Estrogen receptor α determination in serum, cell lysates and breast cancer cells using an amperometric magnetoimmunosensing platform

An electrochemical magnetoimmunosensor for the determination of estrogen receptor α (ERα) protein in complex samples (serum and cell lysates) able to discriminate between ERα positive and negative breast cancer cells is reported. Specifically functionalized magnetic microbeads with sandwich immunocomplexes and amperometric detection at disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) resulted in highly selective and sensitive ERα detection with a detection limit of 19 pg mL−1. This magnetoimmunosensing platform was successfully applied to the quantitation of ERα in spiked human serum and cell lysates samples without any matrix effect with an advantageous performance in terms of simplicity and assay times over commercial ELISA assays. The biosensor capability for assessing ERα in intact breast cancer cells makes it competitive with conventional strategies providing rapidly quantitative and reliable results on this relevant biomarker currently used in the clinical practice for diagnosis, follow-up and monitoring of metastatic breast cancer. Keywords: Magnetoimmunosensor, Amperometry, ERα, Lysates, Intact cancer cells, Breast cance

Progress of Design and Development for the ITER Radial Neutron Camera

The paper presents an overview of the design status of the Radial Neutron Camera (RNC), that, together with the Vertical Neutron Camera, will provide, through reconstruction techniques applied to the measured line-integrated neutron fluxes, the time resolved measurement of the ITER neutron and alpha-source profile (i.e. neutron emissivity, neutrons emitted per unit time and volume). The RNC is composed of two subsystems, the In-Port RNC and Ex-Port RNC located, respectively, inside and outside the Plug of Equatorial Port #01. The In-Port subsystem is in a more advanced design stage since it has recently undergone the Final Design Review in the ITER procurement process. The paper describes the diagnostic layout, the interfaces, the measurement capabilities and the main challenges in its realization. Prototyping and testing of neutron detectors and electronics components were carried out and led to the choice of the component solutions that can match the environmental and operational constraints in terms radiation hardness, high temperature and electromagnetic compatibility. The performance of the RNC in terms of neutron emissivity measurement capability was assessed through 1D and 2D reconstruction analysis. It is proven that the neutron emissivity can be reconstructed in real-time within the measurement requirements: 10% accuracy, 10 ms time resolution and a/10 (a = plasma minor radius) space resolution