Platinum and Palladium Complexes as Promising Sources for Antitumor Treatments

There is a need for new, safer, and more effective agents to treat cancer. Cytostatics that have transition metals at their core have attracted renewed interest from scientists. Researchers are attempting to use chemotherapeutics, such as cisplatin, in combination therapy (i.e., in order to enhance their effectiveness). Moreover, studies are being carried out to modify molecules, by developing them into multinuclear structures, linking different compounds to commonly used drugs, or encapsulating them in nanoparticles to improve pharmacokinetic parameters, and increase the selectivity of these drugs. Therefore, we attempted to organize recent drug findings that contain palladium and platinum atoms in their structures.     

Synthesis and spectral properties of colloidal Nd doped NaYF4 nanocrystals

Transparent, chloroform dispersed α-NaYF₄ nanocrystals doped with neodymium ions were synthesized and characterized. XRD and TEM measurement confirmed cubic structure of α-NaYF₄ of the nanoparticles (NPs). The absorption and emission spectra as well as ⁴F_3/2 level fluorescence decay curves were measured in order to estimate the influence of Nd³⁺ concentration in the matrix on the optical properties of the NPs. With the increase of Nd³⁺ doping level, the Judd-Ofelt Ω₄ parameter as well as the spectroscopic Nd³⁺ parameter X_Nd = Ω₄/Ω₆ was growing. In the same time the Ω₂ and Ω₆ were decreasing. Theoretical luminescence lifetimes of the ⁴F_3/2 level equal to ∼300 μs were also calculated and compared with the experimental values to quantify the concentration quenching. Based on this comparison, quantum efficiency was found to vary systematically between ∼100% and 4% for Nd³⁺ content increasing from 2 up to 25%.     

Correlation Between 3-D Surface Topography and Different Deposition Times of Engineered Ni@a-C:H Thin Films

Silicon - This study is aimed at analyzing the surface micromorphology of amorphous hydrogenated carbon layers containing nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs@a-C:H) within their structure, which were...     

Two-fold emission from the S-shell of PbSe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots

The optical properties of PbSe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots with core sizes smaller than 4 nm in the 5-300 K range are reported. The photoluminescence spectra show two peaks, which become increasingly separated in energy as the core diameter is reduced below 4 nm. It is shown that these peaks are due to intrinsic exciton transitions in each quantum dot, rather than emission from different quantum dot sub-ensembles. Most likely, the energy separation between the peaks is due to inter-valley coupling between the L-points of PbSe. The temperature dependence of the relative intensities of the peaks implies that the two emitting states are not in thermal equilibrium and that dark exciton states must play an important role.     

Matched Analyses of Brain Metastases versus Primary Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Reveal a Unique microRNA Signature

Distant spreading of tumor cells to the central nervous system in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) occurs frequently and poses major clinical issues due to limited treatment options. RNAs displaying differential expression in brain metastasis versus primary NSCLC may explain distant tumor growth and may potentially be used as therapeutic targets. In this study, we conducted systematic microRNA expression profiling from tissue biopsies of primary NSCLC and brain metastases from 25 patients. RNA analysis was performed using the nCounter Human v3 miRNA Expression Assay, NanoString technologies, followed by differential expression analysis and in silico target gene pathway analysis. We uncovered a panel of 11 microRNAs with differential expression and excellent diagnostic performance in brain metastasis versus primary NSCLC. Five microRNAs were upregulated in brain metastasis (miR-129-2-3p, miR-124-3p, miR-219a-2-3p, miR-219a-5p, and miR-9-5p) and six microRNAs were downregulated in brain metastasis (miR-142-3p, miR-150-5p, miR-199b-5p, miR-199a-3p, miR-199b-5p, and miR-199a-5p). The differentially expressed microRNAs were predicted to converge on distinct target gene networks originating from five to twelve core target genes. In conclusion, we uncovered a unique microRNA profile linked to two target gene networks. Our results highlight the potential of specific microRNAs as biomarkers for brain metastasis in NSCLC and indicate plausible mechanistic connections.     

Novel Formulations Containing Fluorescent Sensors to Improve the Resolution of 3D Prints

Three-dimensional printing in SLA (stereolithography) and DLP (digital light processing) technologies has recently been experiencing a period of extremely rapid development. This is due to the fact that researchers recognise the many advantages of 3D printing, such as the high resolution and speed of the modelling and printing processes. However, there is still a search for new resin formulations dedicated to specific 3D printers allowing for high-resolution prints. Therefore, in the following paper, the effects of dyes such as BODIPY, europium complex, and Coumarin 1 added to light-cured compositions polymerised according to the radical mechanism on the photopolymerisation process speed, polymerisation shrinkage, and the final properties of the printouts were investigated. The kinetics of the photopolymerisation of light-cured materials using real-time FT-IR methods, as well as printouts that tangibly demonstrate the potential application of 3D printing technology in Industry 4.0, were examined. These studies showed that the addition of dyes has an effect on obtaining fluorescent prints with good resolution.     

Tear Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases,and Multiple Sclerosis: Implications for Diagnosis (Systematic Review)

Biological material is one of the most important aspects that allow for the correct diagnosis of the disease, and tears are an interesting subject of research because of the simplicity of collection, as the well as the relation to the components similar to other body fluids. In this review, biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS) in tears are investigated and analyzed. Records were obtained from the PubMed and Google Scholar databases in a timeline of 2015–2022. The keywords were: tear film/tear biochemistry/tear biomarkers + diseases (AD, PD, or MS). The recent original studies were analyzed, discussed, and biomarkers present in tears that can be used for the diagnosis and management of AD, PD, and MS diseases were shown. α-synTotal and α-synOligo, lactoferrin, norepinephrine, adrenaline, epinephrine, dopamine, α-2-macroglobulin, proteins involved in immune response, lipid metabolism and oxidative stress, apolipoprotein superfamily, and others were shown to be biomarkers in PD. For AD as potential biomarkers, there are: lipocalin-1, lysozyme-C, and lacritin, amyloid proteins, t-Tau, p-Tau; for MS there are: oligoclonal bands, lipids containing choline, free carnitine, acylcarnitines, and some amino acids. Information systematized in this review provides interesting data and new insight to help improve clinical outcomes for patients with neurodegenerative disorders.     

Crosstalk between microRNA and Oxidative Stress in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review

Heart failure is defined as a clinical syndrome consisting of key symptoms and is due to a structural and/or functional alteration of the heart that results in increased intracardiac pressures and/or inadequate cardiac output at rest and/or during exercise. One of the key mechanisms determining myocardial dysfunction in heart failure is oxidative stress. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are short, endogenous, conserved, single-stranded non-coding RNAs of around 21–25 nucleotides in length that act as regulators of multiple processes. A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was performed on the evidence on the interplay between microRNA and oxidative stress in heart failure. A search of Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and Scopus direct databases using the following search terms: ‘heart failure’ AND ‘oxidative stress’ AND ‘microRNA’ or ‘heart failure’ AND ‘oxidative stress’ AND ‘miRNA’ was conducted and resulted in 464 articles. Out of them, 15 full text articles were eligible for inclusion in the qualitative analysis. Multiple microRNAs are involved in the processes associated with oxidative stress leading to heart failure development including mitochondrial integrity and function, antioxidant defense, iron overload, ferroptosis, and survival pathways.