Magnetic nanoparticles: preparation, physical properties, and applications in biomedicine

Finally, we have addressed some relevant findings on the importance of having well-defined synthetic strategies developed for the generation of MNPs, with a focus on particle formation mechanism and recent modifications made on the preparation of monodisperse samples of relatively large quantities not only with similar physical features, but also with similar crystallochemical characteristics. Then, different methodologies for the functionalization of the prepared MNPs together with the characterization techniques are explained. Theorical views on the magnetism of nanoparticles are considered

Novel thermosensitive poly (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-vinylpyrrolidone-co-methacrylic acid) nanosystems for delivery of natural products

The purpose of this research was to synthesize polymer based smart nanosystems for delivery of important bioactive natural products such as sesquiterpene coumarin derivatives of ferula szowitsiana, farnesiferol C as a potent anticancer. To this aim, polymeric micelles were prepared using N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAM), vinyl pyrrolidone (VP) and methacrylate (MAA) as monomers which were cross-linked with N, N-methylene bis-acrylamide (MBA). The molar ratio of the PNIPAAm: VP: MAA group was 75.7:9.5:14.8. These micelles were further characterized upon their physicochemical properties using particle size analyzer, FT-IR, H-/C-NMR, HPLC. Particle size analyzer resulted in ~500 nm micelles with ~95% drug entrapments. Drug release from the polymeric micelles after 300 hours at 37°C and 40°C were 60 and 98 %, respectively. Upon these findings, it is proposed that the P (N-isopropylacrylamide-co-Methacrylic acid-co-Vinylpyrrolidone) micelles may be considered as thermosensitive delivery nanosystem.Keywords: N-isopropylacrylamide; Thermosensitive; Nanoparticles; Farnesiferol C; Amphiphilic polymers

Passion for life: Lived experiences of patients after coronary artery bypass graft

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) improves the quality of life, increases survival, and influences the patient's mental and emotional aspects. Little information is available on the lived experience of Iranian patients after this surgery. Understanding the lived experiences of patients will help health professionals with better provision of high quality care. Methods: This hermeneutic phenomenological study aimed to understand the lived experience of patients after CABG. Van Manen's method was used to conduct the study. A semi-structured, face-to-face interview technique was employed to explore the experiences of the patients following surgery. Seven men and 4 women between 49 and 80 years old were interviewed. Results: Passion for life was the main theme extracted from the participants� interviews. This theme comprised the three sub-themes of receiving attention from family, being hopeful, and being spiritually oriented. Conclusion: The results showed that the participants experienced passion for life after their surgery. This finding reveals that patients tend to find a new perspective on life and their health after surgery. © 2015, Tehran Heart Center. All rights reserved

Quantum dots: synthesis, bioapplications, and toxicity

This review introduces quantum dots (QDs) and explores their properties, synthesis, applications, delivery systems in biology, and their toxicity. QDs are one of the first nanotechnologies to be integrated with the biological sciences and are widely anticipated to eventually find application in a number of commercial consumer and clinical products. They exhibit unique luminescence characteristics and electronic properties such as wide and continuous absorption spectra, narrow emission spectra, and high light stability. The application of QDs, as a new technology for biosystems, has been typically studied on mammalian cells. Due to the small structures of QDs, some physical properties such as optical and electron transport characteristics are quite different from those of the bulk materials

Multiple functions of microfluidic platforms: Characterization and applications in tissue engineering and diagnosis of cancer

Microfluidic system, or lab-on-a-chip, has grown explosively. This system has been used in research for the first time and then entered in the clinical section. Due to economic reasons, this technique has been used for screening of laboratory and clinical indices. The microfluidic system solves some difficulties accompanied by clinical and biological applications. In this review, the interpretation and analysis of some recent developments in microfluidic systems in biomedical applications with more emphasis on tissue engineering and cancer will be discussed. Moreover, we try to discuss the features and functions of microfluidic systems. © 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinhei

Prioritizing the Effective Components on Motivation of Employee Staff in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences using TOPSIS Technique

Background: Motivation is an intrusive force that leads individuals physiologically and psychologically to pursue their goals to meet their needs and expectations. Considering the importance of motivation in the health sector, this study aimed to prioritize the effective factors on staff motivation in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytic study that was conducted in a cross-sectional fashion in 2016 on 222 staff members of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences who were selected by stratified random sampling method. A researcher-made questionnaire comprised of 40 questions in 11 dimensions including salary, policy, occupational safety, environmental conditions, supervision and support, appreciation, job development, the nature of work, job responsibility, occupation, and communication was used to collect data. The TOPSIS and SPSS 21 software were used to analysze data. Results: There was a significant relation between education level and motivation, but there were no significant relations between age, employment status, and career path and motivation. Also, the results of ranking the options indicated that the communication option with (0.74%) had the highest priority and the appreciation option with (0.29%) had the least priority in motivational factors. Conclusion: Since communication in this study was the most important among the motivational factors of the employee staff, it is suggested that managers develop a sense of trust and friendship between management and employees through facilitating and expanding vertical communication in order to increase motivation among employee staff. Keywords: Motivation, Employee Staff, Medical University, Prioritize, TOPSIS techniqu

Nafion-coated cadmium pentacyanonitrosylferrate-modified glassy carbon electrode for detection of dopamine in biological samples

Introduction: Dopamine is one of the key neurotransmitters (NTs) in nature, which plays a crucial role in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Its selective determination in the biological fluids is an essential need in the field of biomedicine studies. Methods: In this work, an amperometric sensor was developed using Nafion-coated cadmium pentacyanonitrosylferrate (CdPCNF) modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode (Nafion|CdPCNF|GC electrode) as an electrocatalyst to detect dopamine (DA) in human serum samples. To develop this sensor, the surface of bare GC electrode was coated with the film of CdPCNF through an electropolymerization method and then the modified electrode was coated with Nafion to minimize interferences, especially those arising from the presence of anionic compounds. The electrocatalytic behavior of the modified electrodes was studied using the cyclic voltammetry and amperometry, and then the ability of the sensor for the determination of DA in synthetic and biological samples was investigated. Results: The modified electrode was showed a significant electrocatalytic activity for the oxidation of DA at pH 7.4. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.7 µM and also no interference effects arose from ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA) or the other biological NTs was observed in the DA detection using the modified Nafion|CdPCNF|GC electrode. Conclusion: In comparison with the bare electrode, the Nafion|CdPCNF|GC electrode could determine DA in the biological samples with adequate sensitivity and selectivity. Therefore, we propose that the modified electrode is utilizable as an amperometric DA sensor for the biological sample analysis

Comparison of Cytotoxic Activity of L778123 as a Farnesyltranferase Inhibitor and Doxorubicin against A549 and HT-29 Cell Lines

Purpose: Farnesyltransferase (FTase) is a zinc-dependent enzyme that adds a farnesyl group to the Ras proteins. L778, 123 is a potent peptidomimetic imidazole-containing FTase inhibitor. Methods: L778123 was synthesized according to known methods and evaluated alone and in combination with doxorubicin against A549 (adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells) and HT29 (human colonic adenocarcinoma) cell lines by MTT assay. Results: L778123 showed weak cytotoxic activity with IC50 of 100 and 125 for A549 and HT-29 cell lines, respectively. The combination of doxorubicin and L778123 can decrease IC50 of doxorubicin in both cell lines significantly. Conclusion: It can be concluded that L778, 123 can be a good agent for combination therapy