The effectiveness of a standard drill connected to a core biopsy needle: How to obtain specimens in very strong bone tumors.

INTRODUCTION: Core biopsy is today recognized as the gold standard for the diagnosis of bone lesions; unfortunately, when the bone is too solid it can be very difficult to penetrate it; in case of failure, open biopsy is indicated but it is associated with greater contamination and complications. A possible solution is to connect a common orthopedic drill to the core biopsy needle. The aim of the presenting study was to present a technique useful for performing biopsies in case of very strong bone lesions and to evaluate the adequacy and quality of the obtained specimen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A standard bone biopsy set was connected to a commercial drill to perform bone biopsies. Data was collected over a 2-year period (2015-2016). Information regarding technical success, diagnostic data and complication rates was all collated to assess the technical feasibility of this technique. RESULTS: Out of 357 bone biopsies, 34 patients underwent the procedure using a common orthopedic drill connected to a core biopsy needle. Diagnostic material was obtained in each patient and the artifacts were considered irrelevant. No major complications occurred in any patient. DISCUSSION: The use of a core biopsy needle connected to a common orthopedic drill facilitates the penetration of thick cortical bone by simply applying continuous speed and pressure; nevertheless, the biopsy needle we use is not designed for a drilling procedure and for this reason it can be damaged, but if the biopsy is performed with particular attention, the mechanical failure can be avoided CONCLUSIONS: Bone biopsy using a commercial hand drill has a technically high success rate with minimal complications. Further studies with more cases are necessary to verify our results.

NIR Emitting Nanoprobes Based on Cyclic RGD Motif Conjugated PbS Quantum Dots for Integrin-Targeted Optical Bioimaging.

Here, silica-coated PbS quantum dots (QDs) with photoluminescence emission properties in the near-infrared (NIR) region are proposed as potential effective single particle optical nanoprobes for future in vivo imaging of tumors. The dispersibility in aqueous medium of hydrophobic PbS QDs was accomplished by growing a silica shell on their surface by exploiting a base assisted water-in-oil microemulsion method. The silica-coated PbS QDs were then conjugated with a specifically designed cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (cRGD) peptide that is able to specifically recognize αvß3 integrins, which are overexpressed in angiogenic tumor-induced vasculatures and on some solid tumors, to achieve tumor-specific targeting. The cRGD peptide PbS silica-coated QDs were systematically characterized, at each step of their preparation, by means of complementary optical and structural techniques, demonstrating appropriate colloidal stability and the maintenance of their optical futures in aqueous solutions. The cellular uptake of cRGD peptide functionalized luminescent nanostructures in human melanoma cells, where overexpression of αvß3 was observed, was assessed by means of confocal microscopy analysis and cytometric study. The selectivity of the cRGD peptide PbS silica-coated QDs for the αvß3 integrin was established, consequently highlighting the significant potential of the developed NIR emitting nanostructures as optically traceable nanoprobes for future αvß3 integrin receptor in vivo targeting in the NIR region.

Lipid-based systems loaded with PbS nanocrystals: near infrared emitting trackable nanovectors.

Hydrophobic PbS nanocrystals (NCs) emitting in the near infrared spectral region were encapsulated in the core of micelles and in the bilayer of liposomes, respectively, to form polyethylene glycol (PEG)-grafted phospholipids. The phospholipid-based functionalization process of PbS NCs required the replacement of the pristine capping ligand at the NC surface with thiol molecules. The procedures carried out for two systems, micelles and liposomes, using PEG-modified phospholipids were carefully monitored by optical, morphological and structural investigations. The hydrodynamic diameter and the colloidal stability of both micelles and liposomes loaded with PbS NCs were evaluated using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and ζ-potential experiments, and both were satisfactorily stable in physiological media. The cytotoxicity of the resulting PbS NC-loaded nanovectors was assessed by the in vitro investigation on Saos-2 cells, indicating that the toxicity of the PbS NC loaded liposomes was lower than that of the micelles with the same NC cargo, which is reasonable due to the different overall composition of the two prepared nanocarriers. Finally, the cellular uptake in the Saos-2 cells of both the NC containing systems was evaluated by means of confocal microscopy studies by exploiting a visible fluorescent phospholipid and demonstrating the ability of both luminescent nanovectors to be internalized. The obtained results show the great potential of the prepared emitting nanoprobes for imaging applications in the second biological window.

Highly selective luminescent nanostructures for mitochondrial imaging and targeting.

Here a luminescent hybrid nanostructure based on functionalized quantum dots (QDs) is used as a fluorescent imaging agent able to target selectively mitochondria thanks to the molecular recognition of the translocator protein (TSPO). The selective targeting of such an 18 kDa protein mainly located in the outer mitochondrial membrane and overexpressed in several pathological states including neurodegenerative diseases and cancers may provide valuable information for the early diagnosis and therapy of human disorders. In particular, the rational design of amino functionalized luminescent silica coated QD nanoparticles (QD@SiO2 NPs) provides a versatile nanoplatform to anchor a potent and selective TSPO ligand, characterized by a 2-phenyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine acetamide structure along with a derivatizable carboxylic end group, useful to conjugate the TSPO ligand and achieve TSPO-QD@SiO2 NPs by means of a covalent amide bond. The colloidal stability and optical properties of the proposed nanomaterials are comprehensively investigated and their potential as mitochondrial imaging agents is fully assessed. Sub-cellular fractionation, together with confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy and co-localization analysis of targeted TSPO-QD@SiO2 NPs in C6 glioma cells overexpressing the TSPO, proves the great potential of these multifunctional nanosystems as in vitro selective mitochondrial imaging agents.

ß-cyclodextrin in personal care formulations: role on the complexation of malodours causing molecules.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to prove the capability of ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) to interact with some representative molecules responsible to cause body malodour, such as carboxylic acids, thiols and steroids, present in sweat and body secretions. METHODS: The association constants in guest-CD were determined by (1) H-NMR spectroscopy for thiols and steroids such as 3-mercapto-1-hexanol, androstenone, androstenol and androsterone, and pH-potentiometric titration for acetic acid, l(+) lactic acid, isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid and 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-hexanoic acid. RESULTS: All considered systems are able to interact with relatively weak association constants with ß-cyclodextrin, in a 1 : 1 host-guest ratio. CONCLUSION: From these findings, it is possible to conclude that ß-CD is capable to interact with different components present in the sweat and body secretion, forming inclusion complexes. For this reason, ß-CD could be a component of body care formulations, such as deodorants.

Biotin-decorated silica coated PbS nanocrystals emitting in the second biological near infrared window for bioimaging.

Nanoparticles (NPs) emitting in the second biological near infrared (NIR) window of the electromagnetic spectrum have been successfully synthesized by growing a silica shell on the hydrophobic surface of OLEA/TOP PbS nanocrystals (NCs), by means of a reverse microemulsion approach, and subsequently decorated with biotin molecules. The fabrication of very uniform and monodisperse NPs, formed of SiO2 shell coated single core PbS NCs, has been demonstrated by means of a set of complementary optical and structural techniques (Vis-NIR absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy) that have highlighted how experimental parameters, such as PbS NC and silica precursor concentration, are crucial to direct the morphology and optical properties of silica coated PbS NPs. Subsequently, the silica surface of the core-shell NPs has been grafted with amino groups, in order to achieve covalent binding of biotin to NIR emitting silica coated NPs. Finally the successful reaction with a green-fluorescent labelled streptavidin has verified the molecular recognition response of the biotin molecules decorating the PbS@SiO2 NP surface. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ζ-potential techniques have been used to monitor the hydrodynamic diameter and colloidal stability of both PbS@SiO2 and biotin decorated NPs, showing their high colloidal stability in physiological media, as needed for biomedical applications. Remarkably the obtained biotinylated PbS@SiO2 NPs have been found to retain emission properties in the 'second optical window' of the NIR region of the electromagnetic spectrum, thus representing attractive receptor-targeted NIR fluorescent probes for in vivo tumour imaging.

Effects of different cyclodextrins on the morphology, loading and release properties of poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide)-microparticles containing the hypnotic agent etizolam.

The aim of this study was to gain insight into the feasibility of using microparticles (MPs) constituted by the biodegradable poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and a number of cyclodextrins (CDs) as an orally sustained delivery system of the hypnotic agent etizolam (ETZ). A further aim of the work was to investigate the effects of different CDs on the morphology, loading, and release properties of the MPs prepared. For these purposes, ETZ alone, and ETZ/CD-PLGA loaded MPs were prepared by the W/O/W emulsion-solvent evaporation method. It was found that the release of ETZ in vitro was more prolonged over three days with a kinetic constant proportional to t(1/2). It was also demonstrated that the CDs in these MPs are able to modulate several properties such as morphology, drug loading, and release properties. In fact, marked differences in shape, surface, and encapsulation efficiencies were noted depending on the presence, hydrophilicity, and charge of the CD employed. The obtained results induce us to consider the present ETZ-containing formulations as new valuable tools for the treatment of different insomnia categories.