Direct competitive chemiluminescence immunoassays based on gold‐coated magnetic particles for detection of chloramphenicol

Direct competitive chemiluminescence immunoassays (CLIA) based on gold‐coated magnetic nanospheres (Au‐MNPs) were developed for rapid analysis of chloramphenicol (CAP). The Au‐MNPs were modified with carboxyl groups and amino groups by 11‐mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) and cysteamine respectively, and then were respectively conjugated with CAP base and CAP succinate via an activating reaction using 1‐ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). NSP‐DMAE‐NHS, a new and effective luminescence reagent, was employed to label anti‐CAP antibody (mAb) as a tracer in direct CLIA for CAP detection using a ‘homemade’ luminescent measurement system that was set up with a photomultiplier tube (PMT) and a photon counting unit linked to a computer. The sensitivities and limits of detection (LODs) of the two methods were obtained and compared according to the inhibition curves. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values of the two methods were about 0.044 ng/mL and 0.072 ng/mL respectively and LODs were approximately 0.001 ng/mL and 0.006 ng/mL respectively. To our knowledge, they were much more sensitive than any traditional enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ever reported. Moreover, the new luminescence reagent NSP‐DMAE‐NHS is much more sensitive and stable than luminol and its derivatives, contributing to the sensitivity enhancement. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Investigation on the interaction of letrozole with herring sperm DNA through spectroscopic and modeling methods

The interaction of letrozole, an efficient and safe aromatase inhibitor, with herring sperm DNA (hsDNA) was investigated in vitro through spectroscopy analysis and molecular modeling to elucidate the binding mechanism of anticancer drugs and DNA. The binding constant and the number of binding sites were 2.13 × 10⁴ M^?1 and 1.09, respectively, at 298 K. Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS) exhibited negative values, which indicated that binding was spontaneous and Van der Waals forces and hydrogen bond were the main interaction forces. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and other spectroscopy analysis methods illustrated that letrozole could intercalate into the phosphate backbone of hsDNA and interact with the nitrogenous bases. Consistent with the experimental findings, molecular modeling results demonstrated that the interaction was dominated by intercalation and hydrogen bonding. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fluorescence spectroscopy and docking study in two flavonoids,isolated tectoridin and its aglycone tectorigenin,interacting with human serum albumin: a comparison study

Two flavonoids, tectoridin (TD) isolated from rhizomes of Iris tectorum and hydrolyzed aglycone tectorigenin (TG) were prepared and characterized to compare their different interaction ability with human serum albumin (HSA). Based on the results, the affinity of TG–HSA was stronger than that of TD–HAS, and TG combined more closely with HSA than did TD. HSA fluorescence was quenched by TD/TG. The interactions between TD/TG and HSA involved static quenching. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that both binding processes were spontaneous; hydrogen binding and van der Waals force were the main forces between TD and HSA, whereas a hydrophobic interaction was the main binding force between TG and HSA. Synchronous and 3D fluorescence spectra showed that the binding of TD/TG to HSA induced conformational changes. Moreover, a docking study confirmed the experimental results. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Construction of photodynamic‐effect immunofluorescence probes by a complex of quantum dots,immunoglobulin G and chlorin e6 and their application in HepG2 cell killing

In this study, tri‐functional immunofluorescent probes (Ce6–IgG–QDs) based on covalent combinations of quantum dots (QDs), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and chlorin e6 (Ce6) were developed and their photodynamic ability to induce the death of cancer cells was demonstrated. Strategically, one type of second‐generation photosensitizer, Ce6, was first coupled with anti‐IgG antibody using the EDC/NHS cross‐linking method to construct the photosensitive immunoconjugate Ce6–IgG. Then, a complex of Ce6–IgG–QDs immunofluorescent probes was obtained in succession by covalently coupling Ce6–IgG to water soluble CdTe QDs. The as‐manufactured Ce6–IgG–QDs maintained the bio‐activities of both the antigen–antibody‐based tumour targeting effects of IgG and the photodynamic‐related anticancer activities of Ce6. By way of polyclonal antibody interaction with rabbit anti‐human epidermal growth factor receptor (anti‐EGFR antibody, N‐terminus), Ce6–IgG–QDs were labelled indirectly onto the surface of human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells in cell recognition and killing experiments. The results indicated that the Ce6–IgG–QDs probes have excellent tumour cell selectivity and higher photosensitivity in photodynamic therapy (PDT) compared with Ce6 alone, due to their antibody‐based specific recognition and location of HepG2 cells and the photodynamic effects of Ce6 killed cells based on efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer between QDs and Ce6. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Regulating the Skin Permeation Rate of Escitalopram by Ion-pair Formation with Organic Acids

In order to regulate the skin permeation rate (flux) of escitalopram (ESP), ion-pair strategy was used in our work. Five organic acids with different physicochemical properties, benzoic acid (BA), ibuprofen (IB), salicylic acid (SA), benzenesulfonic acid (BSA), and p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), were employed as counter-ions to regulate the permeation rate of ESP across the rabbit abdominal skin in vitro. The interaction between ESP and organic acids was characterized by FTIR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Results showed that all organic acids investigated in this study performed a controlling effect on ESP flux. To further analyze the factors concerned with the permeation capability of ESP-acid complex, a multiple linear regression model was used. It is concluded that the steady-state flux (J) of ESP-acid complexes had a positive correlation with log K _o/w (the n-octanol/water partition coefficient of ion-pair complex) and pK _a (the acidity of organic acid counter-ion), but a negative correlation with MW (the molecular weight of ion-pair complex). The logK _o/w of ion-pair complex is the primary one in all the factors that influence the skin permeation rate of ESP. The results demonstrated that organic acid with appropriate physicochemical properties can be considered as suitable candidate for the transdermal drug delivery of escitalopram.     

LncRNA NONRATT021972 involved the pathophysiologic processes mediated by P2X<Subscript>7</Subscript> receptors in stellate ganglia after myocardial ischemic injury

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) acts on P2X receptors to initiate signal transmission. P2X₇ receptors play a role in the pathophysiological process of myocardial ischemic injury. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in numerous biological functions independent of protein translation. LncRNAs are implicated in nervous system diseases. This study investigated the effects of NONRATT021972 small interference RNA (siRNA) on the pathophysiologic processes mediated by P2X₇ receptors in stellate ganglia (SG) after myocardial ischemic injury. Our results demonstrated that the expression of NONRATT021972 in SG was significantly higher in the myocardial ischemic (MI) group than in the control group. Treatment of MI rats with NONRATT021972 siRNA, the P2X₇ antagonist brilliant blue G (BBG), or P2X₇ siRNA improved the histology of injured ischemic cardiac tissues and decreased the elevated concentrations of serum myocardial enzymes, creatine kinase (CK), CK isoform MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) compared to the MI rats. NONRATT021972 siRNA, BBG, or P2X₇ siRNA treatment in MI rats decreased the expression levels of P2X₇ immunoreactivity, P2X₇ messenger RNA (mRNA), and P2X₇ protein, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) in the SG compared to MI rats. NONRATT021972 siRNA treatment prevented the pathophysiologic processes mediated by P2X₇ receptors in the SG after myocardial ischemic injury.     

High glucose concentration induces endothelial cell proliferation by regulating cyclin‐D2‐related miR‐98

Cyclin D2 is involved in the pathology of vascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study investigated the role of cyclin‐D2‐regulated miRNAs in endothelial cell proliferation of T2DM. Results showed that higher glucose concentration (4.5 g/l) significantly promoted the proliferation of rat aortic endothelial cells (RAOECs), and significantly increased the expression of cyclin D2 and phosphorylation of retinoblastoma 1 (p‐RB1) in RAOECs compared with those under low glucose concentration. The cyclin D2‐3′ untranslated region is targeted by miR‐98, as demonstrated by miRNA analysis software. Western blot also confirmed that cyclin D2 and p‐RB1 expression was regulated by miR‐98. The results indicated that miR‐98 treatment can induce RAOEC apoptosis. The suppression of RAOEC growth by miR‐98 might be related to regulation of Bcl‐2, Bax and Caspase 9 expression. Furthermore, the expression levels of miR‐98 decreased in 4.5 g/l glucose‐treated cells compared with those treated by low glucose concentration. Similarly, the expression of miR‐98 significantly decreased in aortas of established streptozotocin (STZ)‐induced diabetic rat model compared with that in control rats; but cyclin D2 and p‐RB1 levels remarkably increased in aortas of STZ‐induced diabetic rats compared with those in healthy control rats. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that high glucose concentration induces cyclin D2 up‐regulation and miR‐98 down‐regulation in the RAOECs. By regulating cyclin D2, miR‐98 can inhibit human endothelial cell growth, thereby providing novel therapeutic targets for vascular complication of T2DM.