Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on oxidative damage and antioxidant defense systems in chickpea seedlings during cold stress

The effects of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) on physiologo-biochemical responses were studied in two chickpea (Cicer arietimun L.) genotypes differing in cold sensitivity (tolerant Sel11439 and sensitive ILC533) during cold stress (CS). The results showed that hydrogen peroxide and MDA contents and electrolyte leakage index (ELI) increased under CS conditions in both genotypes and that these damage indices were higher in ILC533 than in Sel11439 plants. In plants treated with TiO₂ NPs, a decreased H₂O₂ level was accompanied by a decrease in the MDA content and ELI compared to control plants, and these changes occurred more effectively in Sel11439 than in ILC533 plants. The antioxidant enzymes were more effective in cell protection against CS in Sel11439 plants compared to ILC533 plants, as well as in plants treated with TiO₂ NPs compared to control plants. The lipoxygenase activity was induced efficiently only in Sel11439 plants treated with TiO₂ NPs during CS, probably indicating its role in stress response (which was confirmed by measuring allen oxide synthase activity). TiO₂ NPs caused stability of chlorophyll and carotenoid contents during CS. Results suggest that TiO₂ NPs confer an increased tolerance of chickpea plants to CS, decreasing the level of injuries and increasing the capacity of defense systems.     

Evaluation of Curcumin Capped Copper Nanoparticles as Possible Inhibitors of Human Breast Cancer Cells and Angiogenesis: a Comparative Study with Native Curcumin

Synthesis of metal nanoparticles for improving therapeutic index and drug delivery is coming up as an attractive strategy in the mainstream of cancer therapeutic research. In the present study, curcumin-capped copper nanoparticles (CU-NPs) were evaluated as possible inhibitors of in vivo angiogenesis, pro-angiogenic cytokines involved in promoting tumor angiogenesis along with inhibition of cell proliferation and migration of breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. The antiangiogenic potential was assessed using in vivo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-based cytotoxicity assay was used to assess the effect of CU-NPs against proliferation of breast cancer cell line. The wound healing migration assay was used to evaluate the effects of CU-NPs on the migration ability of breast cancer cell line. Native curcumin (CU) was used as a reference compound for comparison purpose. The result of the present investigation indicates that CU-NPs could not demonstrate impressive antiangiogenic or anticancer activities significantly as compared to native CU. The possible mechanisms of experimental outcomes are discussed in the light of the methods of nanoparticle synthesis in concert with the current state of the art literature.     

In vivo augmentation of tumor-specific CTL responses by class I/peptide antigen complexes on microspheres (large multivalent immunogen)

Tumor membrane Ag immobilized on cell size microspheres (large multivalent immunogen (LMI)) was previously shown to augment tumor-specific CTL activity and reduce tumor growth, and a clinical trial examining this approach is in progress. In the current study, LMI treatment has been examined using adoptive transfer of TCR-transgenic CD8 T cells to visualize Ag-specific cells during the response. OT-I T cells specific for H-2K(b)/OVA(257-264) were transferred into mice that were then challenged with LMI made by immobilizing H-2K(b)/OVA(257-264) on microspheres (K(b)/OVA(257-264)-LMI) alone, or along with i.p. challenge with OVA-expressing E.G7 tumor. K(b)/OVA(257-264)-LMI caused significant reduction of tumor growth when administered to E.G7-bearing mice. When administered alone, the K(b)/OVA(257-264)-LMI caused only weak clonal expansion of OT-I cells in the spleen and lymph nodes, although most of the OT-I cells up-regulated expression of CD44 and VLA-4. In contrast, K(b)/OVA(257-264)-LMI administration to E.G7-bearing mice stimulated no detectable expansion of OT-I cells in the spleen and lymph nodes but caused a rapid increase in the number of OT-I cells in the peritoneal cavity, the site of the growing tumor. These results demonstrate the potential for using class I/tumor peptide complexes for immunotherapy. In addition, they suggest a model for the mechanism of CTL augmentation in which recognition of the LMI Ag results in altered trafficking of the tumor-specific CD8 T cells so that they reach the site of a growing tumor more rapidly and in greater numbers, where they may further expand and acquire effector function.     

Luminescence,circular dichroism and in silico studies of binding interaction of synthesized naphthylchalcone derivatives with bovine serum albumin

Chalcones possess various biological properties, for example, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, analgesic, antimalarial, anticancer, antiprotozoal and antitubercular activity. In this study, naphthylchalcone derivatives were synthesized and characterized using ¹H NMR ¹³C NMR, Fourier transform infrared and mass techniques. Yields for all derivatives were found to be >90%. Protein–drug interactions influence the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) properties of a drug. Therefore, to establish whether the synthesized naphthylchalcone derivatives can be used as drugs, their binding interaction toward a serum protein (bovine serum albumin) was investigated using fluorescence, circular dichroism and molecular docking techniques under physiological conditions. Fluorescence quenching of the protein in the presence of naphthylchalcone derivatives, and other derived parameters such as association constants, number of binding sites and static quenching involving confirmed non‐covalent binding interactions in the protein–ligand complex were observed. Circular dichroism clearly showed changes in the secondary structure of the protein in the presence of naphthylchalcones, indicating binding between the derivatives and the serum protein. Molecular modelling further confirmed the binding mode of naphthylchalcone derivatives in bovine serum albumin. A site‐specific molecular docking study of naphthylchalcone derivatives with serum albumin showed that binding took place primarily in the aromatic low helix and then in subdomain II. The dominance of hydrophobic, hydrophilic and hydrogen bonding was clearly visible and was responsible for stabilization of the complex.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel series of pyrazole chalcones as anti-inflammatory,antioxidant and antimicrobial agents

A novel series of 1-(2,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-3-(1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-propenone (3) have been prepared by the Claisen–Schmidt condensation of 1-(2,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-ethanone (1) and substituted 1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes (2). Substituted 1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehydes (2) were prepared by Vilsmeir–Haack reaction on acetophenonephenylhydrazones to offer the target compounds. The structures of the compounds were established by IR, ¹H NMR and mass spectral analysis. All the compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory (TNF-α and IL-6 inhibitory assays), antioxidant (DPPH free radical scavenging assay) and antimicrobial activities (agar diffusion method) against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Of 10 compounds screened, compounds 3a, 3c and 3g exhibited promising IL-6 inhibitory (35–70% inhibition, 10 μM), free radical scavenging (25–35% DPPH activity) and antimicrobial activities (MIC 100 μg/mL and 250 μg/mL) at varied concentrations. The structure–activity relationship (SAR) and in silico drug relevant properties (HBD, HBA, PSA, c Log P, molecular weight, E_HOMO and E_LUMO) further confirmed that the compounds are potential lead compounds for future drug discovery study. Toxicity of the compounds was evaluated theoretically and experimentally and revealed to be nontoxic except 3d and 3j.     

HER2-Specific Affibody-Conjugated Thermosensitive Liposomes (Affisomes) for Improved Delivery of Anticancer Agents

Thermosensitive liposomes are attractive vehicles for the delivery and release of drugs to tumors. To improvethe targeting efficacy for breast cancer treatment, an 8.3-kDa HER2-specific Affibody molecule (Z_HER2:342-Cys) was conjugated to the surface of liposomes. The effects of this modification on physical characteristics and stability of the resulting nanoparticles denoted as “Affisomes” were investigated. Thermosensitive small unilamellar vesicle (SUV) liposomes of (80–100 nm) a diameter consisting of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC, Tm 41°C) as the matrix lipid and a maleimide-conjugated pegylated phospholipid (DSPE-MaL-PEG2000) were prepared by probe sonication. Fluorescent probes were incorporated into liposomes for biophysical and/or biochemical analysis and/or triggered-release assays. Affibody was conjugated to these liposomes via its C-terminal cysteine by incubation in the presence of a reducing agent (e.g., tributylphosphine) for 16–20 hours under an argon atmosphere. Lipid-conjugated affibody molecule was visible as an 11.3-kDa band on a 4–12% Bis/Tris gel under reducing conditions. Affibody conjugation yields were?～70% at a protein-lipid ratio of 20 μg/mg, with an average number of 200 affibody molecules per Affisome. Affibody conjugation to thermosensitive liposomes did not have any significant effect on the hydrodynamic size distribution of the liposomes. Thermosensitivity of Affisomes was determined by monitoring the release of entrapped calcein (a water-soluble fluorescent probe, λex/em 490/515 nm) as a function of temperature. Calcein was released from Affisomes (thermosensitive liposomes with affibody-Targeted SUV) as well as nontargeted SUV (thermosensitive liposomes without affibody) in a temperature-dependent manner, with optimal leakage (90–100%) at 41°C. In contrast, liposomes prepared from Egg phosphatidyl choline (Egg PC, Tm?～0°C) under similar conditions released only 5–10% calcein at 41°C. Affisomes, when stored at room temperature, retained?>?90% entrapped calcein up to 7 days. Moreover, incubation of liposomes in phosphate-buffered saline, supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated serum (fetal bovine serum) did not result in a destabilization of liposomes. Therefore, Affisomes present promising, novel drug-delivery candidates for breast cancer targeting.     

The Wald Statistic in Proportional Hazards Hypothesis Testing

In survivorship modelling using the proportional hazards model of Cox (1972, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B, 34, 187–220), it is often desired to test a subset of the vector of unknown regression parameters β in the expression for the hazard rate at time t. The likelihood ratio test statistic is well behaved in most situations but may be expensive to calculate. The Wald (1943, Transactions of the American Mathematical Society 54, 426–482) test statistic is easier to calculate, but has some drawbacks. In testing a single parameter in a binomial logit model, Hauck and Donner (1977, Journal of the American Statistical Association 72, 851–853) show that the Wald statistic decreases to zero the further the parameter estimate is from the null and that the asymptotic power of the test decreases to the significance level. The Wald statistic is extensively used in statistical software packages for survivorship modelling and it is therefore important to understand its behavior. The present work examines empirically the behavior of the Wald statistic under various departures from the null hypothesis and under the presence of Type I censoring and covariates in the model. It is shown via examples that the Wald statistic's behavior is not as aberrant as found for the logistic model. For the single parameter case, the asymptotic non-null distribution of the Wald statistic is examined.     

Presence of divalent cation is not mandatory for the formation of intramolecular purine-motif triplex containing human c-jun protooncogene target

Modulation of endogenous gene function, through sequence-specific recognition of double helical DNA via oligonucleotide-directed triplex formation, is a promising approach. Compared to the formation of pyrimidine motif triplexes, which require relatively low pH, purine motif appears to be the most gifted for their stability under physiological conditions. Our previous work has demonstrated formation of magnesium-ion dependent highly stable intermolecular triplexes using a purine third strand of varied lengths, at the purine?pyrimidine (Pu?Py) targets of SIV/HIV-2 (vpx) genes (Svinarchuk, F., Monnot, M., Merle, A., Malvy, C., and Fermandjian, S. (1995) Nucleic Acids Res. 23, 3831-3836). Herein, we show that a designed intramolecular version of the 11-bp core sequence of the said targets, which also constitutes an integral, short, and symmetrical segment (G(2)AG(5)AG(2))?(C(2)TC(5)TC(2)) of human c-jun protooncogene forms a stable triplex, even in the absence of magnesium. The sequence d-C(2)TC(5)TC(2)T(5)G(2)AG(5)AG(2)T(5)G(2)AG(5)AG(2) (I-Pu) folds back twice onto itself to form an intramolecular triple helix via a double hairpin formation. The design ensures that the orientation of the intact third strand is antiparallel with respect to the oligopurine strand of the duplex. The triple helix formation has been revealed by non-denaturating gel assays, UV-thermal denaturation, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The monophasic melting curve, recorded in the presence of sodium, represented the dissociation of intramolecular triplex to single strand in one step; however, the addition of magnesium bestowed thermal stability to the triplex. Formation of intramolecular triple helix at neutral pH in sodium, with or without magnesium cations, was also confirmed by gel electrophoresis. The triplex, mediated by sodium alone, destabilizes in the presence of 5'-C(2)TC(5)TC(2)-3', an oligonucleotide complementary to the 3'-oligopurine segments of I-Pu, whereas in the presence of magnesium the triplex remained impervious. CD spectra showed the signatures of triplex structure with A-like DNA conformation. We suggest that the possible formation of pH and magnesium-independent purine-motif triplexes at genomic Pu?Py sequences may be pertinent to gene regulation.