Superior gene transfection efficiency in triple negative breast cancer by RAFT-mediated amino acid-based cationic diblock copolymers.

To date, the synthesis of efficient and safe gene carriers with low toxicity and appreciable gene transfection efficiency has been the major hurdle associated with non-viral gene carriers. Herein, we synthesized three amino acid-based diblock copolymers comprising glycine-leucine, leucine-phenyl alanine and glycine-phenyl alanine group containing blocks. The synthesis of all the diblock copolymers was confirmed by FTIR, 1H NMR, DLS and GPC techniques. All the polymers showed a high positive zeta potential value that varies from 45 ± 1 mV to 56 ± 1 mV, and the hydrodynamic size of the polymers varies from 250 ± 8 to 303 ± 14 nm. The three polymers showed negligible cytotoxicity compared with PEI (25 kDa) for MDA-MB-231 and NKE cells. Among all other polymers, P(HGN)n-b-P(HPN)m exhibited the highest biocompatibility with ∼70% cell viability at a concentration of 200 µg mL-1. Hemolysis data revealed that among all three polymers, P(HGN)n-b-P(HPN)m exhibited the highest blood compatibility, while up to a high concentration of 200 µg mL-1, it showed a very negligible amount (∼18%) of hemolysis. Most importantly, excellent gene complexation capability and good protection of pDNA against enzymatic degradation were observed with all three diblock copolymers. Interestingly, P(HGN)n-b-P(HPN)m/pDNA complex showed the smallest particle size (∼15 nm) and highest positive zeta potential as observed from TEM micrographs and DLS analysis, which probably results significantly higher level of cellular uptake and hence the highest transfection efficiency (∼85%) against MDA-MB-231 cells. Therefore, the diblock copolymer P(HGN)n-b-P(HPN)m with superior gene transfection efficiency in triple negative breast cancer may be an efficient non-viral vector for successful TNBC therapy in the future.

Iron-containing mesoporous aluminosilicate catalyzed direct alkenylation of phenols: Facile synthesis of 1,1-diarylalkenes.

The addition of phenols to aryl-substituted alkynes to form 1,1-diarylalkenes was carried out by using the Fe-Al-MCM-41 catalyst. The catalyst showed remarkable improvement in time and yield in comparison to other solid catalysts. The heterogeneous catalyst can be reused at least three times without a significant loss in activity.

Iron-containing mesoporous aluminosilicate: a highly active and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for hydroarylation of styrenes.

Hydroarylation of various styrene derivatives has been successfully carried out in excellent yield using Fe-Al-MCM-41 catalyst. The C-H functionalization using solid heterogeneous catalyst provides a straightforward access to a series of important 1,1-diarylalkane products. The catalyst can be recovered and reused at least three times without any significant loss in its catalytic activity.