Optical detection of acetylcholine esterase based on CdTe quantum dots

In this study, we have constructed a simple, sensitive and rapid biosensor for detection of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) based on CdTe quantum dots (QDs). The detection limit of AChE by one-step enzyme reaction based on the thiolglycolic acid (TGA) stabilized QDs (TGA-QDs) was 10 U/L and the linear range was 10-100 and 100-1200 U/L, respectively. The detection limit of AChE by two-step enzyme reaction based on the 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MGA) stabilized QDs (MGA-QDs) was found to be 20 U/L and the linear range was 100-2500 U/L. The experimental conditions of biosensors were optimized, and the detection mechanism was studied. We also detected AChE in serum samples based on TGA-QDs or MGA-QDs. The linear range was 10-140 and 50-1000 U/L, respectively. The excellent performance of this novel biosensor demonstrated that this strategy has prodigious potential to be applied in practice detection of AChE.

Fabrication of PLGA coated silica nanorattle for controlling the drug release behavior

Silica nanorattle with hollow and mesoporous structure has been proven to be an excellent drug carrier.However,how to control the drug release from silica nanorattle is still a challenge.In this study,we designed two methods,in-situ polymerization method and water in oil in water(W/O/W) double emulsion method,to coat a nanosized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) layer onto the surface of silica nanorattle for controlling the drug release behavior.Hydrophobic antitumor drug docetaxel was loaded into the PLGA coated silica nanorattle(PLGA@SN).The drug release profile,cellular uptake and cytotoxicity on human liver cancer HepG2 cells were evaluated to prove that the PLGA layer plays an effective role in tuning the drug delivery.

Acute toxicity and oxidative damage induced by silica nanorattle in vivo

Hollow mesoporous nanomaterial is a kind of promising new drug delivery system due to their unique hollow structures.In order to evaluate the toxicity of silica nanorattle (SN) particles in vivo,40 female mice were used in this study to investigate the acute toxicity and oxidative damage.Mice were intravenously injected with SN suspension in sterile 5% glucose at 40,80 and 240 mg/kg,respectively.The control group was administrated with equal-volume 5% glucose.Weight,feed intake,hematology analysis,blood biochemical assay and histopathology diagnosis were examined.The activities of SOD,GSH and CAT were measured as well.The results demonstrated that the levels of ALT and AST in the mice treated with 240 mg/kg SN increased significantly as compared with the control group (P<0.05),whereas the contents of BUN and CREA changed unremarkably.The activity of SOD induced by SN in the liver decreased significantly (P<0.05).In summary,this study revealed that liver was the target organ of the SN.It also can be concluded that activity of SOD played an important role in liver injury caused by SN.