Specific nanomarkers fluorescence: in vitro analysis for EGFR overexpressed cells in triple-negative breast cancer and malignant glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR receptor) is encoded by the EGFR gene. EGFR receptor signaling pathways are activated by EGF protein, regulating cell actions. Overexpression of EGFR receptor may be linked to malignancies with a poor prognosis. As a result, EGFR receptor is being studied for a variety of tumor diagnostics, spurring the development of innovative approaches to increase quality and efficiency. Nanomaterials can recognize cancer cells by specifically targeting of molecular pathways, underscoring the importance of nanomedicine. In this study, we synthesized EGFR-specific nanomarkers by functionalizing EGF protein and Chlorin e6 in gold nanoparticles. These nanoparticles use active targeting to deliver EGF protein to EGFR receptor, and Chlorin e6 serves as a fluorescent marker molecule METHODS: Nanomarkers were examined in vitro in MDA-MB-468 and M059J cell lines. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to examine the distribution, uptake, internalization, and fluorescence intensity of nanomarkers in vitro RESULTS: The results show that both lines examined accumulate nanomarkers. However, MDA-MB-468 had the highest intensity due to its EGFR receptor overexpression properties CONCLUSION: The findings point to ideal properties for detecting EGFR receptor overexpressed cells.

Gold-Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Functionalized to EGF and Ce6 Complexes for Breast Cancer Diagnoses and Therapy.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have some limitations in the physiological environment, however, a modification on their surface, such as a core-shell structure with gold (SPIONs@Au), can enhance their applicability. In this study, SPIONs were synthesized by the chemical coprecipitation method, stabilized by sodium citrate, and followed by the gold-coating process. SPIONs@Au were functionalized with EGF-α-lipoic acid and chlorin e6 (Ce6)-cysteamine complexes, composing a Theranostic Nanoprobe (TP). The outcomes showed that the SPIONs@Au had changed in color to red and had an absorption band centered at 530 nm. The coating was verified in the TEM micrographs in bright and dark fields by EDS mapping, which indicated the presence of Au and Fe. The Ce6-cysteamine complex had a resonant band at 670 nm that enabled the diagnosis of biological samples using fluorescence analysis. In the measure of TNBC cell uptake, the maximum value of TP fluorescence intensity was obtained within 4 h of internalization. At 2 h, the incorporation of the TP in the cytoplasm as well as in the nuclei was observed, suggesting that it could be employed as a diagnostic marker. The PTT results showed significant percentages of apoptosis in the TNBC cell line, which confirms the efficacy of the TP.

Pharyngeal airway space cephalometric evaluation in transverse maxillary deficient patients after SARME

Aim: To evaluate prospectively the upper airway of 16 patients submitted to surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion. Methods: Volumetric tomography acquisitions were done preoperatively (T1) and after six months postoperatively (T2), the slices were obtained from the hard palate to the third cervical vertebra (C3), the images were imported and reconstructed in the Dolphin software for 2D definition of the upper airway. A cephalometric radiograph was generated by the software, the cephalometric points were traced at T1 and T2 for all patients in a dark environment always by the same operator and the Arnett-Gunson FAB Surgery analysis was applied. Results: A statistically significant reduction in area (p=0.03) at the level of the nasopharynx was observed, while at the oropharynx and hypopharynx it showed no statistical difference between T1 and T2. Conclusions: The area in the nasopharynx level presented a statistically significant decrease, however, despite the area decrease at this point, the patients seem to do better, and thus, this area decrease may not be clinically significant.