Scholarly Publications - UNAM
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Item Open Access Multilevel diffraction gratings inside silicon towards spectral filtering(SPIE - International Society for Optical Engineering, 2024-03-12) Bütün, Mehmet; Saylan, Sueda; Sabet, Rana Asgari; Tokel, Onur; Gemini, Laura; Kleinert, Jan; Miyaji, GodaiSilicon-based integrated photonics holds the promise of revolutionizing key technologies, such as telecommunications, computing, and lab-on-chip systems. One can achieve diverse functionalities in two ways: on the wafer surface ("on-chip") or within its bulk ("in-chip"), the latter gaining recognition due to recent advancements in laser lithography. Until recently, 3D in-chip laser writing has only been utilized for single-level devices, leaving a vast potential for monolithic and multilevel functionality within silicon untapped. In our previous research, we successfully designed and fabricated multilevel, high-efficiency diffraction gratings in silicon using nanosecond laser pulses. Their high performance stemmed from effective field enhancement at Talbot self-imaging planes. Our current work takes a theoretical approach, investigating how varying the grating period affects the performance of in-chip multilevel gratings. We demonstrate that the previously achieved 95% diffraction efficiency at a 1550 nm wavelength is also attainable with a reduced period of 3 μm. This smaller period is predicted to allow for spectral filtering, nearly equivalent to commercially available filters in terms of Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM). Our findings underscore the potential of volumetric Si photonics and mark a significant step towards realizing 3D-integrated monolithic chips.Item Open Access Synthetic biology for therapeutics: engineering cells for living drugs(De Gruyter, 2024-11-18) Şeker, Urartu Özgür Şafak; Şeker, Urartu Özgür ŞafakItem Open Access Reply to Kaestner et al.: pioneering quantitative platforms for stored red blood cell assessment open the door for precision transfusion medicine(National Academy of Sciences, 2024-03-04) Isiksacan, Ziya; D'Alessandro, Angelo; Mckenna, David H.; Tessier, Shannon N.; Kucukal, Erdem; Gokaltun, A. Aslihan; William, Nishaka; Sandlin, Rebecca D.; Bischof, John; Mohandas, Narla; Busch, Michael P.; Elbüken, Cağlar; Gurkan, Umut A.; Toner, Mehmet; Acker, Jason P.; Yarmush, Martin L.; Usta, O. BerkItem Embargo Screening peptide drug candidates to neutralize whole viral agents: a case study with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)(American Chemical Society, 2024-03-21) Özçelik, Cemile Elif; Araz, Cemre Zekiye; Yılmaz, Özgür; Gülyüz, Sevgi; Özdamar, Pınar; Salmanlı, Ezgi; Özkul, Aykut; Şeker, Urartu Özgür ŞafakThe COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need for therapeutic and pharmaceutical molecule development in a short time with different approaches. Although boosting immunological memory by vaccination was the quickest and robust strategy, still medication is required for the immediate treatment of a patient. A popular approach is the mining of new therapeutic molecules. Peptide-based drug candidates are also becoming a popular avenue. To target whole pathogenic viral agents, peptide libraries can be employed. With this motivation, we have used the 12mer M13 phage display library for selecting SARS-CoV-2 targeting peptides as potential neutralizing molecules to prevent viral infections. Panning was applied with four iterative cycles to select SARS-CoV-2 targeting phage particles displaying 12-amino acid-long peptides. Randomly selected peptide sequences were synthesized by a solid-state peptide synthesis method. Later, selected peptides were analyzed by the quartz crystal microbalance method to characterize their molecular interaction with SARS-CoV-2's S protein. Finally, the neutralization activity of the selected peptides was probed with an in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that scpep3, scpep8, and scpep10 peptides have both binding and neutralizing capacity for S1 protein as a candidate for therapeutic molecule. The results of this study have a translational potential with future in vivo and human studies.Item Open Access Dielectric detection of single nanoparticles using a microwave resonator integrated with a nanopore(American Chemical Society, 2024-02-08) Seçme, Arda; Küçükoğlu, Berk; Pisheh, Hadi S.; Alataş, Yağmur Ceren; Tefek, Uzay; Uslu, Hatice Dilara; Kaynak, Batuhan E.; Alhmoud, Hashim; Hanay, M. SelimThe characterization of individual nanoparticles in a liquid constitutes a critical challenge for the environmental, material, and biological sciences. To detect nanoparticles, electronic approaches are especially desirable owing to their compactness and lower costs. While electronic detection in the form of resistive-pulse sensing has enabled the acquisition of geometric properties of various analytes, impedimetric measurements to obtain dielectric signatures of nanoparticles have scarcely been reported. To explore this orthogonal sensing modality, we developed an impedimetric sensor based on a microwave resonator with a nanoscale sensing gap surrounding a nanopore built on a 220 nm silicon nitride membrane. The microwave resonator has a coplanar waveguide configuration with a resonance frequency of approximately 6.6 GHz. The approach of single nanoparticles near the sensing region and their translocation through the nanopores induced sudden changes in the impedance of the structure. The impedance changes, in turn, were picked up by the phase response of the microwave resonator. We worked with 100 and 50 nm polystyrene nanoparticles to observe single-particle events. Our current implementation was limited by the nonuniform electric field at the sensing region. This work provides a complementary sensing modality for nanoparticle characterization, where the dielectric response, rather than ionic current, determines the signal.Item Open Access Synthesis and structure of novel phenothiazine derivatives, and compound prioritization via in silico target search and screening for cytotoxic and cholinesterase modulatory activities in liver cancer cells and in vivo in zebrafish(American Chemical Society, 2024-06-03) Kisla, Mehmet Murat; Yaman, Murat; Zengin Karadayi,Fikriye; Korkmaz, Büşra; Bayazeid, Ömer; Kumar, Amrish; Peravali, Ravindra; Güneş, Damla; Tiryaki, Rafed Said; Gelinci, Emine; Çakan Akdoğan, Gülçin; Ateş Alagöz, Zeynep; Konu, ÖzlenPhenothiazines (PTZ) are antipsychotics known to modulate a variety of neurotransmitter activities that include dopaminergic and cholinergic signaling and have been identified as potential anticancer agents in vitro. However, it is important to also test whether a highly cytotoxic, repurposed, or novel PTZ has low toxicity and neuromodulatory activity in vivo using vertebrate model organisms, such as zebrafish. In this study, we synthesized novel phenothiazines and screened them in vitro in liver cancer and in vivo in zebrafish embryos/larvae. The syntheses of several intermediate PTZ 10-yl acyl chlorides were followed by elemental analysis and determination of 1H NMR and 13C NMR mass (ESI+) spectra of a large number of novel PTZ 10-carboxamides. Cytotoxicities of 28 PTZ derivatives (1–28) screened against Hep3B and SkHep1 liver cancer cell lines revealed five intermediate and five novel leads along with trifluoperazine (TFP), prochlorperazine (PCP), and perphenazine, which are relatively more cytotoxic than the basic PTZ core. Overall, the derivatives were more cytotoxic to Hep3B than SkHep1 cells. Moreover, in silico target screening identified cholinesterases as some of the commonest targets of the screened phenothiazines. Interestingly, molecular docking studies with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase proteins showed that the most cytotoxic compounds 1, 3, PCP, and TFP behaved similar to Huprin W in their amino acid interactions with the AChE protein. The highly cytotoxic intermediate PTZ derivative 1 exhibited a relatively lower toxicity profile than those of 2 and 3 during the zebrafish development. It also modulated in vivo the cholinesterase activity in a dose-dependent manner while significantly increasing the total cholinesterase activity and/or ACHE mRNA levels, independent of the liver cancer cell type. Our screen also identified novel phenothiazines, i.e., 8 and 10, with significant cytotoxic and cholinesterase modulatory effects in liver cancer cells; yet both compounds had low levels of toxicity in zebrafish. Moreover, they modulated the cholinesterase activity or expression of ACHE in a cancer cell line-specific manner, and compound 10 significantly inhibited the cholinesterase activity in zebrafish. Accordingly, using a successful combination of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches, we identified several lead anticancer and cholinesterase modulatory PTZ derivatives for future research.Item Open Access In the gray zone: How representational deficit moderates the effect of openness on protest participation(Sage Publications Ltd., 2024-08-24) Aksoy, Faruk; Tosun, Yasemin; Aksoy, FarukThis article investigates how the governmental status quo alters the effect of individuals' openness as a predisposition for protest participation. We define the governmental status quo as individuals' standing or position within the political system, contingent upon their party's current status in government. Based on this, we clasify voters into three groups: Opposition voters, junior coalition partners' voters (JCPV), and senior coalition partners' voters (SCPV) or single-party government voters (SPGV). SCPV and SPGV are expected to have lower protest motivation due to their substantial governmental representation, whereas opposition voters, with lacking any governmental representation, are more likely to be motivated to protest. Nevertheless, given their fuzzy position that alleviates the effect of the representational deficit on their protest behavior, we argue that the protest participation of JCPV is more likely to be driven by their basic values belonging to the openness dimension. Statistical analyses based on data from the European Social Survey support our hypothesis, highlighting the stronger effect of stimulation, one of the components of the openness dimensions in Schwart's basic human values, for the JCPV compared to other voter categories.Item Open Access Flame retardancy and mechanical properties of polypropylene composites containing intumescent flame retardants, preceramic polymers, and other additives(John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2024-07) Dönmez, Sibel; Tüzenli, Zeynep; Bayram, Göknur; Savaşkan Yılmaz, SevilThis study aims to investigate the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)-based intumescent flame retardants (IFRs) consisting of melamine phosphate (MP) and pentaerythritol (PER), and different additives; boron phosphate (BP), antimony oxide (AO), and preceramic polymers, namely poly(dimethylsilane) (PDMS) and poly(methylsilsesquioxane) (PMSQ). The composites were produced by twin-screw extrusion, and then molded by injection molding. Their characterizations were performed with limiting oxygen index (LOI), horizontal burning tests, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile and impact tests. The total amount of IFRs and the additives in polypropylene was kept constant at 20 wt%. The additive concentration was varied as 1, 3, and 5 wt% in the composites. The highest LOI value of 29% was obtained for PP/MP/PER composite with MP/PER ratio of 3/1. PP/IFR-based composites with 1 wt% additive exhibited higher LOI and horizontal burning performance than the other composites with 3 and 5 wt% additives. It is revealed that tensile modulus and impact strength of neat PP were improved with the addition of IFRs, and for each type and amount of the additives used in the study. Highlights: Usage of IFRs, preceramic polymers, BP and AO in PP improved flame retardancy. Lower amount of additives (1%) in PP/IFR composites led to higher LOI values. Additive incorporation enhanced tensile modulus and impact strength of neat PP. © 2024 The Authors. SPE Polymers published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Plastics Engineers.Item Embargo Photoluminescent and superhydrophobic nanocomposites of perovskite nanocrystals(Elsevier BV, 2024-03) Öcal, Sema Karabel; Çelik, Nusret; Önses, Mustafa Serdar; Mutlugün, EvrenPerovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) have found extensive utility across diverse technological applications in optoelectronics; nevertheless, their susceptibility to environmental instability poses a significant constraint on their practicality. Within this investigation, we present a novel and facile approach for the development of highly stable superhydrophobic PNCs. These engineered superhydrophobic perovskite nanocrystal composites, referred to as HSNPs@PNCs, demonstrate remarkable optoelectronic attributes, provided that their inherent instability can be effectively mitigated. HSNPs@PNCs manifest an impressive water contact angle of 172° and an exceedingly low sliding angle of 1°, thus showcasing their exceptional superhydrophobicity. Of particular note is the extraordinary stability exhibited by HSNPs@PNCs despite aqueous environments, thermal fluctuations, and UV exposure. Remarkably, even after a prolonged 30-day immersion in water, this nanocomposite maintains an outstanding emission efficiency of 75 %. Furthermore, the method of application through a spray deposition technique circumvents sample size limitations, thereby amplifying their suitability for industrial applications. Moreover, this study extends the practicality of HSNPs@PNCs by enabling their homogeneous coating onto various surfaces such as glass, fabric, and aluminum, yielding luminescent superhydrophobic surfaces. This approach liberates the substrates from constraints, significantly broadening the potential spectrum of applications for these materials within diverse industrial and technological domains.Item Embargo Roughness-dependent hydrophobicity of polydimethylsiloxane grafted titanium thin films(Elsevier S.A., 2024-05-15) Foadi, Farnaz; Çelik, Nusret; Eşidir, Abidin; Önses, Mustafa SerdarUnderstanding the wetting behavior of thin films is essential for advanced coatings applications. This paper studies the roughness dependent hydrophobicity of titanium thin films deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering. The grafting of mechanochemically activated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) onto a titanium thin film is achieved by benefiting from the self-formation of an oxide layer during the sputter-coating process. PDMS grafting results in a liquid-like hydrophobic layer with a nanoscopic (<3 nm) thickness, which makes it possible to investigate the roughness dependent wetting behavior of titanium films. In addition to the structural characterization, atomic force microscopy imaging was used to derive different morphological parameters. Correlating static and dynamic water contact angle measurements with these morphological parameters enabled identification of different wetting states. The findings of this study contribute to the design and fabrication of stochastically structured hydrophobic surfaces with a stable wetting state that is needed in practical applications.Item Open Access Biological devices for cellular targeting and decision-making(De Gruyter, 2024-11-18) Yavuz, Merve; Hınçer, Ahmet; Semerci, Aslı; Şeker, Urartu Özgür Şafak; Şeker, Urartu Özgür ŞafakThe engineered biological systems offer new avenues for precision medicine and therapeutic interventions. The development of biological devices for cellular targeting and decision-making executes synthetic biology tools to integrate computational logic and sensing capabilities in living cells. The machineries have the ability to detect specific biomarkers, process environmental signals, and perform targeted responses. In order to specifically recognize and destroy cancer cells, one of the crucial advancements resides in the design of chimeric antigen receptor T cells. The cells harbor synthetic genetic circuitries to sense external stimuli, the presence of a pathogen or a disease marker, and to give a cellular response. The biological devices are designed as robust and adaptive based on synthetic biology applications by leveraging modular and programmable genetic components. The efficacy and safety of cellular therapies are enhanced via precise cellular targeting and dynamic decision-making that provide promising approaches for diagnosing and treating a wide range of diseases and personalized medicine. © 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.Item Embargo Chitosan- and hyaluronic acid-based nanoarchitectures in phototherapy: Combination cancer chemotherapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy(Elsevier BV, 2024-07) Wang, Zheng; Pang, Shuo; Liu, Xiaoli; Dong, Zi; Tian, Yu; Ashrafizadeh, Milad; Rabiee, Navid; Ertaş, Yavuz Nuri; Mao, YingCancer phototherapy has been introduced as a new potential modality for tumor suppression. However, the efficacy of phototherapy has been limited due to a lack of targeted delivery of photosensitizers. Therefore, the application of biocompatible and multifunctional nanoparticles in phototherapy is appreciated. Chitosan (CS) as a cationic polymer and hyaluronic acid (HA) as a CD44-targeting agent are two widely utilized polymers in nanoparticle synthesis and functionalization. The current review focuses on the application of HA and CS nanostructures in cancer phototherapy. These nanocarriers can be used in phototherapy to induce hyperthermia and singlet oxygen generation for tumor ablation. CS and HA can be used for the synthesis of nanostructures, or they can functionalize other kinds of nanostructures used for phototherapy, such as gold nanorods. The HA and CS nanostructures can combine chemotherapy or immunotherapy with phototherapy to augment tumor suppression. Moreover, the CS nanostructures can be functionalized with HA for specific cancer phototherapy. The CS and HA nanostructures promote the cellular uptake of genes and photosensitizers to facilitate gene therapy and phototherapy. Such nanostructures specifically stimulate phototherapy at the tumor site, with particle toxic impacts on normal cells. Moreover, CS and HA nanostructures demonstrate high biocompatibility for further clinical applications.Item Open Access Engineering microbial cells for cancer(De Gruyter, 2024-11-18) Akboğa, Doğuş; Doğruer, Aslı; Albayrak, Damla; Shahid, Gozeel Binte; Şeker, Urartu Özgür Şafak; Şeker, Urartu Özgür ŞafakThe use of engineered microbes in personalized cancer treatment is promising, offering targeted and patient-specific therapeutic strategies. Advances in synthetic biology enable precise genetic modifications, creating bacteria capable of producing therapeutic agents within tumors. This chapter discusses the field of engineering microbial cells for cancer therapy, initially focusing on the dynamic interactions between the microbiome and the host and the pivotal role of the gut microbiome in cancer development. Then, discussing that certain bacteria influence cancer progression and therapeutic responses through immunomodulation and metabolic interactions, how engineered bacteria can present novel opportunities for intervention will be explored. The principles of bacterial cancer therapies will be examined, including selecting suitable bacterial strains and engineering methods to ensure their safety and efficacy. Techniques such as attenuating virulence factors, enhancing tumor-targeting capabilities, and designing sophisticated genetic circuits for controlled therapeutic delivery are detailed. © 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.Item Open Access Engineering mammalian cell for cancer(De Gruyter, 2024-11-18) Karaca, Melis; Şen, Senem; Fuerkaiti, Fayiti; Şeker, Urartu Özgür Şafak; Şeker, Urartu Özgür ŞafakThe accuracy of products produced by mammalian cells can be explained by the fact that continuously stored environmental information leads to high-precision production capacity. Therefore, usage of mammalian cells in cancer might lead to progression of safe and efficient therapies. Synthetic biology has emerged as a transformative force in biomedical innovation, which aims to reprogram cells for precise diagnostics and therapeutics. Recent advances highlight the development of modular synthetic receptors, enabling customizable disease recognition and engineered mammalian cells exhibiting remarkable sensitivity and selectivity. Simultaneously, advances in mammalian synthetic biology facilitate the deliberate engineering of protein secretion, glycosylation, cellular metabolism, and cellular communication, unlocking new therapeutic possibilities that even lead to the construction of artificial tissues for innovative cancer therapies. This chapter focuses on the current techniques of mammalian cell engineering for cancer therapeutics including their drawbacks and future. © 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.Item Open Access Programming cells with synthetic biology(De Gruyter, 2024-11-18) Ahan, Recep Erdem; Akman, Derin; Avcı, Ece; Şeker, Urartu Özgür Şafak; Şeker, Urartu Özgür ŞafakBiological systems are the most advanced molecular machines known to humans. Cells can execute intricate actions via proteins encoded in their genomes. Their immense capabilities are rooted in the billions of years of evolution wherein organisms and biological molecules have been diversified by natural selection to adapt to continuously changing ecological conditions in order to ensure survival. Evolution has yielded many useful functions of biological systems that can be exploited for human use. However, wildtype cells and biological molecules are suboptimal for specific applications because their capabilities are shaped and dictated for survival, not for the requirements of any human application. Synthetic biology approaches offer to augment the inherent competence of cells through genetic reprogramming, wherein cells are considered a collection of biomolecular modules composed of biological parts. Based on this approach, novel molecular abilities can be constructed by reusing biological parts to build synthetic genetic modules implemented in cellular hosts. In this chapter, reprogramming cells by building synthetic genetic modules will be summarized. In the first section, molecular methodologies, including de novo DNA synthesis, cloning, and genome engineering, will be briefly mentioned. Then, genetic modules for signal sensing and signal processing will be explained. © 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.Item Open Access New generation cellular engineering for living therapeutics(De Gruyter, 2024-11-18) Tunç, Nazlıcan; Bakar, Mehmet Emin; Çalışkan, Burak; Ölmez, Tolga Tarkan; Şeker, Urartu Özgür Şafak; Şeker, Urartu Özgür ŞafakThis chapter explores the progress and possibilities of cutting-edge cellular engineering for therapeutic purposes. This statement underscores the fundamental change in medical treatments, moving away from conventional medicines toward living therapeutic systems. It emphasizes the significance of synthetic biology in developing self-replicating systems that have the ability to independently diagnose, treat, and cure diseases. The study focuses on several important topics, including the development of genetic circuits for medical purposes, the use of the human microbiome as a therapeutic platform and its impact on health and disease, the promise of microbiome engineering, and novel approaches for delivering drugs and treating diseases. The chapter also explores the use of biomaterials such as biofilms and biomineralization in treatments, as well as the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in the development of therapeutic approaches. The incorporation of these advanced technology offers potential solutions for unfulfilled medical requirements and revolutionizes treatment strategies for a range of illnesses. © 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.Item Open Access Specialty optical fibres and cables – synthesis, structure, and applications(Elsevier, 2024-01-01) Karatutlu, Ali; Yıldırım, Elif Yapar; Mutlay, Zehra Gizem; Ortaç, Bülend; Mondal, Ibrahim H.Specialty optical fibres are types of optical fibres designed and developed not only for telecom but for various critical applications. In this chapter, different methods are shown for the synthesis of the specialty optical fibres, including modified chemical vapour deposition (MCVD) and plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition, solution-doping in conjunction with MCVD, direct nanoparticle deposition technology, and the molten-core technique. For applications in different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, the material’s structure is shifted from the silica-based core and cladding to mid-infrared transparent media, including chalcogenides, fluoride glasses, and crystalline semiconductors. Different structural designs of specialty optical fibres are also reviewed. The specialty fibres for smart natural textiles and clothing were also discussed. The applications are many but limited here to kW-class fibre lasers and sensing applications, including different wearable applications. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Item Embargo Silica nanoparticles tailored with a molecularly imprinted copolymer layer as a highly selective biorecognition element(Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2024-11) Oluz, Zehra; Yazlak, Mustafa Göktürk; Kurşun, Tuğana Talya; Nayab, Sana; Glasser, Gunnar; Yameen, Basit; Duran, HaticeMolecularly imprinted silica nanoparticles (SP-MIP) are synthesized for the real-time optical detection of low-molecular-weight compounds. Azo-initiator-modified silica beads are functionalized through reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, which leads to efficient control of the grafted layer. The copolymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) on azo initiator-coated silica particles (≈100 nm) using chain transfer agent (2-phenylprop-2-yl-dithiobenzoate) is carried out in the presence of a target analyte molecule (l-Boc-phenylalanine anilide, l-BFA). The chemical and morphological properties of SP-MIP are characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Finally, SP-MIP is located on the gold surface to be used as a biorecognition layer on the surface plasmon resonance spectrometer (SPR). The sensitivity, response time, and selectivity of SP-MIP are investigated by three similar analogous molecules (l-Boc-Tryptophan, l-Boc-Tyrosine, and l-Boc-Phenylalanine) and the imprinted particle surface showed excellent relative selectivity toward l-Boc-Phenylalanine (l-BFA) (k = 61), while the sensitivity is recorded as limit of detection = 1.72 × 10−4 m.Item Embargo Activation of epidermal growth factor receptors in triple-negative breast cancer cells by morphine; analysis through Raman spectroscopy and machine learning(Elsevier BV, 2024-05-15) Sezer, Gülay; Şahin, Furkan; Önses, Mustafa Serdar; Cumaoğlu, AhmetTriple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a very aggressive form of breast cancer, and the analgesic drug morphine has been shown to promote the proliferation of TNBC cells. This article investigates whether morphine causes activation of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), the roles of μ-opioid and EGFR receptors on TNBC cell proliferation and migration. While examining the changes with molecular techniques, we also aimed to investigate the analysis ability of Raman spectroscopy and machine learning-based approach. Effects of morphine on the proliferation and migration of MDA.MB.231 cells were evaluated by MTT and scratch wound-healing tests, respectively. Morphine-induced phosphorylation of the EGFR was analyzed by western blotting in the presence and absence of μ-receptor antagonist naltrexone and the EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. Morphine-induced EGFR phosphorylation and cell migration were significantly inhibited by pretreatments with both naltrexone and gefitinib; however, morphine-increased cell proliferation was inhibited only by naltrexone. While morphine-induced changes were observed in the Raman scatterings of the cells, the inhibitory effect of naltrexone was analyzed with similarity to the control group. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the Raman confirmed the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like effect of morphine and was inhibited by naltrexone and partly by gefitinib pretreatments. Our in vitro results suggest that combining morphine with an EGFR inhibitor or a peripherally acting opioidergic receptor antagonist may be a good strategy for pain relief without triggering cancer proliferation and migration in TNBC patients. In addition, our results demonstrated the feasibility of the Raman spectroscopy and machine learning-based approach as an effective method to investigate the effects of agents in cancer cells without the need for complex and time-consuming sample preparation. The support vector machine (SVM) with linear kernel automatically classified the effects of drugs on cancer cells with ∼95% accuracy.Item Embargo Micrometasense: coupling plasmonic metasurfaces with fluorescence for enhanced detection of microplastics in real samples(American Chemical Society, 2024-12-27) Ece, Emre; Aslan, Yusuf; Hacıosmanoglu, Nedim; İnci, FatihDiverse analytical techniques are employed to scrutinize microplastics (MPs)-pervasive at hazardous concentrations across diverse sources ranging from water reservoirs to consumable substances. The limitations inherent in existing methods, such as their diminished detection capacities, render them inadequate for analyzing MPs of diminutive dimensions (microplastics: 1-5 mu m; nanoplastics: < 1 mu m). Consequently, there is an imperative need to devise methodologies that afford improved sensitivity and lower detection limits for analyzing these pollutants. In this study, we introduce a holistic strategy, i.e., MicroMetaSense, reliant on a metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) phenomenon in detecting a myriad size and types of MPs (i.e., poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)) down to 183-205 fg, as well as validated the system with real samples (tap and lake) and artificial ocean samples as a real-world scenario. To obtain precise size distribution in nanometer scale, MPs are initially processed with an ultrafiltration on-a-chip method, and subsequently, the MPs stained with Nile Red dye are subjected to meticulous analysis under a fluorescence microscope, utilizing both a conventional method (glass substrate) and the MicroMetaSense platform. Our approach employs a metasurface to augment fluorescence signals, leveraging the MEF phenomenon, and it demonstrates an enhancement rate of 36.56-fold in detecting MPs compared to the standardized protocols. This low-cost ($2), time-saving (under 30 min), and highly sensitive (183-205 femtogram) strategy presents a promising method for precise size distribution and notable improvements in detection efficacy not only for laboratory samples but also in real environmental samples; hence, signifying a pivotal advancement in conventional methodologies in MP detection.