Prostatic Zn determination for prostate cancer diagnosis

We present our studies of prostatic Zn concentration measurements, carried out in the light of a novel prostate cancer (CAP) diagnosis method proposed by us. The method is based on in vivo prostatic Zn mapping by XRF trans-rectal probe.

We report on the extensive clinical studies, intended to assess the validity of the novel proposed diagnostic method. Zn content was measured in vitro in needle-biopsy samples from several hundreds of patients, and was correlated with histological findings and other patient parameters. For this purpose, a technique of absolute Zn content determination in 1 mm³ fresh tissue samples by XRF was developed. The experimental details and the main clinical-evaluation results are presented.

We further outline the suggested design of the XRF trans-rectal probe for an efficient in vivo detection and mapping of the Zn fluorescence radiation from the prostate through the rectal wall. Laboratory phantom studies, a preliminary design concept and its expected performance are also reported.     

Bacteriochlorophyll-a as photosensitizer for photodynamic treatment of transplantable murine tumors.

Bacteriochlorophyll-a (bChla), which absorbs light of 780 nm wavelength, was tested for in vivo photodynamic activity in the SMT-F and RIF transplantable mouse tumor systems. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of tissue extracts showed that bChla was rapidly degraded in vivo to bacteriopheophytin-a (bPheoa) and other breakdown products. These were also photodynamically active, and tumor response could be achieved over a wavelength range of 660 to 780 nm, while tumor cure was restricted to wavelengths of 755 (bPheoa) to 780 nm. A photosensitizing product absorbing at 660 nm was also present in isolated tumor cells. Photodynamic cell kill of tumor cells isolated from tumors after bChla accumulation in vivo, using 755 or 780 nm light _vitro, was exponential up to 20–40 J cm⁻². Above this light dose little or no further damage could be achieved, which is an indication of the rapid photobleaching of these sensitizers. In vivo, vascular occlusion occurred readily if light treatment was delivered shortly after sensitizer administration, but was delayed if light treatment was carried out 24 h after injection. Although up to 70% of tumor cells were lethally damaged after completion of in vivo light treatment, concurrent severe vascular destruction seemed necessary for tumor cure. Normal tissue photosensitivity totally subsided within 5 days after sensitizer administration.     

Polymeric micelle systems of hydroxycamptothecin based on amphiphilic N-alkyl-N-trimethyl chitosan derivatives

This research investigated the possible utilization of amphiphilic N-octyl-N-trimethyl chitosan (OTMCS) derivatives in solublization and controlled release of 10-hydroxycamptothecin (10-HCPT), a hydrophobic anticancer drug. The release behavior of the 10-HCPT-OTMCS micelles was measured and compared to that of a commercial 10-HCPT lyophilized powder in vitro and in vivo. This research also examined the effects of chemical structure of the chitosan derivatives and the micellar preparation conditions on the encapsulation efficiency, drug loading content, and particle size of the polymeric micelles. The results showed that these chitosan derivatives were able to self-assemble and form spherical shape polymeric micelles with an average particle size range of 24–280 nm and a drug loading content of 4.1–32.5%, depending on the modified structures and loading procedures. The solubility of 10-HCPT in aqueous fluid was increased about 80,000-fold from 2 ng/ml in water to 1.9 mg/ml in OTMCS micellar (degree of octyl and trimethyl substitution is 8% and 54%, respectively) solution. In addition, OTMCS was able to modulate the in vitro release of 10-HCPT and improve its pharmacokinetic properties and lactone ring stability in vivo. These data suggested the possible utilization of the amphiphilic micellar chitosan derivatives as carriers for hydrophobic drugs for improving their delivery and release properties.     

Synthesis and thermodynamic properties of a metal-organic framework: [LaCu6(μ-OH)3(Gly)6im6](ClO4)6

A metal-organic complex, which has the potential property of absorbing gases, [LaCu₆(μ-OH)₃(Gly)₆im₆](ClO₄)₆ was synthesized through the self-assembly of La³⁺, Cu²⁺, glycine (Gly) and imidazole (Im) in aqueous solution and characterized by IR, element analysis and powder XRD. The molar heat capacity, C_p,m, was measured from T = 80 to 390 K with an automated adiabatic calorimeter. The thermodynamic functions [H_T − H_298.15] and [S_T − S_298.15] were derived from the heat capacity data with temperature interval of 5 K. The thermal stability of the complex was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).     

胺解改性聚L-谷氨酸苄酯引导骨再生膜的制备

以聚L-谷氨酸苄酯(PBLG)为原料, 通过溶剂浇铸与粒子沥滤法分别构建PBLG单层致密和PBLG单层多孔膜, 利用乙醇胺对薄膜表面改性, 构筑双层引导骨再生膜. 研究了不同胺解改性时间对PBLG-s-PHEG双层膜亲水性和力学性能的影响, 结果表明, 随着PBLG分子量的增大, 薄膜的力学性能增强而降解速率减缓. 延长胺解改性时间可提高薄膜亲水性和体内外降解速率. 细胞实验结果表明, 双层薄膜的致密结构能够有效阻隔成纤维细胞的侵入, 多孔结构能够支持细胞贴壁黏附和铺展. 体外生物活性评价结果表明, 表面改性的PBLG基材料可用于体内骨缺损修复. 本文所构建的双层引导骨再生膜在体外具有良好的力学性能和降解性能, 与组织具有一定的贴合性, 同时可有效阻碍成纤维细胞侵入, 具有潜在应用价值.     

含喹喔啉杨梅素衍生物的合成及生物活性

利用活性拼接原理, 将喹喔啉引入到杨梅素结构中, 合成了一系列含喹喔啉基团的杨梅素新型衍生物. 采用浊度法测试了目标化合物的体外抑菌活性, 结果表明, 目标化合物对柑橘溃疡病菌(X. Citri)和水稻白叶枯病菌(X. Oryzae)均表现出较好的抑制活性. 目标化合物对柑橘溃疡病菌的抑制活性(EC₅₀)均优于对照药叶枯唑和噻菌铜(EC₅₀分别为54.85和61.13 μg/mL), 其中化合物4o抑制活性(EC₅₀=11.17 μg/mL)最优; 目标化合物对水稻白叶枯病菌的抑制活性EC₅₀均优于对照药叶枯唑和噻菌铜(EC₅₀分别为148.20和175.47 μg/mL), 其中化合物4f抑制活性(EC₅₀=34.49 μg/mL)最优. 采用半叶枯斑法测试了目标化合物的抗烟草花叶病毒(TMV)活性, 结果表明, 所有目标化合物在浓度为500 mg/L时均有一定的抑制作用.     

5(6)-Carboxyfluorescein diacetate as an indicator of Caenorhabditis elegans viability for the development of an in vitro anthelmintic drug assay

A new in vitro assay for anthelmintic activity using Caenorhabditis elegans is based on the ability of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA) to indicate the worm's viability. It is shown for the first time that the treatment of a suspension of worms with a solution of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate (4.2%) for 30 min transiently induces fluorescence in dead worms only, allowing a fast and efficient determination of the proportion of dead worms by fluorescence microscopy.

The proposed test has been validated using mixtures of populations of living and killed C. elegans and proved to be selective, linear in the range 0–100%, accurate and precise.

The suitability of the assay to detect anthelmintic activity was then evaluated by studying the toxicity against C. elegans of a series of known anthelmintic compounds (mebendazole, levamisole, niclosamide, pyrantel, piperazine, and thiabendazole) with various modes of action.

The worms were exposed to each drug at two concentrations, 50 and 100 μg/ml for piperazine, niclosamide, pyrantel and 5 and 10 μg/ml for the others. We observed that, in the tested range of doses, piperazine and niclosamide were only moderately toxic, yielding 13.1 and 17.5% of dead worms; due to their mode of action and/or specificity, the low toxicity of these compounds was as expected. The marked activities of all the other compound fully agree with those described in the literature and obtained by other more laborious techniques.

These validation data indicate that the proposed in vitro anthelmintic assay using 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate allows for sensitive measurement of worm viability.     

Influence of operating conditions on the retention of phosphate in water by nanofiltration

The objective of this study was to investigate the retention of phosphate anions, H₂PO₄⁻ and HPO₄²⁻, by nanofiltration. The first part of this study deals with the characterisation of the NF200 membrane used in permeation experiments with aqueous solutions of neutral organic and charged inorganic solutes. In the second part the effects of feed pressure, ionic strength, concentration and pH on the retention of phosphate anions were investigated. Results show that the membrane is negatively charged, its pore radius is around 0.5 nm and the retention order for the salts tested was R(Na₂SO₄) > R(NaCl) > R(CaCl₂). The retentions of phosphate anions are in the order of 85% for H₂PO₄⁻ and 96% for HPO₄²⁻. They are relatively high when compared to retentions of other anions with the same charge. The retentions of phosphate anions, particularly the monovalent species, depend on the chemical parameters (feed concentration, ionic strength, and pH) and applied pressure. The experimental data were analysed using the Speigler–Kedem model and the transport parameters, i.e., the reflection coefficient (σ) and solute permeability (P_s) have been determined.     

葡聚糖分子量和接枝度对阿霉素/白蛋白-葡聚糖纳米粒子体外抗肿瘤效果的影响

以Maillard反应制备的牛血清白蛋白-葡聚糖共价接枝物作为载体, 通过调节混合溶液的pH值和温度制备负载阿霉素的白蛋白-葡聚糖纳米粒子. 利用分子量为5×10³, 10×10³和62×10³的葡聚糖制备了多种共价接枝物, 研究了共价接枝物分子量对载药纳米粒子的粒径和稳定性及载药量的影响. 用短链葡聚糖(分子量5×10³和10×10³)制备的纳米粒子粒径为60 nm左右, 用长链葡聚糖(分子量62×10³)制备的纳米粒子粒径约为200 nm; 阿霉素的包埋效率为81%~98%, 包埋量为7.4%~16.9%. 细胞实验结果表明, 共价接枝物具有很好的生物相容性; 与自由阿霉素相比, 纳米粒子可以促进阿霉素进入人口腔上皮癌细胞; 受缓释性质的影响, 纳米粒子在低浓度时的细胞毒性要小于自由阿霉素. 与长链葡聚糖纳米粒子相比, 接枝度高的短链葡聚糖纳米粒子由于具有较小的粒径、 密集的葡聚糖分子刷表面、 一定的自由阿霉素浓度和较快的阿霉素释放速率, 因而更容易进入细胞并具有更好的体外抗肿瘤活性.     

Density functional studies of the reactivity in the C–F bond activation of fluoromethane by bare lanthanum monocation

The potential energy surface and reaction mechanism corresponding to the reaction of lanthanum monocation with fluoromethane, which represents a prototype of the activation of C–F bond in fluorohydrocarbons by bare lanthanide cations, have been investigated for the first time by using density functional theory. A direct fluorine abstraction mechanism was revealed, namely after coordination of CH₃F to La⁺, electron transfer from La⁺ to the fluorine takes place, which favours the homolytic cleavage of the C–F bond to form LaF⁺ species and methyl radical. The related thermochemistry data involved in reaction of La⁺+CH₃F were determined, which can act as a guide for further experimental researches. The electron-transfer reactivity of the reaction was analyzed by using a state correlation diagram, in which a strongly avoided crossing behaviour on the transition state region was shown. The calculated state split energy between the ground and excited state on the transition state is 18.01 kcal mol⁻¹. The reaction of La⁺ with CH₃F was concluded to process in the adiabatic potential surface. The present results support the reaction mechanism inferred early from experimental data.     

Si-rhodamine based water-soluble fluorescent probe for bioimaging of Cu+

A Si-substituted rhodamine based water-soluble fluorescent probe bearing a tetrathia-azacrown was designed for fluorescence imaging of Cu⁺ with substantial affinity and selectivity.In physiological condition,the developed probe with outstanding water-solubility exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity to Cu⁺,ensuring the reliable fluorescence imaging in vivo.     

稀土离子跨人血红细胞膜的荧光法研究

采用Fura-2荧光浓度指示剂对红细胞的稀土跨膜作用进行了系列研究.结果表明,稀土离子不能通过完整的红细胞膜进入细胞内.通过与离子载体实验相对照,发现细胞ATP耗竭后,低浓度的稀土离子(5×10^-6mol/L)不能跨膜进入ATP-耗竭红细胞.KCl去极化及加入电压依赖性钙通道刺激剂Bay-K8644对稀土离子的跨膜也没有促进作用.在Ca²⁺内流正常的情况下,低浓度稀土离子(5×10^-6mol/L)对钙离子内流无影响.增大稀土离子浓度到5×10^-4mol/L,用显微镜观察此时红细胞已开始溶血.在模拟胞内离子组分的缓冲液中(pH=7.05),比较了La³⁺,Eu³⁺和Ca²⁺对Fura-2的敏感程度.此条件下Fura-2对La³⁺和Eu³⁺的检测限分别为10-12和10-14mol/L,对Ca²⁺的检测限为10-8mol/L,并测得Fura-2-La³⁺(Eu³⁺)的络合比为1∶1,表观离解常数为1.7×10^-12和4.95×10^-14mol/L,表明用此法检测稀土离子跨膜行为相当灵敏有效.     

金属离子在冠醚化合物为载体的液膜体系中传输的研究

液膜分离是近年才发展起来的一种新分离技术^[1]。早在1968年Tosteson^[2]就已观察到冠醚化合物在人造膜中对K⁺、Na⁺离子的选择性与天然大环化合物在细胞膜中的作用具有共同之处。Cussler^[3]曾测定了DB-18-C-6为载体的液膜中一些金属离子的传输通量。Lamb^[4]比较了以DB-18-C-6、DT-18-C-6及DKP-18-C-6为载体的氯仿液膜中Pb²⁺/Na⁺、Pb²⁺/Ca²⁺、Pb²⁺/Fe³⁺、Pb²⁺/Zn²⁺的选择比。     

大斯托克斯位移远红光至近红外荧光探针用于检测肝损伤过程中过氧化亚硝酸盐的动态变化

肝损伤是影响公众健康的重大问题之一, 已经引起了人们越来越多的关注. 而过表达的过氧化亚硝酸盐(ONOO^?)在肝损伤等疾病的发病机制中起着重要作用, 被认为是一种与早期肝损伤密切相关的生物活性分子. 因此, 为了探究ONOO^?在肝损伤过程中的作用, 开发可以实现肝损伤过程中ONOO^?高选择性和实时检测的分析方法具有重要意义. 本文报道了一种具有大斯托克斯位移的远红光至近红外(FR-NIR)ONOO^?荧光探针. 由于该探针具有大的斯托克斯位移, 可以有效消除光谱重叠和自吸收的干扰, 从而显著提高成像的信噪比. 此外, 该探针对ONOO^?具有高的灵敏度(检出限为25.8 nmol/L)和良好的选择性, 被成功用于药物诱导肝损伤过程中ONOO^?信号的成像检测.     

Supported liquid membranes for the determination of vanillin in food samples with amperometric detection

A supported liquid membrane system has been developed for the extraction of vanillin from food samples. A porous PTFE membrane is impregnated with an organic solvent, which forms a barrier between two aqueous phases. The analyte is extracted from a donor phase into the hydrophobic membrane and then back extracted into a second aqueous solution, the acceptor. The determination (100–1400 μg ml⁻¹ vanillin) was performed using a PVC-graphite composite electrode versus Ag/AgCl/3MKCl at +0.850 V placed in a wall-jet flow cell as amperometric detector. The solid sample is directly placed in the membrane unit without any treatment, and the analyte was extracted from the sample, passes through the membrane and conduced to the flow cell by the acceptor stream. The limit of detection (3σ) was 44 μg ml⁻¹. The method was applied to the determination of vanillin (9–606 μg g⁻¹) in food samples.     

Increased efficacy of in vitro Photofrin photosensitization of human oral squamous cell carcinoma by iron and ascorbate

Photofrin^®, a photosensitizer used in the photodynamic therapy of cancer, selectively localizes in cellular membranes. Upon exposure to visible light, Photofrin^® produces singlet oxygen (¹O₂), which reacts with membrane polyunsaturated fatty acids forming lipid hydroperoxides. Transition metals, such as Fe²⁺, catalyze the production of cytotoxic free radicals from lipid hydroperoxides. Ascorbate reduces ferric to ferrous iron, further augmenting lipid peroxidation. Therefore, to increase the efficacy of Photofrin^® photosensitization, we added 20 μM ferrous sulfate and 100 μM ascorbic acid, in an aqueous layer over SCC-25 oral squamous cell carcinoma cells during in vitro illumination. In electron paramagnetic resonance spin trapping experiments, using POBN (-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone), we observed that the presence of this pro-oxidant combination greatly increases the production of membrane-derived lipid free radicals. The effect was time dependent but only partially concentration dependent. Trypan blue dye exclusion demonstrated that this increase in lipid radical formation correlated with cytotoxicity. These observations support the hypothesis that Photofrin^® photosensitization leads to lipid hydroperoxide formation, which increases the cell's susceptibility to iron-induced Fenton chemistry. The resulting free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation results in cell death. From these data we hypothesize that the efficacy of photodynamic therapy of superficial cancer might be increased by the topical application of the pro-oxidant combination of iron and ascorbate. Furthermore, their use will probably allow lower doses of Photofrin^® without compromising antitumor effect.     

Evaluation of antitubercular drug insertion into preformed dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine monolayers

Insertion profiles of antitubercular drugs isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RFM) and ethambutol (ETH) into dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membrane models were evaluated by Langmuir monolayer technique. Maximum drug insertion into DPPC monolayer was observed with rifampicin with a surface pressure increase (Δπ_max) in the range of 21–33 mN/m depending upon rifampicin concentration. Isoniazid had minimal insertion resulting in a lower Δπ_max of about 2–3 mN/m, suggestive of minimal interactions between INH and DPPC. Ethambutol surface pressure increment on insertion resulted in an intermediate rise in the Δπ_max (6–10 mN/m). Antitubercular drug combination in the ratio of 2 mM:0.7 mM:4.5 mM for INH:RFM:ETH, attained Δπ_max between 25 and 33 mN/m. Insertion profiles similar to rifampicin were exhibited by the antitubercular drug mixture suggestive of predominant rifampicin insertion into the DPPC monolayer. The extent of drug insertion into the DPPC monolayer is suggestive of the drug penetration potential into biological membranes in vivo. Higher RFM Δπ_max is suggestive of excellent cell membrane penetration, which explains broad reach of the drug to all the organs including the cerebrospinal fluid while lower Δπ_max of INH suggests poor membrane penetration restricting the entry of the drug in different biological membranes. DPPC membrane destabilization was observed at higher antitubercular drug concentrations indicated by the negative slopes of the surface pressure–time curves. This may correlate with the dose related toxic effects observed in tuberculosis affected patients. Drug insertion studies offer a potential tool in understanding the pharmacotoxicological behavior of the various pharmacological agents.     

Detection of metal ions using ion-channel sensor based on self-assembled monolayer of thioctic acid

Gold electrodes were chemically modified with thioctic acid monolayer designed to mimic biological ion-channel membranes. The technique was then used in the determination of alkali, alkaline earth, thallium(I), and lanthanum metal cations as analytes. Cyclic voltammograms (CV) of [Fe(CN)6]³⁻ an electroactive marker, were measured in the presence of the various types of analyte cations. In the absence of the analyte cation, electrostatic repulsion between the marker anions and the carboxylate groups of the receptor monolayer hindered the approach of the marker anion to the electrode surface and hence hindered its reduction. The modified electrodes responded well to the metal cations except the alkali metal cations. The sensors could detect the trivalent cation La³⁺ at concentrations as low as 10⁻⁸ M. The response of the sensor to the metal cations increase in the order alkali metal3+ can be discriminated in the ratio 1:100. This makes it possible to determine the trivalent ion in a sample matrix containing monovalent and divalent cations. Thallium(I) ion showed marked deviation in its response as compared to monovalent ions of the alkali metals. The ion-channel sensor based on self-assembled monolayer of thioctic acid therefore offers a potential alternative technique for the selective determination of metal ions.     

胶体离子超级电容器的比容量评价

胶体离子超级电容器作为一种新型的超级电容器,其同时具有能量密度和功率密度高的独特优势。 目前已经发展了包括多种过渡金属阳离子和稀土阳离子,例如Mn²⁺、Fe²⁺、Co²⁺、Ni²⁺、Cu²⁺、Sn²⁺、Sn⁴⁺、La³⁺、Ce³⁺、Er³⁺和Yb³⁺的胶体离子超级电容器体系。 在电化学反应中,识别出电活性物质的存在形式对研究电极反应机理和提高比容量具有重要价值。 本文主要通过对电活性物质比容量的探讨,理解这种新型胶体离子超级电容器的电化学储能机理。 评述了胶体离子超级电容器的比容量核算方式,提出了以阳离子为标准核算比容量的原因,并与传统超级电容器的核算方式进行了比较,表明胶体离子超级电容器在提高能量密度方面具有潜在优势,有望突破现有电化学储能设备的技术瓶颈,实现下一代高能量储能器件的开发。     

Complex of trivalent lanthanum ion with galactitol in the solid state: the crystal structure and an FT-IR study of LaCl3·galactitol·6H2O

The crystal structure of LaCl₃·galactitol·6H₂O has been determined. It is monoclinic. The space group is P2₁/n with unit cell dimensions a=10.5091(7), b=12.5366(7), c=14.4420(10) Å, β=90.974(2)°, V=1902.4(2) ų and Z=4. Each La³⁺ ion in the unit cell is coordinated to 10 oxygen atoms, three from O1, O2 and O3 of one alditol, three from O4, O5 and O6 of another alditol and four from water molecules, with La–O distances from 2.5099 to 2.6916 Å. The other two water molecules are hydrogen-bonded. FT-IR spectrum of LaCl₃·galactitol·6H₂O is apparently different from that of other lanthanide–galactitol complexes. It is consistent with the differences between their crystal structures. Both the IR result and the crystal structure of LaCl₃·galactitol·6H₂O complex show that it has the different coordination mode compared with other lanthanide complexes.