The role of gold nanoparticles' aspect ratio in plasmon-enhanced luminescence and the singlet oxygen generation rate of Mo clusters.

Here we present a study on the effect of the aspect ratio (AR) of gold nanoparticles on the emission intensity and singlet oxygen production rate of hexamolybdenum cluster-doped silica particles. It was shown that these parameters can be enhanced gradually up to 6.7- and 13-fold with the AR.

Synergetic Effect of Mo Clusters and Gold Nanoparticles on the Photophysical Properties of Both Components.

Photodynamic and photothermal therapies (PDT, and PTT, respectively) are promising candidates for multimodal anticancer therapies (i.e., combinations of therapies), since their action is based on mechanisms that generally cannot be resisted by cancer cells, that is, generation of highly oxidizing oxygen species and high temperature, respectively.

Comparison of Different Approaches to Surface Functionalization of Biodegradable Polycaprolactone Scaffolds.

Due to their good mechanical stability compared to gelatin, collagen or polyethylene glycol nanofibers and slow degradation rate, biodegradable poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) nanofibers are promising material as scaffolds for bone and soft-tissue engineering. Here, PCL nanofibers were prepared by the electrospinning method and then subjected to surface functionalization aimed at improving their biocompatibility and bioactivity. For surface modification, two approaches were used: (i) COOH-containing polymer was deposited on the PCL surface using atmospheric pressure plasma copolymerization of CO and CH, and (ii) PCL nanofibers were coated with multifunctional bioactive nanostructured TiCaPCON film by magnetron sputtering of TiC-CaO-TiPO target.

Plasma-Coated Polycaprolactone Nanofibers with Covalently Bonded Platelet-Rich Plasma Enhance Adhesion and Growth of Human Fibroblasts.

Biodegradable nanofibers are extensively employed in different areas of biology and medicine, particularly in tissue engineering. The electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers are attracting growing interest due to their good mechanical properties and a low-cost structure similar to the extracellular matrix. However, the unmodified PCL nanofibers exhibit an inert surface, hindering cell adhesion and negatively affecting their further fate.

Luminescent silica mesoparticles for protein transduction.

Unlike silica nanoparticles, the potential of silica mesoparticles (SMPs) (i.e. particles of submicron size) for biological applications in particular the in vitro (let alone in vivo) cellular delivery of biological cargo has so far not been sufficiently studied.

Polyelectrolyte-coated ultra-small nanoparticles with Tb(III)-centered luminescence as cell labels with unusual charge effect on their cell internalization.

The present work reports ultra-small polyelectrolyte-coated water insoluble Tb(III) complex species with bright Tb(III)-centered luminescence resulted from efficient ligand-to-metal energy transfer as efficient labels for Hep-2 cells. The flow cytometry data revealed the enhanced cellular uptake of negatively charged nanoparticles coated by the polystyrenesulfonate (PSS)-monolayer versus the positively charged nanoparticles. The latter are obtained by layer-by-layer deposition of polyethyleneimine (PEI) onto PSS-coated ones.

[Impact of Glycemic Variability on Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes].

A growing body of evidences indicates the role of increased glucose variability (GV) as an independent cardiovascular risk factor in diabetes. It has been shown that high GV is associated with coronary and carotid atherosclerosis in diabetic subjects. The impact of enhanced glycemic fluctuations on vascular wall is mediated through non-enzymatic glycation, oxidative stress, activation of inflammatory pathways, and endothelial dysfunction.

[Lung Diffusion Capacity and Efficiency of Pulmonary Gas Exchange in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension].

Aim: to study lung diffusion capacity and efficiency of pulmonary ventilation in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) depending on the severity of pulmonary hypertension.

Materials And Methods: The study included 139 patients with CTEPH. The parameters of body plethysmography, lung diffusion capacity, efficiency of pulmonary ventilation and their interrelation with results of angiopulmonography were assessed.

23-Electron Octahedral Molybdenum Cluster Complex [{MoI}Cl].

Photoactive transition metal compounds that are prone to reversible redox reactions are important for myriad applications, including catalysis, optoelectronics, and sensing. This article describes chemical and electrochemical methods to prepare cluster complex (BuN)[{MoI}Cl], a rare example of a 23 e cluster complex within the family of octahedral clusters of Mo, W, and Re. The low temperature and room temperature crystal structures; electronic structure; and the magnetic, optical, and electrochemical properties of this complex are described.

Immobilization of Platelet-Rich Plasma onto COOH Plasma-Coated PCL Nanofibers Boost Viability and Proliferation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

The scaffolds made of polycaprolactone (PCL) are actively employed in different areas of biology and medicine, especially in tissue engineering. However, the usage of unmodified PCL is significantly restricted by the hydrophobicity of its surface, due to the fact that its inert surface hinders the adhesion of cells and the cell interactions on PCL surface. In this work, the surface of PCL nanofibers is modified by Ar/CO₂/C₂H₄ plasma depositing active COOH groups in the amount of 0.

Hypolipidemic effect of mannans from C. albicans serotypes a and B in acute hyperlipidemia in mice.

Mannans, which are biological macromolecules of polysaccharide origin and function as immunomodulators, have been shown to stimulate macrophages in vivo by interaction with the mannose receptor. Thus, they can be used to stimulate macrophages in order to effectively remove circulating atherogenic lipoproteins. Our primary aim was to evaluate the hypolipidemic potential of mannans from C.

[Polymorphisms in Genes of Cytokines and Matrix Metalloproteinases Associated With Ischemic Heart Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes].

Objective: To examine associations between ischemic heart disease (IHD) and polymorphisms in cytokine genes (IL-1B, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNFA, VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase genes (MMP2, MMP3, MMP9) in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Material And Methods: We studied 232 Caucasian diabetic subjects (33 men and 199 women aged 50-70 years). In 93 patients IHD was verified by treadmill test and/or coronary angiography (86 subjects with stable angina, 19 with previous myocardial infarction).

[Association of Serum Levels and Gene Polymorphism of Vascular Endothelium Growth Factor With Ischemic Heart Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients].

Aim: to study serum levels of vascular endothelium growth factor family peptides (VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D) and functional gene polymorphisms of VEGFA gene (rs699947 and rs3025039) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) depending on the presence of ischemic heart disease (IHD).

Materials And Methods: The study involved 196 Caucasian patients with T2D (age 43-70 years, 76 with IHD). The concentrations of VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D in blood serum were determined by Multiplex assay.

A comparative study of hydrophilic phosphine hexanuclear rhenium cluster complexes' toxicity.

The octahedral rhenium cluster compound NaH[{ReSe}(P(CHCONH)(CHCOO))] has recently emerged as a very promising X-ray contrast agent for biomedical applications. However, the synthesis of this compound is rather challenging due to the difficulty in controlling the hydrolysis of the initial P(CHCN) ligand during the reaction process. Therefore, in this report we compare the and toxicity of NaH[{ReSe}(P(CHCONH)(CHCOO))] with those of related compounds featuring the fully hydrolysed form of the phosphine ligand, namely NaH[{ReQ}(P(CHCOO))] (Q = S or Se).

Cellular imaging by green luminescence of Tb(III)-doped aminomodified silica nanoparticles.

The work introduces Tb(III)-centered luminescence of amino-modified silica nanoparticles doped with Tb(III) complexes for cellular imaging. For these purposes water-in-oil procedure was optimized for synthesis of 20 and 35nm luminescent nanoparticles with amino-groups embedded on the surface. The obtained results indicate an impact of the nanoparticle size in decoration, aggregation behavior and luminescent properties of the nanoparticles in protein-based buffer solutions.

Linagliptin alleviates fatty liver disease in diabetic / mice.

Aim: To study the effects of linagliptin on the structural signs of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in / mice.

Methods: Male diabetic / mice (BKS.Cg-Dock7/Lepr/J) aged 10 wk received the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitor linagliptin (10 mg/kg) or saline as a placebo once per day by gavage for 8 wk.

Nanosized mesoporous metal-organic framework MIL-101 as a nanocarrier for photoactive hexamolybdenum cluster compounds.

Inclusion compounds of photoluminescent hexamolybdenum cluster complexes in the chromium terephthalate metal-organic framework, MIL-101 (MIL, Matérial Institut Lavoisier) were successfully synthesized in two different ways and characterized by means of powder X-Ray diffraction, chemical analysis and nitrogen sorption. Some important functional properties of hexamolybdenum cluster complexes for biological and medical applications, in particular singlet oxygen generation ability, luminescence properties, cellular uptake behavior and cytotoxicity were studied. It was revealed that the inclusion compounds possessed significant singlet oxygen generation activity.

A comparative study of the hypolipidaemic effects of a new polysaccharide, mannan Candida albicans serotype A, and atorvastatin in mice with poloxamer 407-induced hyperlipidaemia.

Objectives: We evaluated the hypolipidaemic effect of mannan Candida albicans serotype A, relative to atorvastatin, in a mouse model of hyperlipidaemia.

Methods: Mannan serotype A was investigated in vitro and in vivo to determine its effects on macrophage proliferation, nitric oxide (NO) production by cultured macrophages, serum and liver lipids, changes in liver morphology and serum chitotriosidase activity and its expression in the liver.

Key Findings: Mannan serotype A stimulates the macrophage proliferation and NO production in murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro.

Glucose variability indices predict the episodes of nocturnal hypoglycemia in elderly type 2 diabetic patients treated with insulin.

Aim: O determine the applicability of glucose variability (GV) indices derived from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data for prediction of nocturnal hypoglycemia (NH) in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin.

Methods: We observed 83 insulin-treated in-patients, 65-80 years of age. Blinded CGM data for 176 nights were analyzed.

Cellular internalization and morphological analysis after intravenous injection of a highly hydrophilic octahedral rhenium cluster complex - a new promising X-ray contrast agent.

The octahedral cluster compound Na H [{Re Se }(P(C H CONH )(C H COO) ) ] has been shown to be highly radio dense, thus becoming a promising X-ray contrast agent. It was also shown that this compound had low cytotoxic effect in vitro, low acute toxicity in vivo and was eliminated rapidly from the body through the urinary tract. The present contribution describes a more detailed cellular internalization assay and morphological analysis after intravenous injection of this hexarhenium cluster compound at different doses.

Cellular internalisation, bioimaging and dark and photodynamic cytotoxicity of silica nanoparticles doped by {MoI} metal clusters.

Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) doped by hexanuclear molybdenum cluster complexes [{MoX}L] (X = Cl, Br, or I; L = various inorganic or organic ligands) have been recently suggested as materials with high potential for biomedical applications due to both their outstanding photoluminescence properties and their ability to efficiently generate singlet oxygen upon photoirradiation. However, no studies were undertaken so far to prove this concept. Therefore, here we examined the potential of photoluminescent SNPs doped by {MoI} for applications such as bioimaging and photodynamic therapy using the human epidermoid larynx carcinoma (Hep-2) cell line as a model.

Heart rate variability is associated with interstitial glucose fluctuations in type 2 diabetic women treated with insulin.

Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a commonly used tool for assessment of autonomic function in diabetic subjects. Nevertheless, the effects of glucose fluctuations on HRV remain to be clarified. In this study we investigated the associations of frequency-domain HRV parameters with current and antecedent interstitial glucose fluctuations in insulin-treated type 2 diabetic women at high cardiovascular risk.

Prospects of molybdenum and rhenium octahedral cluster complexes as X-ray contrast agents.

Investigation of new X-ray contrast media for radiography is an important field of science since discovering of X-rays in 1895. Despite the wide diversity of available X-ray contrast media the toxicity, especially nephrotoxicity, is still a big problem to be solved. The octahedral metal-cluster complexes of the general formula [{M6Q8}L6] can be considered as quite promising candidates for the role of new radiocontrast media due to the high local concentration of heavy elements, high tuning ability of ligand environment and low toxicity.