Label-Free Determination of the Number of Biomolecules Attached to Cells by Measurement of the Cell's Electrophoretic Mobility in a Microchannel

We developed a label-free method for a determination of the number of biomolecules attached to individual cells by measuring the electrophoretic mobility of the cells in a microchannel. The surface of a biological cell, which is dispersed in aqueous solution, is normally electrically charged and the charge quantity at the cell's surface is slightly changed once antibody molecules are attached to the cell, based on which we detect the attachment of antibody molecules to the surface of individual red blood cells by electrophoretic mobility measurement. We also analyzed the number of antibody molecules attached to the cell's surface using a flow cytometer. We found that there is a clear correlation between the number of antibody molecules attached to the individual cells and the electophoretic mobility of the cells. The present technique may well be utilized not only in the field of cell biology but also in the medical and pharmaceutical industries

Exo-SIR: An Epidemiological Model to Analyze the Impact of Exogenous Spread of Infection

Epidemics like Covid-19 and Ebola have impacted people\u27s lives significantly. The impact of mobility of people across the countries or states in the spread of epidemics has been significant. The spread of disease due to factors local to the population under consideration is termed the endogenous spread. The spread due to external factors like migration, mobility, etc. is called the exogenous spread. In this paper, we introduce the Exo-SIR model, an extension of the popular SIR model and a few variants of the model. The novelty in our model is that it captures both the exogenous and endogenous spread of the virus. First, we present an analytical study. Second, we simulate the Exo-SIR model with and without assuming contact network for the population. Third, we implement the Exo-SIR model on real datasets regarding Covid-19 and Ebola. We found that endogenous infection is influenced by exogenous infection. Furthermore, we found that the Exo-SIR model predicts the peak time better than the SIR model. Hence, the Exo-SIR model would be helpful for governments to plan policy interventions at the time of a pandemic

Functional Group Analysis of Hybrid Polyurethane Foam Derived from Waste Cooking Oil

Annually, a staggering three billion gallons of Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) are generated globally. To foster a health-conscious lifestyle and champion the creation of an unpolluted environment, effective WCO management is imperative. The repetitive utilization of WCO for cooking purposes yields detrimental effects on human health and diminishes overall productivity. This research delves into the fundamental characteristics of bio-based polyurethane (bio-PU), derived from discarded sunflower and palm oils. The findings are juxtaposed with those of non-biodegradable commercially available Polyurethane (PU). Through a process of addition polymerization conducted at room temperature, samples of PU foam are created. Specifically, 2.5 ml, 5 ml, and 7.5 ml of sunflower and palm oil are amalgamated with 5 ml of polyol and an equivalent amount of isocyanate. The vibrational attributes of amino acids and cofactors, which exhibit sensitivity to subtle structural alterations, are closely examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). This technique, despite its lack of pinpoint precision, permits direct exploration of the vibrational properties of numerous cofactors, amino acid side chains, and water molecules. The presence of Polyurethane and its associated functional groups in the synthesized samples is verified through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. To ascertain Temperature ranges for primary phases of thermal degradation, discernible chemical bands within foams—comprising both recognized and unfamiliar compounds with distinct groupings—are evaluated. Emphasis is placed on identifying the peak release rates of particular chemical compounds (namely, CO2, -NCO, H2O, and C=O)

Formulation, characterization and evaluation of morusin loaded niosomes for potentiation of anticancer therapy.

Morusin, a water-insoluble prenylated flavonoid is known for its numerous medicinal properties. It manifests its anticancer potential by suppression of genes involved in tumor progression. However, poor solubility of the drug results in low bioavailability and rapid degradation thus hindering its clinical utilization. In order to overcome this, we have synthesized a niosome system composed of non-ionic surfactant span 60 and cholesterol using a thin-layer evaporation technique to improve the aqueous-phase solubility of the drug. Highly cytocompatible niosomes of 479 nm average size with smooth and uniform spherical morphology were synthesized in a facile manner. Unlike free morusin, nanomorusin was found to be freely dispersible in aqueous media. Having an extremely high drug entrapment efficiency (97%), controlled and sustained release of morusin resulting in enhanced therapeutic efficacy was observed in cancer cell lines of 4 different lineages. The results demonstrate that the morusin-niosome system is a promising strategy for enhanced anti-cancer activity against multiple cancer types and could be an indispensable tool for future targeted chemotherapeutic strategies

Advanced Microscopic Evaluation of Parallel Type I and Type II Cell deaths Induced by Multi-functionalized Gold Nanocages in Breast Cancer

Despite aggressive surgical resections and combinatorial chemoradiations, certain highly malignant populations of tumor cells resurrect and metastasize. Mixed-grade cancer cells fail to respond to standard-of-care therapies by developing intrinsic chemoresistance and subsequently result in tumor relapse. Macroautophagy is a membrane trafficking process that underlies drug resistance and tumorigenesis in most breast cancers. Manipulating cellular homeostasis by a combinatorial nanotherapeutic model, one can evaluate the crosstalk between type I and type II cell death and decipher the fate of cancer therapy. Here, we present a multi-strategic approach in cancer targeting to mitigate the autophagic flux with subcellular toxicity via lysosome permeation, accompanied by mitochondrial perturbation and apoptosis. In this way, a nanoformulation is developed with a unique blend of a lysosomotropic agent, an immunomodulating sulfated-polysaccharide, an adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent, and a monoclonal antibody as a broad-spectrum complex for combinatorial nanotherapy of all breast cancers. To the best of our knowledge, this manuscript illustrates for the first time the applications of advanced microscopic techniques such as electron tomography, three-dimensional rendering and segmentation of subcellular interactions, and fate of the multifunctional therapeutic gold nanocages specifically targeted toward breast cancer cells

Numerical Simulation of Mixing and Combustion of a Hydrogen Fueled Scramjet combustor using Strut Injectors

A major problem in supersonic combustion is the short residence time of the fluid inside the combustor due to high flow velocities. Thus techniques for mixing enhancement have to be used to achieve a fast and efficient fuel-air mixing. In the present project work, different types of strut fuel injectors are investigated numerically, mainly strut with circular injector, strut with planer injector and strut with alternating wedge injector. The combustor and strut dimensions are same as DLR Scramjet model. It consists of a divergent channel with a flame – holding, wedge shaped structure in the middle of the flow field from the base of which hydrogen is injected. Study of mixing and combustion enhancement has been performed for a Mach 2 and Fuel (hydrogen) is injected at supersonic speed of Mach 1. The simulations have been performed using FLUENT. Standard k-? model has been used for modeling turbulence and single step finite rate chemistry has been used for modeling the H2-Air kinetics. k- ? model is based on a finite volume discretization of the continuity, momentum, energy equations. Numerically predicted profiles of static pressure, axial velocity, turbulent kinetic energy and static temperature for both non-reacting as well as reacting flows are compared with each other models. For the purpose of validation, the k-? results are compared with experimental data. In addition, qualitative comparisons are also made between predicted and measured shadowgraph images. It was found that mixing and combustion with a less flow-disturbing strut was considerably worse than those with a more flow-disturbing strut. Additionally, changes are caused within the shock-wave/expansion wave pattern at the injector exit that has an important influence on loss in total pressure

INSULIN SECRETAGOGUE EFFECT OF ROOTS OF RAVENALA MADAGASCARIENSIS SONN. - AN IN VITRO STUDY

Objective: The objective of this study was to establish the cytotoxicity profile and to evaluate the insulin secretagogue effect of ethanolic root extract of Ravenala madagascariensis Sonn. Methods: The cell viability of rat insulinoma 5F (RIN5F) cell lines over the treatment of plant extract was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)- 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The insulin-releasing effect was evaluated by insulin secretion assay over RIN5F cell lines by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The ethanolic extract of the roots of R. madagascariensis Sonn. showed negligible cytotoxicity at 20–40 μg/ml, and hence, concentrations up to 40 μg/ml were used in insulin secretion assay. The ethanolic root extract at 20 and 40 μg/ml significantly (p<0.05 compared to control) stimulated the insulin release in a dose-dependent manner even in the presence of glucose at lower and higher concentrations (5 and 10 mM). Conclusion: Thus, our results validate its traditional claim in the treatment of diabetes by stimulating the secretion of insulin, thereby suggesting a possible mechanism of its antidiabetic effect

Polymeric Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering Application: A Review

Current strategies of regenerative medicine are focused on the restoration of pathologically altered tissue architectures by transplantation of cells in combination with supportive scaffolds and biomolecules. In recent years, considerable interest has been given to biologically active scaffolds which are based on similar analogs of the extracellular matrix that have induced synthesis of tissues and organs. To restore function or regenerate tissue, a scaffold is necessary that will act as a temporary matrix for cell proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition, with subsequent ingrowth until the tissues are totally restored or regenerated. Scaffolds have been used for tissue engineering such as bone, cartilage, ligament, skin, vascular tissues, neural tissues, and skeletal muscle and as vehicle for the controlled delivery of drugs, proteins, and DNA. Various technologies come together to construct porous scaffolds to regenerate the tissues/organs and also for controlled and targeted release of bioactive agents in tissue engineering applications. In this paper, an overview of the different types of scaffolds with their material properties is discussed. The fabrication technologies for tissue engineering scaffolds, including the basic and conventional techniques to the more recent ones, are tabulated