Evaluation of Salivary Biomarkers and Spirometry for Diagnosing COPD in Non-Smokers and Smokers of Polish Origin.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent respiratory condition with global implications. Accurate and timely diagnosis is critical; however, traditional diagnostic methods (based on spirometry) show limitations, prompting the search for predictive biomarkers and modern diagnostic techniques. This study explored the validation of COPD-related biomarkers (C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, neutrophil elastase, and alpha-1 antitrypsin) in saliva. A diverse cohort, including healthy non-smokers, healthy smokers, and COPD patients of Polish origin, underwent spirometry and marker analysis. The data correlated with clinical factors, revealing noteworthy relations. Firstly, salivary biomarker levels were compared with serum concentrations, demonstrating notable positive or negative correlations, depending on the factor. Further analysis within healthy individuals revealed associations between biomarker levels, spirometry, and clinical characteristics such as age, sex, and BMI. Next, COPD patients exhibited an enhanced concentration of biomarkers compared to healthy groups. Finally, the study introduced a breathing assessment survey, unveiling significant associations between self-perceived breathing and spirometric and tested parameters. Outcomes emphasized the relevance of subjective experiences in COPD research. In conclusion, this research underscored the potential of salivary biomarkers as diagnostic tools for COPD, offering a non-invasive and accessible alternative to traditional methods. The findings paved the way for improved modern diagnostic approaches.

Application of Optical Methods for Determination of Concentration of Doxorubicin in Blood and Plasma.

The aim of presented research is to develop a simple and quick method of spectrophotometric detection for the determination of doxorubicin hydrochloride in blood and plasma. Anthracycline antibiotics are among the most effective antineoplastic agents. However, despite their high efficacy in the treatment of various types of cancer, their administration is limited primarily because they exhibit myocardial toxicity. This may be a limiting factor in the dosage of medications; nevertheless, drugs exhibiting this mechanism of action constitute a very important group of chemotherapeutics. One of the more widely studied antibiotics from the anthracycline group is doxorubicin. It exhibits the highest antineoplastic activity from among a number of derivative compounds. Because of the adverse effects of doxorubicin, especially cardiotoxicity, it is important to maintain control of its concentration in body fluids. The method in the study consists of extraction doxorubicin from the plasma or blood and measurements of the absorbance of light in the visible light range in a DOX solution with respect to a reference sample. The research used blood and plasma samples spiked with doxorubicin to give concentrations in the range of 0.2-10 µg/mL. Obtained LODs were 1.6 µg/mL and 1.2 µg/mL, respectively.

A Mobile Device for Monitoring the Biological Purity of Air and Liquid Samples.

A detector for identifying potential bacterial hazards in the air was designed and created in the Military Institute of Chemistry and Radiometry in the framework of the project FLORABO. The presence of fungi and bacteria in the air can affect the health of people in a given room. The need to control the amount of microorganisms, both in terms of quantity and quality, applies to both hospitals and offices. The device is based on the fluorescence spectroscopy analysis of the sample and then these results were compared to the resulting spectrogram database, which includes the standard curves obtained in the laboratory for selected bacteria. The measurements provide information about the presence, the type, and the approximate concentration of bacteria in the sample. The spectra were collected at different excitation wavelengths, and the waveforms are specific for each of the strains. It also takes under analysis the signal intensities of the different spectra (not only shape a maximum of the peak) so that the concentration of bacteria in the sample being tested can be determined. The device was tested in the laboratory with concentrations ranging from 10 to 108 cells/mL. Additionally, the detector can distinguish between the vegetative forms of spores of the bacteria.

Intravenous and intratumoral injection of Pluronic P94: The effect of administration route on biodistribution and tumor retention.

Pluronics P94 are block-copolymer showing prolonged circulation time and tumor-cell internalization in vitro, suggesting a potential for tumor accumulation and as a drug carrier. Here we report the results of the radiolabeled-P94 unimers (P94-111In-DTPA) on tumor uptake/retention and biodistribution after intravenous and intratumoral injection to tumor-bearing mice. Intravenous administration results in a high radioactive signal in the liver; while in tumor and other healthy tissues only low levels of radioactivity could be measured. In contrast, the intratumoral injection of P94 resulted in elevated levels of radioactivity in the tumor and low levels in other organs, including the liver. Independently from the injection route, the tumor tissue presented long retention of radioactivity. The minimal involvement of off-target tissues of P94, together with the excellent tracer retention over-time in the tumor designates Pluronic P94 copolymer as a highly promising carrier for anti-tumor drugs.

SPECT/CT Imaging of Pluronic Nanocarriers with Varying Poly(ethylene oxide) Block Length and Aggregation State.

Optimal biodistribution and prolonged circulation of nanocarriers improve diagnostic and therapeutic effects of enhanced permeability and retention-based nanomedicines. Despite extensive use of Pluronics in polymer-based pharmaceuticals, the influence of different poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) block length and aggregation state on the biodistribution of the carriers is rather unexplored. In this work, we studied these effects by evaluating the biodistribution of Pluronic unimers and cross-linked micelles with different PEO block size. In vivo biodistribution of (111)In-radiolabeled Pluronic nanocarriers was investigated in healthy mice using single photon emission computed tomography. All carriers show fast uptake in the organs from the reticuloendothelial system followed by a steady elimination through the hepatobiliary tract and renal filtration. The PEO block length affects the initial renal clearance of the compounds and the overall liver uptake. The aggregation state influences the long-term accumulation of the nanocarriers in the liver. We showed that the circulation time and elimination pathways can be tuned by varying the physicochemical properties of Pluronic copolymers. Our results can be beneficial for the design of future Pluronic-based nanomedicines.

Interactions of Pluronic nanocarriers with 2D and 3D cell cultures: Effects of PEO block length and aggregation state.

This work reveals how the physicochemical properties of Pluronic block copolymers influence significantly their interactions with cancer cells, whether in monolayer or spheroid cultures, and how different clinical applications can be foreseen. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models were used to investigate the interactions of Pluronic carriers with different PEO block length and aggregation state (unimers versus cross-linked micelles) in HeLa and U87 cancer cells. Stabilized micelles of Pluronic P94 or F127 were obtained by polymerization of a crosslinking agent in the micelles hydrophobic core. Nanocarriers were functionalized with a fluorescent probe for visualization, and with a chelator for radiolabeling with Indium-111 and gamma-quantification. The 2D cell models revealed that the internalization pathways and ultimate cellular localization of the Pluronic nanocarriers depended largely on both the PEO block size and aggregation state of the copolymers. The smaller P94 unimers with an average radius of 2.1nm and the shortest PEO block mass (1100gmol(-1)) displayed the highest cellular uptake and retention. 3D tumor spheroids were used to assess the penetration capacity and toxicity potential of the nanocarriers. Results showed that cross-linked F127 micelles were more efficiently delivered across the tumor spheroids, and the penetration depth depends mostly on the transcellular transport of the carriers. The Pluronic P94-based carriers with the shortest PEO block length induced spheroid toxicity, which was significantly influenced by the spheroid cellular type.

Vertically π-expanded coumarin--synthesis via the Scholl reaction and photophysical properties.

A short and efficient access to a unique type of π-expanded coumarin is achieved. The strategic placement of naphthalene at the 4-position of coumarin allowed us to fuse these two moieties via aromatic dehydrogenation under Scholl conditions. The intriguing optical properties of this π-expanded coumarin are discussed on the basis of quantum chemical calculations. The fluorescence quantum yield (∼20%) is significantly higher than that obtained for the classical 7-hydroxycoumarin. The ratio of emission versus radiationless deactivation is governed by the following factors: decrease in the oscillator strength of the SS transition (vs. perylene), low yield of intersystem crossing and strong internal conversion originating from the activity of the number of vibronic states.