Development of a competitive ELISA for the quantification of F5 conjugate in HER2-targeted STEALTH immunoliposome doxorubicin in plasma samples

HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, erbB2, or neu) is overexpressed by a large number of tumor types and has been identified as an important target for cancer therapy. F5 is a single-chain human antibody fragment that recognizes HER2 receptor and is covalently conjugated to PEGylated lipid to form F5 conjugate (F5CG) in the product HER2 targeted STEALTH immunoliposome doxorubicin. Here we described the method development of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the determination of total concentration of F5 conjugate in plasma samples. The method involved the biotinylation of F5CG, detergent treatment of plasma sample to solubilize F5CG into monomeric form, and competitive ELISA for solubilized F5CG competitively binding to anti-F5CG antibody with biotinylated F5CG for the determination of total F5CG in plasma. The detection range of this method was from 0.2 ng/mL to 125 ng/mL for F5CG in plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.2 ng/mL. This method was established and used for the measurement of F5CG concentration to provide information about F5CG circulation after the administration of immunoliposome in preclinical studies.      

QSAR studies on estrogen receptor binding affinity of 2-phenylindoles using first-order valence molecular connectivity

The estrogen receptor binding affinity of 2-phenylindoles is found to be significantly correlated with Kier’s first-order valence molecular connectivity index. The correlation equations obtained provide a much simple rationale to design more potent compounds and help in predicting the potency of new compounds.     

分子钳人工受体研究进展

分子识别是生物体系的基本特征, 并在生命活动中起中心作用. 利用合成的人工受体与适当底物间的分子识别以建立化学模型或化学仿生体系对生命过程中的分子识别现象进行模拟研究是生物有机化学和超分子化学前沿富于挑战的课题之一. 按照不同的隔离基, 综述了分子钳人工受体的研究进展.     

Beyond labels: A review of the application of quantum dots as integrated components of assays, bioprobes, and biosensors utilizing optical transduction

A comprehensive review of the development of assays, bioprobes, and biosensors using quantum dots (QDs) as integrated components is presented. In contrast to a QD that is selectively introduced as a label, an integrated QD is one that is present in a system throughout a bioanalysis, and simultaneously has a role in transduction and as a scaffold for biorecognition. Through a diverse array of coatings and bioconjugation strategies, it is possible to use QDs as a scaffold for biorecognition events. The modulation of QD luminescence provides the opportunity for the transduction of these events via fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), charge transfer quenching, and electrochemiluminescence (ECL). An overview of the basic concepts and principles underlying the use of QDs with each of these transduction methods is provided, along with many examples of their application in biological sensing. The latter include: the detection of small molecules using enzyme-linked methods, or using aptamers as affinity probes; the detection of proteins via immunoassays or aptamers; nucleic acid hybridization assays; and assays for protease or nuclease activity. Strategies for multiplexed detection are highlighted among these examples. Although the majority of developments to date have been in vitro, QD-based methods for ex vivo biological sensing are emerging. Some special attention is given to the development of solid-phase assays, which offer certain advantages over their solution-phase counterparts.     

新型希夫碱型钳形人工受体的微波合成及其对中性分子的识别性能

以对苯二甲酸为起始原料,设计并合成了8个新型的芳环钳形人工受体(3a～3h),其结构经1H NMR,IR,ESI-MS和元素分析表征。利用UV-Vis滴定法初步考察了3a～3h对中性分子(邻苯二胺,间苯二胺,对苯二胺和二苯甲酮)的识别性能,结果表明3a～3h对其具有良好的识别性能。     

AT1受体的中药活性成分筛选模型及其作用机理研究

传统中药对治疗心血管类疾病疗效显著,例如钩藤、黄芪、益母草等在临床应用广泛.现代药理研究表明钩藤碱可以降压;黄芪中毛蕊异黄酮能舒张血管平滑肌、保护心脑血管;益母草碱可扩张微血管,改善血液流变异常,但它们分子层面作用机制尚不明确.首先以牛视紫红质蛋白为模板,模建出心血管疾病主要靶点AT1受体的三维结构.然后将AT1受体拮抗剂和中药活性成分与受体模型结合的作用方式进行了对比研究,据此提出了中药活性成分治疗心血管疾病的作用机理,并建立了AT1受体的中药活性成分筛选模型.结果表明:黄芪毛蕊异黄酮等中药活性成分能与AT1受体活性口袋中的残基发生氢键作用,结合方式与AT1受体拮抗剂相似.每一种AT1受体拮抗剂均与His183,Lys199,His256,Gln257,Ser105,Ser109,Tyr113,Asn200中多个发生氢键作用;黄芪毛蕊异黄酮与Try113,Lys199,Gln257,Ser105发生氢键作用.本研究从分子层面上阐释了一些中药活性小分子的治病机理,为进一步挖掘中药资源,研究AT1受体相关的心脑血管类药物,合理设计和筛选AT1受体的拮抗剂提供重要依据.     

Synthesis and Structure–Activity Relationship Studies of Benzimidazole-4,7-dione-Based P2X3 Receptor Antagonists as Novel Anti-Nociceptive Agents

P2X3 receptors (P2X3R) are ATP-gated ion channels predominantly expressed in C- and Aδ-fiber primary afferent neurons and have been introduced as a novel therapeutic target for neurological disorders, including neuropathic pain and chronic cough. Because of its localized distribution, antagonism of P2X3R has been thoroughly considered, and the avoidance of issues related to CNS side effects has been proven in clinical trials. In this article, benzimidazole-4,7-dione-based derivatives were introduced as a new chemical entity for the development of P2X3R antagonists. Starting from the discovery of a hit compound from the screening of 8364 random library compounds in the Korea Chemical Bank, which had an IC₅₀ value of 1030 nM, studies of structure–activity and structure–property relationships enabled further optimization toward improving the antagonistic activities as well as the drug’s physicochemical properties, including metabolic stability. As for the results, the final optimized compound 14h was developed with an IC₅₀ value of 375 nM at P2X3R with more than 23-fold selectivity versus P2X2/3R, along with properties of metabolic stability and improved solubility. In neuropathic pain animal models evoked by either nerve ligation or chemotherapeutics in male Sprague-Dawley rats, compound 14h showed anti-nociceptive effects through an increase in the mechanical withdrawal threshold as measured by von Frey filament following intravenous administration.     

Therapeutic Potential of Highly Selective A3 Adenosine Receptor Ligands in the Central and Peripheral Nervous System

Ligands of the G_i protein-coupled adenosine A₃ receptor (A₃R) are receiving increasing interest as attractive therapeutic tools for the treatment of a number of pathological conditions of the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS, respectively). Their safe pharmacological profiles emerging from clinical trials on different pathologies (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and fatty liver diseases) confer a realistic translational potential to these compounds, thus encouraging the investigation of highly selective agonists and antagonists of A₃R. The present review summarizes information on the effect of latest-generation A₃R ligands, not yet available in commerce, obtained by using different in vitro and in vivo models of various PNS- or CNS-related disorders. This review places particular focus on brain ischemia insults and colitis, where the prototypical A₃R agonist, Cl-IB-MECA, and antagonist, MRS1523, have been used in research studies as reference compounds to explore the effects of latest-generation ligands on this receptor. The advantages and weaknesses of these compounds in terms of therapeutic potential are discussed.     

Automated Synthesis of 68Ga-Labeled DOTA-MGS8 and Preclinical Characterization of Cholecystokinin-2 Receptor Targeting

The new minigastrin analog DOTA-MGS8 targeting the cholecystokinin-2 receptor (CCK2R) used in this study displays the combination of two site-specific modifications within the C-terminal receptor binding sequence together with an additional N-terminal amino acid substitution preventing fast metabolic degradation. Within this study, the preparation of ⁶⁸Ga-labeled DOTA-MGS8 was validated using an automated synthesis module, describing the specifications and analytical methods for quality control for possible clinical use. In addition, preclinical studies were carried out to characterize the targeting potential. [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-DOTA-MGS8 showed a high receptor-specific cell internalization into AR42J rat pancreatic cells (~40%) with physiological expression of rat CCK2R as well as A431-CCK2R cells transfected to stably express human CCK2R (~47%). A favorable biodistribution profile was observed in BALB/c nude mice xenografted with A431-CCK2R cells and mock-transfected A431 cells as control. The high tumor uptake of ~27% IA/g together with low background activity and limited uptake in non-target tissue confirms the potential for high-sensitivity positron emission tomography of stabilized MG analogs in patients with MTC and other CCK2R-related malignancies.