Dopamine, a potent neurotransmitter in the brain, influences a variety of motivated behaviors and plays a major role in Parkinson's disease. In this study, the Raman signal of dopamine was detected on a fabricated nanoparticle-immobilized glass surface by surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy (SERS). Amine-modified glass was prepared by the self-assembly of amine-terminated silane on substrate, followed by the deposition of gold nanoparticles. The gold nanoparticles deposited on the glass surface were functionalized by anti-dopamine or dopamine. The antigen-dopamine was captured by antibody-assembled gold substrate and detected by SERS. The optical properties and morpology of the glass substrate with immobilized gold nanoparticles were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and UV-VIS absorption spectroscopy. The Raman spectrum of dopamine displayed broad bands at 1267, 1331, 1158, 1478, 1578 and 1584 cm(-1). The strongest peaks in the spectra (at 1267 and 1478 cm(-1)) were identified as phenolic carbon-oxygen and phenyl C=C stretches, respectively. A working curve of the SERS signal constructed from cathecol ring vibration versus antigen-dopamine concentration was obtained at 1478 cm(-1), and the non-optimized detection limit for anti-dopamine surface antigen was as low as 1 ng/ml. These results suggest that SERS-based immunosensor can be a promising tool for the detection and screening of neurotransmitters.

This study examined the optical properties of an oxidized form of maghemite (γ-Fe(2)O(3)) nanoparticles and their protective effects against the photoaging of human skin fibroblasts irradiated with ultraviolet (UV) light. Nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 8.7 to 12 nm were prepared using a chemical co-precipitation method. The nanoparticles were coated with two surfactants to obtain a water-based product. The onset of the absorption of the γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles in the UV-visible absorption spectra increased with increasing particle size. The γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles significantly inhibited the production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in human skin fibroblast HS 68 cells by 60% compared with the UV-irradiated control. These results suggest that γ-Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles have photoprotective properties, and have potential use as an agent against photoaging.

We examined the immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of asiatic acid (AA) in atopic dermatitis (AD). AA treatment (5–20 µg/mL) dose-dependently suppressed the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level and interleukin (IL)-6 protein expression in interferon (IFN)-γ + TNF-α-treated HaCaT cells. The 2,4-dinitrocholrlbenzene (DNCB)-induced AD animal model was developed by administering two AA concentrations (30 and 75 mg/kg/d: AD + AA-L and AD + AA-H groups, respectively) for 18 days. Interestingly, AA treatment decreased AD skin lesions formation and affected other AD characteristics, such as increased ear thickness, lymph node and spleen size, dermal and epidermal thickness, collagen deposition, and mast cell infiltration in dorsal skin. In addition, in the DNCB-induced AD animal model, AA treatment downregulated the mRNA expression level of AD-related cytokines, such as Th1- (TNF-α and IL-1β and -12) and Th2 (IL-4, -5, -6, -13, and -31)-related cytokines as well as that of cyclooxygenase-2 and CXCL9. Moreover, in the AA treatment group, the protein level of inflammatory cytokines, including COX-2, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-8, as well as the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, were decreased. Overall, our study confirmed that AA administration inhibited AD skin lesion formation via enhancing immunomodulation and inhibiting inflammation. Thus, AA can be used as palliative medication for regulating AD symptoms.

No abstract

This study examined the optical characteristics of bicalutamide-loaded magnetic/ethylene glycol composite nanoparticles (BMP), as well as their anti-cancer activity against cancer cells. The gamma-Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), approximately 20 nm in diameter, were prepared via a chemical co-precipitation method and coated with two surfactants to yield a water-based product. The characteristics of the particles were determined via X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Raman spectrophotometry. The Raman spectra of the BMP showed peaks at 222, 283, 395, 520, 669 and 1316 cm(-1), with broadened band in comparison to the Raman spectra of the magnetic nanoparticles. The BMP absorbance evidenced a rapid increase, with a broad peak at 409 nm, thus reflecting a good loading of the bicalutamide onto the magnetic nanoparticles. The results of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay showed that the MNPs were non-toxic against human brain cancer cells (SH-SY5Y), human cervical cancer cells (Hela), human liver cancer cells (HepG2), breast cancer cells (MCF-7), colon cancer cells (CaCO2) and human prostate cancers (Du 145, PC3) tested herein. In particular, BMPs were cytotoxic at 56% against DU145 cells, at 74.37% in SH-SY5Y cells, and at 58% in Hela cells. Our results demonstrated the biological applicability of BMP nanoparticles as anticancer agents and as agents for enhanced drug delivery against human prostate cancer cells. Our results indicated that the MNPs were biostable and that the BMP functioned effectively as drug delivery vehicles.

No abstract

Prostate cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet effective therapeutics, especially targeted therapy, are still lacking. Saponin has been reported to possess various biological properties such as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, the anti-tumor activity of magnetic nanoparticles loaded with ethylene glycol and a saponin complex (ESMP) against DU145 prostate cancer cells was examined. Composite nanoparticles with an average size of 23 nm were prepared using a chemical co-precipitation technique. The ESMP were cytotoxic to DU145 cells and specifically inhibited cell proliferation. In contrast, the magnetic nanoparticles by themselves showed no significant cytotoxicity. The expression levels of the angiogenesis related proteins, including phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p38 and pAKT, decreased after ESMP treatment. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of using ESMP for targeted-therapy against prostate cancer.

No abstract