Niosomes Functionalized with a Synthetic Carbohydrate Binding Agent for Mannose-Targeted Doxorubicin Delivery.

Niosomes are a potential tool for the development of active targeted drug delivery systems (DDS) for cancer therapy because of their excellent behaviour in encapsulating antitumorals and the possibility to easily functionalise their surface with targeting agents. Recently, some of us developed a synthetic carbohydrate binding agent (CBA) able to target the mannosidic residues of high-mannose-type glycans overexpressed on the surface of several cancer cell lines, promoting their apoptosis. In this article, we modified the structure of this mannose receptor to obtain an amphiphilic analogue suitable for the functionalization of doxorubicin-based niosomes.

The number of tree species on Earth.

One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global ground-sourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels.

Mapping and correcting hyperpolarized magnetization decay with radial keyhole imaging.

Purpose: Hyperpolarized (HP) media enable biomedical imaging applications that cannot be achieved with conventional MRI contrast agents. Unfortunately, quantifying HP images is challenging, because relaxation and radio-frequency pulsing generate spatially varying signal decay during acquisition. We demonstrate that, by combining center-out k-space sampling with postacquisition keyhole reconstruction, voxel-by-voxel maps of regional HP magnetization decay can be generated with no additional data collection.

Optimizing accuracy and precision of micro-coil localization in active-MR tracking.

Objective: To examine whether a centroid peak detection algorithm and micro-transmit tracking improve the accuracy and precision of active-MR tracking when combined with previously published strategies of Hadamard Multiplexing and Phase-field Dithering.

Materials And Methods: The dipole magnetic field of a solenoid tracking coil was modeled and MR spin excitation using both a uniform body coil and the tracking coil was simulated for 5329 orientations of the solenoid coil with respect to B0. A lumenless micro-coil was built onto a rotation platform and MR-tracking accuracy and precision were experimentally assessed for 576 orientations within a 1.

A novel acoustically quiet coil for neonatal MRI system.

MRI acoustic exposure has the potential to elicit physiological distress and impact development in preterm and term infants. To mitigate this risk, a novel acoustically quiet coil was developed to reduce the sound pressure level experienced by neonates during MR procedures. The new coil has a conventional high-pass birdcage RF design, but is built on a framework of sound abating material.