Bacillus anthracis spores are a potential threat to countries in the context of biodefense. We have already seen the destructiveness of the anthrax attacks in the recent past. This study presents an aminated-poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC-NH 2 ) coated quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) immunosensor for simultaneous rapid detection of B. anthracis spores. PVC-NH 2 , synthesized in the laboratory, was used as an adhesive layer for monoclonal antibody immobilization on gold quartz crystal. The prepared QCM sensor was tested using a pathogen field strain of B. anthracis (GenBank number: GQ375871.1) under static addition and flow through procedures with different spore concentrations. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed to characterize the surface of the sensor during the modification. Furthermore, a series of SEM micrographs were taken in order to investigate surface morphology and show the presence of the B. anthracis spores on the surface. It is concluded that B. anthracis spores can be accomplished by using amine functionalized polymer coated QCM sensors without requiring complicated immobilization procedures or expensive preliminary preparations.

Objectives:The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) on odontoclastic differentiation in the dental pulp tissue.Material and Methods:The effects of different TEGDMA dosages on the odontoclastic differentiation capability of dental pulp cells were analyzed in vitro using the following methodologies: i) flow cytometry and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining; ii) apoptotic effects using Annexin V staining; iii) mRNA expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-kB ligand (RANKL) genes by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR); and iv) OPG and RANKL protein expression by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:TEGDMA caused relatively less odontoclastic differentiation in comparison with the control group; however, odontoclastic differentiation augmented with increasing doses of TEGDMA (p<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of OPG was lower in TEGDMA treated pulp cells than in the control group (p<0.05). While the mRNA expression of RANKL remained unchanged compared to the control group (p>0.05), its protein expression was higher than the control group (p<0.05). In addition, TEGDMA increased the apoptosis of dental pulp cells dose dependently.Conclusions:TEGDMA reduced the odontoclastic differentiation ability of human dental pulp cells. However, odontoclastic differentiation ratios increased proportionally with the increasing dose of TEGDMA.

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Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers are good candidates for nucleic acid delivery with their well-defined characteristics. MicroRNA mediated regulation of biological process is also active an area of investigation. Fibroblast cells, such as MRC-5, are one of the cell lines used in biological researches due to their hard to transfect nature. In this two-staged study, cystamine core generation 5 PAMAM dendrimers were synthesized and fluorinated with pentafluoropropionic anhydride and subsequently tested as miRNA delivery reagent on MRC-5 cells. Effect of fluorination against to naked generation 5 dendrimer on transfection efficiency was also investigated by molecular docking and quantitative structure-activity relationship calculations. Structural characterization of the synthesized dendrimers was verified by spectroscopic techniques. Gel retardation assay, particle size and transmission electron microscopy results demonstrated polyplex formation of fluorinated dendrimers with miRNA at nanoscale level. Zeta potential values indicated non-aggregation and increased stability of the polyplexes. Prepared polyplexes with fluorinated dendrimer showed over 90% cell viability and transfection efficiency. In silico calculations confirmed the stable complexation with miRNA and good penetration capability into the cell.