The diagnosis of malignant melanoma, often an inconspicuous but highly aggressive tumor, is most commonly done by histological examination, while additional diagnostic methods on the level of elements and molecules are constantly being developed. Several studies confirmed differences in the chemical composition of healthy and tumor tissue. Our study presents the potential of the LIBS (Laser-Induced-Breakdown Spectroscopy) technique as a diagnostic tool in malignant melanoma (MM) based on the quantitative changes in elemental composition in cancerous tissue. Our patient group included 17 samples of various types of malignant melanoma and one sample of healthy skin tissue as a control. To achieve a clear perception of results, we have selected two biogenic elements (calcium and magnesium), which showed a dissimilar distribution in cancerous tissue from its healthy surroundings. Moreover, we observed indications of different concentrations of these elements in different subtypes of malignant melanoma, a hypothesis that requires confirmation in a more extensive sample set. The information provided by the LIBS Imaging method could potentially be helpful not only in the diagnostics of tumor tissue but also be beneficial in broadening the knowledge about the tumor itself.
The study investigates the use of fiber carriers, based on biopolymeric gums as potential candidates for cosmetic and dermatological applications, in particular for skin regeneration. Gum arabic (GA), xanthan gum (XA), and gum karaya (GK) were used as the main gum materials for the fibers, which were prepared by centrifugal spinning from an aqueous solution. These solutions of different mass gum ratios were blended with poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) for better spinnability. Finally, vitamins E and C were added to selected solutions of gums. The resulting fibers were extensively investigated. The morphology and structure of all fibers were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Most importantly, they were characterized by the release of vitamin E loaded in the fibers using UV-VIS spectroscopy. The presentation will show that the newly prepared fibers from GA and PEO represent a very promising material for cosmetic and dermatologic applications.
- MeSH
- arabská guma chemie MeSH
- guma karaya * chemie MeSH
- kůže MeSH
- polyethylenglykoly MeSH
- regenerace MeSH
- vitaminy * MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Identification of metal-binding sites in proteins and understanding metal-coupled protein folding mechanisms are aspects of high importance for the structure-to-function relationship. Mass spectrometry (MS) has brought a powerful adjunct perspective to structural biology, obtaining from metal-to-protein stoichiometry to quaternary structure information. Currently, the different experimental and/or instrumental setups usually require the use of multiple data analysis software, and in some cases, they lack some of the main data analysis steps (MS processing, scoring, identification). Here, we present a comprehensive data analysis pipeline that addresses charge-state deconvolution, statistical scoring, and mass assignment for native MS, bottom-up, and native top-down with emphasis on metal-protein complexes. We have evaluated all of the approaches using assemblies of increasing complexity, including free and chemically labeled proteins, from low- to high-resolution MS. In all cases, the results have been compared with common software and proved how MetaOdysseus outperformed them.
The improving performance of the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) triggered its utilization in the challenging topic of soft tissue analysis. Alterations of elemental content within soft tissues are commonly assessed and provide further insights in biological research. However, the laser ablation of soft tissues is a complex issue and demands a priori optimization, which is not straightforward in respect to a typical LIBS experiment. Here, we focus on implementing an internal standard into the LIBS elemental analysis of soft tissue samples. We achieve this by extending routine methodology for optimization of soft tissues analysis with a standard spiking method. This step enables a robust optimization procedure of LIBS experimental settings. Considering the implementation of LIBS analysis to the histological routine, we avoid further alterations of the tissue structure. Therefore, we propose a unique methodology of sample preparation, analysis, and subsequent data treatment, which enables the comparison of signal response from heterogenous matrix for different LIBS parameters. Additionally, a brief step-by-step process of optimization to achieve the highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is described. The quality of laser-tissue interaction is investigated on the basis of the zinc signal response, while selected experimental parameters (e.g., defocus, gate delay, laser energy, and ambient atmosphere) are systematically modified.
- MeSH
- buňky MeSH
- laserová terapie * MeSH
- lasery * MeSH
- referenční standardy MeSH
- spektrální analýza MeSH
- světlo MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
We designed a simple, portable, low-cost and low-weight nondispersive infrared (NDIR) spectroscopy-based system for continuous remote sensing of atmospheric methane (CH4) with rapidly pulsed near-infrared light emitting diodes (NIR LED) at 1.65 μm. The use of a microcontroller with a field programmable gate array (μC-FPGA) enables on-the-fly and wireless streaming and processing of large data streams (~2 Gbit/s). The investigated NIR LED detection system offers favourable limits of detection (LOD) of 300 ppm (±5%) CH4,. All the generated raw data were processed automatically on-the-fly in the μC-FPGA and transferred wirelessly via a network connection. The sensing device was deployed for the portable sensing of atmospheric CH4 at a local landfill, resulting in quantified concentrations within the sampling area (ca 400 m2) in the range of 0.5%-3.35% CH4. This NIR LED-based sensor system offers a simple low-cost solution for continuous real-time, quantitative, and direct measurement of CH4 concentrations in indoor and outdoor environments, yet with the flexibility provided by the custom programmable software. It possesses future potential for remote monitoring of gases directly from mobile platforms such as smartphones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
We focused on the application of mass spectrometry and electrochemical methods combined with a chemometric analysis for the characterization of partially metallothionein-3 species. The results showed decreased Cat1 and Cat2 signals for the Zn(II)-loaded MT3 species with respect to the metal-free protein, which might be explained by the arrangement of tetrahedral metal-thiolate coordination environments and the formation of metal clusters. Moreover, there was a decrease in the Cat1 and Cat2 signals, and a plateau was reached with 4-5 Zn(II) ions that corresponded to the formation of the C-terminal α-domain. Regarding the Zn7-xMT3 complexes, we observed three different electrochemical behaviours for the Zn1-2MT3, Zn3-6MT3 and Zn7MT3 species. The difference for Zn1-2MT3 might be explained by the formation of independent ZnS4 cores in this stage that differ with respect to the formation of ZnxCysy clusters with an increased Zn(II) loading. The binding of the third Zn(II) ion to MT3 resulted in high sample heterogeneity due the co-existence of Zn3-6MT3. Finally, the Zn7MT3 protein showed a third type of behaviour. The fact that there were no free Cys residues might explain this phenomenon. Thus, this research identifies the major proteins responsible for zinc buffering in the cell.
- MeSH
- apoproteiny chemie MeSH
- elektrochemie metody MeSH
- hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- proteiny nervové tkáně chemie MeSH
- zinek chemie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The article discusses an autonomous and flexible robotic system for radiation monitoring. The detection part of the system comprises two NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors: one of these is collimated to allow directionally sensitive measurements and the other is used to calculate the dose rate and provides sufficient sensitivity. Special algorithms for autonomous operation of an unmanned ground vehicle were developed, utilizing radiation characteristics acquired by the implemented detection system. The system was designed to operate in three modes: radiation mapping, localization of discrete sources and inspection of a region of interest. All of the modes were verified experimentally. In the localization mode, the time required to localize ionizing radiation sources was reduced by half compared to the field mapping mode exploiting parallel trajectories; the localization accuracy remained the same. In the inspection mode, the desired functionality was achieved, and the changes in the sources arrangement were detected reliably in the experiments.
- MeSH
- algoritmy * MeSH
- ionizující záření * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- monitorování radiace přístrojové vybavení MeSH
- robotika metody MeSH
- scintilace - počítání přístrojové vybavení MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Although ellipticine (Elli) is an efficient anticancer agent, it exerts several adverse effects. One approach to decrease the adverse effects of drugs is their encapsulation inside a suitable nanocarrier, allowing targeted delivery to tumour tissue whereas avoiding healthy cells. We constructed a nanocarrier from apoferritin (Apo) bearing ellipticine, ApoElli, and subsequently characterized. The nanocarrier exhibits a narrow size distribution suggesting its suitability for entrapping the hydrophobic ellipticine molecule. Ellipticine was released from ApoElli into the water environment under pH 6.5, but only less than 20% was released at pH 7.4. The interaction of ApoElli with microsomal membrane particles containing cytochrome P450 (CYP) biotransformation enzymes accelerated the release of ellipticine from this nanocarrier making it possible to be transferred into this membrane system even at pH 7.4 and facilitating CYP-mediated metabolism. Reactive metabolites were formed not only from free ellipticine, but also from ApoElli, and both generated covalent DNA adducts. ApoElli was toxic in UKF-NB-4 neuroblastoma cells, but showed significantly lower cytotoxicity in non-malignant fibroblast HDFn cells. Ellipticine either free or released from ApoElli was concentrated in the nuclei of neuroblastoma cells, concentrations of which being significantly higher in nuclei of UKF-NB-4 than in HDFn cells. In HDFn the higher amounts of ellipticine were sequestrated in lysosomes. The extent of ApoElli entering the nuclei in UKF-NB-4 cells was lower than that of free ellipticine and correlated with the formation of ellipticine-derived DNA adducts. Our study indicates that the ApoElli form of ellipticine seems to be a promising tool for neuroblastoma treatment.
- MeSH
- adukty DNA genetika metabolismus MeSH
- antitumorózní látky chemie farmakologie MeSH
- apoferritiny chemie farmakologie MeSH
- cytochrom P-450 CYP3A metabolismus MeSH
- elipticiny chemie farmakologie MeSH
- fosforylace MeSH
- histony metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
- nanočástice * MeSH
- neuroblastom farmakoterapie enzymologie genetika patologie MeSH
- nosiče léků * MeSH
- příprava léků MeSH
- uvolňování léčiv MeSH
- viabilita buněk účinky léků MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
