Polymer-based micromotors fluorescence immunoassay for on the move sensitive procalcitonin determination in very low birth weight infants' plasma

A new fluorescence micromotor-based immunoassay (FMIm) has been developed forvprocalcitonin (PCT) determination as an early sepsis diagnostic analytical tool. The micromotorsvcombine the high binding capacity of the specific antibodies onto their polymeric polypyrrole outervlayer (PPy layer), with their magnetic guidance (Ni layer) and self-propulsion by catalytic generationvof oxygen bubbles (PtNP inner layer) to actively recognize the PCT antigen. This FMIm allowed avsensitive (LOD = 0.07 ng mL?1) and direct PCT determination in clinical samples from very lowbirth-vweight infants (VLBWI) with sepsis suspicion, using small volumes of sample (25 ?L) in a clinically relevant range of concentrations (0.5?150 ng mL?1). The good agreement between PCTvlevels obtained by our micromotor-based method and routine immunofluorescence hospitalvdetermination demonstrates the feasibility for the analysis in VLBWI samples and its potential as avpoint-of-care diagnostic tool for sepsis.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad); Comunidad de Madrid; La Caix

Toward early diagnosis of late-onset sepsis in preterm neonates: Dual magnetoimmunosensor for simultaneous procalcitonin and C-reactive protein determination in diagnosed clinical samples

Early diagnosis of sepsis, combining blood cultures and inflammation biomarkers, continues to be a challenge, especially in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants because of limited availability of blood samples. Traditional diagnostic procedures are cumbersome, not fast enough, and require relatively large volumes of sample. Empiric use of antibiotics, before diagnostic confirmation, is required to decrease mortality, leading to potential antibiotic resistance and side effects in VLBW infants. To solve such a serious problem, a dual magnetoimmunosensor is proposed for simultaneous assessment of two of the most important sepsis biomarkers: procalcitonin (PCT for early phase) and Creactive protein (CRP for late phase). This ?sample-to-result? approach exhibited excellent sensitivity, selectivity, precision, and stability using low sample volumes (<30 ?L) and under 20 min of total assay. The analytical usefulness of the approach was demonstrated by analyzing clinically relevant samples of preterm neonates with suspicion of sepsis.Ministerio de Economía y CompetitividadComunidad Autónoma de MadridFundación “La Caixa

OFF-ON on-the-fly aptassay for rapid and accurate determination of procalcitonin in very low birth weight infants with sepsis suspicion

A fast and reliable OFF-ON micromotors (MM)-based aptassay for rapid, sensitive, and accurate determination of procalcitonin (PCT) as one of the leading neonatal sepsis biomarkers in very low birth weight infants? serum samples is proposed. MM were composed of three specific functional layers: graphene oxide (GO) as sensing layer, Ni for magnetic guidance and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) as catalytic layer for self-propulsion (MMGO/ Ni/PtNPs). The OFF-ON strategy relies on the binding of the aptamer tagged with alexa-405 as fluorescent label (AptPCT, ?em=447 nm) onto the GO outer layer of the MM (GOMM) to induce its fluorescence quenching (GOMMAptPCT, OFF state); which is next recovered due to selectively binding of the aptamer to the PCT and their separation from the GOMM surface (PCT-AptPCT, ON state). The fast OFF-ON on-the-fly aptassay allowed in just 5 min a highly selective and sensitive (LOD = 0.01 ng mL? 1) PCT determination in clinical samples from very low birth weight infants with sepsis suspicion, using only 25 ?L of sample in a clinically relevant range of concentrations (0.03?1280 ng mL? 1). The high concordance between the PCT levels obtained by our MMGO/Ni/PtNPsbased aptassay and those obtained by the Hospital, demonstrated the analytical potency of our approach for the analysis of neonatal samples as well as its potential to be used as a pre-diagnostic tool for sepsis.Ministerio de Ciencia e InnovaciónComunidad de MadridEuropean Commissio

El tratamiento con cannabidiol mejora la lesión pulmonar inflamatoria secundaria a hipoxia-isquemia cerebral en un nuevo modelo experimental neonatal

Tesis inédita de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Pediatría, leída el 22/06/2012Depto. de Salud Pública y Materno - InfantilFac. de MedicinaTRUEunpu

On the Move-Sensitive Fluorescent Aptassay on Board Catalytic Micromotors for the Determination of Interleukin-6 in Ultra-Low Serum Volumes for Neonatal Sepsis Diagnostics

A graphene oxide/nickel/platinum nanoparticle micromotor (MM)-based fluorescent aptassay is proposed to determine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in serum samples from low-birth-weight infants (gestational age of less than 32 weeks and birthweight below 1000 g) with sepsis suspicion. In this kind of patients, IL-6 has demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of sepsis, both for early and late onset sepsis. The approach was based on the adsorption of the aptamer for IL6 tagged with 6-FAM as a fluorescent label (AptIL‑6, λem = 520 nm) on the graphene oxide external layer (MMGO−AptIL‑6) inducing fluorescence quenching (OFF state) and a subsequent on-the-move affinity recognition of IL-6 from AptIL‑6 (IL-6−AptIL‑6 complex) recovering the fluorescence (ON state). An aptamer against IL-6 was selected and developed by the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment technology. This approach displayed a suitable linear range of 0.07−1000 pg mL−1 (r = 0.995) covering the cut-off and clinical practice levels, allowing direct determination without any dilution and simplifying the analysis as well as exhibiting an excellent sensitivity (LOD =0.02 pg mL−1) in ultralow volumes of diagnostic clinical samples (2 μL). A high agreement between IL-6 levels obtained from our MM-based approach and the method used by the Hospital was obtained (relative error < 3%). The MM-based aptassay is competitive in comparison with that of the Hospital, in terms of a significant reduction of the sample volume (15 times less) and enhanced sensitivity, employing similar analysis times. These results position MM technology with enough potential to achieve high sensitivities in low sample volumes, opening new avenues in diagnosis based on low sample volumes.TRANSNANOAVANSESComunidad de MadridMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)European Union (UE), through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)Depto. de Química en Ciencias FarmacéuticasFac. de FarmaciaTRUEpu

Parainfluenza 3 Respiratory Infection Associated with Pericardial Effusion in a Very Low Birthweight Infant

Parainfluenza 3 virus is a frequent cause of respiratory infections in the pediatric population although it is uncommonly diagnosed in neonates, being usually reported as neonatal intensive care unit microepidemics. We report a case of parainfluenza 3 respiratory infection associated with pericardial effusion in a very low birthweight infant

Neonatal Infection Due to SARS-CoV-2: An Epidemiological Study in Spain

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continue to increase worldwide. Although some data from pediatric series are available, more evidence is required, especially in neonates, a group with specific characteristics that deserve special attention. This study aimed to describe general and clinical characteristics, management, and treatment of postnatal-acquired (community and nosocomial/hospital-acquired) COVID-19 neonatal cases in Spain. Methods: This was a national prospective epidemiological study that included cases from a National Registry supported by the Spanish Society of Neonatology. Neonates with postnatal SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in this study. General data and infection-related information (mode and source of transmission, age at diagnosis, clinical manifestations, need for hospitalization, admission unit, treatment administered, and complementary studies performed, hospital stay associated with the infection) were collected. Results: A total of 40 cases, 26 community-acquired and 14 nosocomial were registered. Ten were preterm newborns (2 community-acquired and 8 nosocomial COVID-19 cases). Mothers (in both groups) and healthcare workers (in nosocomial cases) were the main source of infection. Hospital admission was required in 22 community-acquired cases [18 admitted to the neonatal intermediate care unit (NIMCU) and 4 to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)]. Among nosocomial COVID-19 cases (n = 14), previously admitted for other reasons, 4 were admitted to the NIMCU and 10 to the NICU. Ten asymptomatic patients were registered (5 in each group). In the remaining cases, clinical manifestations were generally mild in both groups, including upper respiratory airways infection, febrile syndrome or acute gastroenteritis with good overall health. In both groups, most severe cases occurred in preterm neonates or neonates with concomitant pathologies. Most of the cases did not require respiratory support. Hydroxychloroquine was administered to 4 patients in the community-acquired group and to 2 patients in the nosocomial group. Follow-up after hospital discharge was performed in most patients. Conclusions: This is the largest series of COVID-19 neonatal cases in Spain published to date. Although clinical manifestations were generally mild, prevention, treatment, and management in this group are essential