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Metabolites Sep 2023Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) has arisen as a relevant tool in biological analysis, offering simplified sampling procedures and enhanced stability. Most of... (Review)
Review
Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) has arisen as a relevant tool in biological analysis, offering simplified sampling procedures and enhanced stability. Most of the attention VAMS has received in the past decade has been from pharmaceutical research, with most of the published work employing VAMS targeting drugs or other exogenous compounds, such as toxins and pollutants. However, biomarker analysis by employing blood microsampling has high promise. Herein, a comprehensive review on the applicability of VAMS devices for the analysis of endogenous metabolites/biomarkers was performed. The study presents a full overview of the analysis process, incorporating all the steps in sample treatment and validation parameters. Overall, VAMS devices have proven to be reliable tools for the analysis of endogenous analytes with biological importance, often offering improved analyte stability in comparison with blood under ambient conditions as well as a convenient and straightforward sample acquisition model.
PubMed: 37887363
DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101038 -
Journal of Advanced Research Jan 2023Food processing plays an important role in the modern industry because food quality and security directly affect human health, life safety, and social and economic... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Food processing plays an important role in the modern industry because food quality and security directly affect human health, life safety, and social and economic development. Accurate, efficient, and sensitive detection technology is the basis for ensuring food quality and security. Optosensor-based technology with the advantage of fast and visual real-time detection can be used to detect pesticides, metal ions, antibiotics, and nutrients in food. As excellent optical centres, self-assembled peptide-based nanostructures possess attractive advantages, such as simple preparation methods, controllable morphology, tunable functionality, and inherent biocompatibility.
AIM OF REVIEW
Self-assembled peptide nanostructures with good fabrication yield, stability, dispersity in a complex sample matrix, biocompatibility, and environmental friendliness are ideal development goals in the future. Owing to its flexible and unique optical properties, some short peptide self-assemblies can possibly be used to achieve the purpose of rapid and sensitive detection of composition in food, agriculture, and the environment, expanding the understanding and application of peptide-based optics in analytical chemistry.
KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPT OF REVIEW
The self-assembly process of peptides is driven by noncovalent interactions, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking, which are the key factors for obtaining stable self-assembled peptide nanostructures with peptides serving as assembly units. Controllable morphology of self-assembled peptide nanostructures can be achieved through adjustment in the type, concentration, and pH of organic solvents and peptides. The highly ordered nanostructures formed by the self-assembly of peptides have been proven to be novel biological structures and can be used for the construction of optosensing platforms in biological or other systems. Optosensing platforms make use of signal changes, including optical signals and electrical signals caused by specific reactions between analytes and active substances, to determine the content or concentration of an analyte.
Topics: Humans; Food Analysis; Peptides; Nanostructures; Solvents; Static Electricity
PubMed: 36585113
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2022.02.001 -
RSC Advances Sep 2020We report a novel bioluminescent aptasensor, which consists of 2'-F-RNA aptamer modules joined into a bi-specific aptamer construct. One aptamer module binds the...
We report a novel bioluminescent aptasensor, which consists of 2'-F-RNA aptamer modules joined into a bi-specific aptamer construct. One aptamer module binds the analyte, then after structural rearrangement the second module recruits non-covalently Ca-dependent photoprotein obelin from the solution, thus providing a bioluminescent signal. This concept allows using free protein as a reporter, which brings such advantages as no need for aptamer-protein conjugation, a possibility of thermal re-folding of aptamer component with no harm to a protein, and simpler detection protocol. We developed the new 2'-F-RNA aptamer for obelin, and proposed the strategy for engineering structure-switching bi-modular aptamer constructs which bind the analyte and the obelin in a sequential manner. With the use of hemoglobin as a model analyte, we showed the feasibility of utilizing the aptasensor in a fast and straightforward bioluminescent microplate assay. With a proper design of a secondary structure, this strategy of aptasensor engineering might be further extended to bi-specific aptamer-based bioluminescent sensors for other analytes of interest.
PubMed: 35516485
DOI: 10.1039/d0ra05117a -
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis Dec 2020In recent years, carbon dots (C-dots) have gained appreciable interest owing to their unique optical properties, including tunable fluorescence, stability against... (Review)
Review
In recent years, carbon dots (C-dots) have gained appreciable interest owing to their unique optical properties, including tunable fluorescence, stability against photobleaching and photoblinking, and strong fluorescence. Simple and low-cost hydrothermal and electrochemical approaches have been widely used in the preparation of biocompatible and high-quality C-dots. Various C-dots have been used for the quantitation of small analytes, mostly based on analyte induced fluorescence quenching. Depending on the nature of precursors, synthetic conditions (such as reaction temperature and time), and surface conjugation, multi-function C-dots can be prepared and used in diagnostics and therapeutics. Their strong fluorescence and photostability, enables use in cell imaging. Their biological activity from the surface residues and capability of generating reactive oxygen species, have allowed many C-dots to become candidates as antibacterial and anticancer reagents. After suitable conjugation, biocompatible and fluorescent C-dots can be used for diagnostics and therapeutics, thus, showing their great potential in the area of theranostics.
PubMed: 35696139
DOI: 10.38212/2224-6614.1154 -
Computer Methods and Programs in... 2022COVID-19 has severely affected almost every aspect of society worldwide. During the uncertainties of this pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines were a new hope. In particular,...
COVID-19 has severely affected almost every aspect of society worldwide. During the uncertainties of this pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines were a new hope. In particular, Covid's monitoring of the information, big data analysis played a major role. What started as the basic use of big data analysis is the core component of worldly initiatives Therefore, based on enlightening experiences of big data application for fighting the pandemic, this research focuses on the ethical objectives to be promoted in vaccine delivery, assessing the potential effect of big data analytics on reaching these goals by enabling people to receive a digital passport or certificate.
PubMed: 35783471
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpbup.2022.100062 -
Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers &... Jan 2022Phthalates and phenols from the environment have been inconsistently associated with breast cancer risk or mortality. Studies on the potential modifying role of...
BACKGROUND
Phthalates and phenols from the environment have been inconsistently associated with breast cancer risk or mortality. Studies on the potential modifying role of leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a biomarker of biological aging, on these associations are lacking.
METHODS
We included 1,268 women from the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project with available data on phthalate and phenol analytes and LTL measurements. Twenty-two phthalate and phenol analytes were measured in spot urines and LTL was measured in blood. The modifying effect of LTL on the associations of individual analyte with breast cancer risk as well as mortalities was estimated using interaction terms between LTL and urinary concentrations of analyte in logistic regression and Cox regression models, respectively. ORs, HRs, and corresponding 95% confidence intervals for a one-unit (ln μg/g creatinine) increase of urinary phthalate/phenol level were estimated at 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles of LTL.
RESULTS
LTL significantly ( < 0.05) modified associations between 11 of 22 of urinary phthalate/phenols analytes and breast cancer risk. An inverse association between phthalate/phenols analytes and breast cancer risk at shorter LTL and a positive association at longer LTL was generally suggested. No modifying effect was found for LTL on the association between these phthalate/phenols analytes and breast cancer mortalities.
CONCLUSIONS
LTL may modify the associations between phthalate and phenol exposures and breast cancer risk.
IMPACT
This study is the first study that determined the modifying effect of biological aging in the association between environmental chemical exposure and breast cancer risk.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Case-Control Studies; Environmental Exposure; Female; Humans; Leukocytes; Middle Aged; New York; Phenols; Phthalic Acids; Risk Factors; Telomere
PubMed: 34697054
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-21-0830 -
Annals of Biomedical Engineering Oct 2020Molecular diagnostics have traditionally relied on discrete biological substances as diagnostic markers. In recent years however, advances in on-chip biomarker screening... (Review)
Review
Molecular diagnostics have traditionally relied on discrete biological substances as diagnostic markers. In recent years however, advances in on-chip biomarker screening technologies and data analytics have enabled signature-based diagnostics. Such diagnostics aim to utilize unique combinations of multiple biomarkers or diagnostic 'fingerprints' rather than discrete analyte measurements. This approach has shown to improve both diagnostic accuracy and diagnostic specificity. In this review, signature-based diagnostics enabled by microfluidic and micro-/nano- technologies will be reviewed with a focus on device design and data analysis pipelines and methodologies. With increasing amounts of data available from microfluidic biomarker screening, isolation, and detection platforms, advanced data handling and analytics approaches can be employed. Thus, current data analysis approaches including machine learning and recent advances with image processing, along with potential future directions will be explored. Lastly, the needs and gaps in current literature will be elucidated to inform future efforts towards development of molecular diagnostics and biomarker screening technologies.
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Humans; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Machine Learning; Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
PubMed: 32816167
DOI: 10.1007/s10439-020-02593-y -
Cell Reports Nov 2022Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) show that genetic factors contribute to the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and blood analyte levels. Here, we...
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) show that genetic factors contribute to the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and blood analyte levels. Here, we utilize GWAS summary statistics to study the shared genetic influences (pleiotropy) between severe COVID-19 and 344 blood analytes at the genome, gene, and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) levels. Our pleiotropy analyses genetically link blood levels of 71 analytes to severe COVID-19 in at least one of the three levels of investigation-suggesting shared biological mechanisms or causal relationships. Six analytes (alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, apolipoprotein B, C-reactive protein, triglycerides, and urate) display evidence of pleiotropy with severe COVID-19 at all three levels. Causality analyses indicate that higher triglycerides levels causally increase the risk of severe COVID-19, thereby providing important support for the use of lipid-lowering drugs such as statins and fibrates to prevent severe COVID-19.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Genome-Wide Association Study; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Triglycerides; Risk Factors
PubMed: 36400032
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111708 -
Journal of AOAC International Mar 2023Laboratory sampling is a significant source of error in feed testing. Proficiency testing programs such as the Association of American Feed Control Officials Proficiency...
BACKGROUND
Laboratory sampling is a significant source of error in feed testing. Proficiency testing programs such as the Association of American Feed Control Officials Proficiency Testing Program are an effective means of assessing error in and among analytical methods. However, all proficiency test items are comminuted and blended to control variability among items, effectively minimizing sampling error. Currently there is no mechanism for monitoring sampling error among laboratories.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this work was to investigate the feasibility of a proficiency testing program for laboratory sampling methods and provide insight into a program to advance the performance of sampling in laboratories.
METHODS
The study involved the fabrication of identical feed test items from feed ingredients and shipping the uncomminuted materials to volunteer laboratories. The volunteer laboratories followed in-house procedures for selecting test portions for routine feed tests. Tests on all the test portions for a single analyte were performed by a single laboratory, so that the variability in test results could be attributed to laboratory sampling processes to select test portions.
RESULTS
The average RSD, %, for Item A and Item B, respectively, were as follows: protein, 5.08 and 5.23; non-protein nitrogen, 8.90 and 16.6; crude fat, 3.45 and 5.67; vitamin A, 33.9 and 26.9; calcium, 21.9 and 23.6; zinc, 17.9 and 27.9; and copper, 17.4 and 27.9.
CONCLUSION
This study suggests that a proficiency testing program for laboratory sampling is feasible with manual manufacture of the test items, and data can be used to monitor laboratory sampling proficiency and also to compare the performance of different laboratory sampling methods.
HIGHLIGHTS
The data illustrates that each analyte has unique distributional and compositional heterogeneity, thus unique sampling error, even when multiple analytes are determined from a single test portion.
Topics: United States; Laboratories; Laboratory Proficiency Testing; Specimen Handling; Animal Feed
PubMed: 36156140
DOI: 10.1093/jaoacint/qsac117 -
ACS Sensors May 2024Bioanalyte collection by blood draw is a painful process, prone to needle phobia and injuries. Microneedles can be engineered to penetrate the epidermal skin barrier and... (Review)
Review
Bioanalyte collection by blood draw is a painful process, prone to needle phobia and injuries. Microneedles can be engineered to penetrate the epidermal skin barrier and collect analytes from the interstitial fluid, arising as a safe, painless, and effective alternative to hypodermic needles. Although there are plenty of reviews on the various types of microneedles and their use as drug delivery systems, there is a lack of systematization on the application of polymeric microneedles for diagnosis. In this review, we focus on the current state of the art of this field, while providing information on safety, preclinical and clinical trials, and market distribution, to outline what we believe will be the future of health monitoring.
Topics: Needles; Humans; Polymers; Drug Delivery Systems; Animals; Microinjections; Monitoring, Physiologic
PubMed: 38654679
DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c00612