Clinical importance of matrix metalloproteinases.

This review gives a brief summary on clinical applications of MMPs and their determination. Primarily, the activity of MMPs in cancer formation, development and metastasis is discussed. Further, survey on methods including fluorimetric methods, zymographies, Western-blotting, immunocapture assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry, phage display, multiple-enzyme/multiple-reagent system, activity profiling, chronopotentiometric stripping analysis and imaging methods for detection and determination of MMPs follows (Fig. 3, Ref. 100).

Selectively arranged single-wire based nanosensor array systems for gas monitoring.

Gas nanosensors, comprised of arrays of nanoelectrodes with finger-widths of ∼100 nm developed by electron beam lithography and aerosol assisted chemical vapor deposited non-functionalized and Pt-functionalized tungsten oxide nanowires (<100 nm) subsequently integrated across the pairs of electrodes via the dielectrophoresis method, are developed in this work. The functionality of these devices is validated towards various concentrations of NO2 and C2H5OH. The results demonstrate reproducible and consistent responses with better sensitivity and partial selectivity for the non-functionalized systems to NO2, as opposed to the Pt-functionalized systems, which display better sensing properties towards C2H5OH with a loss of response to NO2. These results are explained on the basis of the additional chemical and electronic interactions at the Pt/tungsten oxide interface, which increase the pre-adsorption of oxygen species and make the functionalized surface rather more sensitive to C2H5OH than to NO2, in contrast to the non-functionalized surface.

Detection of volatile organic compounds using flexible gas sensing devices based on tungsten oxide nanostructures functionalized with Au and Pt nanoparticles.

Flexible gas sensor devices are fabricated and optimized by integrating directly, via a single-step vapor-phase deposition method, highly crystalline tungsten oxide nanostructures functionalized with either gold or platinum nanoparticles. Gas tests of these devices show significant improvements with respect to flexible gas sensors based on non-functionalized structures, including greater responses to various volatile organic compounds (ethanol, acetone, methanol and toluene) and better selectivity towards ethanol and methanol, as demonstrate results for the sensors based on platinum-functionalized structures. The method presented here, which includes the fabrication of the whole flexible gas sensing device and the integration of functional nanostructures without the use of transfer methods, provides a simpler, faster and inexpensive method for the fabrication of highly functional flexible microsystems for gas sensing.

Insight to physiology and pathology of zinc(II) ions and their actions in breast and prostate carcinoma.

Zinc(II) ions contribute to a number of biological processes e.g. DNA synthesis, gene expression, enzymatic catalysis, neurotransmission, and apoptosis. Zinc(II) dysregulation, deficiency and over-supply are connected with various diseases, particularly cancer. 98 % of human body zinc(II) is localized in the intracellular compartment, where zinc(II) is bound with low affinity to metallothionein (MT). Zinc transporters ZIP and ZnT maintain transmembrane transport from/to cells or organelles. Imbalance of their regulation is described in cancers, particularly prostate (down-regulated zinc transporters ZIP1, 2, 3 and ZnT-2) and breast, notably its high-risk variant (up-regulated ZIP6, 7, 10). As a result, intracellular and even blood plasma zinc(II) levels are altered. MT protects cells against oxidative stress, because it cooperates with reduced glutathione (GSH). Recent studies indicate elevated serum level of MT in a number of malignancies, among others in breast, and prostate. MT together with zinc(II) affect apoptosis and proliferation, thus together with its antioxidative effects it may affect cancer. To date, only little is known about the influence of zinc(II) and MT on cancer, while these compounds may play an important role in pathogenesis. This review concludes current data regarding the impact of zinc(II) on the pathogenesis of breast and prostate cancers with potential outlines of new, targeted therapy and prevention. Moreover, blood plasma zinc(II) and MT levels and dietary zinc(II) intake are discussed in relation to breast and prostate cancer risk.