Liposome-based drug delivery systems hold great potential for cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to design a nanodevice for targeted anchoring of liposomes (with and without cholesterol) with encapsulated anticancer drugs and antisense N-myc gene oligonucleotide attached to its surface. To meet this main aim, liposomes with encapsulated doxorubicin, ellipticine and etoposide were prepared. They were further characterized by measuring their fluorescence intensity, whereas the encapsulation efficiency was estimated to be 16%. The hybridization process of individual oligonucleotides forming the nanoconstruct was investigated spectrophotometrically and electrochemically. The concentrations of ellipticine, doxorubicin and etoposide attached to the nanoconstruct in gold nanoparticle-modified liposomes were found to be 14, 5 and 2 µg·mL(-1), respectively. The study succeeded in demonstrating that liposomes are suitable for the transport of anticancer drugs and the antisense oligonucleotide, which can block the expression of the N-myc gene.

• Keywords
• N-myc, doxorubicin, ellipticine, etoposide, gold nanoparticles, liposome,
• MeSH
• DNA, Antisense chemistry   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Doxorubicin chemistry   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Ellipticines chemistry   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Etoposide chemistry   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Fluorescence MeSH
• Drug Delivery Systems * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Liposomes chemistry   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Magnetite Nanoparticles chemistry   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Neoplasms drug therapy   MeSH
• N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein antagonists & inhibitors   genetics   MeSH
• Gold chemistry   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• DNA, Antisense MeSH
• Doxorubicin MeSH
• Ellipticines MeSH
• Etoposide MeSH
• Liposomes MeSH
• Magnetite Nanoparticles MeSH
• N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein MeSH
• Gold MeSH

The electroactivity of purine and pyrimidine bases is the most important property of nucleic acids that is very useful for determining oligonucleotides using square wave voltammetry. This study was focused on the electrochemical behavior of adenine-containing oligonucleotides before and after their isolation using paramagnetic particles. Two peaks were detected-peak A related to the reduction of adenine base and another peak B involved in the interactions between individual adenine strands and contributes to the formation of various spatial structures. The influence of the number of adenine bases in the strand in the isolation process using paramagnetic particles was investigated too.

• Keywords
• adenine, adenine interaction, aptamer, biosensor, magnetic beads, nanobiotechnology, square wave voltammetry,
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Since its first official detection in the Guangdong province of China in 1996, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of H5N1 subtype (HPAI H5N1) has reportedly been the cause of outbreaks in birds in more than 60 countries, 24 of which were European. The main issue is still to develop effective antiviral drugs. In this case, single point mutation in the neuraminidase gene, which causes resistance to antiviral drug and is, therefore, subjected to many studies including ours, was observed. In this study, we developed magnetic electrochemical bar code array for detection of single point mutations (mismatches in up to four nucleotides) in H5N1 neuraminidase gene. Paramagnetic particles Dynabeads® with covalently bound oligo (dT)₂₅ were used as a tool for isolation of complementary H5N1 chains (H5N1 Zhejin, China and Aichi). For detection of H5N1 chains, oligonucleotide chains of lengths of 12 (+5 adenine) or 28 (+5 adenine) bp labeled with quantum dots (CdS, ZnS and/or PbS) were used. Individual probes hybridized to target molecules specifically with efficiency higher than 60%. The obtained signals identified mutations present in the sequence. Suggested experimental procedure allows obtaining further information from the redox signals of nucleic acids. Moreover, the used biosensor exhibits sequence specificity and low limits of detection of subnanogram quantities of target nucleic acids.

• MeSH
• Point Mutation * MeSH
• Electrochemical Techniques methods   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetics methods   MeSH
• Mutant Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Neuraminidase genetics   MeSH
• DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic methods   MeSH
• Virology methods   MeSH
• Drug Resistance, Viral MeSH
• Viral Proteins genetics   MeSH
• Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype classification   enzymology   genetics   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• China MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Mutant Proteins MeSH
• NA protein, influenza A virus MeSH Browser
• Neuraminidase MeSH
• Viral Proteins MeSH

Members the Potyviridae family belong to a group of plant viruses that are causing devastating plant diseases with a significant impact on agronomy and economics. Plum pox virus (PPV), as a causative agent of sharka disease, is widely discussed. The understanding of the molecular biology of potyviruses including PPV and the function of individual proteins as products of genome expression are quite necessary for the proposal the new antiviral strategies. This review brings to view the members of Potyviridae family with respect to plum pox virus. The genome of potyviruses is discussed with respect to protein products of its expression and their function. Plum pox virus distribution, genome organization, transmission and biochemical changes in infected plants are introduced. In addition, techniques used in PPV detection are accentuated and discussed, especially with respect to new modern techniques of nucleic acids isolation, based on the nanotechnological approach. Finally, perspectives on the future of possibilities for nanotechnology application in PPV determination/identification are outlined.

• MeSH
• Genome, Viral MeSH
• Plant Diseases virology   MeSH
• Plum Pox Virus physiology   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

The first aim of this study was to fabricate vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). MWCNTs were successfully prepared by using plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition. Further, three carbon composite electrodes with different content of carbon particles with various shapes and sizes were prepared and tested on measuring of nucleic acids. The dependences of adenine peak height on the concentration of nucleic acid sample were measured. Carbon composite electrode prepared from a mixture of glassy and spherical carbon powder and MWCNTs had the highest sensitivity to nucleic acids. Other interesting result is the fact that we were able to distinguish signals for all bases using this electrode.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH