Synthesis of a liposome incorporated 1-carboxyalkylxanthine-phospholipid conjugate and its recognition by an RNA aptamer

RNA or DNA aptamers have received much attention in recent literature as therapeutic agents and chromatographic matrices, however, their use in analytical methodologies is relatively unexplored. We describe here investigations aiming to combine this promising technology with versatile liposomes in a competitive assay format. Thus, a phospholipid derivative of an unsymmetrical 1,3-disubstituted xanthine (1-carboxyethyl-3-methylxanthine-DPPE) was prepared for incorporation into the lipid bilayers of dye-encapsulating liposomes. Its synthesis and characterization using GC-MS, ¹H NMR, and HPLC are described. Equilibrium filtration experiments using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were completed to assess the affinity for theophylline of an unmodified RNA aptamer and one that had been modified on the 3′ end with biotin. A dissociation constant (K_d) for theophylline with the unmodified RNA aptamer of 0.9 μM and biotinylated aptamer of 1.0 μM was determined which showed that this modification did not affect the aptamer's affinity using this technique. The observed K_d values correlated well to the previously reported value of 0.6 μM. Experiments were also carried out in a competitive manner with the prepared 1-carboxypropyl-3-methylxanthine intermediate, and the final 1-carboxypropyl-3-methylxanthine-DPPE conjugate once it had been incorporated into the bilayers of liposomes. The K_d value for 1-carboxypropyl-3-methylxanthine was approximately 2.7 μM. Finally, successful binding to theophylline-analog-tagged liposomes in a competitive assay format was shown versus liposomes prepared without the tag.     

Magnolol Encapsulated by Liposome in Inhibiting Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation

Magnolol, a pure compound extracted from Magnolia officinalis, encapsulated by liposome was investigated for inhibiting vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation leading to restenosis by Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA). 1,2‐Diacyl‐Sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (EPC) and 1,2‐dipalmitoyl‐Sn‐glycero‐3‐phosphocholine (DPPC) liposomes were utilized to encapsulate the magnolol in this study. The inhibitory efficiency of the liposome encapsulated magnolol on cell viability was higher than the pure magnolol. EPC liposome was found to have higher efficiency in inhibiting VSMCs than DPPC. The diameters of EPC and DPPC liposome which encapsulated magnolol became larger than pure EPC and DPPC liposomes. The photos from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were demonstrated that the EPC and DPPC liposomes could be interfered by magnolol to form a homogeneous liposome. Addition of cholesterol to EPC and DPPC liposome could reduce the liposome diameter.     

Conformational Space of a Polyphilic Molecule with a Fluorophilic Side Chain Integrated in a DPPC Bilayer

We investigate the conformational space of a polyphilic molecule with hydrophilic, lipophilic and fluorophilic parts inserted as a transmembrane agent into a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer by means of all‐atom molecular dynamics simulations. Special focus is put on the competing structural driving forces arising from the hydrophilic, lipophilic and fluorophilic side chains and the aromatic backbone of the polyphile. We observe a significant difference between the lipophilic and the fluorophilic side chains regarding their intramembrane distribution. While the lipophilic groups remain membrane‐centered, the fluorophilic parts tend to orient toward the phosphate headgroups. This trend is important for understanding the influence of polyphile agents on the properties of phospholipid membranes. From a fundamental point of view, our computed distribution functions of the side chains are related to the interplay of sterical, enthalpic and entropic driving forces. Our findings illustrate the potential of rationally designed membrane additives which can be exploited to tune the properties of phospholipid membranes. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Molecular dynamics study of biomembrane/local anesthetics interactions

It is still controversial how local anesthetics (LAs) act upon the nervous system and how the membrane contributes to this process, since probably the most important active site of the LAs is located in the sodium channels, a trans-membrane protein. An important role of the bio-membrane would be the stabilization and orientation of local anesthetics molecules, reducing their translational and rotational degrees of freedom, which could reinforce the mechanisms which interrupt the nervous impulse. This study aims to perform a computational analysis of the LAs behaviour in the membrane, and the effect of the water/membrane interface on their stabilization and orientation. Analysis by molecular dynamics (MD) showed that the charged form of these drugs are oriented at the interface, while the neutral form can easily cross the interface, entering the membrane, in agreement with the most recent experimental results in the literature. In contrast, it is here suggested that benzocaine (BZC), which exists only in its uncharged form in physiological media, behaves like the charged anesthetics, remaining stabilized and oriented at the interface. This could explain the similar anesthetic effect of BZC and the charged forms of tetracaine (TTC) and lidocaine (LDC).     

Langmur monolayers of cerebroside with different head groups originated from sea cucumber: Binary systems with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)

Surface properties (Langmuir monolayer) of two different cerebrosides which are extracted from the sea cucumber (Bohadschia argus) were investigated. A main difference in chemical structure of cerebroside between BAC-2a and BAC-4 is their head groups (glucose and galactose, respectively). Furthermore, miscibility and interaction between dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and cerebrosides (BAC-2a and BAC-4) in the monolayer have been systematically examined. The surface pressure (π)−area (A), the surface potential (ΔV)−A, and the dipole moment (μ)−A isotherms for monolayers of DPPC, cerebrosides, and their binary combinations have been measured using the Wilhelmy method and the ionizing electrode method. BAC-4 forms a stable liquid-expanded (LE) monolayer, whereas BAC-2a has a first-order phase transition from the LE phase to the liquid-condensed (LC) state on 0.15 M NaCl at 298.2 K. The fundamental properties for each cerebroside monolayer were elucidated in terms of the surface dipole moment based on the three-layer model [R.J. Demchak, T. Fort Jr., J. Colloid Interface Sci. 46 (1974) 191–202] for both cerebrosides and the apparent molar quantity change (Δs^γ, Δh^γ, and Δu^γ) for BAC-2a. In addition, their miscibility with DPPC was examined by the variation of the molecular areas and the surface potentials as a function of cerebroside mole fractions, the additivity rule. The miscibility was also confirmed by constructing the two-dimensional phase diagrams. The phase diagrams for the both binary systems were of negative azeotropic type. That is, the two-component DPPC/BAC-2a and DPPC/BAC-4 monolayers are miscible. Furthermore, the Joos equation for the analysis of the collapse pressure of binary monolayers allowed calculation of the interaction parameter and the interaction energy between the DPPC and cerebroside monolayers. The miscibility in the monolayer state was also confirmed by the morphological observation with Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), fluorescence microscopy (FM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM).     

Changes in wetting properties of silica surface treated with DPPC in the presence of phospholipase A2 enzyme

Wetting properties of silica plates contacted with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) or DPPC/enzyme (phospholipase PLA₂) in NaCl solution were determined by thin layer wicking and with a help of Washburn equation. The wicking experiments were performed both for bare plates and the silica plates precontacted overnight with the probe liquid saturated vapors the silica plates, as well as untreated and DPPC (or DPPC/enzyme) treated. Adsorption of DPPC on original silica plates increases a bit hydrophobic character of silica surface in such a way that hydrocarbon chains are directed outwards and the polar part towards the silica surface. However, after the enzyme action the products of DPPC hydrolysis by PLA₂ (palmitic acid and lysophosphatidylcholine) increase again hydrophilic character of silica surface (an increase in acid-base interactions, ).The changes of silica surface wettability are evidently dependent on the time of enzyme contacting with DPPC in NaCl solution. Although, the changes of total surface free energy of silica after treatment with DPPC/enzyme solution are minor about 2-6 mJ/m², the changes of the electron-donor () and Lifshitz-van der Waals () component of the surface free energy are noticeable. Despite, these results are somehow preliminary, it seems that thin layer wicking method is an interesting tool for investigation of the effect of adsorbed DPPC on hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of silica surface and influence of enzyme PLA₂ action.     

Adsorption of DNA onto anionic lipid surfaces

Currently self-assembled DNA delivery systems composed of DNA multivalent cations and anionic lipids are considered to be promising tools for gene therapy. These systems become an alternative to traditional cationic lipid–DNA complexes because of their low cytotoxicity lipids. However, currently these nonviral gene delivery methods exhibit low transfection efficiencies. This feature is in large part due to the poorly understood DNA complexation mechanisms at the molecular level. It is well-known that the adsorption of DNA onto like charged lipid surfaces requires the presence of multivalent cations that act as bridges between DNA and anionic lipids. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms behind such adsorption phenomenon still remain unclear. Accordingly a historical background of experimental evidence related to adsorption and complexation of DNA onto anionic lipid surfaces mediated by different multivalent cations is firstly reviewed. Next, recent experiments aimed to characterise the interfacial adsorption of DNA onto a model anionic phospholipid monolayer mediated by Ca^2 + (including AFM images) are discussed. Afterwards, modelling studies of DNA adsorption onto charged surfaces are summarised before presenting preliminary results obtained from both CG and all-atomic MD computer simulations. Our results allow us to establish the optimal conditions for cation-mediated adsorption of DNA onto negatively charged surfaces. Moreover, atomistic simulations provide an excellent framework to understand the interaction between DNA and anionic lipids in the presence of divalent cations. Accordingly,our simulation results in conjunction go beyond the macroscopic picture in which DNA is stuck to anionic membranes by using multivalent cations that form glue layers between them. Structural aspects of the DNA adsorption and molecular binding between the different charged groups from DNA and lipids in the presenceof divalent cations are reported in the last part of the study. Although this research work is far from biomedical applications, we truly believe that scientific advances in this line will assist, at least in part, in the rationaldesign and development of optimal carrier systems for genes and applicable to other drugs.     

Influence of salicylic acid on the biophysical properties of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles

The effect of the keratolytic drug salicylic acid (SA) on the thermotropic behaviour, and dynamics of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC)–water/buffer pH?7.4 vesicles was studied using DSC and ¹H NMR. In both systems, incorporation of SA in DPPC bilayer causes a significant depression in the transition temperature of both the pre-transition (PT) and the gel-to-liquid crystalline (CM) transition. The presence of the drug reduces the cooperativity of both the PT and CM transitions. These findings indicate that SA is bound strongly to the lipid bilayer leading to increased membrane fluidity. The DPPC vesicles incorporated with high drug concentration show phase segregation. One of the interesting findings in this study is the formation of a more ordered high temperature gel (L_β2) phase when the SA-doped DPPC dispersion is prepared at physiological pH. The effect of inclusion of cholesterol in the SA-free and SA-doped DPPC dispersion was also studied.     

Synchrotron SAX and WAX diffraction study of a hydrated very long-chain, dendritic amphiphile + DPPC mixture

The tri-headed anionic dendritic amphiphile, 4-(2-carboxyethyl)-4-[(icosyloxycarbonyl)amino]heptanedioic acid (3CCb20), forms mixed aggregates with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) in excess water at 3CCb20:DPPC = 0.91:1 molar ratio. On heating, these mixed aggregates transform into fluid bilayers stacked in the liquid crystalline lamellar L phase at about 40 °C. This phase transition and the microstructure of 3CCb20 + DPPC aggregates were studied with small- and wide-angle synchrotron X-ray diffraction. The ability of 3CCb20 to solubilize solidlike lipid bilayers could contribute to the antimicrobial activities of 3CCb20, including its anti-HIV activity.     

Eu3+和Al3+离子对DPPC人工膜脂双层主相变温度的影响

天然生物膜组成复杂,直接用于研究困难较大.由于天然生物膜中脂分子的行为与人工脂双层膜的行为十分类似,故我们用单一磷脂制备人工脂双层膜来研究金属离子对其主相变温度的影响.