DNA Sequencing from Subcritical Concentration of Cell-Free DNA Extracted from Electrowetting-on-Dielectric Platform.

Electro-Wetting-On-Dielectric (EWOD) based digital operations have demonstrated outstanding potential in actuating and manipulating liquid droplets. Here, we adapted the EWOD for extracting femtogram quantities of cell-free DNA (cf-DNA) from 1 μL of KSOM mouse embryo culture medium. Our group extracted the femtogram quantity of cf-DNA from 1 μL of mouse embryo culture medium in our previous work.

Extraction of Cell-free Dna from An Embryo-culture Medium Using Micro-scale Bio-reagents on Ewod.

As scientific and technical knowledge advances, research on biomedical micro-electromechanical systems (bio-MEMS) is also developing towards lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices. A digital microfluidic (DMF) system specialized for an electrowetting- on-dielectric (EWOD) mechanism is a promising technique for such point-of-care systems. EWOD microfluidic biochemical analytical systems provide applications over a broad range in the lab-on-a-chip field.

Gadolinium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles induced magnetic field hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy increases tumour response by vascular disruption and improved oxygenation.

The gadolinium-doped iron oxide nanoparticles (GdIONP) with greater specific power adsorption rate (SAR) than FeO was developed and its potential application in tumour therapy and particle tracking were demonstrated in transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate C1 (TRAMP-C1) tumours. The GdIONPs accumulated in tumour region during the treatment could be clearly tracked and quantified by T2-weighted MR imaging. The therapeutic effects of GdIONP-mediated hyperthermia alone or in combination with radiotherapy (RT) were also evaluated.

Multiple target drug cocktail design for attacking the core network markers of four cancers using ligand-based and structure-based virtual screening methods.

Background: Computer-aided drug design has a long history of being applied to discover new molecules to treat various cancers, but it has always been focused on single targets. The development of systems biology has let scientists reveal more hidden mechanisms of cancers, but attempts to apply systems biology to cancer therapies remain at preliminary stages. Our lab has successfully developed various systems biology models for several cancers.

Irradiation Enhances the Ability of Monocytes as Nanoparticle Carrier for Cancer Therapy.

The tumor-homing ability of monocytes renders them a potential cellular delivery system for alternative cancer therapies, although their migratory ability can be impaired following reagent uptake. Approaches that enhance monocyte tumor homing and promote their migration will improve the clinical value of these cells as cellular carriers. Previous studies have shown that irradiation (IR) can promote macrophage aggregation in hypoxic regions.

Tailored nanoparticles for tumour therapy.

Gd doped iron-oxide nanoparticles were developed for use in tumour therapy via magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH). The effect of the Gd3+ dopant on the particle size and magnetic properties was investigated. The final particle composition varied from Gd0.

Using laser ablation/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to bioimage multiple elements in mouse tumors after hyperthermia.

In this study, we employed laser ablation/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to map the spatial distribution of Gd-doped iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) in one tumor slice that had been subjected to magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH). The mapping results revealed the high resolution of the elemental analysis, with the distribution of Gd atoms highly correlated with that of the Fe atoms. The spatial distributions of C, P, S, and Zn atoms revealed that the effect of MFH treatment was significantly dependent on the diffusion of the magnetic fluid in the tissue.

Functional phenotype of macrophages depends on assay procedures.

Macrophages display different phenotypes that can switch in response to their micro-environment. In our earlier study (Chiang, C. S.