Nanodiamonds as Carriers for Address Delivery of Biologically Active Substances

Surface of detonation nanodiamonds was functionalized for the covalent attachment of immunoglobulin, and simultaneously bovine serum albumin and Rabbit Anti-Mouse Antibody. The nanodiamond-IgGI125 and RAM-nanodiamond-BSAI125 complexes are stable in blood serum and the immobilized proteins retain their biological activity. It was shown that the RAM-nanodiamond-BSAI125 complex is able to bind to the target antigen immobilized on the Sepharose 6B matrix through antibody–antigen interaction. The idea can be extended to use nanodiamonds as carriers for delivery of bioactive substances (i.e., drugs) to various targets in vivo

Enhanced Growth and Osteogenic Differentiation of Human Osteoblast-Like Cells on Boron-Doped Nanocrystalline Diamond Thin Films

Intrinsic nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) films have been proven to be promising substrates for the adhesion, growth and osteogenic differentiation of bone-derived cells. To understand the role of various degrees of doping (semiconducting to metallic-like), the NCD films were deposited on silicon substrates by a microwave plasma-enhanced CVD process and their boron doping was achieved by adding trimethylboron to the CH4:H2 gas mixture, the B∶C ratio was 133, 1000 and 6700 ppm. The room temperature electrical resistivity of the films decreased from >10 MΩ (undoped films) to 55 kΩ, 0.6 kΩ, and 0.3 kΩ (doped films with 133, 1000 and 6700 ppm of B, respectively). The increase in the number of human osteoblast-like MG 63 cells in 7-day-old cultures on NCD films was most apparent on the NCD films doped with 133 and 1000 ppm of B (153,000±14,000 and 152,000±10,000 cells/cm2, respectively, compared to 113,000±10,000 cells/cm2 on undoped NCD films). As measured by ELISA per mg of total protein, the cells on NCD with 133 and 1000 ppm of B also contained the highest concentrations of collagen I and alkaline phosphatase, respectively. On the NCD films with 6700 ppm of B, the cells contained the highest concentration of focal adhesion protein vinculin, and the highest amount of collagen I was adsorbed. The concentration of osteocalcin also increased with increasing level of B doping. The cell viability on all tested NCD films was almost 100%. Measurements of the concentration of ICAM-1, i.e. an immunoglobuline adhesion molecule binding inflammatory cells, suggested that the cells on the NCD films did not undergo significant immune activation. Thus, the potential of NCD films for bone tissue regeneration can be further enhanced and tailored by B doping and that B doping up to metallic-like levels is not detrimental for cells

Biochemical changes causes lack of bioluminescence in fruiting bodies of Armillaria

Abstract Mycelium of Armillaria species exhibit bioluminescence in nature and when cultivated on artificial nutrient media. However, fruiting bodies do not emit visible light. The present study investigates biochemical changes which cause this phenomenon. Light emission was studied in experiments with mixtures of cold and hot extracts of the luminous mycelium of Armillaria borealis IBSO 2328 and nonluminous fruiting bodies of this fungus and an unidentified species of the genus (Armillaria sp.). Hot extracts of fruiting bodies of the nonluminous Pholiota squarrosa were used as the substrate analog of the luminescent reaction, as previously this fungus had been found to contain a high amount of this substance. Control experiments showed that cold extracts of A. borealis IBSO 2328 mycelium contained enzymes for the luminescent reaction, which is initiated after addition hot extracts of P. squarrosa fruiting bodies. Parallel experiments with extracts of the fruiting bodies of Armillaria showed that: (i) -cold extracts did not contain enzymes of the luminescent reaction or contain very small amounts of these enzymes and (ii) -hot extracts did not contain substrate of the luminescent reaction. Thus, the reason why fruiting bodies of Armillaria do not emit light is that they do not contain components required for visible luminescence. The study discusses possible causes why the enzymes and substrate of the luminescent reaction are not synthesized in fruiting bodies of Armillaria

Hematological Parameters and the State of Liver Cells of Rats After Oral Administration of Aflatoxin B1 Alone and Together with Nanodiamonds

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Hematological parameters and the state of liver cells of rats were examined in vivo after the animals received aflatoxin B₁ (AfB₁) alone and together with modified nanodiamonds (MND) synthesized by detonation. The rats that had received the MND hydrosol had elevated leukocyte levels, mainly due to higher granulocyte counts and somewhat increased monocyte counts compared to control rats. Hematological parameters of the rats that had received AfB₁ alone differed from those of the control rats in another way: total white blood cell counts were significantly lower due to the decreased lymphocyte counts. In rats that had consumed AfB₁ with the MND hydrosol, changes in hematological parameters were less pronounced than in rats that had consumed either AfB₁ or MND. Electron microscopy showed that hepatocytes of the rats that had received the MND hydrosol or AfB₁ with the MND hydrosol contained elevated levels of lipid inclusions and lysosomes. Hyperplasia of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (EPR) was revealed in liver specimens of the rats that had received AfB₁. Results of the study suggest the conclusion about mutual mitigation of the effects of nanoparticles and the mycotoxin on rats blood and liver cells after AfB₁ has adsorbed on MND.</p