Adhesion and Spreading of Human Fibroblasts on Superhydrophobic Fep-Teflon

Adhesion and spreading of human fibroblasts was studied on hydrophobized and hydrophilized FEPTeflon, and compared with adhesion and spreading on untreated FEP-Teflon and Tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS). Superhydrophobic FEP-Teflon was prepared by ion etching followed by oxygen glow-discharge. Hydrophilic PEP-Teflon was prepared by ion etching only. Water contact angles of the modified surfaces were 140- 1500 and 5-10° for the hydrophobic and the hydrophilic variant, respectively. (Untreated FEP-Teflon: 109°). Spreading of human skin fibroblasts significantly increased on hydrophilic FEP-Teflon (257 μm2 per cell), whereas a significant decrease was observed on superhydrophobic FEP-Teflon (158 μm2 per cell), as compared to untreated FEP-Teflon (209 μm2 per cell). Cell spreading on TCPS was significantly higher as compared to FEP-Teflon, but it was not significantly different from spreading on hydrophilic FEP-Teflon. The number of adhering cells on TCPS however was significantly higher than on the hydrophilic FEP-Teflon, illustrating that adhesion and spreading are two different phenomena

Diagnosing point-of-care diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases

Inadequate and nonintegrated diagnostics are the Achilles' heel of global efforts to monitor, control, and eradicate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). While treatment is often available, NTDs are endemic among marginalized populations, due to the unavailability or inadequacy of diagnostic tests that cause empirical misdiagnoses. The need of the hour is early diagnosis at the point-of-care (PoC) of NTD patients. Here, we review the status quo of PoC diagnostic tests and practices for all of the 24 NTDs identified in the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2021-2030 roadmap, based on their different diagnostic requirements. We discuss the capabilities and shortcomings of current diagnostic tests, identify diagnostic needs, and formulate prerequisites of relevant PoC tests. Next to technical requirements, we stress the importance of availability and awareness programs for establishing PoC tests that fit endemic resource-limited settings. Better understanding of NTD diagnostics will pave the path for setting realistic goals for healthcare in areas with minimal resources, thereby alleviating the global healthcare burden.BN/Cees Dekker La