13 research outputs found
Plasmonic Nanoparticle-based Protein Detection by Optical Shift of a Resonant Microcavity
We demonstrated a biosensing approach which, for the first time, combines the
high-sensitivity of whispering gallery modes (WGM) with a metallic nanoparticle
based assay. We provided a computational model based on generalized Mie theory
to explain the higher sensitivity of protein detection through Plasmonic
enhancement. We quantitatively analyzed the binding of a model protein (i.e.,
BSA) to gold nanoparticles from high-Q WGM resonance frequency shifts, and fit
the results to an adsorption isotherm, which agrees with the theoretical
predictions of a two-component adsorption model.Comment: 12 pages, three figures first submitted to APL March 4 201
CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative
Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research
Stimuli Responsive Release of Metalic Nanoparticles on Semiconductor Substrates
Optically active metal nanoparticles have been of recent
and broad
interest for applications to biomarker detection because of their
ability to enable high sensitivity enhancements in various optical
detection techniques. Here, we report stimuli responsive release of
metallic nanoparticles on a semiconductor thin film array structure
based on pH change. The metallic nanoparticles are obtained by a simple
redox procedure on the semiconductor surface. This approach allows
controlling nanoparticle surface coatings in situ for biomolecule
conjugation, such as DNA probes on nanoparticles, and rapid stimuli
responsive release of these nanoparticles upon pH change
Developing Monolithic Nanoporous Gold with Hierarchical Bicontinuity Using Colloidal Bijels
We
report a universal platform for the synthesis of monolithic
porous gold materials with hierarchical bicontinuous morphology and
combined macro- and mesoporosity using a synergistic combination of
nanocasting and chemical dealloying. This robust and accessible approach
offers a new design paradigm for the parallel optimization of active
surface area and mass transport in porous metal electrodes
A new prognostic model identifies patients aged 80 years and older with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who may benefit from curative treatment: A multicenter, retrospective analysis by the Spanish GELTAMO group
The means of optimally managing very elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has not been established. We retrospectively analyzed 252 patients aged 80-100 years, diagnosed with DLBCL or grade 3B follicular lymphoma, treated in 19 hospitals from the GELTAMO group. Primary objective was to analyze the influence of the type of treatment and comorbidity scales on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). One hundred sixty-three patients (63%) were treated with chemotherapy that included anthracyclines and/or rituximab, whereas 15% received no chemotherapeutic treatment. With a median follow-up of 44 months, median PFS and OS were 9.5 and 12.5 months, respectively. In an analysis restricted to the 205 patients treated with any kind of chemotherapy, comorbidity scales did not influence the choice of treatment type significantly. Independent factors associated with better PFS and OS were: age 85 years, R-IPI 3-5 or CIRS > 5). In conclusion, treatment with R-CHOP-like is associated with good survival in a significant proportion of patients. We have developed a simple prognostic model that may aid the selection patients who could benefit from a curative treatment, although it needs to be validated in larger series
Testing the Activity of Complement Convertases in Serum/Plasma for Diagnosis of C4NeF-Mediated C3 Glomerulonephritis
Autoantibodies termed C3-nephritic factor (C3NeF), which stabilize convertases of the alternative complement pathway, often stimulate autoinflammatory diseases. However, knowledge about analogous autoantibodies acting on the classical pathway (C4NeF) is limited to a few reports, which indicate association with kidney dysfunction, systemic lupus erythematous, and infections. C4NeF may appear independently from C3NeF, but the lack of a routine diagnostic method predisposes C4NeF for being an underestimated player in autoinflammatory episodes. We tested the activity of classical convertases directly in serum/plasma to screen samples from 13 patients with C3 glomerulopathies and identified one patient showing significantly prolonged half-life of these enzymes. Observed effect was reproduced by immunoglobulins purified from patient’s plasma and additionally confirmed on classical convertase built from purified components. Isolated immunoglobulins protected classical convertases from both spontaneous and inhibitor-driven decay but not from C4b proteolysis. The patient had a decreased serum level of C3, elevated sC5b-9, and normal concentrations of factor B and C4. Neither C3NeF nor other autoantibodies directed against alternative pathway proteins (factor H, factor B, factor I, C3, and properdin) were found. Genetic analysis showed no mutations in C3, CFB, CFH, CFI, MCP, THBD, and DGKE genes. Renal biopsy revealed a membranoproliferative pattern with intense C3 deposits. Our results underline the importance of C4NeF as an independent pathogenic factor and a need for the implementation of routine examination of classical convertase activity. Proposed method may enable robust inspection of such atypical cases