Topical Gadobutrol Application Causes Fluorescence Intensity Change in RFP-expressing Tumor-Bearing Mice

Optical clearing (OC) allows one to observe tissue structures and metabolic processes occurring in opaque tissues at the depths significantly exceeding the depths that can be reached without OC. Recently, we have shown that gadobutrol is a promising agent for OC of tissues in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of time-dependence optical clearing caused by gadobutrol on intensity of fluorescent protein constitutively expressed in subcutaneous tumors in vivo. The measurements were performed in nu/nu mice bearing HEp-2 tumors expressing the red fluorescent protein TagRFP. Gadobutrol was used directly at concentrations 1.0 M aqueous solution or as a 0.7 M aqueous solution containing 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Gadobutrol was applied topically onto the skin above the tumors for 15 min. Tissue fluorescence was measured by using in vivo planar imaging technique. It was shown that the fluorescence intensity of tumors increased by 1.1–1.5 times in different animals under the influence of gadobutrol. The increase in intensity was more pronounced in the case of 0.7 M gadobutrol supplemented with DMSO. Apparently, the observed difference of penetration depths was due to the presence of DMSO in 0.7 M gadobutrol mixture.

Thermo-mechanical and photo-luminescence properties of micro-actuators made of liquid crystal elastomers with cyano-oligo(p-phenylene vinylene) crosslinking bridges

Liquid crystal elastomer micropillars containing β-cyano-OPV crosslinkers contract reversibly at nematic–isotropic (N–I) phase transition and undergo fluorescence intensity change. This luminescent variation is mainly caused by N–I phase change.

An Efficient Ag+-Selective Fluorescent Chemosensor Derived from Tribenzotriquinacene

A new C 3v -symmetrical tribenzotriquinacene (TBTQ) derivative bearing six 8-quinolinyloxymethyl units at the rim of the bowl-shaped molecular framework is synthesized in a single-step by six-fold etherification of the corresponding hexakis(chloromethyl)-TBTQ precursor with 8-hydroxyquinoline. The resulting compound acts as a fluorescence chemosensor, producing a ‘turn-off’ fluorescent quenching response in the presence of Ag+ ions, and is highly selective toward Ag+ over other cations, such as Al3+, Ca2+, Cd2+, Co2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Fe3+, Ga3+, Hg2+, In3+, K+, Mg2+, Mn2+, Na+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Pd2+, and Zn2+. The fluorescence intensity change of the chemosensor solution can be clearly observed by the naked eye upon addition of silver salts.

Effects of Carbonyl-cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone on Mitochondrial Function of H9C2 Cells

We examined the effects of carbonyl-cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) on mitochondrial function of H9C2 cells. Composition of mitochondrial membrane lipids (cardiolipin) and mitochondrial membrane potential was analyzed by fluorescence intensity change of tetramethl rhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) and 10-nonyl acridine orange (NAO) using the LSM800 confocal microscope. Our results showed that CCCP strongly and simultaneously affected mitochondrial structure and function of H9C2 cells.

Aggregation induced emission controlled by a temperature-sensitive organic–inorganic hybrid polymer with a particular LCST

The fluorescence intensity change of TPE encapsulated in POSS–PNIPAM with a particular LCST (37.5 °C) with the temperature change.

Sex difference in cardiomyocyte function in normal and metallothionein transgenic mice: the effect of diabetes mellitus

Evidence suggests a sex difference in intrinsic physiological and diabetic myocardial contractile function related to antioxidant properties of female ovarian hormones. This study was designed to examine the effect of cardiac overexpression of antioxidant metallothionein on intrinsic and diabetic cardiomyocyte function. Weight-matched wild-type (FVB) and metallothionein transgenic mice of both sexes were made diabetic with streptozotocin (220 mg/kg). Contractile and intracellular Ca2+ properties were evaluated including peak shortening (PS), time to PS, time to 90% relengthening (TR90), maximal velocity of shortening or relengthening (±d L/d t), fura-2 fluorescence intensity change, and Ca2+ decay rate. Akt and transcription factor c-Jun levels were evaluated by Western blot. Myocytes from female FVB mice exhibited lower PS, ±d L/d t, and fura-2 fluorescence intensity change, prolonged time to PS, TR90, and Ca2+ decay compared with male FVB mice. Interestingly, this sex difference was not present in metallothionein mice. Diabetes depressed PS, ±d L/d t and caffeine-induced Ca2+ release, as well as prolonged TR90 and Ca2+ decay in male FVB mice, whereas it only reduced PS in female FVB mice. These diabetic dysfunctions were nullified by metallothionein in both sexes. Females displayed elevated Akt phosphorylation and reduced c-Jun phosphorylation. Diabetes dampened Akt phosphorylation in male FVB mice and enhanced c-Jun in both sexes. Diabetes-induced alterations in Akt phosphorylation and c-Jun were abolished by metallothionein. The sex difference in Akt phosphorylation but not c-Jun levels was reversed by metallothionein. These data indicate that antioxidant capacity plays an important role in sex differences in both intrinsic and diabetic cardiomyocyte contractile properties possibly related to phosphorylation of Akt and c-Jun.