Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology - Volume 6, Issue 5, 2005

We compare the accuracy of a variety of Fluorescence Fluctuation Spectroscopy (FFS) methods for the study of Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) assays. As an example, the cleavage of a doubly labeled, FRET-active peptide substrate by the protease Trypsin is monitored and analyzed using methods based on fluorescence intensity, Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) and Fluorescence Intensity Distribution An Read More

Spirulina, a filamentous cyanobacterium, possesses diverse biological activities and nutritional significance due to high concentration of natural nutrients, having bio-modulatory and immuno-modulatory functions. Different Spirulina preparations influence immune system viz. increase phagocytic activity of macrophages, stimulating the production of antibodies and cytokines, increase accumulation of NK cells into tissu Read More

During the last years, Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) has proven to be a powerful tool for basic research in many applications. The combination of a minimal detection volume in the femtoliter range coupled with very high sensitivity extends the possibilities to design sensitive homogeneous tests. In this article we illustrate the analysis of binding processes with FCS based on the changes in diffusion characteristi Read More

Diabetes is a syndrome of disordered metabolism and inappropriate hyperglycemia resulting from a deficiency of insulin secretion or insulin resistance. Insulin, a pancreatic hormone, helps to lower the blood sugar levels. The structural features of insulin and insulin receptors are summarized. Diabetic patients use insulin in the form of injections, which involves lots of pain, and a need for non-invasive, alternative Read More

Bioreactors play a key role in the field of biologics, where they are used for the production of recombinant therapeutic proteins by large-scale cultivation of animal cells. There are several types of bioreactors, including stirred-tank, airlift, hollow-fiber, and Rotary Cell Culture System (RCCS) designs. The stirred-tank bioreactor is one of the most commonly used types, and is used both for industrial applications and laboratory Read More

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) are methods that extract information about a sample from the influence of thermodynamic equilibrium fluctuations on the fluorescence intensity. This method allows dynamic information to be obtained from steady state equilibrium measurements and its popularity has dramatically increased in the last 10 years due to the devel Read More