scholarly journals Morphological Response in Cancer Spheroids for Screening Photodynamic Therapy Parameters

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose R. Aguilar Cosme ◽  
Dan C. Gagui ◽  
Helen E. Bryant ◽  
Frederik Claeyssens
Keyword(s):  
Photodynamic Therapy ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Membrane Damage ◽  
Morphological Response ◽  
Biological Assays ◽  
Drug Responsiveness ◽  
Cancer Spheroids ◽  
Tumour Characteristics ◽  
Best Fit

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment which uses light-activated compounds to produce reactive oxygen species, leading to membrane damage and cell death. Multicellular cancer spheroids are a preferable alternative for PDT evaluation in comparison to monolayer cell cultures due to their ability to better mimic in vivo avascular tumour characteristics such as hypoxia and cell-cell interactions, low cost, and ease of production. However, inconsistent growth kinetics and drug responsiveness causes poor experimental reproducibility and limits their usefulness. Herein, we used image analysis to establish a link between human melanoma C8161 spheroid morphology and drug responsiveness. Spheroids were pre-selected based on sphericity, area, and diameter, reducing variation in experimental groups before treatment. Spheroid morphology after PDT was analyzed using AnaSP and ReViSP, MATLAB-based open-source software, obtaining nine different parameters. Spheroids displayed a linear response between biological assays and morphology, with area (R2 = 0.7219) and volume (R2 = 0.6138) showing the best fit. Sphericity, convexity, and solidity were confirmed as poor standalone indicators of spheroid viability. Our results indicate spheroid morphometric parameters can be used to accurately screen inefficient treatment combinations of novel compounds.

A technique for protecting delicate specimens during processing

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 982-983
Author(s):  
R.J. Mount ◽  
R.V. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Basilar Membrane ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Organ Of Corti ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Sensory Epithelium ◽  
Physical Damage ◽  
Air Drying ◽  
Specimen Handling ◽  
Two Component

The sensory end organ of the ear, the organ of Corti, rests on a thin basilar membrane which lies between the bone of the central modiolus and the bony wall of the cochlea. In vivo, the organ of Corti is protected by the bony wall which totally surrounds it. In order to examine the sensory epithelium by scanning electron microscopy it is necessary to dissect away the protective bone and expose the region of interest (Fig. 1). This leaves the fragile organ of Corti susceptible to physical damage during subsequent handling. In our laboratory cochlear specimens, after dissection, are routinely prepared by the O-T- O-T-O technique, critical point dried and then lightly sputter coated with gold. This processing involves considerable specimen handling including several hours on a rotator during which the organ of Corti is at risk of being physically damaged. The following procedure uses low cost, readily available materials to hold the specimen during processing ,preventing physical damage while allowing an unhindered exchange of fluids.Following fixation, the cochlea is dehydrated to 70% ethanol then dissected under ethanol to prevent air drying. The holder is prepared by punching a hole in the flexible snap cap of a Wheaton vial with a paper hole punch. A small amount of two component epoxy putty is well mixed then pushed through the hole in the cap. The putty on the inner cap is formed into a “cup” to hold the specimen (Fig. 2), the putty on the outside is smoothed into a “button” to give good attachment even when the cap is flexed during handling (Fig. 3). The cap is submerged in the 70% ethanol, the bone at the base of the cochlea is seated into the cup and the sides of the cup squeezed with forceps to grip it (Fig.4). Several types of epoxy putty have been tried, most are either soluble in ethanol to some degree or do not set in ethanol. The only putty we find successful is “DUROtm MASTERMENDtm Epoxy Extra Strength Ribbon” (Loctite Corp., Cleveland, Ohio), this is a blue and yellow ribbon which is kneaded to form a green putty, it is available at many hardware stores.

Ruthenium Complexes for 1- and 2-Photon Photodynamic Therapy: From In Silico Prediction to In Vivo Applications

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Karges ◽  
Shi Kuang ◽  
Federica Maschietto ◽  
Olivier Blacque ◽  
Ilaria Ciofini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photodynamic Therapy ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Aqueous Solubility ◽  
The Body ◽  
Photon Absorption ◽  
Multicellular Tumor Spheroids ◽  
Spectral Window ◽  
Photon Excitation ◽  
Polypyridine Complexes

<div>The use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) against cancer has received increasing attention overthe recent years. However, the application of the currently approved photosensitizers (PSs) is somehow limited by their poor aqueous solubility, aggregation, photobleaching and slow clearance from the body. To overcome these limitations, there is a need for the development of new classes of PSs with ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes currently gaining momentum. However, these compounds generally lack significant absorption in the biological spectral window, limiting their application to treat deep-seated or large tumors. To overcome this drawback, ruthenium(II) polypyridine complexes designed in silico with (E,E’)-4,4´-bisstyryl 2,2´-bipyridine ligands showed impressive 1- and 2-Photon absorption up to a magnitude higher than the ones published so far. While non-toxic in the dark, these compounds were found phototoxic in various 2D monolayer cells, 3D multicellular tumor spheroids and be able to eradicate a multiresistant tumor inside a mouse model upon clinically relevant 1-Photon and 2 Photon excitation.</div>

Competitive Biosorption of Pb(II) and Cu(II) by Functionalised Micropogonias undulates Scales

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua O. Ighalo ◽  
Ibrahim O. Tijani ◽  
Oluwaseun J. Ajala ◽  
Fisayo O. Ayandele ◽  
Omodele A. Eletta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adsorption Capacity ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Fish Scales ◽  
Wet Impregnation ◽  
Monolayer Adsorption ◽  
Competitive Biosorption ◽  
Langmuir Isotherm Model ◽  
Pseudo Second Order ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Best Fit

Background: Modified bio-based adsorbents from plant sources can be used for pollution remediation by adsorption due to their low cost and availability in large quantities. Objective: In this study, the competitive biosorption of Pb(II) and Cu(II) by Micropogonias undulates functionalised fish scales (FFS) was conducted. The functionalisation was done by wet impregnation with Fe2+. Method: The biosorbent was characterised by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Branueur–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyses. Results: The major constituents in the FFS were calcium and phosphorus from the collagen and apatite on the scales. Optimum removal efficiency for both metals was >99% at 10 g/l dosage. It was observed that the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo second order kinetics model were the best fit for the experimental data. The monolayer adsorption capacity of FFS for Pb(II) and Cu(II) was observed to be 96.15 mg/g and 100 mg/g respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that the competitive biosorption of heavy metals can be achieved (at a good adsorption capacity) using functionalised Micropogonias undulates fish scales.

Triticum aestivum Assay - A Useful Tool for Environmental Monitoring and Toxicity Assessment

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 1005-1018
Author(s):  
Alexandra JITĂREANU ◽  
Ioana-Cezara CABA ◽  
Adriana TRIFAN ◽  
Silvica PĂDUREANU ◽  
Luminița AGOROAEI
Keyword(s):  
Triticum Aestivum ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
Rapid Test ◽  
Toxicity Assessment ◽  
Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Present Review ◽  
Digital Object Identifier ◽  
Biological Assays

The present review summarizes the literature data regarding the application of Triticum aestivum assay as an alternative method for toxicity assessment of environmental pollutants or potential therapeutic agents. Plant bioassays present several advantages among other biological assays (simplicity, low cost, rapid test activation, a wide array of assessment endpoints). They present a good correlation with animal and human cells models, and are a reliable tool for genotoxicity assessment. Furthermore, in the context of toxicology guidelines that promote the substitution of assays using animal models with other bioassays, genotoxicity assays using higher plants models have gained in popularity. The present review focuses on three major aspects regarding Triticum aestivum assay - its utility in environmental pollution monitoring, its application in genotoxicity assessment studies, and its application in phytotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials.   ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********

Porphyrin-lipid nanovesicles (Porphysomes) are effective photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy

Nanophotonics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keegan Guidolin ◽  
Lili Ding ◽  
Juan Chen ◽  
Brian C. Wilson ◽  
Gang Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Photodynamic Therapy ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Intrinsic Structure ◽  
Therapeutic Applications ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Theranostic Agents ◽  
Negative Controls ◽  
And Control ◽  
Complete Tumor

Abstract Porphysomes (PS) are liposome-like nanoparticles comprising pyropheophorbide-conjugated phospholipids that have demonstrated potential as multimodal theranostic agents for applications that include phototherapies, targeted drug delivery and in vivo fluorescence, photoacoustic, magnetic resonance or positron emission imaging. Previous therapeutic applications focused primarily on photothermal therapy (PTT) and suggested that PSs require target-triggered activation for use as photodynamic therapy (PDT) sensitizers. Here, athymic nude mice bearing subcutaneous A549 human lung tumors were randomized into treatment and control groups: PS-PDT at various doses, PS-only and no treatment negative controls, as well as positive controls using the clinical photosensitizer Photofrin. Animals were followed for 30 days post-treatment. PS-PDT at all doses demonstrated a significant tumor ablative effect, with the greatest effect seen with 10 mg/kg PS at a drug-light interval of 24 h. By comparison, negative controls (PS-only, Photofrin-only, and no treatment) showed uncontrolled tumor growth. PDT with Photofrin at 5 mg/kg and PS at 10 mg/kg demonstrated similar tumor growth suppression and complete tumor response rates (15 vs. 25%, p = 0.52). Hence, porphysome nanoparticles are an effective PDT agent and have the additional advantages of multimodal diagnostic and therapeutic applications arising from their intrinsic structure. Porphysomes may also be the first single all-organic agent capable of concurrent PDT and PTT.

scholarly journals Site-Specific Dual-Labeling of a VHH with a Chelator and a Photosensitizer for Nuclear Imaging and Targeted Photodynamic Therapy of EGFR-Positive Tumors

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 428
Author(s):  
Emma Renard ◽  
Estel Collado Camps ◽  
Coline Canovas ◽  
Annemarie Kip ◽  
Martin Gotthardt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Photodynamic Therapy ◽  
Fluorescence Imaging ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Growth Factor Receptor ◽  
Nuclear Imaging ◽  
A431 Cells ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Variable Domains ◽  
Diagnostic Probe

Variable domains of heavy chain only antibodies (VHHs) are valuable agents for application in tumor theranostics upon conjugation to both a diagnostic probe and a therapeutic compound. Here, we optimized site-specific conjugation of the chelator DTPA and the photosensitizer IRDye700DX to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) VHH 7D12, for applications in nuclear imaging and photodynamic therapy. 7D12 was site-specifically equipped with bimodal probe DTPA-tetrazine-IRDye700DX using the dichlorotetrazine conjugation platform. Binding, internalization and light-induced toxicity of DTPA-IRDye700DX-7D12 were determined using EGFR-overexpressing A431 cells. Finally, ex vivo biodistribution of DTPA-IRDye700DX-7D12 in A431 tumor-bearing mice was performed, and tumor homing was visualized with SPECT and fluorescence imaging. DTPA-IRDye700DX-7D12 was retrieved with a protein recovery of 43%, and a degree of labeling of 0.56. Spectral properties of the IRDye700DX were retained upon conjugation. 111In-labeled DTPA-IRDye700DX-7D12 bound specifically to A431 cells, and they were effectively killed upon illumination. DTPA-IRDye700DX-7D12 homed to A431 xenografts in vivo, and this could be visualized with both SPECT and fluorescence imaging. In conclusion, the dichlorotetrazine platform offers a feasible method for site-specific dual-labeling of VHH 7D12, retaining binding affinity and therapeutic efficacy. The flexibility of the described approach makes it easy to vary the nature of the probes for other combinations of diagnostic and therapeutic compounds.

scholarly journals Organ-specific, multimodal, wireless optoelectronics for high-throughput phenotyping of peripheral neural pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Woo Seok Kim ◽  
Sungcheol Hong ◽  
Milenka Gamero ◽  
Vivekanand Jeevakumar ◽  
Clay M. Smithhart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Optoelectronic Device ◽  
Antenna System ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Organ Specific ◽  
Coil Antenna ◽  
Sensory Fibers

AbstractThe vagus nerve supports diverse autonomic functions and behaviors important for health and survival. To understand how specific components of the vagus contribute to behaviors and long-term physiological effects, it is critical to modulate their activity with anatomical specificity in awake, freely behaving conditions using reliable methods. Here, we introduce an organ-specific scalable, multimodal, wireless optoelectronic device for precise and chronic optogenetic manipulations in vivo. When combined with an advanced, coil-antenna system and a multiplexing strategy for powering 8 individual homecages using a single RF transmitter, the proposed wireless telemetry enables low cost, high-throughput, and precise functional mapping of peripheral neural circuits, including long-term behavioral and physiological measurements. Deployment of these technologies reveals an unexpected role for stomach, non-stretch vagal sensory fibers in suppressing appetite and demonstrates the durability of the miniature wireless device inside harsh gastric conditions.

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