Search

In the field of cancer detection, technologies to analyze tumors using biomarkers circulating in fluids such as blood have developed rapidly based on liquid biopsy. A proactive approach to early cancer detection can lead to more effective treatments with minimal side effects and better long-term patient survival. However, early detection of cancer is hindered by the existing limitations of conventional cancer diagnostic methods. To enable early diagnosis and regular monitoring and improve automation, the development of integrated point-of-care (POC) and biosensors is needed. This is expected to fundamentally change the diagnosis, management, and monitoring of response to treatment of cancer. POC-based techniques will provide a way to avoid complications that occur after invasive tissue biopsy, such as bleeding, infection, and pain. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive view of biosensors and their clinical relevance in oncology for the detection of biomarkers with liquid biopsies of proteins, miRNA, ctDNA, exosomes, and cancer cells. The preceding discussion also illustrates the changing landscape of liquid biopsy-based cancer diagnosis through nanomaterials, machine learning, artificial intelligence, wearable devices, and sensors, many of which apply POC design principles. With the advent of sensitive, selective, and timely detection of cancer, we see the field of POC technology for cancer detection and treatment undergoing a positive paradigm shift in the foreseeable future.

The main challenging aspect in the management of tuberculosis (TB) diseases is effective alveolar macrophages targeting. Macrophage mannose receptor plays a predominant role in stimulating immune systems by TB pathogen. Our earlier in silico computational studies revealed that O-stearoyl mannose (OSM) possesses a higher affinity with macrophage mannose receptors. Therefore, keeping this in view, we developed OSM with the association of stearic acid and d-mannose as initial reactants by the esterification process. Preliminary confirmation of reaction was assessed with thin-layer chromatography experimentation, whereas further confirmation followed by in vitro characterization with several analytical experimental tools such as fourier transform near-infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, and electrospray ionization-assisted mass spectrometry confirms the formation of the OSM. This synthesized and well-characterized OSM as a ligand was further incubated with surface-engineered lipid nanoarchitectonics to achieve OSM ligand-engineered lipid nanoarchitectonics and earlier explored for its safety study through hemolysis assay and potential in vitro triggering efficiency in human alveolar macrophages (THP-1 cells) to validate its active targeting efficiency. Graphical Abstract [Figure: see text].

Correction for ‘Tailored point-of-care biosensors for liquid biopsy in the field of oncology’ by Sima Singh et al., Lab Chip, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1039/d2lc00666a.

Air pollution has become a growing invisible killer in recent years and is major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. India stands 10th among the highly polluted countries with an average PM10 level of 134μg/m3 per year. It is also reported that 99% of India's population comes across air pollution level that exceed the World Health Organization Air Quality Guideline (AQG), PM2.5 permissible levels of 10 μg/m3. Maternal exposure to air pollution has a serious health outcome to the offspring because it can affect embryonic phases of development during the gestation period. Fetus is more prone to air pollution effect during embryonic developmental phases due to oxidative stress as antioxidant mechanisms are lacking at that stage. Any injury during this vulnerable period (embryonic phase) will have long-term impact on offspring health both in early and later in life. Epidemiological studies have revealed that maternal exposure to air pollution increases the risk of developing airways disease in offspring due to impaired lung development in utero. In this review, we discuss cellular mechanisms involved in maternal exposure to air pollution and how it can impact development of airways disease in offspring. Better understanding of these mechanisms in context of maternal exposure to air pollution can offer newer avenue to prevent development of airways disease in offspring.

Basic alumina supported, solvent-free synthesis of novel oxazocines, medium size heterocycles, has been achieved in excellent yields by tandem C-alkylation followed by intramolecular O-alkylation of hydroxyquinoline/isoquinoline(s) with quinolinium salts under microwave irradiation. The method provides a facile and efficient route for the construction of polynuclear bridge-head oxazocines.

A convenient and inexpensive one step methodology has been developed for the synthesis of linear and angular fused quinazolinones. The protocol, which uses amino heterocycles and o-bromo benzyl/naphthyl bromides as reactants, CuI as catalyst, Cs2CO3 as base, l -proline as ligand, and DMF as solvent, proceeds via nucleophilic aromatic substitution of the N-heteroaromatic cationic intermediate followed by in situ aerial oxidation at the benzylic position to the quinazolinone scaffold.

Basic alumina supported solvent-free one-pot synthesis of pyridine-fused polycyclic diazepaniums was achieved under microwave irradiation. The process was successfully extended to the synthesis of pyridine-fused bicyclic imidazolidiniums and tetrahydro-pyrimidiniums and also of tri- and tetracyclic diaza-heterocycle-fused quinoliniums. The dual characteristic of basic alumina, a solid support as well as a base, was successfully employed in the current investigation. The method emerged to be an effective route in terms of product yield, reaction time, and ease of purification and most importantly for environment friendly protocols.

A high yielding environmentally benign protocol has been developed for the synthesis of pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline using chromone-3-carboxaldehyde, isoquinoline and phenacyl bromide/bromoacetic acid ester as reagents in aqueous micellar medium. The method is operationally simple and more effective compared to the previous methods in terms of the yield of the products as well as the reaction time.

An environmentally benign protocol has been described for the synthesis of novel 2-(1′,3′-dihydro-1H-[2,3′]biindolyl-2′-ylidene)-indan-1,3-diones/bis-indolylindane-1,3-diones from ninhydrin and 3-substituted/unsubstituted indoles. It uses montmorillonite K-10 as catalyst in a solvent-free condition under microwave irradiation. The method was also used for the synthesis of novel bisindolylindeno[1,2-b]quinoxaline derivatives.

A high yielding green protocol for the synthesis of tricyclic oxaza quinolinium salts has been developed using Amberlite IRA 402(OH) in water. This method is more effective compared to previously reported phase-transfer catalytic (PTC) condition in terms of yield of the product, reaction time and ease of separation.

A facile synthesis of novel di-spiro compounds has been achieved via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated in situ from isatin derivatives and sarcosine to the conjugated double bond of andrographolide. When the amino acid was changed from sarcosine to l-proline, the product formation took a different course as determined by 2D NMR and X-ray crystallographic analysis.

A high yielding green protocol has been developed for the synthesis of tri-, tetra-, and pentacyclic fused 2-quinolones in micellar medium. The method is more effective compared to phase-transfer catalytic (PTC) method in terms of the yield of the product as well as the reaction time. It is operationally simple as well as environmentally benign.

Amberlite IRA 402(OH) effectively mediates biarylation via Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction on complex systems such as dihalo quinolonoquinoxalino-oxazocines.

An efficient and simple synthesis of pentacyclic quinolonoquinoxalinooxazocines in a one-pot sequence has been performed by unique application of phase transfer catalysis. Preparative simplicity and conceptual novelty of the methodology offer an attractive general application for the synthesis of novel quinoline antibiotics.

Syntheses of 3,3-diheteroaromatic oxindole derivatives has been achieved by coupling indole-2,3-dione (isatin) with differently substituted indoles and pyrrole in presence of I(2) in i-PrOH. The in vitro spermicidal potentials and the mode of spermicidal action of the synthesized analogues were evaluated and the derivative, 3,3-bis (5-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl) indolin-2-one (3d) exhibited most significant activity.

A general and highly efficient synthetic protocol under phase transfer catalytic condition has been established for the synthesis of fused tetracyclic oxazocinoquinolone analogues which served as the precursors for novel biaryl quinolones using microwave assisted Suzuki cross coupling reaction.

In the present study, we have tried to establish the correlation between changes in Zeta potential with that of cell surface permeability using bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus). An effort has been made to establish Zeta potential as a possible marker for the assessment of membrane damage, with a scope for predicting alteration of cell viability. Cationic agents like, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide and polymyxin B were used for inducing alteration of Zeta potential, and the changes occurring in the membrane permeability were studied. In addition, assessment of poly-dispersity index (PDI), cell viability along with confocal microscopic analysis were performed. Based on our results, it can be suggested that alteration of Zeta potential may be correlated to the enhancement of membrane permeability and PDI, and it was observed that beyond a critical point, it leads to cell death (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria). The present findings can not only be used for studying membrane active molecules but also for understanding the surface potential versus permeability relationship.