A nanoscale electrochemical guanine DNA-biosensor based on a flower-like nanocomposite of Tb-doped ZnO for the sensitive determination of pemetrexed.

Pemetrexed is an antineoplastic drug used in chemotherapeutic treatments, especially in malignant mesothelioma and non-small cell lung carcinoma, but can also cause a variety of complications, like stomach pain, nausea, burning, vomiting, numbness, and tingling, emphasizing the need for an approach to quantify the drug in biological matrices. Herein, a DNA-based biosensor was introduced for pemetrexed determination. A hydrothermal approach was used for synthesizing flower-like nanoparticles (NPs) of zinc oxide (ZnO) doped with Tb (FL-NP Tb3+/ZnO). Moreover, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), zeta potential, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were used for characterizing the as-prepared nanocomposite. According to the impedance analysis, FL-NP Tb3+/ZnO was accompanied by very good electrochemical functions for a simple transfer of electrons. In the case of the immobilization of double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (ds-DNA) on the FL-NP Tb3+/ZnO and polypyrrole (PP)-modified pencil graphite electrode (ds-DNA/PP/FL-NP Tb3+/ZnO/PGE), a considerable enhancement was found in the electrochemical oxidation of guanine in ds-DNA residue bases. Since there was an interaction between ds-DNA and pemetrexed, the voltammetric current of guanine over the ds-DNA/PP/FL-NP Tb3+/ZnO/PGE declined in the presence of pemetrexed in the electrolytic solution. Moreover, under optimum conditions (25 mg L-1 of ds-DNA and 10 min incubation time, in acetate buffer at 25 °C), a linear decrease in the guanine signal was observed on the ds-DNA/PP/FL-NP Tb3+/ZnO/PGE as the pemetrexed concentration increased in the range from 0.001 µM to 175.0 µM with a limit of detection of 0.17 nM. Finally, the new DNA-based biosensor was successfully used for determining pemetrexed in real samples, indicating its application potential.

Development of the DNA-based voltammetric biosensor for detection of vincristine as anticancer drug.

In the article presented herein, a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) biosensor is introduced for Vincristine determination in pharmaceutical preparations based on the modification of screen printed electrode (SPE) with double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA), polypyrrole (PP), peony-like CuO:Tb3+ nanostructure (P-L CuO:Tb3+ NS). The developed sensor indicated a wide linear response to Vincristine concentration ranged from 1.0 nM to 400.0 µM with a limit of detection as low as .21 nM. The intercalation of Vincristine with DNA guanine led to the response. The optimized parameters for the biosensor performance were ds-DNA/Vincristine interaction time, DNA concentration and type of buffer solution. The docking investigation confirm the minor groove interaction between guanine base at surface of or ds-DNA/PP/P-L CuO:Tb3+ NS/SPE and Vincristine. The proposed sensor could successfully determine Vincristine in Vincristine injections and biological fluids, with acceptable obtains.

Developing "Code of Ethics for Medical Professionals, Medical Council of Islamic Republic of Iran".

BACKGROUND: The medical profession has always been an inspiration for human societies throughout its diverse history. This position and historical authority in the field of ethics has had a different and higher status, in such a way that many of the norms of general ethics and professional ethics, especially principles, such as trust, confidentiality and respect for human dignity, have been developed by medical professionals. Developing guidelines of general and professional ethics is one of the inherent duties of the Medical Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRIMC) as a professional organization. In this regard, the Supreme Council of IRIMC has approved the "Code of Ethics for Medical Professionals" and, in accordance with its legal authority, has annexed it to the disciplinary regulations of IRIMC. METHODS: A draft document, the result of extensive literature review, was discussed in 27 expert panel meetings and after receiving and endorsing the stakeholders' point of view, was approved by the IRIMC Supreme Council. RESULTS: The first edition of "Code of Ethics for Medical Professionals, Medical Council of Islamic Republic of Iran" was developed on July 6, 2017 by the Supreme Council of IRIMC. The guideline was set to take effect one year after its enactment. The first edition was revised and completed and final edition was adopted on August 9, 2018 by IRIMC in 13 chapters and 140 articles (original full text is available in the Supplementary file 1). CONCLUSION: According to the approved decision by the Supreme Council of IRIMC on May 10, 2018, the final edition takes effect as of October 7, 2018.

Theoretical and Practical Principles on Nanoethics: A Narrative Review Article.

BACKGROUND: Interests in nanotechnology and its application in medical research, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases continuously grow. The study identified the theoretical and practical principles of ethics in developed countries' nanomedical research to be used as the first step of development of a national nanoethics standard or guideline in Iran and developing countries. METHODS: The present study was done between 2012-2016 in Ethics and Law Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, which comprised a literature review and a comparative study to describe and compare the nanoethics situation and considerations of nanoethics in Australia, Canada, and USA. RESULTS: The main ethical considerations in the three countries contain two major categories, including firstly, the nature of nanoparticles such as its diversity, rapid development of new and not well-defined nanoproducts and particles and unpredictable side effects of such nanoparticles; and secondly, the application of developed nanoparticles in areas such as justice, privacy protection, patient-physician relations, etc. CONCLUSION: It is controversial to develop an independent nanoethics standard or codes; however, national priorities and concerns, as well as specific nanoethics considerations, should be investigated before deciding to create such standards in each country. Overall, careful considerations have to take into account the justice, privacy protection, the inherent risks of nanomaterials and their possible side effects on patients and other study subjects, as well as considering characteristics of new developed nanoproducts and particles.