K-Carrageenan Stimulates Pre-Osteoblast Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation: A Potential Factor for the Promotion of Bone Regeneration?

Current cell-based bone tissue regeneration strategies cannot cover large bone defects. K-carrageenan is a highly hydrophilic and biocompatible seaweed-derived sulfated polysaccharide, that has been proposed as a promising candidate for tissue engineering applications. Whether κ-carrageenan can be used to enhance bone regeneration is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether κ-carrageenan has osteogenic potential by testing its effect on pre-osteoblast proliferation and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. Treatment with κ-carrageenan (0.5 and 2 mg/mL) increased both MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast adhesion and spreading at 1 h. K-carrageenan (0.125–2 mg/mL) dose-dependently increased pre-osteoblast proliferation and metabolic activity, with a maximum effect at 2 mg/mL at day three. K-carrageenan (0.5 and 2 mg/mL) increased osteogenic differentiation, as shown by enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity (1.8-fold increase at 2 mg/mL) at day four, and matrix mineralization (6.2-fold increase at 2 mg/mL) at day 21. K-carrageenan enhanced osteogenic gene expression (Opn, Dmp1, and Mepe) at day 14 and 21. In conclusion, κ-carrageenan promoted MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast adhesion and spreading, metabolic activity, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation, suggesting that κ-carrageenan is a potential osteogenic inductive factor for clinical application to enhance bone regeneration.     

Inhibitory Effects of Cucurbitane-Type Triterpenoids from Momordica charantia Fruit on Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells

The bitter melon, Momordica charantia L., was once an important food and medicinal herb. Various studies have focused on the potential treatment of stomach disease with M. charantia and on its anti-diabetic properties. However, very little is known about the specific compounds responsible for its anti-inflammatory activities. In addition, the in vitro inhibitory effect of M. charantia on pro-inflammatory cytokine production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) has not been reported. Phytochemical investigation of M. charantia fruit led to the isolation of 15 compounds (1−15). Their chemical structures were elucidated spectroscopically (one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance) and with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The anti-inflammatory effects of the isolated compounds were evaluated by measuring the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin IL-6, IL-12 p40, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in LPS-stimulated BMDCs. The cucurbitanes were potent inhibitors of the cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-12 p40, indicating promising anti-inflammatory effects. Based on these studies and in silico simulations, we determined that the ligand likely docked in the receptors. These results suggest that cucurbitanes from M. charantia are potential candidates for treating inflammatory diseases.     

Infrared spectra of aluminum hydrides in solid hydrogen: Al2H4 and Al2H6

The reaction of laser-ablated Al atoms and normal-H(2) during co-deposition at 3.5 K produces AlH, AlH(2), and AlH(3) based on infrared spectra and the results of isotopic substitution (D(2), H(2) + D(2) mixtures, HD). Four new bands are assigned to Al(2)H(4) from annealing, photochemistry, and agreement with frequencies calculated using density functional theory. Ultraviolet photolysis markedly increases the yield of AlH(3) and seven new absorptions for Al(2)H(6) in the infrared spectrum of the solid hydrogen sample. These frequencies include terminal Al-H(2) and bridge Al-H-Al stretching and AlH(2) bending modes, which are accurately predicted by quantum chemical calculations for dibridged Al(2)H(6), a molecule isostructural with diborane. Annealing these samples to remove the H(2) matrix decreases the sharp AlH(3) and Al(2)H(6) absorptions and forms broad 1720 +/- 20 and 720 +/- 20 cm(-1) bands, which are due to solid (AlH(3))(n). Complementary experiments with thermal Al atoms and para-H(2) at 2.4 K give similar spectra and most product frequencies within 2 cm(-1). Although many volatile binary boron hydride compounds are known, binary aluminum hydride chemistry is limited to the polymeric (AlH(3))( solid. Our experimental characterization of the dibridged Al(2)H(6) molecule provides an important link between the chemistries of boron and aluminum.     

Tetrahydrometalate species VH(2)(H(2)), NbH(4), and TaH(4): matrix infrared spectra and quantum chemical calculations

Laser ablated V, Nb, and Ta atoms react with molecular hydrogen in excess neon at 4 K to give vanadium, niobium, and tantalum dihydrides that further react with H(2) to form VH(2)(H(2)), NbH(4), and TaH(4). The reaction products are identified by deuterium and deuterium hydride isotopic substitution. DFT and CCSD theoretical calculations are used to predict energies, geometries, and vibrational frequencies for these novel metal hydrides complex and molecules. The vanadium dihydride hydrogen complex, VH(2)(H(2)), is identified, while the niobium and tantalum tetrahydrides, NbH(4) and TaH(4,) with D(2d) symmetry structures are confirmed. Reactions of group 5 metal atoms with H(2) condensing in solid hydrogen gave VH(2)(H(2)) and the higher tetrahydride-hydrogen complexes NbH(4)(H(2))(4) and TaH(4)(H(2))(4).     

Application of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of steroid oestrogens in wastewaters

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography method using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was developed and validated for the determination of steroid oestrogens in wastewater matrices. To date, analytical methods established in the literature for 17α-ethinylestradiol have been unable to achieve the proposed predicted no effect concentration of 0.1?ng?l^?1. The extensive sample pretreatment and analytical methodology proposed herein enable 17α-ethinylestradiol to be determined at very low background concentrations with a theoretical method detection limit of 0.06?ng?l^?1 which has been applied in real environmental matrices. During the validation process, a trickling filter wastewater treatment works was monitored to demonstrate the method's application. Oestrogen removal across the filters demonstrated good removals of natural free oestrogens (≥62.0%) with lower removals of the synthetic oestrogen 17α-ethinylestradiol (29.2%) from wastewaters at 10°C. The method's application illustrates its capability of detecting oestrogen concentrations in real wastewater samples comprising complex organics of comparatively high concentration. Furthermore, a complete process mass balance for 17α-ethinylestradiol is now attainable which has previously posed a challenge owing to the low environmental concentrations typically exhibited, but more significantly as a result of the lower sensitivity inherent in previously reported analytical methods.     

A perturbed pK(a) at the binding site of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor: implications for nicotine binding

A series of tethered quaternary ammonium derivatives of Tyr have been incorporated into the binding site of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) using the in vivo nonsense suppression method, producing constitutively active (self-gating) receptors. We have incorporated primary, secondary, and tertiary amine tethered agonists to give receptors whose constitutive activity can be modulated by pH. Lowering the pH protonates the tethered amine, giving it a positive charge and allowing it to reversibly activate the receptor. Tertiary and secondary tethered amines, TyrO3T and TyrO3S, have been successfully incorporated at alpha149 in the nAChR. Constitutive currents at pH 5.5 are 6 times those at pH 9.0. The pKa of TyrO3T in the binding site appears to be 6 or lower, differing substantially from its pKa in solution ( approximately 9.3). This local pKa perturbation has substantial implications for pharmacological research on the nAChR: of the tertiary agonists considered, noracetylcholine experiences this pKa perturbation, while nicotine does not.     

A parallel synthesis demonstration library of tri-substituted indazoles containing new antimutagenic/antioxidant hits related to benzydamine

A solution phase strategy for the multiple parallel synthesis of a demonstration library of indazoles is described by which regio-selectivity problems inherent to previous syntheses of this nucleus are largely overcome. Synthesis of selected components proceeded satisfactorily indicating that a fully realized library of indazole analogs could readily be produced using this methodology. Simple modifications of the basic nucleophilic aromatic substitution route unambiguously produce a range of N-1 substitutions (alkyl, aryl and aralkyl) in 50-75% yields. Next a range of substituents was introduced at the C-3 position in 50-80% yields by O-alkylation. Careful choice of reagents and reaction conditions were required to prevent by-product formation due to competing alkylation at N-2 (trace to 15% yields). When present, these contaminants were readily removed by chromofiltration. A third diversity site was sketched in at C-5 in 75-90% yield by reductive alkylation or acylation. Screening of some of the demonstration library members in vitro revealed highly active antioxidants suggesting that producing a full library would be worthwhile.     

Electrodeposited Amorphous Tungsten‐doped Cobalt Oxide as an Efficient Catalyst for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Thin film of amorphous tungsten‐doped cobalt oxide (W:CoO) was successfully grown on a conducting electrode via an electrochemical oxidation process employing a [Co(WS₄)₂]^2? deposition bath. The W:CoO catalyst displays an attractive performance for the oxygen evolution reaction in an alkaline solution. In an NaOH solution of pH 13, W:CoO operates with a moderate onset overpotential of 230 mV and requires 320 mV overpotential to generate a catalytic current density of 10 mA cm^?2. A low Tafel slope of 45 mV decade^?1 was determined, indicating a rapid O₂‐evolving kinetics. The as‐prepared W:CoO belongs to the best cobalt oxide‐based catalysts ever reported for the oxygen evolution (OER) reaction.