Hunziker P. et al.: Schistosomiasis: from established diagnostic assays to emerging micro/nanotechnology-based rapid field testing for clinical management and epidemiology
Precis. Nanomed. 2020 January;3(1):439-458
POTENTIAL CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected invasive worm disease with a huge disease burden in developing countries, particularly in children, and is seen increasingly in non-endemic regions through transfer by travellers, expatriates, and refugees. Undetected and untreated infections may be responsible for the persistence of transmission. Rapid and accurate diagnosis is the key to treatment and control. So far, parasitological detection methods remain the cornerstone of Schistosoma infection diagnosis in endemic regions, but conventional tests have limited sensitivity, in particular in low-grade infection. Recent advances contribute to improved detection in clinical and field settings. The recent progress in micro- and nanotechnologies opens a road by enabling the design of new miniaturized point-of-care devices and analytical platforms, which can be used for the rapid detection of these infections. This review starts with an overview of currently available laboratory tests and their
Atyabi F. et al.: The Effect of Fibronectin Coating on Protein Corona Structure and Cellular Uptake of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Precis. Nanomed. 2020 January;3(1):459-470
BASIC SCIENCE
Abstract
Protein coating, as an outstanding surface modification strategy, influence the organization of biomolecules in the interface of nanomaterials. In the present study, fibronectin (FN) was used to modify the surface chemistry of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and carboxylated SWNTs (CO2-SWNTs) to analyze its effects on the protein corona composition and cellular uptake. At first, the successful coating of FN on the surface of both SWNTs was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the biomolecular organization of SWNTs and CO2-SWNTs coronas was changed after FN coating based on the evidence obtained from the surface plasmon intensity of the samples. Moreover, the MTT assay and confocal microscopy imaging revealed less cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of SWNTs coronas in comparison to bulk samples, respectively. It is suggested that protein coating of SWNTs can modify the corona pattern and consequently the biological behavior of carbon nanotubes.
Eichenberger RM, Toth I et al.: Development of natural and unnatural amino acid delivery systems against hookworm infection, Precis. Nanomed. 2020 January;3(1):471-482
POTENTIAL CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Abstract
Peptide-based vaccines consist of short antigen fragments derived from a specific pathogen. Alone, these peptide fragments are poorly or non-immunogenic; however, when incorporated into a proper delivery system, they can trigger strong immune responses. To eliminate the need for toxic and often ineffective oral adjuvants, we designed single molecule-based self-adjuvating vaccines against hookworms using natural and unnatural hydrophobic amino acids. Two vaccine conjugates were synthesized, consisting of B-cell epitope p3, derived from the hookworm Na-APR-1 protein; universal T-helper peptide P25; and either double copies of unnatural lipoamino acid (2-amino-D,L-eicosanoic acid), or ten copies of the natural amino acid leucine. After challenge with the model hookworm, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, mice orally immunized with the conjugates, but without adjuvant, generated antibody responses against the hookworm epitope, resulting in significantly reduced worm and egg burdens compared to control mice. We have demonstrated that vaccine nanoparticles composed exclusively of natural amino acids can be effective even when administered orally.
The Effect of Fibronectin Coating on Protein Corona Structure and Cellular Uptake of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
