Ultrasound-mediated structural changes in cells revealed by FTIR spectroscopy: a contribution to the optimization of gene and drug delivery

Amyloid Structural Changes Studied by Infrared Microspectroscopy in Bigenic Cellular Models of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease affects millions of lives worldwide. This terminal disease is characterized by the formation of amyloid aggregates, so-called amyloid oligomers. These oligomers are composed of β-sheet structures, which are believed to be neurotoxic. However, the actual secondary structure that contributes most to neurotoxicity remains unknown. This lack of knowledge is due to the challenging nature of characterizing the secondary structure of amyloids in cells. To overcome this and investigate the molecular changes in proteins directly in cells, we used synchrotron-based infrared microspectroscopy, a label-free and non-destructive technique available for in situ molecular imaging, to detect structural changes in proteins and lipids. Specifically, we evaluated the formation of β-sheet structures in different monogenic and bigenic cellular models of Alzheimer's disease that we generated for this study. We report on the possibility to discern different amyloid signatures directly in cells using infrared microspectroscopy and demonstrate that bigenic (amyloid-β, α-synuclein) and (amyloid-β, Tau) neuron-like cells display changes in β-sheet load. Altogether, our findings support the notion that different molecular mechanisms of amyloid aggregation, as opposed to a common mechanism, are triggered by the specific cellular environment and, therefore, that various mechanisms lead to the development of Alzheimer's disease.

A Promising Platform of Magnetic Nanofluid and Ultrasonic Treatment for Cancer Hyperthermia Therapy: In Vitro and in Vivo Study

Localized hyperthermia is a very promising cancer therapy approach especially when stimulated by the exceptional properties of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). This approach is a highly site-specific method for localized heating of bodily tissue without any harmful side effects that could revolutionize the practice of cancer therapy. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the cancer cell-destroying capability of MNPs in combination with ultrasound treatment as an innovative sonomagnetic cancer therapy. Magnetic nanofluids (MNFs) were synthesized by co-precipitation/sonochemical techniques in an aqueous medium without any surfactant and/or capping agent. The physicochemical characteristics of the prepared MNFs were investigated with scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared and vibrating sample magnetometry. The MNFs was used as a mediator and sonosensitizer to destroy tumor tissue when irradiated by ultrasound waves. The antitumor efficiency of MNFs in combination with pulsed ultrasound (1.5 W/cm², 1 MHz) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. In vitro efficacy was estimated by determining the cell viability of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. For in vivo experiments, female mice were inoculated subcutaneously with Ehrlich carcinoma cells to establish solid Ehrlich carcinoma. The cytotoxic concentration of MNFs (400 µg/mL) was injected intratumorally and exposed to pulsed ultrasound (1.5 W/cm², 1 MHz). The cytotoxic effect was determined in terms of tumor growth rate, apoptosis and necrosis. Our results revealed that MNFs in the presence of pulsed ultrasound cause a significant increase in the cytotoxicity effect on tumor cells. This study illustrates the high efficiency of cancer therapy as assisted by both ultrasound and magnetic nanofluid.

Ultrasonic therapy modulates the expression of genes related to neovascularization and inflammation in fibroblasts

Abstract Introduction: In the rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, ultrasound is widely used in clinical practice. Objective: To evaluate the effects of pulsed ultrasonic therapy on the viability and modulation of genes involved in inflammation (IL-6) and neovascularization (VEGF) processes of L929 fibroblast cells. Methods: For irradiation with ultrasound the cells were subdivided into groups: G1 (without irradiation), G2 (0.3 W/cm2-20%) and G3 (0.6 W/cm2-20%), with periods of treatment at 24, 48 and 72 hours. The cell viability assay was analyzed by the MTT method and gene modulation was analyzed by RT-qPCR method. Results: After the comparative analysis between groups, only G2 and G3 (48-hour) presented statistically significant differences in relation to the control. In relation to the gene expression, the selection of the groups analyzed was delimited according to the comparative analysis of the values obtained by the MTT test. After the achievement of RT-qPCR, it could be observed that in G2 the amount of VEGF gene transcripts increased by 1.125-fold compared to endogenous controls, and increased 1.388-fold in G3. The IL-6 gene, on the other hand, had its transcripts reduced in both G2 (5.64x10-9) and G3 (1.91x10-6). Conclusion: Pulsed ultrasound in L929 fibroblasts showed a significant biostimulatory effect in the 48-hour period, with increased cell viability, and the same effect in the modulation of gene expression related the neovascularization and inflammation, mediating the acceleration of the tissue repair cascade.

Ultrasound delivery of Surface Enhanced InfraRed Absorption active gold-nanoprobes into fibroblast cells: a biological study via Synchrotron-based InfraRed microanalysis at single cell level

Ultrasound (US) induced transient membrane permeabilisation has emerged as a hugely promising tool for the delivery of exogenous vectors through the cytoplasmic membrane, paving the way to the design of novel anticancer strategies by targeting functional nanomaterials to specific biological sites. An essential step towards this end is the detailed recognition of suitably marked nanoparticles in sonoporated cells and the investigation of the potential related biological effects. By taking advantage of Synchrotron Radiation Fourier Transform Infrared micro-spectroscopy (SR-microFTIR) in providing highly sensitive analysis at the single cell level, we studied the internalisation of a nanoprobe within fibroblasts (NIH-3T3) promoted by low-intensity US. To this aim we employed 20 nm gold nanoparticles conjugated with the IR marker 4-aminothiophenol. The significant Surface Enhanced Infrared Absorption provided by the nanoprobes, with an absorbance increase up to two orders of magnitude, allowed us to efficiently recognise their inclusion within cells. Notably, the selective and stable SR-microFTIR detection from single cells that have internalised the nanoprobe exhibited clear changes in both shape and intensity of the spectral profile, highlighting the occurrence of biological effects. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and murine cytokinesis-block micronucleus assays confirmed the presence of slight but significant cytotoxic and genotoxic events associated with the US-nanoprobe combined treatments. Our results can provide novel hints towards US and nanomedicine combined strategies for cell spectral imaging as well as drug delivery-based therapies.

Syngas production: diverse H2/CO range by regulating carbonates electrolyte composition from CO2/H2O via co-electrolysis in eutectic molten salts

This work reports the simultaneous production of CO and H₂ with a broadened H₂/CO ratio range.

Comparative Study of Morphometric and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analyses of the Collagen Fibers in the Repair Process of Cutaneous Lesions

Objective: Compare the efficacy of light-emitting diode (LED) and therapeutic ultrasound (TUS), combined with a semipermeable dressing (D), at forming collagen in skin lesions by morphometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Materials and Methods: Surgical skin wounds (2.5 cm) were created on 84 male Wistar rats divided into four groups (n=21): Group I (Control), Group II (LED), Group III (LED+D), and Group IV (US+D). On days 7, 14, and 21, the tissue samples were removed and divided into two pieces, one was used for histological examination (collagen) and the other for FT-IR. Results: The histomorphometric analysis showed no significant differences among groups for collagen deposition at 7 days. However, at 14 days, more deposition of collagen was noted in the groups LED (p<0.05) and LED+D (p<0.001) than in the control. At 21 days, the groups LED, LED+D, and US+D presented significantly greater deposition of collagen when compared with the control. The FT-IR spectra, at 14 days, LED+D had greater amounts of type I collagen, a better organization of fibers, and greater difference of mean separation between the groups, not observed at 7 and 21 days. Innovation: The histomorphometric and FT-IR analyses suggest that the association of semipermeable dressing to LED therapy and to TUS modulates biological events, increasing fibroblast/collagen response and accelerating dermal maturation. Conclusion: The histomorphometric and FT-IR analyses showed that LED therapy is more efficacious than TUS, when combined with a semipermeable dressing, and induced the collagen production in skin lesions.

Potential genotoxic effects of low-intensity ultrasound on fibroblasts, evaluated with the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay

Although medical ultrasound offers compelling opportunities to improve therapy in principle, progress in the field has been limited because of an insufficient understanding of the potential genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of ultrasound on biological systems. This paper is mainly focused on an in vitro study of effects with respect to genotoxicity and viability induced by 1- and 3-MHz medical ultrasound in murine fibroblasts (NIH-3T3) at low-intensity exposure (spatial peak temporal average intensity Ita<0.1 W/cm(2)). The NIH-3T3 cells constitute a well-characterized in vitro cell model in which a genotoxic effect can be predicted by means of a reliable and precise murine cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. A statistically significant increase in the incidence of micronuclei was observed in sonicated 3T3 cells. In particular, the effects were more evident at 1 MHz. Moreover, for each frequency investigated, the occurrence of micronuclei was comparatively more frequent with increasing time of exposure. The possible toxicological implications of the medical ultrasound employed herein deal with the existence of a window of exposure parameters (set well below the intensity of ultrasound cavitation) in which some genotoxic effects may occur without significant cytotoxicity. In this respect, they provide new insight toward the correct risk to benefit balancing of ultrasound-based treatments and for designing innovative therapeutic strategies.

Preliminary studies of the effects of psychological stress on circulating lymphocytes analyzed by synchrotron radiation based-Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy

Psychological stress is a condition that not only generates behavioral disorders but also disrupts homeostasis and immune activity that can exacerbate or lead to inflammatory diseases. The aim of this work was to study biochemical changes in circulating immune cells from rats under psychological stress by using vibrational spectroscopy. A stress model was used, where exposure to a stressor was repeated for 5 days. Subsequently, circulating lymphocytes were examined for their biomolecular vibrational fingerprints with synchrotron radiation based-Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy. The results showed an increased absorption at the ester lipid region (1720-1755 cm(-1)) in lymphocytes from stressed rats, suggesting lipid peroxidation. Statistical significant changes in wavenumber peak position and absorbance in the nucleic acid region were also observed (915-950 cm(-1) Z-DNA, 1090-1150 cm(-1) symmetric stretching of P-O-C, 1200-1260 cm(-1) asymmetric PO2 and 1570-1510 cm(-1) methylated nucleotides) which suggest a reduction of transcriptional activity in lymphocytes from stressed rat. These results unravel part of the mechanisms by which psychological stress may affect the immune system leading to systemic consequences.

Ultrasound well below the intensity threshold of cavitation can promote efficient uptake of small drug model molecules in fibroblast cells

Ultrasound (US) induced enhancement of plasma membrane permeability is a hugely promising tool for delivering exogenous vectors at the specific biological site in a safe and efficient way. In this respect, here we report effects of membrane permeability alteration on fibroblast-like cells undergoing very low-intensity of US. The change in permeability was pointed out in terms of high uptake efficiency of the fluoroprobe calcein, thus resembling internalization of small cell-impermeable model drugs, as measured by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Fluorescence evidences moreover suggests that the higher the time of exposure, the larger will be the size of molecules can be internalized. The uptake events were related to the cell viability and also with structural changes occurring at membrane level as revealed by infrared spectroscopy and preliminary membrane fluidity and atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigation. Thus, the question of whether the uptake of cell-impermeable molecules is consistent with the presence of disruptions on the cell membrane (sonopore formation) has been addressed. In this framework, our findings may constitute experimental evidence in support of sub-cavitation sonoporation models recently proposed, and they may also provide some hints towards the actual working condition of medical US dealing with the optimum risk to benefit therapeutic ratio.

Structural and permeability sensitivity of cells to low intensity ultrasound: Infrared and fluorescence evidence in vitro

This work is focused on the in vitro study of the effects induced by medical ultrasound (US) in murine fibroblast cells (NIH-3T3) at a low-intensity of exposure (spatial peak temporal average intensity Ita<0.1Wcm(-2)). Conventional 1MHz and 3MHz US devices of therapeutic relevance were employed with varying intensity and exposure time parameters. In this framework, upon cells exposure to US, structural changes at the molecular level were evaluated by infrared spectroscopy; alterations in plasma membrane permeability were monitored in terms of uptake efficiency of small cell-impermeable model drug molecules, as measured by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The results were related to the cell viability and combined with the statistical PCA analysis, confirming that NIH-3T3 cells are sensitive to therapeutic US, mainly at 1MHz, with time-dependent increases in both efficiency of uptake, recovery of wild-type membrane permeability, and the size of molecules entering 3T3. On the contrary, the exposures from US equipment at 3MHz show uptakes comparable with untreated samples.

FTIR microspectroscopy discriminates anticancer action on human leukemic cells by extracts of Pinus kesiya; Cratoxylum formosum ssp. pruniflorum and melphalan

Apoptosis is the principal molecular goal of chemotherapeutics for effective anticancer action. We studied the effect of 50% ethanolic-water extracts of Pinus kesiya, Cratoxylum formosum ssp. pruniflorum and melphalan on cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction for human leukemic U937 cells, and explored the mode of action using FTIR microspectroscopy. The number of viable U937 cells in vitro was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner by all tested compounds, although potency differed between the U937 and Vero cells. Melphalan and the extract of C. formosum exhibited relatively lower IC(50) values (15.0 ± 1.0 and 82.7 ± 3.2 μg/mL respectively) and higher selectivity (selective index>3) than the extract of P. kesiya (299.0 ± 5.2 μg/mL; selective index<3) on the U937 cells. All three compounds significantly induced apoptosis through the late stage - seen by the indicative DNA ladder - with the most effective being melphalan, then the P. kesiya and C. formosum extracts. FTIR microspectroscopy revealed that all three compounds raised the intensity of the β-pleated sheet - higher than that of the untreated U937 cells - corresponding to a shift in the α-helix band associated with an alteration in the secondary structure of the protein band, confirming induction of apoptosis via pro-apoptotic proteins. The differences in intensity of the FTIR bands associated with lipids, proteins and nucleic acids were responsible for discrimination of the anticancer mode of action of each of the three compounds. The FTIR data suggest that the two plant extracts possessed anticancer activity with a different mode of action than melphalan.