Tuning Cellular Biological Functions Through the Controlled Release of NO from a Porous Ti-MOF

Materials for the controlled release of nitric oxide (NO) are of interest for therapeutic applications. However, to date, many suffer from toxicity and stability issues, as well as poor performance. Herein, we propose a new NO adsorption/release mechanism through the formation of nitrites on the skeleton of a titanium-based metal–organic framework (MOF) that we named MIP-177, featuring a suitable set of properties for such an application: (i) high NO storage capacity (3 μmol mg⁻¹_solid), (ii) excellent biocompatibility at therapeutic relevant concentrations (no cytotoxicity at 90 μg mL⁻¹ for wound healing) due to its high stability in biological media (<9 % degradation in 72 hours) and (iii) slow NO release in biological media (≈2 hours for 90 % release). The prospective application of MIP-177 is demonstrated through NO-driven control of mitochondrial respiration in cells and stimulation of cell migration, paving the way for the design of new NO delivery systems for wound healing therapy.     

Development of a Creatinine Sensor Based on a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer‐Modified Sol‐Gel Film on Graphite Electrode

An electrochemical creatinine sensor based on a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)‐modified sol‐gel film on graphite electrode was developed. The surface coating of MIP over sol‐gel was advantageous to obtain a porous film with outwardly exposed MIP cavities for unhindered selective rebinding of creatinine from aqueous and biological samples. A fast differential pulse, cathodic stripping voltammetric response of creatinine can be obtained after being preanodized the sensor in neutral medium containing appropriate amount of creatinine at +1.8 V versus SCE for 120 s. A linear response over creatinine concentration in the range of 1.23 to 100 μg mL^?1 was exhibited with a detection limit of 0.37 μg mL^?1 (S/N=3).     

A Biomimetic Potentiometric Sensor Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for the Cetirizine Assay in Tablets and Biological Fluids

Despite the increasing number of applications of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in analytical chemistry, the construction of a biomimetic potentiometric sensor remains still challenging. In this work, a biomimetic potentiometric sensor, based on a non‐covalent imprinted polymer was fabricated for the recognition and determination of cetirizine. The MIP was synthesized by precipitation polymerization, using cetirizine dihydrochloride as a template molecule, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a cross linking agent. The sensor showed high selectivity and a sensitive response to the template in aqueous system. The MIP‐modified electrode exhibited Nernstian response (28.0±0.9 mV/decade) in a wide concentration range of 1.0×10^?6 to 1.0×10^?2 M with a lower detection limit of 7.0×10^?7 M. The electrode has response time of ca. 20 s, high performance, high sensitivity, and good long term stability (more than 5 months). The method was satisfactory and used to the cetirizine assay in tablets and biological fluids.     

Chemical Study on Protective Effect Against Hydroxyl‐induced DNA Damage and Antioxidant Mechanism of Myricitrin

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) can oxidatively damage DNA to cause severe biological consequences. In the study, a natural flavonoid, myricitrin (myricetin‐3‐O‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranoside), was found to have a protective effect against hydroxyl‐induced DNA damage (IC₅₀ 159.86 ± 54.24 μg/mL). To investigate the mechanism, it was determined by various antioxidant assays. The results revealed that myricitrin could effectively scavenge ·OH, ·O₂^?, DPPH· (1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical), and ABTS⁺· (2,2′‐Azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) radicals (IC₅₀ values were respectively 69.71 ± 5.93, 69.71 ± 5.93, 25.34 ± 2.14, and 1.71 ± 0.09 μg/mL), and bind Cu²⁺ (IC₅₀ 27.33 ± 2.36 μg/mL). Based on the mechanistic analysis, it can be concluded that: (i) myricitrin can effectively protect against hydroxyl‐induced DNA oxidative damage via ROS scavenging and deoxynucleotide radicals repairing approaches. Both approaches can be attributed to its antioxidant. From a structure‐activity relationship viewpoint, its antioxidant ability can be attributed to the ortho‐dihydroxyl moiety, and ultimately to the stability of its oxidized form ortho‐benzoquinone; (ii) its ROS scavenging is mediated via metal‐chelating, and direct radical‐scavenging which is through donating hydrogen (H·) and electron (e); and (iii) its protective effect against DNA oxidative damage may be primarily responsible for the pharmacological effects, and offers promise as a new therapeutic reagent for diseases from DNA oxidative damage.     

Extending Time Profile of Morphine‐Induced Analgesia Using a Chitosan‐Based Molecular Imprinted Polymer Nanogel

Chitosan‐based molecular imprinted polymer (CS‐MIP) nanogel is prepared in the presence of morphine template, fully characterized and used as a new vehicle to extend duration of morphine analgesic effect in Naval Medical Research Institute mice. The CS‐MIP nanogel with ≈25 nm size range exhibits 98% loading efficiency, and in vitro release studies show an initial burst followed by an extended slow release of morphine. In order to study the feasibility of CS‐MIP nanogel as morphine carrier, 20 mice are divided into two groups randomly and received subcutaneous injection of morphine‐loaded CS‐MIP and morphine (10 mg kg^?1) dissolved in physiologic saline. Those received injection of morphine‐loaded CS‐MIP show slower and long lasting release of morphine with 193 min effective time of 50% (ET50) analgesia compared to 120 min ET50 in mice received morphine dissolved in physiologic saline. These results suggest that CS‐MIP nanogel can be a possible strategy as morphine carrier for controlled release and extension of its analgesic efficacy.

     

Man‐Tailored Biomimetic Sensor of Molecularly Imprinted Materials for the Potentiometric Measurement of Rivastigmine in Tablets and Biological Fluids and Employing the Taguchi Optimization Methodology to Optimize the MIP‐Based Membranes

This work proposes a novel biomimetic sensor for the potentiometric transduction of rivastigmine based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). Using the Taguchi method, this study analyzed the optimum conditions for preparing the MIP‐based membranes. The rank order of each controllable factor was also determined. MIP‐based membranes exhibited a Nernstian response (30.7±1.1 mV decade^?1) in a concentration range from 1.0×10^?5 to 1.0×10^?2 mol L^?1 with a LOD of 6.3×10^?6 mol L^?1. The sensor was successfully applied to the determination of rivastigmine concentrations in human serum, plasma, urine, rat brain and tablets.     

Surface‐Regulated Rhodium–Antimony Nanorods for Nitrogen Fixation

Surface regulation is an effective strategy to improve the performance of catalysts, but it has been rarely demonstrated for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) to date. Now, surface‐rough Rh₂Sb nanorod (RNR) and surface‐smooth Rh₂Sb NR (SNR) were selectively created, and their performance for NRR was investigated. The high‐index‐facet bounded Rh₂Sb RNRs/C exhibit a high NH₃ yield rate of 228.85±12.96 μg h^?1 mg^?1_Rh at ?0.45 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), outperforming the Rh₂Sb SNRs/C (63.07±4.45 μg h^?1 mg^?1_Rh) and Rh nanoparticles/C (22.82±1.49 μg h^?1 mg^?1_Rh), owing to the enhanced adsorption and activation of N₂ on high‐index facets. Rh₂Sb RNRs/C also show durable stability with negligible activity decay after 10 h of successive electrolysis. The present work demonstrates that surface regulation plays an important role in promoting NRR activity and provides a new strategy for creating efficient NRR electrocatalysts.     

Photoacoustic Imaging Quantifies Drug Release from Nanocarriers via Redox Chemistry of Dye‐Labeled Cargo

We report a new approach to monitor drug release from nanocarriers via a paclitaxel–methylene blue conjugate (PTX‐MB) with redox activity. This construct is in a photoacoustically silent reduced state inside poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (PTX‐MB@PLGA NPs). During release, PTX‐MB is spontaneously oxidized to produce a concentration‐dependent photoacoustic signal. An in vitro drug‐release study showed an initial burst release (25 %) between 0–24 h and a sustained release between 24–120 h with a cumulative release of 40.6 % and a 670‐fold increase in photoacoustic signal. An in vivo murine drug release showed a photoacoustic signal enhancement of up to 649 % after 10 hours. PTX‐MB@PLGA NPs showed an IC₅₀ of 78 μg mL^?1 and 44.7±4.8 % decrease of tumor burden in an orthotopic model of colon cancer via luciferase‐positive CT26 cells.     

Synthesis and study of a molecularly imprinted polymer for specific solid‐phase extraction of vinflunine and its metabolite from biological fluids

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized in order to specifically extract vinflunine, an anticancer agent, and its metabolite (4‐O‐deacetylvinflunine) from bovine plasma and artificial urine by solid‐phase extraction (SPE). Vinorelbine, a non‐fluorinated analogue of vinflunine, was selected as a template for MIP synthesis. The selectivity of MIP versus the template (vinorelbine) and other alkaloids (catharanthine, vinblastine, vincristine, vinflunine and 4‐O‐deacetylvinflunine) was shown by a SPE protocol carried out with non‐aqueous samples. A second protocol was developed for aqueous samples with two consecutive washing steps (AcOH–NH₂OH buffer (pH 7, I=10 mM)–MeOH mixture 95:5 v/v and ACN–AcOH mixture 99:1 v/v) and an elution step (MeOH–AcOH mixture 90:10 v/v). Thus, MIP‐SPE of bovine plasma brought high recoveries, 81 and 89% for vinflunine and its metabolite, respectively. This protocol was slightly modified for artificial urine samples in order to obtain a good MIP/NIP selectivity; furthermore, elution recoveries were 73 and 81% for vinflunine and its metabolite, respectively. Repeatability was assessed in both biological matrices and RSD (%) were inferior to 4%. The MIP also showed a suitable linearity (r² superior to 0.99), between 0.25 and 10 μg/mL for plasma, and between 1 and 5 μg/mL for artificial urine.     

Electrooxidation and Amperometric Detection of Ascorbic Acid at GC Electrode Modified by Electropolymerization of N,N‐Dimethylaniline

The polymer film of N,N‐dimethylaniline (DMA) is deposited on the electrochemically pretreated glassy carbon (GC) electrode by continuous electrooxidation of the monomer. This poly N,N‐dimethylaniline (PDMA) film‐coated electrode can be used as an amperometric sensor of ascorbic acid (AA). The polymer film (thickness (?): 0.3±0.02 μm) having positive charge in its backbone attracts the anionic species AA. Thus, the anodic peak potential (350 mV vs. Ag|AgCl|NaCl_(sat)) for the oxidation of AA at the bare electrode is largely shifted to the negative value (150 mV) at this electrode. The PDMA film‐coated electrode is stable in acidic, alkaline and neutral media and can sense AA at different pH's. The diffusion coefficients of AA in solution (D) and in film (D_s) were estimated by rotating disk electrode voltammetry: D=(5.5±0.1)×10^?6 cm² s^?1 and D_s=(6.3±0.2)×10^?8, (6.0±0.2)×10^?8 and (4.7±0.2)×10^?8 cm² s^?1 for 0.5, 1.5 and 3.0 mM AA, respectively. A permeability of AA through the PDMA film was found to decrease with increasing the concentration of AA in the solution. In the chronoamperometry, the current response for the oxidation of AA at different times elapsed after potential‐step application is linearly increased with the increase in AA concentration in a wide range of its concentration from 25 μM to 1.65 mM. In the hydrodynamic amperometry, a successive addition of 10 μM AA caused the successive increase in current response with equal amplitude and the sensitivity was calculated as 0.178 μA cm^?2 μM^?1. So, the fouling of the electrode surface caused by the oxidized product of AA is markedly eliminated at this PDMA film‐coated electrode. A flow injection analysis based on the present electrode was performed to estimate the concentration of vitamin C in fruit juice.     

S‐Nitrosoglutathione‐Based Nitric Oxide‐Releasing Nanofibers Exhibit Dual Antimicrobial and Antithrombotic Activity for Biomedical Applications

The novel use of nanofibers as a physical barrier between blood and medical devices has allowed for modifiable, innovative surface coatings on devices ordinarily plagued by thrombosis, delayed healing, and chronic infection. In this study, the nitric oxide (NO) donor S‐nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) is blended with the biodegradable polymers polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polylactic acid (PLA) for the fabrication of hemocompatible, antibacterial nanofibers tailored for blood‐contacting applications. Stress/strain behavior of different concentrations of PHB and PLA is recorded to optimize the mechanical properties of the nanofibers. Nanofibers incorporated with different concentrations of GSNO (10, 15, 20 wt%) are evaluated based on their NO‐releasing kinetics. PLA/PHB + 20 wt% GSNO nanofibers display the greatest NO release over 72 h (0.4–1.5 × 10^?10 mol mg^?1 min^?1). NO‐releasing fibers successfully reduce viable adhered bacterial counts by ≈80% after 24 h of exposure to Staphylococcus aureus. NO‐releasing nanofibers exposed to porcine plasma reduce platelet adhesion by 64.6% compared to control nanofibers. The nanofibers are found noncytotoxic (>95% viability) toward NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts, and 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole and phalloidin staining shows that fibroblasts cultured on NO‐releasing fibers have improved cellular adhesion and functionality. Therefore, these novel NO‐releasing nanofibers provide a safe antimicrobial and hemocompatible coating for blood‐contacting medical devices.     

Measurements of the kinetics of the OH‐initiated oxidation of methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein

The mechanisms of the OH‐initiated oxidation of methyl vinyl ketone and methacrolein have been studied at 300 K and 100 Torr total pressure, using a turbulent flow technique coupled with laser‐induced fluorescence detection of the OH radical. The rate constants for the OH + methyl vinyl ketone and OH + methacrolein reactions were measured to be (1.78 ± 0.08) × 10^?11 and (3.22 ± 0.10) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively, and were found to be in excellent agreement with previous studies. In the presence of O₂ and NO, the OH radical propagation and the loss of OH through radical termination resulting from the production of methyl vinyl ketone‐ and methacrolein‐based alkyl nitrates were measured at 100 Torr total pressure and compared to the simulations of the kinetics of these reaction systems. The results of these experiments are consistent with an overall rate constant of (2.0 ± 1.3) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 for both the methyl vinyl ketone‐based peroxy radical + NO and methacrolein‐based peroxy radical + NO reactions, each with branching ratios of 0.90 ± 0.10 for the bimolecular channel (oxidation of NO to NO₂) and 0.10 ± 0.10 for the termolecular channel (production of methyl vinyl ketone‐ and methacrolein‐based alkyl nitrates). © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 36: 12–25, 2003     

Stabilities and Biological Activities of Vanadium Drugs: What is the Nature of the Active Species?

Diverse biological activities of vanadium(V) drugs mainly arise from their abilities to inhibit phosphatase enzymes and to alter cell signaling. Initial interest focused on anti‐diabetic activities but has shifted to anti‐cancer and anti‐parasitic drugs. V‐based anti‐diabetics are pro‐drugs that release active components (e.g., H₂VO₄⁻) in biological media. By contrast, V anti‐cancer drugs are generally assumed to enter cells intact; however, speciation studies indicate that nearly all drugs are likely to react in cell culture media during in vitro assays and the same would apply in vivo. The biological activities are due to V^V and/or V^IV reaction products with cell culture media, or the release of ligands (e.g., aromatic diimines, 8‐hydroxyquinolines or thiosemicarbazones) that bind to essential metal ions in the media. Careful consideration of the stability and speciation of V complexes in cell culture media and in biological fluids is essential to design targeted V‐based anti‐cancer therapies.     

Molecularly Imprinted Polyresorcinol Based Capacitive Sensor for Sulphanilamide Detection

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based capacitive sensor for antibiotic detection in drinking water and milk has been developed on a gold coated silicon electrode (Au Electrode). The electrode was fabricated by electropolymerizing monomer resorcinol (RN) on Au surface in presence of sulphanilamide (SN) as a template molecule, to get insulated RN polymer antibiotic composite. The insulation of the polymer film was improved by incubation of electrode in 1‐Dodecanethiol solution. Subsequently MIP sensor was obtained by extraction of SN in ethanol and acetic acid solution. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements were performed for characterization of the developed MIP electrode at different steps of fabrication. The surface morphology of MIP electrode was characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (EDS). Performance of MIP sensor was evaluated by measuring change in capacitance against varying concentration of SN using EIS. A linear response in the range 1 to 200 μg L^?1 SN was recorded for MIP sensor with a detection limit of 0.1 μg L^?1. The developed MIP sensor exhibited good selectivity towards SN in water and milk with recoveries in the range 92 % to 105 %. The obtained results suggest the usability of MIP based sensor for SN estimation in water and milk samples.     

Gold Nanorods with Phase‐Changing Polymer Corona for Remotely Near‐Infrared‐Triggered Drug Release

Herein, we report a new drug‐delivery system (DDS) that is comprised of a near‐infrared (NIR)‐light‐sensitive gold‐nanorod (GNR) core and a phase‐changing poly(ε‐caprolactone)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) polymer corona (GNR@PCL‐b‐PEG). The underlying mechanism of the drug‐loading and triggered‐release behaviors involves the entrapment of drug payloads among the PCL crystallites and a heat‐induced phase change, respectively. A low premature release of the pre‐loaded doxorubicin was observed in PBS buffer (pH 7.4) at 37 °C (<10 % of the entire payload after 48 h). However, release could be activated within 30 min by conventional heating at 50 °C, above the T_m of the crystalline PCL domain (43.5 °C), with about 60 % release over the subsequent 42 h at 37 °C. The NIR‐induced heating of an aqueous suspension of GNR@PCL‐b‐PEG under NIR irradiation (802 nm) was investigated in terms of the irradiation period, power, and concentration‐dependent heating behavior, as well as the NIR‐induced shape‐transformation of the GNR cores. Remotely NIR‐triggered release was also explored upon NIR irradiation for 30 min and about 70 % release was achieved in the following 42 h at 37 °C, with a mild warming (<4 °C) of the surroundings. The cytotoxicity of GNR@PCL‐b‐PEG against the mouse fibroblastic‐like L929 cell‐line was assessed by MTS assay and good compatibility was confirmed with a cell viability of over 90 % after incubation for 72 h. The cellular uptake of GNR@PCL‐b‐PEG by melanoma MEL‐5 cells was also confirmed, with an averaged uptake of 1250(±110) particles cell^?1 after incubation for 12 h (50 μg mL^?1). This GNR@PCL‐b‐PEG DDS is aimed at addressing the different requirements for therapeutic treatments and is envisaged to provide new insights into DDS targeting for remotely triggered release by NIR activation.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of propylene oxide with chlorine atoms and hydroxy radicals

The kinetics and mechanism of gas‐phase propylene oxide (PPO) reactions were studied in a 142‐L reaction chamber by long‐path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy at atmospheric pressure and 298 K. Rate coefficients for the reaction of PPO with ozone (O₃), chlorine atoms (Cl), and hydroxyl radicals (OH) were measured using the relative rate technique. Product yields of acetic acid, acetic formic anhydride, formic acid, and carbon monoxide were determined for the following reactions: PPO with Cl both in the presence and absence of NO, PPO with OH and NO, methyl acetate with Cl both in the presence and absence of NO, and ethyl formate with Cl both in the presence and absence of NO. The measured rate coefficients for PPO with O₃, Cl, and OH are <3.5 × 10^?21 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, (3.0 ± 0.7) × 10^?11 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, and (3.0 ± 1.0) × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1, respectively. The carbon balance for the products measured ranged from 10% (for OH + PPO) to 100% (for Cl + methyl acetate in the absence of NO). The mechanistic and atmospheric implications of these measurements are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 507–521, 2011     

Novel Electrochemical Microsensor for Hydrogen Peroxide based on Iron‐Ruthenium Hexacyanoferrate Modified Carbon Fiber Electrode

Novel electrochemical microsensor based on mixed iron‐ruthenium hexacyanoferrate (FeRuHCF) modified carbon fiber microelectrode (CFME) is presented for voltammetric and amperometric measurement of hydrogen peroxide at physiological pH. The FeRuHCF coating was electrochemically deposited using a one step procedure onto the substrate carbon fiber microelectrode by cycling the potential between 0.0 and +1.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in a solution containing all precursor salts. The microsensor displayed good stability in neutral and alkaline media and had a nonstop working lifetime of up to 12 hours. The amperometric response time varied from 5 to 15 s depending on the hydrogen peroxide concentration level. The newly developed electrochemical microsensor exhibited a highly linear behavior in the examined concentration range from 5 to 1000 μmol L^?1 (R²=0.999), an LoD (3σ) of 0.9 μmol L^?1, and a favorable reproducibility with a calculated RSD of 2.9% (n= 6) for 100 μmol L^?1 hydrogen peroxide, thus holding great promise for its further application in real samples and its exploitation in combination with biorecognition elements in advanced microbiosensor design.     

Preparation and characterization of imprinted microspheres for clopyralid

In this work, the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) for clopyralid (3,6-DCP) were successfully synthesized via precipitation polymerization using methacrylic acid (MAA) as functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker and a mixture of butanone (MEK) and n-heptane as porogen under the existence of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN). The morphologies, particle sizes, structures, adsorption properties and selective recognitions of polymers were investigated systematically. The average particle sizes of MIP3 and NIP3 were 2.76 μm and 2.15 μm. The apparent maximum binding amount (Q_max) of MIP3 and NIP3 were 67.50 mg·g^?1 and 65.02 mg·g^?1 in Scatchard analysis. Langmuir isotherm displayed that the Langmuir constant (K_l) of MIP3 and NIP3 were 0.015 L·mg^?1 and 0.0065 L·mg^?1, the saturation adsorption capacity (Q_max) of MIP3 and NIP3 were 63.23 mg·g^?1 and 58.17 mg·g^?1. Lagergren pseudo-second-order kinetic plot described that the adsorption process of MIP3 was visualized as chemical absorption. Selectivity analysis revealed that MIP3 possessed highly specific recognition for 3,6-DCP.     

Formation of the Distinct Redox‐Interrelated Forms of Nitric Oxide from Reaction of Dinitrosyl Iron Complexes (DNICs) and Substitution Ligands

Release of the distinct NO redox‐interrelated forms (NO⁺, ^.NO, and HNO/NO^?), derived from reaction of the dinitrosyl iron complex (DNIC) [(NO)₂Fe(C₁₂H₈N)₂]^? ( 1 ) (C₁₂H₈N=carbazolate) and the substitution ligands (S₂CNMe₂)₂, [SC₆H₄‐o‐NHC(O)(C₅H₄N)]₂ ((PyPepS)₂), and P(C₆H₃‐3‐SiMe₃‐2‐SH)₃ ([P(SH)₃]), respectively, was demonstrated. In contrast to the reaction of (PyPepS)₂ and DNIC 1 in a 1:1 stoichiometry that induces the release of an NO radical and the formation of complex [PPN][Fe(PyPepS)₂] ( 4 ), the incoming substitution ligand (S₂CNMe₂)₂ triggered the transformation of DNIC 1 into complex [(NO)Fe(S₂CNMe₂)₂] ( 2 ) along with N‐nitrosocarbazole ( 3 ). The subsequent nitrosation of N‐acetylpenicillamine (NAP) by N‐nitrosocarbazole ( 3 ) to produce S‐nitroso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) may signify the possible formation pathway of S‐nitrosothiols from DNICs by means of transnitrosation of N‐nitrosamines. Protonation of DNIC 1 by [P(SH)₃] triggers the release of HNO and the generation of complex [PPN][Fe(NO)P(C₆H₃‐3‐SiMe₃‐2‐S)₃] ( 5 ). In a similar fashion, the nucleophilic attack of the chelating ligand P(C₆H₃‐3‐SiMe₃‐2‐SNa)₃ ([P(SNa)₃]) on DNIC 1 resulted in the direct release of [NO]^? captured by [(¹⁵NO)Fe(SPh)₃]^?, thus leading to [(¹⁵NO)(¹⁴NO)Fe(SPh)₂]^?. These results illustrate one aspect of how the incoming substitution ligands ((S₂CNMe₂)₂ vs. (PyPepS)₂ vs. [P(SH)₃]/[P(SNa)₃]) in cooperation with the carbazolate‐coordinated ligands of DNIC 1 function to control the release of NO⁺, ^.NO, or [NO]^? from DNIC 1 upon reaction of complex 1 and the substitution ligands. Also, these results signify that DNICs may act as an intermediary of NO in the redox signaling processes by providing the distinct redox‐interrelated forms of NO to interact with different NO‐responsive targets in biological systems.     

Molecularly imprinted hydrogels for sustained release of sunitinib in breast cancer therapy

The present work reports on the synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based on methacrylic acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate for sunitinib delivery. Sunitinib (SUT) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used in many cancer diseases. Like the majority of the anticancer drugs, SUT suffers of a low bioavailability, and at the same time, it is characterized by a narrow therapeutic window. In order to reduce drug systemic toxicity, we synthesized a MIP‐based drug delivery system for SUT‐controlled release. MIP was obtained by bulk polymerization through the so‐called noncovalent approach. Rebinding experiments were performed to evaluate the success of the imprinting process and the ability of MIP to bind in a specific and selective fashion the template molecule. Resulting data showed that sunitinib rebinding percentage was 70%, while nonimprinted polymer (NIP) rebinding percentage was 46%. A not significant difference was observed between MIP and NIP in semaxanib binding experiments. Moreover, the drug release profiles were studied for both MIP and NIP. A sustained release was observed from sunitinib‐loaded MIP during 24 hours, reaching 58% after 6 hours and 76% at the end‐point. NIP, on the contrary, released almost 90% of the loaded drug within 6 hours. Furthermore, the drug carrier was tested in vitro against MCF‐7 cells, in which the cytotoxic effect of sunitinib released from MIP reached the maximum after 72 hours, while NIP completed its effect within 48 hours. These results demonstrated that molecularly imprinted polymers are suitable systems for SUT release.