A carbon nanotube-enhanced real-time immuno-PCR for ultrasensitive detection of AHTN in water

Multi-class organic pollutants in PM2.5 in mixed area of Shanghai: Levels, sources and health risk assessment

The occurrence of 25 multi-class pollutants comprising phthalate esters (PAEs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and synthetic musks (SMs) were studied in PM2.5 samples collected at an industrial/commercial/residential/traffic mixed area in Shanghai during four seasons. During the whole period, a slight exceedance of the PM2.5 annual limit was observed, with an average of 36.8 μg/m3, and PAEs were the most predominant, accounting for >70 % of the studied organic pollutants in PM2.5, followed by PAHs and SMs. Statistically significant differences were observed for the concentrations of PM2.5, PAEs, PAHs, and SMs in winter and summer. This seasonal variation could be derived from anthropogenic activities and atmospheric dynamics. Principal component analysis (PCA) and PAHs ratios suggested a mixed source mainly derived from vehicle emissions and industrial processes. Moreover, gaseous pollutants were also accounted for, indicating the emission of PAHs might accompany the NO2 emission process. Finally, inhalation of PM2.5-bound organic pollutants for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were estimated as average values for each season, showing outside the safe levels in autumn and winter in some cases, suggesting that new policies should be to developed to reduce their emissions and protect human health in this area.

Detection of potential biomarkers associated with outrageous diseases and environmental pollutants by nanoparticle-based immuno-PCR assays

Immuno-polymerase chain reaction (I-PCR) assay with advantages of both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and PCR exhibits several-fold enhanced sensitivity in comparison to respective ELISA, which has wide applications for ultralow detection of several molecules, i.e. cytokines, protooncogenes and biomarkers associated with several diseases. Conjugation of reporter DNA to the detection antibodies is the most crucial step of I-PCR assay that usually employs streptavidin-protein A, streptavidin-biotin conjugate or succinimidyl-4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (SMCC) system by a covalent binding. However, coupling of antibodies and oligonucleotides to nanoparticles (NPs) is relatively easier in the NP-based I-PCR (NP-I-PCR) that also displays better accuracy. This article is mainly focused on the detection of important biomarkers associated with several outrageous infectious and non-infectious diseases by NP-I-PCR assays, which would expedite an early initiation of therapy thus human health would be improved. Similarly, ultralow detection of environmental pollutants by these assays and their elimination would certainly improve human health.