synthesis-characterization-application-superparamagnetic-iron-oxide

Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoprobes for Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Detection

A molecular imaging probe comprising superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and Mycobacterium tuberculosis surface antibody (MtbsAb) was ...

Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital

A considerable amount of studies have been conducted to investigate the interactions of biological fluids with nanoparticle surfaces, which exhibit a high affinity for proteins and particles. However, the mechanisms underlying these interactions have not been elucidated, particularly as they relate to human health. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and mice bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as models for protein-particle conjugates, we characterized the physicochemical modifications of carbon blacks (CB) with 23nm or 65nm in diameter after protein treatment. Adsorbed BALF-containing proteins were quantified and identified by pathways, biological analyses and protein classification. Significant modifications of the physicochemistry of CB were induced by the addition of BSA. Enzyme modulators and hydrolase predominately interacted with CB, with protein-to-CB interactions that were associated with the coagulation pathways. Additionally, our results revealed that an acute-phase response could be activated by these proteins. With regard to human health, the present study revealed that the CB can react with proteins (∼55kDa and 70kDa) after inhalation and may modify the functional structures of lung proteins, leading to the activation of acute-inflammatory responses in the lungs. 

Characterization of the interactions between protein and carbon black.

Long-term oxygen therapy has become standard treatment for patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency. However, patterns of long-term home oxygen therapy have not been well studied in Taiwan. Oxygen concentrator systems are commonly used in Taiwan, but liquid oxygen delivery systems are portable and may provide advantages over the concentrator system. This study compared oxygen usage between patients from a liquid oxygen group (LOG) and an oxygen concentrator group (OCG). The authors also assessed the physiologic responses of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) to ambulatory oxygen use at home.

Comparison of domiciliary oxygen using liquid oxygen and concentrator in northern Taiwan.

Exposure to particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) in size is an urgent issue for the protection of human health. Chemicals with PM2.5 collected during a period of intensive haze episodes in Beijing (BJ), Xian (XA) and Hong Kong (HK) were characterised for organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), total carbon (TC) and free amino acids. BALB/c mice underwent aspiration exposure of 50 or 150 μg of PM2.5/mouse (BJ, XA and HK) on days 1 and 7 and were euthanised on day 14. The effects of these exposures on E-cadherin and inflammatory responses in the mouse lungs were analysed. The PM2.5 chemicals consisted of significant amounts of OC: 36.6 ± 17.2 μg/m(3) for BJ, 38.8 ± 3.8 μg/m(3) for XA and 7.2 ± 1.4 μg/m(3) for HK. A total of 23 free amino compounds for the PM2.5 samples were analysed: 4075 ± 1578 pmol/m(3) for BJ, 4718 ± 2190 pmol/m(3) for XA and 1145 ± 213 pmol/m(3) for HK. Exposure to PM2.5 resulted in the suppression of E-cadherin levels in the lung tissues and increased IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The alterations in E-cadherin, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-10 were associated with OC, TC and some amino acids, particularly non-protein-type amino acids. These data emphasised the deleterious health effects of PM2.5.

Effects of non-protein-type amino acids of fine particulate matter on E-cadherin and inflammatory responses in mice.

Air pollution is known to increase the risk of pneumonia. However, the effects of air pollution on the pleural effusion of patients with pneumonia are unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate alterations in inflammatory⁻immune biomarkers by air pollution in patients with pneumonia by analyzing their pleural effusion. Patients who had undergone thoracentesis to drain their pleural effusion in a hospital were recruited for this study. Patients with pneumonia and those with congestive heart failure respectively served as the case and control groups. We observed that an increase of 1 ppb in one-year NO₂ was associated with a decrease of 0.105 ng/mL in cluster of differentiation 62 (CD62) (95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.085, -0.004,  < 0.05) in the pleural effusion. Furthermore, we observed that an increase in one-year 1 ppb of NO₂ was associated with a decrease of 0.026 ng/mL in molybdenum (Mo) (95% CI = -0.138, -0.020,  < 0.05). An increase in one-year 1 ppb of SO₂ was associated with a decrease of 0.531 ng/mL in zinc (95% CI = -0.164, -0.006,  < 0.05). Also, an increase in one-year 1 ppb of O₃ was associated with a decrease of 0.025 ng/mL in Mo (95% CI = -0.372, -0.053,  < 0.05). In conclusion, air pollution exposure, especially gaseous pollution, may be associated with the regulation of immune responses and changes in metal levels in the pleural effusion of pneumonia patients.

Chun-Nin Lee

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital

Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoprobes for Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Detection

Chun-Nin Lee

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital

Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoprobes for Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Detection

Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine