We report a new theranostic device based on lead sulfide quantum dots (PbS QDs) with optical emission in the near infrared wavelength range decorated with affibodies (small 6.5 kDa protein-based antibody replacements) specific to the cancer biomarker human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and zinc(II) protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP) to combine imaging, targeting and therapy within one nanostructure. Colloidal PbS QDs were synthesized in aqueous solution with a nanocrystal diameter of ∼5 nm and photoluminescence emission in the near infrared wavelength range. The ZHER2:432 affibody, mutated through the introduction of two cysteine residues at the C-terminus (Afb2C), was used as capping ligand to form Afb2C-PbS QDs that have a high binding affinity for HER2, which is overexpressed in several types of cancer including breast cancer. Afb2C-PbS QDs were further modified by conjugation with ZnPP, which acts as an anticancer agent. The biological activity of these QDs was tested against SKBR3 (HER2-positive) and MDA-MB-231 (HER2-normal) breast cancer cells, with results showing that ZnPP-Afb2C-functionalized PbS QDs were successfully targeted to the HER2-overexpressing cancer cells and induced cell apoptosis thanks to the conjugation with ZnPP. These results expand the use of the QD nanoplatform with the formulation of novel nanomaterials for targeted delivery and combined imaging and therapy via direct surface-protein interaction.
Objectives: Small field of view gamma detection and imaging technologies for monitoring in vivo tracer uptake are rapidly expanding and being introduced for bed-side imaging and image guided surgical procedures. The Hybrid Gamma Camera (HGC) has been developed to enhance the localization of targeted radiopharmaceuticals during surgical procedures; for example in sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsies and for bed-side imaging in procedures such as lacrimal drainage imaging and thyroid scanning. In this study, a prototype anthropomorphic head and neck phantom has been designed, constructed, and evaluated using representative modelled medical scenarios to study the capability of the HGC to detect SLNs and image small organs. Methods: An anthropom
... Show MoreInthisstudy,FourierTransformInfraredSpectrophotometry(FTIR),XRay Diffraction(XRD)andlossonignition(LOI),comparativelyemployedtoprovideaquick,relativelyinexpensiveandefficientmethodforidentifyingandquantifyingcalcitecontentofphosphateoresamplestakenfromAkashatsiteinIraq.Acomprehensivespectroscopicstudyofphosphate-calcitesystemwasreportedfirstintheMid-IRspectra(4004000cm-1)usingShimadzuIRAffinity-1,fordifferentcutsofphosphatefieldgradeswithsamplesbeneficiatedusingcalcinationandleachingwithorganicacidatdifferenttemperatures.Thenusingtheresultedspectratocreateacalibrationcurverelatesmaterialconcentrationstotheintensity(peaks)ofFTIRabsorbanceandappliesthiscalibrationtospecifyphosphate-calcitecontentinIraqicalcareousphosphateore.Theirpeakswereass
... Show MoreIn this work we investigate and calculate theoretically the variation in a number of optoelectronic properties of AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wire laser, with emphasis on the effect of wire radius on the confinement factor, density of states and gain factor have been calculated. It is found that there exist a critical wire radius (rc) under which the confinement of carriers are very weak. Whereas, above rc the confinement factor and hence the gain increase with increasing the wire radius.
The rapid spread of novel coronavirus disease(COVID19) throughout the world without availablespecific treatment or vaccine necessitates alternativeoptions to contain the disease. Historically, childrenand pregnant women were considered high-riskpopulation of infectious diseases but rarely have beenspotlighted nowadays in the regular COVID-19updates, may be due to low global rates of incidence,morbidity, and mortality. However, complications didoccur in these subjects affected by COVID-19. Weaimed to explore the latest updates ofimmunotherapeutic perspectives of COVID-19patients in general population and some added detailsregarding pediatric and obstetrical practice.Immune system boosting strategy is one of therecently emerging issue
... Show MoreThe rapid spread of novel coronavirus disease
(COVID19) throughout the world without available
specific treatment or vaccine necessitates alternative
options to contain the disease. Historically, children
and pregnant women were considered high-risk
population of infectious diseases but rarely have been
spotlighted nowadays in the regular COVID-19
updates, may be due to low global rates of incidence,
morbidity, and mortality. However, complications did
occur in these subjects affected by COVID-19. We
aimed to explore the latest updates of
immunotherapeutic perspectives of COVID-19
patients in general population and some added details
regarding pediatric and obstetrical practice.
Immune system boo
With the increasing integration of computers and smartphones into our daily lives, in addition to the numerous benefits it offers over traditional paper-based methods of conducting affairs, it has become necessary to incorporate one of the most essential facilities into this integration; namely: colleges. The traditional approach for conducting affairs in colleges is mostly paper-based, which only increases time and workload and is relatively decentralized. This project provides educational and management services for the university environment, targeting the staff, the student body, and the lecturers, on two of the most used platforms: smartphones and reliable web applications by clo
In this work, we have investigated optical properties of the thermally evaporation PbS/CdS thin films. The optical constant such as (refractive index n, dielectric constant εi,r and Extinction coefficient κ) of the deposition films were obtained from the analysis of the experimental recorded transmittance spectral data. The optical band gap of PbS/CdS films is calculate from (αhυ)1/2 vs. photon energy curve.
The combination of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and conducting polymers offers an attractive route for the production of novel compounds that can be used in a variety of applications such as sensors, actuators, and molecular scale electronic devices. In this work, functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) were added in different load ratios (3 wt%, 5 wt% and 10 wt%) to thiophen (PTh) polymer to procedure PTh/CNTs nanocomposite and deposited on porous silicon substrate by electropolarization. Photoconductive detectors were fabricated using PTh/f-MWCNTs matrix to work in the near region and middle IR regions. These detectors were illuminated by semiconductor laser diode wavelength of 808(nm) and Nd-YAG laser of wavelength 1064 (n
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