Remote Sensing System for Motor Nerve Impulse.

In this article, we present our research achievements regarding the development of a remote sensing system for motor pulse acquisition, as a first step towards a complete neuroprosthetic arm. We present the fabrication process of an implantable electrode for nerve impulse acquisition, together with an innovative wirelessly controlled system. In our study, these were combined into an implantable device for attachment to peripheral nerves. Mechanical and biocompatibility tests were performed, as well as in vivo testing on pigs using the developed system. This testing and the experimental results are presented in a comprehensive manner, demonstrating that the system is capable of accomplishing the requirements of its designed application. Most significantly, neural electrical signals were acquired and transmitted out of the body during animal experiments, which were conducted according to ethical regulations in the field.

The Physicochemical and Antimicrobial Properties of Silver/Gold Nanoparticles Obtained by "Green Synthesis" from Willow Bark and Their Formulations as Potential Innovative Pharmaceutical Substances.

Green chemistry is a pharmaceutical industry tool, which, when implemented correctly, can lead to a minimization in resource consumption and waste. An aqueous extract of Salix alba L. was employed for the efficient and rapid synthesis of silver/gold particle nanostructures via an inexpensive, nontoxic and eco-friendly procedure. The nanoparticles were physicochemically characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with the best stability of up to one year in the solution obtained for silver nanoparticles without any chemical additives. A comparison of the antimicrobial effect of silver/gold nanoparticles and their formulations (hydrogels, ointments, aqueous solutions) showed that both metallic nanoparticles have antibacterial and antibiofilm effects, with silver-based hydrogels having particularly high antibiofilm efficiency. The highest antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacies were obtained against Pseudomonas aeruginosa when using silver nanoparticle hydrogels, with antibiofilm efficacies of over 75% registered. The hydrogels incorporating green nanoparticles displayed a 200% increased bacterial efficiency when compared to the controls and their components. All silver nanoparticle formulations were ecologically obtained by "green synthesis" and were shown to have an antimicrobial effect or potential as keratinocyte-acting pharmaceutical substances for ameliorating infectious psoriasis wounds.

Platform with biomimetic electrochemical sensors for adiponectin and leptin detection in human serum.

Two new biomimetic sensors for the detection of adiponectin (A) and leptin (L) through molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) onto gold working electrodes (GWEs) were fabricated. Based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results and cyclic voltammetry (CV) characteristics recorded in the development stages of the fabricated sensors, the sensors were electrochemically optimized and used in an integrated microfluidic platform to detect adiponectin/leptin via conductance signals and non-imprinted electrodes were used as references. To overcome the limitation of the low response signals after template binding non-conductive polyphenol (PP) and poliscopoletin (PS) were used for templates formation. Under optimized experimental conditions the conductance and resistance signals were obtained in the linear range of 0-50 µg ml-1 for A and 1-32 ng∙ml-1 for L with low limits of detection (0.25 µg ml-1 for A and 0.110 ng ml-1 for L). The dedicated platform exhibited an excellent response with great selectivity and stability. Finally, the proposed biomimetic sensors were successfully applied to enable the determination of A and L in human patient's serum with very high accuracy when compared to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA reference methods.

A quantum dot-based lateral flow immunoassay for the sensitive detection of human heart fatty acid binding protein (hFABP) in human serum.

We describe the preparation and validation of a novel lateral flow immunoassay test for the detection of human heart fatty acid binding protein (hFABP). Water-soluble CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were selected as the fluorescent label and were linked covalently to anti-hFABP antibodies. Upon conjugation, the secondary structure of the anti-hFABP was preserved and the fluorescence quantum yield of the CdTe QDs increased. The labelled antibodies were transferred to the immunoassay test strip and the antigen-antibody reaction was successfully performed. This evidenced the preserved antibody activity of QD-labelled anti-hFABP towards hFABP, and provided a rapid means for the quantitation of hFABP in human serum within the range of 0-160ng ∙ ml-1, with a much lower detection limit of 221pg.∙ ml-1 compared with other rapid tests based on lateral flow immunoassays. This new immunoassay test has been successfully used for the early detection of acute myocardial infarction.