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An optical biosensor based on waveguided metallic photonic crystals (MPCs) is reported for the sensitive testing of biomolecular interactions, which provides practical approaches for the label-free detection of specifi c bioreactions. The enhancement of the sensitivity or the amplifi cation of the sensor signal by the coupling between the waveguide resonance mode and particleplasmon resonance (PPR) breaks through the "bottle-neck" of the intrinsic response sensitivity defi ned by the spectral shift of the PPR. The success of this sensor is demonstrated by sensing the specifi c reaction between the HIV-1 capsid protein (p24) antigen and the monoclonal anti-p24 antibody, where the dynamics of the bioreactions can be recorded with a potentially high time resolution. This new sensor stands out due to its compact design and its new physics, compared with conventional devices, its simple operation, the simple fabrication of the MPC chip and the low cost of the whole system.

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Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common type of primary malignant brain tumor. Molecular hydrogen has been considered a preventive and therapeutic medical gas in many diseases including cancer. In our study, we sought to assess the potential role of molecular hydrogen on GBM. Methods The in vivo studies were performed using a rat orthotopic glioma model and a mouse subcutaneous xenograft model. Animals inhaled hydrogen gas (67%) 1 h two times per day. MR imaging studies were performed to determine the tumor volume. Immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry analysis were conducted to determine the expression of surface markers. Sphere formation assay was performed to assess the cancer stem cell self-renewal capacity. Assays for cell migration, invasion, and colony formation were conducted. Results The in vivo study showed that hydrogen inhalation could effectively suppress GBM tumor growth and prolong the survival of mice with GBM. IHC and immunofluorescence staining demonstrated that hydrogen treatment markedly downregulated the expression of markers involved in stemness (CD133, Nestin), proliferation (ki67), and angiogenesis (CD34) and also upregulated GFAP expression, a marker of differentiation. Similar results were obtained in the in vitro studies. The sphere-forming ability of glioma cells was also suppressed by hydrogen treatment. Moreover, hydrogen treatment also suppressed the migration, invasion, and colony-forming ability of glioma cells. Conclusions Together, these results indicated that molecular hydrogen may serve as a potential anti-tumor agent in the treatment of GBM.

The potential therapeutic effects of molecular hydrogen (H2) have now been confirmed in various human and animal-disease models. However, the effects of H2 on the physiological function in a normal state have been largely neglected. Hydrogen-rich water (HRW) intake and hydrogen inhalation (HI) are the most common used methods for hydrogen administration, the difference in the effects between HRW intake and HI remains elusive. In the present study, the body weight and 13 serum biochemical parameters were monitored during the six-month hydrogen intervention, all these parameters were significantly altered by oral intake of HRW or HI. Among the 13 parameters, the most striking alterations induced by hydrogen treatment were observed in serum myocardial enzymes spectrum. The results also showed that the changes in these parameters occurred at different time points, and the alterations in most of the parameters were much more significant in HI than HRW. The results of this study provides the basic data for the mechanism research and application of molecular hydrogen in the future.