1.Delivery of PUMA Apoptosis Gene Using Polyethyleneimine-SMCC-TAT/DNA Nanoparticles: Biophysical Characterization and In Vitro Transfection Into Malignant Melanoma Cells.
Li F, Wang Z, Huang Y, Xu H, He L, Deng Yan, Zeng X, He N. J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2015 Oct;11(10):1776-82.
A synthesized PEI-based gene delivery system, wherein PEI was crosslinked with sulfosuccinimidyl-4-(N-maleimidomethyl) cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (Sulfo-SMCC) conjugating trans-activating transcriptional activator (TAT), yielding PEI-SMCC-TAT (PST), a novel non-viral vector for apoptosis-related gene PUMA (p53 up regulated modulator of apoptosis), was designed and evaluated. Sulfo-SMCC is a commonly used heterobifunctional crosslinker and is soluble in water, making the crosslinking easier without organic reagent like DMSO or chloroform. The PST/pDNA nanoparticles were 171.9 nm at the optimal N/P ratio (50:1). DNA complexes of all the PST conjugation had much lower toxicity and exhibited enhancement in transfection efficiency in comparison with single PEI vector. The results also showed that the transfection efficiency of PST/pEGFP nanoparticles into malignant melanoma A375 cell increased, and PST carrying PUMA gene induced the apoptosis of A375 cells.
2.Comparison of impedimetric detection of DNA hybridization on the various biosensors based on modified glassy carbon electrodes with PANHS and nanomaterials of RGO and MWCNTs.
Benvidi A1, Tezerjani MD2, Jahanbani S2, Mazloum Ardakani M2, Moshtaghioun SM3. Talanta. 2016 Jan 15;147:621-7. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.10.043. Epub 2015 Oct 17.
In this research, we have developed lable free DNA biosensors based on modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for detection of DNA sequences. This paper compares the detection of BRCA1 5382insC mutation using independent glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) modified with RGO and MWCNTs. A probe (BRCA1 5382insC mutation detection (ssDNA)) was then immobilized on the modified electrodes for a specific time. The immobilization of the probe and its hybridization with the target DNA (Complementary DNA) were performed under optimum conditions using different electrochemical techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The proposed biosensors were used for determination of complementary DNA sequences. The non-modified DNA biosensor (1-pyrenebutyric acid-N- hydroxysuccinimide ester (PANHS)/GCE), revealed a linear relationship between ∆Rct and logarithm of the complementary target DNA concentration ranging from 1.
3.In-gel NHS-propionate derivatization for histone post-translational modifications analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Chen J1, Gao J2, Peng M3, Wang Y1, Yu Y4, Yang P5, Jin H6. Anal Chim Acta. 2015 Jul 30;886:107-13. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2015.06.019. Epub 2015 Jul 13.
Post-translational modifications (PTMs) on histone are highly correlated with genetic and epigenetic regulation of gene expression from chromatin. Mass spectrometry (MS) has developed to be an optimal tool for the identification and quantification of histone PTMs. Derivatization of histones with chemicals such as propionic anhydride, N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (NHS-propionate) has been widely used in histone PTMs analysis in bottom-up MS strategy, which requires high purity for histone samples. However, biological samples are not always prepared with high purity, containing detergents or other interferences in most cases. As an alternative approach, an adaptation of in gel derivatization method, termed In-gel NHS, is utilized for a broader application in histone PTMs analysis and it is shown to be a more time-saving preparation method. The proposed method was optimized for a better derivatization efficiency and displayed high reproducibility, indicating quantification of histone PTMs based on In-gel NHS was achievable.
4.Antimicrobial peptide melimine coating for titanium and its in vivo antibacterial activity in rodent subcutaneous infection models.
Chen R1, Willcox MD2, Ho KK3, Smyth D4, Kumar N5. Biomaterials. 2016 Apr;85:142-51. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.01.063. Epub 2016 Jan 29.
Implant-associated infections represent a significant health problem and financial burden on healthcare systems. Current strategies for the treatment or prevention of such infections are still inadequate and new strategies are needed in this era of antibiotic resistance. Melimine, a synthetic antimicrobial peptide with broad spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi and protozoa, has been shown to be a promising candidate for development as antimicrobial coating for biomedical devices and implants. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity of melimine-coated titanium was tested. The titanium surface was amine-functionalised with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) followed by reaction with a bifunctional linker 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylic 3-sulfo-n-hydroxysuccinimide ester (Sulfo-SMCC) to yield a maleimide functionalised surface. Melimine was then tethered to the surface via a thioether linkage through a Michael addition reaction of the cysteine at its N-terminus with the maleimide moiety.
