A-TEEM, a new molecular fingerprinting technique: simultaneous absorbance-transmission and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix method.

We investigate the new simultaneous absorbance-transmission and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix method for rapid and effective characterization of the varying components from a mixture. The absorbance-transmission and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix method uniquely facilitates correction of fluorescence inner-filter effects to yield quantitative fluorescence spectral information that is largely independent of component concentration. This is significant because it allows one to effectively monitor quantitative component changes using multivariate methods and to generate and evaluate spectral libraries.

Molecular modeling and SPRi investigations of interleukin 6 (IL6) protein and DNA aptamers.

Interleukin 6 (IL6), an inflammatory response protein has major implications in immune-related inflammatory diseases. Identification of aptamers for the IL6 protein aids in diagnostic, therapeutic, and theranostic applications. Three different DNA aptamers and their interactions with IL6 protein were extensively investigated in a phosphate buffed saline (PBS) solution.

Single-Multiplex Detection of Organ Injury Biomarkers using SPRi based Nano-Immunosensor.

The clinical assessment of multiple organ dysfunctions at early stages is recognized to be an important factor in prompting definitive treatment decisions that prevent irreversible organ damage. In this article, we propose a real-time, label-free, and multiplex nanoenhanced SPRi platform to quantitatively assess two biomarkers, kidney injury molecule (KIM-1) and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1) simultaneously in buffer. Our work involves three major contributions in the design of the immunosensor: (1) we applied site-specific immobilization of antibodies to the solid surface that avoids loss of biological activity caused by covalent attachment; (2) we constructed a well-blocked sensor surface that exhibits minimal non-specific adsorption for singleplex measurements of each biomarker in buffer; and (3) we adopted a sandwich assay that implements functionalized quantum dots (NanoEnhancers) as signal amplifiers to achieve a sensitivity level of 5 pg/mL for KIM-1 and HMGB-1 in buffer.

Nano-SPRi Aptasensor for the Detection of Progesterone in Buffer.

Progesterone is a steroid hormone that plays a central role in the female reproductive processes such as ovulation and pregnancy with possible effects on other organs as well. The measurement of progesterone levels in bodily fluids can assist in early pregnancy diagnosis and can provide insight for other reproductive functions. In this work, the detection of progesterone was examined by integrating novel aptamer development with a nanoEnhanced surface plasmon resonance imaging sensor.

Comparative Analysis of Human Growth Hormone in Serum Using SPRi, Nano-SPRi and ELISA Assays.

Sensitive and selective methods for the detection of human growth hormone (hGH) over a wide range of concentrations (high levels of 50-100 ng ml(-) (1) and minimum levels of 0.03 ng ml(-) (1)) in circulating blood are essential as variable levels may indicate altered physiology. For example, growth disorders occurring in childhood can be diagnosed by measuring levels of hGH in blood.

Surface plasmon resonance: a label-free tool for cellular analysis.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is a popular technique that allows for sensitive, specific, label-free and real-time assessment of biomolecular interactions. SPR is a nondestructive, modular and flexible tool for various applications in biomedical sciences ranging from cell sorting, cell surface characterization and drug discovery. In this review, we will discuss more specifically how SPR is used to monitor the dynamics of various types of cellular binding events and morphological adherence changes in response to external stimuli.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of surface-enhanced Raman scattering nanoprobes for cellular sensing.

The fabrication of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) antibody-functionalized gold nanoparticles via microwave technology for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based cellular nanosensing is reported. Nanoprobes were characterized by UV-vis absorbance, Raman scattering properties, and observed by TEM imaging. Results showed that microwave irradiation rapidly yielded nanoprobes with significant Raman scattering intensity and suitable stability to support antibody conjugation in under 10min.

Zeptomole detection of C-reactive protein in serum by a nanoparticle amplified surface plasmon resonance imaging aptasensor.

Diagnostic biomarkers (i.e. proteins) are often in low abundance in bodily fluids presenting many challenges for their detection.

Functionalization of gadolinium metallofullerenes for detecting atherosclerotic plaque lesions by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

Background: The hallmark of atherosclerosis is the accumulation of plaque in vessel walls. This process is initiated when monocytic cells differentiate into macrophage foam cells under conditions with high levels of atherogenic lipoproteins. Vulnerable plaque can dislodge, enter the blood stream, and result in acute myocardial infarction and stroke.

Self-assembled multifunctional nanoplexes for gene inhibitory therapy.

Aim: To enhance the stability of siRNA while improving their therapeutic properties and visualization at the target site, a novel nanoplex system was developed.

Materials & Methods: The designed nanoplex system involved functionalizing siRNA with near-infrared quantum dots and loading them into histidylated glycol chitosan (GC-His).

Results: Colocalization studies revealed a twofold increase in siRNA uptake after encapsulation with GC-His and nanoparticles were localized in cytoplasm, suggesting that histidine promoted their dissociation from the endosomal membranes.

Designed biointerface using near-infrared quantum dots for ultrasensitive surface plasmon resonance imaging biosensors.

The surface plasmon resonance imaging chip biointerface is fully designed using near-infrared (NIR) quantum dots (QDs) for the enhancement of surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) signals in order to extend their application for medical diagnostics. The measured SPRi detection signal following the QD binding to the surface was amplified 25-fold for a 1 nM concentration of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and 50-fold for a 1 μg/mL concentration of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a cancer biomarker, thus substantiating their wide potential to study interactions of a diverse set of small biomolecules. This significant enhancement is attributed to the QD's mass-loading effect and spontaneous emission coupling with propagating surface plasmons, which allowed the SPRi limit of detection to be reduced to 100 fM and 100 pg/mL for ssDNA and PSA, respectively.

Imaging and organelle distribution of fluorescent InGaP/ZnS nanoparticles in glial cells.

Aim: To assess the effects of oleic acid treatment on subcellular distribution of indium gallium phosphide-zinc sulfide (InGaP/ZnS) nanoparticles in microglia and astrocytes.

Materials & Methods: The extent of colocalization between the nanoparticles and organelles was assessed by confocal microscopy, spectrofluorometry and cell sorting.

Results: Cell treatment with a common fatty acid (oleic acid) within the range of physiological concentrations markedly enhanced the InGaP/ZnS uptake by microglia and afforded their colocalization within lipid droplets/lysosomes but not with mitochondria.

Prodrugs in cardiovascular therapy.

Prodrugs are biologically inactive derivatives of an active drug intended to solve certain problems of the parent drug such as toxicity, instability, minimal solubility and non-targeting capabilities. The majority of drugs for cardiovascular diseases undergo first-pass metabolism, resulting in drug inactivation and generation of toxic metabolites, which makes them appealing targets for prodrug design. Since prodrugs undergo a chemical reaction to form the parent drug once inside the body, this makes them very effective in controlling the release of a variety of compounds to the targeted site.

Selective, reversible, reagentless maltose biosensing with core-shell semiconducting nanoparticles.

Reagentless and reversible maltose biosensors are demonstrated using ZnS coated CdSe (CdSe@ZnS) nanoparticle emission intensities. This method is based on electron transfer quenching of unimolecular protein-CdSe@ZnS nanoparticle assemblies, which is provided by a protein-attached Ru(II) complex. This Ru(II) complex is presumed to reduce a valence band hole of the CdSe@ZnS excited state by tunneling through the ZnS overcoating.

A modular nanoparticle-based system for reagentless small molecule biosensing.

Metalloprotein tethered CdSe nanoparticles have been generated to provide selective and reagentless maltose biosensing. As opposed to cell or protein detection by semiconducting nanoparticle bioconjugates, a modular method for small-molecule detection using semiconducting nanoparticle bioconjugates has been difficult. Here we report a method for reagentless protein-based semiconducting nanoparticle biosensors.

General, high-affinity approach for the synthesis of fluorophore appended protein nanoparticle assemblies.

Metallothionein fusion proteins allow for site-specific, orthogonal functionalization of proteins to a variety of nanoparticles.