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There is a pressing need for further studies to categorize and validate circulating microRNAs (miRs) in breast cancer patients that can be one of the novel strategies for cancer screening and monitoring. The present study is aimed to investigate the expression of the circulating candidate microRNAs after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy in the non-metastatic breast cancer patients. Tumor tissue and plasma samples were collected from the 30 patients with recently diagnosed Luminal A breast cancer. Control plasma samples were collected from the 10 healthy subjects. A panel of four miRs including miR-21, miR-55, miR-10b, and Let-7a were selected and their expression levels were measured before and after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy by using Real-Time PCR technique. The plasma expression of the miR-21, miR-155, and miR-10b was significantly increased and the Let-7a plasma expression decreased in the breast cancer patients compromised to the control ones. There was a similar expression pattern of the miRs between the tissue and plasma samples. The plasma levels of the miR-21, miR-155, and miR-10b were significantly down-regulated and the Let-7a plasma level was up-regulated after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy compromised to the pre-treatment. There was a significant difference in the miR-155 plasma level after the operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy compromised with each other. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the plasma levels of the miRs after the radiotherapy compromised to the control cases. The operation, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy led to a more reduction in the oncomiRs and an increase in the tumor suppressor-miRs. It seems that monitoring miRs during treatment might be considered as a respectable diagnostic tool for monitoring of breast cancer patients.

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Preparation of polyurethanes derived from novel 1,2,3triazole-functionalized soybean oil-based polyols and assessment of their possible biocidal activities were considered. Epoxidized soybean oil was reacted with sodium azide to produce an azide-containing polyol. The product was subjected to the cycloaddition reaction with various alkynes. Alkylation of tertiary amine-containing polyol with methyl iodide was also performed to prepare a quaternary ammonium salt (QAS)-containing polyol. The polyols and their mixtures with PEG1000 were reacted with isophorone diisocyanate to prepare polyurethane coatings. The influence of embedded functional groups on physical, mechanical, thermal and biological properties of polyurethanes was studied. Incorporation of 1,2,3-triazole groups within the polyol backbone resulted in higher storage modulus at glassy state, glass transition temperature, thermal stability and hardness of corresponding polyurethanes, while it led to lower adhesion strength and hydrophilicity. Although QAS-containing polyurethanes displayed better physical and mechanical properties, but their thermal stability were reduced. Studying the interaction of fibroblast cells with polyurethanes derived merely from oil-based polyols revealed their good cells viability (60− 110%). Moderate to high biocidal activity was detected for polyols and polyurethanes containing tertiary amine and QAS groups. Improving the hydrophilicity of polyurethanes via incorporation of PEG1000 improved their biocidal activity, while it reduced their cytocompatibility.

IntroductionGuided treatments with nanoparticles and cold atmospheric plasma are a new approach in cancer therapy. Plasma is an ionized gas that has reactive and energetic particles and can be produced in the laboratory by different methods.Material and methodsPlasma jet therapy was employed to irradiate HCT-116 cells (human colorectal cancer cells) which were cultured in the presence of gold nanoparticles (GNPs). Cell cytotoxicity was tested with 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), and cancerous cell apoptosis was shown by 4’,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining.ResultsThe results showed that cell death was increased significantly with p < 0.001 by cold atmospheric plasma in the presence of gold nanoparticles.ConclusionsIt appears that non-thermal plasma and gold nanoparticles synergism is a promising approach in colon cancer therapy.

The field of tissue engineering is an emerging discipline which applies the basic principles of life sciences and engineering to repair and restore living tissues and organs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cold and non-thermal plasma surface modification of poly (ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds on fibroblast cell behavior. Nano-fiber PCL was fabricated through electrospinning technique, and some fibers were then treated by cold and non-thermal plasma. The cell-biomaterial interactions were studied by culturing the fibroblast cells on nano-fiber PCL. Scaffold biocompatibility test was assessed using an inverted microscope. The growth and proliferation of fibroblast cells on nano-fiber PCL were analyzed by MTT viability assay. Cellular attachment on the nano-fiber and their morphology were evaluated using scanning electron microscope. The result of cell culture showed that nano-fiber could support the cellular growth and proliferation by developing three-dimensional topography. The present study demonstrated that the nano-fiber surface modification with cold plasma sharply enhanced the fibroblast cell attachment. Thus, cold plasma surface modification greatly raised the bioactivity of scaffolds.

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