Toward Colorectal Cancer Biomarkers: The Role of Genetic Variation, Wnt Pathway, and Long Noncoding RNAs.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of death worldwide, comprising nearly 8% of cancer-related deaths per year. In South Korea, for example, CRC is the second most common cancer in men, and third in women. This study reports on the association of CRC with genetic variations in long noncoding RNAs, activators, and inhibitors of a cell proliferation pathway.

Apitherapeutics and phage-loaded nanofibers as wound dressings with enhanced wound healing and antibacterial activity.

Aim: Develop green wound dressings which exhibit enhanced wound-healing ability and potent antibacterial effects.

Methods: Honey, polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan nanofibers were electrospun and loaded with bee venom, propolis and/or bacteriophage against the multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and examined for their antibacterial, wound-healing ability and cytotoxicity.

Results: Among different formulations of nanofibers, honey, polyvinyl alcohol, chitosan-bee venom/bacteriophage exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains (Gram-positive and -negative strains) and achieved nearly complete killing of multidrug-resistant P.

Chitosan gold nanoparticles for detection of amplified nucleic acids isolated from sputum.

A platform for nucleic acid detection employing chitosan and chitosan coated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was developed. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) was used as a model target. MTB DNA was extracted from sputum using simple total nucleic acid extraction.

miR-29a Promotes Lipid Droplet and Triglyceride Formation in HCV Infection by Inducing Expression of SREBP-1c and CAV1.

To examine the regulation of SREBP-1c and CAV1 by microRNA-29a (miR-29a) in cells infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in an attempt to control HCV-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. In order to examine the manipulation of SREBP-1c and CAV1 by miR-29a, oleic acid (OA)-treated JFH-I-infected Huh-7 cells were used. OA was added 24 h post-transfection and gene expression was investigated by qRT-PCR at 48 h post treatment.

Nuclear delivery of recombinant OCT4 by chitosan nanoparticles for transgene-free generation of protein-induced pluripotent stem cells.

Protein-based reprogramming of somatic cells is a non-genetic approach for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), whereby reprogramming factors, such as OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC, are delivered as functional proteins. The technique is considered safer than transgenic methods, but, unfortunately, most protein-based protocols provide very low reprogramming efficiencies. In this study, we developed exemplarily a nanoparticle (NP)-based delivery system for the reprogramming factor OCT4.

Development of an inhalable, stimuli-responsive particulate system for delivery to deep lung tissue.

Lung cancer, the deadliest solid tumor among all types of cancer, remains difficult to treat. This is a result of unavoidable exposure to carcinogens, poor diagnosis, the lack of targeted drug delivery platforms and limitations associated with delivery of drug to deep lung tissues. Development of a non-invasive, patient-convenient formula for the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutics to cancer in deep lung tissue is the aim of this study.

Honey/Chitosan Nanofiber Wound Dressing Enriched with Allium sativum and Cleome droserifolia: Enhanced Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Activity.

Two natural extracts were loaded within fabricated honey, poly(vinyl alcohol), chitosan nanofibers (HPCS) to develop biocompatible antimicrobial nanofibrous wound dressing. The dried aqueous extract of Cleome droserifolia (CE) and Allium sativum aqueous extract (AE) and their combination were loaded within the HPCS nanofibers in the HPCS-CE, HPCS-AE, and HPCS-AE/CE nanofiber mats, respectively. It was observed that the addition of AE resulted in the least fiber diameter (145 nm), whereas the addition of the AE and CE combination resulted in the least swelling ability and the highest weight loss.

Chitosan Nanoparticles for Nuclear Targeting: The Effect of Nanoparticle Size and Nuclear Localization Sequence Density.

Many recently discovered therapeutic proteins exert their main function in the nucleus, thus requiring both efficient uptake and correct intracellular targeting. Chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted interest as protein delivery vehicles due to their biocompatibility and ability to escape the endosomes offering high potential for nuclear delivery. Molecular entry into the nucleus occurs through the nuclear pore complexes, the efficiency of which is dependent on NP size and the presence of nuclear localization sequence (NLS).

A high throughput method for quantification of cell surface bound and internalized chitosan nanoparticles.

Chitosan has become a popular polymer for drug delivery. It's hydro solubility and mild formulation conditions have made it an attractive polymer for macromolecular delivery. Accurate quantification of internalized chitosan nanoparticles (NPs) is imperative for fair assessment of the nano-formulation where it is important to determine the exact amount of drug actually being delivered into the cell, especially for macromolecular drugs where cellular entry is limited by molecule size and/or charge.

Challenges in the determination of aminoglycoside antibiotics, a review.

Residues of antibiotics (ABs) in the aquatic environment and in food of animal origin represent a major concern, as prolonged exposure to ABs is a serious health hazard, related to both the side effects of prolonged use and the risk of developing bacterial resistance to various ABs. Given the low levels of the AB residues in complex matrices, the development of sensitive analytical methods represents a major challenge. This is certainly true for the aminoglycoside ABs (AGs) which lack a chromophore and show poor chromatographic properties in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Biodegradable Particulate Carrier Formulation and Tuning for Targeted Drug Delivery.

Biodegradable micro- and nanoparticles have the potential to reform the drug development landscape by improving drug solubility, changing undesirable pharmacokinetics, realizing the benefits of new molecules arising from genomic and proteomic research, and increasing drug localization in target organs and tissues; i.e., drug targeting.

High concentration honey chitosan electrospun nanofibers: biocompatibility and antibacterial effects.

Honey nanofibers represent an attractive formulation with unique medicinal and wound healing advantages. Nanofibers with honey concentrations of <10% were prepared, however, there is a need to prepare nanofibers with higher honey concentrations to increase the antibacterial and wound healing effects. In this work, chitosan and honey (H) were cospun with polyvinyl alcohol (P) allowing the fabrication of nanofibers with high honey concentrations up to 40% and high chitosan concentrations up to 5.

Phage approved in food, why not as a therapeutic?

Bacterial resistance is not only restricted to human infections but is also a major problem in food. With the marked decrease in produced antimicrobials, the world is now reassessing bacteriophages. In 2006, ListShield™ received the US FDA approval for using phage in food.

Identification and retrospective validation of T-cell epitopes in the hepatitis C virus genotype 4 proteome: an accelerated approach toward epitope-driven vaccine development.

With over 150 million people chronically infected worldwide and millions more infected annually, hepatitis C continues to pose a burden on the global healthcare system. The standard therapy of hepatitis C remains expensive, with severe associated side effects and inconsistent cure rates. Vaccine development against the hepatitis C virus has been hampered by practical and biological challenges posed by viral evasion mechanisms.

Identification of a novel drug lead that inhibits HCV infection and cell-to-cell transmission by targeting the HCV E2 glycoprotein.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infects 200 million individuals worldwide. Although several FDA approved drugs targeting the HCV serine protease and polymerase have shown promising results, there is a need for better drugs that are effective in treating a broader range of HCV genotypes and subtypes without being used in combination with interferon and/or ribavirin. Recently, two crystal structures of the core of the HCV E2 protein (E2c) have been determined, providing structural information that can now be used to target the E2 protein and develop drugs that disrupt the early stages of HCV infection by blocking E2's interaction with different host factors.

Clinical laboratory data: acquire, analyze, communicate, liberate.

The availability of portable healthcare devices, which can acquire and transmit medical data to remote experts would dramatically affect healthcare in areas with poor infrastructure. Smartphones, which feature touchscreen computer capabilities and sophisticated cameras, have become widely available with over billion units shipped in 2013. In the clinical laboratory, smartphones have recently brought the capabilities of key instruments such as spectrophotometers, fluorescence analyzers and microscopes into the palm of the hand.

The prognostic value of histidine-rich glycoprotein RNA in breast tissue using unmodified gold nanoparticles assay.

The aim of is this study is to explore the role of tissue histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) RNA as a promising clinically useful biomarker for breast cancer patients prognosis using nanogold assay. Expression of the HRG RNA was assessed by gold nanoparticles and conventional RT-PCR after purification by magnetic nanoparticles in breast tissue samples. The study included 120 patients, 60 of which were histologically proven breast carcinoma cases, 30 had benign breast lesions and 30 were healthy individuals who had undergone reductive plastic surgery.

Nanoparticle-based detection of cancer-associated RNA.

Unlabelled: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer cases are expected to increase globally by 57% over the coming two decades. A critical factor in the management of cancer is early detection using highly sensitive diagnostic techniques. RNAs play a vital role in cancer pathogenesis.

Simultaneous determination of sildenafil citrate and some nitric oxide releasing drugs in human plasma using UPLC MS/MS.

Objective: The inadvertent combination of sildenafil (SLD) and nitric oxide releasing compounds (NRC) may cause a life threatening hypotension and conversion of coital angina into an irreversible one. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a UPLC MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of SLD, nicorandil (NRD), and ARG in human plasma to determine the safety margins for drug combinations.

Design And Method: Chromatographic elution was achieved in 4min using gradient elution and an injection volume of 10μL.

Direct detection of hyaluronidase in urine using cationic gold nanoparticles: a potential diagnostic test for bladder cancer.

Hyaluronidase (HAase) was reported as a urinary marker of bladder cancer. In this study, a simple colorimetric gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assay was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of urinary HAase activity. Charge interaction between polyanionic hyaluronic acid (HA) and cationic AuNPs stabilized with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) led to formation of gold aggregates and a red to blue color shift.

Direct detection of unamplified hepatoma upregulated protein RNA in urine using gold nanoparticles for bladder cancer diagnosis.

Objective: To develop a gold nanoparticle (AuNP) assay for direct detection of unamplified HURP RNA in urine.

Design And Methods: HURP RNA was extracted from urine samples (50 bladder carcinoma patients, 25 benign bladder lesions, and 25 controls) and further purified using magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), functionalized with HURP RNA-specific oligonucleotides, and then detected by RT-PCR or gold nanoparticles.

Results: The developed HURP RNA AuNP assay has a sensitivity and a specificity of 88.

Detection of unamplified HCV RNA in serum using a novel two metallic nanoparticle platform.

Background: The unique properties of metallic nanoparticles have enabled their utilization in biosensing applications. A novel assay for the detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in serum specimens has been developed using magnetic nanoparticles and unmodified cationic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).

Methods: HCV RNA was extracted using magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with an oligonucleotide specific to HCV RNA.

Sustained broad-spectrum antibacterial effects of nanoliposomes loaded with silver nanoparticles.

Background: The emergence of microbial resistance to antibiotics warrants the search for effective broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been used as antimicrobial agents. AgNPs encapsulated in nanolipososmes have been developed as effective antimicrobial agents.

Optical metal-organic framework sensor for selective discrimination of some toxic metal ions in water.

This paper reports the development of a facile and effective approach, based on the use of Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (UiO-66) sensor with micropores geometry, shape and particle morphology for the visual detection and removal of ultra-traces of some toxic metal ions such as Bi(III), Zn(II), Pb(II), Hg(II) and Cd(II). UiO-66 was used as selective carriers for accommodating hydrophobic chromophore probes such as dithizone (DZ) without coupling agent for sensitive and selective discrimination of trace level of toxic analytes. The developed UiO-66 sensor was utilized for the detection of ultra-traces of some toxic metal ions with the naked eye.

Power-free chip enzyme immunoassay for detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in serum.

A power-free, portable "Chip EIA" was designed to render the popular Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) more suitable for point-of-care testing. A number of microfluidic platforms have enabled miniaturization of the conventional microtitre plate ELISA, however, they require external pumping systems, valves, and electric power supply. The Chip EIA platform has eliminated the need for pumps and valves through utilizing a simple permanent magnet and magnetic nanoparticles.