Development of an aptamer based lateral flow test strip for a diabetes biomarker

>Magister Scientiae - MScDiabetes mellitus is one of the major chronic diseases that poses a significant risk to human health globally. Current diagnostics for diabetes are based on blood glucose measurements, which can go unnoticed for years. As such, there is an urgent need for diagnosis of diabetes at the point-of-care (PoC), and in low-income settings. Recent developments in the field of nanotechnology, and the use of aptamers show great promise in developing sensitive and disease-specific assays. Aptamers have high specificity, selectivity, low molecular weight, nontoxicity, non-immunogenicity, and are easy to produce. The aim of the study was to characterize and identify dual aptamers for the development of an aptamer-based PoC diagnostic kit for diabetes. Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and its binding aptamers were identified through in silico approach. The secondary structures of the selected retinol binding aptamers (RBA) were predicted by M-fold and Quadruplex forming G-Rich Sequences mapper. Binding affinity of aptamers to the biomarker was characterized by Surface Plasmon Resonance(SPR), Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Enzyme-Linked Aptamer Assay (ELAA) and the aptamer pairs were evaluated by sandwich-based SPR and ELAA. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized using the Turkevich method, and characterized by UV-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometry, Zetasizer and Transmission Electron Microscopy. One aptamer was conjugated to AuNPs and the conjugate was characterized by UV-Vis, Zetasizer, Qubit assay and gel electrophoresis. The apt-AuNPs were used in the preparation of the lateral flow test strips and a colorimetric aptasensor for the detection of RBP4

Nanotechnology-based strategies for treatment of obesity, cancer and anti-microbial resistance: Highlights of the Department of Science and Innovation/mintek Nanotechnology Innovation centre biolabels research node at the University of the Western Cape

Nanotechnology has recently received much interest in various fields, including medicine. South Africa (SA) was the first country in Africa to adopt the technology with the aim of enhancing the national bio-economy and global competitiveness by using innovative nanotechnology-based solutions. Since its inception in 2005 in SA, researchers have seized opportunities to increase and develop niche areas for its application in the health, energy, food, agriculture, and water sectors. We ventured into this field and have performed pioneering work on nanotechnology-based treatment strategies over the years. This perspective highlights the journey, with associated successes over the years, in order to display the impact of our nanotechnology research in health. The focus is on the nanotechnology outputs that have emanated from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC) Biolabels Research Node (BRN) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC)

Nanotechnology advances towards development of targeted-treatment for obesity

Obesity through its association with type 2 diabetes (T2D), cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), poses a serious health threat, as these diseases contribute to high mortality rates. Pharmacotherapy alone or in combination with either lifestyle modifcation or surgery, is reliable in maintaining a healthy body weight, and preventing progression to obesity-induced diseases. However, the anti-obesity drugs are limited by non-specifcity and unsustainable weight loss efects. As such, novel and improved approaches for treatment of obesity are urgently needed. Nanotechnology-based therapies are investigated as an alternative strategy that can treat obesity and be able to overcome the drawbacks associated with conventional therapies. The review presents three nanotechnology-based anti-obesity strategies that target the white adipose tissues (WATs) and its vasculature for the reversal of obesity. These include inhibition of angiogenesis in the WATs, transformation of WATs to brown adipose tissues (BATs), and photothermal lipolysis of WATs. Compared to conventional therapy, the targeted-nanosystems have high tolerability, reduced side efects, and enhanced efcacy. These efects are reproducible using various nanocarriers (liposomes, polymeric and gold nanoparticles), thus providing a proof of concept that targeted nanotherapy can be a feasible strategy that can combat obesity and prevent its comorbiditie

Nanotechnology-Based Strategies for Treatment of Obesity, Cancer and Anti-microbial Resistance: Highlights of the Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre Biolabels Research Node at the University of the Western Cape

Nanotechnology has recently received much interest in various fields, including medicine. South Africa (SA) was the first country in Africa to adopt the technology with the aim of enhancing the national bio-economy and global competitiveness by using innovative nanotechnology-based solutions. Since its inception in 2005 in SA, researchers have seized opportunities to increase and develop niche areas for its application in the health, energy, food, agriculture, and water sectors. We ventured into this field and have performed pioneering work on nanotechnology-based treatment strategies over the years. This perspective highlights the journey, with associated successes over the years, in order to display the impact of our nanotechnology research in health. The focus is on the nanotechnology outputs that have emanated from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC) Biolabels Research Node (BRN) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). BRN’s research interests were on nano-enabled materials for developing therapeutic agents, photothermal sensitizers, and targeted drug-delivery systems for treatment of chronic diseases and antimicrobial resistance

Nanotechnology-Based Strategies for Treatment of Obesity, Cancer and Anti-microbial Resistance: Highlights of the Department of Science and Innovation/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre Biolabels Research Node at the University of the Western Cape

Nanotechnology has recently received much interest in various fields, including medicine. South Africa (SA) was the first country in Africa to adopt the technology with the aim of enhancing the national bio-economy and global competitiveness by using innovative nanotechnology-based solutions. Since its inception in 2005 in SA, researchers have seized opportunities to increase and develop niche areas for its application in the health, energy, food, agriculture, and water sectors. We ventured into this field and have performed pioneering work on nanotechnology-based treatment strategies over the years. This perspective highlights the journey, with associated successes over the years, in order to display the impact of our nanotechnology research in health. The focus is on the nanotechnology outputs that have emanated from the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre (NIC) Biolabels Research Node (BRN) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). BRN’s research interests were on nano-enabled materials for developing therapeutic agents, photothermal sensitizers, and targeted drug-delivery systems for treatment of chronic diseases and antimicrobial resistance