Prion protein self-peptides modulate prion interactions and conversion

Background  

Molecular mechanisms underlying prion agent replication, converting host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrP^C) into the scrapie associated isoform (PrP^Sc), are poorly understood. Selective self-interaction between PrP molecules forms a basis underlying the observed differences of the PrP^C into PrP^Sc conversion process (agent replication). The importance of previously peptide-scanning mapped ovine PrP self-interaction domains on this conversion was investigated by studying the ability of six of these ovine PrP based peptides to modulate two processes; PrP self-interaction and conversion.     

Reflectance-based two-dimensional TiO₂ photonic crystal liquid sensors

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a reflectance-based photonic crystal (PC) liquid sensor. The PC is made of two-dimensional TiO₂ nanopillar arrays. Such a reflectance-based structure with large functional area not only simplifies the optical guiding but also enhances the sensor signal. A linear shift of reflectance peaks is found for liquids with refractive indices varying from 1.333 to 1.390 at wavelength near 1.5?μm. Excellent agreement between measured values and the generated reflectance model at a fixed wavelength is obtained, indicating the high potential of these PC-based liquid sensors for biological and environmental applications.     

Low Loss All-Silicon Single Mode Optical Waveguide with Small Cross-Section

An experimental investigation is presented for obtaining picosecond (ps) pulses at a repetition rate of 11 GHz using a fiber laser coupled to an external cavity. Without applying active mode locking and without a nonlinear element in the coupled cavity, pulses of about 15 ps with an average power of 20 mW have been generated using a (cw) diode pump laser. The pulse duration decreases with increasing repetition rate.     

Development and characterization of an integrated silicon micro flow cytometer

This paper describes an innovative integrated micro flow cytometer that presents a new arrangement for the excitation/detection system. The sample liquid, containing the fluorescent marked particles/cells under analysis, is hydrodynamically squeezed into a narrow stream by two sheath flows so that the particles/cells flow individually through a detection region. The detection of the particles/cells emitted fluorescence is carried out by using a collection fiber placed orthogonally to the flow. The device is based on silicon hollow core antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROWs). ARROW geometry allows one to use the same channel to guide both the sample stream and the fluorescence excitation light, leading to a simplification of the optical configuration and to an increase of the signal-to-noise ratio. The integrated micro flow cytometer has been characterized by using biological samples marked with standard fluorochromes. The experimental investigation confirms the success of the proposed microdevice in the detection of cells. An erratum to this article can be found at     

PDL free plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition SiC optical waveguides and devices

Planar silicon carbide (SiC) waveguides are proposed for fabrication on a silicon substrate with an oxide isolation layer. Using post deposition annealing it is possible to achieve low polarisation-dependent loss (PDL) within optical SiC waveguides fabricated using a low temperature deposition technique. The proposed waveguides are optically characterised and successfully used in power splitters and vibration sensors. Results before and after annealing cycles for those devices are discussed. The interesting optical characteristics of SiC waveguides as well as the first passive components presented open the way for photonic sensing in harsh environment where SiC is a very promising material.     

Capillary electrophoresis with on-chip four-electrode capacitively coupled conductivity detection for application in bioanalysis

Microchip capillary electrophoresis (CE) with integrated four-electrode capacitively coupled conductivity detection is presented. Conductivity detection is a universal detection technique that is relatively independent on the detection pathlength and, especially important for chip-based analysis, is compatible with miniaturization and on-chip integration. The glass microchip structure consists of a 6 cm etched channel (20 microm x 70 microm cross section) with silicon nitride covered walls. In the channel, a 30 nm thick silicon carbide layer covers the electrodes to enable capacitive coupling with the liquid inside the channel as well as to prevent interference of the applied separation field. The detector response was found to be linear over the concentration range from 20 microM up to 2 mM. Detection limits were at the low microM level. Separation of two short peptides with a pI of respectively 5.38 and 4.87 at the 1 mM level demonstrates the applicability for biochemical analysis. At a relatively low separation field strength (50 V/cm) plate numbers in the order of 3500 were achieved. Results obtained with the microdevice compared well with those obtained in a bench scale CE instrument using UV detection under similar conditions.     

Determination of 2,3-benzodiazepine derivatives in rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection at 240 nm for determination of a novel AMPA/kainate antagonist 1-(4'-aminophenyl)-3,5-dihydro-7,8-dimethoxy-2,3-benzodiazepine (2,3-BZ 6), and its derivatives in rat plasma is described. The procedure involves a fast extraction of the drugs from the plasma spiked with an internal standard. The samples are applied to a pre-packed glass column and drugs are eluted using ethyl acetate. A linear response was observed over the examined concentration range. The lower limit of detection of 2,3-BZ 6 was 5.5 ng/ml. The assay has been used to determine the time course of plasma levels of the 2,3-benzodiazepine derivatives in Sprague-Dawley rats.