Classification and naming of polymethine dyes used as staining agents for microscopy. A short guide for biomedical investigators.

The scientific literature contains many accounts of application of polymethine dyes, including cyanine dyes, as imaging agents, i.e., "biological stains," for microscopic investigation of biological materials. Currently, many such dyes are used as probes for living cells, i.e., "fluorescent probes." Polymethine dyes are defined here by two criteria. First, they possess a conjugated chain of (2n + 1) sp2-hybridized carbon atoms that connect a terminal π-electron-accepting (π-electron withdrawing) group with a terminal π-electron-donating group. Second, they have an odd number (2n + 3) of π-centers and an even number (2n + 4) of π-electrons in this chain, where n equals the number of -CR2=CR3- groups, usually vinylene groups -CH=CH-. Commercialization of diverse chemical types of many polymethine dyes has been attempted. The dyes that have achieved wide application, however, are limited in number and it is these dyes that are emphasized here. Because these polymethine dyes sometimes have been described by confusing, and sometimes confused, names, we clarify here the chemical categories and names of such dyes for the nonchemist, biomedical end user of such imaging agents. Nevertheless, the nomenclature presented here is not intended to replace the traditional "chromophore" categories of dyestuff chemistry, because the latter are held in place both by wide usage and by venerable authorities, such as the Colour Index.

Antibody-Drug Conjugates-A Tutorial Review.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a family of targeted therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer. ADC development is a rapidly expanding field of research, with over 80 ADCs currently in clinical development and eleven ADCs (nine containing small-molecule payloads and two with biological toxins) approved for use by the FDA. Compared to traditional small-molecule approaches, ADCs offer enhanced targeting of cancer cells along with reduced toxic side effects, making them an attractive prospect in the field of oncology. To this end, this tutorial review aims to serve as a reference material for ADCs and give readers a comprehensive understanding of ADCs; it explores and explains each ADC component (monoclonal antibody, linker moiety and cytotoxic payload) individually, highlights several EMA- and FDA-approved ADCs by way of case studies and offers a brief future perspective on the field of ADC research.

Avoiding potential pitfalls in visual search and eye-movement experiments: A tutorial review.

Examining eye-movement behavior during visual search is an increasingly popular approach for gaining insights into the moment-to-moment processing that takes place when we look for targets in our environment. In this tutorial review, we describe a set of pitfalls and considerations that are important for researchers - both experienced and new to the field - when engaging in eye-movement and visual search experiments. We walk the reader through the research cycle of a visual search and eye-movement experiment, from choosing the right predictions, through to data collection, reporting of methodology, analytic approaches, the different dependent variables to analyze, and drawing conclusions from patterns of results. Overall, our hope is that this review can serve as a guide, a talking point, a reflection on the practices and potential problems with the current literature on this topic, and ultimately a first step towards standardizing research practices in the field.

Colloidal Motors 101: A Beginner's Guide to Colloidal Motor Research.

The research progress in colloidal motors, synthetic colloids that convert environmental energy and swim in water, has attracted much attention in recent years. Yet, its rapid development and interdisciplinary nature has created a hurdle for beginners, especially students and postdocs. In light of this challenge, this tutorial review gives a bird's eye overview of the research field of colloidal motors, presenting in a beginner-friendly manner subjects including the definition and significance of colloidal motors, physical challenges associated with their motion at the microscale, their fabrication and propulsion mechanisms, functionalities that enable their applications, and essential tools and techniques useful for beginners. Emphasis on each aspect is placed on elucidating and connecting important concepts and ideas, rather than on details and individual references. An appendix of recent review articles grouped by subjects on colloidal motors is given in the Supporting Information. This article equips beginners with a clear big picture and essential knowledge that will facilitate future explorations.