Deciphering intracellular events triggered by mild magnetic hyperthermia in vitro and in vivo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.-- et al.[Aim]: To assess the cell response to magnetic nanoparticles under an alternating magnetic field by molecular quantification of heat responsive transcripts in two model systems. [Materials & methods]: Melanoma cells and Hydra vulgaris treated with magnetic nanoparticles were subjected to an alternating magnetic field or to macroscopic heating. Effect to these treatments were assessed at animal, cellular and molecular levels. [Results]: By comparing hsp70 expression following both treatments, thermotolerance pathways were found in both systems in absence of cell ablation or global temperature increment. [Conclusion]: Analysis of hsp70 transcriptional activation can be used as molecular thermometer to sense cells' response to magnetic hyperthermia. Similar responses were found in cells and Hydra, suggesting a general mechanism to the delivery of sublethal thermal doses.The authors thank NanoSciEraNet project NANOTRUCK for financial support. JM de la Fuente thanks ERC-Starting Grant 239931-NANOPUZZLE project and Fondo Social Europeo (FSE; Gobierno de Aragón) for financial support.Peer Reviewe

Gold nanoprism-nanorod face off: comparing the heating efficiency, cellular internalization and thermoablation capacity

[Aim]: This work compares the synthesis, heating capability, cellular internalization and thermoablation capacity of two different types of anisotropic gold nanoparticles: gold nanorods (NRs) and nanoprisms (NPrs). [Methods]: Both particles possess surface plasmon resonance absorption bands in the near-IR, and their heating efficiency upon irradiation with a continuous near-IR laser (1064 nm) was evaluated. The cellular internalization, location and toxicity of these PEG-stabilized NPrs and NRs were then assessed in the Vero cell line by transmission electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis, and their ability to induce cell death upon laser irradiation was then evaluated and compared. [Results & conclusion]: Although both nanoparticles are highly efficient photothermal converters, NRs possessed a more efficient heating capability, yet the in vitro thermoablation studies clearly demonstrated that NPrs were more effective at inducing cell death through photothermal ablation due to their greater cellular internalization.This work was supported by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fondo Social de la DGA (grupos DGA), Ministerio de la Economía y Competitividad del Gobierno de España for the public funding of Proyectos I+D+I – Programa Estatal de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad (project no. SAF2014–54763-C2–2-R) and the ERC-Starting grant 239931-NANOPUZZLE. For financial support SG Mitchell acknowledges the Fundación General CSIC (Programa ComFuturo); A Artiga acknowledges the Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deportes for an FPU grant (FPU014/06249); G Alfranca acknowledges the Ministry of Education for a China Scholarship Council (CSC) grant; and M Moros acknowledges the European Commission for an MCSA Fellowship (grant agreement no. 660228). TPeer Reviewe

On-Surface Thermal Stability of a Graphenic Structure Incorporating a Tropone Moiety

On-surface synthesis, complementary to wet chemistry, has been demonstrated to be a valid approach for the synthesis of tailored graphenic nanostructures with atomic precision. Among the different existing strategies used to tune the optoelectronic and magnetic properties of these nanostructures, the introduction of non-hexagonal rings inducing out-of-plane distortions is a promising pathway that has been scarcely explored on surfaces. Here, we demonstrate that non-hexagonal rings, in the form of tropone (cycloheptatrienone) moieties, are thermally transformed into phenyl or cyclopentadienone moieties upon an unprecedented surface-mediated retro–Buchner-type reaction involving a decarbonylation or an intramolecular rearrangement of the CO unit, respectivel

White Paper 4: Challenges In Biomedicine & Health

Publicado en Madrid, 231 p. ; 17 cm.A lesson that we have learned from the pandemia caused by coronavirus is that solutions in health require coordinated actions. Beside this and other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, millions of Europeans are suffering a plethora of disorders that are currently acquiring epidemic dimensions, including cancer, rare diseases, pain and food allergies, among others. New tools for prevention, diagnosis and treatment need to be urgently designed and implemented using new holistic and multidisciplinary approaches at three different levels (basic research, translational/clinical and public/social levels) and involving researchers, clinicians, industry and all stakeholders in the health system. The CSIC is excellently positioned to lead and coordinate these challenges in Biomedicine and Health.Peer reviewe

De mayor quiero ser como Indiana Jones: cómo transformar la arqueología en un juego de niños

Con autorización de la editorial para este capítulo.Peer reviewe

Habiter et exploiter le paysage: autour des mines d'or de Las Médulas

© Editions L'Harmattan. Con autorización de la editorial para este capítulo.Ce travail e été effectué dans le cadre du project de rechercher «Formas de ocupación rural en el cuadrante noroccidental de la Península Ibérica. Transición y desarrollo entre épocas prerromana y romana» (TERRITORIA, HUM2004-04010-C02-01) et de l'Action COST A27.Peer reviewe

A lectin purified from blood red bracket mushroom, Pycnoporus sanguineus (Agaricomycetidae), mycelium displayed affinity toward bovine transferrin

Fungal lectins constitute excellent ligands for development of affinity adsorbents useful in affinity chromatography. In this work, a lectin was purified from Pycnoporus sanguineus (PSL) mycelium using 3 procedures: by affinity chromatography, using magnetic galactosyl-nanoparticles or galactose coupled to Sepharose, and by ionic exchange chromatography (IEC). The highest lectin yield was achieved by IEC (55%); SDS-PAGE of PSL showed 2 bands with molecular mass of 68.7 and 55.2 kDa and IEC displayed 2 bands at pI 5.5 and 5.2. The lectin agglutinates rat erythrocytes, exhibiting broad specificity toward several monosaccharides, including galactose. The agglutination was also inhibited by the glycoproteins fetal calf fetuin, bovine lactoferrin, bovine transferrin, and horseradish peroxidase. The lectin was then used to synthesize an affinity adsorbent (PSL-Sepharose) and the interaction with glycoproteins was evaluated by analyzing their chromatographic behaviors. The strongest interaction with the PSL-derivative was observed with transferrin, although lower interactions were also displayed toward fetuin and lactoferrin. These results indicate that the purified PSL constitutes an interesting ligand for the design of affinity adsorbents to be used (i.e., in glycoprotein purification).Peer Reviewe

Citrate-capped gold nanoparticles for the label-free detection of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-1

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-1 (UCH-L1) is a specific neuronal endoprotease that cleaves the specific peptide bond between ubiquitin molecules. UCH-L1 is released in serum and cerebrospinal fluid after severe brain injury and is considered to be an important biomarker of brain injury. A common polymorphism of UCH-L1 (S18Y) is also linked to a reduced risk of Parkinson's disease. In addition to its function in neuronal tissues, UCH-L1 may also play a part in the progression of certain non-neuronal cancers. UCH-L1 is highly expressed in primary lung tumors and colo-rectal cancers, suggesting a role in tumorigenesis. We report here the development of a sensitive and accurate UCH-L1 assay based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorbance of gold nanoparticles. We created a unique UCH-L1 substrate containing a ubiquitin molecule with two terminal thiol groups. This UCH-L1 substrate interacted with gold nanoparticles via the terminal thiol groups and induced clustering of the nanoparticles, which was detected by SPR absorbance at 650 nm. UCH-L1 proteolytically cleaved the substrate and the clustered gold nanoparticles were dispersed and could be detected by a shift in the SPR absorbance to 530 nm. This change in absorbance was proportional to the concentration of UCH-L1 and can be used for the quantification of functional UCH-L1. The currently available fluorescence-based UCH-L1 assay is affected by a high background signal and a poor detection limit, especially in the presence of serum. The assay reported here can detect concentrations of UCH-L1 as low as 20 ng ml−1 (0.8 nM) and the presence of serum had no effect on the detection limit. This assay could be adapted for the rapid determination of the severity of brain injury and could also be applied to high-throughput screening of inhibitors of UCH-L1 enzymatic activity in Parkinson's disease and cancer.This work was funded by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India (Project no. 102/IFD/SAN/634/2013–2014; DT 09-05-2013).Peer Reviewe

Recent advances in biosensing using magnetic glyconanoparticles

In this critical review we discuss the most recent advances in the field of biosensing applications of magnetic glyconanoparticles. We first give an overview of the main synthetic routes to obtain magnetic-nanoparticle–carbohydrate conjugates and then we highlight their most promising applications for magnetic relaxation switching sensing, cell and pathogen detection, cell targeting and magnetic resonance imaging. We end with a critical perspective of the field, identifying the main challenges to be overcome, but also the areas where the most promising developments are likely to happen in the coming decades.This work was funded by European Research Council Starting Grant 239931-NANOPUZZLE. J.M.F. acknowledges the SAF2014-54763-C2-2-R project (Spanish Government), European Regional and Social Development Funds, and the Aragón Autonomous Government (DGA) through Research Groups. R.M.F. acknowledges the University of Zaragoza and ARAID for financial support.Peer Reviewe

Nanoprismas de oro como transductores para el desarrollo de biosensores fototérmicos plasmónicos

Resumen del póster presentado a la 8ª Jornada de Jóvenes Investigadores (Química y Física) de Aragón, celebrada en Zaragoza el dia 22 de noviembre de 2018.Los nanoprismas de oro (AuNPrs) son nanopartículas anisotrópicas que presentan resonancia de plasmón superficial localizada (LSRP) en la región de infrarrojo cercano (NIR). Esta propiedad óptica les permite convertir la energía luminosa en calor (efecto fototérmico) y hace interesante su aplicación en el desarrollo de biosensores. Los NPrs unidos a un receptor biológico actúan como transductores físico-químicos, interpretando el reconocimiento biológico con el analito como una señal térmica cuantificable. Evaluar las características de estos materiales para este fin y estudiar posibles métodos de transducción-detección, son el objetivo del presente trabajo. Para ello diferentes tipos de NPrs han sido sintetizados y caracterizados, evaluándose en disolución y en seco, su rendimiento fototérmico al irradiar con un láser de 1064 nm. El registro del calor liberado ha sido detectado con una cámara de IR, llevándose a cabo la optimización tanto de la metodología de medida, como de los parámetros instrumentales (emisividad, potencia láser, tiempo de irradiación...). Las señales térmicas han sido evaluadas por diferentes métodos de tratamiento (variación de Tª, eficacia de conversión fototérmica y área señal emisióndecaimiento). Además, se ha acoplado a esta metodología el uso de papel termosensible, con la finalidad de amplificar la señal térmica y traducirla en una señal colorimétrica (escala de grises) fácilmente cuantificable. Finalmente, se ha desarrollado y optimizado un ensayo inmunológico TermoELISA sándwich para la detección térmica del marcador tumoral antígeno carcinoembrionario (CEA), uniendo por interacción biológica (estreptavidina-biotina) el anticuerpo (Ac) de detección a AuNPrs. El método permite la detección de CEA en el rango 5 - 200 ng/mL y pone de manifiesto la capacidad transductora de estos nanomateriales en ensayos biológicos, así como sus posibilidades en el desarrollo de biosensores.Peer Reviewe