Introducing an lsoprenaline Eluting Guidewire: Report on its Design and the Results of the Dose-Determining Pilot Study.

Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) is associated with complications, many of which are related to the intrarenal pressure (IRP). We aim to describe the design of a novel isoprenaline-eluting guidewire ("IsoWire") and present the results from the first release studies and the first animal studies showing its effect on IRP. The IsoWire comprises a Nitinol core surrounded by a stainless-steel wire wound into a tight coil.

Microfluidic-Assisted Formulation of ε-Polycaprolactone Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Their Properties and In Vitro Cell Uptake.

The nanoprecipitation method was used to formulate ε-polycaprolactone (PCL) into fluorescent nanoparticles. Two methods of mixing the phases were evaluated: introducing the organic phase into the aqueous phase dropwise and via a specially designed microfluidic device. As a result of the nanoprecipitation process, fluorescein-loaded nanoparticles (NPs) with a mean diameter of 127 ± 3 nm and polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.

Recent Advances in the Polish Research on Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles in the Context of Various Administration Routes.

Polysaccharides are the most abundant polymers in nature. They exhibit robust biocompatibility, reliable non-toxicity, and biodegradable character; thus, they are employed in multiple biomedical applications. The presence of chemically accessible functional groups on the backbone of biopolymers (amine, carboxyl, hydroxyl, etc.

Portable Surface Plasmon Resonance Detector for COVID-19 Infection.

Methods based on nucleic acid detection are currently the most commonly used technique in COVID-19 diagnostics. Although generally considered adequate, these methods are characterised by quite a long time-to-result and the necessity to prepare the material taken from the examined person-RNA isolation. For this reason, new detection methods are being sought, especially those characterised by the high speed of the analysis process from the moment of sampling to the result.

Polymerization of l-Tyrosine, l-Phenylalanine, and 2-Phenylethylamine as a Versatile Method of Surface Modification for Implantable Medical Devices.

Surface properties are crucial for medical device and implant research and applications. We present novel polycatecholamine coatings obtained by oxidative polymerization of l-tyrosine, l-phenylalanine, and 2-phenylethylamine based on mussel glue-inspired chemistry. We optimized the reaction parameters and examined the properties of coatings compared to the ones obtained from polydopamine.

Poly(lipoic acid)-Based Nanoparticles as Self-Organized, Biocompatible, and Corona-Free Nanovectors.

Herein we present an innovative approach to produce biocompatible, degradable, and stealth polymeric nanoparticles based on poly(lipoic acid), stabilized by a PEG-ended surfactant. Taking advantage of the well-known thiol-induced polymerization of lipoic acid, a universal and nontoxic nanovector consisted of a solid cross-linked polymeric matrix of lipoic acid monomers was prepared and loaded with active species with a one-step protocol. The biological studies demonstrated a high stability in biological media, the virtual absence of "protein" corona in biological fluids, the absence of acute toxicity in vitro and in vivo, complete clearance from the organism, and a relevant preference for short-term accumulation in the heart.

Self-Assembled Biocompatible Fluorescent Nanoparticles for Bioimaging.

Fluorescence is a powerful tool for mapping biological events in real-time with high spatial resolution. Ultra-bright probes are needed in order to achieve high sensitivity: these probes are typically obtained by gathering a huge number of fluorophores in a single nanoparticle (NP). Unfortunately this assembly produces quenching of the fluorescence because of short-range intermolecular interactions.

A new, deep quinoxaline-based cavitand receptor for the complexation of benzene.

We report the synthesis of a new macrocyclic receptor, namely 2,8,14,20-tetra-hexyl-4,24:6,10:12,16:18,22-,'-tetra-kis-[2,3-di-hydro-[1,4]dioxino[2,3-]quinoxalin-7,8-di-yl]resorcin[4]arene, , obtained by the addition of ethyl-ene glycol di-tosyl-ate to an octa-hydroxy quinoxaline cavitand. A 1:1 supra-molecular complex of this cavitand with benzene has been obtained and analysed through X-ray diffraction analysis. The complex, of general formula CHON·CH, crystallizes in the space group 2/, with the cavitand host located about a twofold rotation axis.

In Search of the Ultimate Benzene Sensor: The EtQxBox Solution.

In this work we report a comprehensive study leading to the fabrication of a prototype sensor for environmental benzene monitoring. The required high selectivity and ppb-level sensitivity are obtained by coupling a silicon-integrated concentration unit containing the specifically designed EtQxBox cavitand to a miniaturized PID detector. In the resulting stand-alone sensor, the EtQxBox receptor acts at the same time as highly sensitive preconcentrator for BTEX and GC-like separation phase, allowing for the selective desorption of benzene over TEX.