Phage display-derived immunorecognition elements LSPR nanobiosensor for peptide hormone glycine-extended gastrin 17 detection.

The current study intended to evaluate two types of biorecognition element (BRE), namely recombinant antibody fragments and M13 bacteriophage-displayed antibody fragments, where protein L and electrostatic interactions were used to respectively conjugated antibodies and bacteriophages on AuNPs. The functionalization process was examined by DLS to monitor the changes in the size and zeta potential. The formation of the BRE-G17-Gly immunological complexes was manifested by aggregation (confirmed by FE-SEM) and color change from red to dark blue visible to the naked eye. Local refractive index variations of functionalized AuNPs were monitored by a UV - vis spectrophotometer, showing increasing size and decreasing zeta potential in all stages. The calibration plot was developed in the concentration range 1-5 µg/mL and the limit of detection (LOD) was 1 µg/mL. The LSRP nanobiosensor in combination with the phage-based BRE was an affordable and simple approach, as it was able to eliminate the time-consuming and costly step of extracting antibodies. Contrary to the traditional immunoassays, this method does not require additional amplification, e.g., enzymatic, to read the result. The proposed LSPR nanobiosensor model can be adapted to detect a wide range of pathogens, viruses, and biomarkers in the shortest possible time.

Recent progress on developing of plasmon biosensing of tumor biomarkers: Efficient method towards early stage recognition of cancer.

Cancer is the second most extended disease with an improved death rate over the past several time. Due to the restrictions of cancer analysis methods, the patient's real survival rate is unknown. Therefore, early stage diagnosis of cancer is crucial for its strong detection. Bio-analysis based on biomarkers may help to overcome the problem Biosensors with high sensitivity and specificity, low-cost, high analysis speed and minimum limit of detection are practical alternatives for laboratory tests. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is reaching a maturity level sufficient for their application in detection and determination cancer biomarkers in clinical samples. This review discusses main concepts and performance characteristics of SPR biosensor. Mainly, it focuses on newly emerged enhanced SPR biosensors towards high-throughput and ultrasensitive screening of cancer biomarkers such as PSA, α-fetoprotein, CEA, CA125, CA 15-3, HER2, ctDNA, ALCAM, hCG, VEGF, TNF, Interleukin, IFN-γ, CD24, CD44, Ferritin, COLIV using labeling processes with focusing on the future application in biomedical research and clinical diagnosis. This article reviews current status of the field, showcasing a series of early successes in the application of SPR for clinical bioanalysis of cancer related biomolecules and detailing a series of considerations regarding sensing schemes, exposing issues with analysis in biofluids, while providing an outlook of the challenges currently associated with plasmonic materials, bioreceptor selection, microfluidics, and validation of a clinical bioassay for applying SPR biosensors to clinical samples. Research opportunities are proposed to further advance the field and transition SPR biosensors from research proof-of-concept stage to actual clinical usage.

Role of the cholinergic system in the rat basolateral amygdala on morphine-induced conditioned place preference.

The effects of intra-basolateral amygdala (intra-BLA) injections of physostigmine, atropine, nicotine and/or mecamylamine on morphine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) in rats was investigated by using an unbiased 3-day schedule of place conditioning design. Animals that received 3 daily injections of morphine (0.5-10 mg/kg) subcutaneously (s.c.) or saline (1.0 ml/kg, s.c.) showed a significant preference for compartment paired with morphine. The maximum response was observed with 7.5 mg/kg of the opioid. Administration of the anticholinesterase drug, physostigmine (1, 3 and 5 microg/rat) with an ineffective dose of morphine (0.5 mg/kg) elicited a significant CPP. Injections of antimuscarinic receptor agent, atropine (1, 4 and 7 microg/rat) dose-dependently inhibited the morphine (7.5 mg/kg)-induced place preference. The injections of nicotine (0.75, 1 and 2 microg/rat) potentiated the morphine (0.5 mg/kg)-induced place preference, while the nicotinic receptor antagonist, mecamylamine (1, 3 and 6 microg/rat) dose-dependently inhibited the morphine (7.5 mg/kg)-induced place preference. Furthermore, administration of atropine (7 microg/rat) but not mecamylamine (6 microg/rat) reduced the response induced by different doses of physostigmine plus morphine. Moreover, mecamylamine (6 microg/rat) but not atropine (7 microg/rat) reduced the response induced by different doses of nicotine plus morphine. It is concluded that the muscarinic and nicotinic receptor mechanisms in the BLA may be involved in the acquisition of morphine-induced place preference.