A novel HLA-DRB1 allele, DRB1*01:54, identified by sequence-based typing.

The new HLA DRB1*01:54 differs from DRB1*01:02:01 by one nucleotide at exon 2.

Sub-micrometric liposomes as drug delivery systems in the treatment of periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a complex disease and bacterial infection is one of the most common factors involved in this disease. Current strategies for the local delivery of antibiotics do not allow a complete clearance of bacteria filling dentinal tubules and this limits their therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, there is a strong need for the development of new delivery strategies aimed at improving the efficacy of antibiotic therapy for periodontitis with special reference to their ability to penetrate into the tubules. The aim of the present study is to develop liposome-based delivery systems of sub-micron dimension, able to diffuse into the dentinal tubules. A further aim of the research is to develop a protocol for enhanced diffusion based on the use of magnetic liposomes and magnetic fields. Liposomes were produced by hydration of a pre-liposomal formulation. The vesicles were stabilised with PEG and their re-sizing was achieved by extrusion. Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized inside the vesicles, i.e., the chemical reaction involving FeCl2, FeCl3 and NH3 occurred within the core of the newly formed liposomes. Dynamic light scattering analysis was performed for size characterization. A mathematical model was implemented to predict the diffusion of the liposomes in dentinal tubules. Ex-vivo validation was performed on extracted human teeth. We produced PEG-ylated liposomes (average size 204.3 nm) and PEG-ylated magnetic liposomes (average size 286 nm) and an iron content of 4.2 µg/ml. Through mathematical modelling, we deduced that sub-micrometer vesicles are able to penetrate into dentinal tubules. This penetration is considerably more effective when the vesicles are magnetized and subjected to an external magnetic field which accelerates their movement within the tubules. The liposome-based delivery systems developed by the present study are able to penetrate deeply into the tubules, sometimes reaching their terminal ends.

Progress in nanotechnology for healthcare.

This review based on the Wickham lecture given by AC at the 2009 SMIT meeting in Sinaia outlines the progress made in nano-technology for healthcare. It describes in brief the nature of nano-materials and their unique properties which accounts for the significant research both in scientific institutions and industry for translation into new therapies embodied in the emerging field of nano-medicine. It stresses that the potential of nano-medicine to make significant inroads for more effective therapies both for life-threatening and life-disabling disorders will only be achieved by high-quality life science research. The first generation of passive nano-diagnostics based on nanoparticle contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging is well established in clinical practice and new such contrast agents are undergoing early clinical evaluation. Likewise active (second generation) nano-therapies, exemplified by targeted control drug release systems are undergoing early clinical evaluation. The situation concerning other nano-materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) is less advanced although considerable progress has been made on their coating for aqueous dispersion and functionalisation to enable carriage of drugs, genes and fluorescent markers. The main problem related to the clinical use of these nanotubes is that there is no consent among scientists on the fate of such nano-materials following injection or implantation in humans. Provided carbon nanotubes are manufactured to certain medical criteria (length around 1 mum, purity of 97-99% and low Fe content) they exhibit no cytotoxicity on cell cultures and demonstrate full bio-compatibility on in vivo animal studies. The results of recent experimental studies have demonstrated the potential of technologies based on CNTs for low voltage wireless electro-chemotherapy of tumours and for electro-stimulation therapies for cardiac, neurodegenerative and skeletal and visceral muscle disorders.

Cell creeping and controlled migration by magnetic carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are tubular nanostructures that exhibit magnetic properties due to the metal catalyst impurities entrapped at their extremities during fabrication. When mammalian cells are cultured in a CNT-containing medium, the nanotubes interact with the cells, as a result of which, on exposure to a magnetic field, they are able to move cells towards the magnetic source. In the present paper, we report on a model that describes the dynamics of this mammalian cell movement in a magnetic field consequent on CNT attachment. The model is based on Bell's theory of unbinding dynamics of receptor-ligand bonds modified and validated by experimental data of the movement dynamics of mammalian cells cultured with nanotubes and exposed to a magnetic field, generated by a permanent magnet, in the vicinity of the cell culture wells. We demonstrate that when the applied magnetic force is below a critical value (about Fc ≈ 10-11 N), the cell 'creeps' very slowly on the culture dish at a very low velocity (10-20 nm/s) but becomes detached from the substrate when this critical magnetic force is exceeded and then move towards the magnetic source.

Neuroblastoma cells displacement by magnetic carbon nanotubes.

In this paper, as-produced multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, revealing the presence of Fe, Al, and Zn residuals and impurities. MWNTs have then been dispersed in Pluronic F127 aqueous solution and used to seed neuroblastoma cell lines (HN9.10e and SH-SY5Y) for three days. We found that MWNTs interact with cells and induce, under a permanent constant magnetic field, the cell displacement toward the magnetic source.

FIB-nanostructured surfaces and investigation of Bio/nonbio interactions at the nanoscale.

A better understanding of the interactions between biological entities and nanostructures is of central importance for developing functionalized materials and systems such as active surfaces with adapted biocompatibility. There is clear evidence in literature that cells and proteins generally interact with nanoscale-featured surfaces. Despite this quantity of information, little is known about the functional relationship between surface properties (i.e., roughness and nanostructuration) and biomolecules interaction. The main obstacle in the achievement of this goal is a technological one. Precise and straightforward control on surface modification at the nanometer level is required for understanding how nanostructuration influences interactions at bio/nonbio interface. In this paper, the authors describe the advantages of the focused ion beam (FIB) for surface nanostructuration of any material. The use of light transmitting substrates (especially glass) is often useful when studying the influence of surface morphology-in terms of shape and feature size-on bio/nonbio interactions by using traditional methods of biology and biotechnology. A simple methodology enabling a very efficient patterning of glass surfaces is thus described and validated: the enhancement of proteins interaction on FIB-nanostructured glass surfaces is demonstrated via fluorescence assays and a relationship between the adsorbed protein concentration and the density of surface patterning is derived.

Investigation of CNTs interaction with fibroblast cells.

The need for toxicological studies on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has arisen from the rapidly emerging applications of CNTs well beyond material science and engineering. In order to provide a method to collect data about toxicology, we characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), by Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (EDS) analysis and by Focused Ion Beam (FIB) microscopy different kinds of treated CNTs. The bio-interaction was investigated seeding Crandell feline kidney fibroblasts with CNT-modified medium; a dedicated sample preparation by FIB has been defined to fix cells. In the present study, the cytotoxic effects of CNTs with 91% and 97% of purity were compared and changes in the growth behaviour of cells after 3 days in culture with modified medium have been recorded, considering also the distribution of CNTs within cells. While lower purified CNTs induced a slight cytotoxic effect, homogeneously suspended CNTs with high purity were less cytotoxic, and the rate of cell growth remained constant. CNTs aggregated in bundles, showed high adhesion on cell membrane. Interestingly, CNTs bundles were observed inside cells, underneath the cell membrane, and despite of that, cells were extended, in good vitality conditions and no cell-degeneration was observed.