Surfing the spectrum - what is on the horizon?

Diagnostic imaging techniques have evolved with technological advancements - but how far? The objective of this article was to explore the electromagnetic spectrum to find imaging techniques which may deliver diagnostic information of equal, or improved, standing to conventional radiographs and to explore any developments within radiography which may yield improved diagnostic data. A comprehensive literature search was performed using Medline, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct and PubMed Databases. Boolean Operators were used and key-terms included (not exclusively): terahertz, X-ray, ultraviolet, visible, infra-red, magnetic resonance, dental, diagnostic, caries and periodontal. Radiographic techniques are primarily used for diagnostic imaging in dentistry, and continued developments in X-ray imaging include: phase contrast, darkfield and spectral imaging. Other modalities have potential application, for example, terahertz, laser doppler and optical techniques, but require further development. In particular, infra-red imaging has regenerated interest with caries detection in vitro, due to improved quality and accessibility of cameras. Non-ionising imaging techniques, for example, infra-red, are becoming more commensurate with traditional radiographic techniques for caries detection. Nevertheless, X-rays continue to be the leading diagnostic image for dentists, with improved diagnostic potential for lower radiation dose becoming a reality

Polymers for binding of the gram-positive oral pathogen <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> - Fig 3

<p>Binding of coumarin 343-tagged a) cationic <b>(3)_25-100%</b> and b) sulfobetaine <b>(4)_25-100%</b> polymers at different degrees of functionalization, to <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>mutans</i> in bacterial suspensions of OD₆₀₀ 0.1, and 1.0 mg mL^-1 polymer solutions. Area of fluorescence (%) was quantified using ImageJ. Error bars represent standard deviations on independent experiments (N = 3). Fluorescence micrographs are shown for fully functionalised (c, d) cationic and (e, f) sulfobetaine polymers, <b>(3)</b>_<b>100%</b> and <b>(4)</b>_<b>100%</b>, respectively using the 488 nm (green) channel.</p

インド デ ヌノ オ サワル

<p>(A) Binding of coumarin 343-tagged sulfobetaine polymer <b>(4)</b>_<b>100%</b> to <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i>, <i>S</i>. <i>mutans</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>Harveyi</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>Aureus</i> in bacterial suspensions of OD₆₀₀ 0.1, and 1.0 mg mL^-1 polymer solutions (scale bars = 5 μm). Representative fluorescence micrographs are shown using the green channel (488 nm excitation). Area of fluorescence (%) was quantified using ImageJ. Error bars represent standard deviations of three equivalent areas on three different micrographs. (B) Bacterial aggregation mediated by sulfobetaine polymer <b>(4)</b>_<b>100%</b>, as quantified <i>via</i> master sizer (Coulter counter) analysis of polymer—bacteria clusters.</p

Polymers for binding of the gram-positive oral pathogen <i>Streptococcus mutans</i> - Fig 4

<p>(A) Binding of coumarin 343-tagged sulfobetaine polymer <b>(4)</b>_<b>100%</b> to <i>E</i>. <i>coli</i>, <i>S</i>. <i>mutans</i>, <i>V</i>. <i>Harveyi</i> and <i>S</i>. <i>Aureus</i> in bacterial suspensions of OD₆₀₀ 0.1, and 1.0 mg mL^-1 polymer solutions (scale bars = 5 μm). Representative fluorescence micrographs are shown using the green channel (488 nm excitation). Area of fluorescence (%) was quantified using ImageJ. Error bars represent standard deviations of three equivalent areas on three different micrographs. (B) Bacterial aggregation mediated by sulfobetaine polymer <b>(4)</b>_<b>100%</b>, as quantified <i>via</i> master sizer (Coulter counter) analysis of polymer—bacteria clusters.</p

Metabolic activity of Caco-2 cell line incubated with (red squares ■) galactosylated (5)_Gal or (green circles ●) mannosylated (5)_Man glycopolymers for 24 hours in a concentration range 0.010–5.0 mg mL^-1 for 24 h.

<p>Cell viability is expressed as a percentage of MTT metabolized by a control group of untreated cells. Experiments were performed in triplicate.</p

Selective polymer binding in mixed bacterial cultures: schematic representation of bacteria cross-over experiment.

<p>a) Bacteria with an OD₆₀₀ = 0.1 were mixed with 1.0 mg mL^-1 of polymer in deionized water and incubated for 30 minutes before washing with PBS three times, re-suspending in PBS and mounting 10 μL for microscopic imaging. b) and c) Overlapped fluorescence microscopy images of mixed culture experiment. Images recorded sequentially, then overlapped. Experiments were performed in duplicate (b) and c)).</p

Mannosylated (5)_Man and galactosylated (5)_Gal glycopolymers used in this study.

<p>Mannosylated (5)_Man and galactosylated (5)_Gal glycopolymers used in this study.</p

Experimental degrees of quaternization and sulfobetainization of fluorescent pDMAEMA (2).

<p>Experimental degrees of quaternization and sulfobetainization of fluorescent pDMAEMA (2).</p