Gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric biosensors

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) provide excellent platforms for the development of colorimetric biosensors as they can be easily functionalised, displaying different colours depending on their size, shape and state of aggregation. In the last decade, a variety of biosensors have been developed to exploit the extent of colour changes as nano-particles (NPs) either aggregate or disperse, in the presence of analytes. Of critical importance to the design of these methods is that the behaviour of the systems has to be reproducible and predictable. Much has been accomplished in understanding the interactions between a variety of substrates and AuNPs, and how these interactions can be harnessed as colorimetric reporters in biosensors. However, despite these developments, only a few biosensors have been used in practice for the detection of analytes in biological samples. The transition from proof of concept to market biosensors requires extensive long-term reliability and shelf life testing, and modification of protocols and design features to make them safe and easy to use by the population at large. Developments in the next decade will see the adoption of user friendly biosensors for point-of-care and medical diagnosis as innovations are brought to improve the analytical performances and usability of the current designs. This review discusses the mechanisms, strategies, recent advances and perspectives for the use of AuNPs as colorimetric biosensors. Keywords: biosensors, colloids, gold nanoparticles, nanotechnology, surface plasmon resonance, enzymes, quantification

Nanoparticules originales à base de carboxylates de fer (encapsulation du busulfan, de l'AZT-TP et du cidofovir)

Cette thèse a comme but de préparer de nanoparticules de (MOF) ou plus précisément de carboxylates de fer présentant des taille compatibles avec une administration intraveineuse, porosités importante, une bonne biocompatibilité et des capacités d encapsulation et de libération de principes actifs d intérêt comme le busulfan (agent anticancéreux), l AZT-TP et le cidofovir (agents antirétroviraux). Dans la perspective des applications biomédicales, nous avons choisi la famille des carboxylates de fer pour préparer nos nanoparticules, car ces matériaux peuvent être élaborés à partir de fer et des acides di(ou tri) carboxyliques de très faible DL50.This thesis is intended to prepare nanoparticles (MOF) or more precisely iron carboxylates having a size compatible with intravenous, high porosity, good biocompatibility and capability of encapsulation and release of active ingredients of interest as busulfan (anticancer agent), AZT-TP and cidofovir (antiretrovirals). From the perspective of biomedical applications, we chose the family of iron carboxylates to prepare our nanoparticles, because these materials can be made from iron and acid di (or tri) carboxylic very low LD50.CHATENAY M.-PARIS 11-BU Pharma. (920192101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Cost-effective analysis of vascular and sexual health pharmacy services

The role of community pharmacy (CP) in health promotion has developed over the last decade and a half following the introduction of the new National Health Service (NHS) plan in 2000. CPs have been turned into healthy living centres where individuals can access a variety of services designed to prevent disease and promote health. In 2005, three types of pharmacy service were introduced; essential, advanced and enhanced (currently known as locally commissioned). Enhanced pharmacy services were provided by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) (until 2010) based on local needs identified by PCTs. In 2010, the Government decided to abolish the PCTs by 1‘"t April 2013; hence, PCTs entered a transition phase between 2010 and April 2013. By February 2011, each PCT was required to publish Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) report regarding the provision and need for pharmacy services. The national commissioned vascular and sexual health enhanced pharmacy services in England are Stop Smoking Service (SSS), NHS health check, Emergency Hormonal Contraception (EHC) and chlamydia screening and treatment services. In 2012, the Healthy Living Pharmacy (HLP) scheme, which was piloted in Portsmouth PCT, was expanded to 30 PCTs known as HLP pathfinder PCTs. The aim of this research was to identify the correlation between needs, provision and uptake of vascular and sexual health pharmacy services at a PCT and CP level. It also aimed to investigate whether the provision of those services was cost effective. Finally, it aimed to determine the impact of the introduction of the HLP scheme on the provision and uptake of those services. At a PCT level, the PNA reports were used to identify the CP provision of SSS, EHC service and chlamydia screening service for the financial year 2009/2010. The local need for SSS (prevalence of smoking adults) and EHC services (rates of teenage pregnancy) were obtained from Health Profiles for each PCT. The need for chlamydia screening service (prevalence of positive chlamydia infection) was obtained from the National Chlamydia Service Programme (NCSP). Uptake and cost attributed to provision of those services for the financial year 2009/2010 were obtained from a short questionnaire targeted the public health leads for the related services in PCTs where the provision of services and the needs were identified. Simple cost-effectiveness analyses were performed on CP SSS and CP EHC provision, based on identified uptake and cost. At a CP level, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1 249 CPs in 28 PCTs across England in 2013. PCTs were chosen based on provision of SSS, EHC and chlamydia screening service identified in the PNA reports. 7 PCTs out of 28 PCTs were HLP pathfinder PCTs. CPs were allocated to one of five groups based on deprivation. The response rates for SSS, EHC and chlamydia screening surveys were 30% (42/138), 30% (42/139) and 19% (21/111) respectively. Data analysis identified that the need for SSS and EHC services were highly correlated with deprivation, with Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (rho) of 0.76 and 0.83 respectively (both P 0.001). The correlation between deprivation and the need for a chlamydia service was weak (rho = 0.25, P = 0.009). Higher number of CPs per 25 000 population were observed in more deprived PCTs (rho = 0.63, P < 0.001). CP provision (percentage of CPs offering a service out of total CPs in a PCT) of SSS, EHC and chlamydia service did not correlate with needs. The uptake of SSS, EHC and the chlamydia screening service did not correlate with increasing need or deprivation. However, pharmacists in areas of higher need dealt with a greater number of clients in relation to SSS and EHC services to meet their local needs, with rho of 0.4 and P of 0.01 in case of SSS and Pearson's correlation coefficient (R) of 0.36 and P of 0.02 in case of EHC. A cost-effective analysis of CP SSS provision found it to be cost effective when compared to no intervention based on NHS perceptive and the incremental cost per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gained. was £1 511. Similarly, the CP EHC service was also found to be cost effective with an NHS saving of £689 per unintended pregnancy prevented. The response rate for the CP survey was 19.3% (241/1 249). No significant differences were identified in terms of provision or uptake of SSS, EHC, chlamydia screening and NHS health check services between CPs with different deprivation neighbourhoods. 18.5% (31/168) of the respondent community pharmacists were working in HLPs. The uptake of SSS through HLPs (median = 6) was higher than that through non-HLPs (median = 4; P = 0.02)._Playing a more active role in health promotion was cited as the main driver for pharmacists to adopt an HLP scheme. Respondent pharmacists indicated that the introduction of an HLP scheme had improved public awareness of vascular and sexual health services available in CPs and they suggested the use of social media websites to further improve public awareness. Lack of time and the provision of similar services via other providers were considered the main barriers. Local Authorities should increase the provision of vascular and sexual health pharmacy services to meet the needs of their localities. They should use the latest technology to improve public awareness regarding availability of those services in CPs

Selective spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of perindopril erbumine in bulk and tablets through derivatization with dansyl chloride

Background: Perindopril erbumine is an antihypertensive, which belongs to the category of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) that inhibit the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Methods: A new, selective, and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of perindopril erbumine based on the reaction with dansyl chloride in alkaline medium to give a highly fluorescent derivative which was measured at 496 nm after excitation at 340 nm in dichloromethane. The reaction conditions were studied and optimized. Results: Under the optimum conditions, the fluorescence intensity was linear over a concentration range of 1.0 to 21.0 μg/mL (R2 = 0.9997) with a detection limit of 0.242 μg/mL. In order to validate the method, the results were compared with those obtained by a high performance liquid chromatography method. Conclusions: The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of perindopril erbumine in pure form and tablets with good precision and accuracy as revealed by t- and F tests. The mechanism of the reaction has also been discussed

Vitiligo: Types and Treatment According to the Most Renowned Arab Muslim Scientists

Introduction: Vitiligo is one of the oldest diseases that have afflicted people. It was firstly described be old Egyptians in Ebres' Papyrus more than four thousand years ago. In this presentation, focus will be on the contribution of Muslim Arab scientists to the field of Vitiligo. Aims: The purpose of this research is to shed light on an important aspect in Islamic Arabic heritage in relation to dermatology, as regards old Muslim Arab physicians. It has been found out that Abi Al-HasanAl-Tabari (375 H.-985 A.D.), a physician of the fourth hegira century, tackled several medical issues in his book, Hippocrates Treatments, among them is Vitiligo. Vitiligo was also mentioned in Al-Razi's, IbnSina's and Al-Zahrawi's books. Because of this, we have chosen to study this disease as its has been the concern of old and contemporary physicians' treatments. Methodology of research: The research type followed in this study is the historical retrieval, through going back to old medical books especially Abi Al-Hasan Al Tabari's Hippocrates Treatments, especially the seventh article which consists of sixty chapters, of which the tenth chapter is dedicated to talk about Vitligo. Other Arabic medical books that handled Vitiligo was Al-Razi's Mansouriin Medicine (375 H.-985 A.D.) and Al-Zahrawi's Managing (404 H.). Results: 1- Muslims Arab scientists differentiated between Vitiligo and leprosy. 2- Al-Zahrawi classified Vitiligo into three types. 3- Abi Al-Hasan Al-Tabari specified a complete chapter to talk about Vitiligo and its treatments. Conclusion: Vitiligo has been known since oldest times. In this respect, Muslim scientists contributed to the field of Vitiligo with respect to diagnosing this disease relying on strong observation and the disease distinguishing features. However, up till now it has not been often found any effective medication for such a disease