Exploiting chitosan and gold nanoparticles for antimycobacterial activity of in silico identified antimicrobial motif of human neutrophil peptide-1.

The upsurge of drug resistant tuberculosis is major health threat globally. To counteract, antimicrobial peptides are being explored as possible alternatives. However, certain limitations of peptide-based drugs such as potential toxicity, high cost and relatively low stability need to be addressed to enhance their clinical applicability. Use of computer predicted short active motifs of AMPs along with nanotechnology could not only overcome the limitations of AMPs but also potentiate their antimicrobial activity. Therefore, present study was proposed to in silico identify short antimicrobial motif (Pep-H) of human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1) and explore its antimycobacterial activity in free form and using nanoparticles-based delivery systems. Based on colony forming unit analysis, motif Pep-H led to killing of more than 90% M. tb in vitro at 10 µg/ml, whereas, similar activity against intracellularly growing M. tb was observed at 5 µg/ml only. Thereafter, chitosan (244 nm) and gold nanoparticles (20 nm) were prepared for Pep-H with both the formulations showing minimal effects on the viability of human monocyte derived macrophages (MDMs) and RBC integrity. The antimycobacterial activity of Pep-H against intracellular mycobacteria was enhanced in both the nanoformulations as evident by significant reduction in CFU (>90%) at 5-10 times lower concentrations than that observed for free Pep-H. Thus, Pep-H is an effective antimycobacterial motif of HNP-1 and its activity is further enhanced by chitosan and gold nanoformulations.

Advances in ovarian cancer diagnosis: A journey from immunoassays to immunosensors.

This review focuses on the technological advancements, challenges and trends in immunoassay technologies for ovarian cancer diagnosis. Emphasis is placed on the principles of the technologies, their merits and limitations and on the evolution from laboratory-based methods to point-of-care devices. While the current market is predominantly associated with clinical immunoassay kits, over the last decade a major thrust in development of immunosensors is evident due to their potential in point-of-care devices. Technological advancements in immunosensors, extending from labeled to label-free detection, with and without mediators, for enhancing proficiencies and reliability have been dealt with in detail. Aspects of the utilisation of nanomaterials and immobilization strategies for enhancing sensitivity and altering the detection range have also been addressed. Finally, we have discussed some distinct characteristics and limitations associated with the recently commericalised technologies used for quantitation of relevant ovarian cancer markers.

Immobilization strategy for enhancing sensitivity of immunosensors: L-Asparagine-AuNPs as a promising alternative of EDC-NHS activated citrate-AuNPs for antibody immobilization.

This paper addresses the question - Is EDC-NHS activated gold nanoparticles modified electrode surface the best available option for antibody immobilization for immunosensor fabrication? Is there any other alternative covalent immobilization strategy for orthogonal orientation of antibody, ensuring enhanced sensitivity of immunosensors? Does EDC-NHS activation of carboxyl functionalized nanoparticles surface really leads to orthogonal or directed immobilization of antibody? Gold nanoparticles synthesized using L-Asparagine as reducing and stabilization agent were employed for orthogonal immobilization of antibody for immunosensor fabrication. Anti-CA125 antibody was used as a model system for immunosensor fabrication. A comparative evaluation of immunosensors fabricated using L-Asparagine stabilized gold nanoparticles and citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles via different immobilization strategies/chemistries was done. The three strategies involved immobilization of Anti-CA125 antibody - (1) after EDC-NHS activation of citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles, (2) directly onto citrate stabilized gold nanoparticles and (3) directly onto L-Asparagine stabilized gold nanoparticles modified electrode surfaces. Comparative evaluation of Impedimetric response characteristics showed 2.5 times increase in sensitivity (349.36 Ω/(IU/mL)/cm(2)) in case of third strategy as compared to first (147.53 Ω/(IU/mL)/cm(2)) and twice that of second strategy (166.24 Ω/(IU/mL)/cm(2)). Additionally, an extended dynamic range of 0-750 IU/mL was observed while for others it was up to 500 IU/mL. Amino acid coated gold nanoparticles ensured orthogonal immobilization, lesser randomization, with 88% of active antibody available for antigen binding as opposed to other two strategies with less than 30% active antibody.