Red Flags and Adversities on the Way to the Robust CE-ICP-MS/MS Quantitative Monitoring of Self-Synthesized Magnetic Iron Oxide(II, III)-Based Nanoparticle Interactions with Human Serum Proteins

The growing interest in superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as potential theranostic agents is related to their unique properties and the broad range of possibilities for their surface functionalization. However, despite the rapidly expanding list of novel SPIONs with potential biomedical applications, there is still a lack of methodologies that would allow in-depth investigation of the interactions of those nanoparticles with biological compounds in human serum. Herein, we present attempts to employ capillary electrophoresis-inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS/MS) for this purpose and various obstacles and limitations noticed during the research. The CE and ICP-MS/MS parameters were optimized, and the developed method was used to study the interactions of two different proteins (albumin and transferrin) with various synthesized SPIONs. While the satisfactory resolution between proteins was obtained and the method was applied to examine individual reagents, it was revealed that the conjugates formed during the incubation of the proteins with SPIONs were not stable under the conditions of electrophoretic separation

Targeted Delivery of Cisplatin by Gold Nanoparticles: The Influence of Nanocarrier Surface Modification Type on the Efficiency of Drug Binding Examined by CE-ICP-MS/MS

Spherical gold nanoparticles (GNPs), whose unique properties regarding biomedical applications were broadly investigated, are an object of interest as nanocarriers in drug targeted delivery systems (DTDSs). The possibility of surface functionalization, especially in enabling longer half-life in the bloodstream and enhancing cellular uptake, provides an opportunity to overcome the limitations of popular anticancer drugs (such as cisplatin) that cause severe side effects due to their nonselective transportation. Herein, we present investigations of gold nanoparticle–cisplatin systems formation (regarding reaction kinetics and equilibrium) in which it was proved that the formation efficiency and stability strongly depend on the nanoparticle surface functionalization. In this study, the capillary electrophoresis hyphenated with inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry (CE-ICP-MS/MS) was used for the first time to monitor gold–drug nanoconjugates formation. The research included optimizing CE separation conditions and determining reaction kinetics using the CE-ICP-MS/MS developed method. To characterize nanocarriers and portray changes in their physicochemical properties induced by the surface’s processes, additional hydrodynamic size and ζ-potential by dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were carried out. The examinations of three types of functionalized GNPs (GNP-PEG-COOH, GNP-PEG-OCH3, and GNP-PEG-biotin) distinguished the essential differences in drug binding efficiency and nanoconjugate stability

Nanoscale Ion-Exchange Materials: From Analytical Chemistry to Industrial and Biomedical Applications

Nano-sized ion exchangers (NIEs) combine the properties of common bulk ion-exchange polymers with the unique advantages of downsizing into nanoparticulate matter. In particular, being by nature milti-charged ions exchangers, NIEs possess high reactivity and stability in suspensions. This brief review provides an introduction to the emerging landscape of various NIE materials and summarizes their actual and potential applications. Special attention is paid to the different methods of NIE fabrication and studying their ion-exchange behavior. Critically discussed are different examples of using NIEs in chemical analysis, e.g., as solid-phase extraction materials, ion chromatography separating phases, modifiers for capillary electrophoresis, etc., and in industry (fuel cells, catalysis, water softening). Also brought into focus is the potential of NIEs for controlled drug and contrast agent delivery

Short Beak and Dwarfism Syndrome in Ducks in Poland Caused by Novel Goose Parvovirus

Short beak and dwarfism syndrome (SBDS), which was previously identified only in mule ducks, is now an emerging disease of Pekin ducks in China and Egypt. The disease is caused by the infection of ducks with a genetic variant of goose parvovirus—novel goose parvovirus (nGPV). In 2019, SBDS was observed for the first time in Poland in eight farms of Pekin ducks. Birds in the affected flock were found to show growth retardation and beak atrophy with tongue protrusions. Morbidity ranged between 15% and 40% (in one flock), while the mortality rate was 4–6%. Co-infection with duck circovirus, a known immunosuppressive agent, was observed in 85.7% of ducks. The complete coding regions of four isolates were sequenced and submitted to GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a close relationship of Polish viral sequences with the Chinese nGPV. Genomic sequence alignments showed 98.57–99.28% identity with the nGPV sequences obtained in China, and 96.42% identity with the classical GPV (cGPV; Derzsy’s disease). The rate of amino acid mutations in comparison to cGPV and Chinese nGPV was higher in the Rep protein than in the Vp1 protein. To our knowledge, this is the first report of nGPV infection in Pekin ducks in Poland and Europe. It should be emphasized that monitoring and sequencing of waterfowl parvoviruses is important for tracking the viral genetic changes that enable adaptation to new species of waterbirds

Protein-Mediated Transformations of Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles Evidenced by Single-Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Tandem Mass Spectrometry: A Disaggregation Phenomenon

Progress toward translating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) with specific diagnostic and therapeutic properties for clinical applications depends on developing and implementing appropriate methodologies that would allow in-depth characterizations of their behavior in a real biological environment. Herein, we report a versatile approach for studying interactions between SPIONs and proteins using single-particle inductively coupled plasma tandem mass spectrometry. By monitoring the changes in the size distribution upon exposure to human serum, the formation of stable protein corona is revealed, accompanied by particle disaggregation

Wehrlitization of lithospheric mantle beneath Fife, Scotland.

International audiencePermo-Carboniferous mafic alkaline volcanism in Scotland sampled deep lithosphere beneath Lower Paleozoic basement. In the eastern part of Midland Valley terrane (central Scotland, Fife peninsula) volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks carry (among others) ultramafic xenoliths. The peridotite xenoliths give an insight into structure and composition of lithospheric mantle at the time of volcanic activity.We studied spinel lherzolites and wehrlites, occurring as usually <10 cm in diameter (up to 25 cm) xenoliths. The lherzolites have either protogranular or porphyroclastic texture, while wehrlites are equigranular. Clinopyroxene in porphyroclastic lherzolites and wehrlites is texturally secondary growing at the expense of orthopyroxene.Chemical composition of minerals is related to texture of the rock. Olivine forming protogranular lherzolites has Fo=88.35-88.80 and is Ca-poor (<900 ppm) which together with #Cr in spinel varying from 0.08 to 0.21 plot those rocks within the Olivine-Spinel Mantle Array (OSMA, Arai, 1994). Orthopyroxene in this group is chemically homogenous within a sample (Mg#=0.89-0.90, Al=0.15-0.19 a.p.f.u.); clinopyroxene in some samples is heterogeneous, but its composition varies in a narrow range (Mg#=0.89-0.92 and Al=0.22-0.34 a.p.fu.). The REE pattern of clinopyroxene from protogranular lherzolites varies from LREE-depleted to LREE-enriched one; it is always enriched in Th and U and depleted in Nb and Ta.Composition of minerals forming porphyroclastic lherzolites and wehrlites is strongly heterogeneous and varies in the same ranges. Olivine and spinel of some rare porphyroclastic lherzolites plot within OSMA (OlFo=88.50-88.80, Spl#Cr=0.12-0.20), but in majority of samples olivine composition grades toward lower forsterite contents (Fo=78.33-89.78) while Cr# is higher in spinel (Cr#=0.72-0.53) which locate them outside OSMA. Olivine has Ca content up to 2000 ppm. Orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene are chemically heterogeneous in terms of Mg# (0.82-0.89 and 0.81-0.93, respectively) and Al content (0.06-0.17 and 0.10-0.33 a.p.f.u., respectively). Clinopyroxene in porphyroclastic lherzolites and wehrlites has REE-enriched pattern and is enriched in Th and U and depleted in Nb and Ta.The clinopyroxene-orthopyroxene equilibrium temperatures for the protogranular lherzolites are usually ~980°C, only single sample gave temperature ~900°C (Brey and Köhler, 1991, JoP). Pyroxenes in porphyroclastic lherzolites and wehrlites are not equilibrated, but the elevated Ca content in olivine suggests that those rocks were affected by heating.The protogranular lherzolites from Fife are restites after relatively low (1-7%) degrees of partial melting and were further affected by cryptic metasomatism. Bonadiman et al. (2008, Geol. Soc.) suggested that the enrichment in Th and U may result from reaction with subduction-related melt(s), possibly related in central Scotland with Caledonian closure of Iapetus ocean. Composition of clinopyroxene from the most orthopyroxene-rich porphyroclastic lherzolites resembles that of clinopyroxene from protogranular rocks, but as the modal composition grades toward wehrlites, the clinopyroxene becomes more variable in composition but also LREE-enriched. We suggest, that the chemical and textural paths from protogranular to equigranular samples record different stages of wehrlitization process triggered by infiltration of LREE-enriched mafic melt(s).This study was possible thanks to project NCN UMO-2016/23/B/ST10/01905 from the Polish National Centre for Science and Polish-Austrian project WTZ PL 08/2018

Comparative Evaluation of Different Surface Coatings of Fe3O4-Based Magnetic Nano Sorbent for Applications in the Nucleic Acids Extraction

Nucleic acid extraction and purification are crucial steps in sample preparation for multiple diagnostic procedures. Routine methodologies of DNA isolation require benchtop equipment (e.g., centrifuges) and labor-intensive steps. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as solid-phase sorbents could simplify this procedure. A wide range of surface coatings employs various molecular interactions between dsDNA and magnetic nano-sorbents. However, a reliable, comparative evaluation of their performance is complex. In this work, selected Fe3O4 modifications, i.e., polyethyleneimine, gold, silica, and graphene derivatives, were comprehensively evaluated for applications in dsDNA extraction. A family of single batch nanoparticles was compared in terms of morphology (STEM), composition (ICP-MS/MS and elemental analysis), surface coating (UV-Vis, TGA, FTIR), and MNP charge (&zeta;-potential). ICP-MS/MS was also used to unify MNPs concentration allowing a reliable assessment of individual coatings on DNA extraction. Moreover, studies on adsorption medium (monovalent vs. divalent ions) and extraction buffer composition were carried out. As a result, essential relationships between nanoparticle coatings and DNA adsorption efficiencies have been noticed. Fe3O4@PEI MNPs turned out to be the most efficient nano sorbents. The optimized composition of the extraction buffer (medium containing 0.1 mM EDTA) helped avoid problems with Fe3+ stripping, which improved the validity of the spectroscopic determination of DNA recovery

Photolon Nanoporous Photoactive Material with Antibacterial Activity and Label-Free Noncontact Method for Free Radical Detection

The worldwide increase in bacterial resistance and healthcare-associated bacterial infections pose a serious threat to human health. The antimicrobial photodynamic method reveals the opportunity for a new therapeutic approach that is based on the limited delivery of photosensitizer from the material surface. Nanoporous inorganic–organic composites were obtained by entrapment of photosensitizer Photolon in polysiloxanes that was prepared by the sol–gel method. The material was characterized by its porosity, optical properties (fluorescence and absorbance), and laser-induced antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli. The permanent encapsulation of Photolon in the silica coating and the antimicrobial efficiency was confirmed by confocal microscope and digital holotomography. The generation of free radicals from nanoporous surfaces was proved by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy. For the first time, it was confirmed that Kelvin probe microscopy can be a label-free, noncontact alternative to other conventional methods based on fluorescence or chemiluminescence probes, etc. It was confirmed that the proposed photoactive coating enables the antibacterial photodynamic effect based on free radicals released from the surface of the coating. The highest bactericidal efficiency of the proposed coating was 87.16%. This coating can selectively limit the multiplication of bacterial cells, while protecting the environment and reducing the risk of surface contamination