http://cvrl.ucl.ac.uk/people/Petrova/pubs/Biological%20Applications.pdf

Biological applications of quantum dots

Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have become important fluorescent probes for in vitro and in vivo bioimaging research. Their nanoparticle surfaces for versatile bioconjugation, their adaptable photophysical properties for multiplexed detection, and their superior stability for longer investigation times are the main advantages of QDs compared to other fluorescence imaging agents. Here, we review the recent literature dealing with the design and application of QD-bioconjugates for advanced in vitro and in vivo imaging. After a short summary of QD preparation and their most important properties, different QD-based imaging applications will be discussed from the technological and the biological point of view, ranging from super-resolution microscopy and single-particle tracking over in vitro cell and tissue imaging to in vivo investigations. A substantial part of the review will focus on multifunctional applications, in which the QD fluorescence is combined with drug or gene delivery towards theranostic approaches or with complementary technologies for multimodal imaging. We also briefly discuss QD toxicity issues and give a short outlook on future directions of QD-based bioimaging.

/pdf/quantum-dots-bright-and-versatile-in-vitro-and-in-vivo-mh3sx1lvwe.pdf

Quantum dots: bright and versatile in vitro and in vivo fluorescence imaging biosensors

http://www.hms.harvard.edu/bss/neuro/bornlab/nb204/papers/micheva_smith_2007.pdf

Array Tomography: A New Tool for Imaging the Molecular Architecture and Ultrastructure of Neural Circuits

The ability of bacteriophages to survive under unfavorable conditions is highly diversified. We summarize the influence of different external physical and chemical factors, such as temperature, acidity, and ions, on phage persistence. The relationships between a phage’s morphology and its survival abilities suggested by some authors are also discussed. A better understanding of the complex problem of phage sensitivity to external factors may be useful not only for those interested in pharmaceutical and agricultural applications of bacteriophages, but also for others working with phages.

/pdf/the-influence-of-external-factors-on-bacteriophages-review-er7yo42roj.pdf

The influence of external factors on bacteriophages—review

The core objective of nanoparticles is to control and manipulate biomacromolecular constructs and supramolecular assemblies that are critical to living cells in order to improve the quality of human health. By definition, these constructs and assemblies are nanoscale and include entities such as drugs, proteins, DNA/RNA, viruses, cellular lipid bilayers, cellular receptor sites and antibody variable regions critical for immunology and are involved in events of nanoscale proportions. The emergence of such nanotherapeutics/diagnostics will allow a deeper understanding of human longevity and human ills that include cancer, cardiovascular disease and genetic disorders. A technology platform that provides a wide range of synthetic nanostructures that may be controlled as a function of size, shape and surface chemistry and scale to these nanotechnical dimensions will be a critical first step in developing appropriate tools and a scientific basis for understanding nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles: Emerging carriers for drug delivery.

The RNA F-specific coliphages, MS2 and Qbeta, have been used as virus indicators in water and wastewater studies. It is therefore useful to have a good understanding concerning the effects of environmental factors on their survival in order to choose an appropriate candidate for assessing microbial safety in relation to water quality management. The effects of pH and temperature on the survival of these two coliphages were investigated. MS2 survived better in acidic conditions than in an alkaline environment. In contrast, Qbeta had a better survival rate in alkaline conditions than in an acidic environment. The inactivation rates of both coliphages were lowest within the pH range 6-8 and the temperature range 5-35 degrees C. The inactivation rates of both coliphages increased when the pH was decreased to below 6 or increased to above 8. The inactivation rates of both coliphages increased with increasing temperature. Qbeta behaved peculiarly in extreme pH buffers, i.e. it was inactivated very rapidly initially when subjected to an extreme pH environment, although the inactivation rate subsequently decreased. In general, MS2 was a better indicator than Qbeta. However, within the pH range 6-9 and at temperatures not above 25 degrees C, either MS2 or Qbeta could be used as a viral indicator.

Effects of pH and temperature on the survival of coliphages MS2 and Qβ

Cryptosporidium parvum is a waterborne pathogen that poses potential risk to drinking water consumers. The detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts, its transmissive stage, is used in the latest U.S. Environmental Protection Agency method 1622, which utilizes organic fluorophores such as fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) to label the oocysts by conjugation with anti-Cryptosporidium sp. monoclonal antibody (MAb). However, FITC exhibits low resistance to photodegradation. This property will inevitably limit the detection accuracy after a short period of continuous illumination. In view of this, the use of inorganic fluorophores, such as quantum dot (QD), which has a high photobleaching threshold, in place of the organic fluorophores could potentially enhance oocyst detection. In this study, QD605-streptavidin together with biotinylated MAb was used for C. parvum oocyst detection. The C. parvum oocyst detection sensitivity increased when the QD605-streptavidin concentration was increased from 5 to 15 nM and eventually leveled off at a saturation concentration of 20 nM and above. The minimum QD605-streptavidin saturation concentration for detecting up to 4,495 ± 501 oocysts (mean ± standard deviation) was determined to be 20 nM. The difference in the enumeration between 20 nM QD605-streptavidin with biotinylated MAb and FITC-MAb was insignificant (P > 0.126) when various C. parvum oocyst concentrations were used. The QD605 was highly photostable while the FITC intensity decreased to 19.5% ± 5.6% of its initial intensity after 5 min of continuous illumination. The QD605-based technique was also shown to be sensitive for oocyst detection in reservoir water. This observation showed that the QD method developed in this study was able to provide a sensitive technique for detecting C. parvum oocysts with the advantage of having a high photobleaching threshold.

Use of semiconductor quantum dots for photostable immunofluorescence labeling of Cryptosporidium parvum.

Improvement of recoveries for the determination of protozoa Cryptosporidium and Giardia in water using method 1623.

Ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection has increasingly been used as an alternative method to replace conventional chlorine disinfection as it has been found to be a more efficient disinfection method. As UV disinfection only damages the nucleic acids of the microorganisms to prevent replication, there is a possibility of microorganisms repairing the damage sites. As few studies have investigated the reactivation of microorganisms after exposure to medium-pressure UV disinfection, it is essential for reactivation related to medium-pressure UV disinfection to be studied as medium-pressure lamps are gaining in popularity. Besides, disinfection by-products (DBPs) produced by UV disinfection have been discovered recently and may serve as a carbon source in the finished water, resulting in regrowth of the bacteria. It is therefore important to know the regrowth potential of bacteria with the existence of DBPs. In this study, the repair and regrowth of Escherichia co/i after UV disinfection were investigated. Results showed that E. coli underwent photo repair (up to 5 log under fluorescent light conditions) more significantly than dark repair (up to 0.8 log in terms of bacterial count increase). The repair was generally found to be higher at low doses. At the same UV dose, it seems medium-pressure UV irradiation is able to control the repair to a lesser extent. In addition, the bacterial regrowth potential was studied with the addition of DBPs typically found in UV processes, such as acetic acid and formaldehyde. The maximum increase in bacterial count was found to be 0.3 log. Generally, the level of regrowth was insignificant compared with the increase of bacterial count due to bacterial repair.

X. L. Tan

Papers

Effects of pH and temperature on the survival of coliphages MS2 and Qβ

Use of semiconductor quantum dots for photostable immunofluorescence labeling of Cryptosporidium parvum.

Improvement of recoveries for the determination of protozoa Cryptosporidium and Giardia in water using method 1623.

Repair and regrowth of Escherichia coli after low- and medium-pressure ultraviolet disinfection

Photoreactivation of Escherichia coli following medium-pressure ultraviolet disinfection and its control using chloramination.