Unveiling the susceptibility of nanosecond pulsed electric field on intracellular function in breast cancerous and normal cells using fluorescence imaging.

Modulation in cellular function and cell death through electrostimulation of intracellular organelles with the application of 50 ns pulsed electric field (nsPEF) have been investigated in breast cancerous MCF7 and normal MCF10A cells by developing a three-dimensional microelectrode device integrated with a fluorescence microscope. The findings revealed that nsPEF induced distinct effects on intracellular functions and dynamics in MCF7 and MCF10A cells. MCF10A cells exhibited significantly higher survivability than MCF7 cells, with different modes of cell death observed between them.

Application of Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Field and Autofluorescence Lifetime Microscopy of FAD in Lung Cells.

Exposure of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) to live cells is an increasing research interest in biology and medicine. Despite extensive studies, a question still remains as to how effects of application of nsPEF on intracellular functions are different between cancerous cells and normal cells and how the difference can be detected. Herein, we have presented an approach of autofluorescence lifetime (AFL) microscopy of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) to detect effects of application of nsPEF having 50 ns of a pulse width, nsPEF(50), on intracellular function in lung cancerous cells, A549 and H661, which show nsPEF(50)-induced apoptosis, and normal cells, MRC-5, in which the field effect is less or not induced.

Palladium-catalyzed α-arylation of indolin-3-ones.

A method for the catalytic α-arylation of indolin-3-ones was developed. The catalytic system comprising Pd(dba) and PAd was found to be optimal for the transformation. The protocol features broad functional group compatibility in that a range of arylated indoxyl derivatives bearing a fully substituted carbon center was synthesized with high efficiency.

Characterization of endogenous fluorescence in nonsmall lung cancerous cells: A comparison with nonmalignant lung normal cells.

Monitoring fluorescence properties of endogenous fluorophores such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in normal and cancerous cells provide substantial information noninvasively on biochemical and biophysical aspects of metabolic dysfunction of cancerous cells. Time-resolved spectral profiles and fluorescence lifetime images of NADH and FAD were obtained in human lung nonsmall carcinomas (H661 and A549) and normal lung cells (MRC-5). Both fluorophores show the fast and slowly decaying emission components upon pulsed excitation, and fluorescence spectra of NADH and FAD show blue- and red-shifts, respectively, during their decay.

Artificial peptide-controlled protein release of Zn-triggered, self-assembled histidine-tagged protein microparticle.

Protein microparticles have received attention as drug delivery systems because of their high protein stability and prolonged release in vivo. However, most current preparation processes introduce chemical crosslinkers, which often lead to protein inactivation and limit drug efficacy in delivery systems. In this study, we employed the well-known hexahistidine (His)-tag recombinant protein technology and a metal-triggerable collagen-mimetic peptide to enhance the binding strength between the protein and metal ion and fine-tuned the protein drug release.

Diatom-assisted biomicroreactor targeting the complete removal of perfluorinated compounds.

Persistent perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have been recognized as a global environmental issue. Developing methods without leading to additional burden in nature will be essential for PFCs removal. Herein, we functionalized iron nanoparticles on living diatom (Dt) to efficiently enable the Fenton reaction and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

Real-time CRP detection from whole blood using micropost-embedded microfluidic chip incorporated with label-free biosensor.

We demonstrate the detection of C-creative protein (CRP) from whole blood samples without sample pretreatment by using a lab-on-a-chip system consisting of a microfluidic chip and a label-free biosensor. The microfluidic chip includes an array of microposts for filtering blood cells and allows only plasma to flow through and reach the guided-mode resonance (GMR) biosensor for real-time monitoring. The developed GMR sensor can achieve a bulk sensitivity of 186 nm RIU, which supports a limit of detection of 3.

Bio-templated silica composites for next-generation biomedical applications.

Silica-based materials have extensive biomedical applications owing to their unique physical, chemical, and biological properties. Recently, increasing studies have examined the mechanisms involved in biosilicification to develop novel, fine-tunable, eco-friendly materials and/or technologies. In this review, we focus on recent developments in bio-templated silica synthesis and relevant applications in drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, and biosensing.

Multifunctional silver nanocluster-hybrid oligonucleotide vehicle for cell imaging and microRNA-targeted gene silencing.

Novel therapeutics is urgently needed to prevent cancer-related deaths. MicroRNAs that act as tumor suppressors have been recognized as a next-generation tumor therapy, and the restoration of tumor-suppressive microRNAs using microRNA replacements or mimics may be a less toxic, more effective strategy due to fewer off-target effects. Here, we designed the novel multifunctional oligonucleotide nanocarrier complex composed of a tumor-targeting aptamer sequence specific to mucin 1 (MUC1), poly-cytosine region for fluorescent silver nanocluster (AgNC) synthesis, and complimentary sequence for microRNA miR-34a loading.

Carbon-Based Materials for Photo-Triggered Theranostic Applications.

Carbon-based nanomaterials serve as a type of smart material for photo-triggered disease theranostics. The inherent physicochemical properties of these nanomaterials facilitate their use for less invasive treatments. This review summarizes the properties and applications of materials including fullerene, nanotubes, nanohorns, nanodots and nanographenes for photodynamic nanomedicine in cancer and antimicrobial therapies.

Plant Cell Wall-Penetrable, Redox-Responsive Silica Nanoprobe for the Imaging of Starvation-Induced Vesicle Trafficking.

Autophagy is a self-protection process against reactive oxygen species (ROS). The intracellular level of ROS increased when cells were cultured under nutrient starvation. Antioxidants such as glutathione and ascorbic acid play an important role in ROS removal.

The detection of multiple illicit street drugs in liquid samples by direct analysis in real time (DART) coupled to Q-orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry.

Direct analysis in real time coupled to Q-orbitrap tandem mass spectrometry (DART-MS) without requiring preparatory procedures was used to directly detect trace amounts of illegal street drugs, namely p-chloroamphetamine, p-fluoromethamphetamine, γ-hydroxybutyrate, ketamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone, p-methylethcathinone, methylone, and nimetazepam, in solution and also in real drug samples. Exact mass determination of the drug samples was completed in less than 1min. With the ability to rapidly identify drugs, this technique shows great potential as a useful analytical tool in the analysis of illicit street drugs, and has the significant advantages of simplicity and sensitivity without the sample preparation needed by other methods.

Compact spectrometer system based on a gradient grating period guided-mode resonance filter.

We demonstrate a compact spectrometer system by using a gradient grating period guided-mode resonance filter-mounted on a linear photodetector array-that exhibits spatially dependent resonance characteristics; a specific incident wavelength is reflected such that the underlying array pixels measure minimum intensity. A precalibrated transmission efficiency matrix is used to determine each pixel's transmission efficiency for specific wavelengths. Unknown spectral information can be calculated from the measured intensity.

An NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) enzyme responsive nanocarrier based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles for tumor targeted drug delivery in vitro and in vivo.

Unlabelled: The synthesis and characterization of an

Nad(p)h: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) enzyme responsive nanocarrier based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) for on-command delivery applications has been described in this paper. Gatekeeping of MSNPs is achieved by the integration of mechanically interlocked rotaxane nanovalves on the surface of MSNPs. The rotaxane nanovalve system is composed of a linear stalk anchoring on the surface of MSNPs, an α-cyclodextrin ring that encircles it and locks the payload "cargo" molecules in the mesopores, and a benzoquinone stopper incorporated at the end of the stalk.

Predicting the outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients using multiple biomarkers and suspension microarray assays.

Predicting the prognosis for cardiac arrest is still challenging. Combining biomarkers from diverse pathophysiological pathways may provide reliable indicators for the severity of injury and predictors of long-term outcomes. We investigated the feasibility of using a multimarker strategy with key independent biomarkers to improve the prediction of outcomes in cardiac arrest.

Integration of a guided-mode resonance filter with microposts for in-cell protein detection.

We present an integrated microfluidic system consisting of a label-free biosensor of a guided-mode resonance filter (GMRF) and a microfluidic channel with a micropost filter. The GMRF was fabricated through replica molding using an ultraviolet-curable polymer and a plastic substrate. An array of microposts (a diameter and height of 26.

Drop Printing of Pharmaceuticals: Effect of Molecular Weight on PEG Coated-Naproxen/PEG3350 Solid Dispersions.

Solid dispersions have been used to enhance the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). However, the solid state phase, compositional uniformity, and scale-up problems are issues that need to be addressed. To allow for highly controllable products, the Drop Printing (DP) technique can provide precise dosages and predictable compositional uniformity of APIs in two/three dimensional structures.

A highly efficient bead extraction technique with low bead number for digital microfluidic immunoassay.

Here, we describe a technique to manipulate a low number of beads to achieve high washing efficiency with zero bead loss in the washing process of a digital microfluidic (DMF) immunoassay. Previously, two magnetic bead extraction methods were reported in the DMF platform: (1) single-side electrowetting method and (2) double-side electrowetting method. The first approach could provide high washing efficiency, but it required a large number of beads.

Differential in situ sensing of extra- and intracellular glutathione by a novel redox-responsive silica matrix-Au nanoprobe.

We synthesized a biothiol-sensitive nanoprobe by assembling gold nanoparticles with a novel redox-responsive silica (ReSi) matrix using dithiobis (succinimidyl propionate) and (3-aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane. Thin layer disulfide-bonded networks of the ReSi could differentially respond to extra- and intracellular glutathione in cancer cells within 30 min; furthermore, targeted cellular uptake could be monitored in situ by fluorescence recovery. Sigmoidal dose-response pattern of the nanoprobes presented in this study were attributed to the buried disulfide-linked 3D nanostructure of the ReSi nanoshell, optimized at an appropriate thickness, enabling not only buffering of small redox disturbances in the extracellular milieu but also the satisfied sensitivity for rapid redox sensing.

When cells divide: Label-free multimodal spectral imaging for exploratory molecular investigation of living cells during cytokinesis.

In vivo, molecular-level investigation of cytokinesis, the climax of the cell cycle, not only deepens our understanding of how life continues, but it will also open up new possibilities of diagnosis/prognosis of cancer cells. Although fluorescence-based methods have been widely employed to address this challenge, they require a fluorophore to be designed for a specific known biomolecule and introduced into the cell. Here, we present a label-free spectral imaging approach based on multivariate curve resolution analysis of Raman hyperspectral data that enables exploratory untargeted studies of mammalian cell cytokinesis.

Quinone-Modified Mn-Doped ZnS Quantum Dots for Room-Temperature Phosphorescence Sensing of Human Cancer Cells That Overexpress NQO1.

Unlabelled: Early detection of cancer cells in a rapid and sensitive approach is one of the great challenges in modern clinical cancer care. This study has demonstrated the first example of a rapid, selective, and sensitive phosphorescence probe based on phosphorescence energy transfer (PET) for cancer-associated human

Nad(p)h: quinone oxidoreductase isozyme 1 (NQO1). An efficient room-temperature phosphorescence NQO1 probe was constructed by using Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots (Mn:ZnS QDs) as donors and trimethylquinone propionic acids as acceptors.

In vitro investigation of methylene blue-bearing, electrostatically assembled aptamer-silica nanocomposites as potential photodynamic therapeutics.

Photodynamic therapy, that is, excitation of a photosensitizer with light to generate reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen, has emerged as a noninvasive technique for cancer theranostics. However, the clinical use of many photosensitizers is impeded by their hydrophobicity, the nonspecific damage they cause to normal tissues, and their susceptibility to environmental degradation. In this study, we developed a simple electrostatic adsorption strategy to fabricate aptamer-silica nanocomposites by sequentially functionalizing nanocomposites with the cell surface-associated mucin 1 aptamer for tumor targeting and a hydrophilic photosensitizer, methylene blue, for photodynamic therapy applications.

Biothiol-triggered, self-disassembled silica nanobeads for intracellular drug delivery.

Silica-based nanomaterials have demonstrated great potential in biomedical applications due to their chemical inertness. However, the degradability and endosomal trapping issues remain as rate-limiting barriers during their innovation. In this study, we provide a simple yet novel sol-gel approach to construct the redox-responsive silica nanobeads (ReSiNs), which could be rapidly disassembled upon redox gradient for intracellular drug delivery.