Synthesis of Triphenylphosphonium Phospholipid Conjugates for the Preparation of Mitochondriotropic Liposomes.

Surface modification of liposomes with a ligand is facilitated by the conjugation of the ligand to a hydrophobic molecule that serves to anchor the ligand to the liposomal bilayer. We describe here a simple protocol to conjugate a triphenylphosphonium group to several commercially available functionalized phospholipids. The resulting triphenylphosphonium-conjugated lipids can be used to prepare liposomes that preferentially associate with mitochondria when exposed to live mammalian cells in culture.

Survival of Del17p CLL Depends on Genomic Complexity and Somatic Mutation.

PURPOSE: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with 17p deletion typically progresses quickly and is refractory to most conventional therapies. However, some del(17p) patients do not progress for years, suggesting that del(17p) is not the only driving event in CLL progression. We hypothesize that other concomitant genetic abnormalities underlie the clinical heterogeneity of del(17p) CLL. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We profiled the somatic mutations and copy number alterations (CNA) in a large group of del(17p) CLLs as well as wild-type CLL and analyzed the genetic basis of their clinical heterogeneity. RESULTS: We found that increased somatic mutation number associates with poor overall survival independent of 17p deletion (P = 0.003). TP53 mutation was present in 81% of del(17p) CLL, mostly clonal (82%), and clonal mutations with del(17p) exhibit shorter overall survival than subclonal mutations with del(17p) (P = 0.019). Del(17p) CLL has a unique driver mutation profile, including NOTCH1 (15%), RPS15 (12%), DDX3X (8%), and GPS2 (6%). We found that about half of del(17p) CLL cases have recurrent deletions at 3p, 4p, or 9p and that any of these deletions significantly predicts shorter overall survival. In addition, the number of CNAs, but not somatic mutations, predicts shorter time to treatment among patients untreated at sampling. Indolent del(17p) CLLs were characterized by absent or subclonal TP53 mutation and few CNAs, with no difference in somatic mutation number. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that del(17p) has a unique genomic profile and that clonal TP53 mutations, 3p, 4p, or 9p deletions, and genomic complexity are associated with shorter overall survival. Clin Cancer Res; 23(3); 735-45. ©2016 AACR.

Hydrophobized triphenyl phosphonium derivatives for the preparation of mitochondriotropic liposomes: choice of hydrophobic anchor influences cytotoxicity but not mitochondriotropic effect.

CONTEXT: Nanocarrier-based strategies to achieve delivery of bioactives specifically to the mitochondria are being increasingly explored due to the importance of mitochondria in critical cellular processes. OBJECTIVE: To test the ability of liposomes modified with newly synthesized triphenylphosphonium (TPP)-phospholipid conjugates and to test their use in overcoming the cytotoxicity of stearyl triphenylphosphonium (STPP)-modified liposomes when used for delivery of therapeutic molecules to the mitochondria. METHODS: TPP-phospholipid conjugates with the dioleoyl, dimyristoyl or dipalmitoyl lipid moieties were synthesized and liposomes were prepared with these conjugates in a 1 mol% ratio. The subcellular distribution of the liposomes was tested by confocal microscopy. Furthermore, the liposomes were tested for their effect on cell viability using a MTS assay, on cell membrane integrity using a lactate dehydrogenase assay and on mitochondrial membrane integrity using a modified JC-1 assay. RESULTS: The liposomes modified with the new TPP-phospholipid conjugates exhibited similar mitochondriotropism as STPP-liposomes but they were more biocompatible as compared to the STPP liposomes. While the STPP-liposomes had a destabilizing effect on cell and mitochondrial membranes, the liposomes modified with the TPP-phospholipid conjugates did not demonstrate any such effect on biomembranes. CONCLUSIONS: Using phospholipid anchors in the synthesis of TPP-lipid conjugates can provide liposomes that exhibit the same mitochondrial targeting ability as STPP but with much higher biocompatibility.

Synthesis of triphenylphosphonium phospholipid conjugates for the preparation of mitochondriotropic liposomes.

Surface modification of liposomes with a ligand is facilitated by the conjugation of the ligand to a hydrophobic molecule that serves to anchor the ligand to the liposomal bilayer. We describe here a simple protocol to conjugate a triphenylphosphonium group to several commercially available functionalized phospholipids. The resulting triphenylphosphonium conjugated lipids can be used to prepare liposomes that preferentially associate with mitochondria when exposed to live mammalian cells in culture.

3D tumor models: history, advances and future perspectives.

Evaluation of cancer therapeutics by utilizing 3D tumor models, before clinical studies, could be more advantageous than conventional 2D tumor models (monolayer cultures). The 3D systems mimic the tumor microenvironment more closely than 2D systems. The following review discusses the various 3D tumor models present today with the advantages and limitations of each. 3D tumor models replicate the elements of a tumor microenvironment such as hypoxia, necrosis, angiogenesis and cell adhesion. The review introduces application of techniques such as microfluidics, imaging and tissue engineering to improve the 3D tumor models. Despite their tremendous potential to better screen chemotherapeutics, 3D tumor models still have a long way to go before they are used commonly as in vitro tumor models in pharmaceutical industrial research.

Ion Exchange Resins Transforming Drug Delivery Systems.

Ion-exchange resins are light, porous, three-dimensional high molecular weight cross - linked matrix of hydrocarbon chains carrying positively or negatively charged sites that can attract an ion of opposite charge from the surrounding medium. There is stoichiometric exchange of mobile ions between the solid and the solution called as Ion-exchange which does not lead to any radical change in the properties and structure of the solid. Depending upon the type of Ionexchanged it can be either Cation-exchange or Anion-exchange. They are prepared in the form of granules, beads or sheets. As drug delivery systems they have received considerable attention after the 1950s due to their inertness, freedom from side effects, high drug loading capacity, ease of sterilization and the fact that their structure can be easily altered to achieve the desired drug release characteristics. Their use is revolutionizing all traditional delivery systems namely - oral, nasal, ophthalmic and parenteral. Ion- exchange resins have been used for the development of novel drug delivery systems (NDDSs), to modify the characteristics of the dosage form and various other biomedical applications. The present article deals with the varied applications of ion-exchange resins for taste making, as resinates (simple and microencapsulated or coated), Pennkinetic systems, in selective recovery of pharmaceuticals, in pH and ionic strength responsive systems, in gastro-retentive systems, in hollow fiber systems, as sigmoidal release systems, as site specific delivery systems and as inotophoretically assisted transdermal drug delivery systems. They also have an immense importance when used as disintegrants / superdisintegrants in formulation of orodispersible tablets, powder processing aids and in the dissolution and stabilization of drugs.