Laser ablation-based one-step generation and bio-functionalization of gold nanoparticles conjugated with aptamers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bio-conjugated nanoparticles are important analytical tools with emerging biological and medical applications. In this context, <it>in situ </it>conjugation of nanoparticles with biomolecules via laser ablation in an aqueous media is a highly promising one-step method for the production of functional nanoparticles resulting in highly efficient conjugation. Increased yields are required, particularly considering the conjugation of cost-intensive biomolecules like RNA aptamers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using a DNA aptamer directed against streptavidin, <it>in situ </it>conjugation results in nanoparticles with diameters of approximately 9 nm exhibiting a high aptamer surface density (98 aptamers per nanoparticle) and a maximal conjugation efficiency of 40.3%. We have demonstrated the functionality of the aptamer-conjugated nanoparticles using three independent analytical methods, including an agglomeration-based colorimetric assay, and solid-phase assays proving high aptamer activity. To demonstrate the general applicability of the <it>in situ </it>conjugation of gold nanoparticles with aptamers, we have transferred the method to an RNA aptamer directed against prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). Successful detection of PSMA in human prostate cancer tissue was achieved utilizing tissue microarrays.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In comparison to the conventional generation of bio-conjugated gold nanoparticles using chemical synthesis and subsequent bio-functionalization, the laser-ablation-based <it>in situ </it>conjugation is a rapid, one-step production method. Due to high conjugation efficiency and productivity, <it>in situ </it>conjugation can be easily used for high throughput generation of gold nanoparticles conjugated with valuable biomolecules like aptamers.</p

Low predictive power of clinical features for relapse prediction after antidepressant discontinuation in a naturalistic setting

The risk of relapse after antidepressant medication (ADM) discontinuation is high. Predictors of relapse could guide clinical decision-making, but are yet to be established. We assessed demographic and clinical variables in a longitudinal observational study before antidepressant discontinuation. State-dependent variables were re-assessed either after discontinuation or before discontinuation after a waiting period. Relapse was assessed during 6 months after discontinuation. We applied logistic general linear models in combination with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and elastic nets to avoid overfitting in order to identify predictors of relapse and estimated their generalisability using cross-validation. The final sample included 104 patients (age: 34.86 (11.1), 77% female) and 57 healthy controls (age: 34.12 (10.6), 70% female). 36% of the patients experienced a relapse. Treatment by a general practitioner increased the risk of relapse. Although within-sample statistical analyses suggested reasonable sensitivity and specificity, out-of-sample prediction of relapse was at chance level. Residual symptoms increased with discontinuation, but did not relate to relapse. Demographic and standard clinical variables appear to carry little predictive power and therefore are of limited use for patients and clinicians in guiding clinical decision-making

CP violating asymmetries in single top quark production at the Tevatron p pbar collider

Analytic expressions for the angular distributions of the $b$-quarks associated with single $t$-quark production in $p \bar p \to W^* \to t \bar b \to b \bar b W$ and of the leptons from the subsequent decay $W \to l\nu$ are obtained in the laboratory system. CP violation in the $t$-production vertex is assumed. Different angular and total cross section CP violating asymmetries are considered. Relations testing CP violation solely in the $t$-decay vertex are also obtained. A numerical analysis is performed in the MSSM with a CP violating phase of the trilinear coupling $A_{\tilde t}$. The asymmetries are typically of the order $10^{-3}$ - $10^{-4}$.Comment: The numerical results are corrected and some changes that meet the requirements of Phys. Rev. D are mad

Influence of Coulomb and Phonon Interaction on the Exciton Formation Dynamics in Semiconductor Heterostructures

A microscopic theory is developed to analyze the dynamics of exciton formation out of incoherent carriers in semiconductor heterostructures. The carrier Coulomb and phonon interaction is included consistently. A cluster expansion method is used to systematically truncate the hierarchy problem. By including all correlations up to the four-point (i.e. two-particle) level, the fundamental fermionic substructure of excitons is fully included. The analysis shows that the exciton formation is an intricate process where Coulomb correlations rapidly build up on a picosecond time scale while phonon dynamics leads to true exciton formation on a slow nanosecond time scale.Comment: 18 pages, 7 figure

Development of a GEM-TPC prototype

The use of GEM foils for the amplification stage of a TPC instead of a con- ventional MWPC allows one to bypass the necessity of gating, as the backdrift is suppressed thanks to the asymmetric field configuration. This way, a novel continuously running TPC, which represents one option for the PANDA central tracker, can be realized. A medium sized prototype with a diameter of 300 mm and a length of 600 mm will be tested inside the FOPI spectrometer at GSI using a carbon or lithium beam at intermediate energies (E = 1-3AGeV). This detector test under realistic experimental conditions should allow us to verify the spatial resolution for single tracks and the reconstruction capability for displaced vertexes. A series of physics measurement implying pion beams is scheduled with the FOPI spectrometer together with the GEM-TPC as well.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings for 11th ICATTP conference in como (italy