Anti-cancer effect of bee venom on human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells using Raman spectroscopy.

We demonstrated the apoptotic effect of bee venom (BV) on human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells using Raman spectroscopy and principal component analysis (PCA). Biochemical changes in cancer cells were monitored following BV treatment; the results for different concentrations and treatment durations differed markedly. Significantly decreased Raman vibrations for DNA and proteins were observed for cells treated with 3.

Observations of the Effects of Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker on Angiotensin II-Induced Morphological and Mechanical Changes in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells Using Atomic Force Microscopy.

Objective: Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays a profibrotic role in the kidneys. Although many pathways of Ang II have been discovered, the morphological and mechanical aspects have not been well investigated. We observed the changes in tubular epithelial cells (TECs) after Ang II treatment with or without Ang II receptor blockers (ARBs) using atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Effects of polymer-coated boron nitrides with increased hemorheological compatibility on human erythrocytes and blood coagulation.

Background: Boron nitride (BN) nanomaterials are promising in biomedical research owing to their large surface area, graphene-like structure, and chemical and thermal properties. However, the toxicological effects of BN on erythrocytes and blood coagulation remain uninvestigated.

Objective: The aims of our study were to synthesize glycol chitosan (GC)- and hyaluronic acid (HA)-coated BNs, and to investigate the effects of these BNs on human cancer cells, erythrocytes, and whole blood.

Physicochemical and surface properties of acrylic intraocular lenses and their clinical significance.

To analyze and compare several commercially available acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) with particular regard to their clinical significance, we examined the physicochemical and surface properties of four currently available acrylic IOLs using static water contact angle, atomic force microscopy (AFM), Raman spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The hydrophobic acrylic IOLs, ZA9003, and MA60BM, had contact angles ranging from 77.9° ± 0.

Label-free Detection for a DNA Methylation Assay Using Raman Spectroscopy.

Background: DNA methylation has been suggested as a biomarker for early cancer detection and treatment. Varieties of technologies for detecting DNA methylation have been developed, but they are not sufficiently sensitive for use in diagnostic devices. The aim of this study was to determine the suitability of Raman spectroscopy for label-free detection of methylated DNA.

The Role of Free Radicals in Hemolytic Toxicity Induced by Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jet.

Atmospheric-pressure plasma (APP) has received attention due to its generation of various kinds of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). The controllability, as well as the complexity, is one of the strong points of APP in various applications. For biological applications of this novel method, the cytotoxicity should be estimated at various levels.

Evaluation of non-thermal plasma-induced anticancer effects on human colon cancer cells.

Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma has been introduced in various applications such as sterilization, wound healing, blood coagulation, and other biomedical applications. The most attractive application of non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma is in cancer treatment, where the plasma is used to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) to facilitate cell apoptosis. We investigate the effects of different durations of exposure to dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on colon cancer cells using measurement of cell viability and ROS levels, western blot, immunocytochemistry, and Raman spectroscopy.

Low-Cost Label-Free Biosensing Bimetallic Cellulose Strip with SILAR-Synthesized Silver Core-Gold Shell Nanoparticle Structures.

We introduce a label-free biosensing cellulose strip sensor with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-encoded bimetallic core@shell nanoparticles. Bimetallic nanoparticles consisting of a synthesis of core Ag nanoparticles (AgNP) and a synthesis of shell gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were fabricated on a cellulose substrate by two-stage successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) techniques. The bimetallic nanoparticle-enhanced localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects were theoretically verified by computational calculations with finite element models of optimized bimetallic nanoparticles interacting with an incident laser source.

Differentiation Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Is Related to Their Intrinsic Mechanical Properties.

Purpose: The differentiation properties of stem cells are not yet fully understood due to their close association with multiple environmental and extrinsic factors. This study investigates the differentiation properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and correlates them with their intrinsic mechanical properties.

Methods: A total of 3 different types of MSCs, namely bone marrow-derived MSCs (BMSCs), umbilical cord-derived MSCs (UCSCs), and adipose-derived MSCs (ADSCs) were evaluated.

Applications of Microfluidic Devices for Urology.

Microfluidics is considered an important technology that is suitable for numerous biomedical applications, including cancer diagnosis, metastasis, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Although microfluidics is still considered to be a new approach in urological research, several pioneering studies have been reported in recent years. In this paper, we reviewed urological research works using microfluidic devices.

Colorimetric detection of endogenous hydrogen sulfide production in living cells.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) has received great attention as a third gaseous signal transmitter, following nitric oxide and carbon monoxide. In particular, HS plays an important role in the regulation of cancer cell biology. Therefore, the detection of endogenous HS concentrations within biological systems can be helpful to understand the role of gasotransmitters in pathophysiology.

Controlling successive ionic layer absorption and reaction cycles to optimize silver nanoparticle-induced localized surface plasmon resonance effects on the paper strip.

This study investigates why a silver nanoparticle (SNP)-induced surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) paper chip fabricated at low successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) cycles leads to a high SERS enhancement factor (7×10) with an inferior nanostructure and without generating a hot spot effect. The multi-layered structure of SNPs on cellulose fibers, verified by magnified scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and analyzed by a computational simulation method, was hypothesized as the reason. The pattern of simulated local electric field distribution with respect to the number of SILAR cycles showed good agreement with the experimental Raman intensity, regardless of the wavelength of the excitation laser sources.

Hemorheological characteristics of red blood cells exposed to surface functionalized graphene quantum dots.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are potential candidates for various biomedical applications such as drug delivery, bioimaging, cell labeling, and biosensors. However, toxicological information on their effects on red blood cells (RBCs) and the mechanisms involved remain unexplored. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to investigate the toxicity effects of three GQDs with different surface functionalizations on the hemorheological characteristics of human RBCs, including hemolysis, deformability, aggregation, and morphological changes.

Exenatide Prevents Morphological and Structural Changes of Mitochondria Following Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Background: Exenatide exerts cardioprotective effects by attenuating ischaemic reperfusion (IR) injury, possibly through activating the opening of mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate changes in mitochondrial morphology and properties in order to assess exenatide-mediated cardioprotection in IR injury.

Methods: We used an in vivo Sprague-Dawley rat IR model and ex vivo Langendorff injury model.

Selective cytotoxic effect of non-thermal micro-DBD plasma.

Non-thermal plasma has been extensively researched as a new cancer treatment technology. We investigated the selective cytotoxic effects of non-thermal micro-dielectric barrier discharge (micro-DBD) plasma in cervical cancer cells. Two human cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa and SiHa) and one human fibroblast (HFB) cell line were treated with micro-DBD plasma.

Changes in nail keratin observed by Raman spectroscopy after Nd:YAG laser treatment.

Lasers and photodynamic therapy have been considered a convergence treatment for onychomycosis, which is a fungal infection on the nail bed and nail plate. Laser therapies have shown satisfactory results without significant complications for onychomycosis; however, the mechanism of clearing remains unknown. In this work, we investigated changes in the chemical structure of nail keratin induced by Nd:YAG laser using Raman spectroscopy.

Biochemical fingerprints of human papillomavirus infection and cervical dysplasia using cervical fluids: Spectral pattern investigation.

The Pap smear is the primary screening tool for invasive cervical cancer resulting from a persistent infection with oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV); however, there are the problems such as the inability to distinguish between HPV infection and cervical dysplasia and a low sensitivity remain. We present preliminary findings of a label-free method to detect and classify HPV infection and cervical dysplasia using human cervical fluids. Three experimental groups, defined as normal, HPV-positive, and cervical dysplasia, were evaluated through their Raman spectral patterns for noise-independence, high reproducibility, and uniformity.

A solvent-free microbial-activated air cathode battery paper platform made with pencil-traced graphite electrodes.

We present the fabrication of an ultra-low cost, disposable, solvent-free air cathode all-paper microbial fuel cell (MFC) that does not utilize any chemical treatments. The anode and cathode were fabricated by depositing graphite particles by drawing them on paper with a pencil (four strokes). Hydrophobic parchment paper was used as a proton exchange membrane (PEM) to allow only H(+) to pass.

Enhancement of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) as a Potential Chondrogenic Marker during Chondrogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-Derived Stem Cells.

Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) have a capacity to undergo adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic differentiation. Recently, hASCs were applied to various fields including cell therapy for tissue regeneration. However, it is hard to predict the direction of differentiation of hASCs in real-time.

Instrument-Free Synthesizable Fabrication of Label-Free Optical Biosensing Paper Strips for the Early Detection of Infectious Keratoconjunctivitides.

We introduce a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-functionalized, gold nanoparticle (GNP)-deposited paper strip capable of label-free biofluid sensing for the early detection of infectious eye diseases. The GNP biosensing paper strip was fabricated by the direct synthesis and deposition of GNPs on wax-divided hydrophilic areas of a permeable porous substrate through a facile, power-free synthesizable, and highly reproducible successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) technique. To maximize localized surface plasmon resonance-generated SERS activity, the concentration of the reactive solution and number of SILAR cycles were optimized by controlling the size and gap distance of GNPs and verified by computational modeling with geometrical hypotheses of Gaussian-estimated metallic nanoparticles.

Matrilin-3 Role in Cartilage Development and Osteoarthritis.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) of cartilage performs essential functions in differentiation and chondroprogenitor cell maintenance during development and regeneration. Here, we discuss the vital role of matrilin-3, an ECM protein involved in cartilage development and potential osteoarthritis pathomechanisms. As an adaptor protein, matrilin-3 binds to collagen IX to form a filamentous network around cells.

Development of Poly(ɛ-caprolactone) Scaffold Loaded with Simvastatin and Beta-Cyclodextrin Modified Hydroxyapatite Inclusion Complex for Bone Tissue Engineering.

In this study, we developed poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) 3D scaffolds using a solid free form fabrication (SFF) technique. β-cyclodextrin (βCD) was grafted to hydroxyapatite (HAp) and this βCD grafted HAp was coated onto the PCL scaffold surface, followed by drug loading through an inclusion complex interaction between the βCD and adamantane (AD) or between βCD and simvastatin (SIM). The scaffold structure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Cationic Nanocylinders Promote Angiogenic Activities of Endothelial Cells.

Polymers have been used extensively taking forms as scaffolds, patterned surface and nanoparticle for regenerative medicine applications. Angiogenesis is an essential process for successful tissue regeneration, and endothelial cell-cell interaction plays a pivotal role in regulating their tight junction formation, a hallmark of angiogenesis. Though continuous progress has been made, strategies to promote angiogenesis still rely on small molecule delivery or nuanced scaffold fabrication.

Association between polymorphisms of estrogen receptor 2 and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Estrogens and estrogen receptors (ESRs) have been implicated in the stimulation of aberrant prostate growth and the development of prostate diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ESR2 gene in order to examine whether is a susceptibility gene for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In order to evaluate whether an association exists between and BPH risk, four polymorphisms [rs4986938 (intron), rs17766755 (intron), rs12435857 (intron) and rs1256049 (Val328Val)] of the ESR2 gene were genotyped by direct sequencing.

Facile Fabrication of a Silver Nanoparticle Immersed, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Imposed Paper Platform through Successive Ionic Layer Absorption and Reaction for On-Site Bioassays.

We introduce a novel, facile, rapid, low-cost, highly reproducible, and power-free synthesizable fabrication method of paper-based silver nanoparticle (AgNP) immersed surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) platform, known as the successive ionic layer absorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The rough and porous properties of the paper led to direct synthesis of AgNPs on the surface as well as in the paper due to capillary effects, resulting in improved plasmon coupling with interparticles and interlayers. The proposed SERS platform showed an enhancement factor of 1.