Репозиторий Университета

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Background: A large number of systemic diseases can be linked to oral candida pathogenicity. The global trend of invasive candidiasis has increased progressively and is often accentuated by increasing Candida albicans resistance to the most common antifungal medications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising therapeutic approach for oral microbial infections. A new formulation of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5%ALA) in a thermosetting gel (t) (5%ALA-PTt) was patented and recently has become available on the market. However, its antimicrobial properties, whether mediated or not by PDT, are not yet known. In this work we characterised them. Methods: We isolated a strain of C. albicans from plaques on the oral mucus membrane of an infected patient. Colonies of this strain were exposed for 1 24 h, to 5%ALA-PTt, 5%ALA-PTt buffered to pH 6.5 (the pH of the oral mucosa) (5%ALA-PTtb) or not exposed (control). The 1 h-exposed samples were also irradiated at a wavelength of 630 nm with 0.14 watts (W) and 0.37 W/cm2 for 7 min at a distance of <1 mm. Results and conclusion: The 5% ALA-PTt preparation was shown to be effective in reducing the growth of biofilm and inoculum of C. albicans. This effect seems to be linked to the intrinsic characteristics of 5%ALA-TPt, such acidic pH and the induction of free radical production. This outcome was significantly enhanced by the effect of PDT at relatively short incubation and irradiation times, which resulted in growth inhibition of both treated biofilm and inoculum by ∼80% and ∼95%, respectively.

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd The lens capsule, a thin specialized basement membrane that encloses the crystalline lens, is essential for both the structural and biomechanical integrity of the lens. Knowing the mechanical properties of the lens capsule is important for understanding its physiological functioning, role in accommodation, age-related changes, and for providing a better treatment of a cataract. In this review, we have described the techniques used for the lens capsule biomechanical testing on the macro- and microscale and summarized the current knowledge about its mechanical properties.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Background: A large number of systemic diseases can be linked to oral candida pathogenicity. The global trend of invasive candidiasis has increased progressively and is often accentuated by increasing Candida albicans resistance to the most common antifungal medications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising therapeutic approach for oral microbial infections. A new formulation of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5%ALA) in a thermosetting gel (t) (5%ALA-PTt) was patented and recently has become available on the market. However, its antimicrobial properties, whether mediated or not by PDT, are not yet known. In this work we characterised them. Methods: We isolated a strain of C. albicans from plaques on the oral mucus membrane of an infected patient. Colonies of this strain were exposed for 1 24 h, to 5%ALA-PTt, 5%ALA-PTt buffered to pH 6.5 (the pH of the oral mucosa) (5%ALA-PTtb) or not exposed (control). The 1 h-exposed samples were also irradiated at a wavelength of 630 nm with 0.14 watts (W) and 0.37 W/cm2 for 7 min at a distance of <1 mm. Results and conclusion: The 5% ALA-PTt preparation was shown to be effective in reducing the growth of biofilm and inoculum of C. albicans. This effect seems to be linked to the intrinsic characteristics of 5%ALA-TPt, such acidic pH and the induction of free radical production. This outcome was significantly enhanced by the effect of PDT at relatively short incubation and irradiation times, which resulted in growth inhibition of both treated biofilm and inoculum by ∼80% and ∼95%, respectively.

© 2019 Elsevier Ltd The lens capsule, a thin specialized basement membrane that encloses the crystalline lens, is essential for both the structural and biomechanical integrity of the lens. Knowing the mechanical properties of the lens capsule is important for understanding its physiological functioning, role in accommodation, age-related changes, and for providing a better treatment of a cataract. In this review, we have described the techniques used for the lens capsule biomechanical testing on the macro- and microscale and summarized the current knowledge about its mechanical properties.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Background: A large number of systemic diseases can be linked to oral candida pathogenicity. The global trend of invasive candidiasis has increased progressively and is often accentuated by increasing Candida albicans resistance to the most common antifungal medications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising therapeutic approach for oral microbial infections. A new formulation of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5%ALA) in a thermosetting gel (t) (5%ALA-PTt) was patented and recently has become available on the market. However, its antimicrobial properties, whether mediated or not by PDT, are not yet known. In this work we characterised them. Methods: We isolated a strain of C. albicans from plaques on the oral mucus membrane of an infected patient. Colonies of this strain were exposed for 1 24 h, to 5%ALA-PTt, 5%ALA-PTt buffered to pH 6.5 (the pH of the oral mucosa) (5%ALA-PTtb) or not exposed (control). The 1 h-exposed samples were also irradiated at a wavelength of 630 nm with 0.14 watts (W) and 0.37 W/cm2 for 7 min at a distance of <1 mm. Results and conclusion: The 5% ALA-PTt preparation was shown to be effective in reducing the growth of biofilm and inoculum of C. albicans. This effect seems to be linked to the intrinsic characteristics of 5%ALA-TPt, such acidic pH and the induction of free radical production. This outcome was significantly enhanced by the effect of PDT at relatively short incubation and irradiation times, which resulted in growth inhibition of both treated biofilm and inoculum by ∼80% and ∼95%, respectively.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Background: A large number of systemic diseases can be linked to oral candida pathogenicity. The global trend of invasive candidiasis has increased progressively and is often accentuated by increasing Candida albicans resistance to the most common antifungal medications. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising therapeutic approach for oral microbial infections. A new formulation of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5%ALA) in a thermosetting gel (t) (5%ALA-PTt) was patented and recently has become available on the market. However, its antimicrobial properties, whether mediated or not by PDT, are not yet known. In this work we characterised them. Methods: We isolated a strain of C. albicans from plaques on the oral mucus membrane of an infected patient. Colonies of this strain were exposed for 1 24 h, to 5%ALA-PTt, 5%ALA-PTt buffered to pH 6.5 (the pH of the oral mucosa) (5%ALA-PTtb) or not exposed (control). The 1 h-exposed samples were also irradiated at a wavelength of 630 nm with 0.14 watts (W) and 0.37 W/cm2 for 7 min at a distance of <1 mm. Results and conclusion: The 5% ALA-PTt preparation was shown to be effective in reducing the growth of biofilm and inoculum of C. albicans. This effect seems to be linked to the intrinsic characteristics of 5%ALA-TPt, such acidic pH and the induction of free radical production. This outcome was significantly enhanced by the effect of PDT at relatively short incubation and irradiation times, which resulted in growth inhibition of both treated biofilm and inoculum by ∼80% and ∼95%, respectively.

© 2020 The Authors Background: Haemostatic activation and hypercoagulability are frequently observed in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), increase risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and have been implicated in tumour proliferation and progression. To date, the association of haemostatic biomarkers with oncologic outcomes including overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and disease control rate (DCR) is incompletely understood. Methods: Within the framework of the Vienna Cancer and Thrombosis Study, a prospective observational cohort study, we conducted an exploratory analysis to investigate the association of six known biomarkers of haemostasis with oncologic outcomes in 99 patients with mCRC prior to chemotherapy initiation. Results: Patients with high levels of factor VIII activity (FVIII), D-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) and fibrinogen (defined as levels >75th percentile) had significantly shorter median OS than patients with lower levels. Elevation of four biomarkers was associated with mortality in multivariable analysis, adjusting for age, sex, number of metastatic sites and VTE (hazard ratio [95% CI] for death per doubling of levels: FVIII: 2.06 [1.28–3.30]; sP-selectin: 1.55 [1.07–2.24]; D-dimer: 1.40 [1.18–1.65]; F1 + 2: 1.64 [1.10–2.46]). Patients with elevated levels had numerically shorter median PFS across all markers and disease control rate (DCR) was significantly smaller in those with high levels of FVIII and F1 + 2 (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] for DCR per doubling of levels: 0.23 [0.09–0.62] and 0.36 [0.16–0.82]) compared to patients with lower levels. Conclusion: Specific elevated haemostatic biomarkers are associated with higher mortality and partially with worse response to chemotherapy in patients with mCRC.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. The results of the study of composites based on bovine serum albumin (BSA) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are presented. Nanocomposites were created by evaporation of the water-albumin dispersion with nanotubes using diode laser with temperature control. Two types of nanotubes were used. SWCNT I were synthesized using the electric arc method, SWCNT II were synthesized using the gas phase method. SWCNT I had a diameter and length less than SWCNT II. The mechanism of interaction between BSA and SWCNT in solid nanocomposites is considered. An experimental and theoretical studies of the interaction between aspartic (Asp) and glutamic (Glu) amino acids located on the outer surface of BSA and nanotubes using of vibrational spectroscopy (Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy) was carried out. The possibility of nanotubes functionalization by oxygen atoms of negative amino acid residues Asp and Glu, which are on the outer surface of BSA, is shown by molecular modeling. The formation of covalent bonds between BSA and SWCNT in nanocomposites with different concentrations of nanotubes (0.01, 0.1 and 1 g/l) was confirmed by vibrational spectra. The covalent interaction between BSA with SWCNT under the laser irradiation leads to the conformational changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of albumin. This is confirmed by a significant decrease in the intensity of the absorption bands in the high-frequency region. The calculation of the vibrational spectra of the three Glycine:Glycine, Glutamic acid:Threonine and Aspartic acid:Lysine complexes, which take into account hydrogen, ion-dipole and ion-ion bonds, showed that a disturbance in the intermolecular interaction between amino acid residues led to significant decrease in the intensity of absorption bands in the region of stretching vibrations bonds OH and NH. From the Raman spectra, it was found that a significant number of defects in SWCNT is caused by the covalent attachment of oxygen atoms to the graphene surface of nanotubes. An increase in the diameter of nanotubes (4 nm) has practically no effect on the absorption spectrum of nanocomposite, while measuring the concentration of SWCNT affects the FTIR spectra. This confirmed the hydrophobic interaction between BSA and SWCNT. Thus, it was shown that BSA solid nanocomposites with CNTs can interact either with the help of hydrophobic forces or with the formation of covalent bonds, which depends on the diameter of the used nanotubes. The viability of connective fibroblast tissue cells on nanocomposites with both types of SWCNT was demonstrated. It was found that nanocomposites based on SWCNT I provide slightly better compatibility of their structure with fibroblasts. It allows to achieve better cell adhesion to the nanocomposite surface. These criteria make extensive use of scaffold nanocomposites in biomedicine, depending on the requirements for their quality and application.

© 2018 The Authors Radionuclide-based imaging of molecular therapeutic targets might facilitate stratifying patients for specific biotherapeutics. New type of imaging probes, based on designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), have demonstrated excellent contrast of imaging of human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2) expression in preclinical models. We hypothesized that labeling approaches, which result in lipophilic radiometabolites (non-residualizing labels), would provide the best imaging contrast for DARPins that internalize slowly after binding to cancer cells. The hypothesis was tested using DARPin Ec1 that binds to epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). EpCAM is a promising therapeutic target. Ec1 was labeled with 125I using two methods to obtain the non-residualizing labels, while residualizing labels were obtained by labeling it with 99mTc. All labeled Ec1 variants preserved target specificity and picomolar binding affinity to EpCAM-expressing pancreatic adenocarcinoma BxPC-3 cells. In murine models, all the variants provided similar tumor uptake. However, 125I-PIB-H6-Ec1 had noticeably lower retention in normal tissues, which provided appreciably higher tumor-to-organ ratios. Furthermore, 125I-PIB-H6-Ec1 demonstrated the highest imaging contrast in preclinical models than any other EpCAM-imaging agent tested so far. In conclusion, DARPin Ec1 in combination with a non-residualizing label is a promising probe for imaging EpCAM expression a few hours after injection.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. In the present study, porous three-dimensional (3D) printed titanium (Ti) implants of complex shape and predefined architecture were produced by selective laser sintering (SLS) technique. Electrochemical deposition combined with biomimetic approach was applied to low-temperature coating of these implants with metastable octacalcium phosphate (OCP) achieved via chemical transformation of dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and compressive strength analyses were applied to study the chemical composition, morphology and mechanical properties of the final OCP coating on the titanium surface. In vivo comparative study of the porous 3D printed Ti and OCP coated Ti implants has been performed using critical-size crania model, porous 3D printed Ti and coated implants were compared. A statistically significant difference in the newly formed bone thickness for OCP coated Ti implants was detected already at 6 weeks after implantation. Our results provide an experimental proof of a new concept of OCP coating for cranioplasty clinical applications.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. The results of the study of composites based on bovine serum albumin (BSA) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are presented. Nanocomposites were created by evaporation of the water-albumin dispersion with nanotubes using diode laser with temperature control. Two types of nanotubes were used. SWCNT I were synthesized using the electric arc method, SWCNT II were synthesized using the gas phase method. SWCNT I had a diameter and length less than SWCNT II. The mechanism of interaction between BSA and SWCNT in solid nanocomposites is considered. An experimental and theoretical studies of the interaction between aspartic (Asp) and glutamic (Glu) amino acids located on the outer surface of BSA and nanotubes using of vibrational spectroscopy (Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy) was carried out. The possibility of nanotubes functionalization by oxygen atoms of negative amino acid residues Asp and Glu, which are on the outer surface of BSA, is shown by molecular modeling. The formation of covalent bonds between BSA and SWCNT in nanocomposites with different concentrations of nanotubes (0.01, 0.1 and 1 g/l) was confirmed by vibrational spectra. The covalent interaction between BSA with SWCNT under the laser irradiation leads to the conformational changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of albumin. This is confirmed by a significant decrease in the intensity of the absorption bands in the high-frequency region. The calculation of the vibrational spectra of the three Glycine:Glycine, Glutamic acid:Threonine and Aspartic acid:Lysine complexes, which take into account hydrogen, ion-dipole and ion-ion bonds, showed that a disturbance in the intermolecular interaction between amino acid residues led to significant decrease in the intensity of absorption bands in the region of stretching vibrations bonds OH and NH. From the Raman spectra, it was found that a significant number of defects in SWCNT is caused by the covalent attachment of oxygen atoms to the graphene surface of nanotubes. An increase in the diameter of nanotubes (4 nm) has practically no effect on the absorption spectrum of nanocomposite, while measuring the concentration of SWCNT affects the FTIR spectra. This confirmed the hydrophobic interaction between BSA and SWCNT. Thus, it was shown that BSA solid nanocomposites with CNTs can interact either with the help of hydrophobic forces or with the formation of covalent bonds, which depends on the diameter of the used nanotubes. The viability of connective fibroblast tissue cells on nanocomposites with both types of SWCNT was demonstrated. It was found that nanocomposites based on SWCNT I provide slightly better compatibility of their structure with fibroblasts. It allows to achieve better cell adhesion to the nanocomposite surface. These criteria make extensive use of scaffold nanocomposites in biomedicine, depending on the requirements for their quality and application.

© 2018 The Authors Radionuclide-based imaging of molecular therapeutic targets might facilitate stratifying patients for specific biotherapeutics. New type of imaging probes, based on designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), have demonstrated excellent contrast of imaging of human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2) expression in preclinical models. We hypothesized that labeling approaches, which result in lipophilic radiometabolites (non-residualizing labels), would provide the best imaging contrast for DARPins that internalize slowly after binding to cancer cells. The hypothesis was tested using DARPin Ec1 that binds to epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). EpCAM is a promising therapeutic target. Ec1 was labeled with 125I using two methods to obtain the non-residualizing labels, while residualizing labels were obtained by labeling it with 99mTc. All labeled Ec1 variants preserved target specificity and picomolar binding affinity to EpCAM-expressing pancreatic adenocarcinoma BxPC-3 cells. In murine models, all the variants provided similar tumor uptake. However, 125I-PIB-H6-Ec1 had noticeably lower retention in normal tissues, which provided appreciably higher tumor-to-organ ratios. Furthermore, 125I-PIB-H6-Ec1 demonstrated the highest imaging contrast in preclinical models than any other EpCAM-imaging agent tested so far. In conclusion, DARPin Ec1 in combination with a non-residualizing label is a promising probe for imaging EpCAM expression a few hours after injection.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. In the present study, porous three-dimensional (3D) printed titanium (Ti) implants of complex shape and predefined architecture were produced by selective laser sintering (SLS) technique. Electrochemical deposition combined with biomimetic approach was applied to low-temperature coating of these implants with metastable octacalcium phosphate (OCP) achieved via chemical transformation of dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and compressive strength analyses were applied to study the chemical composition, morphology and mechanical properties of the final OCP coating on the titanium surface. In vivo comparative study of the porous 3D printed Ti and OCP coated Ti implants has been performed using critical-size crania model, porous 3D printed Ti and coated implants were compared. A statistically significant difference in the newly formed bone thickness for OCP coated Ti implants was detected already at 6 weeks after implantation. Our results provide an experimental proof of a new concept of OCP coating for cranioplasty clinical applications.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. The results of the study of composites based on bovine serum albumin (BSA) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are presented. Nanocomposites were created by evaporation of the water-albumin dispersion with nanotubes using diode laser with temperature control. Two types of nanotubes were used. SWCNT I were synthesized using the electric arc method, SWCNT II were synthesized using the gas phase method. SWCNT I had a diameter and length less than SWCNT II. The mechanism of interaction between BSA and SWCNT in solid nanocomposites is considered. An experimental and theoretical studies of the interaction between aspartic (Asp) and glutamic (Glu) amino acids located on the outer surface of BSA and nanotubes using of vibrational spectroscopy (Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy) was carried out. The possibility of nanotubes functionalization by oxygen atoms of negative amino acid residues Asp and Glu, which are on the outer surface of BSA, is shown by molecular modeling. The formation of covalent bonds between BSA and SWCNT in nanocomposites with different concentrations of nanotubes (0.01, 0.1 and 1 g/l) was confirmed by vibrational spectra. The covalent interaction between BSA with SWCNT under the laser irradiation leads to the conformational changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of albumin. This is confirmed by a significant decrease in the intensity of the absorption bands in the high-frequency region. The calculation of the vibrational spectra of the three Glycine:Glycine, Glutamic acid:Threonine and Aspartic acid:Lysine complexes, which take into account hydrogen, ion-dipole and ion-ion bonds, showed that a disturbance in the intermolecular interaction between amino acid residues led to significant decrease in the intensity of absorption bands in the region of stretching vibrations bonds OH and NH. From the Raman spectra, it was found that a significant number of defects in SWCNT is caused by the covalent attachment of oxygen atoms to the graphene surface of nanotubes. An increase in the diameter of nanotubes (4 nm) has practically no effect on the absorption spectrum of nanocomposite, while measuring the concentration of SWCNT affects the FTIR spectra. This confirmed the hydrophobic interaction between BSA and SWCNT. Thus, it was shown that BSA solid nanocomposites with CNTs can interact either with the help of hydrophobic forces or with the formation of covalent bonds, which depends on the diameter of the used nanotubes. The viability of connective fibroblast tissue cells on nanocomposites with both types of SWCNT was demonstrated. It was found that nanocomposites based on SWCNT I provide slightly better compatibility of their structure with fibroblasts. It allows to achieve better cell adhesion to the nanocomposite surface. These criteria make extensive use of scaffold nanocomposites in biomedicine, depending on the requirements for their quality and application.

© 2018 The Authors Radionuclide-based imaging of molecular therapeutic targets might facilitate stratifying patients for specific biotherapeutics. New type of imaging probes, based on designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), have demonstrated excellent contrast of imaging of human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2) expression in preclinical models. We hypothesized that labeling approaches, which result in lipophilic radiometabolites (non-residualizing labels), would provide the best imaging contrast for DARPins that internalize slowly after binding to cancer cells. The hypothesis was tested using DARPin Ec1 that binds to epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). EpCAM is a promising therapeutic target. Ec1 was labeled with 125I using two methods to obtain the non-residualizing labels, while residualizing labels were obtained by labeling it with 99mTc. All labeled Ec1 variants preserved target specificity and picomolar binding affinity to EpCAM-expressing pancreatic adenocarcinoma BxPC-3 cells. In murine models, all the variants provided similar tumor uptake. However, 125I-PIB-H6-Ec1 had noticeably lower retention in normal tissues, which provided appreciably higher tumor-to-organ ratios. Furthermore, 125I-PIB-H6-Ec1 demonstrated the highest imaging contrast in preclinical models than any other EpCAM-imaging agent tested so far. In conclusion, DARPin Ec1 in combination with a non-residualizing label is a promising probe for imaging EpCAM expression a few hours after injection.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. In the present study, porous three-dimensional (3D) printed titanium (Ti) implants of complex shape and predefined architecture were produced by selective laser sintering (SLS) technique. Electrochemical deposition combined with biomimetic approach was applied to low-temperature coating of these implants with metastable octacalcium phosphate (OCP) achieved via chemical transformation of dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and compressive strength analyses were applied to study the chemical composition, morphology and mechanical properties of the final OCP coating on the titanium surface. In vivo comparative study of the porous 3D printed Ti and OCP coated Ti implants has been performed using critical-size crania model, porous 3D printed Ti and coated implants were compared. A statistically significant difference in the newly formed bone thickness for OCP coated Ti implants was detected already at 6 weeks after implantation. Our results provide an experimental proof of a new concept of OCP coating for cranioplasty clinical applications.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. The results of the study of composites based on bovine serum albumin (BSA) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are presented. Nanocomposites were created by evaporation of the water-albumin dispersion with nanotubes using diode laser with temperature control. Two types of nanotubes were used. SWCNT I were synthesized using the electric arc method, SWCNT II were synthesized using the gas phase method. SWCNT I had a diameter and length less than SWCNT II. The mechanism of interaction between BSA and SWCNT in solid nanocomposites is considered. An experimental and theoretical studies of the interaction between aspartic (Asp) and glutamic (Glu) amino acids located on the outer surface of BSA and nanotubes using of vibrational spectroscopy (Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy) was carried out. The possibility of nanotubes functionalization by oxygen atoms of negative amino acid residues Asp and Glu, which are on the outer surface of BSA, is shown by molecular modeling. The formation of covalent bonds between BSA and SWCNT in nanocomposites with different concentrations of nanotubes (0.01, 0.1 and 1 g/l) was confirmed by vibrational spectra. The covalent interaction between BSA with SWCNT under the laser irradiation leads to the conformational changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of albumin. This is confirmed by a significant decrease in the intensity of the absorption bands in the high-frequency region. The calculation of the vibrational spectra of the three Glycine:Glycine, Glutamic acid:Threonine and Aspartic acid:Lysine complexes, which take into account hydrogen, ion-dipole and ion-ion bonds, showed that a disturbance in the intermolecular interaction between amino acid residues led to significant decrease in the intensity of absorption bands in the region of stretching vibrations bonds OH and NH. From the Raman spectra, it was found that a significant number of defects in SWCNT is caused by the covalent attachment of oxygen atoms to the graphene surface of nanotubes. An increase in the diameter of nanotubes (4 nm) has practically no effect on the absorption spectrum of nanocomposite, while measuring the concentration of SWCNT affects the FTIR spectra. This confirmed the hydrophobic interaction between BSA and SWCNT. Thus, it was shown that BSA solid nanocomposites with CNTs can interact either with the help of hydrophobic forces or with the formation of covalent bonds, which depends on the diameter of the used nanotubes. The viability of connective fibroblast tissue cells on nanocomposites with both types of SWCNT was demonstrated. It was found that nanocomposites based on SWCNT I provide slightly better compatibility of their structure with fibroblasts. It allows to achieve better cell adhesion to the nanocomposite surface. These criteria make extensive use of scaffold nanocomposites in biomedicine, depending on the requirements for their quality and application.

© 2018 The Authors Radionuclide-based imaging of molecular therapeutic targets might facilitate stratifying patients for specific biotherapeutics. New type of imaging probes, based on designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), have demonstrated excellent contrast of imaging of human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2) expression in preclinical models. We hypothesized that labeling approaches, which result in lipophilic radiometabolites (non-residualizing labels), would provide the best imaging contrast for DARPins that internalize slowly after binding to cancer cells. The hypothesis was tested using DARPin Ec1 that binds to epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM). EpCAM is a promising therapeutic target. Ec1 was labeled with 125I using two methods to obtain the non-residualizing labels, while residualizing labels were obtained by labeling it with 99mTc. All labeled Ec1 variants preserved target specificity and picomolar binding affinity to EpCAM-expressing pancreatic adenocarcinoma BxPC-3 cells. In murine models, all the variants provided similar tumor uptake. However, 125I-PIB-H6-Ec1 had noticeably lower retention in normal tissues, which provided appreciably higher tumor-to-organ ratios. Furthermore, 125I-PIB-H6-Ec1 demonstrated the highest imaging contrast in preclinical models than any other EpCAM-imaging agent tested so far. In conclusion, DARPin Ec1 in combination with a non-residualizing label is a promising probe for imaging EpCAM expression a few hours after injection.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. In the present study, porous three-dimensional (3D) printed titanium (Ti) implants of complex shape and predefined architecture were produced by selective laser sintering (SLS) technique. Electrochemical deposition combined with biomimetic approach was applied to low-temperature coating of these implants with metastable octacalcium phosphate (OCP) achieved via chemical transformation of dicalcium phosphate dehydrate (DCPD). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and compressive strength analyses were applied to study the chemical composition, morphology and mechanical properties of the final OCP coating on the titanium surface. In vivo comparative study of the porous 3D printed Ti and OCP coated Ti implants has been performed using critical-size crania model, porous 3D printed Ti and coated implants were compared. A statistically significant difference in the newly formed bone thickness for OCP coated Ti implants was detected already at 6 weeks after implantation. Our results provide an experimental proof of a new concept of OCP coating for cranioplasty clinical applications.

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. The results of the study of composites based on bovine serum albumin (BSA) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) are presented. Nanocomposites were created by evaporation of the water-albumin dispersion with nanotubes using diode laser with temperature control. Two types of nanotubes were used. SWCNT I were synthesized using the electric arc method, SWCNT II were synthesized using the gas phase method. SWCNT I had a diameter and length less than SWCNT II. The mechanism of interaction between BSA and SWCNT in solid nanocomposites is considered. An experimental and theoretical studies of the interaction between aspartic (Asp) and glutamic (Glu) amino acids located on the outer surface of BSA and nanotubes using of vibrational spectroscopy (Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy) was carried out. The possibility of nanotubes functionalization by oxygen atoms of negative amino acid residues Asp and Glu, which are on the outer surface of BSA, is shown by molecular modeling. The formation of covalent bonds between BSA and SWCNT in nanocomposites with different concentrations of nanotubes (0.01, 0.1 and 1 g/l) was confirmed by vibrational spectra. The covalent interaction between BSA with SWCNT under the laser irradiation leads to the conformational changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of albumin. This is confirmed by a significant decrease in the intensity of the absorption bands in the high-frequency region. The calculation of the vibrational spectra of the three Glycine:Glycine, Glutamic acid:Threonine and Aspartic acid:Lysine complexes, which take into account hydrogen, ion-dipole and ion-ion bonds, showed that a disturbance in the intermolecular interaction between amino acid residues led to significant decrease in the intensity of absorption bands in the region of stretching vibrations bonds OH and NH. From the Raman spectra, it was found that a significant number of defects in SWCNT is caused by the covalent attachment of oxygen atoms to the graphene surface of nanotubes. An increase in the diameter of nanotubes (4 nm) has practically no effect on the absorption spectrum of nanocomposite, while measuring the concentration of SWCNT affects the FTIR spectra. This confirmed the hydrophobic interaction between BSA and SWCNT. Thus, it was shown that BSA solid nanocomposites with CNTs can interact either with the help of hydrophobic forces or with the formation of covalent bonds, which depends on the diameter of the used nanotubes. The viability of connective fibroblast tissue cells on nanocomposites with both types of SWCNT was demonstrated. It was found that nanocomposites based on SWCNT I provide slightly better compatibility of their structure with fibroblasts. It allows to achieve better cell adhesion to the nanocomposite surface. These criteria make extensive use of scaffold nanocomposites in biomedicine, depending on the requirements for their quality and application.