Our Publications Database

Article 57

Cost-effective optimized method to process 3D tumoral spheroids in microwell arrays for immunohistochemistry analysis

Matei Mircea Bogdan, Marinescu Carmen Letitia, Matei Christien Oktaviani, Pînzariu Alex-Sebastian, Zăgrean Leon, Moisescu Mihaela Georgeta 

Journal: JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND LIFE

Year: Mai 2024

DOI: 25122/jml-2024-0267

 

3D spheroid culture; microwell array; immunohistochemistry; pathology; glioblastoma; breast adenocarcinoma

This study presents an improved method for obtaining spheroids microwell arrays for histological processing and analysis, focusing on glioblastoma (U87 MG) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) tumor models. By transitioning from traditional 2D cell cultures to 3D systems, this approach overcomes the limitations of 2D cultures by more accurately replicating the tumor microenvironment. The method consists of producing homotypic and heterotypic spheroids using low-adherence agarose-coated wells, embedding these spheroids in agarose microwell arrays, and conducting immunohistochemistry (IHC) to analyze cellular and molecular profiles. Morphological analyses were performed using OrganoSeg software, and IHC staining confirmed marker expressions consistent with respective tumor types. The study details the workflow from 2D cell culture to IHC analysis, including agarose well coating, spheroid embedding, and IHC staining for markers such as EMA, p53, Ki-67, ER, PR, and HER2. Results demonstrated compact, round U87 MG spheroids and fibroblast-stabilized MCF-7 spheroids, with both types exhibiting specific marker expressions. This innovative approach significantly enhances the efficiency of producing and analyzing large volumes of spheroids, making it both quick and cost-effective. It offers a robust drug screening and cancer research platform, maintaining spheroid traceability even in bulk workflow conditions. Furthermore, this methodology supports advances in personalized medicine by providing a more physiologically relevant model than 2D cultures, which is crucial for investigating tumor behavior and therapeutic responses through IHC.

Article 49

Facile synthesis of low toxicity iron oxide/TiO2 nanocomposites with hyperthermic and photo-oxidation properties

Popescu, Traian; Matei, Christien Oktaviani; Culita, Daniela Cristina; Maraloiu, Valentin-Adrian; Rostas, Arpad Mihai; Diamandescu, Lucian; Iacob, Nicusor; Savopol, Tudor; Ilas, Monica Cristiana; Feder, Marcel; Lupu, Andreea-Roxana; Iacoban, Alexandra Corina; Vlaicu, Ioana Dorina; Moisescu, Mihaela Georgeta

Journal: Scientific Reports

Year: 2022

DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c06052

 

Bovine Serum-Albumin, Conformational-Changes, Protein Corona, Environmental Applications, Photocatalytic Oxidation, Magnetic Nanoparticles, Tio2 Nanoparticles Hydrogen-Peroxide, Surface-Area, Adsorption.

The Present Study Aimed To Assess The Feasibility Of Developing Low-Cost Multipurpose Iron Oxide/Tio2 Nanocomposites (Ncs) For Use In Combined Antitumor Therapies And Water Treatment Applications. Larger Size (Approximate To 100 Nm) Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (Ionps) Formed Magnetic Core-Tio2 Shell Structures At High Fe/Ti Ratios And Solid Dispersions Of Ionps Embedded In Tio2 Matrices When The Fe/Ti Ratio Was Low. When The Size Of The Iron Phase Was Comparable To The Size Of The Crystallized Tio2 Nanoparticles (Approximate To 10 Nm), The Obtained Nanocomposites Consisted Of Randomly Mixed Aggregates Of Tio2 And Ionps. The Best Inductive Heating And Ros Photogeneration Properties Were Shown By The Ncs Synthesized At 400 Degrees C Which Contained The Minimum Amount Of Alpha-Fe2o3 And Sufficiently Crystallized Anatase Tio2. Their Cytocompatibility Was Assessed On Cultured Human And Murine Fibroblast Cells And Analyzed In Relation To The Adsorption Of Bovine Serum Albumin From The Culture Medium Onto Their Surface. The Tested Nanocomposites Showed Excellent Cytocompatibility To Human Fibroblast Cells. The Results Also Indicated That The Environment (I.E. Phosphate Buffer Or Culture Medium) Used To Disperse The Nanomaterials Prior To Performing The Viability Tests Can Have A Significant Impact On Their Cytotoxicity.

Article 46

Influence of surfactant-tailored Mn-doped ZnO nanoparticles on ROS production and DNA damage induced in murine fibroblast cells

Traian Popescu, Christien Oktaviani Matei, Ioana Dorina Vlaicu, Ioan Tivig, Andrei Cristian Kuncser, Mariana Stefan, Daniela Ghica, Luminita Claudia Miclea, Tudor Savopol, Daniela Cristina Culita, Mihaela Georgeta Moisescu

Journal: Nature Scientific Reports

Year: 2020

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74816-0

Cell biology, Chemistry, Materials science

     The present study concerns the in vitro oxidative stress responses of non-malignant murine cells exposed to surfactant-tailored ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with distinct morphologies and different levels of manganese doping. Two series of Mn-doped ZnO NPs were obtained by coprecipitation synthesis method, in the presence of either polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMTP). The samples were investigated by powder X-ray Diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Fourier-Transform Infrared and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopic methods, and N2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The observed surfactant-dependent effects concerned: i) particle size and morphology; ii) Mn-doping level; iii) specific surface area and porosity. The relationship between the surfactant dependent characteristics of the Mn-doped ZnO NPs and their in vitro toxicity was assessed by studying the cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and DNA fragmentation in NIH3T3 fibroblast cells. The results indicated a positive correlation between the specific surface area and the magnitude of the induced toxicological effects and suggested that Mn-doping exerted a protective effect on cells by diminishing the pro-oxidative action associated with the increase in the specific BET area. The obtained results support the possibility to modulate the in vitro toxicity of ZnO nanomaterials by surfactant-controlled Mn-doping.

Article 44

Effects of Ibrutinib on biophysical parameters of platelet in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Popov, Viola Maria; Matei, Christien Oktaviani; Omer, Meilin; Onisai, Minodora; Matei, Mircea Bogdan; Savopol, Tudor; Bumbea,Horia; Moisescu, Mihaela G.

Journal: American Journal of Blood Research

Year: 2020

ISSN:2160-1992

  

 

Ibrutinib; leukemia; platelets; membrane potential; ROS

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treated with Ibrutinib often present hemorrhagic complications. Platelets dysfunction is well documented by aggregometry and flow cytometry, but the mechanisms by which Ibrutinib treatment influences the platelets status is yet to be evaluated. The aim of this study is to identify platelet membrane parameters in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) that could be altered by Ibrutinib administration. In this paper we propose a set of fluorescence measurements of the following parameters: membrane fluidity, resting membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species production of platelets suspensions obtained from CLL patients treated or not with Ibrutinib as markers for platelets status in this pathological situation. Platelets from CLL patients treated with Ibrutinib have higher membrane fluidity, lower resting membrane potential and higher level of reactive oxygen species production compared to the untreated CLL patients. These patients are also presenting higher membrane fluidity and lower resting membrane potential compared to healthy volunteers.

 

Article 41

Concentrations of Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Manganese, and Aluminum in Blood of Romanian Children Suspected of Having Autism Spectrum Disorder

Manouchehr Hessabi, Mohammad H Rahbar, Iuliana Dobrescu, MacKinsey A Bach, Liana Kobylinska, Jan Bressler, Megan L Grove, Katherine A Loveland, Ilinca Mihailescu, Maria Cristina Nedelcu, Mihaela Georgeta Moisescu, Bogdan Mircea Matei, Christien Oktaviani Matei, Florina Rad 

Journal: International journal of environmental research and public health

Year: 2019

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16132303 

Romania; Aluminum; Arsenic; Autism Spectrum disorder; Cadmium; Lead; Manganese; Mercury.

Environmental exposure to lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), and aluminum (Al) has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We conducted a pilot study during May 2015-May 2107 to estimate blood concentrations of six metals (Pb, Hg, As, Cd, Mn, and Al) and identify their associated factors for children with ASD or suspected of having ASD in Romania. Sixty children, age 2-8 years, were administered versions of ADOS or ADI-R translated from English to Romanian. After assessment, 2-3 mL of blood was obtained and analyzed for the concentrations of the six metals. The mean age of children was 51.9 months and about 90% were male. More than half (65%) of the children were born in Bucharest. Over 90% of concentrations of As and Cd were below limits of detection. Geometric mean concentrations of Pb, Mn, Al, and Hg were 1.14 μg/dL, 10.84 μg/L, 14.44 μg/L, and 0.35 μg/L, respectively. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that children who were female, had less educated parents, exhibited pica, and ate cold breakfast (e.g., cereal), watermelon, and lamb had significantly higher concentrations of Pb compared to their respective referent categories (all p < 0.05 except for eating lamb, which was marginally significant, p = 0.053). Although this is the first study that provides data on concentrations of the six metals for Romanian children with ASD, the findings from this study could be useful for designing future epidemiologic studies for investigating the role of these six metals in ASD in Romanian children.

Article 31

Correlation of the intracellular reactive oxygen species levels with textural properties of functionalized mesostructured silica

Laura Bajenaru, Daniela Berger, Luminita Miclea, Cristian Matei, Silviu Nastase, Cristian Andronescu, Mihaela G Moisescu, Tudor Savopol

 

Journal: Journal Of Biomedical Materials

Year: 2014

DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.35131 

  

 

Fibroblasts; Functionalized MCM-41 silica; Intracellular reactive oxygen species; Melanocytes

Mesostructured silica is frequently used in biomedical applications, being considered nontoxic and biocompatible material, suitable for the development of drug delivery systems (DDS). Four functionalized MCM-41 silica materials with hydrophobic (methyl and vinyl) and hydrophilic (3-aminopropyl and 3-mercaptopropyl) groups were obtained by post-synthesis functionalization and characterized by small-angle X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The main structural and textural parameters of the obtained silica were determined. The effect of the functionalized silica on fibroblast (NIH3T3) and melanocyte cells (B16F10) was studied with respect to the proliferation rate and the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It was found that the textural properties of all samples influenced the levels of intracellular ROS and consequently, the proliferation rate. Both, healthy and malignant cells exhibited linear dependence of ROS levels with the specific surface area values, but with different response. The contribution of the methyl functionalized silica to the ROS level is apart to the general trend.

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