Rapid detection of nicotine from breath using desorption ionisation on porous silicon.

Desorption ionisation on porous silicon (DIOS) was used for the detection of nicotine from exhaled breath. This result represents proof-of-principle of the ability of DIOS to detect small molecular analytes in breath including biomarkers and illicit drugs.

Metabolite mapping by consecutive nanostructure and silver-assisted mass spectrometry imaging on tissue sections.

RATIONALE: Nanostructure-based mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a promising technology for molecular imaging of small molecules, without the complex chemical background typically encountered in matrix-assisted molecular imaging approaches. Here, we have enhanced these surfaces with silver (Ag) to provide a second tier of MSI data from a single sample. METHODS: MSI data was acquired through the application of laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry to biological samples imprinted onto desorption/ionization on silicon (DIOS) substrates. Following initial analysis, ultra-thin Ag layers were overlaid onto the followed by MSI analysis (Ag-DIOS MSI). This approach was first demonstrated for fingermark small molecules including environmental contaminants and sebum components. Subsequently, this bimodal method was translated to lipids and metabolites in fore-stomach sections from a 6-bromoisatin chemopreventative murine mouse model. RESULTS: DIOS MSI allowed mapping of common ions in fingermarks as well as 6-bromoisatin metabolites and lipids in murine fore-stomach. Furthermore, DIOS MSI was complemented by the Ag-DIOS MSI of Ag-adductable lipids such as wax esters in fingermarks and cholesterol in murine fore-stomach. Gastrointestinal acid condensation products of 6-bromoisatin, such as the 6,6'-dibromoindirubin mapped herein, are very challenging to isolate and characterize. By re-analyzing the same tissue imprints, this metabolite was readily detected by DIOS, placed in a tissue-specific spatial context, and subsequently overlaid with additional lipid distributions acquired using Ag-DIOS MSI. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to place metabolite and lipid classes in a tissue-specific context makes this novel method suited to MSI analyses where the collection of additional information from the same sample maximises resource use, and also maximises the number of annotated small molecules, in particular for metabolites that are typically undetectable with traditional platforms. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Correction: Rapid fabrication of functionalised poly(dimethylsiloxane) microwells for cell aggregate formation.

Correction for 'Rapid fabrication of functionalised poly(dimethylsiloxane) microwells for cell aggregate formation' by A. Forget et al., Biomater. Sci., 2017, 5, 828-836.

Rapid fabrication of functionalised poly(dimethylsiloxane) microwells for cell aggregate formation.

Cell aggregates reproduce many features of the natural architecture of functional tissues, and have therefore become an important in vitro model of tissue function. In this study, we present an efficient and rapid method for the fabrication of site specific functionalised poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microwell arrays that promote the formation of insulin-producing beta cell (MIN6) aggregates. Microwells were prepared using an ice templating technique whereby aqueous droplets were frozen on a surface and PDMS was cast on top to form a replica. By employing an aqueous alkali hydroxide solution, we demonstrate exclusive etching and functionalisation of the microwell inner surface, thereby allowing the selective absorption of biological factors within the microwells. Additionally, by manipulating surface wettability of the substrate through plasma polymer coating, the shape and profile of the microwells could be tailored. Microwells coated with antifouling Pluronic 123, bovine serum albumin, collagen type IV or insulin growth factor 2 were employed to investigate the formation and stability of MIN6 aggregates in microwells of different shapes. MIN6 aggregates formed with this technique retained insulin expression. These results demonstrate the potential of this platform for the rapid screening of biological factors influencing the formation and response of insulin-producing cell aggregates without the need for expensive micromachining techniques.

IGF-2 coated porous collagen microwells for the culture of pancreatic islets.

Islet transplantation, the only curative therapy for type I diabetes, requires isolation of the graft in highly specialized facilities for its later dispatch to remote transplantation centres. During transport and culture, many valuable cells are lost due to several factors such as mechanical stress, islet aggregation and dissociation. Here, we evaluate a porous microwell array sheet made of natural collagen type I extracellular matrix (ECM) protein as a novel islet culture substrate. This culture platform can be coated with IGF-2, a growth factor favorable for islet survival, and allows segregation of the islets within the porous microwell sheet, preventing aggregation. This design shows promising results for improving human pancreatic islets viability and function during culture and could form a novel paradigm for the transport of islets between isolation and transplantation centres.

Fabrication of silicon nanowire arrays by near-field laser ablation and metal-assisted chemical etching.

We present an elegant route for the fabrication of ordered arrays of vertically-aligned silicon nanowires with tunable geometry at controlled locations on a silicon wafer. A monolayer of transparent microspheres convectively assembled onto a gold-coated silicon wafer acts as a microlens array. Irradiation with a single nanosecond laser pulse removes the gold beneath each focusing microsphere, leaving behind a hexagonal pattern of holes in the gold layer. Owing to the near-field effects, the diameter of the holes can be at least five times smaller than the laser wavelength. The patterned gold layer is used as catalyst in a metal-assisted chemical etching to produce an array of vertically-aligned silicon nanowires. This approach combines the advantages of direct laser writing with the benefits of parallel laser processing, yielding nanowire arrays with controlled geometry at predefined locations on the silicon surface. The fabricated VA-SiNW arrays can effectively transfect human cells with a plasmid encoding for green fluorescent protein.

Antibacterial properties of nitric oxide-releasing porous silicon nanoparticles.

In this study, the antibacterial efficacy of NO-releasing porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) is reported. NO-releasing pSiNPs were produced via the conjugation of S-nitrosothiol (SNO) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) donors to the nanoparticle surfaces. The release of the conjugated NO caused by the decomposition of the conjugated SNO and GSNO was boosted in the presence of ascorbic acid. The released NO was bactericidal to Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), and eliminated bacterial growth within 2 h of incubation without compromising the viability of mammalian cells. These results demonstrate the advantages of NO-releasing pSiNPs for antibacterial applications, for example, in chronic wound treatment.

Direct detection of illicit drugs from biological fluids by desorption/ionization mass spectrometry with nanoporous silicon microparticles.

Surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) is a high throughput analytical technique capable of detecting low molecular weight analytes, including illicit drugs, and with potential applications in forensic toxicology as well as athlete and workplace testing, particularly for biological fluids (oral fluids, urine and blood). However, successful detection of illicit drugs using SALDI-MS often requires extraction steps to reduce the inherent complexity of biological fluids. Here, we demonstrate an all-in-one extraction and analytical system consisting of hydrophobically functionalized porous silicon microparticles (pSi-MPs) for affinity SALDI-MS of prescription and illicit drugs. This novel approach allows for the analysis of drugs from multiple biological fluids without sample preparation protocols. The effect of pSi-MP size, pore diameter, pore depth and functionalization on analytical performance is investigated. pSi-MPs were optimized for the rapid and high sensitivity detection of methadone, cocaine and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). This optimized system allowed extraction and detection of methadone from spiked saliva and clinical urine samples. Furthermore, by detecting oxycodone in additional clinical saliva and plasma samples, we were able to demonstrate the versatility of the pSi-MP SALDI-MS technique.

Small interfering RNA delivery by polyethylenimine-functionalised porous silicon nanoparticles.

In this study, thermally hydrocarbonised porous silicon nanoparticles (THCpSiNPs) capped with polyethylenimine (PEI) were fabricated, and their potential for small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery was investigated in an in vitro glioblastoma model. PEI coating following siRNA loading enhanced the sustained release of siRNA, and suppressed burst release effects. The positively-charged surface improved the internalisation of the nanoparticles across the cell membrane. THCpSiNP-mediated siRNA delivery reduced mRNA expression of the MRP1 gene, linked to the resistence of glioblastoma to chemotherapy, by 63% and reduced MRP1-protein levels by 70%. MRP1 siRNA loaded nanoparticles did not induce cytotoxicity in glioblastoma cells, but markedly reduced cell proliferation. In summary, the results demonstrated that non-cytotoxic cationic THCpSiNPs are promising vehicles for therapeutic siRNA delivery.

Rapid, metal-free hydrosilanisation chemistry for porous silicon surface modification.

Here, we report a novel surface modification for porous silicon (pSi). Hydroxyl-terminated pSi surfaces are modified with a hydrosilane via Si-H activation using the Lewis acid catalyst tris(pentafluorophenyl) borane. This surface reaction is fast and efficient at room temperature, and leads to a surface stabilised against hydrolytic attack in aqueous media. The resulting surface shows promise as a substrate for surface-assisted laser desorption/ionisation mass spectrometry.

Fabrication of stimulus-responsive diatom biosilica microcapsules for antibiotic drug delivery.

In this report, we employed surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerisation to graft thermo-responsive copolymers of oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylates from the surface of diatom biosilica microcapsules. We demonstrate the application of the resulting composites for thermo-responsive drug delivery.

Tailored carbon nanotube immunosensors for the detection of microbial contamination.

The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as building blocks in the design of electrochemical biosensors has been attracting attention over the last few years, mainly due to their high electrical conductivity and large surface area. Here, we present two approaches based on tailored single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) architectures to develop immunosensors for the bacteriophage MS2, a virus often detected in sewage-impacted water supplies. In the first approach, SWCNTs were used in the bottom-up design of sensors as antibody immobilization support. Carboxy-functionalised SWCNTs were covalently tethered onto gold electrodes via carbodiimide coupling to cysteamine-modified gold electrodes. These SWCNTs were hydrazide functionalized by electrochemical grafting of diazonium salts. Site-oriented immobilization of antibodies was then carried out through hydrazone bond formation. Results showed microarray electrode behavior, greatly improving the signal-to-noise ratio. Excellent sensitivity and limit of detection (9.3 pfu/mL and 9.8 pfu/mL in buffer and in river water, respectively) were achieved, due to the combination of the SWCNTs' ability to promote electron transfer reactions with electroactive species at low overpotentials and their high surface-to-volume ratio providing a favorable environment to immobilize biomolecules. In the second approach, SWCNTs were decorated with iron oxide nanoparticles. Diazonium salts were electrochemically grafted on iron-oxide-nanoparticle-decorated SWCNTs to functionalize them with hydrazide groups that facilitate site-directed immobilization of antibodies via hydrazone coupling. These magnetic immunocarriers facilitated MS2 separation and concentration on an electrode surface. This approach minimized non-specific adsorptions and matrix effects and allowed low limits of detection (12 pfu/mL and 39 pfu/mL in buffer and in river water, respectively) that could be further decreased by incubating the magnetic immunocarriers with larger volumes of sample. Significantly, both approaches permitted the detection of MS2 to levels regularly encountered in sewage-impacted environments.

Mass spectrometry imaging of fingerprint sweat on nanostructured silicon.

Desorption ionisation on porous silicon mass spectrometry imaging (DIOS-MSI) was used on fingerprints to map the distribution of exogenous and endogenous molecules present in sweat. Our attention was focused on the proof-of-principle to detect illicit drugs and their metabolites to exemplify the technique's potential in the area of forensic and workplace testing.

Comparison of the performance of different silicon-based SALDI substrates for illicit drug detection.

Surface-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) is an emerging technique used for the detection of small molecules (<700 Da) such as illicit drugs. In recent times, this technique has been employed for the detection of illicit drugs in various body fluids including saliva. Three common SALDI techniques, desorption ionization on porous silicon (DIOS), nanostructure-initiator mass spectrometry (NIMS) and nanostructured laser desorption ionization (NALDI(™)) are compared for the detection of four drug classes, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, opiates and tropane alkaloids. We focus in our comparison on structural and chemical characteristics, as well as analytical performance and longevity.

Fabrication of metal nanoparticle arrays by controlled decomposition of polymer particles.

We report a novel fabrication method for ordered arrays of metal nanoparticles that exploits the uniform arrangement of polymer beads deposited as close-packed monolayers. In contrast to colloidal lithography that applies particles as masks, we used thermal decomposition of the metal-covered particles to precisely define metal structures. Large arrays of noble metal (Au, Ag, Pt) nanoparticles were produced in a three-step process on silicon, fused silica and sapphire substrates, demonstrating the generality of this approach. Polystyrene spheres with diameters ranging between 110 nm and 1 µm were convectively assembled into crystalline monolayers, coated with metal and annealed in a resistive furnace or using an ethanol flame. The thermal decomposition of the polymer microspheres converted the metal layer into particles arranged in hexagonal arrays that preserved the order of the original monolayer. Both the particle size and the interparticle distance were adjusted via the thickness of the metal coating and the sphere diameter, respectively.

Human bone material characterization: integrated imaging surface investigation of male fragility fractures.

UNLABELLED: The interrelation of calcium and phosphorus was evaluated as a function of bone material quality in femoral heads from male fragility fracture patients via surface analytical imaging as well as scanning microscopy techniques. A link between fragility fractures and increased calcium to phosphorus ratio was observed despite normal mineralization density distribution. INTRODUCTION: Bone fragility in men has been recently recognized as a public health issue, but little attention has been devoted to bone material quality and the possible efficacy in fracture risk prevention. Clinical routine fracture risk estimations do not consider the quality of the mineralized matrix and the critical role played by the different chemical components that are present. This study uses a combination of different imaging and analytical techniques to gain insights into both the spatial distribution and the relationship of phosphorus and calcium in bone. METHODS: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging techniques were used to investigate the relationship between calcium and phosphorus in un-embedded human femoral head specimens from fragility fracture patients and non-fracture age-matched controls. The inclusion of the bone mineral density distribution via backscattered scanning electron microscopy provides information about the mineralization status between the groups. RESULTS: A link between fragility fracture and increased calcium and decreased phosphorus in the femoral head was observed despite normal mineralization density distribution. Results exhibited significantly increased calcium to phosphorus ratio in the fragility fracture group, whereas the non-fracture control group ratio was in agreement with the literature value of 1.66 M ratio in mature bone. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the potential importance of the relationship between calcium and phosphorus, especially in areas of new bone formation, when estimating fracture risk of the femoral head. The determination of calcium and phosphorus fractions in bone mineral density measurements may hold the key to better fracture risk assessment as well as more targeted therapies.

Patterned and switchable surfaces for biomolecular manipulation.

The interactions of biomolecules and cells with solid interfaces play a pivotal role in a range of biomedical applications and have therefore been studied in great detail. An improved understanding of these interactions results in the ability to manipulate DNA, proteins and other biomolecules, as well as cells, spatially and temporally at surfaces with high precision. This in turn engenders the development of advanced devices, such as biosensors, bioelectronic components, smart biomaterials and microarrays. Spatial control can be achieved by the production of patterned surface chemistries using modern high-resolution patterning technologies based on lithography, microprinting or microfluidics, whilst temporal control is accessible through the application of switchable surface architectures. The combination of these two surface properties offers unprecedented control over the behaviour of biomolecules and cells at the solid-liquid interface. This review discusses the behaviour of biomolecules and cells at solid interfaces and highlights fundamental and applied research exploring patterned and switchable surfaces.

Advances in telemetric continuous intraocular pressure assessment.

With an ageing population showing an increasing prevalence of glaucoma, there is a pressing demand for continuous intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements which could surpass clinic-based measurements such as routine applanation tonometry. Glaucoma patients have fluctuations in IOP, and it has been proposed that these fluctuations are relevant to glaucoma progression. In addition, interindividual and intraindividual variation in corneal thickness and rigidity can lead to significant and poorly quantitated errors in applanation-based methods of estimating IOP. Microelectrical mechanical systems and complementary metal oxide semiconductor-based technology has enabled the development of smart miniaturised devices by augmenting the computational ability of microelectronics with capabilities of microsensors and microactuators. This review addresses various sensor technologies and both invasive and non-invasive approaches to the measurement of IOP. Advances in wireless communication (telemetry) between the implanted sensors and the external readout device are reviewed. In addition, biocompatibility of implantable sensors is discussed.

Using continuous porous silicon gradients to study the influence of surface topography on the behaviour of neuroblastoma cells.

The effects of surface topography on cell behaviour are the subject of intense research in cell biology. These effects have so far only been studied using substrate surfaces of discretely different topography. In this paper, we present a new approach to characterise cell growth on porous silicon gradients displaying pore sizes from several thousands to a few nanometers. This widely applicable format has the potential to significantly reduce sample numbers and hence analysis time and cost. Our gradient format was applied here to the culture of neuroblastoma cells in order to determine the effects of topography on cell growth parameters. Cell viability, morphology, length and area were characterised by fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. We observed a dramatic influence of changes in surface topography on the density and morphology of adherent neuroblastoma cells. For example, pore size regimes where cell attachment is strongly discouraged were identified providing cues for the design of low-fouling surfaces. On pore size regimes more conducive to cell attachment, lateral cell-cell interactions crosslinked the cell layer to the substratum surface, while direct substrate-cell interactions were scarce. Finally, our study revealed that cells were sensitive to nanoscale surface topography with feature sizes of <20 nm.