Nanogel-Carbon Dot Conjugates: A Synergistic Approach for Enhanced Cancer Treatment through Combination Therapy.

The present study reports the development of a novel nanoconjugate, , comprising a positively charged self-assembled nanogel (NG) derived from a peptide amphiphilic hydrogelator and a negatively charged folic acid-functionalized blue-emitting carbon dot (FACD), bound via electrostatic interactions. was developed to combine the advantages of the individual nanocarriers and overcome their drawbacks. The presence of folic acid enables to be successfully used in selective bioimaging and targeted combination therapy against folate receptor-positive (FR+) B16F10 over FR- cells.

Selective Sensing of Epinephrine by Phenylboronic Acid Tethered Carbon Dot.

The present work depicts development of phenylboronic acid (PBA) derived and appended carbon dots (CD1-PBAs) to detect epinephrine with high sensitivity and selectivity against structurally analogous biomolecules like norepinephrine, L-Dopa and glucose. Carbon dots were synthesized by hydrothermal method. Microscopic and spectroscopic studies ensured the suitability of CD1-PBAs for diol sensing.

Access to US primary care physicians for new patients concerned about smoking or weight.

Tobacco smoking and obesity are leading causes of preventable morbidity and mortality in the US, and primary care physicians are the main source of preventive care. However, it is not known whether access for new patients is affected by an expression of interest in preventive care. In a 2015 audit, we called US primary care physicians' offices to request appointment information regarding new patient physicals for simulated patients.

State Medicaid fees and access to primary care physicians.

Medicaid and uninsured patients are disadvantaged in access to care and are disproportionately Black and Hispanic. Using a national audit of primary care physicians, we examine the relationship between state Medicaid fees for primary care services and access for Medicaid, Medicare, uninsured, and privately insured patients who differ by race/ethnicity and sex. We found that states with higher Medicaid fees had higher probabilities of appointment offers and shorter wait times for Medicaid patients, and lower probabilities of appointment offers and longer wait times for uninsured patients.

Offers of appointments with nurse practitioners if a requested physician is unavailable.

Background And Purpose: Access to primary care remains a problem for a substantial portion of the U.S. population, and is predicted to worsen due to an aging population and the increasing burden of chronic diseases.

Selective virus detection in complex sample matrices with photonic crystal optical cavities.

Rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of viruses is critical for applications in medical diagnostics, biosecurity, and environmental safety. In this article, we report the application of a point-defect-coupled W1 photonic crystal (PhC) waveguide biosensor to label-free optical detection of viruses. Fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate using electron-beam (e-beam) lithography and reactive-ion-etching, the PhC sensing platform allows optical detection based on resonant mode shifts in response to ambient refractive index changes produced by infiltration of target biomaterial within the holes of the PhC structure.

1-D and 2-D photonic crystals as optical methods for amplifying biomolecular recognition.

Label-free sensing strategies are an intensely studied and increasingly used alternative to signal amplification via fluorescent labels and enzymatic methods. This article discusses one class of optical sensors, termed "photonic crystals", that effectively amplify binding events (such as analyte capture) via strong light-matter interactions.

Silicon photonic crystal nanocavity-coupled waveguides for error-corrected optical biosensing.

A photonic crystal (PhC) waveguide based optical biosensor capable of label-free and error-corrected sensing was investigated in this study. The detection principle of the biosensor involved shifts in the resonant mode wavelength of nanocavities coupled to the silicon PhC waveguide due to changes in ambient refractive index. The optical characteristics of the nanocavity structure were predicted by FDTD theoretical methods.

Electrically active magnetic nanoparticles as novel concentrator and electrochemical redox transducer in Bacillus anthracis DNA detection.

Magnetic polymer nanostructures are a new class of multifunctional nanomaterials that are recently being explored in biosensor devices. In this paper, for the first time we report the novel application of electrically active magnetic (EAM) nanoparticles as concentrator of DNA targets as well as electrochemical transducers for detection of the Bacillus anthracis protective antigen A (pag A) gene. The EAM nanoparticles are synthesized by chemical polymerization and have dimensions of 80-100 nm.

Electrically active polyaniline coated magnetic (EAPM) nanoparticle as novel transducer in biosensor for detection of Bacillus anthracis spores in food samples.

Electrically active polyaniline coated magnetic (EAPM) nanoparticle-based biosensor has been developed for the detection of Bacillus anthracis endospores in contaminated food samples. The 100 nm-diameter EAPM nanoparticles are synthesized from aniline monomer (made electrically active by acid doping) coating the surface of gamma iron oxide cores. The magnetic, electrical, and structural characteristics of the synthesized EAPM nanoparticles have been studied using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), four-point probe, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

A multi-channel femtoampere-sensitivity conductometric array for biosensing applications.

Rapid detection of pathogens using field deployable biosensors requires integrated sensing and data processing. Detection of low concentration of biological agents is possible using accurate and real-time signal characterization devices. This paper presents a multi-channel conductometric array that can detect and measure current up to femtoampere range.

Nanowire labeled direct-charge transfer biosensor for detecting Bacillus species.

A direct-charge transfer (DCT) biosensor was developed for the detection of the foodborne pathogen, Bacillus cereus. The biosensor was fabricated using antibodies as the sensing element and polyaniline nanowire as the molecular electrical transducer. The sensor design consisted of four membrane pads, namely, sample application, conjugate, capture and absorption pads.