BIO-INSPIRED MAGNETIC BEADS FOR ISOLATION OF SPERM FROM HETEROGENOUS SAMPLES IN FORENSIC APPLICATIONS.

Rapid and efficient processing of sexual assault evidence will accelerate forensic investigation and decrease casework backlogs. The standardized protocols currently used in forensic laboratories require the continued innovation to handle the increasing number and complexity of samples being submitted to forensic labs. Here, we present a new technique leveraging the integration of a bio-inspired oligosaccharide (i.e., Sialyl-LewisX) with magnetic beads that provides a rapid, inexpensive, and easy-to-use strategy that can potentially be adapted with current differential extraction practice in forensics labs. This platform (i) selectively captures sperm; (ii) is sensitive within the forensic cut-off; (iii) provides a cost effective solution that can be automated with existing laboratory platforms; and (iv) handles small volumes of sample (∼200 µL). This strategy can rapidly isolate sperm within 25 minutes of total processing that will prepare the extracted sample for downstream forensic analysis and ultimately help accelerate forensic investigation and reduce casework backlogs.

A confirmatory test for sperm in sexual assault samples using a microfluidic-integrated cell phone imaging system.

Rapid and efficient processing of sexual assault evidence to accelerate forensic investigation and decrease casework backlogs is urgently needed. Therefore, the standardized protocols currently used in forensic laboratories can benefit from continued innovation to handle the increasing number and complexity of samples being submitted to forensic labs. To our knowledge, there is currently no available rapid and portable forensic screening technology based on a confirmatory test for sperm identification in a sexual assault kit. Here, we present a novel forensic sample screening tool, i.e., a microchip integrated with a portable cell phone imaging platform that records and processes images for further investigation and storage. The platform (i) precisely and rapidly screens swab samples (<15 min after sample preparation on-chip); (ii) selectively captures sperm from mock sexual assault samples using a novel and previously published SLeX-based surface chemistry treatment (iii) separates non-sperm contents (epithelial cells and debris in this case) out of the channel by flow prior to imaging; (iv) captures cell phone images on a portable cellphone-integrated imaging platform, (v) quantitatively differentiates sperm cells from epithelial cells, using a morphology detection code that leverages Laplacian of Gaussian and Hough gradient transform methods; (vi) is sensitive within a forensic cut-off (>95% accuracy) compared to the manual counts; (vii) provides a cost-effective and timely solution to a problem which in the past has taken a great deal of time; and (viii) handles small volumes of sample (20 µL). This integration of the cellphone imaging platform and cell recognition algorithms with disposable microchips can be a new direction toward a direct visual test to screen and differentiate sperm from epithelial cell types in forensic samples for a crime laboratory scenario. With further development, this integrated platform could assist a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) in a hospital or sexual assault treatment center facility to flag sperm-containing samples prior to further downstream testing.

Tunable Fano-Resonant Metasurfaces on a Disposable Plastic-Template for Multimodal and Multiplex Biosensing.

Metasurfaces are engineered nanostructured interfaces that extend the photonic behavior of natural materials, and they spur many breakthroughs in multiple fields, including quantum optics, optoelectronics, and biosensing. Recent advances in metasurface nanofabrication enable precise manipulation of light-matter interactions at subwavelength scales. However, current fabrication methods are costly and time-consuming and have a small active area with low reproducibility due to limitations in lithography, where sensing nanosized rare biotargets requires a wide active surface area for efficient binding and detection. Here, a plastic-templated tunable metasurface with a large active area and periodic metal-dielectric layers to excite plasmonic Fano resonance transitions providing multimodal and multiplex sensing of small biotargets, such as proteins and viruses, is introduced. The tunable Fano resonance feature of the metasurface is enabled via chemical etching steps to manage nanoperiodicity of the plastic template decorated with plasmonic layers and surrounding dielectric medium. This metasurface integrated with microfluidics further enhances the light-matter interactions over a wide sensing area, extending data collection from 3D to 4D by tracking real-time biomolecular binding events. Overall, this work resolves cost- and complexity-related large-scale fabrication challenges and improves multilayer sensitivity of detection in biosensing applications.

Antidepressant effect of Gentiana olivieri Griseb. in male rats exposed to chronic mild stress.

Background: The flowering parts of Gentiana olivieri, known as 'Afat' in the southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey, are used as a tonic, an appetizer, and for the treatment of several mental disorders, including depression. The purpose of this study is to investigate the antidepressant effect of G. olivieri ethanol extract (GOEE) in a chronic mild stress-induced rat model, which was used to mimic a depressive state in humans, and to compare the effect with that of imipramine.Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, stress, treated with imipramine (positive control) and treated with GOEE at three different (200, 500, 1000 mg/kg) doses groups. The rats in all groups, except the control group, were exposed to chronic mild stress. At the end of the 3-week experimental period, biochemical and behavioral parameters were examined.Results: The results showed that treatment with GOEE or imipramine significantly improved rats' sucrose consumption which was diminished by chronic mild stress, restored serum levels of corticosterone and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)), prevented the increase of liver index of rats. Moreover, in the hippocampus tissue, decreased serotonin and noradrenaline levels were significantly increased by treatment with GOEE or imipramine, and antioxidant parameters (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH)) were significantly improved by treatment with GOEE though not with imipramine.Conclusion: The data demonstrate that G. olivieri may exert its antidepressant activity by improving monoaminergic system disorders, and by favorably affecting the antioxidant, inflammatory and the endocrine mechanisms.

Chemistry, structure, and biological roles of Au-NHC complexes as TrxR inhibitors.

In recent years, the preparation of metal complexes and the introduction of biologically active organometalic compounds are new strategies in drug development. For this purpose, generally N-heterocyclic pharmaceutical agents have been used as promising nuclei. Au-containing N-heterocyclic carbene (Au-NHC) derivatives are among the compounds used for this purpose, and their enzyme inhibition, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial and anticancer properties are widely studied. In these studies, the anticancer property of Au-NHC complexes is the most widely studied area. The common result in different studies has been revealed that mitochondrial thioredoxin reductases (TrxR) inhibition is the main pathway in the powerful anticancer effect of many Au-NHC complexes. In TrxR inhibition, the high affinity of gold to sulfur is considered to be the main component of the effect. This review includes the discussions releated to the anticancer activities and TrxR inhibition properties of Au-NHC compounds.

Design of Xylose-Based Semisynthetic Polyurethane Tissue Adhesives with Enhanced Bioactivity Properties.

Developing biocompatible tissue adhesives with high adhesion properties is a highly desired goal of the tissue engineering due to adverse effects of the sutures. Therefore, our work involves synthesis, characterization, adhesion properties, protein adsorption, in vitro biodegradation, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility properties of xylose-based semisynthetic polyurethane (NPU-PEG-X) bioadhesives. Xylose-based semisynthetic polyurethanes were developed by the reaction among 4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) (MCI), xylose and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG). Synthesized polyurethanes (PUs) showed good thermal stability and high adhesion strength. The highest values in adhesion strength were measured as 415.0 ± 48.8 and 94.0 ± 2.8 kPa for aluminum substrate and muscle tissue in 15% xylose containing PUs (NPU-PEG-X-15%), respectively. The biodegradation of NPU-PEG-X-15% was also determined as 19.96 ± 1.04% after 8 weeks of incubation. Relative cell viability of xylose containing PU was above 86%. Moreover, 10% xylose containing NPU-PEG-X (NPU-PEG-X-10%) sample has favorable tissue response, and inflammatory reaction between 1 and 6 weeks implantation period. With high adhesiveness and biocompatibility properties, NPU-PEG-X can be used in the medical field as supporting materials for preventing the fluid leakage after abdominal surgery or wound closure.

Chemical composition, antimicrobial, insecticidal, phytotoxic and antioxidant activities of Mediterranean Pinus brutia and Pinus pinea resin essential oils.

Essential oils of the resins of Pinus brutia and Pinus pinea were evaluated for their biological potential. Essential oils were characterized using GC-MS and GC/FID. in vitro antimicrobial, phytotoxic, antioxidant, and insecticidal activities were carried out using the direct contact and the fumigant assays, respectively. The chemical profile of the essential oils of the resins of P. pinea and P. brutia included mainly α-pinene (21.39% and 25.40%), ß-pinene (9.68% and 9.69%), and caryophyllene (9.12% and 4.81%). The essential oils of P. pinea and P. brutia exerted notable antimicrobial activities on Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis, insecticidal activities on Ephestia kuehniella eggs, phytotoxic activities on Lactuca sativa, Lepidium sativum, and Portulaca oleracea, as well as antioxidant potential. Indications of the biological activities of the essential oils suggest their use in the formulation of ecofriendly and biocompatible pharmaceuticals.

Protective effect of infliximab on ischemia/reperfusion-induced damage in rat kidney.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of infliximab on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the rat kidney. METHODS: Twenty-eight male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups: sham-operated, I/R, I/R with infliximab administered before ischemia [I/R + infliximab (bi)], and I/R with infliximab administered before reperfusion [I/R + infliximab (br)]. After a right nephrectomy to produce damage, the left renal vessels were occluded for 60 min, followed by 24-h reperfusion in rats. Changes in the rat kidney were observed by measuring the tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and by evaluating hematoxylin-eosin (H&E)-stained and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) sections. RESULTS: The MDA and MPO levels in the I/R group were significantly higher than in the other groups (p < 0.05), and the SOD and GSH levels in the I/R + infliximab (bi) and I/R + infliximab (br) groups were significantly higher than in the I/R group (p < 0.05). However, histological examination revealed that the I/R + infliximab (bi) group and the I/R + infliximab (br) group had significantly fewer tubular changes and interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration than the I/R group. CONCLUSION: These results show that infliximab may protect against I/R injury in the rat I/R model.