The pivotal roles of miRNAs in carcinogenesis, metastasis, and prognosis have been demonstrated recently in various cancers. This study intended to investigate the specific roles of hsa-miR-654-5p in ...lung cancer, which is, in general, rarely discussed. A series of closed-loop bioinformatic functional analyses were integrated with in vitro experimental validation to explore the overall biological functions and pan-cancer regulation pattern of miR-654-5p. We found that miR-654-5p abundance was significantly elevated in LUAD tissues and correlated with patients’ survival. A total of 275 potential targets of miR-654-5p were then identified and the miR-654-5p-RNF8 regulation axis was validated in vitro as a proof of concept. Furthermore, we revealed the tumor-suppressing roles of miR-654-5p and demonstrated that miR-654-5p inhibited the lung cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, cell proliferation, and migration using target-based, abundance-based, and ssGSEA-based bioinformatic methods and in vitro validation. Following the construction of a protein–protein interaction network, 11 highly interconnected hub genes were identified and a five-genes risk scoring model was developed to assess their potential prognostic ability. Our study does not only provide a basic miRNA-mRNA-phenotypes reference map for understanding the function of miR-654-5p in different cancers but also reveals the tumor-suppressing roles and prognostic values of miR-654-5p.
In this research, a method was developed for fabricating Au-Au nanorod array substrates through the deposition of large-area Au nanostructures on an Au nanorod array using a galvanic cell reaction. ...The incorporation of a granular structure enhanced both the number and intensity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) hot spots on the substrate, thereby elevating the SERS performance beyond that of substrates composed solely of an Au nanorod. Calculations using the finite difference time domain method confirmed the generation of a strong electromagnetic field around the nanoparticles. Motivated by the electromotive force, Au ions in the chloroauric acid solution were reduced to form nanostructures on the nanorod array. The size and distribution density of these granular nanostructures could be modulated by varying the reaction time and the concentration of chloroauric acid. The resulting Au-Au nanorod array substrate exhibited an active, uniform, and reproducible SERS effect. With 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene as the probe molecule, the detection sensitivity of the Au-Au nanorod array substrate was enhanced to 10
M, improving by five orders of magnitude over the substrate consisting only of an Au nanorod array. For a practical application, this substrate was utilized for the detection of pesticides, including thiram, thiabendazole, carbendazim, and phosmet, within the concentration range of 10
to 5 × 10
M. An analytical model combining a random forest and a one-dimensional convolutional neural network, referring to the important variable-one-dimensional convolutional neural network model, was developed for the precise identification of thiram. This approach demonstrated significant potential for biochemical sensing and rapid on-site identification.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated deaths among females. In recent decades, microRNAs (miRNAs), a type of short non-coding RNA that regulates gene expression at the ...post-transcription level, have been reported to participate in the regulation of many hub genes associated with tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. However, the precise mechanism by which miRNAs regulate breast cancer metastasis remains poorly discussed, which limits the opportunity for the development of novel, effective therapeutic targets. Here, we aimed to determine the miR-622-related principal regulatory mechanism in cancer. First, we found that miR-622 was significantly related to a poor prognosis in various cancers. By utilizing an integrated miRNA prediction process, we identified 77 promising targets and constructed a protein-protein interaction network. Furthermore, enrichment analyses, including GO and KEGG pathway analyses, were performed to determine the potential function of miR-622, which revealed regulation networks and potential functions of miR-622. Then, we identified a key cluster comprised of six hub genes in the protein-protein interaction network. These genes were further chosen for pan-cancer expression, prognostic and predictive marker analyses based on the TCGA and GEO datasets to mine the potential clinical values of these hub genes. To further validate our bioinformatic results, the regulatory axis of miR-622 and RNF8, one of the hub genes recently reported to promote breast cancer cell EMT process and breast cancer metastasis, was selected as
in vitro
proof of concept.
In vitro
, we demonstrated the direct regulation of RNF8 by miR-622 and found that the predicted miR-622-RNF8 axis could regulate RNF8-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell migration, and cell viability. These results were further demonstrated with rescue experiments. We established a closed-loop miRNA-target-phenotype research model that integrated the bioinformatic analysis of the miRNA target genes and experimental validation of the identified key miRNA-target-phenotype axis. We not only identified the hub target genes of miR-622
in silico
but also revealed the regulatory mechanism of miR-622 in breast cancer cell EMT process, viability, and migration
in vitro
for the first time.
Surface acoustic wave (SAW) and metal-oxide-semiconductor sensor have been extensively studied for real-time monitoring of hazardous gases, such as sulphur dioxide (SO2). However, they often suffer ...from high operating temperature, long response/recovery time, low sensitivity and selectivity. In this work, a composite SO2 sensor with frequency-resistance dual-signal display has been designed based on SAW device and metal-oxide-semiconductor. Where silver nanowires@ stannic oxide/ cupric oxide (AgNWs@SnO2/CuO) with the heterogeneous SnO2/CuO structure and AgNWs acting as the support skeleton and catalytic material were used as sensitive materials. With a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.25 ppm, a short response/recovery time of 40 s/60 s, and a low operating temperature of 80 °C, the novel composite sensor offers good stability, reproducibility, accuracy, and selectivity. The high SO2 gas-sensing performance obtained was due to the n–p heterostructures of SnO2/CuO, the three-dimensional multi-vacancy structure of AgNWs, and the strong catalytic effect of Ag.
•The novel composite device with a dual-signal display combining metal-oxide-semiconductor and surface acoustic wave device can detect SO2 from both resistance and frequency signal dimensions, avoiding "false positive" detection.•Two enhancement effects (1. n-p heterostructures formed by SnO2/CuO provide more oxygen vacancies (VOs); 2. AgNWs as support skeleton and catalytic materials increase the active specific surface area and porosity and reduce the reaction activation energy) are used in this gas sensor.•The novel composite device with a dual-signal display has an operating temperature as low as 80 °C, a detection limit as low as 0.25 ppm for SO2, and a short response/recovery time (40 s/60 s).
Ultra-sensitive detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) plays an important role in society security and human health. The Raman probe molecule p-aminothiophenol (PATP) can interact with TNT in three ...ways to form a TNT-PATP complex. In this paper, a ‘sandwich’ structure was developed to detect TNT with high sensitivity. Au nano-pillar arrays (AuNPAs) substrates modified by low-concentration PATP through Au–S bonds were acted as capture probe for TNT. Meanwhile, Ag nano-particles (AgNPs) modified by PATP at higher concentration were employed as tags for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The formation of the TNT-PATP complex is not only the means by which AuNPAs substrates recognize and capture TNT, but also links the SERS tags to TNT, forming an AuNPAs-TNT-AgNPs ‘sandwich’ structure. The Raman signal of PATP was greatly enhanced mainly because novel ‘hot spots’ formed between the AuNPAs and AgNPs of the ‘sandwich’ structure. The Raman signal of PATP was further amplified by the chemical enhancement effect induced by the TNT-PATP complex formation. Based on this mechanism, the limit of detection (LOD) of TNT was determined from the Raman signal of PATP. The LOD reached 10−9 mg/mL (4.4 × 10−12 M), much lower than that suggested by the US Environmental Protection Agency (88 nM). Moreover, TNT was selectively detected over several TNT analogues 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT), p-nitrotoluene (NT) and hexogen (RDX). Finally, the ‘sandwich’ structure was successfully applied to TNT detection in environmental water and sand.
The PATP-modified Au nano-pillar arrays (AuNPAs) substrates were introduced as SERS platforms to form ‘sandwich’ structure with PATP-functionalized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by the interaction between TNT and PATP. Based on the ‘sandwich’ structure, TNT can be detected as low as 10−9 mg/mL (4.4 × 10−12 M) with excellent sensitivity and selectivity. Display omitted
•The Au nano-pillar arrays (AuNPAs) substrates and Ag nano-particles (AgNPs) were fabricated and applied in detecting TNT by forming AuNPAs-TNT-AgNPs ‘sandwich’ structure.•The detecting mechanism and feasibility based on AuNPAs-TNT-AgNPs ‘sandwich’ structure were demonstrated.•SERS performance of AuNPAs-TNT-AgNPs ‘sandwich’ structure was studied by experiment and FDTD simulation and different enhancement modes between AuNPAs and AgNPs were discussed.•The sensitivity, selectivity and practical application of the AuNPAs-TNT-AgNPs ‘sandwich’ structure was assessed via experiments.
Surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology has been widely used in the field of hazardous gas detection, but there are still many problems to be solved such as long response/recovery time, poor ...selectivity and repeatability. In this study, we evaluated the adsorption capacity of various explosive capture molecules using SAW devices and designed a sensing material for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) gas detection by coupling 4-aminothiophenol (PATP), which has the best adsorption capacity, to activated graphene oxide (GO) via a disulfide exchange scheme. The SAW sensor based on graphene oxide/2-(2-Pyridyldisulfide) ethylamine hydrochloride/4-aminothiophenol (GO/PDEA/PATP) has a theoretical detection limit (DL) as low as 2.8 ppb, short response/recovery time (15/45 s < ), good repeatability, stability selectivity and interference immunity. The enhanced mechanism for its high sensitivity and selectivity detection for TNT is based on the formation of a "Meisenheimer" complex by multiple strong interactions between PATP and TNT. Of course, the formation of this complex also leads to incomplete recovery of the sensor in high TNT concentrations. The scientific findings of this work will provide new idea for exploring the next generation of acoustic gas-phase explosives sensors.
As an emerging label-free detection technology, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been used for biological detection, food safety, and environmental pollution owing to its high ...sensitivity, specificity and rapid response. However, traditional SERS substrates are unstable, prone to agglomeration, and demonstrate low productivity and high production cost. In this work, hybrids of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) Ti3C2Tx monolayer and Au nanorods (AuNRs) were fabricated via self-assembly. Ti3C2Tx:AuNRs ratios were prepared, and each hybrid's SERS activity was evaluated through 4-aminothiophenol (pATP) detection. The Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs-1 substrate exhibited the weakest SERS performance, whereas the Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs-3 substrate had the best SERS activity enhancement, with a pATP limit of detection (LOD) of 10−9 M. When 30 sites on substrates were selected for SERS detection, the relative standard deviation (RSD) was found to be only 7.18 %, revealing the good performance sensitivity and high reproducibility of the Raman signal. The sensitivity of Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs-3 was also assessed with respect to a hazardous chemical, 1,2-bis (4-pyridyl) ethylene (BPE), revealing an LOD of 10−12 M. For thiram, the LOD of Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs-3 was 10−8 M, which is considerably lower than the 1 ppm industry safety standard. A relative standard deviation RSD of 7.94 % indicates the high reproducibility and uniformity of the Raman signal of thiram for Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs-3. Compared with the LODs of 10−5 M and 10−6 M for commercial substrates T-SERS and Au nanorod arrays (AuNRAs), respectively, the 10−8 M LOD of our synthesized Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs indicates good sensitivity. Three kinds of pesticides were detected by Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs, and only Raman signal of thiram can be found, revealing the good selectivity for thiram. These results for Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs suggest its potential to serve as a novel SERS platform.
•Different radios of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) Ti3C2Tx monolayer and AuNRs hybrids were self-assembly, and their Raman performances were studied and the best SERS performance was discussed.•SERS performance of Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs was evaluated by Raman molecules of 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) and 1,2-bis (4-pyridyl) ethylene (BPE). The limits of detection of 4-aminothiophenol (PATP) and 1,2-bis (4-pyridyl) ethylene (BPE) were 10−9 M and 10−12 M, respectively. And a good reproducibility of the Raman signal for PATP was obtained.•As-prepared Ti3C2Tx/AuNRs was also used to detect the thiram whose LOD is 10−8 M, which is better than that of Au nanorod arrays and commercial SERS substrate T-SERS, indicating its potential as a novel SERS platform.
Gold (Au) and silver (Ag) are the main materials exhibiting strong Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) effects. The Ag nano-rods (AgNRs) and Au nano-rods (AuNRs) SERS substrates prepared using ...the technology of the oblique angle deposition (OAD) process have received considerable attention in recent years because of their rapid preparation process and good repeatability. However, AgNR substrates are unstable due to the low chemical stability of Ag. To overcome these limitations, an Ag@Au core-shell nano-rod (NR) array SERS substrate was fabricated using the OAD process and sputtering technology. Moreover, simulation analysis was performed using finite-difference time-domain calculations to evaluate the enhancement mechanism of the Ag@Au NR array substrate. Based on the simulation results and actual process conditions, the Ag@Au core-shell NR array substrate with the Au shell thickness of 20 nm was studied. To characterize the substrate's SERS performance, 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (BPE) was used as the Raman probe. The limit of detection of BPE could reach 10
−12
M. The Ag@Au NR array substrate demonstrated uniformity with an acceptable relative standard deviation. Despite the strong oxidation of the hydrogen peroxide (H
2
O
2
) solution, the Ag@Au NR array substrate maintains good chemical stability and SERS performance. And long-term stability of the Ag@Au NR substrate was observed over 8 months of storage time. Our results show the successful preparation of a highly sensitive, repeatable and stable substrate. Furthermore, this substrate proves great potential in the field of biochemical sensing.
A highly sensitive, repeatable and stable Ag@Au core-shell nano-rod array SERS substrate was successfully prepared using the OAD process and sputtering technology which proves great potential in the field of biochemical sensing.
•An aptamer-biosensor was used to detect anthrax protective antigens by competitive method based on SERS.•Three enhanced effects were used in this biosensor to gain and enhance the Raman signal.•The ...present biosensors can be employed to achieve ultrasensitive detection of PA and the LOD is 1 pg/mL.
Owing to the high mortality and infection rates of the Bacillus anthracis infection, commonly known as anthrax, the ability to detecting anthrax protective antigens (PA) is important in several domains, including food safety and bioterrorism. An ultrasensitive PA detection that employs a biosensor using a competitive method based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) was developed herein. Au nanorod arrays (AuNRAs), conjugated with the PA-aptamer were prepared as substrates, whereas Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) were modified with 1,2-bis (4-pyridyl) ethylene (BPE) and PA as SERS tags. During detection, free PA and SERS tags bound competitively with active sites on the surface of AuNRAs. The Raman spectra of BPE were used to evaluate the limit of detection (LOD) for PA. Three enhanced Raman modes in this biosensor, namely AuNP self-enhancement, plasmonic resonance between single AuNP and AuNRAs, and nanogaps between two AuNP agglomerates and AuNRAs, were evaluated using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Among AuNPs, AuNRAs and PA/BPE/AuNP/PA-apt/AuNRAs complex, the highest Raman signal of the Raman molecule BPE for the PA/BPE/AuNP/PA-apt/AuNRAs complex proved the existence of these three modes. Owing to the increased number of hotspots in biosensors, the ultra-sensitive detection of PA was achieved with an LOD of 1 pg/mL PA.
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