Conjugation of bioactive peptides to nanomaterials is a promising approach for a variety of biomedical uses. Indeed, we assumed that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with synthetic viral peptides represent a promising strategy to elicit antibody response against zoonotic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for pandemic COVID-19 disease. Two specific linear B-cell epitopes namely S1P4 and S2P6 have been recently identified in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein expressed by the COVID-19 mRNA BNT162 vaccine of Pfizer-BioNTech and marketed under the brand name Comirnaty. The present study aimed at investigating the immunogenic potential of AuNPs functionalized with synthetic PADRE^S1P4 and PADRE^S2P6 peptides in a mouse model. The AuNPs were synthesized using an environmentally friendly process. In both synthetic PADRE^S1P4 and PADRE^S2P6 peptides, the SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody epitope is preceded by a polybasic sequence and the T-helper cell response activator PADRE. A thiol-terminated polyethylene glycol was used to decorate AuNP surface with the synthetic peptides. The AuNPs-peptide conjugates were inoculated without any adjuvant to adult BALB/c mice by intramuscular route in a prime-boost schedule. The AuNPs functionalized with the PADRE^S2P6 peptide but not the PADRE^S1P4 peptide were efficient to elicit antibody production of relevant specificity against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The ability of PADRE^S2P6 peptide-reactive antibodies to recognize SARS-CoV-2 variants opens important perspectives for AuNP-peptide conjugates as potential serological tools to support the surveillance of wildlife-origin coronaviruses.
Conjugation of bioactive peptides to nanomaterials is a promising approach for a variety of biomedical uses. Indeed, we assumed that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with synthetic viral peptides represent a promising strategy to elicit antibody response against zoonotic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for pandemic COVID-19 disease. Two specific linear B-cell epitopes namely S1P4 and S2P6 have been recently identified in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein expressed by the COVID-19 mRNA BNT162 vaccine of Pfizer-BioNTech and marketed under the brand name Comirnaty. The present study aimed at investigating the immunogenic potential of AuNPs functionalized with synthetic PADRE^S1P4 and PADRE^S2P6 peptides in a mouse model. The AuNPs were synthesized using an environmentally friendly process. In both synthetic PADRE^S1P4 and PADRE^S2P6 peptides, the SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody epitope is preceded by a polybasic sequence and the T-helper cell response activator PADRE. A thiol-terminated polyethylene glycol was used to decorate AuNP surface with the synthetic peptides. The AuNPs-peptide conjugates were inoculated without any adjuvant to adult BALB/c mice by intramuscular route in a prime-boost schedule. The AuNPs functionalized with the PADRE^S2P6 peptide but not the PADRE^S1P4 peptide were efficient to elicit antibody production of relevant specificity against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The ability of PADRE^S2P6 peptide-reactive antibodies to recognize SARS-CoV-2 variants opens important perspectives for AuNP-peptide conjugates as potential serological tools to support the surveillance of wildlife-origin coronaviruses.
The core parts of developing dressed photon (DP) research that require advanced knowledge of highly mathematical quantum field theory and their potentially important impacts on the wide spectrum of long-term scientific activities in general, not necessarily restricted to those in the natural science sector, are succinctly explained in this article. Although a considerable number of remarkable technological achievements in the field of nanophotonics have been attained by utilizing DP phenomena, from the theoretical viewpoint, they remain enigmatic, as in the case of dark matter and energy in cosmology. Under such circumstances, an intriguing working hypothesis (WH) for DPs is proposed by the authors of this article through a combination of Ojima’s micro-macro duality theory and the Greenberg-Robinson theorem, claiming that the space-like momentum contribution is an inevitable element for quantum field interactions to occur. Note that, as the Schrödinger’s cat thought experiment clearly shows, the widespread common quantum mechanics knowledge is incapable of explaining how the invisible quantum world is connected to our familiar visible classical world. In the above-mentioned WH, the main reason why we cannot explain either DPs or dark entities in cosmology is shown to have roots in the fact that the prevailing theories have not revealed an important role of spacelike momentum in connecting the quantum and classical worlds. Our new WH further shows that the entire universe is connected by an instantaneous spacelike entropic spin network, as in the case of quantum spin entanglement explained in mainstream physics. Since such a network may have a close relation with the nonlocal consciousness field, which seems to be the final frontier of physics, our perspective on such a possibility is briefly given in the final section of this paper.
The term “nanodentistry” was first introduced at the beginning of the 21st century. In recent decades,nanotechnology has progressed significantly, creating numerous opportunities for application in various biomedicalfields. In particular, the use of nanoparticles in endodontics has attracted considerable interest due to their uniquecharacteristics. As a result of their nano-size, nanoparticles possess several properties that can improve the treatment ofendodontic infections, such as increased antibacterial activity, increased reactivity, and the ability to be functionalizedwith other reactive compounds. Materials whose size is less than 100 nm in at least one dimension are referred to asnanomaterials. Among nanoparticles can be found grains, fibers, clusters, nano-holes, or their combinations. The mainfeature of nanoparticles is their large surface area per unit mass compared to bulk matter. Due to their large surface area,nanoparticles have significantly modified the physical and chemical properties of the material in comparison to bulkmatter. Nanoparticles with their modified and specific physicochemical properties, such as ultra-small size, large surfacearea/mass ratio, and increased chemical reactivity, have opened new prospects in endodontics. For the present study, anelectronic search was done using MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar, and open-access journals that are publishedby Elsevier. For search words and phrases: «nanotechnology», «nanotechnology in dentistry», and «classification ofnanoparticles» were used in various combinations. Forty articles were found, from which 16 were selected. The selecteditems include research and review articles. This review provides insights into the unique characteristics of nanoparticles,including their chemical, physical, and antimicrobial properties; limitations; and potential uses. Various studiesconcerning different methods of using nanoparticles in endodontics have been thoroughly studied. Based on previousclinical studies, methods of nanoparticle use in endodontics were evaluated. The findings indicate that nanoparticleapplications in endodontics have a lot of potential.
Conjugation of bioactive peptides to nanomaterials is a promising approach for a variety of biomedical uses. Indeed, we assumed that gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with synthetic viral peptides represent a promising strategy to elicit antibody response against zoonotic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 responsible for pandemic COVID-19 disease. Two specific linear B-cell epitopes namely S1P4 and S2P6 have been recently identified in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein expressed by the COVID-19 mRNA BNT162 vaccine of Pfizer-BioNTech and marketed under the brand name Comirnaty. The present study aimed at investigating the immunogenic potential of AuNPs functionalized with synthetic PADRE^S1P4 and PADRE^S2P6 peptides in a mouse model. The AuNPs were synthesized using an environmentally friendly process. In both synthetic PADRE^S1P4 and PADRE^S2P6 peptides, the SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody epitope is preceded by a polybasic sequence and the T-helper cell response activator PADRE. A thiol-terminated polyethylene glycol was used to decorate AuNP surface with the synthetic peptides. The AuNPs-peptide conjugates were inoculated without any adjuvant to adult BALB/c mice by intramuscular route in a prime-boost schedule. The AuNPs functionalized with the PADRE^S2P6 peptide but not the PADRE^S1P4 peptide were efficient to elicit antibody production of relevant specificity against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The ability of PADRE^S2P6 peptide-reactive antibodies to recognize SARS-CoV-2 variants opens important perspectives for AuNP-peptide conjugates as potential serological tools to support the surveillance of wildlife-origin coronaviruses.
