Continuous electrochemical monitoring of nitric oxide production in murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7

In this study, we realized the continual and long-term electrochemical detection of NO production by stimulated macrophages using modified porphyrinic microsensor. The NO release from RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide started 5 h after the lipopolysaccharide administration. After reaching its maximum at the sixth hour, the stable level of NO production was observed between the seventh and 12th hour of the experiment. This phase was followed by a gradual decline in NO production. A close correlation between the NO signal detected with microelectrode and nitrite accumulation, which had been determined in supernatants removed from stimulated cells, was observed. This finding was utilized for the calibration of the electrochemical experiment. The presence of iNOS enzyme, which constitutes a main requirement for NO production by stimulated macrophages, was confirmed by Western blot analysis of iNOS protein expression at key time points of the corresponding electrochemical experiment. The capability of our microsensor to instantaneously monitor the changes in the NO production by stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was demonstrated by the immediate decrease in the signal due to NO as a response to the addition of iNOS inhibitor into the cell culture medium. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Measurement of nitric oxide production by the lesioned rat retina with a sensitive nitric oxide electrode

Nitric oxide (NO) plays multiple roles in the nervous system. It is produced as a result of damage or injury of the retina as a part of the central nervous system. Detailed knowledge of the extent and the time course of NO production is of great importance for the understanding of pathological processes and their appropriate medical treatment.Sections of rat retina were stained with antibodies against the three isoforms of NO synthase (NOS) at several time points after a lesion of the optic nerve. No significant changes of NOS expression could be seen at any of the checked time points.For the electrochemical detection of NO production, we modified small platinum electrodes with a NO-sensitive nickel porphyrin by electrochemical polymerisation. Compared to other substances, electrochemically polymerised eugenol was found to be most suitable for protection against interferences. For the measurements, differential pulse amperometry was used. The response to nitric oxide was linear.NO production of adult rat retinas was measured post axotomy after different time points with electrochemical electrodes ex vivo. With non-treated retinas, an NO concentration of approximately 15 M was measured. NO concentration is elevated after an axotomy reaching its highest value of up to 30 M 5 days after the lesion. The NO concentration is decreased below the initial value after 9–14 days post axotomy.     

Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer Cells with Methanesulfonate Salts of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Its Derivatives

A series of 5-aminolevulinic acid and its alkylester methanesulfonates was exploited to photodynamic therapy(PDT) of human lymphocytic cells, U-937 in vitro. The PDT efficiency is influenced by the concentration and incubation time. Generally, for ALA and its alkylester methanesulfonates, the cell survival rate decreases and the accumulation ability of PpIX increases with the concentration and incubation time. We found that the longer carbon chain methanesulfonates(C5-S, C6-S, C8-S) exhibit better PDT effec...     

Regio- and stereoselective ring opening of aziridines with nitric oxide

Reaction of N-tosyl aziridines with nitric oxide affords the corresponding ring-opened products in regio-, stereoselectivities and excellent yields.     

Electrophilic reaction of nitric oxide with Wittig reagents

Reaction of nitric oxide (NO) with p-substituted benzyl triphenylphosphonium chlorides or bromides (Wittig reagents) in CH₂Cl₂ under argon undergoes electrophilic attack of NO on the carbon center of phosphonium ylides, producing benzonitriles.     

Ring opening of 2,3-epoxy phenyl ketones upon reaction with nitric oxide

Epoxide rings of 2,3-epoxy phenyl ketones were cleaved by nitric oxide, affording regioselectively the C-3 ring-opened products, erythro-α-hydroxyl nitrates (2), in a highly syn-selective manner (isolated yield of the erythro products up to 91%). Products were identified by NMR, MS, and X-ray crystallography. The reaction is assumed to be initiated by NO₂, unlike a nucleophilic attack.     

Preparation and characterization of implantable sensors with nitric oxide release coatings

The widespread use of miniaturized chemical sensors to monitor clinically important analytes such as PO₂, PCO₂, pH, electrolytes, glucose and lactate in a continuous, real-time manner has been seriously hindered by the erratic analytical results often obtained when such devices are implanted in vivo. One major factor that has influenced the analytical performance of indwelling sensors is the biological response they elicit when in contact with blood or tissue (e.g. thrombus formation on the device surface, inflammatory response, encapsulation, etc.). Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of platelet adhesion and activation as well as a promoter of wound healing in tissue. Herein, we review recent work aimed at the development of hydrophobic NO-releasing polymers that can be employed to coat catheter-type amperometric oxygen sensors without interfering with the analytical performance of these devices. Such modified sensors are shown to exhibit greatly enhanced hemocompatibility and improved analytical performance when implanted within porcine carotid and femoral arteries for up to 16 h. Further, results from preliminary studies also demonstrate that prototype fluorescent oxygen sensors, catheter-style potentiometric carbon dioxide sensors and subcutaneous needle-type enzyme-based amperometric glucose sensors can also be fabricated with new NO-release outer coatings without compromising the analytical response characteristics of these devices. The NO-release strategy may provide a solution to the lingering biocompatibility problems encountered when miniature chemical sensors are implanted in vivo.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 2,4-diaminopteridine derivatives as nitric oxide synthase inhibitor

A series of novel 2,4-diamino-pteridines(9a-1)were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)in vitro.It was found that 9a,9d,9e,9h,9i and 91 showed potent inhibitory activities similar to that of methotrexate(MTX),while the activities of 9b,9c,9f,9g,9j and 9k ale stronger than MTX.     

Determination of nitric oxide with ultramicrosensors based on electropolymerized films of metal tetraaminophthalocyanines

Preparation and electrochemical responses to nitric oxide (NO) of the electropolymerized films of metal tetraaminophthalocyanines (MTAPc, M=Co, Ni, Cu) are studied to test them as molecular devices for design and construction of amperometric ultramicrosensors for selective and sensitive determination of NO. The ultramicrosensors based on electropolymerized films of MTAPc and Nafion, are found to show a low detection limit, high selectivity and sensitivity to NO determination. The potential interference from some endogenous electroactive substances in biological tissues, such as catecholamines and their metabolites, ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), and nitrite (NO₂⁻), the metabolite of NO at the concentrations higher than those in biological systems could be eliminated by using a technique of DPV or DPA and further coating the modified ultramicrosensors with a layer of Nafion.     

Electrochemical determination of nitric oxide and of its derivatives

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the simplest odd electron species. Furthermore, it is relatively hydrophobic, which is consistent with its role as a diffusible intracellular messenger or as an immune effector. NO is generated in biological systems and plays important roles as a regulatory molecule. The main problem in NO analysis is its extreme reactivity; in aerated water solution it is transformed into nitrite and nitrate, inactive biological forms. Moreover, it may lose an electron forming the NO⁺ ion, involved in the synthesis of nitrosothiols (RSNOs). The main problems encountered in the analytical determination of free NO and of RSNOs in biological systems are the low stability and the very low concentration of these compounds. The determination of nitrates and nitrites may also be difficult when their concentration is in the nmolar range. We describe an electrochemical assay for the determination in the same sample of free NO and of its derivatives in nmolar range. Owing to its high sensitivity, the procedure could also be applied to environmental analyses     

Pseudoguaiane-type sesquiterpenes and inhibitors on nitric oxide production from Dichrocephala integrifolia

Three new pseudoguaiane-type sesquiterpenes, dichrocepholides A-C, and two new pseudoguaiane-type sesquiterpene dimers, dichrocepholides D and E, were isolated from the aerial part of Dichrocephala integrifolia. Their stereostructures were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. In addition, the extract and its principal sesquiterpene constituent, parthenin, showed an inhibitory activity on nitric oxide (NO) production and on induction of inducible NO synthase.     

Synthesis and anticancer properties of RGD peptides conjugated to nitric oxide releasing functional groups and abiraterone

A series of analogues of the integrin binding aspartic acid-glycine-arginine (RGD) peptide sequence were synthesised conjugated to nitric oxide (NO) donating functional groups. Also the cytotoxicity of abiraterone, a prostate cancer drug, was explored when it was conjugated in three part constructs to RGD sequences and NO releasing heterocycles. In general the analogues showed integrin binding affinity comparable to RGD reference compounds, and all released NO by the Griess test assay. Two analogues exhibited significant cytotoxic effects against PC3 and MCF7 cell lines.     

Novel nitric oxide microsensor and its application to the study of smooth muscle cells

A novel sensitive, selective and stable nitric oxide (NO) microsensor is described, which is modified by nano Au colloid and Nafion. As determined by atomic forced microscopy (AFM), the diameter of Au colloid particles is from 7 to 14 nm. The detection of NO is based on the nano Au particles catalysis of NO oxidation at an anodic potential of +0.74 V (versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE)). The microsensor showed a low detection limit, high selectivity and sensitivity for NO determination. The oxidation current (measured by differential pulse amperometric technique) was linear with NO concentration ranging from 1.0×10⁻⁷ to 4.0×10⁻⁵ mol/l with a calculated detection limit of 5.0×10⁻⁸ mol/l (S/N=3). Using the microsensor, the direct real time production of NO in the smooth muscle cells was continuously measured, which showed the NO levels was increased by stimulating with l-arginine (l-Arg), acetylcholine (Ach) and a self-made flavonoid medicine.     

Improved thromboresistance and analytical performance of intravascular amperometric glucose sensors using optimized nitric oxide release coatings

In this work, nitric oxide (NO) release coatings designed for intravenous amperometric glucose sensors are optimized through the use of a polylactic acid (PLA) layer doped with a lipophilic diazeniumdiolated species that releases NO through a proton-driven mechanism. An Elast-Eon E2As polyurethane coating is used to both moderate NO release from the sensor surface and increase the sensor''s linear detection range toward glucose. These sensors were evaluated for thromboresistance and in vivo glucose performance through implantation in rabbit veins. By maintaining NO flux on a similar scale to endogenous endothelial cells, implanted glucose sensors exhibited reduced surface clot formation which enables more accurate quantitative glucose measurements continuously. An in vivo time trace of implanted venous sensors demonstrated glucose values that correlated well with the discrete measurements of blood samples on a benchtop point-of-care sensor-based instrument. The raw measured currents from the implanted glucose sensors over 7 h time periods were converted to glucose concentration through use of both a one-point in vivo calibration and a calibration curve obtained in vitro within a bovine serum solution. Control sensors, assembled without NO release functionality, exhibit distinctive surface clotting over the 7 h in vivo implantation period.     

Functionalised electrode array for the detection of nitric oxide released by endothelial cells using different NO-sensing chemistries

In a preliminary study aimed at developing strategies for the simultaneous detection of various biologically important molecules, a procedure is described that allows the electrochemical detection of nitric oxide (NO) released by a population of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by using an array of electrodes comprising three individually addressable electrodes. Each electrode in the array was modified with a different NO-sensitive electrocatalyst, thereby demonstrating the possibility of modifying the individual electrodes in an array with different sensing chemistries. This study opens a doorway to the development of arrays of electrodes for the simultaneous detection of multiple analytes in a complex environment by suitably tailoring the sensitivity and selectivity of each electrode in the array to a specific analyte in the test medium.     

Metalloporphyrin and heteropoly acid catalyzed oxidation of CNOH bonds in an ionic liquid: biomimetic models of nitric oxide synthase

Water soluble iron(III) porphyrins and phosphotungstic acid in an ionic liquid are effective catalysts for the H₂O₂ mediated oxidation of the CNOH bond in N-hydroxyarginine and other oximes. The carbonyl compounds generated as the oxidation products can be easily isolated from the reaction media. These systems serve as biomimetic models of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and the catalyst immobilized in an ionic liquid can be easily recycled and reused.     

Phthalocyanines and related complexes as electrocatalysts for the detection of nitric oxide

Metallophthalocyanine (MPc) and metalloporphyrin complexes as well as some metalloproteins including myoglobin, hemoglobin, cyanocobalamin and cytochrome c catalyse the detection of nitric oxide (NO). The catalytic process often involve changes in the oxidation state of the catalyst. These complexes catalyse both the reduction and oxidation of NO. MPc complexes containing electroactive central metals such as CoPc and FePc generally show better catalytic activity towards the detection of NO than complexes containing electroinacive central metals. However, the involvement of ring based redox processes was confirmed for the homogenous NO catalysis using CoPc.     

Applications of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to study interactions of iron proteins in cells with nitric oxide

Nitric oxide and species derived from it have a wide range of biological functions. Some applications of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy are reviewed, for observing nitrosyl species in biological systems. Nitrite has long been used as a food preservative owing to its bacteriostatic effect on spoilage bacteria. Nitrosyl complexes such as sodium nitroprusside, which are added experimentally as NO-generators, themselves produce paramagnetic nitrosyl species, which may be seen by EPR. We have used this to observe the effects of nitroprusside on clostridial cells. After growth in the presence of sublethal concentrations of nitroprusside, the cells show they have been converted into other, presumably less toxic, nitrosyl complexes such as (RS)₂Fe(NO)₂. Nitric oxide is cytotoxic, partly due to its effects on mitochondria. This is exploited in the destruction of cancer cells by the immune system. The targets include iron–sulfur proteins. It appears that species derived from nitric oxide such as peroxynitrite may be responsible. Addition of peroxynitrite to mitochondria led to depletion of the EPR-detectable iron–sulfur clusters. Paramagnetic complexes are formed in vivo from hemoglobin, in conditions such as experimental endotoxic shock. This has been used to follow the course of production of NO by macrophages. We have examined the effects of suppression of NO synthase using biopterin antagonists. Another method is to use an injected NO-trapping agent, Fe–diethyldithiocarbamate (Fe–DETC) to detect accumulated NO by EPR. In this way we have observed the effects of depletion of serum arginine by arginase. In brains from victims of Parkinson's disease, a nitrosyl species, identified as nitrosyl hemoglobin, has been observed in substantia nigra. This is an indication for the involvement of nitric oxide or a derived species in the damage to this organ.     

Synthesis and bioactivity of novel nitric oxide-releasing ursolic acid derivatives

A series of furoxan-based novel nitric oxide-donating ursolic acid(UA) derivatives(7a-f) were synthesized,and their cytotoxic activities against HepG2 cells in vitro were evaluated by MTT method.It was found that 7a-d and 7f showed more potent cytotoxic activities than control 5-fluorouracil and UA.     

New Labdane diterpenes from Hedychium yunnanense with cytotoxicity and inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production

Two new labdane diterpenes, hedychenoids A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the rhizomes of Hedychium yunnanense, together with four known ones hedychenone (3), forrestin A (4), villosin (5) and calcaratarin C (6). Their structures were determined on the basis of NMR (1D and 2D) and mass spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 2, 3 and 5 exhibited cytotoxicity against SGC-7901 with IC₅₀ values of 14.88 ± 0.52, 7.08 ± 0.21 and 7.76 ± 0.21 μg/ml, 3 and 5 against HeLa with IC₅₀ values of 9.76 ± 0.48 and 13.24 ± 0.63 μg/ml, respectively. Compounds 2, 5 showed inhibitory effects against nitric oxide production in LPS and IFN-γ-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages with IC₅₀ values of 6.57 ± 0.88 and 5.99 ± 1.20 μg/ml, respectively.