Bis(3-methyl­pyridinium) tetra­(chlorido/bromido)cuprate(II)

The structure of the title salt, (C6H8N)2[CuCl3.4Br0.6], consists of two 3-methyl­pyridinium cations and a distorted tetra­hedral [CuCl3.4Br0.6]2− dianion. Substitutional disorder with Br is exhibited for three of the Cl atoms of the anion, giving a mixed chloride/bromide cuprate(II) anion. In the crystal, inter­molecular N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds link two cations to one anion, forming a three-ion aggregate. These are connected into a supra­molecular chain along the b axis via π–π inter­actions between the pyridinium rings [centroid–centroid distance = 3.743 (3) Å]

Specific Intracellular Uptake of Herceptin-Conjugated CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots into Breast Cancer Cells

Herceptin, a typical monoclonal antibody, was immobilized on the surface of CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots (QDs) to enhance their specific interactions with breast cancer cells (SK-BR3). the mean size of the core-shell quantum dots (28 nm), as determined by dynamic light scattering, increased to 86 nm after herceptin immobilization. the in vitro cell culture experiment showed that the keratin forming cancer cells (KB) proliferated well in the presence of herceptin-conjugated QDs (QD-Her, 5 nmol/mL), whereas most of the breast cancer cells (SK-BR3) had died. to clarify the mechanism of cell death, the interaction of SK-BR3 cells with QD-Her was examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. as a result, the QD-Her bound specifically to the membrane of SK-BR3, which became almost saturated after 6 hours incubation. This suggests that the growth signal of breast cancer cells is inhibited completely by the specific binding of herceptin to the Her-2 receptor of SK-BR3 membrane, resulting in cell death

Bis(3-methyl­pyridinium) tetra­chlorido­cuprate(II)

The title compound, (C6H8N)2[CuCl4], is composed of two 3-methyl­pyridinium cation and one tetra­chloridocuprate(II) anion. The geometry around the copper(II) ion is that of a distorted tetra­hedron. In the crystal structure, the anions and cations are linked by three different N—H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds. In addition, the crystal structure exhibits aromatic π–π inter­actions between the pyridinium rings of two discrete units [centroid–centroid distance = 3.704 (2) Å]

Fabrication and Characterization of Collagen-Immobilized Porous PHBV/HA Nanocomposite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

The porous composite scaffolds (PHBV/HA) consisting of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and hydroxyapatite (HA) were fabricated using a hot-press machine and salt-leaching. Collagen (type I) was then immobilized on the surface of the porous PHBV/HA composite scaffolds to improve tissue compatibility. The structure and morphology of the collagen-immobilized composite scaffolds (PHBV/HA/Col) were investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA). The potential of the porous PHBV/HA/Col composite scaffolds for use as a bone scaffold was assessed by an experiment with osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1) in terms of cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. The results showed that the PHBV/HA/Col composite scaffolds possess better cell adhesion and significantly higher proliferation and differentiation than the PHBV/HA composite scaffolds and the PHBV scaffolds. These results suggest that the PHBV/HA/Col composite scaffolds have a high potential for use in the field of bone regeneration and tissue engineeringclose2

Identification of a Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of HADHA Gene at a Referred Primer-binding Site During Pre-diagnostic Tests for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis

The pre-diagnostic test for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) of long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing for hydroxyacyl-Coenzyme A dehydrogenase/3-ketoacyl-Coenzyme A thiolase/enoyl-Coenzyme A hydratase (HADHA) gene. We obtained unexpected genotyping results of HADHA gene by allele drop-out in the analysis of patients' genomic DNA samples with a referred PCR primer set. Upon further analysis with a re-designed primer set, we found a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the referred primer-binding site in the normal allele of HADHA gene (NT_022184, 5233296 a>t). We found that the frequency of this novel SNP was 0.064 in Korean population. Pre-diagnostic test using single lymphocytes and clinical PGD were successfully performed with the re-designed primer set. Nineteen embryos (95.0%) among 20 were successfully diagnosed to 5 homozygous mutated, 8 heterozygous carrier and 6 wild type. Among 6 normal embryos, well developed and selected 4 embryos were transferred into the mother's uterus, but a pregnancy was not achieved. We proposed that an unknown SNP at primer-binding sites would be a major cause of allele drop-out in the PGD for single gene disorder

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for Ornithine Transcarbamylase Deficiency by Simultaneous Analysis of Duplex-nested PCR and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization : A Case Report

Ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency is an X-linked co-dominant disorder. A couple, with a previous history of a neonatal death and a therapeutical termination due to OTC deficiency, was referred to our center for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). The female partner has a nonsense mutation in the exon 9 of the OTC gene (R320X). We carried out nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for R320X mutation and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for aneuploidy screening. Among a total of 11 embryos, two blastomeres per embryo from 9 embryos were biopsied and analyzed by duplex-nested PCR and FISH, and one blastomere per embryo from 2 embryos by only duplex-nested PCR. As a result of PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, four embryos were diagnosed as unaffected embryos having the normal OTC gene. Among these embryos, only one embryo was confirmed as euploidy for chromosome X, Y and 18 by FISH analysis. A single normal embryo was transferred to the mother, yielding an unaffected pregnancy and birth of a healthy boy. Based on our results, PCR for mutation loci and FISH for aneuploidy screening with two blastomeres from an embryo could provide higher accuracy for the selection of genetically and chromosomally normal embryos in the PGD for single gene defects