and ligand exchange typically required by QDs made by the organic solvent routes (OQDs). In this study, we have synthesized CdSe AQDs and compared their conjugation efficiency and imaging efficacy with commercial carboxylated OQDs in HT29 colon cancer cells using a primary antibody-biotinylated secondary antibody-streptavidin (SA) sandwich.

Assessing breast cancer margins ex vivo using aqueous quantum-dot-molecular probes.

Positive margins have been a critical issue that hinders the success of breast- conserving surgery. The incidence of positive margins is estimated to range from 20% to as high as 60%. Currently, there is no effective intraoperative method for margin assessment.

Aqueous CdPbS quantum dots for near-infrared imaging.

Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconducting nanocrystals that have photoluminescent (PL) properties brighter than fluorescent molecules and do not photo-bleach, ideal for in vivo imaging of diseased tissues or monitoring of biological processes. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent light within the window of 700-1000 nm, which is separated from the major absorption peaks of hemoglobin and water, has the potential to be detected several millimeters under the surface with minimal interference from tissue autofluorescence. Here we report the synthesis and bioimaging demonstration of a new NIR QDs system, namely, CdPbS, made by an aqueous approach with 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as the capping molecule.