Preparation of [Arg-Gly-Asp]-[amino-poly(ethylene glycol)] hybrids and their inhibitory effect on experimental metastasis.

Hybrids of a fibronectin-related tripeptide (Arg-Gly-Asp) and amino-poly(ethylene glycol) were prepared and their inhibitory effect on experimental metastasis in mice was examined. The hybrids exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on the metastasis of B16 melanoma BL6.     

Trifunctional 99mTc based radiopharmaceuticals: metal-mediated conjugation of a peptide with a nucleus targeting intercalator

The development of molecular imaging agents with multiple functions has become a major trend in radiopharmaceutical chemistry. We present herein the syntheses of trifunctional compounds, combining an acridine orange (AO) based intercalator with a GRP receptor specific bombesin like peptide (BBN). Metal-mediated conjugation of these two functions via the [2 + 1] approach to the third function, the [M(CO)(3)](+) (M = (99m)Tc, Re) moiety, yielded the final trifunctional molecules. The strongly fluorescent acridine orange, a nuclear targeting agent, has been derivatised with 4-imidazolecarboxylate as a bidentate ligand and bombesin with an isonitrile group as a monodentate ligand. For cell and nuclear uptake studies, [Re(L(1)-BBN)(L(2)-Ical)(CO)(3)] type complexes were synthesized and characterized. For radiopharmaceutical purposes, the (99m)Tc analogues have been prepared in a stepwise synthesis. Fluorescence microscopy studies on PC-3 cells, bearing the BBN receptor, showed high and rapid uptake into the cytoplasm. For the bifunctional molecule, lacking the BBN peptide, no internalization was observed.     

Fabrication of a chitin/chitosan hydrocolloid wound dressing and evaluation of its bioactive properties

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The aim of this study was to develop a chitin/chitosan hydrocolloid (CCH) wound dressing. Chitosan was cross-linked with tripolyphosphate to prepare chitosan...     

Water-soluble modified chitosan and its interaction with a polystyrenesulfonate anion

The selective alkylation of primary amino groups of polysaccharide is conducted through the interaction of chitosan with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride with introduction of the quaternized amino group into every alkylated unit, thereby ensuring a positive charge and solubility of the polymer over the entire pH range. The structure of the modified chitosan is studied via FTIR spectroscopy and ¹³C and ¹H NMR measurements. On the basis of the potentiometric titration of solutions of the parent polysaccharide, its modified derivative, and their mixtures with the polystyrenesulfonate anion, as well as ζ-potential measurements and turbidimetric titration of polymer mixtures, it is demonstrated that the secondary amino group of the complexed modified chitosan can be protonated in weakly acidic solutions. This behavior is of particular importance for the design of biocompatible and biodegradable vehicles suitable for the delivery of genetic material and drugs to cells.     

Capillary electrophoresis separation of a mixture of chitin and chitosan oligosaccharides derivatized using a modified fluorophore conjugation procedure

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was developed for the simultaneous analysis of small chitin and chitosan oligosaccharides. For detection purposes, the oligomers were derivatized with 8-aminopyrene-1,3,6-trisulfonic acid (APTS), a well known fluorophore for oligosaccharides analysis. The detection was performed by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) with an argon ion laser having an excitation wavelength of 488 nm and with emission monitored at 520 nm. Derivatization parameters such as reaction time and conditions were examined. Separation conditions were also varied by testing a range of buffer pHs and concentrations. The best conditions were found using an 80 mM borate buffer at pH 8.4. This CE-LIF optimized method was used for the analysis of an enzymatically produced oligo-chitosan sample composed of a complex mixture and having an average degree of polymerization of 3.7 monomer units and 80% deacetylation. The oligo-chitosan sample was treated with a chitin deacetylase-like enzyme, the products were derivatized with APTS, and then analyzed without purification. The goal was to determine whether the deacetylase-like enzyme could increase the extent of deacetylation of the oligo-chitosan sample.     

Kinetic determination of Hg(II) in different materials, based on its inhibitory effect on a catalysed process

A new kinetic method for the determination of Hg(II) based on its inhibitory effect on the Pd(II)-catalysed reaction between Co(III)-EDTA and hypophosphite is proposed. The reaction is followed spectrophotometrically at 540 nm by measuring the induction period. Both the influence of the reaction variables and the interference of many ions have been studied. A mechanism for the inhibition process is also proposed. Under the selected experimental conditions of 2.7 x 10(-1)M Co(III)-EDTA, pH-3.2 Britton-Robinson buffer, 0.3M H(2)PO(-)(2), 0.35 mug/ml Pd(II), and temperature 18 +/- 0.2 degrees , Hg(II) was determined in the range 13-120 ng/ml. The method was applied to the determination of Hg(II) in sphalerites and pharmaceuticals.     

Regioselective synthesis and initial evaluation of a folate receptor targeted rhaponticin prodrug

To improve the therapeutic effect of rhaponticin(RHA),a folate receptor(FR) targeted RHA prodrug was designed and regioselectively synthesized by utilizing a hydrophilic peptide spacer linked to folic acid(FA) via a releasable disulfide linker.A series of biological evaluation was investigated in vitro and in vivo.The positive results of biological investigations warrant further preclinical study before this novel targeted chemotherapeutic is considered for clinical investigation.     

Cymantrene conjugation modulates the intracellular distribution and induces high cytotoxicity of a cell-penetrating peptide

The conjugation of cymantrene CpMn(CO)(3) to cell-penetrating peptide hCT(18-32)-k7 alters the intracellular distribution in MCF-7 cells compared to the unmodified peptide, as visualized by fluorescence microscopy, and leads to an increased nuclear accumulation; the peptide and cymantrene compound themselves are not toxic, but the bioconjugate shows a significant cytotoxicity with an IC(50) value of 36 micromol l(-1).     

Chemical conjugation of an mRNA cap analogue with a cell-penetrating peptide as a potential membrane permeable translation inhibitor

We present a versatile method for chemical conjugation of a dinucleotide cap analogue with a cell-penetrating peptide. The final coupling reaction is between an azide-modified peptide (MPS-N₃)—a fragment that is responsible for transport of the conjugate through the cell membrane, with a biologically active compound—and an alkynylated cap structure, using the Cu(I)-catalyzed click reaction.     

Tetrathiophenes with thiophene side chains: effect of substitution on packing and conjugation

The effect of substitution pattern on conjugation and packing has been investigated by synthesizing a series of tetrathiophenes with systematically varied alkyl thiophene substituents.     

Kinetic determination of trace amounts of thiosulfate based on its inhibitory effect

The sulfur containing ligand viz., thiosulfate is found to inhibit the Ag(I) catalyzed substitution of cyanide in hexacyanoferrate(II) by phenylhydrazine. The inhibitory effect of thiosulfate is attributed due to its tendency to form complexes with Ag(I), leading to the production of inhibitor-catalyst complexes. The reactions, followed spectrophotometrically in aqueous medium at 488 nm, was possible by the increase in absorbance of the cherry-red product, [Fe(CN)₅PhNHNH₂]^3- at pH 2.8 (±0.02), at 30 (±0.1) °C, and an ionic strength (μ) of 0.02 M (KNO₃). The linear calibration curves were obtained using the absorbance measured at different times (A_t) and thiosulfate concentrations under specified conditions. The calculated detection limit was 4.9 × 10^-7 M. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m) and equilibrium constants for the formation of complexes between catalyst and inhibitor (K_CI), and the catalyst and substrate (K_S) were computed from the kinetic data. A general mechanistic scheme is proposed for this reaction.     

Use of intein-directed peptide biosynthesis to improve serum stability and bioactivity of a gelatinase inhibitory peptide

Screening of phage display libraries allows rapid identification of peptides binding to a target. However, functional analysis of the phage sequences and their reproduction as soluble and stable peptides are often the most time-consuming part in the screening. We have used here intein-based peptide biosynthesis to produce a phage-display derived gelatinase inhibitory peptide CTTHWGFTLC and to identify the critical residues for gelatinase inhibitory activity by performing alanine-scanning mutagenesis. By biosynthetic incorporation of 5-fluorotryptophan, we obtained an inhibitor of MMP-2 and MMP-9 gelatinases that showed a 6-fold enhancement in serum stability in comparison to the wild-type peptide. The new peptide also had an improved ability to inhibit tumor cell migration. These studies indicate the utility of intein methodology for synthesis and design of peptides obtained by phage display.     

The effect of the molecular weight of chitosan nanoparticles and its application on drug delivery

Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems offer several advantages over conventional forms of dosing, with polymer nanoparticles prepared from biomaterials being good candidates for use in drug delivery. We selected fluorouracil (5FU) as a model drug because it has been suggested that chitosan might prevent the side effects induced by 5FU. We have exploited the complexation between oppositely charged macromolecules to develop a safe and efficient method of preparation of chitosan bead formulations for use as drug delivery systems. In this study, we examined the effect that the molecular weight of chitosan had on the resulting nanoparticles' properties; the initial concentration of chitosan was held constant, but its molecular weight was decreased through the action of NaNO₂. FTIR spectroscopy suggested that no structural change occurred during the depolymerization process. The diameters of the nanoparticles—determined using dynamic light scattering and TEM techniques—decreased as the value of the viscosity of molecular weight (Mv) of chitosan decreased. In addition, we prepared fluorouracil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles and characterized them using NMR spectroscopy. The encapsulation efficiency increased as the value of Mv of chitosan decreased. The particles produced using 55-kDa chitosan had a mean diameter of 70.6 nm and a 66% drug loading.     

In-vitro hemocompatibility evaluation of a thermoplastic polyurethane membrane with surface-immobilized water-soluble chitosan and heparin

The surface of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) membrane was treated with low temperature plasma (LTP) and was then grafted with poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), followed by the grafting of water-soluble chitosan (WSC) and heparin (HEP). The surface was characterized with static contact-angle and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the surface densities of peroxides and PAA reached a maximum when treated with LTP for 90 s. A higher pH of the reacting solution led to higher graft densities of WSC and HEP. After WSC and HEP grafting, the hydrophilicity of the TPU membrane was increased. The adsorption of proteins on HEP-grafted TPU membranes was effectively curtailed. In addition, HEP grafting also reduced platelet adhesion, elevated thrombin inactivation, and prolonged the blood coagulation time. According to the L929 fibroblast cell growth inhibition index, the HEP-grafted TPU membranes exhibited non-cytotoxicity. Overall results demonstrated that the HEP immobilization could not only improve the hydrophilicity but also the hemocompatibility of the TPU membrane, while maintaining the ascendant biocompatibility.     

Regioselective addtion of 5-amino-3-benzylthio-l,2,4-triazole and its analogues with aryl isocyanates

The orientation of the addition of 5-amino-3-benzylthio-1,2,4-triazole and its analogues (pyrazole) (1) with the aryl isocyanate can be directed by controlling the reaction temperature and one of the product, 5-amino-1-arylaminocarbonyl-3-benzylthio-1,2,4-triazole (pyrazole) (2), can rearrange at 170C to another product, 5-arylureylene-3-benzylthio-1,2,4-triazole (pyrazole) (3). A plausible mechanism explanation for this rearrangement reaction was presented. It was suggested that the rearrangement reaction could be referred to the thermodynamics transposition leading to the predominant 5-arylureylene-3-benzylthio-1,2,4-triazole energy preferentially.     

Isolation and synthesis of a new aromatic compound, brefelamide, from dictyostelium cellular slime molds and its inhibitory effect on the proliferation of astrocytoma cells

[structure: see text] We have explored the diversity of secondary metabolites produced by cellular slime molds to examine the possible use of such cellular slime molds as a resource for novel drug development. A new aromatic amide, brefelamide (1), was isolated from methanol extracts of the fruiting bodies of Dictyostelium brefeldianum and D. giganteum. The structure of 1 was determined by spectral means including EIMS and (1)H and (13)C NMR. The total synthesis of 1 was carried out to confirm the structure and obtain sufficient samples for performing biological evaluation. Interestingly, compound 1 inhibited the cellular proliferation of 1321N1 human astrocytoma cells.     

A reaction-rate method for the determination of thiocyanate,based on its inhibitory effect on the iodate-hypophosphite reaction

An automatic spectrophotometric reaction-rate method is described for the determination of thiocyanate in aqueous solutions, based on its inhibitory effect on the iodate-hypophosphite reaction. The time required for the reaction to proceed between two pre-determined levels is measured automatically and related directly to the thiocyanate concentration. The recommended reaction-rate method is fast, simple, sensitive, accurate (to 2%) and precise (1.7%, relative standard deviation). The useful analytical range of concentrations of thiocyanate is 4 × 10^?5 to 5 × 10^?4M. Maximum tolerable amounts of interfering ions are also presented.     

Wireless sensing determination of uranium(IV) based on its inhibitory effect on a catalytic precipitation reaction

The adsorption of Eu(III) on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a function of pH, ionic strength and solid contents are studied by batch technique. The results indicate that the adsorption of Eu(III) on MWCNTs is strongly dependent on pH values, dependent on ionic strength at low pH values and independent of ionic strength at high pH values. Strong surface complexation and ion exchange contribute to the adsorption of Eu(III) on MWCNTs at low pH values, whereas surface complexation and surface precipitation are the main adsorption mechanism of Eu(III) on MWCNTs. The desorption of adsorbed Eu(III) from MWCNTs by adding HCl is also studied and the recycling use of MWCNTs in the removal of Eu(III) is investigated after the desorption of Eu(III) at low pH values. The results indicate that adsorbed Eu(III) can be easily desorbed from MWCNTs at low pH values, and MWCNTs can be repeatedly used to remove Eu(III) from aqueous solutions. MWCNTs are suitable material in the preconcentration and solidification of radionuclides from large volumes of aqueous solutions in nuclear waste management.