Cancer-selective, single agent chemoradiosensitising gold nanoparticles

Two nanometre gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), bearing sugar moieties and/or thiol-polyethylene glycol-amine (PEG-amine), were synthesised and evaluated for their in vitro toxicity and ability to radiosensitise cells with 220 kV and 6 MV X-rays, using four cell lines representing normal and cancerous skin and breast tissues. Acute 3 h exposure of cells to AuNPs, bearing PEG-amine only or a 50:50 ratio of alpha-galactose derivative and PEG-amine resulted in selective uptake and toxicity towards cancer cells at unprecedentedly low nanomolar concentrations. Chemotoxicity was prevented by co-administration of N-acetyl cysteine antioxidant, or partially prevented by the caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. In addition to their intrinsic cancer-selective chemotoxicity, these AuNPs acted as radiosensitisers in combination with 220 kV or 6 MV X-rays. The ability of AuNPs bearing simple ligands to act as cancer-selective chemoradiosensitisers at low concentrations is a novel discovery that holds great promise in developing low-cost cancer nanotherapeutics

The biomacromolecule-nanoparticle interface

The wide variety of core materials, coupled with the ability to engineer their surface properties, make monolayer-protected nanoparticles (NPs) excellent scaffolds for targeting biomacromolecules. In this review, we focus on recent advances in NP-biomacromolecule interactions, highlighting the control of biomacromolecule structure and function through engineered interactions with NP surfaces

Laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry analysis of monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles

Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) feature unique surface properties that enable numerous applications. Thus, there is a need for simple, rapid, and accurate methods to confirm the surface structures of these materials. Here, we describe how laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS) can be used to characterize AuNPs with neutral, positively, and negatively charged surface functional groups. LDI readily desorbs and ionizes the gold-bound ligands to produce both free thiols and disulfide ions in pure and complex samples. We also find that LDI-MS can provide a semi-quantitative measure of the ligand composition of mixed-monolayer AuNPs by monitoring mixed disulfide ions that are formed. Overall, the LDI-MS approach requires very little sample, provides an accurate measure of the surface ligands, and can be used to monitor AuNPs in complex mixtures

Livskvalitet hos HIV/Aidspositiva

Syftet med denna studie var att få fördjupad kunskap om hur vuxna kvinnor och män med hiv/aids uppger att de upplever sin livskvalitet. Metoden är en litteraturstudie, enligt Polit et al (2001) och baseras på tio vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultatet visade att fysiska faktorer var de som betonades mest men att det var de emotionella faktorerna som påverkade individen mest för upplevande av livskvalitet. Faktorer som äktenskap, sjukdomsgrad, inkomst, arbete och även utbildning är andra faktorer som påverkar livskvaliteten hos hiv/aidssjuka. Målet med litteraturstudien är att förmedla kunskap för att kunna medverka till en optimal vård till personer med hiv/aids. För god vård krävs både kunskap och förståelse för hur dessa individer upplever sin livskvalitet samt vilka faktorer som kan påverka livskvaliteten.The purpose of this study was to get a deeper knowledge as to how adults with HIV/AIDS express their own experiences of quality of life. The method was a literature study, according to Polit et al (2001) which was based upon scientific articles. Ten articles were included in the study. Results of the study showed that physical factors were those who were most emphasized although the emotional factors did have more impact on the individual concerning their experience of quality of life. Factors such as marriage, level of sickness, income, work and education are other factors which affect the quality of life of people with HIV/AIDS. The aim of the study was to convey knowledge so that people with HIV/AIDS can receive high-quality health care. It takes knowledge and understanding how these individuals experience their quality of life to achieve a high quality health care for them, and also knowledge about what factors affect their life quality

Direct Delivery of Functional Proteins and Enzymes to the Cytosol Using Nanoparticle-Stabilized Nanocapsules

Intracellular protein delivery is an important tool for both therapeutic and fundamental applications. Effective protein delivery faces two major challenges: efficient cellular uptake and avoiding endosomal sequestration. We report here a general strategy for direct delivery of functional proteins to the cytosol using nanoparticle-stabilized capsules (NPSCs). These NPSCs are formed and stabilized through supramolecular interactions between the nanoparticle, the protein cargo, and the fatty acid capsule interior. The NPSCs are ∼130 nm in diameter and feature low toxicity and excellent stability in serum. The effectiveness of these NPSCs as therapeutic protein carriers was demonstrated through the delivery of fully functional caspase-3 to HeLa cells with concomitant apoptosis. Analogous delivery of green fluorescent protein (GFP) confirmed cytosolic delivery as well as intracellular targeting of the delivered protein, demonstrating the utility of the system for both therapeutic and imaging applications