Identification of epidermal growth factor receptor-positive glioblastoma using lipid-encapsulated targeted superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in vitro

Background

Targeted superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles have emerged as a promising biomarker detection tool for molecular magnetic resonance (MR) image diagnosis. To identify patients who could benefit from Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapies, we introduce lipid-encapsulated SPIO nanoparticles and hypothesized that anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab conjugated of such nanoparticles can be used to identify EGFR-positive glioblastomas in non-invasive T₂ MR image assays. The newly introduced lipid-coated SPIOs, which imitate biological cell surface and thus inherited innate nonfouling property, were utilized to reduce nonspecific binding to off-targeted cells and prevent agglomeration that commonly occurs in nanoparticles.

Results

The synthesized targeted EGFR-antibody-conjugated SPIO (EGFR-SPIO) nanoparticles were characterized using dynamic light scattering, zeta potential assays, gel electrophoresis mobility shift assays, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images, and cell line affinity assays, and the results showed that the conjugation was successful. The targeting efficiency of the synthesized EGFR-SPIO nanoparticles was confirmed through Prussian blue staining and TEM images by using glioblastoma cell lines with high or low EGFR expression levels. The EGFR-SPIO nanoparticles preferentially targeted U-251 cells, which have high EGFR expression, and were internalized by cells in a prolonged incubation condition. Moreover, the T₂ MR relaxation time of EGFR-SPIO nanoparticles could be used for successfully identifying glioblastoma cells with elevated EGFR expression in vitro and distinguishing U-251 cells from U-87MG cells, which have low EFGR expression.

Conclusion

These findings reveal that the lipid-encapsulated EGFR-SPIO nanoparticles can specifically target cells with elevated EGFR expression in the three tested human glioblastoma cell lines. The results of this study can be used for noninvasive molecular MR image diagnosis in the future.

     

延腹小蜂属榕小蜂对榕果果内空腔大小差异的行为和形态适应

大多数榕小蜂的雄蜂终生都在密闭的榕果中生活,榕果间果内空腔的大小存在很大的差异,这种差异可能限制对小蜂的活动。已有研究表明榕果的大小会影响果内榕小蜂雄蜂的打斗行为,那么这种差异是否会影响雄蜂的果内爬行行为? 雄蜂是否会产生适应性的形态特征？针对这些问题,在2008年6月到2009年10月期间,我们在野外采集榕果,并带回实验室中, 对榕果内生活的延腹小蜂属Philotrypesis 5种雄蜂的果内爬行行为和足的形态特征进行了研究。结果表明,根据Philotrypesis spp.雄蜂后足的跗节形态特征的不同,其后足可分成2种形态型--Ⅰ型：后足跗节基部两节的突出部分排列紧密, 后足中跗节不发达; Ⅱ型：后足跗节基部两节的突出部分排列疏松,二者之间有较宽的分隔,后足中跗节发达。GLM分析结果表明各种榕树上生活的Philotrypesis雄蜂前足腿节长宽比存在极显著差异（F_{8, 81}=94.86, P<0.001）。在大果中生活的Philotrypesis雄蜂都具有较细长的前足腿节,在小果中生活的Philotrypesis雄蜂除了M7#c-ben外,都具有较粗壮的前足腿节。当雄蜂在榕果内寻偶时,主要依靠粗壮的前足或灵活的后足在果内爬行。结果提示, 榕果空腔大小可能限制了Philotrypesis雄蜂果内爬行行为, 进而影响了雄蜂足形态的适应性进化。     

Cloning and functions analysis of a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase in Brassica napus

Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) is a negative regulator of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (mtPDC), which plays a key role in intermediary metabolism. In this study, a 1,490-bp PDK in Brassica napus (BnPDK1) was isolated and cloned from Brassica cDNA library. BnPDK1 has an 1,104 open reading frame encoding 367 amino acids. Genomic DNA gel blot analysis result indicated that BnPDK1 is a multi-copy gene. RNA gel blot analysis and RNA in situ hybridization were used to determine the expression of BnPDK1 in different organs. BnPDK1 gene was ubiquitously expressed in almost all the tissues tested, having the highest expression in the stamen and the young silique. Over-expression of BnPDK1 in transgenic Arabidopsis lines would repress the PDC activity, and resulted in the decrease of seed oil content and leaf photosynthesis. These results implied that BnPDK1 was involved in the regulation of fatty acid biosynthesis in developing seeds.     

共轭亚油酸生理功能及微生物合成调控研究进展

共轭亚油酸(conjugated linoleic acid,CLA)是一种新型功能性油脂,顺9,反11-十八碳二烯酸(c9,t11-CLA)和反10,顺12-十八碳二烯酸(t10,c12-CLA)由于具有比其他异构体更强的生理功能得到广泛关注和研究.微生物合成CLA具有安全性高、选择特异性强等特点,研究CLA产量提高...     

高产纤溶酶菌株CNY16发酵条件优化及其酶学特性初步研究

【目的】通过响应面试验对产纤溶酶菌株CNY16发酵条件进行优化,并对其酶学特性进行初步研究。【方法】采用Plackett-Burman设计得出酵母膏、氯化钠、转速3个最重要影响因素,通过最陡爬坡实验逼近酶活的最高区域,然后根据Box-Behnken中心组合设计实验对显著因素进行优化分析,最后对该酶学性质进行初步分析。【结果】最终得到3个因素的最优组合:酵母膏3.28%,氯化钠1.14%,转速166 r/min,在此培养条件下,纤溶酶活达到875.932 U/mL,比优化前提高了46%;该菌株产纤溶酶最适温度为30°C,最适pH为6.5。【结论】确定了高产纤溶酶菌株CNY16的最优发酵条件及其部分酶学性质,为该酶的进一步深入研究及中试实验奠定基础。     

一株海洋低温葡萄糖氧化酶菌株的筛选、鉴定及部分酶学性质

【目的】从海洋样品中分离筛选出产葡萄糖氧化酶菌株。【方法】采用双层平板筛选法进行初筛、复筛确定一株酶活较好的菌株,命名为GOD2(Glucose oxidase)。通过形态学、生理生化特征及16S rRNA基因序列分析研究其分类地位,并对其产生的葡萄糖氧化酶进行分离纯化和部分酶学性质的研究。【结果】细菌GOD2为产葡萄糖氧化酶菌株且遗传稳定,初步鉴定该菌株为假单胞杆菌(Pseudomonas migulae),其所产酶最适反应温度为20°C,热稳定性较差,40°C剩余相对酶活80%;超过40°C酶活力迅速下降。【结论】GOD2是一株极具研究价值的产低温葡萄糖氧化酶菌株。目前没有关于利用该菌生产葡萄糖氧化酶的报道。     

有丝分裂激酶Aurora B的研究进展

真核生物细胞通过有丝分裂将遗传物质均等地分配到两个子细胞中,从而维持基因组的稳定性。有丝分裂的每一环节都需要精准而细致的调控,这依赖于一系列调节机制,尤其需要多个相关激酶的共同协调。Aurora B是一个关键的有丝分裂调控激酶,伴随有丝分裂的进行,其先后在染色体臂、内着丝粒、中央纺锤体、中体上动态分布。与其高度时空动态性相一致的是,Aurora B在有丝分裂的多个环节,如姐妹染色体粘连、动粒微管连接、纺锤体检验点和胞质分裂过程中都发挥着一系列重要功能。本文将概述近年来Aurora B激酶功能与调控方面的研究进展。     

基于454焦磷酸测序分析虾夷扇贝外套膜菌群多样性

运用454焦磷酸测序技术分析了健康虾夷扇贝和缺刻症状虾夷扇贝外套膜细菌多样性,分别从健康和缺刻虾夷扇贝样品中获得20872和16333条有效序列.结果表明： 缺刻虾夷扇贝样品菌群丰度和多样性分别高于健康虾夷扇贝样品;两个样品中细菌可以分为8个门,即变形菌门、厚壁菌门、放线菌门、拟杆菌门、蓝细菌门、浮霉菌门、螺旋体门和柔膜菌门,其中前7个门类的细菌在健康和缺刻虾夷扇贝样品中均有分布;在健康虾夷扇贝样品中,变形菌门占绝对优势,占整个菌群的97.7%,次优势类群厚壁菌门占0.8%;缺刻虾夷扇贝样品中,优势类群为厚壁菌门,占整个菌群的52.2%,次优势类群变形菌门占47.7%.     

微生物学教学在知情意行结构中的探索与实践

阐述了认知结构、情感结构、意志结构和行为结构在当代大学生教育的微生物学学科教学中的探索与实践,包括这种体系的发展基础和建立理念,着重强调其在微生物学教学实践中的实施和所反映出的教学效果。具体来说就是用智给予学生知识,全面提高认知基础;用情关怀学生成长,平稳搭建情感桥梁;用爱启迪学生心灵,迅速增强意志动力;用心培养学生能力,充分施展行为表现。在这种"知情意行"结构的渗透下,大学生的素质教育得到了全面提升,使微生物学教学得到学生的充分肯定并取得比较理想的教学效果。     

中亚热带森林群落不同演替阶段优势种凋落物分解试验

选择我国亚热带森林群落3个主要演替阶段的7个优势种（其中马尾松代表演替初期优势种,木荷和香樟代表演替中期优势种,甜槠、小叶青冈栎、青冈和乐昌含笑代表演替后期优势种）的凋落物,采用网袋法进行分解试验. 结果表明:马尾松凋落物分解得最慢,年分解速率为0.51;木荷和香樟居中,分别为0.55和0.61;小叶青冈栎和乐昌含笑分解得最快,分别为0.89和1.12.沿着植被顺向演替的梯度,凋落物分解速度呈现加快的趋势. 分解速率同凋落物的初始P、N和木质素含量及木质素/N比值呈极显著相关(P<0.01),同C/N比值有显著相关关系(P<0.05).凋落物的P、N和木质素含量及木质素/N比值是预测凋落物分解快慢的良好指标.