Polycationic dendrimer-based gene transfer is one of the most important biological applications of dendrimers, which involves electrostatic interactions between the positively charged dendrimer end groups and the negatively charged phosphate groups in DNA. Such features could also be used to bind biologically important RNA molecules, which are emerging as both important therapeutic targets and ...

Scanning-tunneling-microscope (STM) is an instrument not only used to see individual atoms by imaging, but also used to touch and pick-up the atoms or to hear their vibrations by means of manipulation and spectroscopy [1]. In this perspective, the STM can be considered as the eyes, hands and ears of the scientists connecting our macroscopic world to the exciting atomic and nanoscopic world. Her...

Rhythmically oscillating phenomena in biological systems have been analyzed in many ways: behaviorally (reviews: Moore-Ede et al 1982, Saunders 1982), neurobiologically (reviews: Turek 1985, Jacklet 1985), and biochemically (reviews: Takahashi & Menaker 1984, Johnson & Hastings 1986). Over the last four years, another angle from which these rhythms has been approached-"clock genetics"-appears t...

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The conventional reductionist approach to cardiovascular research investigates individual candidate factors or linear signalling pathways but ignores more complex interactions in biological systems. The advent of molecular profiling technologies that focus on a global characterization of whole complements allows an exploration of the interconnectivity of pathways during pathophysiologically rel...

I. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are also called saccharides, which is derived from the Greek word sakcharon meaning sugar. The simplest carbohydrates are called monosaccharides, and the biologically important monosaccharides contain from 3 to 7 carbon atoms. The monosaccharides with 5 carbons (the pentoses) and with 6 carbons (the hexoses) may take on different configurations in an aqueous solut...

On the basis of first-principles calculations, we demonstrate the potential application of silicene as a highly sensitive molecule sensor for NH3, NO, and NO2 molecules. NH3, NO and NO2 molecules chemically adsorb on silicene via strong chemical bonds. With distinct charge transfer from silicene to molecules, silicene and chemisorbed molecules form charge-transfer complexes. The adsorption ener...

Pharmaceutical industry is currently undergoing a transient phase with new orientation. Loss of financial resources, presence of new therapeutic agents and increasing cost of research and development have called for a full.scale restructuring within the pharmaceutical industry to retain even the most basic competitiveness. The development of new technologies has been as one way out of the dile...

Earthworms possess antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, and hemolytic properties. To recognize the molecules responsible for various biological activities of earthworm’s coelomic fluid, a detailed knowledge about its protein contents is required. The aim of this study was to characterize the proteins present within the coelomic fluid of Eisenia foetida earthworm. Polyacrylamide-gel-elec...

Bioactive products from snail slime of “Helix” specie have potential applications in preventing and/or treating several human diseases and in cancer diagnosis. However, the poor pharmacokinetics characteristics of these natural compounds limit their use. Nanotechnology offers promising solutions for the enhanced formulation of these molecules through the synthesis of nanosized drug del...