紫杉醇水凝胶成胶因子延缓微管蛋白聚集

Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most efficient anticancer drugs for the treatment of cancers through β-tubulin-binding. Our previous work indicated that a PTX-derivative hydroge-lator Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Lys(paclitaxel)-Tyr(H₂PO₃)-OH (1)could promote neuron branching but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Using tubulin assembly-disassembly assay, in this work, we found that compound 1 obviously delayed more microtubule aggregation than PTX did. Under the catalysis of alkaline phosphatase, Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Lys(paclitaxel)-Tyr(H₂PO₃)-OH could self-assemble into nanofiber Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Lys(paclitaxel)-Tyr-OH with width comparable to the size of αβ-tubulin dimer. Therefore, we proposed in this work that nanofiber Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Lys(paclitaxel)-Tyr-OH not only inhibits the αβ-tubulin dimer binding to each other but also interferes with the plus end aggregation of microtubule. This work provides a new mechanism of the inhibition of microtubule formation by a PTX-derivative hydrogelator.     

超分子均苯四甲酸/对羟基吡啶水凝胶中纤维状聚集体结构与性能的关系

采用1H-NMR和FT-IR表征了在摩尔比1∶4条件下,由均苯四甲酸和对羟基吡啶合成的一种凝胶因子(G2).通过在室温下冷却G2的水溶液,形成了超分子水凝胶.采用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、示差扫描量热仪(DSC)和流变仪等多种技术研究了冷却速率对凝胶的组装纤维结构及宏观性能的影响.随着冷却速度的降低,纤维尺寸变大而凝胶的稳定性降低.因此,可以通过环境因素来控制凝胶的性能.采用流变仪分析表明凝胶具有高的机械强度.DSC分析结果表明随着凝胶因子浓度的增加,凝胶中可冻结水的含量降低.相对于在摩尔比1∶2条件下,由均苯四甲酸和对羟基吡啶合成的凝胶因子G1,在相同浓度下,G2在更高的最低凝胶因子浓度(MGC)使水凝胶,并且得到的凝胶具有更低的凝胶-溶胶破坏温度(Tgel).利用环境扫描电镜(ESEM)直接观测了实际含水状态下凝胶的形貌,结果表明采用常规SEM观测到的纤维状网络与ESEM的结果一致,这说明在干燥过程中形貌并未发生太大变化.组装体结构和性能关系有助于认识凝胶形成机理并使凝胶满足不同的应用.     

Supramolecular Self-organization of Potential Hydrogelators on Attracting Surfaces

This article highlights the aggregation behaviour of potential low molecular weight hydrogelators on attracting surfaces. Our goal was the development of a method, which enables the finding of new hydrogelators that are not easily recognizable as such because they only form instable or no hydrogels in aqueous solution. To this end, a series of negatively charges azo-dyes was synthesized and positive charged glass slides were immersed into their aqueous solutions. All dyes showed supramolecular organization and significant concentration on the attracting glass surface. Microscopic investigations mostly revealed the formation of crystals. However, one compound, (1-(2-n-octylphenylazo)-2-hydroxy-6-naphthalenesulphonate, selectively formed a hydrogel on the surface whereas it does not gel in aqueous solution. This reveals the hydrogel as the stable form of this compound under equilibrium conditions. This method of surface-induced hydrogelation might facilitate the identification of new hydrogelators. Further more, it might also allow the mimicking of surface gelation as a process of biological relevance.     

Synthesis and characterization of d-glucosamine-derived low molecular weight gelators

Carbohydrate-based low molecular weight gelators are an interesting class of molecules with many potential applications. Previously, we have found that certain esters and carbamates of 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-methyl-glucopyranoside are low molecular weight gelators for a variety of solvents, including water. In order to obtain effective and robust sugar-based organogelators and understand the structure and gelation relationship, we extended our studies using 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-methyl-2-deoxy-2-amino-glucopyranoside as the headgroup. A series of amides and ureas were prepared from the protected d-glucosamine and the corresponding isocyanates or acid chlorides, in good yields. The self-assembling properties of these compounds were studied in several solvents, including water and aqueous solutions. Comparing to the ester and carbamate derivatives previously prepared from d-glucose, the amides and urea derivatives afforded more robust gels at lower concentrations typically. Most of these compounds were found to be efficient low molecular weight hydrogelators (LMHGs) for aqueous solutions at concentrations lower than 0.5 wt %. The preparation and characterization of these compounds are reported here.     

Assembling and releasing performance of supramolecular hydrogels formed from simple drug molecule as the hydrogelator

A simple drug compound, 4-oxo-4-（2-pyridinylamino） butanoic acid （defined as AP）, was able to gel water at 4 wt% concentration under various conditions. In the superstructure, AP molecules assembled into fibrous aggregates driving by hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interaction. The gels with different backbone structures released drug molecules in different speeds.     

Effect of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction on the formation of supramolecular hydrogels formed by L-phenylalanine derivative hydrogelator

A new hydrogelator,pyridinium bromide salt of N-6-bromohexanoyl-L-phenylamino octadecane,was synthesized.Supramo- lecular hydrogels can be formed through the self-assembly of this hydrogelator in water.In this work,D_2O was used instead of H_2O as solvent for FT-IR measurement due to the fact that it is impossible to obtain useful FT-IR information on the hydrogen bonding in water.The investigation of FT-IR and steady-state fluorescence indicated that the driving forces for the self-assembly were mainly hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction.Based on the data of XRD and molecular modeling,the possible mechanism of the formation of hydrogelator aggregates was proposed.     

Paclitaxel Hydrogelator Delays Microtubule Aggregation

Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most efficient anticancer drugs for the treatment of cancers through β-tubulin-binding. Our previous work indicated that a PTX-derivative hydroge-lator Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Lys(paclitaxel)-Tyr(H₂PO₃)-OH (1)could promote neuron branching but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Using tubulin assembly-disassembly assay, in this work, we found that compound 1 obviously delayed more microtubule aggregation than PTX did. Under the catalysis of alkaline phosphatase, Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Lys(paclitaxel)-Tyr(H₂PO₃)-OH could self-assemble into nanofiber Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Lys(paclitaxel)-Tyr-OH with width comparable to the size of αβ-tubulin dimer. Therefore, we proposed in this work that nanofiber Fmoc-Phe-Phe-Lys(paclitaxel)-Tyr-OH not only inhibits the αβ-tubulin dimer binding to each other but also interferes with the plus end aggregation of microtubule. This work provides a new mechanism of the inhibition of microtubule formation by a PTX-derivative hydrogelator.     

(S)-(+)-Ibuprofen-based hydrogelators: an approach toward anti-inflammatory drug delivery

We have synthesized (S)-(+)-ibuprofen-based hydrogelators that feature dipeptide linkages. In aqueous media, one of these hydrogelators formed robust gels that were stable for several months. Enzyme-mediated hydrolysis offers a route toward the sustained release of this anti-inflammatory agent.     

New l-valine-based hydrogelators: formation of supramolecular hydrogels

New l-valine derivatives, which have a positively charged group, function as excellent hydrogelators that can gel pure water, saline, and aqueous solutions containing inorganic acids and salts at 0.2 wt %.     

Bis amide-aromatic-ureas—highly effective hydro- and organogelator systems

A series of hydro- and organo-supergelators have been synthesised via coupling of simple bis aromatic-ureas via alkyl amide linkages. These bis amide-aromatic-ureas exhibited reduced critical gelator concentrations, improved gelator stability, mechanical and dye removal properties for potential use in water purification, in comparison to related bis aromatic-ureas. Systematic structure studies via variation of the bis amide-aromatic-urea linker length as well as functionalization of the terminal aromatic moieties have enabled control over the gel properties.