In situ monitoring of the effect of Cu2+ on the membrane permeability of a single living cell with a dual-electrode tip of a scanning electrochemical microscope

Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency detection in human fibroblasts using scanning electrochemical microscopy

Cytochrome c oxidase deficiency (COXD) is an inherited disorder characterized by the absence or mutation in the genes encoding for the cytochrome c oxidase protein (COX). COX deficiency results in severe muscle weakness, heart, liver, and kidney disorders, as well as brain damage in infants and adolescents, leading to death in many cases. With no cure for this disorder, finding an efficient, inexpensive, and early means of diagnosis is essential to minimize symptoms and long-term disabilities. Furthermore, muscle biopsy, the traditional detection method, is invasive, expensive, and time-consuming. This study demonstrates the applicability of scanning electrochemical microscopy to quantify COX activity in living human fibroblast cells. Taking advantage of the interaction between the redox mediator N, N, N', N'-tetramethyl-para-phenylene-diamine, and COX, the enzymatic activity was successfully quantified by monitoring current changes using a platinum microelectrode and determining the apparent heterogeneous rate constant k0 using numerical modeling. This study provides a foundation for developing a diagnostic method for detecting COXD in infants, which has the potential to increase treatment effectiveness and improve the quality of life of affected individuals.

Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance gene dynamics in the composting of antibiotic fermentation waste - A review

Fate of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during composting of antibiotic fermentation waste (AFW) is a major concern. This review article focuses on recent literature published on this subject. The key findings are that antibiotics can be removed effectively during AFW composting, with higher temperatures, appropriate bulking agents, and suitable pretreatments improving their degradation. ARGs dynamics during composting are related to bacteria and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Higher temperatures, suitable bulking agents and an appropriate C/N ratio (30:1) lead to more efficient removal of ARGs/MGEs by shaping the bacterial composition. Keeping materials dry (moisture less than 30%) and maintaining pH stable around 7.5 after composting could inhibit the rebound of ARGs. Overall, safer utilization of AFW can be realized by optimizing composting conditions. However, further removal of antibiotics and ARGs at low levels, degradation mechanism of antibiotics, and spread mechanism of ARGs during AFW composting require further investigation.

In Situ and Quantitatively Imaging of Heat-Induced Oxidative State and Oxidative Damage of Living Neurons Using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

Central nervous system is sensitive and vulnerable to heat. Oxidative state and oxidative damage of neurons under heat stress are vital for understanding early consequences and mechanisms of heat-related neuronal injury, which remains elusive partly due to the technical challenge of in situ and quantitative monitoring methods. Herein, a temperature-controlled scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) platform with programmable pulse potential and depth scan modes is developed for in situ and quantitatively monitoring of oxygen consumption, extracellular hydrogen peroxide level, and cell membrane permeability of neurons under thermal microenvironment of 37-42 °C. The SECM results show that neuronal oxygen consumption reaches a maximum at 40 °C and then decreases, extracellular H₂ O₂ level increases from 39 °C, and membrane permeability increases from 2.0 ± 0.6 × 10^-5 to 7.2 ± 0.8 × 10^-5 m s^-1 from 39 to 42 °C. The therapeutic effect on oxidative damage of neurons under hyperthermia conditions (40-42 °C) is further evaluated by SECM and fluorescence methods, which can be partially alleviated by the potent antioxidant edaravone. This work realizes in situ and quantitatively observing the heat-induced oxidative state and oxidative damage of living neurons using SECM for the first time, which results can contribute to a better understanding of the heat-related cellular injury mechanism.