Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Michal Augustin, Rene Pfeifer, Jiroi Barek, Vlastimil Vyskocil
Summary: Electrochemical DNA biosensors have been widely used in various applications, and their application in monitoring DNA damage is particularly significant. A novel hybrid electrochemical DNA biosensor based on graphene was developed and optimized, and its performance in monitoring DNA damage was evaluated. The results showed that the biosensor has important advantages in monitoring DNA damage.
JOURNAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Veronika Svitkova, Katarina Nemcekova, Vlastimil Vyskocil
Summary: In this study, a mercury meniscus-modified silver solid amalgam electrode was used for the detection of UV-induced DNA damage. The integrity of the double-stranded DNA layer was indirectly detected using methylene blue reduction, and different wavelengths of UV irradiation resulted in different electrochemical signals.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalia Zareba, Lukasz Lewandowski, Dominika Kunachowicz, Rene Kizek, Marta Kepinska
Summary: This study reveals that quantum dots (QDs) can influence the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in a size-dependent manner. Additionally, the migration time of QDs-SOD1 complexes varies depending on the type of QD used, with different effects on fluorescence signals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yao Cheng, Chaoyue Sun, Yuhua Chang, Jiayin Wu, Zhihao Zhang, Yunqing Liu, Shenguang Ge, Zhao Li, Xiao Li, Liang Sun, Dejin Zang
Summary: A highly sensitive biosensor for detecting HPV 16 DNA was prepared using SiW12-grafted CdS quantum dots and colloidal gold nanoparticles. The biosensor exhibited remarkable selectivity and sensitivity due to its excellent photoelectrochemical response. The biosensor platform also offered a reliable pathway for detecting other biological molecules with nano-functional materials.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Dagang Qi, Hewei Zhang, Zhiyong Zhou, Zhongqi Ren
Summary: In this study, CdTe semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) with different emission wavelengths were fabricated to detect copper ions. The nucleation and growth of crystals in the aqueous phase were separated by controlling the temperature, improving the optical properties of QDs. The QDs were coated using the sol-gel method for Cu(II) ion detection, and a good linear relationship between the concentration of Cu(II) ions and the quenching efficiency of fluorescent probes was observed. Ratiometric fluorescent probes were also fabricated, with a detection limit far lower than the standard for copper ion detection in water.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Qingyi Wei, Peiyao Zhang, Ting Liu, Hongbin Pu, Da-Wen Sun
Summary: A simple fluorescent biosensor based on single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was developed for the sensitive detection of acrylamide (AM) in food products. The sensor exhibited a low detection limit of 2.41 x 10-8 M in standard solution and a wide linear range with high accuracy. Practical applications of the biosensor showed promising results with good recovery percentage in bread crust samples.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Hamideh Elmizadeh, Ghasem Rezanejade Bardajee, Ali Moaddeli
Summary: This study proposes a novel apta-nano biosensor for ultrasensitive and fast detection of Methamphetamine (MA) in biological fluids. The biosensor is prepared using the ligand-exchange method and can detect MA with a linear range of 1.34 +/- 0.25 x 10-10-1.24 +/- 0.07 x 10-7 mol/L and a detection limit of 40.34 +/- 1.05 x 10-12 mol/L. It can be successfully applied for the determination of MA in forensic biological fluids with satisfactory analytical results, evaluated with LC-MS-MS.
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hongwu Tian, Leizi Jiao, Kun Wang, Xiande Zhao, Fengjing Cao, Daming Dong
Summary: This article introduces the extension of the detection range of smartphone cameras to the ultraviolet region using perovskite quantum dots, and the realization of a solar UV radiation sensor and a water chemical oxygen demand sensor. These sensors can measure water quality and solar UV index using smartphones anytime and anywhere.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liangrui Lv, Juanjuan Hu, Qingqing Chen, Mingming Xu, Chunyang Jing, Xiaoying Wang
Summary: A switchable electrochemical hairpin-aptasensor has been established for the detection of OTA in food samples. The sensor utilizes a hairpin-DNA as a signal switch and combines gold nanospheres and multiwalled carbon nanotubes to establish a support interface. Conjugated polymer-nanoparticle composites are used to label report DNA, forming a signal probe. The sensor offers a low detection limit and a wide monitoring range.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Qiang Zhang, Zehua Guo, Fang Luo, Hua Xiao, Weiwen Liu, Liuyin Fan, Chengxi Cao
Summary: The quench and recovery models of the moving exchange boundary (MEB) were established, simulated, and experimentally validated, showing their validity and potential for applications in biosensors, nanoparticle characterization, separation science, and ligand-QDs affinity assays.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Lia Mara Marcondes, Leandro Piaggi Ravaro, Andrea Simone Stucchi de Camargo, Danilo Manzani, Gael Yves Poirier
Summary: CdTe/Er3+-codoped SiO2-Nb2O5-based nanocomposites were prepared by a sol-gel route and their thermal, structural, and photophysical properties were investigated. The study showed that the QDs content and niobium/erbium addition influence the average size and photoluminescence properties of the nanocomposites, with high QDs content resulting in larger nanocomposite pore size and higher QDs average size. The successful incorporation of CdTe QDs into the SiO2-Nb2O5 host was demonstrated, with tunable fluorescence in the range of 513-568 nm.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sakshi Pareek, Vishwadeep Rout, Utkarsh Jain, Mausumi Bharadwaj, Nidhi Chauhan
Summary: A new DNA-based electrochemical genosensor was developed for efficient detection of HPV-18 in cervical cancer. The sensor showed high selectivity and sensitivity, making it a rapid screening tool for HPV-18.
Article
Spectroscopy
Ghasem Rezanejade Bardajee, Mohammadreza Zamani, Hossein Mahmoodian, Hamideh Elmizadeh, Hadi Yari, Lavin Jouyandeh, Razieh Shirkavand, Mahdieh Sharifi
Summary: The urgent identification of COVID-19 in infected patients is of great importance. In this study, a novel fluorescence DNA-conjugated CdTe/ZnS quantum dots nanoprobe was designed for the detection of COVID-19 in saliva samples. The results showed that this method achieved similar detection results compared to the traditional RT-PCR method.
SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Banabithi Koley Seth, Shuvankar Dey, Pooja Trivedi, Gaurang Sindhav, Vinod K. Jain
Summary: In this study, a systematic and comparative investigation of the biological activities of different oxacalix[4]arene systems was conducted. The results revealed the diverse capabilities of oxacalix[4]arene in DNA protection, DNA damage, and antioxidant activity. Among them, the oxacalix[4]arene functionalized with phenolic OH displayed the best DNA protection ability and the strongest antioxidant activity.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2024)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
S. P. Raju, Ramaraja V. Varma, S. N. Chaitra, P. Poornima, K. Thirumalesh, Ganesh Sanjeev
Summary: This paper presents the preparation and characterisation studies of UV sensing films using a simple mathematical model. The study demonstrates that the quantum dots reinforced PVA film has ultra-sensitivity to UV radiations, exhibiting noticeable changes even after a few seconds of exposure. The mathematical model developed in this study can be useful for quantifying UV exposure for shorter durations. This research is significant for the monitoring of shorter duration UV exposure.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Min Xu, Chuchu Ren, Yue Zhou, Zbynek Heger, Xiaoyang Liang, Vojtech Adam, Nan Li
Summary: Inhibition of foam cell formation is a promising treatment method for atherosclerosis. The authors designed Pd@HA/ALO nanozymes that can scavenge ROS and downregulate COX-2 expression to induce macrophage polarization, thus inhibiting foam cell formation. The nanozymes actively accumulate in atherosclerotic plaques and exhibit antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. The combined therapy also promotes macrophage polarization.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Katerina Stuskova, Jakub Pecenka, Dorota Anna Tekielska, Milan Spetik, Zuzana Bytesnikova, Pavel Svec, Frantisek Ondreas, Andrea Ridoskova, Lukas Richtera, Vojtech Adam, Ales Eichmeier
Summary: The study tested various nanoparticles and chemicals for their inhibitory effects on grapevine trunk pathogens, and found that silver nitrate and AgSe nanoparticles showed significant inhibition of fungal growth.
ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Marketa Dobesova, Martina Kolackova, Ondrej Pencik, Petr Capal, Pavel Chaloupsky, Pavel Svec, Andrea Ridoskova, Martin Motola, Veronika Cicmancova, Hanna Sopha, Jan. M. Macak, Lukas Richtera, Vojtech Adam, Dalibor Huska
Summary: Recently, more accessible transcriptomic approaches have improved our understanding of environmental toxicity. This study focused on the transcriptomic profiles of green microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to TiO2 nanotubes (NTs), a commonly used one-dimensional nanomaterial. The results showed that the NTs had a dose-dependent negative effect on the algae, causing metabolic disruption, damage to cellular structures, solute loss, and cell wall damage. Additionally, apoptosis-related transcripts and reactivation of transposons were observed, while genes involved in signaling and transcription pathways were downregulated.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Martina Kolackova, Anna Janova, Marketa Dobesova, Monika Zvalova, Pavel Chaloupsky, Olga Krystofova, Vojtech Adam, Dalibor Huska
Summary: Proficient photosynthetic microalgae/cyanobacteria produce a remarkable amount of various biomolecules. Secondary metabolites (SM) represent high value products for global biotrend application. Production improvement can be achieved by nutritional, environmental, and physiological stress as a first line tools for their stimulation. However, deep understanding and connection of specific stress elucidator are missing. Hence, the present review summarizes recent evidence with an emphasis on the carotenoids, phenolic, and lessdiscussed compounds (glycerol, proline, mycosporins-like amino acids), highlighting the need to expand knowledge in this area using genome-editing tools and omics approaches.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Soumajit Mukherjee, Zuzana Bytesnikova, Sophie Martin, Pavel Svec, Andrea Ridoskova, Jana Pekarkova, Cendrine Seguin, Jean-Luc Weickert, Nadia Messaddeq, Yves Mely, Lukas Richtera, Halina Anton, Vojtech Adam
Summary: Graphene-based 2D nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), exhibit antimicrobial effects on bacteria and viruses. This study focuses on the antiviral properties of reduced GO-based nanocomposites decorated with Ag nanoparticles (rGO-Ag) against human immunodeficiency virus-1 pseudovirus. The results show that rGO-Ag induces peroxidation of the pseudoviral lipid membrane, leading to a reduction in cell entry, and is efficiently internalized in the host cell, resulting in an elevated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Hana Stepankova, Hana Michalkova, Zbynek Splichal, Lukas Richtera, Pavel Svec, Tomas Vaculovic, Jan Pribyl, Martin Kormunda, Simona Rex, Vojtech Adam, Zbynek Heger
Summary: Although the general concept of nanotechnology relies on exploiting the size-dependent properties of nanoscaled materials, the relationship between the size/morphology of nanoparticles and their biological activity is still not well understood. In this study, we investigated the biological activity of Se nanoparticles with different morphologies (nanorods vs. spherical particles) and aspect ratios (AR) in human cells and mice. Our findings suggest that the aspect ratio is a critical factor for the cytotoxicity and biocompatibility of nanorod-shaped Se nanomaterials.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Katerina Mitrevska, Miguel Angel Merlos Rodrigo, Natalia Cernei, Hana Michalkova, Zbynek Splichal, David Hynek, Ondrej Zitka, Zbynek Heger, Pavel Kopel, Vojtech Adam, Vedran Milosavljevic
Summary: The combination of in ovo and ex ovo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay has been used to study the anticancer activity of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) and the fluctuations of amino acids in the liver and brain. PtNPs showed higher efficiency in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis compared to cisplatin (CDDP). PtNPs had a depleting effect on amino acid content, while CDDP treatment had more side effects on amino acid metabolism. Different sets of enzymes in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle were targeted by PtNPs and CDDP, indicating different mechanisms of action. CAM assay demonstrated the capability of PtNPs to repress angiogenesis, decrease amino acid content, and disrupt the TCA cycle.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yue Zhou, Siyu Wang, Xiaoyang Liang, Zbynek Heger, Qiang Lu, Wen Li, Vojtech Adam, Nan Li
Summary: This study demonstrates that combination immune checkpoint blockade of ADAR1 and PD-1 can improve the tumor immune microenvironment and enhance immune response. By delivering shADAR1 using a nanosystem and combined treatment with an anti-PD-1 antibody, immune evasion is reduced and antitumor immunity is activated. Mechanistic and transcriptomic analysis confirm that this combination therapy regulates the abundance of immune cells.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Evgeniya S. Bazhina, Anna A. Bovkunova, Maxim A. Shmelev, Alexander A. Korlyukov, Alexander A. Pavlov, Lucie Hochvaldova, Libor Kvitek, Ales Panacek, Pavel Kopel, Igor L. Eremenko, Mikhail A. Kiskin
Summary: Reactions of copper(II) and zinc(II) acetates with polynitrogen Schiff bases were studied, resulting in the formation of various coordination compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The coordination compounds exhibited better antibacterial and antifungal activities compared to the free ligands.
INORGANICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Siyu Wang, Long Binh Vong, Zbynek Heger, Yue Zhou, Xiaoyang Liang, Vojtech Adam, Nan Li
Summary: Researchers designed a PEGylated PtNi trilobal-shaped nanostructure for pyroptosis-triggered tumor immunotherapy through a nanozyme catalytic and magnetocaloric oscillation dual strategy. By applying an alternating magnetic field, the nanostructure generated hyperthermia and mechanical oscillation to activate the caspase-1-NLRP3-GSDMD pathway, leading to cell rupture and cytokine release, resulting in significant reduction of breast tumors.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Navid Assi, Tomas Rypar, Mirek Macka, Vojtech Adam, Marketa Vaculovicova
Summary: Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices modified with molecularly imprinted polymers (mu PADs@MIPs) were developed for fluorescent detection of targeted thiols via in situ UV-induced formation of quantum dots (mu PADs@MIPs@QDs). The selectivity enhancement by the MIP layer formed on the filter paper surface was demonstrated for the isolation of L-homocysteine from wine. The proposed method has a good relationship between the fluorescence intensity of ZnCdCu/S QDs and L-homocysteine in a linear range from 0.74 to 7.40 mu M with a limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.51 and 1.71 mu M respectively. This method was applied for the determination of L-homocysteine in white wine with RSD under 6.37%.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Sanam Garehbaghi, Amir M. Ashrafi, Vojtech Adam, Lukas Richtera
Summary: This review presents the wide applications of Gold nanozymes (GNZs) in biosensing and bioassay due to their interesting catalytic activities that can substitute natural enzymes. Different modifications on the surface of GNZs enable different catalytic activities, and the role of Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in mimicking oxidoreductase, helicase, and phosphatase is introduced. The impact of surface properties and modifications on each catalytic activity is thoroughly discussed. The applications of GNZs are classified into five categories based on the combination of enzyme-like activities and enhancing/inhibition effects in the presence of target analytes, which are realized by proper surface modification engineering. Examples of GNZs for in vivo biosensing and bioassays are also provided.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Zdenek Sindelar, Pavel Kopel
Summary: Benzimidazoles are a group of compounds that mimic DNA bases, possessing both biological activities and spectal/catalytic properties. Coordination compounds can enhance and regulate the biological activity of benzimidazoles. This minireview focuses on the preparation of bis(benzimidazoles), their complexes, and their biological properties since 2015.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ondrej Pencik, Katarina Molnarova, Michaela Durdakova, Martina Kolackova, Daniel Klofac, Attilla Kucsera, Petr Capal, Pavel Svec, Zuzana Bytesnikova, Lukas Richtera, Martin Brtnicky, Vojtech Adam, Dalibor Huska
Summary: This research focuses on the impact of PET-MPs on green microalgae and cyanobacteria. The study found that C. reinhardtii is the most sensitive to PET-MPs, while the cyanobacteria have the highest adsorption of PET-MPs. Additionally, all tested organisms showed cell damage after exposure to PET-MPs, with the cyanobacteria being the least affected. Further long-term experiments on environmentally relevant organisms are needed to study the effects of PET-MPs.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zuzana Bytesnikova, Martina Kolackova, Marketa Dobesova, Pavel Svec, Andrea Ridoskova, Jana Pekarkova, Jan Pribyl, Petr Capal, Dalibor Huska, Vojtech Adam, Lukas Richtera
Summary: This study investigated the properties of graphene oxides (GOs) and their reduced forms using various characterization techniques. The study also examined the biocompatibility/toxicity of GOs on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a model organism. The results showed that the toxicity of graphene-based nanomaterials cannot be generalized and depends on their chemistry and structure.
