α-Fetoprotein (AFP) is an important tumor biomarker. In particular, the overexpression of AFP-L3 is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Accordingly, several hospitals have begun to employ the ratio of AFP-L3 to the total AFP level (AFP-L3%) as new diagnostic evidence for HCC owing to its high diagnostic accuracy. However, current methods of detection for AFP and AFP-L3 are time-consuming, require multiple samples, and lack in sensitivity and specificity. Herein, we present a novel concept for the early diagnosis of HCC based on the combination of Raman frequency shift and intensity change, and developed surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based immunochips via AFP-L3%. In the first step of the study, the frequency shift of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (MBA) was applied for the quantitative determination of total AFP based on the AFP and anti-AFP interaction on MBA-modified silver chips. 5,5-Dithiobis(succinimidyl-2-nitrobenzoate) (DSNB)-modified immunogold was then incorporated with AFP-L3 antibodies for sandwich immunoreaction on the chips. As a result, we found that a typical Raman band intensity of DSNB presented an exponential linear relationship with the concentration of AFP-L3. Thus, the AFP-L3% can be calculated according to the concentrations of AFP-L3 and total AFP. The most important advantage of the proposed method is the combination of AFP-L3% and frequency shifts of SERS, which exhibits excellent reproducibility and high accuracy, and significantly simplifies the conventional detection procedure of AFP-L3%. Application of the proposed method with the serum of patients with HCC demonstrated its great potential in early liver cancer diagnosis.

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The aim of present study was to prepare the micro size fish bone dispersion (F.B) by a novel method and fortified in snacks based on wheat flour (W.F) with fish meat (F.M) addition. A formulation blend of W.F 10-50 g, potato powder (P.P) 0-40 g, F.M 0-30 g and F.B 0-20 g was used to investigate different responses using response surface methodology (RSM). The results revealed that F.M significantly (P < 0.05) influenced on protein content and inverse relation with water holding capacity (WHC) and hardness. Whereas, F.B increased hardness, ash and calcium contents but decreased WHC, expansion and colour parameters. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the effect of independent variables on morphology of the product. Optimised formulation (w/w) was W.F 35.71%, P.P 28.57%, F.M 21.42% and F.B 14.28% with 37% bioavailable calcium, improved texture and nutritional value.

Interaction mechanism of an antidiabetic agent, 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) with its target protein α-glucosidase (maltase), was investigated by kinetics, fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering coupled with molecular docking analysis. It was found that DNJ reversibly inhibited activity of maltase through a mixed-type manner with IC of (1.5±0.1) μM and inhibition constant K of (2.01±0.02) μM. Fluorescence data and UV-vis information confirmed that the intrinsic fluorescence of maltase was quenched by DNJ through a dynamic quenching procedure due to the collision of them. The calculated thermodynamic parameters including enthalpy change, entropy change and Gibbs free energy change indicated that their binding was spontaneous and the driven force was hydrophobic interaction. Besides, circular dichroism analysis displayed that their binding resulted conformational changes of maltase, characterizing by a decrease of α-helix and an increase in β-sheet. Dynamic light scattering measurements demonstrated the reduction in the hydrodynamic radii of maltase. Further molecular docking revealed that DNJ formed hydrogen bonds with catalytic residues Asp68, Arg212, Asp214, Glu276, Asp349 and Arg439 of maltase, then inhibited the enzyme activity by occupying catalytic center. This study provided a comprehensively understanding about the action mechanism of DNJ on maltase.