Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for non-invasive, high-resolution three-dimensional medical imaging of anatomical structures such as organs and tissues. The use of contrast agents based on gadolinium chelates started in 1988 to improve the quality of the image, since researchers and industry focused their attention on the development of more efficient and stable structures. This review is about the state of the art of MRI contrast agents based on cyclodextrin scaffolds. Chemical engineering strategies are herein reported including host-guest inclusion complexation and covalent linkages. It also offers descriptions of the MRI properties and and biomedical applications of these emerging macrostructures. It highlights that these supramolecular associations can improve the image contrast, the sensitivity, and the efficiency of MRI diagnosis by targeting cancer tumors and other diseases with success proving the great potential of this natural macrocycle.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d1ra04084g | DOI Listing |
Sci Rep
December 2024
Department of Chemistry G. Ciamician, University of Bologna, Bologna, 40126, Italy.
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and their biocompatible conjugates find wide use as transducers in (bio)sensors and as Nano-pharmaceutics. The study of the interaction between AuNPs and proteins in representative application media helps to better understand their intrinsic behaviors. A multi-environment, multi-parameter screening strategy is proposed based on asymmetric flow field flow fractionation (AF4)-multidetector.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
December 2024
Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
The general control non-repressible 5 (GCN5)-related N-acetyltransferase (GNAT) SbzI, in the biosynthesis of the sulfonamide antibiotic altemicidin, catalyzes the transfer of the 2-sulfamoylacetyl (2-SA) moiety onto 6-azatetrahydroindane dinucleotide. While most GNAT superfamily utilize acyl-coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) as substrates, SbzI recognizes a carrier-protein (CP)-tethered 2-SA substrate. Moreover, SbzI is the only naturally occurring enzyme that catalyzes the direct incorporation of sulfonamide, a valuable pharmacophore in medicinal chemistry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Public Health
December 2024
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Objective: To characterize the public conversations around long COVID, as expressed through X (formerly Twitter) posts from May 2020 to April 2023.
Methods: Using X as the data source, we extracted tweets containing #long-covid, #long_covid, or "long covid," posted from May 2020 to April 2023. We then conducted an unsupervised deep learning analysis using Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT).
Open Vet J
November 2024
Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia.
Background: Many protective proteins, including lactoferrin and heavy chain antibodies, are present in camel colostrum, giving it a distinctive composition. Beyond a broad spectrum of pathogens, these proteins demonstrate antibacterial properties.
Aim: The current research assessed the prophylactic properties of camel colostrum against F17.
Mol Ther
December 2024
Centre for Cardiovascular Science, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; CARIM school for cardiovascular sciences, Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC); Maastricht 6229HX, The Netherlands. Electronic address:
Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) is a crucial contributor to pathological vascular remodelling. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are powerful gene regulators and attractive therapeutic agents. Here, we aim to systematically identify and characterise miRNAs with therapeutic potential in targeting vSMC proliferation.
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