Toxicological Screening of Four Bioactive Citroflavonoids: In Vitro,In Vivo,and In Silico Approaches

Many studies describe different pharmacological effects of flavonoids on experimental animals and humans. Nevertheless, few ones are confirming the safety of these compounds for therapeutic purposes. This study aimed to investigate the preclinical safety of naringenin, naringin, hesperidin, and quercetin by in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. For this, an MTT-based cytotoxicity assay in VERO and MDCK cell lines was performed. In addition, acute toxicity was evaluated on Wistar rats by OECD Guidelines for the Testing of Chemicals (Test No. 423: Acute Oral Toxicity-Class Method). Furthermore, we used the ACD/Tox Suite to predict toxicological parameters such as hERG channel blockade, CYP450 inhibition, and acute toxicity in animals. The results showed that quercetin was slightly more cytotoxic on cell lines (IC₅₀ of 219.44 ± 7.22 mM and 465.41 ± 7.44 mM, respectively) than the other citroflavonoids. All flavonoids exhibited an LD₅₀ value > 2000 mg/kg, which classifies them as low-risk substances as OECD guidelines established. Similarly, predicted LD⁵⁰ was LD₅₀ > 300 to 2000 mg/kg for all flavonoids as acute toxicity assay estimated. Data suggests that all these flavonoids did not show significant toxicological effects, and they were classified as low-risk, useful substances for drug development.     

Protein-Controlled Actuation of Dynamic Nucleic Acid Networks by Using Synthetic DNA Translators**

Integrating dynamic DNA nanotechnology with protein-controlled actuation will expand our ability to process molecular information. We have developed a strategy to actuate strand displacement reactions using DNA-binding proteins by engineering synthetic DNA translators that convert specific protein-binding events into trigger inputs through a programmed conformational change. We have constructed synthetic DNA networks responsive to two different DNA-binding proteins, TATA-binding protein and Myc-Max, and demonstrated multi-input activation of strand displacement reactions. We achieved protein-controlled regulation of a synthetic RNA and of an enzyme through artificial DNA-based communication, showing the potential of our molecular system in performing further programmable tasks.     

Glass production in the Middle Ages from Italy to Central Europe: the contribution of archaeometry to the history of technology

The present paper reports and discusses data obtained by a combined archaeological and archaeometric study carried out on an assemblage of selected Medieval glass finds from the Monastery of St. Severus in Classe (Ravenna, Italy) and ascribable to the 13–16th CE. Glassware belonging to three main typological groups was selected for this study: ampoules, nuppenbecher and kropfflasche. Such a choice mainly stems from the intent to evaluate typological and compositional affinities of these peculiar vessel typologies with the same forms unearthed in different regions of Central Europe, as a starting point for a possible reconstruction of trade contacts between Italy and Central Europe. Archaeological contextualisation of the site and chrono-typological study of glass vessels were associated to ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry) analyses, performed to characterise the composition of the glassy matrix (major and minor components as well as trace elements). The results, elaborated according to the archaeometric glass classification and provenancing of raw materials, shed new light on glass production in late Medieval times and can be broaden framed as a starting point for interpreting relations and exchanges between geographical areas and related cultures.     

7-amino-4-azaheptyl grafted onto a silica gel as a sorbent for the on-line preconcentration and determination of iron(III) in water samples.

A new sorbent was synthesized by anchoring 7-amino-4-azaheptyltrimetoxisilane, freshly prepared, to silica gel, producing 7-amino-4-azaheptyl anchored silica gel (AAHSG). This material was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (IR), elemental analysis (CHN), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. Isotherms of the adsorption of Fe3+, Fe2+ and Cu2+ on AAHSG were recorded, which indicated that Fe3+ presents a higher affinity by the sorbent. Therefore, AAHSG was successfully employed as a sorbent in a simple flow system for the preconcentration of Fe3+ in natural water samples, such as, river water, lagoonwater, springwater, stream water, well water and two water reference materials (NIST-SRM 1640, NIST-SRM 1643d). The obtained preconcentration factor was 82.2, and the detection limit achieved was 5.9 ng ml(-1). The recovery of spiked water samples ranged from 95.0 - 103.1%.     

Heterogeneous Fenton reactants: a study of the behavior of iron oxide nanoparticles obtained by the polymeric precursor method

Nanoparticles composed of iron oxides and iron salts were obtained from polymeric resins produced by polymerizing Fe²⁺-citrate and Fe³⁺-citrate complexes with ethylene glycol. The citric acid:Fe molar ratio was varied to obtain different synthesis conditions. The materials were treated at 450 °C for 2 h to obtain nanoparticles, which were characterized by XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy, FEG, CHNS, atomic absorption and surface area through N₂ physisorption. Rhodamine B photo degradation in the presence of these nanoparticles and hydrogen peroxide was carried out to analyze the possible behavior of nanoparticles as heterogeneous Fenton reactants. UV–visible spectroscopy revealed that the catalytic activity in the presence of nanoparticles obtained with a citric acid:Fe molar ratio of 12:1 was the condition that provided the best results in this work.     

Versatility of tandem mass spectrometry for focused analysis of oxylipids

Liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scan mode has been the primary MS method applied for the target identification of specific and minor oxylipids in complex matrices, such as eicosanoids and docosanoids, which are potent lipid mediators derived from polyunsaturated fatty acid oxygenation. However, the high specificity of MRM can limit the detection of species with m/z MRM transitions not covered by the method. In addition to MRM, tandem‐quadrupole mass analyzers enable other experiments to be conducted, by fragmenting ions via collision‐induced dissociation process (CID). This paper presents the potential of tandem mass spectrometry for the focused analysis of oxylipids. We have successfully developed an LC‐MS/MS method for the identification of precursor ions of m/z 115, a diagnostic product ion of 5‐hydroxy‐ and 5‐epoxy‐fatty acids. As a proof of concept, the developed method was used to discover several oxylipids oxidized at C5 derived from arachidonic acid (C20 : 4) oxygenation in a hypothalamus rat extract that were not identified using the target MRM methodology. The proposed focused MS/MS‐based approach in a tandem mass analyzer has proven to be a powerful strategy to accelerate the identification of oxylipids with structural similarities and assist the field of lipidomic research. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrated microfluidic platform for rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing and bacterial growth analysis using bead-based biosensor via fluorescence imaging

The paper describes a droplet-based microfluidic method for phenotypic-based antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). In particular, this micro-droplet-based phenotypic assay evaluates susceptibility of different bacterial strains towards antibiotics by tracking effects on individual bacterial cells, including changes in bacterial cell number and morphology. The platform was validated by applying the method to test the responses of E. coli ATCC 25922 and 6937 (a clinical isolate), in spiked urine samples at a concentration of 5 × 10⁴ cfu mL^?1, to the antibiotics ceftazidime and levofloxacin. Both E. coli strains showed dose-dependent inhibition of bacterial replication and morphological alteration. These correlated well with minimal inhibitory concentrations determined by the reference broth microdilution method. Discrete bacterial divisions and morphological changes were observed within 20 min of on-chip incubation, demonstrating performance of rapid AST directly on urine samples. As proof-of-concept, specific bead-based biosensors were tested for capture and detection of E. coli for on-bead proliferation. The method has the attractive feature of allowing the detection of at least one bacterium per bead in less than 30 min. It can potentially be used to isolate a specific bacterial strain directly from patient urine samples for AST monitoring.

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Graphical Abstract (A) Schematic of the droplet microfluidic chip for bacterial detection and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST); (B) Time lapse proliferation images of green fluorescent protein expressing E. coli in droplets. (C) Bacterial proliferation on the bead-based sensor.

     

Elucidation of Antioxidant Compounds in Moroccan Chamaerops humilis L. Fruits by GC–MS and HPLC–MS Techniques

The aim of this study was to characterize the phytochemical content as well as the antioxidant ability of the Moroccan species Chamaerops humilis L. Besides crude ethanolic extract, two extracts obtained by sonication using two solvents with increased polarity, namely ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol-water (MeOH-H₂O) 80:20 (v/v), were investigated by both spectroscopy and chromatography methods. Between the two extracts, the MeOH-H₂O one showed the highest total polyphenolic content equal to 32.7 ± 0.1 mg GAE/g DM with respect to the EtOAc extract (3.6 ± 0.5 mg GAE/g DM). Concerning the antioxidant activity of the two extracts, the EtOAc one yielded the highest value (1.9 ± 0.1 mg/mL) with respect to MeOH-H2O (0.4 ± 0.1 mg/mL). The C. humilis n-hexane fraction, analyzed by GC–MS, exhibited 69 compounds belonging to different chemical classes, with n-Hexadecanoic acid as a major compound (21.75%), whereas the polyphenolic profile, elucidated by HPLC–PDA/MS, led to the identification of a total of sixteen and thirteen different compounds in both EtOAc (major component: ferulic acid: 104.7 ± 2.52 µg/g) and MeOH-H₂O extracts (major component: chlorogenic acid: 45.4 ± 1.59 µg/g), respectively. The attained results clearly highlight the potential of C. humilis as an important source of bioactive components, making it a valuable candidate to be advantageously added to the daily diet. Furthermore, this study provides the scientific basis for the exploitation of the Doum in the food, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.     

Targeted therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma with aptamer-functionalized biodegradable nanoparticles

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer, occurring primarily in regions where viral hepatitis infections are common. Unfortunately, most HCC cases remain undiagnosed until late stages of the disease when patient outcome is poor, typically limiting survival from a few months to a year after initial diagnosis. In order to better care for HCC patients, new target-specific approaches are needed to improve early detection and therapeutic intervention. In this work, polymeric nanoparticles functionalized with a HCC-specific aptamer were examined as potential targeted drug delivery vehicles. Specifically, doxorubicin-loaded nanoparticles were prepared via nanoprecipitation of blends of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol). These particles were further functionalized with the HCC-specific TLS11a aptamer. The in vitro interaction and therapeutic efficacy of the aptamer and aptamer-functionalized nanoparticles were characterized in a hepatoma cell line. Nanoparticles were found to be spherical in shape, roughly 100–125 nm in diameter, with a low polydispersity (≤0.2) and slightly negative surface potential. Doxorubicin was encapsulated within the particles at ~40 % efficiency. Drug release was found to occur through anomalous transport influenced by diffusion and polymer relaxation, releasing ~50 % doxorubicin in the first 10 h and full release occurring within 36 h. Confocal microscopy confirmed binding and attachment of aptamer-targeted nanoparticles to the cell surface of cultured HCC cells. Efficacy studies demonstrated a significant improvement in doxorubicin delivery and cell-killing capacity using the aptamer-functionalized, drug-loaded nanoparticles versus controls further supporting use of aptamer nanoparticles as a targeted drug delivery system for HCC tumors.

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Graphical abstract In this work, polymeric nanoparticles functionalized with a liver cancer-specific aptamer were examined as potential targeted drug delivery vehicles. The aptamer-functionalized nanoparticles were found to significantly improve doxorubicin drug delivery and cell-killing capacity in vitro versus non-targeted controls, supporting their use as a targeted treatment toward liver cancer tumors.