Ultrasensitive and fast detection of pathogens using Europium-containing polystyrene nanospheres in a homemade portable NMR diagnostic system
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL
Authors: You, Xueqiu; Zhang, Dechao; Yao, Kaiwen; Huang, Yuqing; Liu, Min; Xie, Junyao; Shih, Tienmo; Sun, Huijun; Chen, Zhong
Abstract
The use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) platforms to detect biological samples via magnetic nanoparticles has shown great importance in clinical applications. In numerous studies, superparamagnetic nanoparticles, including ferromagnetic nanoparticles, have been adopted to improve the performance of magnetic nanoparticles. Here we developed a simple and novel europium (Eu)-containing polystyrene nanosphere (PS NS)based NMR system for rapid pathogen detection in clinical samples. Using this proposed portable NMR diagnostic system, we found that during pathogen detection, NPs with lower susceptibility (e.g., Eu-containing PS NSs) produced an unexpected detection effect compared with iron oxide NPs. Our Eu-containing PS NS-based NMR diagnostic system showed higher detection sensitivity, broader detection range, and higher stability than conventional iron oxide NP-based NMR platforms do. Using an inexpensive microcontact-printed Ag microcoil-based NMR probe, we demonstrated unprecedented detection sensitivity and speed with minimal sample preparation for pathogen analyses. The sample concentration of 0.2 ng/mL of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) and 10 CFU/mL of Clostridium difficile can be attained by the NMR diagnostic system within 5 s, and concentration-detection ranges spanned over three orders of magnitude. With advantages of low-cost NMR probe, a portable instrument, and convenient operation, our proposed NMR platform may provide a promising point-of-care diagnostic system in clinical applications.
Biomarkers for hepatitis B virus replication: an overview and a look to the future
EXPERT REVIEW OF GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY
Authors: Li, Feng-Cai; Li, Yue-Kai; Fan, Yu-Chen
Abstract
Introduction Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health issue but there are no powerful drugs to eradicate the virus. HBV markers including HBsAg, HBcrAg, HBV RNA, HBcAb, and HBV DNA are becoming promising biomarkers to reflect the natural phases of chronic HBV infection and predict the outcome of anti-HBV treatment. Areas covered The authors summarized the biomarkers of HBV replication and presented the current advances of these biomarkers on predicting the outcome of anti-HBV treatment and identifying the progression of chronic HBV infection. Expert opinion HBsAg, HBcrAg, HBV RNA, HBcAb, and HBV DNA are noninvasive and feasible biomarkers for monitoring the process of anti-HBV therapy and predicting the progress of HBV infection. However, there are still no strong biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity for clinical application. Combination of two or more HBV biomarkers, new technique for measuring HBV cccDNA, and searching novel HBV biomarkers are essential for anti-HBV treatment in the future.