Bionanocomposites with Enhanced Physical Properties from Curli Amyloid Assemblies and Cellulose Nanofibrils.

Proteinaceous amyloid fibrils are one of the stiffest biopolymers due to their extensive cross-ß-sheet quaternary structure, whereas cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) exhibit interesting properties associated with their nanoscale size, morphology, large surface area, and biodegradability. Herein, CNFs were supplemented with amyloid fibrils assembled from the Curli-specific gene A (CsgA) protein, the main component of bacterial biofilms. The resulting composites showed superior mechanical properties, up to a 7-fold increase compared to unmodified CNF films. Wettability and thermogravimetric analyses demonstrated high surface hydrophobicity and robust thermal tolerance. Bulk spectroscopic characterization of CNF-CsgA films revealed key insights into the molecular organization within the bionanocomposites. Atomic force microscopy and photoinduced force microscopy revealed the high-resolution location of curli assemblies into the CNF films. This novel sustainable and cost-effective CNF-based bionanocomposites supplemented with intertwined bacterial amyloid fibrils opens novel directions for environmentally friendly applications demanding high mechanical, water-repelling properties, and thermal resistance.

Oxidation of Mesalamine under Phenoloxidase- or Peroxidase-like Enzyme Catalysis.

Mesalamine, also called 5-ASA (5-aminosalicylic acid), is a largely used anti-inflammatory agent and is a main choice to treat Ulcerative Colitis. This report is aimed to investigate enzymatic processes involved in the oxidation of mesalamine to better understand some of its side-effects. Oxidation with oxygen (catalyzed by ceruloplasmin) or with hydrogen peroxide (catalyzed by peroxidase or hemoglobin) showed that these oxidases, despite their different mechanisms of oxidation, could recognize mesalamine as a substrate and trigger its oxidation to a corresponding quinone-imine. These enzymes were chosen because they may recognize hydroquinone (a p-diphenol) as substrate and oxidize it to p-benzoquinone and that mesalamine, as a p-aminophenol, presents some similarities with hydroquinone. The UV-Vis kinetics, FTIR and 1H NMR supported the hypothesis of oxidizing mesalamine. Furthermore, mass spectrometry suggested the quinone-imine as reaction product. Without enzymes, the oxidation process was very slow (days and weeks), but it was markedly accelerated with the oxidases, particularly with peroxidase. Cyclic voltammetry supported the hypothesis of the oxidative process and allowed a ranking of susceptibility to oxidizing mesalamine in comparison with other oxidizable drug molecules with related structures. The susceptibility to oxidation was higher for mesalamine, in comparison with Tylenol (acetaminophen) and with aspirin (salicylic acid).

New Insights into the Diels-Alder Reaction of Graphene Oxide.

Graphene oxide is regarded as a major precursor for graphene-based materials. The development of graphene oxide based derivatives with new functionalities requires a thorough understanding of its chemical reactivity, especially for canonical synthetic methods such as the Diels-Alder cycloaddition. The Diels-Alder reaction has been successfully extended with graphene oxide as a source of diene by using maleic anhydride as a dienophile, thereby outlining the presence of the cis diene present in the graphene oxide framework. This reaction provides fundamental information for understanding the exact structure and chemical nature of graphene oxide. On the basis of high-resolution (13) C-SS NMR spectra, we show evidence for the formation of new sp(3) carbon centers covalently bonded to graphene oxide following hydrolysis of the reaction product. DFT calculations are also used to show that the presence of a cis dihydroxyl and C vacancy on the surface of graphene oxide are promoting the reaction with significant negative reaction enthalpies.

Au nanoparticle decorated graphene nanosheets for electrochemical immunosensing of p53 antibodies for cancer prognosis.

The accurate quantification of the level of p53 antibodies in serum is crucial for cancer prognosis. We report a novel and sensitive label-free immunosensor based on gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) self-assembled onto electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) for the detection of p53 antibodies. An electrografted p-aminophenol organic layer was used to immobilize graphene oxide (GO) onto the surface of screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCE). The Au NP/ERGO hybrid interface provides a large surface area for the effective immobilization of p53 antigens, as well as it ascertains the bioactivity and stability of immobilized p53 antigens. Scanning electron microscope, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies were used to monitor the sensor fabrication and cyclic voltammetry was used to quantify the extent of Au NPs' surface coverage by p53 antigens. Square wave voltammetry (SWV) of a [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) couple was employed to investigate the immunosensor fabrication and to monitor the binding events between p53 antigens and p53 antibodies. Under optimized experimental conditions, the biosensor displayed good sensitivity and specificity. The p53 antibodies were detected in a concentration as low as 0.088 pg mL(-1) with a linear range from 0.1 pg mL(-1) to 10 ng mL(-1). The high sensitivity of the immunosensor may derive from the high loading of p53 antibodies on Au NPs which increases the number of binding events.

Space-charge limited transport in large-area monolayer hexagonal boron nitride.

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is a wide-gap material that has attracted significant attention as an ideal dielectric substrate for 2D crystal heterostructures. We report here the first observation of in-plane charge transport in large-area monolayer hBN, grown by chemical vapor deposition. The quadratic scaling of current with voltage at high bias corresponds to a space-charge limited conduction mechanism, with a room-temperature mobility reaching up to 0.01 cm(2)/(V s) at electric fields up to 100 kV/cm in the absence of dielectric breakdown. The observation of in-plane charge transport highlights the semiconducting nature of monolayer hBN, and identifies hBN as a wide-gap 2D crystal capable of supporting charge transport at high field. Future exploration of charge transport in hBN is motivated by the fundamental study of UV optoelectronics and the massive Dirac fermion spectrum of hBN.

Aptamer-based label-free impedimetric biosensor for detection of progesterone.

Rising progesterone (P4) levels in humans due to its overconsumption through hormonal therapy, food products, or drinking water can lead to many negative health effects. Thus, the simple and accurate assessment of P4 in both environmental and clinical samples is highly important to protect public health. In this work, we present the selection, identification, and characterization of ssDNA aptamers with high binding affinity to P4. The aptamers were selected in vitro from a single-stranded DNA library of 1.8 × 10(15) oligonucleotides showing dissociation constants (KD) in the low nanomolar range. The dissociation constant of the best aptamer, designated as P4G13, was estimated to be 17 nM by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as well as fluorometric assay. Moreover, the aptamer P4G13 did not show cross-reactivity to analogues similar to progesterone such as 17ß-estradiol (E2) and norethisterone (NET). An impedimetric aptasensor for progesterone was then fabricated based on the conformational change of P4G13 aptamer, immobilized on the gold electrode by self-assembly, upon binding to P4, which results in an increase in electron transfer resistance. Aptamer-complementary DNA (cDNA) oligonucleotides were tested to maximize the signal gain of the aptasensor after binding with progesterone. Significant signal enhancement was observed when the aptamer hybridized with a short complementary sequence at specific site was used instead of pure aptamer. This signal gain is likely due to the more significant conformational change of the aptamer-cDNA than the pure aptamer upon binding with P4, as confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The developed aptasensor exhibited a linear range for concentrations of P4 from 10 to 60 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.90 ng/mL. Moreover, the aptasensor was applied in spiked tap water samples and showed good recovery percentages. The new selected progesterone aptamers can be exploited in further biosensing applications for environmental, clinical, and medical diagnostic purposes.

In vitro selection, characterization, and biosensing application of high-affinity cylindrospermopsin-targeting aptamers.

Contamination of freshwater with cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN) represents a significant global concern for public health. The sensitive detection of CYN is necessary to effectively manage and control the treatment of water resources. Here we report a novel, highly sensitive label-free aptasensor for CYN analysis, using aptamers as specific receptors. We have selected the DNA aptamers from a diverse random library using the in vitro screening SELEX approach. The aptamers exhibited high affinity for CYN with Kd of nanomolar range. One aptamer exhibited conformational change upon CYN recognition (CD analysis) and was used to fabricate the label-free impedimetric aptasensor for CYN. A self-assembled monolayer from a disulfide-derivatized aptamer was formed on a gold electrode to fabricate the aptasensor. Upon CYN capturing to the aptasensor surface, a marked drop in the electron transfer resistance was obtained, which was used as the principle of detection of CYN. This resulted from the aptamer's conformational change induced by CYN recognition. The present aptasensor could detect CYN with the limit of detection as low as 100 pM and a wide linear range of 0.1 to 80 nM. When mounted on the gold surface, the aptamer exhibited a lower dissociation constant for CYN than that observed in the fluorescence assay, implying that the anchoring of the aptamer on the Au surface improved its affinity to CYN. Moreover, the aptasensor showed high specificity toward other coexistent cyanobacterial toxins of microcystin-LR and Anatoxin-a. Further biosensor designs will be generated using those aptamers for simple and sensitive CYN monitoring.

Label-free voltammetric aptasensor for the sensitive detection of microcystin-LR using graphene-modified electrodes.

The development of successful biosensing platforms is highly dependent upon the biorecognition properties of the recognition receptor and the sensitivity of the transducer of the binding signal. The integration of the high affinity and specificity of DNA aptamers with the unique properties of the carbon nanomaterial graphene offers an excellent avenue for sensitive and selective biosensing architectures. In this work, a highly sensitive and selective aptasensor which utilizes an unlabeled DNA aptamer assembled on a graphene electrode for microcystin-LR detection was developed. A facile strategy was used for the aptasensor fabrication on the basis of the noncovalent assembly of DNA aptamer on graphene-modified screen printed carbon electrodes. Assembly of the DNA aptamer on the graphene-modified electrodes caused a marked drop in the square wave voltammetric reduction signal of the [Fe(CN)6](4-/3-) redox couple. The presence of microcystin-LR, on the other hand, caused a dose-responsive increase in peak current, allowing the quantification of microcystin-LR through the measurement of peak current change. Under optimal conditions, the detection limit of the developed aptasensor was 1.9 pM in buffer, a concentration much lower than those offered by previously reported biosensors for microcystin-LR. The developed aptasensor also exhibited excellent selectivity for microcystin-LR with no detectable cross-reactivity to okadaic acid, microcystin-LA, and microcystin-YR. Moreover, the proposed aptasensor has been applied for the analysis of spiked tap water and fish samples showing good recovery percentages. This novel, simple, high-performance, and low-cost detection platform would facilitate the routine monitoring of microcystin-LR in real samples.

Iron-based metal-organic framework/graphene oxide composite electrodes for efficient flow-injection amperometric detection of dexamethasone.

A highly stable flow-injection amperometric sensor for dexamethasone (DEX) was developed using a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) modified with Fe-based metal organic frameworks, MIL-100(Fe) and graphene oxide composite materials (MIL-100(Fe)/GO). Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the MIL-100(Fe) composites. The MIL-100(Fe)/GO-modified PGE (denoted MIL-100(Fe)/GO/PGE) was further electrochemically characterized using cyclic voltammetry. As an electrode material, MIL-100(Fe) is a sensing element that undergoes oxidation from Fe(ii)-MOF to Fe(iii)-MOF, and GO possesses high conductivity and a large surface area, which exhibits high absorbability. In the presence of DEX, Fe(iii) is reduced, which accelerates electron transfer at the electrode interface. Therefore, DEX can be quantitatively detected by analyzing the anodic current of MIL-100(Fe). When coupled with amperometric flow injection analysis, excellent performance can be obtained even when a low detection potential is applied (+0.10 V vs. Ag/AgCl). The concentration was linear in the range 0.10-5.0 µM and 0.010-5.0 mM with LOD of 0.030 µM based on 3(sd/slope). The modified electrode also exhibited a remarkably stable response under optimized conditions, and up to 55 injections can be used per electrode. The sensor exhibits high repeatability, reproducibility, and anti-interference properties when used for DEX detection. The effective determination of dexamethasone in real pharmaceutical and cosmetic samples demonstrated the feasibility of the electrochemical sensor, and the results were in good agreement with those obtained from the HPLC-DAD analysis. Acceptable percentage recoveries from the spiked pharmaceutical and cosmetic samples were obtained, ranging from 93-111% for this new method compared with 84-107% for the HPLC-DAD standard method.

Construction of an electrochemical pH sensor using one-pot synthesis of a molybdenum diselenide/nitrogen doped graphene oxide screen-printed electrode.

In this study, a one-pot synthesis of a molybdenum diselenide/nitrogen-doped graphene oxide (MoSe2/NGO) composite was demonstrated and used for the fabrication of an electrochemical pH sensor. The MoSe2/NGO composite was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis. The electrochemical behavior at different pH values was determined by recording the open-circuit potential. When applied for pH detection, the MoSe2/NGO modified screen-printed electrode (SPE) showed good linearity with a sensitivity of 61.3 mV pH-1 over a wide pH range of 2-14. In addition, the pH sensor exhibited a remarkably stable response, high reproducibility, and selectivity. The sensor was used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of real food and beverage samples. The results for these samples showed a relative error of less than 10% compared with the results obtained with the commercial pH meter. The portable sensor produced by screen printing electrodes paves the way for the development of simple, cost-effective, real-time, and robust pH sensors for the pH analysis of various sample matrices for clinical diagnostics, biosensing, and cost-effective applications.

Co-stimulatory pathway competitive assay development using Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

T-cells play a significant role in the development of autoimmune diseases. The CD28-B7 costimulatory pathway is crucial for activating T-cells, and blocking this pathway is essential for treating autoimmune diseases. Therapeutic antibodies and fusion proteins that target costimulatory molecules like CD80, CD86, CTLA-4, and CD28 have been developed to explore the costimulation process and as targeted treatments. To advance our understanding of costimulation in autoimmunity and the inhibition of the costimulatory pathway, it is crucial to have an accurate, precise, and direct method for detecting and quantifying the soluble form of these molecules in body fluids and various biological systems. Herein, we developed a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for quantifying the four costimulatory proteins depending on the signature peptides derived from the soluble isoform of these proteins in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method was validated using the US FDA guidelines. The LOQ was determined as ∼0.5 nM for the four analytes, with quantification extended to 20 nM with a correlation coefficient of R2>0.998. The developed MRM method was used to analyze on-bead digested protein mixtures to establish a competitive assay for the CD28-B7 costimulatory pathway using CTLA4-Ig (Abatacept ™) as an FDA-approved drug for rheumatoid arthritis. The IC50 was determined to be 2.99 and 159.8 nM for sCD80 and sCD86, respectively. A straightforward MRM-based competitive assay will advance the knowledge about the costimulatory role in autoimmunity and the autoimmune therapeutic drug discovery, with the need for broad application on different in vitro and in vivo models to discover new targeted inhibitors.

Synthesis and theoretical study of a mixed-ligand indium(III) complex for fabrication of ß-In2S3 thin films via chemical vapor deposition.

Two new heteroleptic indium aminothiolate compounds [InClSC2H4N(Me)SC2H4]3[1] and [InSC2H4N(Me)SC2H4(C8H5F3NO)] [2] were synthesized by in situ salt metathesis reaction involving indium trichloride, aminothiol, and N,O-ß-heteroarylalkenol ligands. The complexes were subsequently purified and thoroughly characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis, elemental studies, mass spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction single crystal analysis that showed a trigonal bipyramidal coordination of In(III) in both complexes. Thermogravimetric analysis of [1] revealed a multistep decomposition pathway and the formation of In2S3 at 350 °C, which differed from the pattern of [2] due to the lower thermal stability of [1]. Compound [2] exhibited a three-step decomposition process, resulting in the formation of In2S3 at 300 °C. The Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) experiment involving compound [2] was conducted on the FTO substrate, resulting in the production of singular-phase In2S3 deposits. A comprehensive characterization of these deposits, including crystal structure analysis via X-ray diffraction (XRD), and surface topography examination through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been completed. The presence of In-S units was also supported by the Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) of the as-deposited films. Moreover, the electronic structure and thermal properties of compound [2] were investigated through DFT calculations. Electron density localization analysis revealed that the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) exhibited dense concentration at the aminothiolate moiety of the complex, while the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) predominantly resided at the N,O-ß-heteroarylalkenolate ligand. Furthermore, our computational investigation has validated the formation of indium sulfide by elucidating an intermediate state, effectively identified through EI-MS analysis, as one of the plausible pathways for obtaining In2S3. This intermediate state comprises the aminothiolate ligand (LNS) coordinated with indium metal.

Study of Cellulose Dissolution in ZnO/NaOH/Water Solvent Solution and Its Temperature-Dependent Effect Using Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

Cellulose is a biopolymer with numerous advantages that make it an ecological, economical, and high-performing choice for various applications. To fully exploit the potential of cellulose, it is often necessary to dissolve it, which poses a current challenge. The aqueous zinc oxide/sodium hydroxide (ZnO/NaOH/Water) system is a preferred solvent for its rapid dissolution, non-toxicity, low cost, and environmentally friendly nature. In this context, the behavior of cellulose chains in the aqueous solution of ZnO/NaOH and the impact of temperature on the solubility of this polymer were examined through a molecular dynamics simulation. The analysis of the root means square deviation (RMSD), interaction energy, hydrogen bond curves, and radial distribution function revealed that cellulose is insoluble in the ZnO/NaOH solvent at room temperature (T = 298 K). Decreasing the temperature in the range of 273 K to 268 K led to a geometric deformation of cellulose chains, accompanied by a decrease in the number of interchain hydrogen bonds over the simulation time, thus confirming the solubility of cellulose in this system between T = 273 K and T = 268 K.

Selection and identification of DNA aptamers against okadaic acid for biosensing application.

This work describes the selection and identification of DNA aptamers that bind with high affinity and specificity to okadaic acid (OA), a lipophilic marine biotoxin that accumulates in shellfish. The aptamers selected using systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) exhibited dissociation constants in the nanomolar range. The aptamer with the highest affinity was then used for the fabrication of a label-free electrochemical biosensor for okadaic acid detection. The aptamer was first immobilized on the gold electrode by a self-assembly approach through Au-S interaction. The binding of okadaic acid to the aptamer immobilized on the electrode surface induces an alteration of the aptamer conformation causing a significant decrease in the electron-transfer resistance monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The aptasensor showed a linear range for the concentrations of OA between 100 pg/mL and 60 ng/mL with a detection limit of 70 pg/mL. The dissociation constant of okadaic acid with the aptamer immobilized on the electrode surface showed good agreement with that determined using fluorescence assay in solution. Moreover, the aptasensor did not show cross-reactivity toward toxins with structures similar to okadaic acid such as dinophysis toxin-1 and 2 (DTX-1, DTX-2). Further biosensing applications of the selected aptamers are expected to offer promising alternatives to the traditional analytical and immunological methods for OA detection.

A graphene-based label-free voltammetric immunosensor for sensitive detection of the egg allergen ovalbumin.

A graphene-based label-free voltammetric immunosensor for the sensitive detection of the egg white allergen ovalbumin has been developed. Graphene-modified screen printed carbon electrodes have been covalently functionalized using electrochemical reduction of in situ generated aryl diazonium salt forming a carboxyphenyl film on the graphene surface. The blocking property of the carboxyphenyl film grafted on to the graphene electrodes using different cyclic voltammetry cycles has been characterized using differential pulse voltammetry in [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) solution. Then, the terminal carboxylic groups on the graphene surface were activated using EDC/NHS and used to immobilize the ovalbumin antibody and construct the immunosensor. The fabrication steps of the immunosensor have also been characterized using differential pulse voltammetry. The decrease in the [Fe(CN)6](3-/4-) reduction peak current after the immunochemical reaction with ovalbumin has been used for the ovalbumin detection. The developed immunosensor has been used for ovalbumin detection in the concentration range of 1 pg mL(-1) to 0.5 µg mL(-1) with a detection limit of 0.83 pg mL(-1) in PBS buffer. The food matrix effect studied with ovalbumin spiked cake extract showed a good percentage of recovery, indicating the possible applicability of the developed immunosensor in real food samples.

One-Pot Synthesis of Cyclomatrix-Type Polyphosphazene Microspheres and Their High Thermal Stability.

Highly cross-linked inorganic and organic hybrid cyclomatrix-polyphosphazenes microspheres (C-PPZs) have been successfully synthesized by a one-pot polymerization technique between hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene and p-phenylenediamine in the presence of triethylamine (TEA), and they were used for enhancing the flame retardancy of epoxy resins (EPs). A thermoset EP was prepared by incorporating different percentages (2, 5, and 10%) of C-PPZs into diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA). The results reveal that the size and morphology of the microspheres can be tuned by varying the synthesis temperature. The average size of C-CPPZs gradually increased from 3.1, 4.9, to 7.8 µm as the temperature was increased from 100, 120, to 200 °C, respectively. The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the C-CPPZ microspheres have good thermal stability up to 900 °C with about ∼10 wt % mass loss for C-CPPZs formed at 200 °C compared to ∼30 wt % mass loss for those obtained at 100 and 120 °C. The 10% loss at 900 °C is much lower than the previous research concerning the thermal stability of cyclophosphazene, in which more weight losses were observed at lower temperatures. The resulting C-CPPZ microspheres were characterized by spectroscopic and imaging techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, elemental mapping, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

A diagnostic electrochemical aptasensor development for sCD80 protein detection in human serum.

Elevating soluble CD80 (sCD80) in human serum is a natural response to autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The level of sCD80 is associated with RA development and prognosis; therefore, it is potentially used as a biomarker. sCD80 is commonly measured in human serum using immunoassays (e.g., ELISA) with multiple drawbacks, mainly cross-reactivity. Aptamer-based biosensors (aptasensors) development for quantifying and detecting different biological molecules demonstrates applicability in next-generation medicine and biomarker detection. Herein, we selected a specific aptamer for sCD80 by conventional in-vitro selection process (SELEX) with the high-affinity aptamer (Kd = 47.69 nM). A sensitive aptasensor, for the first time, was developed on a screen-printed gold electrode (AuSPE) platform compatible with easy-to-use label-free electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The immobilization of the aptamer on the gold surface and the presence of sCD80 in a complex with the aptamer were characterized by photo-induced force microscopy, which revealed the uniform assembly of the aptamer monolayer and the distribution of sCD80 on the electrode surface. The developed aptasensor showed a linear performance (0.025-10.0 nM of protein) with a detection limit of 8.0 pM. Furthermore, the aptasensor was tested in a biological matrix, where a linear signal was observed for the increased amount of spiked sCD80 (R2 = 0.9887). The recovery of the spiked amounts ranged from 105 to 125% with coefficient of variation (CV%) <7%, which supported the applicability of this sensor in detecting sCD80 for diagnosis.

Quantitative analysis of soluble costimulatory molecules as potential diagnostic biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis using LC-MS/MS in MRM mode.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease. RA-induced immunological responses are coordinated by T-cell stimulation. The costimulatory signal CD28-B7 is essential for T-cell activation by interacting CD28 with CD80 and CD86 costimulatory proteins. CTLA4 is another costimulatory protein that binds to CD80 and CD86 to inhibit T-cell activity. The soluble costimulatory proteins: sCD80, sCD86, sCD28, and sCTLA-4 were detected and quantified in human plasma and correlated with RA development. As potential diagnostic biomarkers for RA, developing a sensitive, specific, and reproducible method for quantifying these costimulatory molecules in human plasma and establishing quantitative ranges for each protein in healthy and RA patients' plasma is essential for advancing the clinical diagnostic and health outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A novel quantitative liquid chromatography-tandem spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) modes was developed and validated to measure soluble costimulatory molecules sCTLA4, sCD28, sCD80, and sCD86 in human plasma samples. Furthermore, the method was applied to determine sCTLA4, sCD28, sCD80, and sCD86 levels in plasma samples from RA patients (n = 23) and healthy controls (n = 21). RESULTS: The method was successfully developed and validated according to international inter- and intra-assay precision and accuracy guidelines. The linearity of the method was achieved between 0.5 nM and 100 nM for each protein with a correlation coefficient of > 0.998. The plasma level of sCTLA4, sCD80, and sCD86 in RA patients was significantly elevated compared to controls. RA patients had 63.32 ± 17.63 nM sCTLA4 and controls 36.05 ± 18.83 nM; p < 0.0001. The performance of the four proteins was determined using ROC curves, where sCTLA4 showed the highest diagnostic and clinical performance compared to the others. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the first use of LC-MS/MS in MRM mode to accurately quantify soluble costimulatory molecules in plasma samples as potential RA diagnostic biomarkers. Determination of the reference range for each protein with high selectivity and sensitivity increases the potential for utilizing this method as a clinical diagnostic.

Postsynthetic Modification of Core-Shell Magnetic Covalent Organic Frameworks for the Selective Removal of Mercury.

Core-shell magnetic covalent organic framework (COF) materials were prepared, followed by shell material functionalization with different organic ligands, including thiosemicarbazide, through a postsynthetic modification approach. The structures of the prepared samples were characterized with various techniques, including powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), photoinduced force microscopy (PiFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and solid 13C NMR. PXRD and BET studies revealed that the crystalline and porous nature of the functionalized COFs was well maintained after three steps of postsynthetic modification. On the other hand, solid 13C NMR, TGA, and PiFM analyses confirmed the successful functionalization of COF materials with good covalent linkage connectivity. The use of the resulting functionalized magnetic COF for selective and ultrafast adsorption of Hg(II) has been investigated. The observations displayed rapid kinetics with adsorption dynamics conforming to the quasi-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir adsorption model. Furthermore, this prepared crystalline magnetic material demonstrated a high Langmuir Hg(II) uptake capacity, reaching equilibrium in only 5 min. Thermodynamic calculations proved that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous.

Cheminformatics-Based Design and Synthesis of Hydroxyapatite/Collagen Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications.

This paper presents a novel cheminformatics approach for the design and synthesis of hydroxyapatite/collagen nanocomposites, which have potential biomedical applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and orthopedic and dental implants. The nanocomposites are synthesized by the co-precipitation method with different ratios of hydroxyapatite and collagen. Their mechanical, biological, and degradation properties are analyzed using various experimental and computational techniques. Attenuated total reflection-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X-ray diffraction unveil the low crystallinity and nanoscale particle size of hydroxyapatite (22.62 nm) and hydroxyapatite/collagen composites (14.81 nm). These findings are substantiated by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, confirming the Ca/P ratio between 1.65 and 1.53 and attesting to the formation of non-stoichiometric apatites in all samples, further validated by molecular simulation. The antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposites is evaluated in vitro against several bacterial and fungal strains, demonstrating their medical potential. Additionally, in silico analyses are performed to predict the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties and the bioavailability of the collagen samples. This study paves the way for the development of novel biomaterials using chemoinformatics tools and methods, facilitating the optimization of design and synthesis parameters, as well as the prediction of biological outcomes. Future research directions should encompass the investigation of in vivo biocompatibility and bioactivity of the nanocomposites, while exploring further applications and functionalities of these innovative materials.