The calcium (Ca2+) ion concentration in the blood serum is tightly regulated, and any abnormalities in the level of serum calcium ions are associated with many potentially dangerous diseases. Thus, monitoring of the Ca2+ ion concentration in the blood serum is of fundamental importance. Gold nanoparticle (GNP)-based colorimetric biosensors have enormous potential in clinical diagnostic applications due to their simplicity, versatility, and unique optical properties. In this study, we have developed an alendronate functionalized gold nanoparticle (GNP-ALD) system for the measurement of Ca2+ ion concentration in biological samples. The GNP-ALD system showed higher sensitivity towards the Ca2+ ion compared to adenosine diphosphate (ADP) or adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The strong interaction between the Ca2+ ion and ALD at the GNP/solution interface resulted in significant aggregation of the ALD conjugated GNPs, and induced a color change of the solution from red to blue, which could be visually observed with the naked eye. The interaction between the Ca2+ ion and GNP-ALD was characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Under the optimized conditions, the lower limit of Ca2+ ion detection using this method was found to be 25 μM and a linear response range from 25 μM to 300 μM Ca2+ ions was obtained with excellent discrimination against other metal ions. The GNP-ALD nanoprobe could successfully determine the ionized Ca2+ concentration in various serum samples and the results were validated using a commercial calcium assay kit. Moreover, as a practical application, we demonstrated the utility of this nanoprobe for the detection of cancer-associated hypercalcemia in a mouse model.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c8nr02570c | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
December 2024
Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
The geochemical and chemical constituents of river water quality could be influenced by human activities and organic processes like water interacting with the lithogenic structure that the river flows through. Evaluating evidence based primary root of the predominant pollutant ions, their interactions as well as the factors controlling their dominance is crucial in studies regarding water environment and hydrology especially as most studies focus on theoretical methods. In order to understand the water cycle, safeguard surface water resources, and preserve the human environment, this study evaluated surface water hydro-chemical facies, quality dynamics, and portability in southern Nigeria using multivariate statistical approaches by analyzing selected hydro-chemical characteristics as indicators of pollution along the river during wet and dry seasons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Phys Chem B
December 2024
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States.
The cloud point temperatures of aqueous poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(ethylene) oxide (PEO) solutions were measured from pH 1.0 to pH 13.0 at a constant ionic strength of 100 mM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Gen Physiol
January 2025
Chemistry Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA.
Titin is the third contractile filament in the sarcomere, and it plays a critical role in sarcomere integrity and both passive and active tension. Unlike the thick and thin filaments, which are polymers of myosin and actin, respectively, titin is a single protein that spans from Z-disk to M-line. The N2A region within titin has been identified as a signaling hub for the muscle and is shown to be involved in multiple interactions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Pharm (Weinheim)
January 2025
European Institute for Molecular Imaging (EIMI), University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
The P2X4 receptor (P2X4R), a ligand-gated ion channel activated by ATP, plays a critical role in neuroinflammation, chronic pain, and cancer progression, making it a promising therapeutic target. In this study, we explored the design and synthesis of piperazine-based P2X4R antagonists, building on the structural framework of paroxetine. A series of over 35 compounds were synthesized to investigate structure-activity relationships (SARs) in a Ca²⁺-flux assay for P2X4R antagonistic activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPol J Vet Sci
September 2024
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland.
This study analysed the influence of montelukast (MON), a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, and nifedipine, an L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channel blocker, on the contractility of the porcine uterine smooth muscle. Myometrial strips were collected from the sexually immature (n=8), cyclic (12-14 days of the oestrous cycle; n=8) and pregnant (27-28 days of pregnancy; n=8) gilts and stimulated with a) MON or nifedipine at concentrations of 10-8-10-4 M and b) increasing concentrations of nifedipine after previous administration of MON at a concentration of 10-4 M. The changes in the tension, amplitude and frequency of contractions were determined with the Hugo Sachs Elektronik equipment for measuring isometric contractions.
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