Serum Protein Research Articles

Photosensitizer-thioglycosides enhance photodynamic therapy by augmenting cellular uptake

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) uses photosensitizing agents along with light to ablate tissue, including cancers. Such light-driven localized delivery of free-radical oxygen to kill target tissue depends on photosensitizer cell penetration efficacy. While the attachment of monosaccharides and disaccharides to photosensitizers has been shown to potentially provide improved photosensitizer delivery, the range of glycan entities tested thus far is limited. We sought to expand such knowledge by coupling N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) to pyropheophorbides as thioglycosides, and then testing photosensitizer efficacy. To this end, GlcNAc was conjugated to both pyropheophorbide-a and methyl pyropheophorbide-a. Among the entities tested, the conjugation of N-acetylglucosamine to methyl pyropheophorbide-a (‘PSe’) as thioglycoside enhanced cell uptake both in the presence and absence of human serum proteins, relative to other compounds tested. The enhanced PSe penetrance into cells resulted in higher cell death upon illumination with 665 nm light. While acting as a potent photosensitizer, PSe did not affect cellular carbohydrate profiles. Overall, the study presents a new pyropheophorbide glycoconjugate with strong in vitro PDT efficacy.

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Prebiotic and Acidifier Powder on Growth Performance and Haemato-biochemical Parameters in Broilers

Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Prebiotic and Acidifier Powder on Growth Performance and Haemato-biochemical Parameters in Broilers

Impedimetric sensor based on molecularly imprinted polythionine from deep eutectic solvent for epinephrine determination

Deep eutectic solvents have obtained growing interest in analytical chemistry due to opportunities related the green chemistry paradigm, i.e., substitution of organic solvents, application of nontoxic ingredients and minimal quantities of wastes formed in their synthesis and usage. In this work, the advantages of deep eutectic solvents were shown in the development of electrochemical sensor for epinephrine determination. Polythionine molecularly imprinted with epinephrine (PTNMIP) was electrodeposited from natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) consisted of citric acid, glucose, and water in 1:1:6 molar ratio and tested with standard solutions of epinephrine, pharmaceutical preparations, and artificial samples of biological liquids. Only one drop (100 µL) of the monomer dissolved in NADES was applied for sensor preparation on the platform of screen-printed carbon electrode. Electropolymerization was performed by multiple scanning of the potential. The formation of molecular imprints was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). After the template removal, the charge transfer resistance of the surface layer depended on the epinephrine concentration in the range from 100 nM to 316 µM (limit of detection 50 nM). Selectivity of the signal was confirmed against serotonin and norepinephrine commonly present in biological liquids. Sensor was successfully tested for the determination of epinephrine in spiked solutions mimicking influence of the plasma electrolytes, serum proteins, and in real saliva samples. The recoveries calculated for 10 μM epinephrine ranged from 98.3 to 102.6%. Insignificant influence of the additives and stabilizers present in medications was eliminated by sample dilution. Impedimetric sensor developed showed good opportunities for further application in clinical diagnostics, pharmacokinetics studies and medication manufacture control.

Enhancing In Vivo Electroporation Efficiency through Hyaluronidase: Insights into Plasmid Distribution and Optimization Strategies.

Electroporation (EP) stands out as a promising non-viral plasmid delivery strategy, although achieving optimal transfection efficiency in vivo remains a challenge. A noteworthy advancement in the field of in vivo EP is the application of hyaluronidase, an enzyme with the capacity to degrade hyaluronic acid in the extracellular matrix, which thereby enhances DNA transfer efficiency by 2- to 3-fold. This paper focuses on elucidating the mechanism of hyaluronidase's impact on transfection efficiency. We demonstrate that hyaluronidase promotes a more uniform distribution of plasmid DNA (pDNA) within skeletal muscle. Additionally, our study investigates the effect of the timing of hyaluronidase pretreatment on EP efficiency by including time intervals of 0, 5, and 30 min between hyaluronidase treatment and the application of pulses. Serum levels of the pDNA-encoded transgene reveal a minimal influence of the hyaluronidase pretreatment time on the final serum protein levels following delivery in both mice and rabbit models. Leveraging bioimpedance measurements, we capture morphological changes in muscle induced by hyaluronidase treatment, which result in a varied pDNA distribution. Subsequently, these findings are employed to optimize EP electrical parameters following hyaluronidase treatment in animal models. This paper offers novel insights into the potential of hyaluronidase in enhancing the effectiveness of in vivo EP, as well as guides optimized electroporation strategies following hyaluronidase use.

An up-conversion fluorescence lateral-flow immunoassay for rapid detection of Daratumumab in serum protein electrophoresis clinical samples

BackgroundDaratumumab (DARA) is a commonly used monoclonal antibody (mAb) drug for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Its appearance as a visible abnormal band in the γ-region of a serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) gel may interfere with the SPEP result interpretation. With the advantages of portability and rapid testing capabilities, up-conversion fluorescence lateral-flow immunoassay (LFA) can be an ideal solution to detect DARA interference. MethodsAn up-conversion fluorescence LFA strip was designed and constructed to perform semi-quantitative DARA testing in clinical samples. The LFA strip test was evaluated for limit of detection (LOD), dynamic range, and analytical interference. ResultsTo demonstrate the clinical utility of the LFA strip, 43 SPEP-positive patient serum samples were tested for the presence of DARA, and the results exactly matched the DARA usage history in patient medical records. ConclusionsThe performance of the up-conversion fluorescence LFA strip meets the purpose of clarifying DARA interference in SPEP results. It may be used as an independent and objective confirmation of the presence of DARA in clinical samples. The LFA strip offers a cost-effective rapid on-site test to check for DARA interference alongside standard SPEP equipment, which significantly improves the interpretation of ambiguous SPEP results involving DARA, and does not intervene the current SPEP workflow in clinical laboratory practice.

Impact of bisphenol a on the levels of vascular calcification biomarkers in type 2 diabetes mellitus with vascular complications: A case-control study

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor present in polycarbonate plastics used in food containers and water bottles that resists insulin action and leads to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there is scant research on the impact of BPA on T2DM-related vascular complications. Fetuin-A (FTA) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are crucial markers for vascular calcification, which is the primary risk factor for developing vascular complications. This study aims to link external factor BPA levels with the vascular calcification markers FTA and OPG in diabetic subjects with and without vascular complications. Therefore, 120 study subjects were included and divided as control (n = 30), T2DM with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) (n = 30), T2DM with diabetic nephropathy (DN) (n = 30), and T2DM without vascular complications (n = 30). Serum and urinary FTA, OPG, and BPA levels were measured using an ELISA. FTA (AHSG) and OPG (TNFRSF11B) gene expression were analyzed using qPCR. Both serum (p < 0.001) and urinary BPA (p < 0.001) were found higher in T2DM with CVD and DN than T2DM without vascular complications and control. Also, T2DM with CVD and DN patients had lower serum and urinary FTA protein levels and increased serum and urinary OPG (p < 0.001) levels than T2DM without vascular complications and control. Moreover, FTA (AHSG) gene expression was negatively associated with serum BPA (p < 0.001) and urinary BPA (p < 0.01). Likewise, OPG (TNFRSF11B) gene expression was positively significant with serum BPA (p < 0.001) and urinary BPA (p < 0.01) in the study groups. These findings suggest that elevated blood and urinary BPA levels contribute to the severity of vascular complications in T2DM patients through vascular calcification.

Pre-coating cRGD-modified bovine serum albumin enhanced the anti-tumor angiogenesis of siVEGF-loaded chitosan-based nanoparticles by manipulating the protein corona composition

Chitosan-based nanoparticles inevitably adsorb numerous proteins in the bloodstream, forming a protein corona that significantly influences their functionality. This study employed a pre-coated protein corona using cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp peptide (cRGD)-modified bovine serum albumin (BcR) to confer tumor-targeting capabilities on siVEGF-loaded chitosan-based nanoparticles (CsR/siVEGF NPs) and actively manipulated the serum protein corona composition to enhance their anti-tumor angiogenesis. Consequently, BcR effectively binds to the nanoparticles' surface, generating nanocarriers of appropriate size and stability that enhance the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation, as well as suppress tumor proliferation and angiogenesis in tumor-bearing nude mice. Proteomic analysis indicated a significant enrichment of serotransferrin, albumin, and proteasome subunit alpha type-1 in the protein corona of BcR-precoated NPs formed in the serum of tumor-bearing nude mice. Additionally, there was a decrease in proteins associated with complement activation, immunoglobulins, blood coagulation, and acute-phase responses. This modification resulted in an enhanced impact on anti-tumor angiogenesis, along with a reduction in opsonization and inflammatory responses. Therefore, pre-coating of nanoparticles with a functionalized albumin corona to manipulate the composition of serum protein corona emerges as an innovative approach to improve the delivery effectiveness of chitosan-based carriers for siVEGF, targeting the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis.

A combination of polypeptide and magnetic molecular imprinted electrochemical sensor based on BSA-AuNPs/Fe3O4@ZIF-8 for the detection of norfloxacin

Norfloxacin (NOR) is now extensively used for the treatment of human and animal diseases. Unfortunately, large accumulations of NOR will pose a significant threat to the human body. Thus, it is urgent to develop a rapid and sensitive detection technique for the trace determination of NOR. In this study, an electrochemical molecular imprinting sensor with great properties was fabricated for the determination of NOR in milk and environmental water. The incorporation of bovine serum proteins produced a hybrid recognition interface consisting of molecularly imprinted polymers and peptides that provided good recognition properties for norfloxacin. The Fe3O4@ZIF-8 was distributed orderly on the electrode after the embedding of the magnets inside the electrode, then the BSA was coated on the electrode with the electrodeposited AuNPs through Au-S bonding. The sensor constructed in this study achieved ultra-sensitive detection of norfloxacin with an effective area of 0.08433 cm2, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.108 pmol·L−1, and a wide linear range (1 ∼ 100, 100 ∼ 1000 and 1000 ∼ 8000 pmol·L−1). The prepared sensors exhibited satisfactory performance in the detection of milk and environmental water, with acceptable recoveries ranging from 96.24 % to 104.88 %, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was no more than 4.84 %.

DTT protein equalization and Tryptophan protein quantification as a powerful tool in analytical proteomics.

Assessing total protein levels in biological samples is a common procedure in biochemistry and molecular biology. In this study, we compare tryptophan fluorescence (WF) with Bradford and BCA assays to determine total protein in serum samples. Our results indicate that tryptophan fluorescence spectrometry is an efficient, sensitive, and straightforward technique for quantifying proteins in serum. We observed minimal variation between the three methods: BCA de one with the lowers LOD and LOQ. The tryptophan method offers the possibility of reusing the intact sample that does not need colourimetric reagents for quantification. Consequently, free tryptophan serves as a reliable universal standard. This assay can be performed using a conventional fluorescence spectrometer with cuvettes or in a 96-well plate format with a plate reader. The method was successfully used as proof of concept, using serum from patients diagnosed with myeloma and serum from healthy donors.

Phospholipid Type Regulates Protein Corona Composition and In Vivo Performance of Lipid Nanodiscs.

Over the years, there has been significant interest in PEGylated lipid-based nanocarriers within the drug delivery field. The inevitable interplay between the nanocarriers and plasma protein plays a pivotal role in their in vivo biological fate. Understanding the factors influencing lipid-based nanocarrier and protein corona interactions is of paramount importance in the design and clinical translation of these nanocarriers. Herein, discoid-shaped lipid nanodiscs (sNDs) composed of different phospholipids with varied lipid tails and head groups were fabricated. We investigated the impact of phospholipid components on the interaction between sNDs and serum proteins, particle stability, and biodistribution. The results showed that all of these lipid nanodiscs remained stable over a 15 day storage period, while their stability in the blood serum demonstrated significant differences. The sND composed of POPG exhibited the least stability due to its potent complement activation capability, resulting in rapid blood clearance. Furthermore, a negative correlation between the complement activation capability and serum stability was identified. Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution experiments indicated that phospholipid composition did not influence the capability of sNDs to evade the accelerated blood clearance phenomenon. Complement deposition on the sND was inversely associated with the area under the curve. Additionally, all lipid nanodiscs exhibited dominant adsorption of apolipoprotein. Remarkably, the POPC-based lipid nanodisc displayed a significantly higher deposition of apolipoprotein E, contributing to an obvious brain distribution, which provides a promising tool for brain-targeted drug delivery.

Differential responses of rumen and fecal fermentation and microbiota of Liaoning cashmere goats after 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester supplementation

The 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid isopropyl ester (HMBi), a rumen protective methionine, has been extensively studied in dairy cows and beef cattle and has been shown to regulate gastrointestinal microbiota and improve production performance. However, knowledge of the application of HMBi on cashmere goats and the simultaneous study of rumen and hindgut microbiota is still limited. In this study, HMBi supplementation increased the concentration of total serum protein, the production of microbial protein in the rumen and feces, as well as butyrate production in the feces. The results of PCoA and PERMANOVA showed no significant difference between the rumen microbiota, but there was a dramatic difference between the fecal microbiota of the two groups of Cashmere goats after the HMBi supplementation. Specifically, in the rumen, HMBi significantly increased the relative abundance of some fiber-degrading bacteria (such as Fibrobacter) compared with the CON group. In the feces, as well as a similar effect as in the rumen (increasing the relative abundance of some fiber-degrading bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae FCS020 group and ASV32), HMBi diets also increased the proliferation of butyrate-producing bacteria (including Oscillospiraceae UCG-005 and Christensenellaceae R-7 group). Overall, these results demonstrated that HMBi could regulate the rumen and fecal microbial composition of Liaoning cashmere goats and benefit the host.

Association between Blood Parameters of Nutritional Status and Functional Status in Extreme Longevity.

The relationship between functional and nutritional status in the geriatric population remains an issue of debate and there is a gap in the knowledge regarding this field in long-lived individuals. The main aim of this study was to assess the association between selected blood parameters of nutritional status and functional status in extreme longevity. The inclusion criteria were centenarians above 100 years of age who were examined at their homes, and blood samples were collected. The study group consisted of 170 individuals (25 men and 145 women, median age 100.75 years [100.29-101.58]). Total protein and albumin serum concentration was significantly lower in long-lived individuals with severe functional decline compared to individuals with preserved functional status, p = 0.000001 and p = 0.0000, respectively. Iron serum level was significantly higher in the group with preserved functional status, p = 0.04. Preserved functional status was positively correlated with total protein serum concentration (p = 0.000), albumin concentration (p = 0.000), and iron serum level (p = 0.029). A negative correlation was stated between c-reactive protein (CRP) and functional status (p = 0.032). Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that the functional status of long-lived individuals depends on total protein (OR 2.89, CI 95% [1.67-5.0]) and albumin concentrations (OR 2.34, CI 95% [1.39-3.92]). Multivariable backward stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that a total protein concentration was the only variable independently related to the preserved functional status (OR 3.2, 95% Cl [1.8-5.67]). In long-lived individuals, the total serum protein and albumin levels are lower in centenarians with severe functional decline, and they correlate with functional status. Total protein serum concentration is the only factor independently related to the preserved functional status in extreme longevity.

Efficacy of in situ and ex situ Biofloc on Growth, Immune-physiological Responses, Nutrient Composition and Muscle Growth-related Gene Expression of Etroplus suratensis

Background: A 90-day trial was carried out to investigate the effects of insitu and exsitu biofloc on the immune-physiological responses, nutrient composition and muscle growth-related gene expression. Methods: The experimental groups consisted of IB-1, IB-2, IB-3 (insitu biofloc), EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 (exsitu biofloc). Capacity of 2.4-ton outdoor tanks were stocked with 4.36±0.1 g pearlspot (Etroplus suratensis) juveniles @ 150/m3. Organic jaggery was used as carbon source to maintain 12:1, 15:1, and 20:1 C/N (IB-1, IB-2, IB-3) ratio for insitu biofloc development and exsitu biofloc mass production and feed supplementation at 10, 20 and 30 % graded level in the diet (EB-1, EB-2, EB-3). Result: At the end of the experiment, insitu biofloc system showed significantly better physiological performances in terms of SOD, RBT, MPO, GLU, CAT, and Serum protein compared to exsitu treatment. In exsitu system, biofloc supplemented at 20% significantly improved nutrient composition. There was a significant effect of insitu and exsitu biofloc treatments on whole-body amino acids like Phenylalanine, Leucine, Isoleucine, methionine, tryptophan, and lysine. However, the targeted muscle-growth-related myo D gene was significantly upregulated in IB-3 insitu and EB-2 exsitu treatments, while the myostatin was downregulated in IB-3 and EB-3. Therefore, this present study suggests the adoption of the insitu biofloc method to obtain better performance of Pearlspot, insitu biofloc at 20:1 C: N level could be used to improve overall health and muscle growth in Etroplus suratensis.

Constitutive knockout of interleukin-6 ameliorates memory deficits and entorhinal astrocytosis in the MRL/lpr mouse model of neuropsychiatric lupus.

Neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE) describes the cognitive, memory, and affective emotional burdens faced by many lupus patients. While NPSLE's pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, clinical imaging studies and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings, namely elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, point to ongoing neuroinflammation in affected patients. Not only linked to systemic autoimmunity, IL-6 can also activate neurotoxic glial cells the brain. A prior pre-clinical study demonstrated that IL-6 can acutely induce a loss of sucrose preference; the present study sought to assess the necessity of chronic IL-6 exposure in the NPSLE-like disease of MRL/lpr lupus mice. We quantified 1308 proteins in individual serum or pooled CSF samples from MRL/lpr and control MRL/mpj mice using protein microarrays. Serum IL-6 levels were plotted against characteristic NPSLE neurobehavioral deficits. Next, IL-6 knockout MRL/lpr (IL-6 KO; n = 15) and IL-6 wildtype MRL/lpr mice (IL-6 WT; n = 15) underwent behavioral testing, focusing on murine correlates of learning and memory deficits, depression, and anxiety. Using qPCR, we quantified the expression of inflammatory genes in the cortex and hippocampus of MRL/lpr IL-6 KO and WT mice. Immunofluorescent staining was performed to quantify numbers of microglia (Iba1 +) and astrocytes (GFAP +) in multiple cortical regions, the hippocampus, and the amygdala. MRL/lpr CSF analyses revealed increases in IL-17, MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 (a priori p-value < 0.1). Serum levels of IL-6 correlated with learning and memory performance (R2 = 0.58; p = 0.03), but not motivated behavior, in MRL/lpr mice. Compared to MRL/lpr IL-6 WT, IL-6 KO mice exhibited improved novelty preference on object placement (45.4% vs 60.2%, p < 0.0001) and object recognition (48.9% vs 67.9%, p = 0.002) but equivalent performance in tests for anxiety-like disease and depression-like behavior. IL-6 KO mice displayed decreased cortical expression of aif1 (microglia; p = 0.049) and gfap (astrocytes; p = 0.044). Correspondingly, IL-6 KO mice exhibited decreased density of GFAP + cells compared to IL-6 WT in the entorhinal cortex (89 vs 148cells/mm2, p = 0.037), an area vital to memory. The inflammatory composition of MRL/lpr CSF resembles that of human NPSLE patients. Increased in the CNS, IL-6 is necessary to the development of learning and memory deficits in the MRL/lpr model of NPSLE. Furthermore, the stimulation of entorhinal astrocytosis appears to be a key mechanism by which IL-6 promotes these behavioral deficits.

Creating Anti‐Biofouling Surfaces by Degradable Main‐chain Polyphosphoester Polymer Brushes

AbstractThe implementation of polymer brush coatings has proven crucial in biomedical and biotechnological applications for controlling biological interactions. Despite the extensive research and use of synthetic polymer coatings, concerns regarding their long‐term non‐biodegradability have arisen. This issue is significant as non‐degradable polymers can lead to complications such as inflammatory responses and bioaccumulation, highlighting the need for polymers that degrade in a controlled manner. To address this, polyphosphonate brushes are synthesized as anti‐biofouling coatings on silicon surfaces via controlled surface‐initiated organocatalytic ring‐opening polymerization (SI‐ROP) of cyclic phospholanes. 2‐Ethyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane and 2‐hexyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane are chosen as the monomers to prepare hydrophilic and hydrophobic brushes with thicknesses up to 55 nm, with a proven degradability in aqueous media. In addition, protein adsorption, bacterial adhesion, and biofilm formation are investigated as a function of the polyphosphonate side chain. Compared to non‐coated surfaces and polyester brushes, hydrophilic poly(2‐ethyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3,2‐dioxaphospholane) brushes have an enhanced resistance toward fouling of albumin, fibrinogen, and diluted human serum proteins, as well as toward Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. The stability and anti‐biofouling performance of hydrophilic polyphosphonate brushes position them as an attractive option as degradable materials for anti‐biofouling matrices on medical devices and/or lubricious coatings for artificial implant technologies.

Thoracic skeletal muscle mass predicts mortality in patients with surgery for pleural empyema: A case control study.

This study investigated the role of the thoracic skeletal muscle mass as a marker of sarcopenia on postoperative mortality in pleural empyema. All consecutive patients (n = 103) undergoing surgery for pleural empyema in a single tertiary referral center between January 2020 and December 2022 were eligible for this study. Thoracic skeletal muscle mass index (TSMI) was determined from preoperative computed tomography scans. The impact of TSMI and other potential risk factors on postoperative in-hospital mortality was retrospectively analyzed. A total of 97 patients were included in this study. The in-hospital mortality rate was 13.4%. In univariable analysis, low values for preoperative TSMI (p = 0.020), low preoperative levels of thrombocytes (p = 0.027) and total serum protein (p = 0.046) and higher preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) category (p = 0.007) were statistically significant risk factors for mortality. In multivariable analysis, only TSMI (p = 0.038, OR 0.933, 95% CI: 0.875-0.996) and low thrombocytes (p = 0.031, OR 0.944, 95% CI: 0.988-0.999) remained independent prognostic factors for mortality. TSMI was a significant prognostic risk factor for postoperative mortality in patients with pleural empyema. TSMI may be suitable for risk stratification in this disease with high morbidity and mortality, which may have further implications for the selection of the best treatment strategy.

Serum protein profiling reveals an inflammation signature as a predictor of early breast cancer survival

BackgroundBreast cancers exhibit considerable heterogeneity in their biology, immunology, and prognosis. Currently, no validated, serum protein-based tools are available to evaluate the prognosis of patients with early breast cancer.MethodsThe study population consisted of 521 early-stage breast cancer patients with a median follow-up of 8.9 years. Additionally, 61 patients with breast fibroadenoma or atypical ductal hyperplasia were included as controls. We used a proximity extension assay to measure the preoperative serum levels of 92 proteins associated with inflammatory and immune response processes. The invasive cancers were randomly split into discovery (n = 413) and validation (n = 108) cohorts for the statistical analyses.ResultsUsing LASSO regression, we identified a nine-protein signature (CCL8, CCL23, CCL28, CSCL10, S100A12, IL10, IL10RB, STAMPB2, and TNFβ) that predicted various survival endpoints more accurately than traditional prognostic factors. In the time-dependent analyses, the prognostic power of the model remained rather stable over time. We also developed and validated a 17-protein model with the potential to differentiate benign breast lesions from malignant lesions (Wilcoxon p < 2.2*10− 16; AUC 0.94).ConclusionsInflammation and immunity-related serum proteins have the potential to rise above the classical prognostic factors of early-stage breast cancer. They may also help to distinguish benign from malignant breast lesions.

Development of D-π-A organic dyes for discriminating HSA from BSA and study on dye-HSA interaction

HSA (human serum albumin), a most abundant protein in blood serum, plays a key role in maintaining human health. Abnormal HSA level is correlated with many diseases, and thus has been used as an essential biomarker for therapeutic monitoring and biomedical diagnosis. Development of small-molecule fluorescent probes allowing the selective and sensitive recognition of HSA in in vitro and in vivo is of fundamental importance in basic biological research as well as medical diagnosis. Herein, we reported a series of new synthesized fluorescent dyes containing D-π-A constitution, which exhibited different optical properties in solution and solid state. Among them, dye M−H−SO3 with a hydrophilic sulfonate group at electron-acceptor part displayed selectivity for discrimination of HSA from BSA and other enzymes. Upon binding of dye M−H−SO3 with HSA, a significant fluorescence enhancement with a turn-on ratio about 96-fold was triggered. The detection limit was estimated to be ∼ 40 nM. Studies on the interaction mechanism revealed that dye M−H−SO3 could bind to site III of HSA with a 1:1 binding stoichiometry. Furthermore, dye M−H−SO3 has been applied to determine HSA in real urine samples with good recoveries, which provided a useful method for HSA analysis in biological fluids.

Predictive Utility of Serum Protein Biomarkers from the Octave MSDA Panel for Optic Neuritis Events in People with Multiple Sclerosis (S42.008)

Predictive Utility of Serum Protein Biomarkers from the Octave MSDA Panel for Optic Neuritis Events in People with Multiple Sclerosis (S42.008)

Diazo-functionalised immunoelectrochemical sensor for the detection of ochratoxin a in foods

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a toxic fungal metabolite that is commonly found in cereals and animal feed. It is economically damaging and potentially hazardous to human health. Herein, we propose an electrochemical immunosensor for the rapid detection of OTA using anti-OTA antibodies and diazonium-functionalized, screen-printed electrodes. We attached 4-aminobenzoic acid to an electrode surface, activated the carboxyl groups on the surface with carbodiimide, and attached an antibody to the diazo layer. Subsequently, we used bovine serum protein as a blocker to prevent non-specific antigens from binding to the antibody. We evaluated the performance of the sensor by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and differential pulse voltammetry. The sensor is highly specific and sensitive, has good linear responses in the range 20–200 ng/mL, a limit of detection of 0.5 ng/mL, and good recoveries of 90.5%–100.9% in spiked samples. It can be stored at 4 °C for approximately 2 weeks, and is highly stable, with a current response variation of no more than 4.6%.