Fourier transform infrared polarization contrast imaging recognizes proteins degradation in lungs upon metastasis from breast cancer

The current understanding of mechanisms underlying the formation of metastatic tumors has required multi-parametric methods. The tissue micro-environment in secondary organs is not easily evaluated due to complex interpretation with existing tools. Here, we demonstrate the detection of structural modifications in proteins using emerging Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) imaging combined with light polarization. We investigated lungs affected by breast cancer metastasis in the orthotopic murine model from the pre-metastatic phase, through early micro-metastasis, up to an advanced phase, in which solid tumors are developed in lung parenchyma. The two IR-light polarization techniques revealed, for the first time, the orientational ordering of proteins upon the progression of pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer. Their distribution was complemented by detailed histological examination. Polarized contrast imaging recognised tissue structures of lungs and showed deformations in protein scaffolds induced by inflammatory infiltration, fibrosis, and tumor growth. This effect was recognised by not only changes in absorbance of the spectral bands but also by the band shifts and the appearance of new signals. Therefore, we proposed this approach as a useful tool for evaluation of progressive and irreversible molecular changes that occur sequentially in the metastatic process

Charge-transfer Interactions between Sulfur Dioxide and Group 8 Half-sandwich Complexes

M ulliken-type charge-transfer complexes have been formed between basic half-sandwich compounds and SO, when [M(q5-C,R,)(CO),] (M = Rh or Ir; R, = Me,, H, or H,CF,), [Ir(q5-C,H,)(CO)(C,H,)]. and [M(q5-C,H,)(C,H,),] (M = Co, Rh or Ir) are isolated in SO,-doped argon matrices at 20 K; the v(C0) bands of the complexes are shifted to high frequency of those of the precursor molecules and prominent charge-transfer bands are observed; the same species have been detected when the compounds [M(q5-C,Me,)(CO),] (M = Rh or Ir) are embedded in polyethylene discs and treated with SO, at 213-298 K; the enthalpy of complexation of [Ir(q5-C,Me,)(CO),] with SO, is -13 f 3 kJ mo1V

Correction: Clinical applications of infrared and Raman spectroscopy: state of play and future challenges

Correction for 'Clinical applications of infrared and Raman spectroscopy: state of play and future challenges' by Matthew J. Baker, et al., Analyst, 2018, DOI: 10.1039/c7an01871a

Clinical applications of infrared and Raman spectroscopy: state of play and future challenges

Vibrational spectroscopies, based on infrared absorption and/or Raman scattering provide a detailed fingerprint of a material, based on the chemical content. Diagnostic and prognostic tools based on these technologies have the potential to revolutionise our clinical systems leading to improved patient outcome, more efficient public services and significant economic savings. However, despite these strong drivers, there are many fundamental scientific and technological challenges which have limited the implementation of this technology in the clinical arena, although recent years have seen significant progress in addressing these challenges. This review examines (i) the state of the art of clinical applications of infrared absorption and Raman spectroscopy, and (ii) the outstanding challenges, and progress towards translation, highlighting specific examples in the areas of in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro applications. In addition, the requirements of instrumentation suitable for use in the clinic, strategies for pre-processing and statistical analysis in clinical spectroscopy and data sharing protocols, will be discussed. Emerging consensus recommendations are presented, and the future perspectives of the field are assessed, particularly in the context of national and international collaborative research initiatives, such as the UK EPSRC Clinical Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy Network, the EU COST Action Raman4Clinics, and the International Society for Clinical Spectroscopy

Electrochemical Nanoprobes for Single-Cell Analysis

The measurement of key molecules in individual cells with minimal disruption to the biological milieu is the next frontier in single-cell analyses. Nanoscale devices are ideal analytical tools because of their small size and their potential for high spatial and temporal resolution recordings. Here, we report the fabrication of disk-shaped carbon nanoelectrodes whose radius can be precisely tuned within the range 5–200 nm. The functionalization of the nanoelectrode with platinum allowed the monitoring of oxygen consumption outside and inside a brain slice. Furthermore, we show that nanoelectrodes of this type can be used to impale individual cells to perform electrochemical measurements within the cell with minimal disruption to cell function. These nanoelectrodes can be fabricated combined with scanning ion conductance microscopy probes, which should allow high resolution electrochemical mapping of species on or in living cells