Chemical functionalization of polysilicon microparticles for single-cell studies

In this work, two types of polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon) microparticles were modified with specific ligands in order to be selectively attached to chemical residues located at the plasma membrane and thus to be applied to study individual cells in culture. Two different functionalization approaches based on adsorption and covalent attachment were assayed. A comparative study of the efficiency of the ligand immobilization and stability of the modified particle in the culture medium was carried out using the selected ligands labeled with a fluorophore. Cylindrical microparticles (nonencoded microparticles) and shape-encoded microparticles (bar codes) were used with the aim of demonstrating the nondependence of the particle size and shape on the efficiency of the immobilization protocol. Fluorescence imaging and statistical analysis of the recorded fluorescence intensity showed that the covalent attachment of the ligand to the surface of the microparticle, previously modified with an aldehyde-terminated silane, gave the best results. As a proof of concept, Vero cells in culture were labeled with the covalently modified bar codes and successfully tracked for up to 1 week without observing any alteration in the viability of the cells. Bar code numbers could be easily read by eye using a bright-field optical microscope. It is anticipated that such modified microparticles could be feasible platforms for the introduction of other analytical functions of interest in single-cell monitoring and cell sorting in automatic analysis systems.

Ab Initio CI Determination of the Exchange Coupling Constant of Doubly-Bridged Nickel(II) Dimers

Ab initio DDCI2 (difference-dedicated configuration interaction) calculations are performed on the exchange coupling constant of the doubly-bridged Ni(II) complexes [Ni(en)(2)Cl](2)(2+) and [Ni(terpy)(N(3))](2)(2+), which are modeled by substituting the external ligands with ammonia groups. The variational CI space is selected on the grounds of the effective Hamiltonian theory and includes all the second-order contributions to the difference between the lowest quintet, triplet, and singlet states. Both complexes are found to be ferromagnetic, with coupling constants of 1.8 and 21.1 cm(-1), in good agreement with the experiment. A transformation of the molecular orbitals is also proposed for large systems, enabling the molecular orbital set to be significantly truncated-as well as the file of two-electron integrals and the DDCI2 space-with no loss of efficiency.

Comparative light and electron microscopic observations of the lesive effects of two non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs plus stress on rat gastric mucosa

In this histological study it has been demonstrated that a single-dose administration of piroxicam, at the same dosage (4 mg/kg) as droxicam, has a greater erosive potential on the gastric mucosa of rats later exposed to cold stress. For this purpose the depth of all lesions found was evaluated by light microscopy and results showed that piroxicam produces lesions deeper and more numerous than those of droxicam. The transmission and scanning electron microscopic studies showed that the lesive mechanism was very similar for both drugs and that both local and general factors induced by these drugs and stress come into play. Absorption or penetration and uptake by the cells of the mucosa have been considered among the most important local factors in the development of erosive gastric lesions caused by non-steroid anti-inflammtaory drugs. As this absorption is in direct relation to the depth of the lesions, it can be considered from the results of this study that the lesser lesive effect of droxicam on the gastric mucosa when compared to that of piroxicam is due to the fact that, owing to its hydrolysis to piroxicam the absorption rate is slower.