Glucose-Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Prepared by Metal Vapour Synthesis Are Electively Internalized in a Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Cell Line Expressing GLUT1 Transporter

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) can have a variety of biomedical applications due to their visualization properties through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and heating with radio frequency or alternating magnetic fields. In the oncological field, coating IONP with organic compounds to provide specific features and to achieve the ability of binding specific molecular targets appears to be very promising. To take advantage of the high avidity of tumor cells for glucose, we report the development of very small glucose-coated IONP (glc-IONP) by employing an innovative technique, Metal Vapor Synthesis (MVS). Moreover, we tested the internalization of our gl-IONP on a tumor line, BxPC3, over-expressing GLUT 1 transporter. Both glc-IONP and polyvinylpyrrolidone-IONP (PVP-IONP), as control, were prepared with MVS and were tested on BxPC3 at various concentrations. To evaluate the role of GLUT-1 transporter, we also investigated the effect of adding a polyclonal anti-GLUT1 antibody. After proper treatment, the iron value was assessed by atomic absorption spectrometer, reported in mcg/L and expressed in mg of protein. Our IONP prepared with MVS were very small and homogeneously distributed in a narrow range (1.75-3.75 nm) with an average size of 2.7 nm and were super-paramagnetic. Glc-IONP were internalized by BxPC3 cells in a larger amount than PVP-IONP. After 6h of treatment with 50 mcg/mL of IONPs, the content of Fe was 1.5 times higher in glc-IONP-treated cells compared with PVP-IONP-treated cells. After 1h pre-treatment with anti-GLUT1, a reduction of 41% cellular accumulation of glc-IONP was observed. Conversely, the uptake of PVP-IONPs was reduced only by 14% with antibody pretreatment. In conclusion, MVS allowed us to prepare small, homogeneous, super-paramagnetic glc-IONP, which are electively internalized by a tumor line over-expressing GLUT1. Our glc-IONP appear to have many requisites for in vivo use

Undergraduates’ Interparental Conflict Mediation Based on Conflict Valence, Intensity, and Resolution

Angelina M. DeCapua ’20 Major: Psychology and Mathematics Samantha R. Leavey ’22Major: Psychology Brooke D. Vitulli ’22 Major: Psychology Elise W. Rogers ’20 Major: Psychology Faculty Mentor: Kelly A. Warmuth, Psychology Undergraduates may be more likely to mediate interparental conflict when perceived as destructive, rather than constructive. Participants were 161 undergraduates who listened to six audio clips of disagreements and reported their perceptions as if those disagreements occurred in their families. Key findings suggest that undergraduates were more likely to mediate conflicts as perceived intensity and negativity increased, but not as resolution decreased. These findings emphasize the effects of destructive interparental conflicts on undergraduates’ security

College Students’ Attachments to Mothers and Fathers: Comparing Social and Developmental Questionnaires

Angelina M. DeCapua ’20 Major: Psychology and Mathematics Samantha R. Leavey ’22 Major: Psychology Brooke D. Vitulli ’22 Major: Psychology Elise W. Rogers ’20 Major: Psychology Faculty Mentor: Kelly A. Warmuth, Psychology This study explored the relationship between social and developmental measures of attachment, which tend to tap distinct but correlated dimensions of attachment (Crowell, Shaver, & Fraley, 2008). Participants (N = 161) completed the ECR-RS and the IPPA through Qualtrics. Results showed significant negative correlations between attachment-related avoidance and anxiety to attachment security, degree of mutual trust, and quality of communication, and significant positive correlations between attachment-related avoidance and anxiety to feelings of anger and alienation

PISA: PI SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE FOR INTEGRATED SATELLITE PAYLOAD CONTROLLERS

With the growing amount of data produced by instruments and the increasing importance of the payload element that delivers the added value of the missions, a satellite can be regarded as a distributed system with a platform integrating all the traditional on-board control functions (Attitude and Orbit Control and Data Handling Control) and collaborating with the payload through the spacecraft bus. In PISA, we investigate tools and methods to develop a payload controller based on a single embedded computer integrating instrument control software components developed by several PI teams. A hardware demonstrator based on PowerPC running RTAI Linux is also presented

Prognostic value of serum alpha-1-antitrypsin in hepatocellular carcinoma

To evaluate serum alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) as a prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma, we studied 75 consecutive patients (60 male, 15 female, mean age +/- SD 63.0 +/- 9.3 years) in whom hepatocellular carcinoma developed with pre-existing cirrhosis. Median survival time was 245 days (range 4-1568+). 30 patients had serum A1AT concentration of 2.20 g/l. Median survival was 518 days in Group A and 81 days in Group B (Mantel-Cox 20.95, P < 0.0001; hazard ratio 0.26, 95% confidence limits 0.15-0.46). By stepwise survival analysis, alpha-1-antitrypsin together with bilirubin, tumour size and blood urea nitrogen were chosen among 17 variables as the only independent predictors of survival. We conclude that measurement of serum A1AT concentration might be useful as an inexpensive, widely available prognostic marker of hepatocellular carcinoma

Assessment of the resilience concept by means of the HiPeRCAR simulator

Dependability, a combination of availability, reliability and safety, wants to be the characteristic of the HiPeRCAR system. The ESA-funded project HiPeRCAR (High Performance Resilient Computer for Autonomous Robotics) shows how to combine reliability and robustness in an optimal way to get the highest possible dependability using limited resources. The achieved dependability allows to design control systems with suitable computational power for Space

Hepatic release of erythropoietin induced by transarterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

It has been shown previously that erythropoietin expression in vitro by hepatoma cells increases in response to hypoxia. To verify whether hypoxia of the tumor might result in hepatic release of erythropoietin in vivo, serum erythropoietin concentrations were measured immunoenzymatically in 12 patients (5 women, 7 men) who underwent transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma. Peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline, and after 6 hours and 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after the procedure. In a second set of experiments, performed in three male patients also undergoing chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma, paired blood samples were collected after catheterization of the hepatic veins and of the right antecubital vein. None of the patients had erythrocytosis. In comparison with a baseline mean value +/- SEM of 100.6 +/- 12.6 micrograms/L, serum erythropoietin concentrations were the following; +6 hours, 55.4 +/- 18.0 (P < .001); +1 day, 102.4 +/- 24.7 (P = NS), +2 days, 183.0 +/- 31.1 (P < .05); +3 days, 155.0 +/- 26.0 (P < .05); +7 days, 153.3 +/- 27.4 (P < .05) (matched Student's t-test). The ratio of hepatic vein/antecubital vein serum erythropoietin concentrations increased from 0.85 at baseline to 1.30 at +2 days, paralleling the increase of aspartate transaminase (r = .914, P < .005). After chemoembolization, no correlation was found between serum erythropoietin and alpha-1-fetoprotein concentrations. The concentration of the latter, stable initially, decreased 7 days after the procedure

MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES FOR CANCER DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT PURPOSES

(EN)Magnetic nanoparticles for radiologic or RMI investigations or as a therapeutic means in magnetic induction hyperthermia. For all these biomedical applications the metal particles are magnetically active, of size much less than 100 nm. The magnetic particles are functionalized with organic biocompatible ligands that permit biologic transport of the nanoparticles in a specific area. The magnetic particles are prepared substituting the ligand from metal atoms solvated in a solvent. A method for preparing metal nanoparticles by Metal Vapour Synthesis and their stabilization with biocompatible ligands of different nature, in particular iron/glucose nanoparticles. Internalization of the metal nanoparticles, in particular glucose-stabilized iron particles into neoplastic cells. (FR)La présente invention concerne des nanoparticules qui sont destinées aux examens radiologiques ou par IRM ou qui conviennent comme moyens thérapeutiques pour l'hyperthermie par induction magnétique. Pour toutes ces applications biomédicales, les particules de métal sont magnétiquement actives et de dimensions bien inférieures à 100 nm. Ces particules magnétiques sont fonctionnalisées au moyen de ligands organiques biocompatibles permettant un transport biologique de nanoparticules jusque dans une zone spécifique. Pour préparer ces particules magnétiques, on soumet le ligand à une substitution à partir d'atomes de métal solvatés dans un solvant. L'invention concerne également un procédé d'élaboration de nanoparticules de métal impliquant une synthèse par condensation de vapeur de métaux puis une stabilisation de celles-ci au moyen de ligands biocompatibles de nature différente, en particulier des nanoparticules fer/glucose. L'invention concerne enfin l'internalisation, dans des cellules néoplasiques, de nanoparticules de métal, en particulier de particules de fer stabilisées par du glucose