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Agomelatine (AGM) is an effective antidepressant with low oral bioavailability due to intensive hepatic metabolism. Transdermal administration of agomelatine may increase its bioavailability and reduce the doses necessary for therapeutic effects. However, transdermal delivery requires crossing the stratum corneum barrier. For this purpose, the use of microneedles may increase the efficiency of administration. The aim of this study was to prepare an agomelatine-loaded hydrogel suitable for coating microneedles for the transdermal drug delivery of AGM. The optimized formulations were subjected to spectroscopic and rheological characterization and mechanical tests, as well as tested for release through an artificial membrane and permeation through human skin ex vivo. Both hydrogels were found to have suitable parameters for coating microneedles using the dip-coating method, including the stability of the substance at the process temperature, shear-thinning behavior, and appropriate textural parameters such as adhesion or hardness. Additionally, two formulations were tested for potential application to the skin alone because the gels showed suitable mechanical properties for the skin application. In this case, the ethanol gel was characterized by higher skin permeability and better spreadability. The information obtained in this study will allow the preparation of coated microneedles for the transdermal administration of agomelatine.

In the human body, tumor cell occurrence can be indirectly monitored using the L-selectin concentration in the blood, since selectin ligands are present on the surface of tumor cells, and with tumor progression, a decrease in L-selectin levels can be expected and observed. In this study, we present a selective DNA-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) assay for the detection and determination of L-selectin in biological samples. Two calibration curves (linear in the 40-190 ng mL -1 region and exponential in the 40-500 ng mL -1 region) are fitted to the obtained SERS experimental data, i.e., the ratio of I 732 /I 1334 band intensities (LOQ = 46 ng mL -1 ). Calculated determination coefficients are found to be R 2  = 0.997 for the linear region of the calibration curve and R 2  = 0.977 for the exponential region. Moreover, we demonstrate very good selectivity of the assay even in the presence of P- and E-selectin in a sample containing L-selectin. With our SERS assay, the L-selectin concentration in biological samples can be estimated directly from the calibration curves., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

The rapid, low cost, and efficient detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, especially in clinical samples, remains a major challenge. A promising solution to this problem is the combination of a spectroscopic technique: surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with advanced chemometrics based on machine learning (ML) algorithms. In the present study, we conducted SERS investigations of saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs taken from a cohort of patients (saliva: 175; nasopharyngeal swabs: 114). Obtained SERS spectra were analyzed using a range of classifiers in which random forest (RF) achieved the best results, e.g., for saliva, the precision and recall equals 94.0% and 88.9%, respectively. The results demonstrate that even with a relatively small number of clinical samples, the combination of SERS and shallow machine learning can be used to identify SARS-CoV-2 virus in clinical practice.

In this study, caffeine-loaded photoresin composites with homogeneous structures, suitable for additive manufacturing of transdermal microneedle systems, were obtained. The properties of the composites with varying caffeine concentrations (0.1-0.4% w / w ) were investigated for carbon-carbon double bond conversion using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, surface wettability and mechanical properties using a static tensile test and nanoindentation, and caffeine release in ethanol using UV-Vis. The caffeine concentration did not affect the final degree of double bond conversion, which was confirmed in tensile tests, where the strength and Young's modulus of caffeine-loaded samples had comparable values to control ones. Samples with 0.1 and 0.2% caffeine content showed an increase in nanohardness and reduced elastic modulus of 50 MPa and 1.5 MPa, respectively. The good wettability of the samples with water and the increase in surface energy is a favorable aspect for the dedicated application of the obtained composite materials. The amount of caffeine released into the ethanol solution at 1, 3 and 7 days reached a maximum value of 81%, was higher for the lower concentration of caffeine in the sample and increased over time. The conducted research may enhance the potential application of composite materials obtained through the digital light processing method in additive manufacturing.

In this study, the intrinsic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based approach coupled with chemometric analysis was adopted to establish the biochemical fingerprint of SARS-CoV-2 infected human fluids: saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs. The numerical methods, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and support vector machine classification (SVMC), facilitated the spectroscopic identification of the viral-specific molecules, molecular changes, and distinct physiological signatures of pathetically altered fluids. Next, we developed the reliable classification model for fast identification and differentiation of negative CoV(-) and positive CoV(+) groups. The PLS-DA calibration model was described by a great statistical value-RMSEC and RMSECV below 0.3 and R 2 cal at the level of ~0.7 for both type of body fluids. The calculated diagnostic parameters for SVMC and PLS-DA at the stage of preparation of calibration model and classification of external samples simulating real diagnostic conditions evinced high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for saliva specimens. Here, we outlined the significant role of neopterin as the biomarker in the prediction of COVID-19 infection from nasopharyngeal swab. We also observed the increased content of nucleic acids of DNA/RNA and proteins such as ferritin as well as specific immunoglobulins. The developed SERS for SARS-CoV-2 approach allows: (i) fast, simple and non-invasive collection of analyzed specimens; (ii) fast response with the time of analysis below 15 min, and (iii) sensitive and reliable SERS-based screening of COVID-19 disease.

The detection of freely circulating cancer cells (CTCs) is one of the greatest challenges of modern medical diagnostics. For several years, there has been increased attention on the use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) for the detection of CTCs. SERS is a non-destructive, accurate and precise technique, and the use of special SERS platforms even enables the amplification of weak signals from biological objects. In the current study, we demonstrate the unique arrangement of the SERS technique combined with the deposition of CTCs cells on the surface of the SERS platform via a dielectrophoretic effect. The appropriate frequencies of an alternating electric field and a selected shape of the electric field can result in the efficient deposition of CTCs on the SERS platform. The geometry of the microfluidic chip, the type of the cancer cells and the positive dielectrophoretic phenomenon resulted in the trapping of CTCs on the surface of the SERS platform. We presented results for two type of breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, deposited from the 0.1 PBS solution. The limit of detection (LOD) is 20 cells/mL, which reflects the clinical potential and usefulness of the developed approach. We also provide a proof-of-concept for these CTCs deposited on the SERS platform from blood plasma.

We present here that the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique in conjunction with the partial least squares analysis is as a potential tool for the differentiation of pleural effusion in the course of the cancerous disease and a tool for faster diagnosis of lung cancer. Pleural effusion occurs mainly in cancer patients due to the spread of the tumor, usually caused by lung cancer. Furthermore, it can also be initiated by non-neoplastic diseases, such as chronic inflammatory infection (the most common reason for histopathological examination of the exudate). The correlation between pleural effusion induced by tumor and non-cancerous diseases were found using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy combined with principal component regression (PCR) and partial least squares (PLS) multivariate analysis method. The PCR predicts 96% variance for the division of neoplastic and non-neoplastic samples in 13 principal components while PLS 95% in only 10 factors. Similarly, when analyzing the SERS data to differentiate the type of tumor (squamous cell vs. adenocarcinoma), PLS gives more satisfactory results. This is evidenced by the calculated values of the root mean square errors of calibration and prediction but also the coefficients of calibration determination and prediction (R2C = 0.9570 and R2C = 0.7968), which are more robust and rugged compared to those calculated for PCR. In addition, the relationship between cancerous and non-cancerous samples in the dependence on the gender of the studied patients is presented.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a vibrational method successfully applied in analytical chemistry, molecular biology and medical diagnostics. In this article, we demonstrate the combination of the negative dielectrophoretic (nDEP) phenomenon and a flexible surface-enhanced Raman platform for quick isolation (3 min), concentration and label-free identification of bacteria. The platform ensures a strong enhancement factor, high stability and reproducibility for the SERS response of analyzed samples. By introducing radial dielectrophoretic forces directed at the SERS platform, we can efficiently execute bacterial cell separation, concentration and deposition onto the SERS-active surface, which simultaneously works as a counter electrode and thus enables such hybrid DEP-SERS device vibration-based detection. Additionally, we show the ability of our DEP-SERS system to perform rapid, cultivation-free, direct detection of bacteria in urine and apple juice samples. The device provides new opportunities for the detection of pathogens.

Purpose: Analgesic treatment with diclofenac deteriorates bone structure and decreases biomechanical properties. This bone loss has been though to be reversed by training. The impact of exercise on bone treated with diclofenac (DF) has reminded elusive. In the present study, we assayed the combined impact of exercises and DF on mouse femur., Methods: The femur samples we obtained from 30 days treated C57BL/6J female mice. The training group ran on a horizontal treadmill at 12 m/min by 30 min a day (5% grade/slope). The group of ten mice treated with DF received the drug subcutaneously every day (5 mg/kg of body weight/day). The combined group ran on the treadmill and obtained DF. After 30 days, we sacrificed mice and studied their femurs using microcomputed tomography (μCT), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and nanoindentation., Results: We observed that treadmill running and DF decreased trabecular bone volume and mineral density. Combined effect of training and DF was not additive. A significant interaction of both parameters suggested protective effect of training on bone loss provoked by DF. The femur cortical bone shell remained untouched by the training and treatment. The training and the DF treatment did not alter the storage modulus E' significantly. The unchanged storage modulus would be suggesting on the unaltered bone strength., Conclusions: We concluded that even relatively short time of training with concomitant DF treatment could be protective on trabecular bone. Although viscoelastic properties of the entire femur were not modulated, femur trabecular tissue was thinned by treatment with DF and protected by training.

We show a new type of elastic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) platform made of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) covered with a layer of indium tin oxide (ITO). This composite is subjected to dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) that develops the active surface of the PET/ITO foil. To enhance the Raman signal, a modified composite was covered with a thin layer of silver using the physical vapor deposition (PVD) technique. The SERS platform was used for measurements of para -mercaptobenzoic acid ( p -MBA) and popular pesticides, i.e., Thiram and Carbaryl. The detection and identification of pesticides on the surface of fruits and vegetables is a crucial issue due to extensive use of those chemical substances for plant fungicide and insecticide protection. Therefore, the developed PET/ITO/Ag SERS platform was dedicated to quantitative analysis of selected pesticides, i.e., Thiram and Carbaryl from fruits. The presented SERS platform exhibits excellent enhancement and reproducibility of the Raman signal, which enables the trace analysis of these pesticides in the range up to their maximum residues limit. Based on the constructed calibration curves, the pesticide concentrations from the skin of apples was estimated as 2.5 µg/mL and 0.012 µg/mL for Thiram and Carbaryl, respectively. Additionally, the PET/ITO/Ag SERS platform satisfies other spectroscopic properties required for trace pesticide analysis e.g., ease, cost-effective method of preparation, and specially designed physical properties, especially flexibility and transparency, that broaden the sampling versatility to irregular surfaces.

Conventional metal wires suffer from a significant degradation or complete failure in their electrical performance, when subjected to harsh oxidizing environments, however wires constructed from Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) have been found to actually improve in their electrical performance when subjected to these environments. These opposing reactions may provide new and interesting applications for CNT wires. Yet, before attempting to move to any real-world harsh environment applications, for the CNT wires, it is essential that this area of their operation be thoroughly examined. To investigate this, CNT wires were treated with multiple combinations of the strongest acids and halogens. The wires were then subjected to conductivity measurements, current carrying capacity tests, as well as Raman, microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis to enable the identification of both the limits of oxidative conductivity boosting and the onset of physical damage to the wires. These experiments have led to two main conclusions. Firstly, that CNT wires may operate effectively in harsh oxidizing environments where metal wires would easily fail and secondly, that the highest conductivity increase of the CNT wires can be achieved through a process of annealing, acetone and HCl purification followed by either H 2 O 2 and HClO 4 or Br 2 treatment.

Amorphous and crystalline forms of cefuroxime axetil were identified and characterized using DSC, XRPD, SEM, FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy. Based on the results of chromatographic studies, changes in the kinetic mechanism and rate of degradation of the crystalline form of cefuroxime axetil in binary systems with excipients were also evaluated. The findings suggest that the mechanism of degradation of cefuroxime axetil in such systems depends on two factors: the applied excipient and storage conditions. Cefuroxime axetil in combination with magnesium stearate, croscarmellose sodium and crospovidone, microcrystalline cellulose, aerosil is decomposed according to the first-order reaction model in dry air as well as at an increased relative air humidity, which may be associated with non-catalytic interactions between the active pharmaceutical ingredient and the excipients. However, in the presence of mannitol, under elevated humidity conditions (RH - 76%), the degradation of cefuroxime axetil follows the autocatalytic model. According to ESP maps, computed binding energies and HOMO - LUMO gaps, differences of degradation curves between cefuroxime axetil - mannitol and other investigated systems were explained. This study of the polymorphic transformation of the crystalline form of cefuroxime axetil and its binary systems with excipients after exposure to increased temperature and humidity indicated a conversion towards the amorphous form or the coexistence of both forms.