Biomedical subjects

Yuanfang Liu

Publications and source records attributed to Yuanfang Liu.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Comparison of water-soluble CdTe nanoparticles synthesized in air and in nitrogen.

It is commonly believed that high-quality CdTe nanoparticles with strong luminescence can only be prepared under the protection of an inert gas such as nitrogen or argon. Here, we report the preparation of highly luminescent CdTe nanoparticles in air and compare their luminescence properties with CdTe nanoparticles made in nitrogen. We find that both water-soluble CdTe nanoparticles made in air and in nitrogen exhibit strong photoluminescence as well as upconversion luminescence at room temperature. However, differences do exist between the particles made in air and those made in nitrogen. In particular, the particles prepared in air display a faster growth rate, grow to larger sizes, and display stronger electron coupling relative to the particles prepared in nitrogen. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicates that the oxygen content in the nanoparticles synthesized in air is higher that that in particles synthesized in N(2), likely resulting in a higher availability of excess free cadmium. Cytotoxicity measurements reveal that the particles made in air appear slightly more toxic, possibly due to the excess of free cadmium.

Air↗

PubMed2006

3D inverted opal hydrogel scaffolds with oxygen sensing capability.

The measurement of local oxygen level in 3D cell culture is desired but remains as a challenge problem. We developed a 3D cell scaffold with luminescence-based oxygen sensing capability that opens the possibility of 3D mapping of oxygen level during cell growth. Hydrogel inverted opal scaffold was prepared by photo-polymerization of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (pHEMA) and poly(methacryloyloxy)ethyl-trimethylammonium chloride (pMEATAC) monomer using close-packed bead assembly as template. Tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)ruthenium chloride (Ru(dpp)(3)), was coated on the pHEMA-pMEATAC 3D scaffolds by layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly. pHEMA-pMEATAC copolymer was coated on top of the Ru(dpp)(3) layer as a protection layer. The fluorescence emission of Ru(dpp)(3) can be dynamically quenched by oxygen. By measuring the emission intensity of the scaffold, the local oxygen level can be monitored. The hydrogel scaffolds are transparent, and thus 3D fluorescence intensity can be mapped by confocal microscopy. Human bone marrow stromal cells HS-5 were successfully cultured on the oxygen sensing scaffold, and the observed Ru(dpp)(3) emission intensity from the scaffold was stronger in cell rich area, which indicates a lower oxygen level due to the consumption of the cells.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

PubMed2005

Adduction of biomacromolecules with acrylamide (AA) in mice at environmental dose levels studied by accelerator mass spectrometry.

Since 2002, WHO has strongly called scientists to investigate intensively the toxicity and potential carcinogenicity of acrylamide (AA), because humans are widely exposed to AA via various foodstuffs. In this study we measured the biomacromolecule adducts of [2,3-(14)C]AA (0, 7.5 x 10(-2), 7.5 x 10(-1), 7.5, 9.3 x 10(1), 2.4 x 10(2) and 1.0 x 10(3)microg/kg b.w.) in adult male mice by ultrasensitive accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) technique. The aim is to evaluate the potential molecular toxicity of AA at human relevant dose levels, particularly towards the sperm cells. Hemoglobin (Hb), serum albumin (SA), protamine, sperm DNA, tails and heads were isolated 24h post dosing and the adduct levels were measured by AMS, respectively. Good log/log linear dose-response correlations were established. Moreover, the correlation of AA-protamine adducts, AA-sperm DNA adducts, as well as AA-sperm head/tail adducts with AA-Hb or AA-SA adducts presented a linear log/log mode. In sperm, the formation of AA-protamine adducts were predominating to AA-DNA adducts. The adducts on sperm heads/tails might both influence the fertility efficacy.

Acrylamide↗

PubMed2004

Inverted colloidal crystals as three-dimensional cell scaffolds.

A new type of three-dimensional scaffold with inverted colloidal crystal geometry for the investigation of topological effects in cell cultures is introduced in this publication. The scaffolds are made by infiltration of the hexagonal crystal lattice of polystyrene spheres with sol-gel formulation and subsequent annealing. It possesses a relatively high degree of order among existing cell scaffolds and affords tight control over the scaffold porosity and tissue organization. The prepared scaffolds can be a convenient system for the investigation of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions. Their biocompatibility is demonstrated for human hepatocellular carcinoma HEP G2 and human bone marrow HS-5 cell cultures. A preliminary effect of the scaffold topology on cell proliferation is observed. HEP G2 hepatocytes form a large number of 10-15 cell colonies on scaffolds made from 75-microm spheres, while their number diminishes for scaffolds from 10- and 160-microm spheres. Under similar conditions, HS-5 forms smaller colonies consisting of three to four cells in 90-microm cavities.

Bone Marrow Cells↗

PubMed2004

Biodistribution of carbon single-wall carbon nanotubes in mice.

Carbon nanotubes are promising for use in biomedical and pharmaceutical sciences. Therefore, it becomes imperative to know the basic biological properties of carbon nanotubes in vivo. We labeled the water-soluble hydroxylated carbon single-wall nanotubes with radioactive 125I atoms, and then the tracer was used to study the distribution of hydroxylated carbon single-wall nanotubes in mice. They moved easily among the compartments and tissues of the body, behaving as small active molecules though their apparent mean molecular weight is tremendously large. This study, for the first time, affords a quantitative analysis of carbon nanotubes accumulated in animal tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Binding of nitrobenzene to hepatic DNA and hemoglobin at low doses in mice.

Nitrobenzene (NB) is a widely used industrial chemical, and is considered a hazardous air pollutant. Evidence has recently showed that nitrobenzene is an animal carcinogen. We investigated the binding of 14C-NB to hepatic DNA and Hb in mice at low doses using an ultrasensitive method of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). In a dose-response profile, NB-DNA and NB-Hb adduct levels increased with increasing administered doses from 0.1 microg/kg b.w. to 10 mg/kg b.w. with a good linearity in a log/log presentation. At 2 h after NB administration, NB-DNA adduct levels were about twofold greater than that of NB-Hb at all doses. In the time course study NB-DNA adduct levels reduced rapidly through an exponential decay profile, whereas NB-Hb adducts showed a different decay mode, declining rather slowly to low levels. Our findings on the genotoxicity of NB do furnish a significant evidence in support of the probable carcinogenic property of NB previously reported.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Inhibition of nitrobenzene-induced DNA and hemoglobin adductions by dietary constituents.

Nitrobenzene (NB), a widely used industrial chemical, is a likely human carcinogen. Many dietary constituents can suppress the DNA-adduction, acting as the inhibitors of cancer. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE), tea polyphenols (TP), garlic squeeze, curcumin, and grapestone extract on NB-DNA and NB-hemoglobin (Hb) adductions in mice using an ultrasensitive method of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) with 14C-labelled nitrobenzene. All of these dietary constituents showed their inhibitory effects on DNA or Hb adduction. VC, VE, TP and grapestone extract could efficaciously inhibit the adductions by 33-50%, and all of these six agents could inhibit Hb adduction by 30-64%. We also investigated resveratrol, curcumin, VC and VE as inhibitors of NB-DNA adduction in vitro using liquid scintillation counting technique. These agents in the presence of NADPH and S9 components also pronouncedly blocked DNA adduction in a dose-dependent profile. Our study suggests that these seven constituents may interrupt the process of NB-induced chemical carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Foxa3 (HNF-3gamma) binds to and activates the rat proglucagon gene promoter but is not essential for proglucagon gene expression.

Members of the Forkhead box a (Foxa) transcription factor family are expressed in the liver, pancreatic islets and intestine and both Foxa1 and Foxa2 regulate proglucagon gene transcription. As Foxa proteins exhibit overlapping DNA-binding specificities, we examined the role of Foxa3 [hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-3gamma] in control of proglucagon gene expression. Foxa3 was detected by reverse transcriptase PCR in glucagon-producing cell lines and binds to the rat proglucagon gene G2 promoter element in GLUTag enteroendocrine cells. Although Foxa3 increased rat proglucagon promoter activity in BHK fibroblasts, augmentation of Foxa3 expression did not increase proglucagon promoter activity in GLUTag cells. Furthermore, adenoviral Foxa3 expression did not affect endogenous proglucagon gene expression in islet or intestinal endocrine cell lines. Although Foxa3(-/-) mice exhibit mild hypoglycaemia during a prolonged fast, the levels of proglucagon-derived peptides and proglucagon mRNA transcripts were comparable in tissues from wild-type and Foxa3(-/-) mice. These findings identify Foxa3 as a member of the proglucagon gene G2 element binding-protein family that, unlike Foxa1, is not essential for control of islet or intestinal proglucagon gene expression in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of hemophilia Alpha.

OBJECTIVE: To establish an effective laboratory examination system for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia Alpha(HA) with a variety of molecular biological methods which are simple,rapid and easy to use. METHODS: Detection of inversion involving intron 22 in the FVIII gene was completed by long distance polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and linkage analysis was performed by using several genetic polymorphisms including an intragenic Bcl I RFLP, 2 STRs and an extragenic St14 VNTR. RESULTS: Intron 22 inversion was observed in 10 out of the 21 (47.6%) pedigrees examined. Prenatal diagnosis was completed in 3 pedigrees. A further combination of the four intragenic and extragenic polymorphic loci gave an informative rate of 94.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Female relatives in HA families with inversion can be detected with direct diagnostic procedure. The application of long distance PCR makes the detection much more simple and rapid. For families without inversions,it is easier and more cost-effective to undertake linkage analysis of genetic polymorphism based on PCR.

Chromosome Inversion↗