The ROS-generating photosensitizer-free NaYF4:Yb,Tm@SiO2upconverting nanoparticles for photodynamic therapy application.

In this work we adapt rare-earth-ion-doped NaYF4nanoparticles coated with a silicon oxide shell (NaYF4:20%Yb,0.2%Tm@SiO2) for biological and medical applications (for example, imaging of cancer cells and therapy at the nano level). The wide upconversion emission range under 980 nm excitation allows one to use the nanoparticles for cancer cell (4T1) photodynamic therapy (PDT) without a photosensitizer. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated by Tm/Yb ion upconversion emission (blue and UV light). Thein vitroPDT was tested on 4T1 cells incubated with NaYF4:20%Yb,0.2%Tm@SiO2nanoparticles and irradiated with NIR light. After 24 h, cell viability decreased to below 10%, demonstrating very good treatment efficiency. High modification susceptibility of the SiO2shell allows for attachment of biological molecules (specific antibodies). In this work we attached the anti-human IgG antibody to silane-PEG-NHS-modified NaYF4:20%Yb,0.2%Tm@SiO2nanoparticles and a specifically marked membrane model by bio-conjugation. Thus, it was possible to perform a selective search (a high-quality optical method with a very low-level organic background) and eventually damage the targeted cancer cells. The study focuses on therapeutic properties of NaYF4:20%Yb,0.2%Tm@SiO2nanoparticles and demonstrates, upon biological functionalization, their potential for targeted therapy.

Distance Dependence of Single-Molecule Energy Transfer to Graphene Measured with DNA Origami Nanopositioners.

Despite the thorough investigation of graphene since 2004, altering its surface chemistry and reproducible functionalization remain challenging. This hinders fabrication of more complex hybrid materials with controlled architectures, and as a consequence the development of sensitive and reliable sensors and biological assays. In this contribution, we introduce DNA origami structures as nanopositioners for placing single dye molecules at controlled distances from graphene. The measurements of fluorescence intensity and lifetime of single emitters carried out for distances ranging from 3 to 58 nm confirmed the d-4 dependence of the excitation energy transfer to graphene. Moreover, we determined the characteristic distance for 50% efficiency of the energy transfer from single dyes to graphene to be 17.7 nm. Using pyrene molecules as a glue to immobilize DNA origami nanostructures of various shape on graphene opens new possibilities to develop graphene-based biophysics and biosensing.

Mammalian cell defence mechanisms against the cytotoxicity of NaYF4:(Er,Yb,Gd) nanoparticles.

Water-soluble upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-coated NaYF4:Er3+,Yb3+,Gd3+, with various concentrations of Gd3+ ions and relatively high upconversion efficiencies, were synthesized. The internalization and cytotoxicity of the thus obtained UCNPs were evaluated in three cell lines (HeLa, HEK293 and astrocytes). No cytotoxicity was observed even at concentrations of UCNPs up to 50 µg ml-1. The fate of the UCNPs within the cells was studied by examining their upconversion emission spectra with confocal microscopy and confirming these observations with transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the cellular uptake of the UCNPs occurred primarily by clathrin-mediated endocytosis, whereas they were secreted from the cells via lysosomal exocytosis. The results of this study, focused on the mechanisms of the cellular uptake, localization and secretion of UCNPs, demonstrate, for the first time, the co-localization of UCNPs within discrete cell organelles.

The effectiveness of chemotherapy and electrochemotherapy on ovarian cell lines in vitro.

The presented study aimed to evaluate in vitro the effectiveness of improvement standard chemotherapy with bleomycin by electroporation in two various ovarian cancer cell lines. Two human ovarian cell lines OvBH-1 and SKOV-3 were used. The lines were selected because of their resistance to several therapeutic methods. As anticancer drug we use range of concentrations of bleomycin. In EP and ECT experiments different voltage values: from 0 to 1200 V/cm, 8 pulses with duration of 100µs and intervals between pulses 1s long were used. The cells viability after applied treatments was evaluated by MTT assay. The expression of heat shock proteins - HSP27 was examined by immunocytochemical ABC method.The cytotoxicity with different concentrations of bleomycin alone was not significantly decrease in both cell lines. It confirms resistance of these cells to conventional chemotherapy. The highest decrease of cell proliferation was observed after EP with bleomycin after 48h of incubation for 1000 V/cm. The intensity of expression of small heat shock proteins HSP27 slightly increased after ECT in both treated cell lines, in particular in OvBH-1. The presented study indicated that application of electroporation may effectively enhance chemotherapy with bleomycin, particularly in the case of treating ovarian cancer resistant to standard therapy.

Alkali metal salts of rutin - Synthesis, spectroscopic (FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV-VIS), antioxidant and antimicrobial studies.

In this work several metal salts of rutin with lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium were synthesized. Their molecular structures were discussed on the basis of spectroscopic (FT-IR, FT-Raman, UV-VIS) studies. Optimized geometrical structure of rutin was calculated by B3LYP/6-311++G(∗∗) method and sodium salt of rutin were calculated by B3LYP/LanL2DZ method. Metal chelation change the biological properties of ligand therefore the antioxidant (FRAP and DPPH) and antimicrobial activities (toward Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) of alkali metal salts were evaluated and compared with the biological properties of rutin.

Novel ZnO/MgO/Fe2O3 composite optomagnetic nanoparticles.

A facile sol-gel synthesis of novel ZnO/MgO/Fe2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) is reported and their performance is compared to that of ZnO/MgO. Powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns reveal the crystal structure of the prepared samples. The average particle size of the sample was found to be 4.8 nm. The optical properties were determined by UV-vis absorption and fluorescence measurements. The NPs are stable in biologically relevant solutions (phosphate buffered saline (PBS), 20 mM, pH = 7.0) contrary to ZnO/MgO NPs which degrade in the presence of inorganic phosphate. Superparamagnetic properties were determined with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). Biocompatible and stable in PBS ZnO/MgO/Fe2O3 core/shell composite nanocrystals show luminescent and magnetic properties confined to a single NP at room temperature (19-24 ° C), which may render the material to be potentially useful for biomedical applications.

Cellular stress induced by photodynamic reaction with CoTPPS and MnTMPyPCl5 in combination with electroporation in human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (LoVo and LoVoDX).

Two porphyrins, CoTPPS and MnTMPyPCl5, were tested for their photodynamic activity and potential novel use in a therapy of human cancers. We investigated an effect of photodynamic reaction (PDR), electroporation (EP) and their combination (electro-photodynamic reaction [EP-PDR]) on human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines (LoVo and resistant to doxorubicin LoVoDX), human breast adenocarcinoma (wild type MCF-7/WT and resistant to doxorubicin MCF-7/DOX), and human melanoma (Me45). The efficiency of macromolecules transport was examined with cytofluorymetry by assessing the degree of propidium iodide (PI) penetration. Additionally, cellular ultrastructure after EP was evaluated. We determined cyto- and photo-cytotoxic effect on the cells viability (MTT assay) after standard PDR and PDR combined with EP. Intracellular distribution and mitochondrial colocalization of both porphyrins was also performed. The experiments proved that both complexes exhibit desirable photodynamic properties on LoVo LoVoDX cells, and EP effectively supports photodynamic method in this type of cancer. The application of EP provided shorter time of incubation (only 10 min) and enhanced effect of applied therapy. The porphyrins did not affect the MCF-7 and Me45 cell lines.

Effect of naltrexone administration on short-term memory in chronically ethanol-treated outbred rats.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of naltrexone treatment for 21 consecutive days on short-term memory in ethanol-preferring and non-preferring outbred rats. METHODS: Ethanol preferring, non-preferring and control Wistar rats were treated with naltrexone [0.1 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.)] for 21 consecutive days. Short-term memory was assessed by using an olfactory social recognition test. RESULTS: A single administration of naltrexone (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) to non-ethanol-treated animals facilitated social memory, whereas the drug did not affect short-term memory in either group of chronically ethanol-treated rats. Multiple naltrexone treatment also lowered alcohol intake in ethanol-preferring rats. CONCLUSION: Naltrexone-ethanol interaction does not seem to produce any negative effect on the short-term memory in outbred rats.

[Primary lung hemangiopericytoma--a rare neoplasm with a long course of recurrence over many years]. / Pierwotny hemangiopericytoma pluca--rzadki nowotwór o nawracajacym, wieloletnim przebiegu.

Hemangiopericytoma (HPC) is a rare neoplasm arising from pericytes that occur mostly around smaller vessels. Up to now only about 100 cases have been reported to arise primarily in the lung. The behavior of pulmonary hemangiopericytomas is difficult to predict and all tumors should be considered potentially malignant, even though the criteria for malignancy are not well developed. The diagnosis of HPC is known to confound even experienced pathologist. Pericytes lack readily identifiable morphologic features, therefore hemangiopericytomas are often confused with other soft tissue tumors that may have hemangiopericytoma--like pattern. We report a rare case of primary HPC of the lung with an asymptomatic, long course of the disease. The diagnosis of hamartoma was established after the first operation. Subsequently, seven years later, a chest radiograph revealed new lesions. Histological examination, including immunohistochemistry lead to the final diagnosis of hemangiopericytoma. The small number of cases of primary pulmonary hemangiopericytoma makes it difficult to define the correct histopathological diagnosis especially without modern methods.

[The reactivity of the arterial vessels of the ovary]. / Reaktivnost' arterial'nykh sosudov iaichnika.

The responsiveness of the ovarian vascular muscle to administration of adrenaline, noradrenaline, serotonin, acetylcholine, histamine, angiotensin II and prostaglandin F2 alpha was studied in isolated ovarian artery rings of women, cow and rabbit. The data obtained show that the ovarian artery responsiveness differs in various species and that the responsiveness of the ovarian vascular muscle depends on the functional state of the ovary.