Unexpected Factors Affecting the Kinetics of Guest Molecule Release from Investigation of Binary Chemical Systems Trapped in a Single Void of Mesoporous Silica Particles

In this work, we present results for loading of well-defined binary systems (cocrystal, solid solution) and untreated materials (physical mixtures) into the voids of MCM-41 mesoporous silica particles employing three different filling methods. The applied techniques belong to the group of “wet methods” (diffusion supported loading – DiSupLo ) and “solvent-free methods” (mechanical ball-mill loading – MeLo , thermal solvent free – TSF ). As probes for testing the guest1-guest2 interactions inside the MCM-41 pores we employed the benzoic acid ( BA ), perfluorobenzoic acid ( PFBA ), and 4-fluorobenzoic acid ( 4-FBA ). The guests intermolecular contacts and phase changes were monitored employing magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR Spectroscopy techniques and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD). Since mesoporous silica materials are commonly used in drug delivery system research, special attention has been paid to factors affecting guest release kinetics. It has been proven that not only the content and composition of binary systems, but also the loading technique have a strong impact on the rate of guests release. Innovative methods of visualizing differences in release kinetics are presented.     

Synthesis,Subcellular Localization and Anticancer Mechanism Studies of Unsymmetrical Iridium(III) Complexes

Two novel unsymmetrical Ir(III) complexes [Ir(ppy)₂(N N)Cl₂] (N N=2-(pyrazin-2-yl)naphtha[1,2-e][1,2,4]triazine, Ir1 ; 2-(pyrazin-2-yl)-4b,4b’-dihydroaceanthryleno[1,2-e][1,2,4]triazine, Ir2 ) were developed as chemotherapy agents. Ir1 was mainly located in mitochondria. In contrast, Ir2 accumulated in mitochondria but subsequently migrated to the nucleus. Ir1 and Ir2 showed cytotoxicity toward cancerous cells, especially the cisplatin-resistant ones, indicating their ability to overcome cisplatin resistance. Although both Ir1 and Ir2 disrupted mitochondrial metabolism, they showed different cell death mechanisms. Ir1 induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant A549R cells. Ir2 was demonstrated to cause PARP-1 activated necroptosis in A549R cells. This study provides an experimental basis for the rational design of metal-based chemotherapeutic drugs.     

Application of a Cholesterol-Based Stationary Phase for the Analysis of Brevetoxins

A high-performance liquid chromatography protocol for the analysis of brevetoxins has been developed using a silica hydride-based cholesterol column. Brevetoxins are neurotoxins produced by harmful algae that have additional potential as drugs for a number of illnesses/diseases. To develop the optimum conditions, a number of different experimental approaches were tested. These include isocratic and gradient elution, different organic mobile phase components, and temperature variations. A separate protocol was developed for the compounds brevenal and brevenol, also produced by the same algae that make brevetoxins. Brevenal is a natural product under investigation as a therapy for chronic respiratory diseases, such as cystic fibrosis or asthma. The goal of this study was to provide a protocol for the analysis of these compounds that could be further developed into a validated method depending on a particular laboratory's capabilities and to highlight some of the unique features of the cholesterol stationary phase.     

Human Albumin-Based Hydrogels for Their Potential Xeno-Free Microneedle Applications

Nowadays, hydrogels-based microneedles (MNs) have attracted a great interest owing to their outstanding qualities for biomedical applications. For the fabrication of hydrogels-based microneedles as tissue engineering scaffolds and drug delivery carriers, various biomaterials have been tested. They are required to feature tunable physiochemical properties, biodegradability, biocompatibility, nonimmunogenicity, high drug loading capacity, and sustained drug release. Among biomaterials, human proteins are the most ideal biomaterials for fabrication of hydrogels-based MNs; however, they are mechanically weak and poorly processible. To the best of the knowledge, there are no reports of xeno-free human protein-based MNs so far. Here, human albumin-based hydrogels and microneedles for tissue engineering and drug delivery by using relatively new processible human serum albumin methacryloyl (HSAMA) are engineered. The resultant HSAMA hydrogels display tunable mechanical properties, biodegradability, and good biocompatibility. Moreover, the xeno-free HSAMA microneedles display a sustained drug release profile and significant mechanical strength to penetrate the model skin. In vitro, they also show good biocompatibility and anticancer efficacy. Sustainable processible human albumin-based biomaterials may be employed as a xeno-free platform in vivo for tissue engineering and drug delivery in clinical trials in the future.     

Oxymatrine Loaded Cross-Linked PVA Nanofibrous Scaffold: Design and Characterization and Anticancer Properties

This study focuses on the fabrication, characterization and anticancer properties of biocompatible and biodegradable composite nanofibers consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), oxymatrine (OM), and citric acid (CA) using a facile and high-yield centrifugal spinning process known as Forcespinning. The effects of varying concentrations of OM and CA on fiber diameter and molecular cross-linking are investigated. The morphological and thermo-physical properties, as well as water absorption of the developed nanofiber-based mats are characterized using microscopical analysis, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis. In vitro anticancer studies are conducted with HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. Results show a high yield of long fibers embedded with beads. Fiber average diameters range between 462 and 528 nm depending on OM concentration. The thermal analysis results show that the fibers are stable at room temperature. The anticancer study reveals that PVA nanofiber membrane with high concentrations of OM can suppress the proliferation of HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. The study provides a comprehensive investigation of OM embedded into nanosized PVA fibers and the prospective application of these membranes as a drug delivery system.     

Tuning Human Serum Albumin (HSA) Hydrogels through Albumin Glycation

The changes of technological properties of albumin-based hydrogels induced by increasing degrees of post-translational modification of the protein are reported. Maillard-type modification of amino acids arginine and lysine of albumin is achieved through glyoxal as an α-dicarbonyl compound. The degrees of modification are fine-tuned using different molar ratios of glyoxal. Hydrogels are thermally induced by heating highly concentrated precursor solutions above the protein's denaturation temperature. While the post-translational modifications are determined and quantified with mass spectrometry, continuous-wave (CW) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy shed light on the protein fatty acid binding capacity and changes thereof in solution and in the gel state. The viscoelastic behavior is characterized as a measure of the physical strength of the hydrogels. On the nanoscopic level, the modified albumins in low concentration solution reveal lower binding capacities with increasing degrees of modification. On the contrary, in the gel state, the binding capacity remains constant at all degrees of modifications. This indicates that the loss of fatty acid binding capacity for individual albumin molecules is partially compensated by new binding sites in the gel state, potentially formed by modified amino acids. Such, albumin glycation offers a fine-tuning method of technological and nanoscopic properties of these gels.     

Polyphenol-Based Nanosystems for Next-Generation Cancer Therapy: Multifunctionality,Design, and Challenges

With the continuous updating of cancer treatment methods and the rapid development of precision medicine in recent years, there are higher demands for advanced and versatile drug delivery systems. Scientists are committed to create greener and more effective nanomedicines where the carrier is no longer limited to a single function of drug delivery. Polyphenols, which can act as both active ingredients and fundamental building blocks, are being explored as potential multifunctional carriers that are efficient and safe for design purposes. Due to their intrinsic anticancer activity, phenolic compounds have shown surprising expressiveness in ablation of tumor cells, overcoming cancer multidrug resistance (MDR), and enhancing immunotherapeutic efficacy. This review provides an overview of recent advances in the design, synthesis, and application of versatile polyphenol-based nanosystems for cancer therapy in various modes. Moreover, the merits of polyphenols and the challenges for their clinical translation are also discussed, and it is pointed out that the novel polyphenol delivery system requires further optimization and validation.     

Targeted Delivery of Anticancer Drug Loaded Charged PLGA Polymeric Nanoparticles Using Electrostatic Field

Pure positive electrostatic charges (PPECs) show suppressive effect on the proliferation and metabolism of invasive cancer cells without affecting normal tissues. PPECs are used for the delivery of drug-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (DLNs) capped with negatively charged poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and Poly(vinyl-alcohol) PVA into the tumor site of mouse models. The charged patch is installed on top of the skin in the mouse models' tumor region, and the controlled selective release of the drug is assayed by biochemical, radiological, and histological experiments on both tumorized models and normal rats' livers. It is found that DLNs synthesized by PLGA show great attraction to PPECs due to their stable negative charges, which would not degrade immediately in blood. The burst and drug release after less than 48h of this synthesized DLNs are 10% and 50%, respectively. These compounds can deliver the loaded-drug into the tumor site with the assistance of PPECs, and the targeted-retarded release will take place. Hence, local therapy can be achieved with much lower drug concentration (conventional chemotherapy [2 mg kg⁻¹] versus DLNs-based chemotherapy [0.75 mg kg⁻¹]) with negligible side effects in non-targeted organs. PPECs have many potential clinical applications for advanced-targeted chemotherapy with the lowest discernible side effects.     

Synthesis of aryl-functionalized, 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles and derivatives by arylation of zwitterionic ruthenium triazolato complexes

The synthesis of a series of ruthenium 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazolato complexes, 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles, and a triazolium salt is reported. Treatment of the ruthenium azido complex [Ru]-N₃ ( 1 , [Ru] = (η⁵-C₅H₅)(dppe)Ru, dppe = Ph₂PCH₂CH₂PPh₂) with an excess of ethyl propiolate results in the formation of a mixture of the Z- and E-forms of zwitterionic N(1)-bound N(3)-ethyl acryl-4-carboxylate triazolato complexes [Ru]N₃(CH=CHCO₂Et)C₂H(CO₂) ( Z - 2 ) and ( E - 2 ). The arylation of 2 with aromatic bromides gives a series of cationic N(1)-bound N(3)-ethyl acryl-4-alkoxycarbonyl triazolato complexes {[Ru]N₃(CH=CHCO₂Et)C₂H(CO₂CH₂R)}[Br] ( 3a , R = Ph ; 3b , R = C₆F₅; 3c , R = 4-C₆H₄CN, 3d , R = 2,6-C₆H₃F₂) and the subsequent cleavage of the Ru-N bond of 3a–d gives 1,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles N₃(CH=CHCO₂Et)C₂H(CO₂CH₂R) ( 4a , R = Ph; 4b , R = C₆F₅; 4c , R = 4-C₆H₄CN; 4d , R = 2,6-C₆H₃F₂) and [Ru]-Br. A 1,2,3-triazolium salt [N₃(CH=CHCO₂Et)(CH₂C₆F₅)C₂H₂][Br] ( 5 ) was formed by transformation of 4b in BrCH₂C₆F₅/chloroform mixture. The structures of Z-3a and Z-5 were confirmed by single-crystal x-ray diffraction analysis and both complexes participate in non-covalent aromatic interactions in the solid-state structures which can be favorable in the binding of DNA/biomolecular targets and have shown great potential in the application of biologically active anticancer drugs.     

Metal–organic frameworks in diagnostics,therapeutics, and other biomedical applications

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging porous coordination polymers constructed by metal ions and organic linkers that have attracted numerous interests in recent years. The large surface area, high porosity, tunable size, and versatile functionality make them promising materials for cargo delivery (i.e., drugs, mRNA, dyes) and sensing (i.e., nucleic acids, small molecules, ions). In addition, the metal ions released from MOFs offer antibacterial and antifungal utility. This review presents a snapshot of current MOF-related research, highlighting the synthesis approaches, and the various bioapplications of MOFs in terms of biosensing platforms, drug delivery, and antimicrobial agents, exposing potential for future research in the MOF field.