Biosensing the presence of nanoparticles using endogenous fluorescence in live algae

<p>Nanoparticles (NPs) from various metals (Zinc, Nickel, Cobalt, Copper) were designed and fabricated by direct synthesis using femtosecond laser ablation in liquids. Employing confocal microscopy with spectral detection and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), we have evaluated interaction of fabricated NPs with living Chlorella sp. algae by means of their naturally presented endogenous fluorescence. Live cell imaging was done in spectral region 500-550 nm and 650-710 nm to evaluate the effect of NPs on both, the green and the red fluorescence that is derived from flavonoids/carotenoids and chlorophylls respectively. We observed fluorescence intensity decrease in the red spectral region by all but Ni NPs. The presence of NPs also lead to an increase in the blue fluorescence at 477-488 nm, possibly resulting from reflected light. Gathered observations constitute the first step towards creation of methodological approaches for fast natural biosensing of the effects of environmental pollution directly in live algae.</p&gt

Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy investigation of the effect of 4-hydroxynonenal on endogenous NAD(P)H in living cardiac myocytes

International audienceLipid peroxidation is a major biochemical consequence of the oxidative deterioration of polyunsaturated lipids in cell membranes and causes damage to membrane integrity and loss of protein function. 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), one of the most reactive products of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid peroxidation of membrane phospholipids, has been shown to be capable of affecting both nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) reduced [NAD(P)H] as well as NADH production. However, the understanding of its effects in living cardiac cells is still lacking. Our goal was to therefore investigate HNE effects on NAD(P)H noninvasively in living cardiomyocytes. Spectrally resolved lifetime detection of endogenous fluorescence, an innovative noninvasive technique, was employed. Individual fluorescence components were resolved by spectral linear unmixing approach. Gathered results revealed that HNE reduced the amplitude of both resolved NAD(P)H components in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, HNE increased flavoprotein fluorescence and responsiveness of the NAD(P)H component ratio to glutathione reductase (GR) inhibitor. HNE also increased the percentage of oxidized nucleotides and decreased maximal NADH production. Presented data indicate that HNE provoked an important cell oxidation by acting on NAD(P) H regulating systems in cardiomyocytes. Understanding the precise role of oxidative processes and their products in living cells is crucial for finding new noninvasive tools for biomedical diagnostics of pathophysiological states. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE

Sensing the interaction of living organisms with microplastics by microscopy methods

<p>Environmental pollution by microplastics (MPs) represents a serious burden of the 21st century. Sensing the interactions of photosynthetic organisms with MPs is based on the study of their endogenous fluorescence derived from chlorophylls. Fluorescently labelled custom-made MPs were tested. We also recorded endogenous fluorescence of the moss in the presence of "naturally-occurring" MPs (polyethylene content of 2 mg/g, non fluorescent) in suspended matter (SM) from the river Rhine. Performed experiments evaluated the distribution of the MPs, as well as the sensitivity of endogenous fluorescence of chlorophylls to their presence. Understanding the interaction of living organisms with MPs will help to assess the impact of this environmental pollution and eventually to propose new approaches for its removal from water sources.</p&gt

The Dipolar ElectroCARdioTOpographic (DECARTO)-like method for graphic presentation of location and extent of area at risk estimated from ST-segment deviations in patients with acute myocardial infarction

A graphic method was developed for presentation of the location and extent of the myocardium at risk in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This method is based on a mathematical processing of ST-segment deviations of standard 12-lead electrocardiogram following the concept of Titomir and Ruttkay-Nedecky in their dipolar electrocardiotopographic method. The center of the location of the area at risk is given by the spatial orientation of the resultant spatial ST vector, and the extent of the area at risk is derived from the Aldrich score. The areas at risk are projected on a spherical image surface, on which a texture of the anatomical quadrants of the ventricular surface and its coronary artery supply are projected. The method was tested in 10 patients with AMI with single-vessel disease, including 6 patients with an occlusion in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), 3 patients with an occlusion in the right coronary artery, and one patient with occlusion in the left circumflex coronary artery. The estimated areas at risk were compared with myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography. Eight (80%) patients of 10 were correctly localized according to the Aldrich decision rules for the location of AMI. The areas at risk in patients with LAD occlusion correctly localized by the Aldrich score were situated in the anteroseptal and anterosuperior quadrants. In the inferior AMI group, the area at risk was localized in the posterolateral and inferior quadrants. The visual comparison with myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed best agreement in patients with LAD involvement. The initial testing showed that this method allows a graphic presentation of estimated area at risk using clinically defined diagnostic rules. The area at risk can be displayed in images that are familiar for clinicians and can be compared with or superimposed on results of other imaging methods used in cardiology. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved