IntroductionA number of positive contrast techniques for the detection of (super-) paramagnetic particles/agents, such as (U)SPIO or iron-oxide labeled cells have been developed recently. Most of these positive contrast (PC) techniques exploit the frequency shift that is induced by the magnetic susceptibility difference of the contrast agents. Positive contrast techniques may improve detectabil...

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) utilizes a powerful magnetic field to align the nuclear magnetization of hydrogen atoms in water in the body without the use of ionizing radiation. Iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles are the only FDA approved nanoparticles used as a MRI contrast agent. Paramagnetic IO nanoparticles can induce remarkably strong magnetic resonance imaging contrast and have a large surf...

In an investigation concerned with the solubilization and characterization of membrane-bound iron-sulfur proteins of photosynthetic bacteria, succinate dehydrogenase was solubilized from Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores by the detergent lauryl dimethylamine oxide (LDAO) or by an alkaline washing treatment. The LDAO-solubilized enzyme was purified by a combination of DEAE-cellulose and Sepha...

A non-invasive view of the brain with the aid of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is invaluable for studying pathological processes during autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Several MRI technologies are available that can be employed to study inflammation within the brain. These include labeling of inflammatory cells with paramagnetic contrast agents (such as USPIO/SPIO/VSOP iron-oxide or perfluoro ...

Nanobiocatalysis, as the synergistic combination of nanotechnology and biocatalysis, is rapidly emerging as a new frontier of biotechnology. The use of immobilized enzymes in industrial applications often presents advantages over their soluble counterparts, mainly in view of stability, reusability and simpler operational processing. Because of their singular properties, such as biocompatibility...

BACKGROUND The magnetic nanoparticle-based transfection method is a relatively new technique for delivery of functional genes to target tissues. We aimed to evaluate the transfection efficiency of rat neural stem cell (NSC) using poly-L-lysine hydrobromide (PLL)-coated super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION). METHODS The SPION was prepared and coated with PLL as transfection agent...

Attachment of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules to nanoparticles (PEGylation) is a widely-used method to improve the stability, biocompatibility and half-life of nanomedicines. However, the evaluation of the PEGylated nanomedicine pharmacokinetics (PK) requires the decomposition of particles and purification of lead compounds before analysis by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), m...

sulfur mustard (sm) has been identified as an important chemical weapon. during the iran-iraq war of 1980-88, the extensive usage of sm against iranian civilians and military forces was proven. this agent has been shown to cause severe damage mainly in the skin, eyes, lungs,  and  respiratory  tract  in  iranian  veterans.  the  most  common  disease  is bronchiolitis obliterans (bo)). sm incre...

The bacterial respiratory nitric-oxide reductase (NOR) catalyzes the respiratory detoxification of nitric oxide in bacteria and Archaea. It is a member of the well known super-family of heme-copper oxidases but has a [heme Fe-non-heme Fe] active site rather than the [heme Fe-Cu(B)] active site normally associated with oxygen reduction. Paracoccus denitrificans NOR is spectrally characterized by...