Biology subjects

Panek, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Panek, A..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

An Effective Metal Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery System for an In Vitro Model of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer

This study presents the development and spectroscopic characterization of an erlotinib-functionalized gold nanoparticle (erlotinib:AuNP) nanosystem designed for targeted delivery to metastatic non-small cell lung cancer H1299 cells. Initial MTS assays demonstrated that free erlotinib induced a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability, while 0.1 {micro}M erlotinib exhibited negligible cytotoxicity and was therefore selected for nanosystem fabrication. AuNPs alone showed minimal toxicity toward H1299 cells over the investigated concentration range. Following conjugation of erlotinib with AuNPs, the resulting nanosystems reduced cell viability to approximately 60%, indicating enhanced biological activity of the drug after nanoparticle-assisted delivery. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed the intracellular internalization of the nanosystems in H1299 cells, with nanoparticle aggregates predominantly localized in the perinuclear and perimitochondrial regions. Three-dimensional Raman spectroscopy (3D RS) mapping further verified the intracellular localization of the conjugates through characteristic Raman signatures of erlotinib:AuNPs. Importantly, 3D RS enabled detection of nanosystems at concentrations below the sensitivity limit of fluorescence imaging, demonstrating superior analytical performance for intracellular nanosystem tracking. Atomic force microscopy-infrared (AFM-IR) spectroscopy coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated substantial biochemical modifications induced by the erlotinib:AuNP nanosystems, including enhanced lipid-related spectral features and significant alterations in protein secondary structure, particularly the increased contribution of unordered and antiparallel {beta}-turn conformations. The obtained results demonstrate that combining plasmonic nanocarriers with advanced vibrational spectroscopy enables highly sensitive monitoring of intracellular drug delivery and nanosystem-induced biochemical responses in cancer cells.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2026

Lipid droplet isolation as a novel platform for spectroscopic investigation of cargo modifications

Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic organelles involved in metabolic regulation and cellular stress responses, yet their biochemical heterogeneity and treatment-dependent remodeling in the context of radiotherapy remain poorly understood. Here, we present the first label-free Raman spectroscopic analysis of isolated lipid droplets (iLDs) from normal Schwann cells and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cells subjected to cannabidiol (CBD) treatment, ionizing radiation, and their combination. Raman spectroscopy revealed pronounced chemical heterogeneity of iLDs both between and within cell types, reflecting differences in acyl chain organization, conformational order, and lipid class composition. CBD treatment induced substantial lipid remodeling in Schwann cells, giving rise to multiple iLD subpopulations, whereas MPNST cells exhibited a more constrained response. Irradiation altered lipid droplet heterogeneity in a cell-type-dependent manner, while combined CBD treatment and irradiation induced characteristic alterations in LD cargo that differed markedly between Schwann and MPNST cells, highlighting lipid droplets as sensitive reporters of metabolic reprogramming and stress adaptation. Overall, these findings establish Raman-based lipid droplet profiling as a powerful approach for resolving treatment-specific metabolic remodeling at the suborganelle level and provide new insight into lipid-mediated mechanisms underlying radiosensitization in cancer cells.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2026

Spectrolipidomics of glial cell lines: a deuterated probe for semiquantitative monitoring of cannabidiol-induced cholesterol modulation

Understanding lipid metabolism in peripheral glial cells is crucial for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, cancerogenesis and therapy resistance. Here, we introduce a spectrolipidomic sensing approach that integrates Raman, FT-IR, and AFM-IR spectroscopy to monitor nanoscale cholesterol remodeling in glial cells exposed to cannabidiol (CBD). Deuterated cholesterol (dChol) was employed as an intrinsic, spectroscopically active molecular probe, enabling selective tracking of cholesterol transformations through characteristic C-D vibrational signatures within the 2300-2000 cm-1 silent spectral region. Multimodal vibrational spectroscopy provided label-free, spatially resolved insight into lipid organization, redistribution, and metabolic reprogramming across micro- and nanoscales. The dChol probe enabled semi-quantitative evaluation of cholesterol uptake, esterification, and membrane integration, revealing that the sequence of CBD exposure, before or after probe addition, triggers distinct lipid metabolic pathways. Raman spectroscopy demonstrated superior sensitivity, with reliable detection of intracellular dChol at concentrations as low as 10 {micro}M, outperforming FT-IR imaging and confirming its suitability for cell lipid sensing. This analytical platform establishes deuterium-labeled lipids as powerful vibrational sensors for probing lipid metabolism and CBD-induced remodeling in situ. The presented spectrolipidomic framework paves the way for next-generation, spectroscopy-based biosensing systems capable of visualizing lipid dynamics, membrane restructuring, and drug- lipid interactions under pharmacological or environmental stress conditions. HighlightsO_LIDeuterated cholesterol (dChol) used as an intrinsic vibrational sensor C_LIO_LILower detection threshold of intracellular dChol for Raman than FT-IR C_LIO_LIAFM-IR reveals phases of lipid droplet formation in nanoscale C_LIO_LICBD alters cholesterol uptake, esterification, and lipid unsaturation profiles C_LI

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2025

Locally persistent lineages are an important component of zoonotic foodborne pathogen Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 disease ecology

Evidence suggests that Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains do not persist at the farm level. We hypothesized that ecosystem-level STEC persistence occurs and contributes significantly to disease burden. We tested this by identifying locally persistent lineages (LPLs) of STEC O157:H7 in Minnesota. We identified 15 distinct LPLs, which were associated with 35.3% of reported cases in Minnesota and persisted for 1.3 to 8.6 years. LPLs were associated with multiple outbreaks with Minnesota sources and no multi-state outbreaks, and LPL cases were spatially clustered. Our findings show long-term persistence in defined geographic areas, suggesting the importance of ecosystem-level persistence. SummaryShiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) persistence is poorly understood. This study examined long-term STEC persistence. Locally persistent lineages (LPLs) of STEC O157:H7 contributed significantly to disease burden and persisted up to 8.6 years. LPLs suggest the importance of ecosystem-level persistence.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2023

High resolution optical spectroscopy for the evaluation of cannabidiol efficiency as a radiation therapy support of peripheral nervous system tumors

An increasing number of scientific papers discuss the promising therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD) not only for the treatment of cancer, but also for asthma and neurodegenerative disorders. This happens mainly due to its proven anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. In the field of cancer research, the use of CBD has already been investigated on malignant tumors of the central nervous system, like gliomas. So far, CBD has not yet been explored in the therapy of peripheral nervous system (PNS) tumors. Peripheral nerves reside outside the central nervous system, therefore peripheral nerve tumors can occur anywhere in the body. When the tumor develops within large blood vessels, spinal nerves or involves more than one peripheral nerve, radiotherapy is recommended. Due to high doses of ionizing radiation, complications such as dizziness, damage to adjacent nerves, or malignancy of the lesion may occur. Therefore, it is important to develop a treatment scheme that efficiently reduces tumor volume while maintaining the normal functions of the surrounding cells and decrease the side effects. Herein, we proposed to combine hyperspectral imaging using Raman and FTIR spectroscopy and AFM-IR technique as a novel approach to monitor the therapeutic efficacy of CBD. Performed studies reviled the dual effect of CBD, that protects normal cells from ionizing radiation and increases its toxicity in cancer cells.

biophysics↗