Analyst Blog

Using nanoparticles for diagnosis and drug release

A vast array of illnesses can be diagnosed by detecting specific proteins or fragments of DNA in the body. But is it possible to build a 2-in-1 system which both detects a disease and provides treatment?

Researchers at Nankai University, China, have created the first functioning system for simultaneous diagnosis and controlled drug release, a so-called “diagnospy” carrier.   To demonstrate the concept, De-Ming Kong and co-workers constructed a mesoporous phosphonate-TiO₂ nanoparticle scaffold loaded with ibuprofen. The amino groups on the phosphonates hold fluorescein-labelled single strands of DNA in place over the porous surface, trapping the drug molecules inside. When a complementary target strand is present, a displacement reaction uncaps the pores and the drug is released.

This mechanism relies on the highly specific affinity between complementary strands of DNA, or between proteins and their aptamers, resulting in a very sensitive detection and drug delivery system. The simultaneous sense-and-release approach is hoped to make treatments more efficient and convenient for patients in the future.

To find out more, please access the full article below. It will be free to read for the next two weeks.

Mesoporous phosphonate-TiO₂ nanoparticles for simultaneous bioresponsive sensing and controlled drug release
Hui Li,  Tian-Yi Ma,  De-Ming Kong and Zhong-Yong Yuan
Analyst, 2013, 138, 1084-1090
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36631B

The cell effectively uses the mechanism of pH fluctuation as a form of regulatory control for diverse physiological functions. Over the years, optical based methods have been used to develop chemosensors to measure the dynamics of intracellular pH, some of which have demonstrated considerable potential for biological applications.

Wei Huang and colleagues from the Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, China, have developed the latest optical pH probes by making use of cyclometalated iridium (III) complexes, a well known phosphorescent emitter. Huang’s group has expanded the repertoire of useful chemosensors by synthesizing and characterizing the photophysical properties of two iridium (III) complexes using a novel substituent, carboxylic-acid.

Find out more about their discovery by accessing the link below. This paper will be free to read for the next two weeks.

Effect of pH on the photophysical properties of two new carboxylic-substituted iridium(III) complexes
Jiena Weng ,  Qunbo Mei ,  Weiwei Jiang ,  Quli Fan ,  Bihai Tong ,  Qidan Ling and Wei Huang
Analyst, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36298H

pH effect on carboxylic-substituted iridium(III) complex

Along with Analyst Issue 5, here is a list of selected HOT articles for you to read all about. Topics vary from lipid imaging by mass spectrometry to determination of drugs by titanium oxide nanoparticles. Featured below are the work of Asit Baran Mandal and colleagues who present a new single molecular FRET-based sensor for determination of iron, and a study from the National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, on direct monitoring of chemical transformations. All these papers will be free to read until February 28th. Have a read now!

Lipid imaging by mass spectrometry – a review
David Gode and Dietrich A. Volmer
Analyst, 2013,138, 1289-1315
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36337B

Single molecular FRET-based sensor for detection of Fe2+

A highly selective and efficient single molecular FRET based sensor for ratiometric detection of Fe3+ ions
Narendra Reddy Chereddy ,  Sathiah Thennarasu and Asit Baran Mandal
Analyst, 2013,138, 1334-1337
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36577H

Impact of charge state on gas-phase behaviors of noncovalent protein complexes in collision induced dissociation and surface induced dissociation
Mowei Zhou ,  Shai Dagan and Vicki H. Wysocki
Analyst, 2013,138, 1353-1362
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36525A

TLC with MALDI-MS to monitor chemical transformations

Direct monitoring of chemical transformations by combining thin layer chromatography with nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry
Chun-Chi Chen ,  Yung-Lin Yang ,  Chun-Lin Ou ,  Chih-Hung Chou ,  Chih-Chuang Liaw and Po-Chiao Lin
Analyst, 2013,138, 1379-1385
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36423A

Mass spectrometry sequencing of transfer ribonucleic acids by the comparative analysis of RNA digests (CARD) approach
Siwei Li and Patrick A. Limbach
Analyst, 2013,138, 1386-1394
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36515D 

Adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of imipramine, trimipramine and desipramine employing titanium dioxide nanoparticles and an Amberlite XAD-2 modified glassy carbon paste electrode
Bankim J. Sanghavi and Ashwini K. Srivastava
Analyst, 2013,138, 1395-1404
DOI: 10.1039/C2AN36330E

Electrical, enzymatic graphene biosensing of 5-aminosalicylic acid
Pratima Labroo and Yue Cui
Analyst, 2013,138, 1325-1328
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36660J

Ruqin Yu and colleagues from the University of Hunan, China, have developed a label-free fluorescent detection system for glutathione (GSH) and cysteine (Cys). 

Hg2+ mediated fluorescent sensing strategy for detection of GSH and Cys

Three key interactions are necessary for the development of this assay: two single stranded DNA with thymine-thymine (T•T) mismatches stabilised in the presence of Hg2+, GSH and Cys interaction with Hg2+ with much higher binding affinity than T•T mismatches, and interaction of N-methyl porphyrin IX (MMP) with G-quadruplex structures, which leads to increased fluorescence.
The researchers  judiciously designed two sequences of DNA such that inter-molecular T•T mismatches were stabilised in the presence of Hg2+, inhibiting one of the stands from forming a G-quadruplex.  When the Hg2+ interacts with GSH or Cys, an intramolecular G-quadruplex is formed.  The G-quadruplex interacts with the NMM producing a marked increase in fluorescence.  Contrarily, in the absence of GSH and Cys, the Hg2+ is available to stabilise the mismatched duplex, the G-quadruplex is not formed, no NMM binding occurs and no fluorescent increase is observed.

This system was successfully used to detect GSH or Cys from protein extracted from human serum samples. To read more about this work, please access the full article below. It will be free to read until February 28th.

A Hg2+-mediated label-free fluorescent sensing strategy based on G-quadruplex formation for selective detection of glutathione and cysteine
Jingjin Zhao ,  Chunfei Chen ,  Liangliang Zhang ,  Jianhui Jiang ,  Guoli Shen and Ruqin Yu
Analyst, 2013, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C3AN36657J