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Nano Letters Oct 2021Organic molecules and specifically bio-organic systems are attractive for applications due to their low cost, variability, environmental friendliness, and facile...
Organic molecules and specifically bio-organic systems are attractive for applications due to their low cost, variability, environmental friendliness, and facile manufacturing in a bottom-up fashion. However, due to their relatively low conductivity, their actual application is very limited. Chiral metallo-bio-organic crystals, on the other hand, have improved conduction and in addition interesting magnetic properties. We developed a spin transistor using these crystals and based on the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect. This device features a memristor type behavior, which depend on trapping both charges and spins. The spin properties are monitored by Hall signal and by an external magnetic field. The spin transistor exhibits nonlinear drain-source currents, with multilevel controlled states generated by the magnetization of the source. Varying the source magnetization enables a six-level readout for the two-terminal device. The simplicity of the device paves the way for its technological application in organic electronics and bioelectronics.
Topics: Electric Conductivity; Electronics; Magnetic Fields; Magnetics; Metals
PubMed: 34662128
DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c01865 -
Journal of Nanobiotechnology Dec 2022Cancer immunotherapy has shown promising therapeutic results in the clinic, albeit only in a limited number of cancer types, and its efficacy remains less than... (Review)
Review
Cancer immunotherapy has shown promising therapeutic results in the clinic, albeit only in a limited number of cancer types, and its efficacy remains less than satisfactory. Nanoparticle-based approaches have been shown to increase the response to immunotherapies to address this limitation. In particular, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a powerful manipulator are an appealing option for comprehensively regulating the immune system in vivo due to their unique magnetically responsive properties and high biocompatibility. This review focuses on assessing the potential applications of MNPs in enhancing tumor accumulation of immunotherapeutic agents and immunogenicity, improving immune cell infiltration, and creating an immunotherapy-sensitive environment. We summarize recent progress in the application of MNP-based manipulators to augment the efficacy of immunotherapy, by MNPs and their multiple magnetically responsive effects under different types of external magnetic field. Furthermore, we highlight the mechanisms underlying the promotion of antitumor immunity, including magnetically actuated delivery and controlled release of immunotherapeutic agents, tracking and visualization of immune response in real time, and magnetic regulation of innate/adaptive immune cells. Finally, we consider perspectives and challenges in MNP-based immunotherapy.
Topics: Humans; Immunotherapy; Neoplasms; Magnetics; Magnetic Fields; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 36587223
DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01760-8 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Mar 2022Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have various applications in biomedicine, including imaging, drug delivery and release, genetic modification, cell guidance, and... (Review)
Review
Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have various applications in biomedicine, including imaging, drug delivery and release, genetic modification, cell guidance, and patterning. By combining MNPs with polymers, magnetic nanocomposites (MNCs) with diverse morphologies (core-shell particles, matrix-dispersed particles, microspheres, etc.) can be generated. These MNCs retain the ability of MNPs to be controlled remotely using external magnetic fields. While the effects of these biomaterials on the cell biology are still poorly understood, such information can help the biophysical modulation of various cellular functions, including proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation. After recalling the basic properties of MNPs and polymers, and describing their coassembly into nanocomposites, this review focuses on how polymeric MNCs can be used in several ways to affect cell behavior. A special emphasis is given to 3D cell culture models and transplantable grafts, which are used for regenerative medicine, underlining the impact of MNCs in regulating stem cell differentiation and engineering living tissues. Recent advances in the use of MNCs for tissue regeneration are critically discussed, particularly with regard to their prospective involvement in human therapy and in the construction of advanced functional materials such as magnetically operated biomedical robots.
Topics: Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Magnetic Fields; Magnetics; Nanocomposites; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 34741417
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202104079 -
BJS Open May 2022Magnets and button batteries (BBs) are dangerous ingested foreign bodies in children. The scale and consequences of this public health issue in the UK are unknown. This... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Magnets and button batteries (BBs) are dangerous ingested foreign bodies in children. The scale and consequences of this public health issue in the UK are unknown. This study aims to report the current management strategies and outcomes associated with paediatric magnet and BB ingestion in the UK.
METHODS
This multicentre, retrospective observational study involved 13 UK tertiary paediatric surgery centres. Children aged under 17 years, admitted between 1 October 2019 and 30 September 2020, following magnet, or BB ingestion were included. Demographics, investigations, management, and complications were recorded.
RESULTS
In total, 263 patients were identified, comprising 146 (55.5 per cent) magnet, 112 (42.6 per cent) BB, and 5 (1.9 per cent) mixed magnet BB ingestions. Median (interquartile range) age was 4.8 (2.0-9.1) years and 47.5 per cent were female. In the magnet group, 38 (26.0 per cent) children swallowed single magnets, 3 of whom underwent endoscopic retrieval for oesophageal or gastric impaction. Of the 108 (74.0 per cent) children who swallowed multiple magnets, 51 (47.2 per cent) required endoscopic or surgical intervention, predominantly for failure of magnets to progress on serial imaging. Bowel perforations occurred in 10 children (9.3 per cent). Younger age and ingestion of greater numbers of multiple magnets were independently associated with surgery. BB ingestion caused morbidity in 14 children (12.5 per cent) and life-threatening injuries in two (1.8 per cent); the majority were caused by oesophageal BBs (64.3 per cent).
CONCLUSION
Multiple magnet and BB ingestions are associated with significant morbidity. Action must be taken at an international level to regulate the sale of magnets and BBs, and to raise awareness of the risks that these objects pose to children.
Topics: Child; Eating; Female; Hospitalization; Humans; Intestinal Perforation; Magnets; Male; Specialties, Surgical
PubMed: 35657136
DOI: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrac056 -
Biosensors Sep 2021Cytokines are a large group of small proteins secreted by immune and non-immune cells in response to external stimuli. Much attention has been given to the application... (Review)
Review
Cytokines are a large group of small proteins secreted by immune and non-immune cells in response to external stimuli. Much attention has been given to the application of cytokines' detection in early disease diagnosis/monitoring and therapeutic response assessment. To date, a wide range of assays are available for cytokines detection. However, in specific applications, multiplexed or continuous measurements of cytokines with wearable biosensing devices are highly desirable. For such efforts, various nanomaterials have been extensively investigated due to their extraordinary properties, such as high surface area and controllable particle size and shape, which leads to their tunable optical emission, electrical, and magnetic properties. Different types of nanomaterials such as noble metal, metal oxide, and carbon nanoparticles have been explored for various biosensing applications. Advances in nanomaterial synthesis and device development have led to significant progress in pushing the limit of cytokine detection. This article reviews currently used methods for cytokines detection and new nanotechnology-based biosensors for ultrasensitive cytokine detection.
Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Cytokines; Equipment Design; Humans; Magnetics; Nanostructures; Nanotechnology
PubMed: 34677320
DOI: 10.3390/bios11100364 -
Nature Communications Jun 2022Contactless digital tags are increasingly penetrating into many areas of human activities. Digitalization of our environment requires an ever growing number of objects...
Contactless digital tags are increasingly penetrating into many areas of human activities. Digitalization of our environment requires an ever growing number of objects to be identified and tracked with machine-readable labels. Molecules offer immense potential to serve for this purpose, but our ability to write, read, and communicate molecular code with current technology remains limited. Here we show that magnetic patterns can be synthetically encoded into stable molecular scaffolds with paramagnetic lanthanide ions to write digital code into molecules and their mixtures. Owing to the directional character of magnetic susceptibility tensors, each sequence of lanthanides built into one molecule produces a unique magnetic outcome. Multiplexing of the encoded molecules provides a high number of codes that grows double-exponentially with the number of available paramagnetic ions. The codes are readable by nuclear magnetic resonance in the radiofrequency (RF) spectrum, analogously to the macroscopic technology of RF identification. A prototype molecular system capable of 16-bit (65,535 codes) encoding is presented. Future optimized systems can conceivably provide 64-bit (~10^19 codes) or higher encoding to cover the labelling needs in drug discovery, anti-counterfeiting and other areas.
Topics: Humans; Lanthanoid Series Elements; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Magnetics
PubMed: 35676253
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30811-9 -
International Journal of Hyperthermia :... Jul 2020Hyperthermia therapy (HT) of cancer is a well-known treatment approach. With the advent of new technologies, HT approaches are now important for the treatment of brain... (Review)
Review
Hyperthermia therapy (HT) of cancer is a well-known treatment approach. With the advent of new technologies, HT approaches are now important for the treatment of brain tumors. We review current clinical applications of HT in neuro-oncology and ongoing preclinical research aiming to advance HT approaches to clinical practice. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is currently the most widely utilized thermal ablation approach in clinical practice mainly for the treatment of recurrent or deep-seated tumors in the brain. Magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT), which relies on the use of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and alternating magnetic fields (AMFs), is a new quite promising HT treatment approach for brain tumors. Initial MHT clinical studies in combination with fractionated radiation therapy (RT) in patients have been completed in Europe with encouraging results. Another combination treatment with HT that warrants further investigation is immunotherapy. HT approaches for brain tumors will continue to a play an important role in neuro-oncology.
Topics: Brain Neoplasms; Europe; Humans; Hyperthermia, Induced; Laser Therapy; Magnetics; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 32672123
DOI: 10.1080/02656736.2020.1772512 -
BioTechniques Feb 2022The use of magnetic tweezers for single-molecule micromanipulation has evolved rapidly since its introduction approximately 30 years ago. Magnetic tweezers have... (Review)
Review
The use of magnetic tweezers for single-molecule micromanipulation has evolved rapidly since its introduction approximately 30 years ago. Magnetic tweezers have provided important insights into the dynamic activity of DNA-processing enzymes, as well as detailed, high-resolution information on the mechanical properties of DNA. These successes have been enabled by major advancements in the hardware and software components of these devices. These developments now allow for a much richer mechanistic understanding of the functions and mechanisms of DNA-binding enzymes. In this review, the authors briefly discuss the fundamental principles of magnetic tweezers and describe the advancements that have made it a superlative tool for investigating, at the single-molecule level, DNA and its interactions with DNA-binding proteins.
Topics: DNA; Magnetic Phenomena; Magnetics; Micromanipulation; Nanotechnology; Optical Tweezers
PubMed: 35037472
DOI: 10.2144/btn-2021-0104 -
IET Nanobiotechnology Aug 2019The various toxic contaminants such as dyes, heavy metals, pesticides, rare-earth elements, and hazardous chemicals are the major threats to all the flora and fauna.... (Review)
Review
The various toxic contaminants such as dyes, heavy metals, pesticides, rare-earth elements, and hazardous chemicals are the major threats to all the flora and fauna. Owing to the harmful ill effects caused by the toxic contaminants, it is necessary to eliminate these compounds from the authors' ecosystem. The chitosan magnetic nanomaterials (CMNPs) are one of the superior materials used in the wastewater treatment through various conventional technologies. The chitosan is a natural source obtained from the crustacean shells of crabs, prawns etc. The magnetic nanomaterial prepared by the reinforcement of chitosan is highly effective in the removal of heavy metals, dyes, organic matter, and harmful chemicals. It is used in various technologies such as adsorption, flocculation, immobilisation, photocatalytic technology, and bioremediation. This possesses unique surface and magnetic characteristics, Moreover, it is simple, economically feasible, and eco-friendly material used efficiently in wastewater treatment. This review paper depicts the overview of CMNP in the industrial effluent treatment.
Topics: Animals; Chitosan; Humans; Magnetics; Magnetite Nanoparticles; Nanostructures; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Pollution; Water Purification
PubMed: 31432785
DOI: 10.1049/iet-nbt.2019.0030 -
Nature Communications Dec 2021Magnetic resonance imaging is a key diagnostic tool in modern healthcare, yet it can be cost-prohibitive given the high installation, maintenance and operation costs of...
Magnetic resonance imaging is a key diagnostic tool in modern healthcare, yet it can be cost-prohibitive given the high installation, maintenance and operation costs of the machinery. There are approximately seven scanners per million inhabitants and over 90% are concentrated in high-income countries. We describe an ultra-low-field brain MRI scanner that operates using a standard AC power outlet and is low cost to build. Using a permanent 0.055 Tesla Samarium-cobalt magnet and deep learning for cancellation of electromagnetic interference, it requires neither magnetic nor radiofrequency shielding cages. The scanner is compact, mobile, and acoustically quiet during scanning. We implement four standard clinical neuroimaging protocols (T1- and T2-weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery like, and diffusion-weighted imaging) on this system, and demonstrate preliminary feasibility in diagnosing brain tumor and stroke. Such technology has the potential to meet clinical needs at point of care or in low and middle income countries.
Topics: Adult; Brain Neoplasms; Deep Learning; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Equipment Design; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Magnetic Fields; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnets; Neuroimaging; Phantoms, Imaging; Point-of-Care Systems; Stroke
PubMed: 34907181
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27317-1