Fluorescence monitoring of endogenous microRNA (miRNA or miR) activity

related to neuronal development using nano-sized materials provides crucial information

on miRNA expression patterns in a noninvasive manner. In this study, we report a new

method to monitor intracellular miRNA124a using quantum dot-based molecular beacon

(R9-QD-miR124a beacon). The R9-QD-miR124a beacon was constructed using QDs and

two probes, miR124a-targeting oligomer and arginine rich cell-penetrating peptide

Evaluation of the function of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) through miRNA expression profiles during

neuronal differentiation plays a critical role not only in identifying unique miRNAs relevant to cellular

development but also in understanding regulatory functions of the cell-specific miRNAs in living

organisms. Here, we examined the microarray-based miRNA expression profiles of G2 cells (recently

developed human neural stem cells) and monitored the expression pattern of known neuronspecific

A soft chemical solution process was used in synthesis of photocatalytic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO- PNPs)at low temperature.

The wide scale use of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) due to their unique properties and important applications in magnetic,

thermal, electrical, sensor devices, and cosmetics makes human beings more prone to the exposure of CuONPs and its potential

adverse effects. Exposure to such nanoparticles is mainly through skin and inhalation. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to

assess the apoptotic and genotoxic potential of CuONPs (50 nm) in the human skin epidermal (HaCaT) cells and its underlying

Background: Arsenic is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant, and abnormalities of the skin, lung, kidney, and liver are the most common outcomes of long-term arsenic exposure. This study was designed to investigate the possible mechanisms of genotoxicity induced by arsenic trioxide in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

The Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a mostly double-stranded DNA virus in the

Hepadnaviridae family. HBV is a common viral pathogen that causes a substantial

health burden worldwide. Significant progress has been made in the past few decades

in understanding the natural history of HBV infection (Pungpapong et al., 2007).

One of five hepatitis viruses, HBV causes acute and chronic hepatitis in humans.

Despite the current availability of an effective vaccine, almost 1.2 million people