ABSTRACT
We report the use of total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM) to study cell adhesion on patterned self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces. Microcontact printing was used to pattern hydrophobic features to which the extracellular protein fibronectin was adsorbed, while dip-pen nanolithography was used to produce electroactive nanoarrays of hydroquinone-terminated alkanethiol on gold-coated quartz substrates. The hydroquinone was electrochemically oxidized to the corresponding quinone, and an oxyamine-tethered linear Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptide was chemoselectively immobilized. A prism-based method of TIRFM was used to examine adhered cells on both the microscale and nanoscale features. We also demonstrate that, following imaging with TIRFM, the substrates can be visualized using conventional fluorescence microscopy.
Subject(s)
Microscopy, Fluorescence/instrumentation , Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods , Adsorption , Amines/chemistry , Crystallization , Electrochemistry/methods , Equipment Design , Fibronectins/chemistry , Gold/chemistry , Hydroquinones/chemistry , Nanotechnology/methods , Oligopeptides/chemistry , Oxygen/chemistry , Particle Size , Proteins/chemistry , Surface PropertiesSubject(s)
Fibroblasts/chemistry , Protein Array Analysis , 3T3 Cells , Adsorption , Animals , Cell Adhesion , Cell Polarity , Gold/chemistry , Hydroquinones/chemistry , Ligands , Mice , Microscopy, Fluorescence/methods , Molecular Structure , Nanotechnology/methods , Organelles/chemistry , Sulfhydryl Compounds/chemistry , Surface PropertiesSubject(s)
Fibroblasts/drug effects , Nanotechnology/methods , Oligopeptides/pharmacology , Protein Array Analysis/methods , 3T3 Cells , Adsorption , Animals , Cell Adhesion/drug effects , Electrochemistry , Fibroblasts/cytology , Gold/chemistry , Hydroquinones/chemistry , Ligands , Mice , Molecular Structure , Nanostructures/chemistry , Oligopeptides/chemistry , Oxidation-Reduction , Particle Size , Sensitivity and Specificity , Structure-Activity Relationship , Sulfhydryl Compounds/chemistry , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
Preeclampsia is a common complication of pregnancy and often manifests in severe cases with neurological symptoms. We present the first documented case of preeclampsia associated with third nerve palsy. A 19-year-old primigravida presented at 31 2/7 weeks' gestation with preeclampsia. In addition to classic preeclampsia symptoms, the patient had atypical visual disturbances. Exhaustive neurological and ophthalmological examinations revealed a third nerve palsy with no etiology other than preeclampsia. Deteriorating renal function necessitated preterm delivery. She ultimately underwent a cesarean section. Two months postpartum, the patient has shown complete spontaneous resolution of third nerve palsy. In this case of severe preeclampsia manifested by third nerve palsy, we hypothesize that the mechanism is attributed to vasospasm of the vessels supplying the oculomotor nerve.
