Sensing of Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis Using Nano-Bio Interfaces

It is well understood that patients with different diseases may have a variety of specific proteins (e.g., type, amount, and configuration) in their plasmas. When nanoparticles (NPs) are exposed to these plasmas, the resulting coronas may incorporate some of the disease-specific proteins. Using gold (Au) NPs with different surface properties and corona composition, we have developed a technology for the discrimination and detection of two neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Applying a variety of techniques, including UV-visible spectra, colorimetric response analyses and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we found the corona-NP complexes, obtained from different human serums, had distinct protein composition, including some specific proteins that are known as AD and MS biomarkers. The colorimetric responses, analyzed by chemometrics and statistical methods, demonstrate promising capabilities of the technology to unambiguously identify and discriminate AD and MS. The developed colorimetric technology might enable a simple, inexpensive and rapid detection/discrimination of neurodegenerative diseases. KEYWORDS: Alzheimer’s disease; colorimetric technology; disease-specific protein corona; gold nanoparticles; multiple sclerosi

Personalized protein coronas: a "key" factor at the nanobiointerface

It is now well known that the primary interactions of biological entities (e. g., tissues and cells) with nano-particles (NPs) are strongly influenced by the protein composition of the "corona" (i. e., the NP surface attached proteins). The composition of the corona strongly depends on the protein source (e. g., human plasma). Because the protein source determines the NP corona, it is reasonable to hypothesize that humans with specific disease(s) may have specific NP coronas. To test this hypothesis, we incubated two different hydrophobic/hydrophilic types of NPs (polystyrene and silica) with plasma from human subjects with different diseases and medical conditions (e. g., breast cancer, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, rheumatism, fauvism, smoking, hemodialysis, thalassemia, hemophilia A and B, pregnancy, common cold and hypofibrinogenemia). Our results demonstrate that the type of disease has a crucial role in the protein composition of the NP corona. Based on these results, we introduce the concept of the "personalized protein corona" (PPC) as a determinant factor in nano-biomedical science. This study will help researchers rationally design experiments based on the "personalized protein corona" for clinical and biological applications

Frequency of West Nile virus infection in Iranian blood donors

West Nile virus (<i>WNV</i>) can be transmitted by blood transfusions and organ transplants. This study was a retrospective study which was performed in Blood Transfusion Center to evaluate the <i>WNV</i> infection in blood donors in Iran. A total of 540 blood samples were taken from volunteer healthy donors who referred for blood donation to Chabahar Blood Center. The presence of <i>WNV</i> was studied by detecting immunoglobulin G (IgG) <i>WNV</i> by enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA). Demonstration of elevated <i>WNV</i> IgG confirmed by immunoflouorescence assay (IFA) Euroimmun kit. Out of the 540 samples 17.96 % (97 cases) were seropositive by ELISA and 1.48 % (8 cases) was seropositive by IFA. This means that 8.24 % of ELISA seropositive samples were confirmed by IFA. Special attention should be paid to criteria of donor selection, albeit positive results may be due to a previous infection in these donors

Quality Evaluation and Comparison of Immunoglobulin Prepared by Two Various Methods of Human Plasma Fractionation: Quality Comparison of Two Fractionation Methods for Human Plasma-Derived IgG

Based on European Pharmacopeia, there are some features which should be measured for any intravenous immunoglobulins prior to final release of the product. The most critical ones are the level of prekallikrein and anti-complementary activity in final formulation. For all commercial products, the national reference laboratory is prone to conduct such tests and there is no local report on quality control tests done on the products derived from Iranian human plasma. The study is to measure and control the international requirements such as prekallikrein count and anti-complementary activity for human intravenous immunoglobulins manufactured by local developed process in Iran in pilot scale. IgG-rich fraction was obtained by two fractionation methods. Cryoprecipitate was separated from tested fresh frozen plasma in both methods. In method I, for the next steps, fraction I paste, fraction II+III paste, and at the end, the fraction II paste were precipitated. In method II, the fraction I+II+III paste was simultaneously precipitated followed by deriving the fraction II paste. The paste obtained by both methods was separately subjected to the purification processes using anion and cation exchange chromatography followed by gel filtration and activity level of Prekallikrein in addition to anticomplement activity were compared with other laboratory evaluations. No difference was illustrated betweenprotein and albumin content, pH, and conductivity of the two products. The fraction II paste obtained from both methods was measured and compared with each other. The IgG yield compared to the primary plasma was calculated as 4.6 and 4.3 g for the aforementioned methods respectively. The absence of impurities was determined by a strong IgG bond in electrophoresis while by HPLC, the dimer/ monomer content was measured more than 99% and the polymer/ aggregate was less than 1%. The amount of prekallikrein and total anticoagulant activity met the European Pharmacopoeia requirements for both method

Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and associated risk behaviors in prisoners: A systematic review

Abstract Background and Aims Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are one of the major health concerns globally. Generally, prisoners are at higher risks for STIs due to risk factors including; drug‐use, high‐risk sexual behaviors, densely populated prisons, and poor living conditions. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the existing data on STI prevalence, and its associated risk factors among prisoners. Methods We conducted a systematic search of the literature using the keywords in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar online databases. We selected all the relevant original studies in English through title/abstract and full‐text screening process.‎ Results Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we selected and reviewed 32 studies out of 96 identified papers. The most important STI‐associated risk factors among prisoners were drug use, low educational levels, and unsafe sex. The prevalence of STIs was heterogenous in selected studies and was reported as follows; Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (0%−14.5%), hepatitis B viruses (HBV) (0.04%−27.23%), hepatitis C viruses (HCV) (0.17%−49.7%), Syphilis (0.2%−22.1%), Chlamydia Trachomatis (CT) (1.02%−6.7%), Gonorrhea (0.6%−7.8%), and herpes simplex virus‐2 (HSV‐2) 22.4%. Conclusion This systematic review indicates that the prevalence of STIs (HIV, HBV, HCV, Syphilis, Chlamydia Trachomatis, Gonorrhea, and HSV‐2) among prisoners appears to be higher than the general population, with drug abuse, low educational levels, and unsafe sex as major risk factors

Sensing of Alzheimer's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis Using Nano-Bio Interfaces.

Abstract A simple and green method for the determination of cyanide ions (CN-) has been developed which is based on copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) acting as a fluorescent probe in aqueous solutions. In this study, fluorescent CuNPs have been synthesized in the presence of ascorbic acid which acts both as a reducing and protecting agent. The preparation of CuNPs by this method is very simple, low cost, high yield, and reproducible. The prepared CuNPs have the small average diameter of 10nm and show a blue emission at 440nm. However, upon the addition of CN- into the CuNPs sensing system, its fluorescence was quenched considerably as a result of the strong interaction between cyanide and copper. Under optimized conditions, a good relationship was observed between the fluorescence quenching of the system and the concentration of CN- in the range of 0.5-18µmolL-1 with a detection limit of 0.37µmolL-1. In addition, the developed sensor has a high selectivity and simple operations. Furthermore, as a cost-effective and selective fluorescent probe, the CuNPs sensor was successfully employed for the detection of CN- ions in water samples