Physicochemical and MRI characterization of Gd<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-loaded polyamidoamine and hyperbranched dendrimers

Generation 4 polyamidoamine (PAMAM) and, for the first time, hyperbranched poly(ethylene imine) or polyglycerol dendrimers have been loaded with Gd³⁺ chelates, and the macromolecular adducts have been studied in vitro and in vivo with regard to MRI contrast agent applications. The Gd³⁺ chelator was either a tetraazatetracarboxylate DOTA-pBn⁴⁻ or a tetraazatricarboxylate monoamide DO3A-MA³⁻ unit. The water exchange rate was determined from a ¹⁷O NMR and ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion study for the corresponding monomer analogues [Gd(DO3A-AEM)(H₂O)] and [Gd(DOTA-pBn-NH₂)(H₂O)]⁻ (k _ex²⁹⁸ = 3.4 and 6.6 × 10⁶ s⁻¹, respectively), where H₃DO3A-AEM is {4-[(2-acetylaminoethylcarbamoyl)methyl]-7,10-bis(carboxymethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododec-1-yl)}-acetic acid and H₄DOTA-pBn-NH₂ is 2-(4-aminobenzyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid. For the macromolecular complexes, variable-field proton relaxivities have been measured and analyzed in terms of local and global motional dynamics by using the Lipari–Szabo approach. At frequencies below 100 MHz, the proton relaxivities are twice as high for the dendrimers loaded with the negatively charged Gd(DOTA-pBn)⁻ in comparison with the analogous molecule bearing the neutral Gd(DO3A-MA). We explained this difference by the different rotational dynamics: the much slower motion of Gd(DOTA-pBn)⁻-loaded dendrimers is likely related to the negative charge of the chelate which creates more rigidity and increases the overall size of the macromolecule compared with dendrimers loaded with the neutral Gd(DO3A-MA). Attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) chains to the dendrimers does not influence relaxivity. Both hyperbranched structures were found to be as good scaffolds as regular PAMAM dendrimers in terms of the proton relaxivity of the Gd³⁺ complexes. The in vivo MRI studies on tumor-bearing mice at 4.7 T proved that all dendrimeric complexes are suitable for angiography and for the study of vasculature parameters like blood volume and permeability of tumor vessels. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

嗜酸乳杆菌活菌制剂保护剂及其工艺的研究

为提高嗜酸乳杆菌片剂的活菌存活率,延长其有效期,在制备过程中添加两组保护剂并对其配方进行了优化.首先利用数学统计方法Plackett-Burman设计,对扩大培养时加入的8种材料及制剂压片时的12种材料的保护效果进行评价,分别筛选出影响嗜酸乳杆菌存活率的重要因素;接着用均匀设计法进一步得到这些重要因素的最适百分比.验证试验表明:扩大培养时加入氯化钠0.3％、甘露醇0.4％、麦芽糖3.5％有显著保护作用;制剂压片时加入抗坏血酸1.0％、蔗糖35.0％有显著保护作用.     

海洋固氮菌和解磷菌的分离鉴定及发酵条件优化

【目的】从西沙喜盐草根际沉积物中分离纯化得到具有高效固氮能力及解磷能力的菌株。优化其发酵培养条件,研究其制备海洋微生物菌剂的可能性。【方法】从形态学特征、生理生化、16S rDNA及功能基因水平进行鉴定,通过乙炔还原法、钼锑抗显色法检测菌株的固氮酶活性和解磷能力,单因素法和响应面法优化其发酵培养条件,溶血试验和急性毒性实验鉴定菌株的安全性。【结果】结果表明,菌株AZ16属于星箭头菌(Sagittula stellate),革兰氏阴性菌,选择性固氮培养基中菌落呈黄圆形黏稠状,固氮酶活性达34.63 nmol C2H2/(mL·h),最适生长条件为:盐度25‰、pH 7.5、温度33°C、接种量5.0%;菌株XT37为海洋芽孢杆菌(Bacillus sp.),革兰氏阳性菌,选择性固氮培养基中菌落呈深黄色圆形褶皱,植酸酶活性达239.49μg/L,最适合生长条件为:盐度25‰、pH 6.7、温度28°C、接种量5.0%。溶血实验和急性毒性实验证明两株菌属实际无毒级别。【结论】两株菌具有高效的固氮解磷功能,以及抗高盐、强碱等环境的能力,安全无毒,因此有潜力应用于多功能混合微生物菌剂的研制。     

Effects of biocontrol agents on lipid and protein composition of Indian mustard seeds from plants infected with Alternaria species

Field experiments were carried out with Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Cv RLM 1359) to investigate the influence of biocontrol agents on seeds from plants infected with Alternaria blight. The biocontrol agents viz, Trichoderma harzianum, Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis were applied as seed treatment/seed treatment coupled with spray on 30 and 60 days after sowing of seeds in experimental fields. The plants treated with different biocontrol agents were more developed than non-treated plants throughout the experiment. Biochemical analysis revealed that application of biocontrol agents resulted in increase in lipid and protein content in seeds from treated plants. The proportion of various lipidic fractions i.e. phospholipids, glycolipids and sterol content in seeds increased with a corresponding decrease in total glycerides. The proportion of 18:3, 20:1 and 22:1 fatty acids increased while that of 18:1 and 18:2 fatty acids decreased in seeds with application of biocontrol agents. There were both qualitative and quantitative differences in the banding patterns of albumin and globulin proteins after application of biocontrol agents. The data suggested that biochemical alterations in the host induced by treatment with biocontrol agents could be associated with defence mechanisms and enhanced growth of the plant.     

Sulfocoumarins as dual inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase isoforms IX/XII and of human thioredoxin reductase

Abstract

The hypothesis that sulfocoumarin acting as inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) cancer-associated isoforms hCA IX and – hCA XII is being able to also inhibit thioredoxin reductase was verified and confirmed. The dual targeting of two cancer cell defence mechanisms, i.e. hypoxia and oxidative stress, may both contribute to the observed antiproliferative profile of these compounds against many cancer cell lines. This unprecedented dual anticancer mechanism may lead to a new approach for designing innovative therapeutic agents.     

3种芽孢杆菌菌剂对望天树苗木生长和光合特性的影响

为加快望天树(Parashorea chinensis)幼苗的生长,采用随机区组试验设计,1.5 a生望天树实生苗分别接种胶质芽孢杆菌(Bacillusmucilaginosus)、侧孢芽孢杆菌(B.laterosporus)和巨大芽孢杆菌(B.megaterium)菌剂。结果表明,3种芽孢杆菌菌剂处理对苗木的生长、光合指标均有提高,其中苗高、地径增量分别较对照提高了30.2%～57.2%和5.3%～49.7%,根系活力提高了74.5%～227.4%,净光合速率提高了15.3%～227.6%。6.0×109cfu/g的巨大芽孢杆菌处理的苗高、地径、生物量、根表面积、根平均直径、叶面积、叶绿素含量及净光合速率、实际光合效率、光化学淬灭系数均表现最好,与苗木质量指数和隶属函数法分析结果一致。因此,6.0×109 cfu/g巨大芽孢杆菌对望天树苗木生长发育的促进作用最大。     

Novel strategies for inhibition of bacterial biofilm in chronic rhinosinusitis

An important role has been recently reported for bacterial biofilm in the pathophysiology of chronic diseases, such as chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). CRS, affecting sinonasal mucosa, is a persistent inflammatory condition with a high prevalence around the world. Although the exact pathological mechanism of this disease has not been elicited yet, biofilm formation is known to lead to a more significant symptom burden and major objective clinical indicators. The high prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria has severely restricted the application of antibiotics in recent years. Furthermore, systemic antibiotic therapy, on top of its insufficient concentration to eradicate bacteria in the sinonasal biofilm, often causes toxicity, antibiotic resistance, and an effect on the natural microbiota, in patients. Thus, coming up with alternative therapeutic options instead of systemic antibiotic therapy is emphasized in the treatment of bacterial biofilm in CRS patients. The use of topical antibiotic therapy and antibiotic eluting sinus stents that induce higher antibiotic concentration, and decrease side effects could be helpful. Besides, recent research recognized that various natural products, nitric oxide, and bacteriophage therapy, in addition to the hindered biofilm formation, could degrade the established bacterial biofilm. However, despite these improvements, new antibacterial agents and CRS biofilm interactions are complicated and need extensive research. Finally, most studies were performed in vitro, and more preclinical animal models and human studies are required to confirm the collected data. The present review is specifically discussing potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of bacterial biofilm in CRS patients.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of 4′-OH-flurbiprofen-chalcone hybrids as potential multifunctional agents for Alzheimer’s disease treatment

A series of 4′-OH-flurbiprofen-chalcone hybrids were designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential multifunctional agents for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The biological screening results indicated that most of these hybrids exhibited good multifunctional activities. Among them, compounds 7k and 7m demonstrated the best inhibitory effects on self-induced Aβ_1–42 aggregation (60.0% and 78.2%, respectively) and Cu²⁺-induced Aβ_1–42 aggregation (52.4% and 95.0%, respectively). Moreover, these two representative compounds also exhibited good antioxidant activities, MAO inhibitions, biometal chelating abilities and anti-neuroinflammatory activities in vitro. Furthermore, compound 7m displayed appropriate blood-brain barrier permeability. These multifunctional properties highlight compound 7k and 7m as promising candidates for further development of multi-functional drugs against AD.     

Chemical agents that inhibit pollen development: effects of the phenyl-cinnoline carboxylates SC-1058 and SC-1271 on the ultrastructure of developing wheat anthers (Triticum aestivum L. var Yecora rojò)

Summary Phenylcinnoline carboxylate compounds SC-1058 and SC-1271 cause complete male sterility in wheat when applied at suitable dosages at the pre-meiotic stage of anther development. Anthers from treated and untreated plants were compared using light and electron microscopy from the pre-meiotic stage through the formation of nearly mature pollen. Overall anther development is gradually slowed in treated plants and pollen development is generally arrested in the late prevacuolate or early vacuolate microspore stage, although the first pollen mitosis does sometimes occur. The sporopollenin-containing exine walls are thinner, and show abnormally developed foot and tectum layers with sparse connecting baculi. Microspore cytoplasm degenerates and the cells eventually collapse. At the early, prevacuolate, free microspore stage treated tapetal cells hypertrophy, expanding into the locule. They contain abnormally large vacuoles that appear to form from the fusion of secretory vesicles, and some vacuoles contain electrondense deposits. The sporopollenin-containing orbicular wall and Ubisch bodies are retarded in their development and are structurally deformed. Acetolysis of whole anthers and of thick sections shows that the sporopollen-in-containing structures of treated materials are greatly reduced in thickness and are less rigid than in the control. We conclude that application of these compounds causes interference with the secretory function of tapetal cells which supplies sporopollenin cell-wall polymers to the exine of the microspores and to the tapetal orbicular wall and associated Ubisch bodies. Interference with the tapetal secretion of other nutrients required for microspore development is strongly suggested.