Dual-aptamer-based enzyme linked plasmonic assay for pathogenic bacteria detection.

Development of rapid, sensitive, and selective method for pathogenic bacteria detection is of great importance for food safety, medical diagnostic, and environmental monitoring. Currently, most techniques for low numbers of bacteria detection require advanced instrumentation or skilled operators. Herein, we present a facile colorimetric detection platform for bacterial detection using Ag nanoplates as chromogenic substrate, which takes advantages of the high specificity and affinity of aptamer and the ability of catalase to hydrolyze H2O2 that can etch Ag nanoplates. By introducing catalase to the sandwich structure composed by dual-aptamer recognition strategy, bacteria detection signal is converted to the peak shift of LSPR and colorimetric change. This proposed method allows a fast naked-eye detection of S. aureus at the concentration of 60 CFU/mL based on the combination of streptavidin-biotin system and inherent sensitivity of plasmonic Ag nanoplates. Owing to the high selectivity and sensitivity, as well as the low-cost and good adaptability, this plasmonic assay is expected to be suitable for pathogenic bacteria detection in resource-limited settings.

miR-29a attenuates cardiac hypertrophy through inhibition of PPARδ expression.

Although cardiac hypertrophy is widely recognized as a risk factor that leads to cardiac dysfunction and, ultimately, heart failure, the complex mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy remain incompletely characterized. The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor δ (PPARδ) is involved in the regulation of cardiac lipid metabolism. Here, we describe a novel PPARδ-dependent molecular cascade involving microRNA-29a (miR-29a) and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), which is reactivated in cardiac hypertrophy. In addition, we identify a novel role of miR-29a, in which it has a cardioprotective function in isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced cardiac hypertrophy by targeting PPARδ and downregulating ANF. Finally, we provide evidence that miR-29a reduces the isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced cardiac hypertrophy response, thereby underlining the potential clinical relevance of miR-29a in which it may serve as a potent therapeutic target for heart hypertrophy treatment.

Antioxidants and α-glucosidase inhibitors from Ipomoea batatas leaves identified by bioassay-guided approach and structure-activity relationships.

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) leaf (SPL) is an underused commercial vegetable with considerable bio-activities. By means of DPPH scavenging ability and α-glucosidase inhibitory oriented isolation, 9 and 7 compounds were isolated and identified, respectively. Among them, trans-N-(p-coumaroyl)tyramine (1), trans-N-feruloyltyramine (2), cis-N-feruloyltyramine (3), 4,5-feruloylcourmaoylquinic acid (8), caffeic acid ethyl ester (10), 7-hydroxy-5-methoxycoumarin (11), 7,3'-dimethylquercetin (13) and indole-3-carboxaldehyde (15), were firstly identified from SPL, and four of them (1, 2, 3 and 10) were firstly identified from genus Ipomoea. Phenethyl cinnamides and 3,4,5-triCQA exhibited the strongest α-glucosidase inhibition, while 3,4,5-triCQA and diCQAs were the dominant antioxidants. Structure-activity relationship revealed that higher caffeoylation of quinic acid and lower methoxylation of flavonols resulted in stronger antioxidant activity, and methylation and cis-configuration structure of phenethyl cinnamides weaken the α-glucosidase inhibition. Aforementioned results could help to explain the antioxidant activity and anti-diabetic activity of SPL, and provide theoretical basis for its further application.

Metabolic profiling of antioxidants constituents in Artemisia selengensis leaves.

This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of Artemisia selengensis Turcz (AST) leaves, a byproduct when processing AST stalk, and identify the antioxidant constituents by using HPLC-QTOF-MS(2). The total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC) and antioxidant abilities of fractions resulted from the successively partition of chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol were compared. Ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) exhibited the highest TFC (65.44 mg QuE/g fraction), n-butanol fraction (nBuF) showed the highest TPC (384.78 mg GAE/g fraction) and the best DPPH scavenging ability, ABTS(+) scavenging ability and reducing power. Totally, 57 compounds were identified or tentatively identified in nBuF and EAF, 40 of them were reported in AST for the first time. The major constituents in EAF were flavonoids, and the major constituents in nBuF were phenolic acids and organic acids. Thus, AST leaves might be a potential low-cost resource of natural antioxidants.

Response surface optimization and physicochemical properties of polysaccharides from Nelumbo nucifera leaves.

Dynamic high pressure microfluidization (DHPM)-assisted extraction (DHPMAE) of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaves polysaccharides (LLPs) was optimized by response surface methodology. The optimal extraction conditions were: liquid/solid ratio of 35:1 (v/m, mL/g), processing pressure of 180 MPa, processed two times, extraction temperature of 76°C, extraction time of 50 min. Under the optimal extraction conditions, DHPMAE produced a higher polysaccharides yield (6.31%) than leaching (2.95%). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis revealed that DHPM could reduce the particles size and make the surface more unconsolidated. The LLPs prepared by both methods showed similar FT-IR spectrum, and were consisted of the same monosaccharides, including rhamnose, fucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose and galactose. The content of each monosaccharide in extracts, however, was quite different. The average molecular weight of LLPs prepared by DHPMAE is 550 kDa, smaller than 578 kDa obtained by leaching. The LLPs prepared by DHPMAE exhibited stronger DPPH scavenging ability (IC50 value of 0.38 mg/mL), HO scavenging ability (IC50 value of 0.61 mg/mL) and reducing power. Therefore, DHPMAE can be a promising alternative to traditional extraction techniques for polysaccharides from plants, and lotus leaves might be a potential resource of natural antioxidants.

Highly sensitive trivalent copper chelate-luminol chemiluminescence system for capillary electrophoresis chiral separation and determination of ofloxacin enantiomers in urine samples.

A simple, fast and sensitive capillary electrophoresis (CE) strategy combined with chemiluminescence (CL) detection for analysis of ofloxacin (OF) enantiomers was established in the present work. Sulfonated ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) was used as the chiral additive being added into the running buffer of luminol-diperiodatocuprate (III) (K5[Cu(HIO6)2], DPC) chemiluminescence system. Under the optimum conditions, the proposed method was successfully applied to separation and analysis of OF enantiomers with the detection limits (S/N=3) of 8.0 nM and 7.0 nM for levofloxacin and dextrofloxacin, respectively. The linear ranges were both 0.010-100 µM. The method was utilized for analyzing OF in urine; the results obtained were satisfactory and recoveries were 89.5-110.8%, which demonstrated the reliability of this method. This approach can also be further extended to analyze different commercial OF medicines.

Cell adhesive and growth behavior on electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds by designed multifunctional composites.

Nanostructured biocomposite scaffolds of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) blended with collagen (coll) or hydroxyapatite (HA), or both for tissue engineering application, were fabricated by electrospinning. The electrospun scaffolds were characterized for the morphology, chemical and tensile properties by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), water contact angle (WCA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurement, and tensile testing. Electrospun biocomposite scaffolds of PLLA and collagen or (and) HA in the diameter range of 200-700 nm mimic the nanoscale structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM) with a well-interconnection pore network structure. The presence of collagen in the scaffolds increased their hydrophility, and enhanced cell attachment and proliferation, while HA improved the tensile properties of the scaffolds. The biocompatibility of the electrospun scaffolds and the viability of contacting cells were evaluated by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) nuclear staining and by fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and propidium iodide (PI) double staining methods. The results support the conclusion that 293T cells grew well on composite scaffolds. Compared with pure PLLA scaffolds a greater density of viable cells was seen on the composites, especially the PLLA/HA/collagen scaffolds.

[Construction of the functionalized film of immobilized atrazine molecular on the surface of gold substrate and its characterization by FTIR-RAS].

In an attempt to implement a novel type of immuno sensor based on IR spectroscopy, th e authorshave immobilized the herbicide atrazine on the surface of gold substrates. First, the authors synthesized a disulphide derivative of atrazine, then immobilized the herbicide atrazine on the surface of gold substrates by spontaneous chemisorption. The organic thin films were characterised by Fourier transform infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy. A preliminary biological recognition experiment with an anti-ATZ antibody is promising.