Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01Epub Date: 2010-02-22DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5052
H Peter Lu
{"title":"Acquiring a nano-view of single molecules in actions.","authors":"H Peter Lu","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5052","url":null,"abstract":"In 1959, Nobel laureate Richard Feynman suggested that ‘there is plenty of room at the bottom,’ predicting the possibility of single-molecule detection and studies. Over the last 20 years, we have witnessed a rapid development in single-molecule spectroscopy. Singlemolecule spectroscopy and imaging have been demonstrated to be a powerful molecular analytical approach to studying the complex and inhomogeneous chemical, biological, and physical processes involved in protein dynamics, protein-protein interactions, protein-DNA interaction dynamics, biological and chemical catalyses, and interfacial dynamics. The discipline of singlemolecule spectroscopy has been expanded across a broad range, including optical imaging, optical spectroscopy of fluorescence and Raman, atomic force spectroscopy, and various forms of scanning probe microscopy. The significant character of this exciting development is that single-molecule spectroscopy is developing hand-in-hand with the recent advancements in nanotechnology, imaging technologies, ultrafast dynamics technologies, theoretical modeling and analyses, and computational technologies. (Published: 22 February 2010) Citation: Nano Reviews 2010, 1 : 5052 - DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5052","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5052","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30278326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5161
Sarwat B Rizvi, Shirin Ghaderi, Mo Keshtgar, Alexander M Seifalian
{"title":"Semiconductor quantum dots as fluorescent probes for in vitro and in vivo bio-molecular and cellular imaging.","authors":"Sarwat B Rizvi, Shirin Ghaderi, Mo Keshtgar, Alexander M Seifalian","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5161","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5161","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Over the years, biological imaging has seen many advances, allowing scientists to unfold many of the mysteries surrounding biological processes. The ideal imaging resolution would be in nanometres, as most biological processes occur at this scale. Nanotechnology has made this possible with functionalised nanoparticles that can bind to specific targets and trace processes at the cellular and molecular level. Quantum dots (QDs) or semiconductor nanocrystals are luminescent particles that have the potential to be the next generation fluorophores. This paper is an overview of the basics of QDs and their role as fluorescent probes for various biological imaging applications. Their potential clinical applications and the limitations that need to be overcome have also been discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"1 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5161","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9743742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5502
Mengmeng Zhang, Gordon N Gill, Yan Zhang
{"title":"Bio-molecular architects: a scaffold provided by the C-terminal domain of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II.","authors":"Mengmeng Zhang, Gordon N Gill, Yan Zhang","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5502","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5502","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In eukaryotic cells, the transcription of genes is accurately orchestrated both spatially and temporally by the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II (CTD). The CTD provides a dynamic platform to recruit different regulators of the transcription apparatus. Different posttranslational modifications are precisely applied to specific sites of the CTD to coordinate transcription process. Regulators of the RNA polymerase II must identify specific sites in the CTD for cellular survival, metabolism, and development. Even though the CTD is disordered in the eukaryotic RNA polymerase II crystal structures due to its intrinsic flexibility, recent advances in the complex structural analysis of the CTD with its binding partners provide essential clues for understanding how selectivity is achieved for individual site recognition. The recent discoveries of the interactions between the CTD and histone modification enzymes disclose an important role of the CTD in epigenetic control of the eukaryotic gene expression. The intersection of the CTD code with the histone code discloses an intriguing yet complicated network for eukaryotic transcriptional regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"1 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5502","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9374412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5110
Adam M Alessio, Erik Butterworth, James H Caldwell, James B Bassingthwaighte
{"title":"Quantitative imaging of coronary blood flow.","authors":"Adam M Alessio, Erik Butterworth, James H Caldwell, James B Bassingthwaighte","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5110","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear medicine imaging modality based on the administration of a positron-emitting radiotracer, the imaging of the distribution and kinetics of the tracer, and the interpretation of the physiological events and their meaning with respect to health and disease. PET imaging was introduced in the 1970s and numerous advances in radiotracers and detection systems have enabled this modality to address a wide variety of clinical tasks, such as the detection of cancer, staging of Alzheimer's disease, and assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD). This review provides a description of the logic and the logistics of the processes required for PET imaging and a discussion of its use in guiding the treatment of CAD. Finally, we outline prospects and limitations of nanoparticles as agents for PET imaging.</p>","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"1 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5110","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9367567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5117
Dimitris Ioannou, Darren K Griffin
{"title":"Nanotechnology and molecular cytogenetics: the future has not yet arrived.","authors":"Dimitris Ioannou, Darren K Griffin","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5117","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Quantum dots (QDs) are a novel class of inorganic fluorochromes composed of nanometer-scale crystals made of a semiconductor material. They are resistant to photo-bleaching, have narrow excitation and emission wavelengths that can be controlled by particle size and thus have the potential for multiplexing experiments. Given the remarkable optical properties that quantum dots possess, they have been proposed as an ideal material for use in molecular cytogenetics, specifically the technique of fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). In this review, we provide an account of the current QD-FISH literature, and speculate as to why QDs are not yet optimised for FISH in their current form.</p>","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"1 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5117","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9374413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5167
A Fouriki, N Farrow, M A Clements, J Dobson
{"title":"Evaluation of the magnetic field requirements for nanomagnetic gene transfection.","authors":"A Fouriki, N Farrow, M A Clements, J Dobson","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5167","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5167","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Unlabelled: </strong>The objective of this work was to examine the effects of magnet distance (and by proxy, field strength) on nanomagnetic transfection efficiency.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>non-viral magnetic nanoparticle-based transfection was evaluated using both static and oscillating magnet arrays.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Fluorescence intensity (firefly luciferase) of transfected H292 cells showed no increase using a 96-well NdFeB magnet array when the magnets were 5 mm from the cell culture plate or nearer. At 6 mm and higher, fluorescence intensity decreased systematically.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In all cases, fluorescence intensity was higher when using an oscillating array compared to a static array. For distances closer than 5 mm, the oscillating system also outperformed Lipofectamine 2000™.</p>","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"1 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5167","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9374415","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01Epub Date: 2010-02-22DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5031
Jau Tang
{"title":"Random on-off telegraphic signaling in single nanoparticles and molecules.","authors":"Jau Tang","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5031","url":null,"abstract":"Fluorescence blinking is a universal phenomenon in single molecule/particle detection of fluorophores. Much attention has been directed toward unraveling the cause of blinking, the underlying mechanism for the inverse power-law blinking statistics, and the environmental effects on blinking. More recent developments in fluorescence blinking include less toxic fluorescence markers, blinking suppression, single-photon sources, and solar energy conversion. (Published: 22 February 2010) Citation: Nano Reviews 2010, 1 : 5031 - DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5031","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5031","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30278327","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5122
Dehong Hu, Galya Orr
{"title":"Nanometer resolution imaging by single molecule switching.","authors":"Dehong Hu, Galya Orr","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5122","url":null,"abstract":"The fluorescence intensity of single molecules can change dramatically even under constant laser excitation. The phenomenon is frequently called as ‘blinking,’ and involves molecules switching between high- and low-intensity states (1). In addition to spontaneous blinking, the fluorescence of some special fluorophores, such as cyanine dyes and photoactivatable fluorescent proteins, can be switched on and off, by choice, using a second laser. Recent single-molecule spectroscopy investigations have shed light on mechanisms of single-molecule blinking and photoswitching. This ability to controllably switch single molecules led to the invention of a novel fluorescence microscopy with nanometer spatial resolution well beyond the diffraction limit. (Published: 2 April 2010) Citation: Nano Reviews 2010, 1: 5122 - DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5122","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"1 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5122","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9367564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01Epub Date: 2010-08-02DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5214
Shanghua Li, Meng Meng Lin, Muhammet S Toprak, Do Kyung Kim, Mamoun Muhammed
{"title":"Nanocomposites of polymer and inorganic nanoparticles for optical and magnetic applications.","authors":"Shanghua Li, Meng Meng Lin, Muhammet S Toprak, Do Kyung Kim, Mamoun Muhammed","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5214","DOIUrl":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5214","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article provides an up-to-date review on nanocomposites composed of inorganic nanoparticles and the polymer matrix for optical and magnetic applications. Optical or magnetic characteristics can change upon the decrease of particle sizes to very small dimensions, which are, in general, of major interest in the area of nanocomposite materials. The use of inorganic nanoparticles into the polymer matrix can provide high-performance novel materials that find applications in many industrial fields. With this respect, frequently considered features are optical properties such as light absorption (UV and color), and the extent of light scattering or, in the case of metal particles, photoluminescence, dichroism, and so on, and magnetic properties such as superparamagnetism, electromagnetic wave absorption, and electromagnetic interference shielding. A general introduction, definition, and historical development of polymer-inorganic nanocomposites as well as a comprehensive review of synthetic techniques for polymer-inorganic nanocomposites will be given. Future possibilities for the development of nanocomposites for optical and magnetic applications are also introduced. It is expected that the use of new functional inorganic nano-fillers will lead to new polymer-inorganic nanocomposites with unique combinations of material properties. By careful selection of synthetic techniques and understanding/exploiting the unique physics of the polymeric nanocomposites in such materials, novel functional polymer-inorganic nanocomposites can be designed and fabricated for new interesting applications such as optoelectronic and magneto-optic applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":"1 ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/bf/6d/NANO-1-5214.PMC3215211.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9367561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nano reviewsPub Date : 2010-01-01Epub Date: 2010-11-08DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5705
Twan Lammers, Gert Storm, Fabian Kiessling
{"title":"Nanomedicine formulations for combination therapies.","authors":"Twan Lammers, Gert Storm, Fabian Kiessling","doi":"10.3402/nano.v1i0.5705","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5705","url":null,"abstract":"Nanomedicine formulations are nanometer-sized carrier materials designed for improving the biodistribution of systemically applied (chemo-) therapeutic drugs. Clinically relevant examples of nanomedicine formulations are liposomes, polymers and micelles. By delivering pharmacologically active agents more selectively to pathological sites (site-specific drug delivery) and/or by guiding them away from potentially endangered healthy tissues (site-avoidance drug delivery), nanomedicine formulations aim to improve the balance between the efficacy and the toxicity of therapeutic interventions. (Published: 8 November 2010) Citation: Nano Reviews 2010, 1 : 5705 - DOI: 10.3402/nano.v1i0.5705","PeriodicalId":74237,"journal":{"name":"Nano reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2010-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.3402/nano.v1i0.5705","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"30278329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}