Quantification of cardiovascular disease biomarkers via functionalized magnetic beads and on-demand detachable quantum dots

Multiplexed Nanobiosensors: Current Trends in Early Diagnostics

The ever-growing demand for fast, cheap, and reliable diagnostic tools for personalised medicine is encouraging scientists to improve existing technology platforms and to create new methods for the detection and quantification of biomarkers of clinical significance. Simultaneous detection of multiple analytes allows more accurate assessment of changes in biomarker expression and offers the possibility of disease diagnosis at the earliest stages. The concept of multiplexing, where multiple analytes can be detected in a single sample, can be tackled using several types of nanomaterial-based biosensors. Quantum dots are widely used photoluminescent nanoparticles and represent one of the most frequent choices for different multiplex systems. However, nanoparticles that incorporate gold, silver, and rare earth metals with their unique optical properties are an emerging perspective in the multiplexing field. In this review, we summarise progress in various nanoparticle applications for multiplexed biomarkers.

The Roles of Nanoparticles in Stem Cell-Based Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is currently one of the primary causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Nanoparticles (NPs) are playing increasingly important roles in regulating stem cell behavior because of their special features, including shape, size, aspect ratio, surface charge, and surface area. In terms of cardiac disease, NPs can facilitate gene delivery in stem cells, track the stem cells in vivo for long-term monitoring, and enhance retention after their transplantation. The advantages of applying NPs in peripheral vascular disease treatments include facilitating stem cell therapy, mimicking the extracellular matrix environment, and utilizing a safe non-viral gene delivery tool. However, the main limitation of NPs is toxicity, which is related to their size, shape, aspect ratio, and surface charge. Currently, there have been many animal models proving NPs’ potential in treating CVD, but no extensive applications of stem-cell therapy using NPs are available in clinical practice. In conclusion, NPs might have significant potential uses in clinical trials of CVD in the future, thereby meeting the changing needs of individual patients worldwide.

Field-Effect Biosensors for On-Site Detection: Recent Advances and Promising Targets

There is an explosive interest in the immediate and cost-effective analysis of field-collected biological samples, as many advanced biodetection tools are highly sensitive, yet immobile. On-site biosensors are portable and convenient sensors that provide detection results at the point of care. They are designed to secure precision in highly ionic and heterogeneous solutions with minimal hardware. Among various methods that are capable of such analysis, field-effect biosensors are promising candidates due to their unique sensitivity, manufacturing scalability, and integrability with computational circuitry. Recent developments in nanotechnological surface modification show promising results in sensing from blood, serum, and urine. This report gives a particular emphasis on the on-site efficacy of recently published field-effect biosensors, specifically, detection limits in physiological solutions, response times, and scalability. The survey of the properties and existing detection methods of four promising biotargets, exosomes, bacteria, viruses, and metabolites, aims at providing a roadmap for future field-effect and other on-site biosensors.

Multifaceted toxicity assessment of catalyst composites in transgenic zebrafish embryos

Recent development in the field of nanomaterials has given rise into the inquiries regarding the toxicological characteristics of the nanomaterials. While many individual nanomaterials have been screened for their toxicological effects, composites that accompany nanomaterials are not common subjects to such screening through toxicological assessment. One of the widely used composites that accompany nanomaterials is catalyst composite used to reduce air pollution, which was selected as a target composite with nanomaterials for the multifaceted toxicological assessment. As existing studies did not possess any significant data regarding such catalyst composites, this study focuses on investigating toxicological characteristics of catalyst composites from various angles in both in-vitro and in-vivo settings. Initial toxicological assessment on catalyst composites was conducted using HUVECs for cell viability assays, and subsequent in-vivo assay regarding their direct influence on living organisms was done. The zebrafish embryo and its transgenic lines were used in the in-vivo assays to obtain multifaceted analytic results. Data obtained from the in-vivo assays include blood vessel formation, mutated heart morphology, and heart functionality change. Our multifaceted toxicological assessment pointed out that chemical composites augmented with nanomaterials can too have toxicological threat as much as individual nanomaterials do and alarms us with their danger. This manuscript provides a multifaceted assessment for composites augmented with nanomaterials, of which their toxicological threats have been overlooked.

Nanobiosensors in diagnostics

Medical diagnosis has been greatly improved thanks to the development of new techniques capable of performing very sensitive detection and quantifying certain parameters. These parameters can be correlated with the presence of specific molecules and their quantity. Unfortunately, these techniques are demanding, expensive, and often complicated. On the other side, progress in other fields of science and technology has contributed to the rapid growth of nanotechnology. Although being an emerging discipline, nanotechnology has raised huge interest and expectations. Most of the enthusiasm comes from new possibilities and properties of nanomaterials. Biosensors (simple, robust, sensitive, cost-effective) combined with nanomaterials, also called nanobiosensors, are serving as bridge between advanced detection/diagnostics and daily/routine tests. Here we review some of the latest applications of nanobiosensors in diagnostics field.

Magnetic bead-quantum dot assay for detection of a biomarker for traumatic brain injury

Current diagnostic methods for traumatic brain injury (TBI), which accounts for 15% of all emergency room visits, are limited to neuroimaging modalities. The challenges of accurate diagnosis and monitoring of TBI have created the need for a simple and sensitive blood test to detect brain-specific biomarkers. Here we report on an assay for detection of S100B, a putative biomarker for TBI, using antibody-conjugated magnetic beads for capture of the protein, and antibody-conjugated quantum dots for optical detection. From Western Blot, we show efficient antigen capture and concentration by the magnetic beads. Using magnetic bead capture and quantum dot detection in serum samples, we show a wide detection range and detection limit below the clinical cut-off level.

Diagnosis of prostate cancer via nanotechnological approach

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among the Caucasian adult males in Europe and the USA. Currently available diagnostic strategies for patients with prostate cancer are invasive and unpleasant and have poor accuracy. Many patients have been overly or underly treated resulting in a controversy regarding the reliability of current conventional diagnostic approaches. This review discusses the state-of-the-art research in the development of novel noninvasive prostate cancer diagnostics using nanotechnology coupled with suggested diagnostic strategies for their clinical implication.

Rapidly accomplished femtomole soluble CD40 ligand detection in human serum: a “green” homobifunctional agent coupled with reduced graphene oxide-tetraethylene pentamine as platform

A reliable and sensitive electrochemical immunosensor based on a “green” conjunction agent coupled with an amino-group qualified material was used for the analysis of soluble CD40 ligand.

Electrical signaling of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays with an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor

Optical laboratory-based immunoassays, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) give a high sensitivity and specificity of various fatal diseases. However, these assays are no longer efficient in on-spot diagnostics of wide-spreading and contagious infections. At this point in time, portable and handhold devices play a pivotal role in infectious diseases with quick diagnostics at or near the site of the disease propagation. In this paper, we demonstrated a novel electrical immunoassay of ELISA that was not based on optical signaling but on electrical signaling. This was done by combining an ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) with ELISA. By harnessing the catalytic reaction of alkaline phosphatase that precipitated silver particles, we effectively overcame the chronic Debye screening length issue of the ISFET. Ultimately, small signal ranging from 1 pg/mL to 10 ng/mL was immensely amplified with the ALP label, regardless of buffer conditions. The sensor platform herein surpassed a sensing capability of conventional ELISA that is considered to have a LOD on the order of ~1 ng/mL. The results were compared with those of horseradish peroxidase label, which is generally used for optical analyses in ELISA. Our newly developed ISFET-based portable sensor holds a large potential for point-of-care tools in a variety of diseases, without being limited by the need for expensive equipment such as spectrophotometers.

Facile solvothermal preparation of monodisperse gold nanoparticles and their engineered assembly of ferritin-gold nanoclusters

Herein, we report a quick and simple synthesis of water-soluble gold nanoparticles using a HAuCl4 and oleylamine mixture. Oleylamine serves as a reduction agent as well as a stabilizer for nanoparticle surfaces. The particle sizes can be adjusted by modulating reaction temperature and time. Solvothermal reduction of HAuCl4 with oleylamine can be confirmed by measuring the product in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The plasmon band shifting from yellow to red confirms a nanosized particle formation. Amide bonds on the surface of the nanoparticles formed hydrogen bonds with one another, resulting in a hydrophobic monolayer. Particles dispersed well in nonpolar organic solvents, such as in hexane or toluene, by brief sonication. Next, we demonstrated the transfer of gold nanoparticles into water by lipid capsulation using 1-myristoyl-2-hydroxy-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (MHPC), 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-(methoxy polyethylene glycol)-2000 (DPPE-PEG2k), and 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-N-{5-amino-1-carboxypentyl}iminodiacetic acid succinyl nickel salt [DGS-NTA(Ni)]. The particle concentration can be obtained using an absorbance in ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectra (at 420 nm). Instrumental analyses using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and FTIR confirmed successful production of gold nanoparticles and fair solubility in water. Prepared gold particles were selectively clustered via engineered ferritin nanocages that provide multiple conjugation moieties. A total of 5-6 gold nanoparticles were clustered on a single ferritin nanocage confirmed in TEM. Reported solvothermal synthesis and preparation of gold nanoclusters may serve as an efficient, alternate way of preparing water-soluble gold nanoparticles, which can be used in a wide variety of biomedical applications.

Think modular: a simple apoferritin-based platform for the multifaceted detection of pancreatic cancer

The generation of nanosized probes often requires time-intensive and application-specific optimization processes that involve conjugating a nanoconstruct to a targeting moiety. Herein, we genetically modify apoferritin and generate a universal interface system composed of protein G and 6×His-tag. The resulting construct, conferred with modularity and high targeting efficiency, is applied toward two distinct applications in the detection of a pancreatic cancer biomarker and used to demonstrate its potential in the facile exchange of nanoprobe components.