Formulation of Sugar/Hydrogel Inks for Rapid Thermal Response 4D Architectures with Sugar-derived Macropores.

Programmed, reshaping hydrogel architectures were fabricated from sugar/hydrogel inks via a three-dimensional printing method involving a stimuli-responsive polymer. We developed a new hydrogel ink composed of monomers (acrylamide [AAm]) and N-isopropylacrylamide [NIPAAm]), and sugar (mixture of glucose and sucrose) as a pore-generator, enabling to improve printability by increasing the ink's viscoelastic properties and induce the formation of macropores in the hydrogel architectures. This study demonstrated that creating macropores in such architectures enables rapid responses to stimuli that can facilitate four-dimensional printing. We printed bilayer structures from monomer inks to which we had added sugar, and we exposed them to processes that cross-linked the monomers and leached out the sugar to create macropores. In comparison with a conventional poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel, the macroporous hydrogels prepared using polymerization in the presence of a high concentration of sugar showed higher swelling ratios and exhibited much faster response rates to temperature changes. We used rheometry and scanning electron microscopy to characterize the properties of these inks and hydrogels. The results suggest that this method may provide a readily available route to the rapid design and fabrication of shape-morphing hydrogel architectures with potential application in soft robotics, hydrogel actuators, and tissue engineering.

Electrically conductive nanomaterials for cardiac tissue engineering.

Patient deaths resulting from cardiovascular diseases are increasing across the globe, posing the greatest risk to patients in developed countries. Myocardial infarction, as a result of inadequate blood flow to the myocardium, results in irreversible loss of cardiomyocytes which can lead to heart failure. A sequela of myocardial infarction is scar formation that can alter the normal myocardial architecture and result in arrhythmias. Over the past decade, a myriad of tissue engineering approaches has been developed to fabricate engineered scaffolds for repairing cardiac tissue. This paper highlights the recent application of electrically conductive nanomaterials (carbon and gold-based nanomaterials, and electroactive polymers) to the development of scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering. Moreover, this work summarizes the effects of these nanomaterials on cardiac cell behavior such as proliferation and migration, as well as cardiomyogenic differentiation in stem cells.

A simple layer-stacking technique to generate biomolecular and mechanical gradients in photocrosslinkable hydrogels.

Physicochemical and biological gradients are desirable features for hydrogels to enhance their relevance to biological environments for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture. Therefore, simple and efficient techniques to generate chemical, physical and biological gradients within hydrogels are highly desirable. This work demonstrates a technique to generate biomolecular and mechanical gradients in photocrosslinkable hydrogels by stacking and crosslinking prehydrogel solution in a layer by layer manner. Partial crosslinking of the hydrogel allows mixing of prehydrogel solution with the previous hydrogel layer, which makes a smooth gradient profile, rather than discrete layers. This technique enables the generation of concentration gradients of bovine serum albumin in both gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels, as well as mechanical gradients across a hydrogel containing varying gel concentrations. Fluorescence microscopy, mechanical testing, and scanning electron microscopy show that the gradient profiles can be controlled by changing both the volume and concentration of each layer as well as intensity of UV exposure. GelMA hydrogel gradients with different Young's moduli were successfully used to culture human fibroblasts. The fibroblasts migrated along the gradient axis and showed different morphologies. In general, the proposed technique provides a rapid and simple approach to design and fabricate 3D hydrogel gradients for in vitro biological studies and potentially for in vivo tissue engineering applications.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of quinolinone and quinoline-based P2X7 receptor antagonists and their anti-sphere formation activities in glioblastoma cells.

Screening a compound library of quinolinone derivatives identified compound 11a as a new P2X7 receptor antagonist. To optimize its activity, we assessed structure-activity relationships (SAR) at three different positions, R1, R2 and R3, of the quinolinone scaffold. SAR analysis suggested that a carboxylic acid ethyl ester group at the R1 position, an adamantyl carboxamide group at R2 and a 4-methoxy substitution at the R3 position are the best substituents for the antagonism of P2X7R activity. However, because most of the quinolinone derivatives showed low inhibitory effects in an IL-1ß ELISA assay, the core structure was further modified to a quinoline skeleton with chloride or substituted phenyl groups. The optimized antagonists with the quinoline scaffold included 2-chloro-5-adamantyl-quinoline derivative (16c) and 2-(4-hydroxymethylphenyl)-5-adamantyl-quinoline derivative (17k), with IC50 values of 4 and 3 nM, respectively. In contrast to the quinolinone derivatives, the antagonistic effects of the quinoline compounds (16c and 17k) were paralleled by their ability to inhibit the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1ß, from LPS/IFN-γ/BzATP-stimulated THP-1 cells (IC50 of 7 and 12 nM, respectively). In addition, potent P2X7R antagonists significantly inhibited the sphere size of TS15-88 glioblastoma cells.

Fabrication of Millimeter-Long Carbon Tubular Nanostructures Using the Self-Rolling Process Inherent in Elastic Protein Layers.

Millimeter-long conducting fibers can be fabricated from carbon nanomaterials via a simple method involving the release of a prestrained protein layer. This study shows how a self-rolling process initiated by polymerization of a micropatterned layer of fibronectin (FN) results in the production of carbon nanomaterial-based microtubular fibers. The process begins with deposition of carbon nanotube (CNT) or graphene oxide (GO) particles on the FN layer. Before polymerization, particles are discrete and nonconducting, but after polymerization the carbon materials become entangled to form an interconnected conducting network clad by FN. Selective removal of FN using high-temperature combustion yields freestanding CNT or reduced GO microtubular fibers. The properties of these fibers are characterized using atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The data suggest that this method may provide a ready route to rapid design and fabrication of aligned biohybrid nanomaterials potentially useful for future electronic applications.

Discovery of Potent Antiallodynic Agents for Neuropathic Pain Targeting P2X3 Receptors.

Antagonism of the P2X3 receptor is one of the potential therapeutic strategies for the management of neuropathic pain because P2X3 receptors are predominantly localized on small to medium diameter C- and Aδ-fiber primary afferent neurons, which are related to the pain-sensing system. In this study, 5-hydroxy pyridine derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their in vitro biological activities by two-electrode voltage clamp assay at hP2X3 receptors. Among the novel hP2X3 receptor antagonists, intrathecal treatment of compound 29 showed parallel efficacy with pregabalin (calcium channel modulator) and higher efficacy than AF353 (P2X3 receptor antagonist) in the evaluation of its antiallodynic effects in spinal nerve ligation rats. However, because compound 29 was inactive by intraperitoneal administration in neuropathic pain animal models due to low cell permeability, the corresponding methyl ester analogue, 28, which could be converted to compound 29 in vivo, was investigated as a prodrug concept. Intravenous injection of compound 28 resulted in potent antiallodynic effects, with ED50 values of 2.62 and 2.93 mg/kg in spinal nerve ligation and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy rats, respectively, indicating that new drug development targeting the P2X3 receptor could be promising for neuropathic pain, a disease with high unmet medical needs.

Semiconductor Photonic Nanocavity on a Paper Substrate.

Direct integration of semiconductor photonic nanocavities with paper substrates is demonstrated for the first time. 1D photonic crystal nanocavities successfully show lasing action on paper substrates. The device has great synergy as a sensor because paper has good wicking ability while a photonic crystal cavity has high figure of merit. The research provides a platform for eco-friendly and sustainable devices.

Discovery and structure-activity relationship studies of quinolinone derivatives as potent IL-2 suppressive agents.

The quinolinone skeleton has been utilized to develop various mechanism-based immune modulators. However, the effects of quinolinone derivatives on the release of T cell-associated interleukin-2 (IL-2) have not been established. In this study, a series of novel quinolinone derivatives was synthesized, and their immunosuppressive activity was evaluated by measuring suppression of IL-2 release from activated Jurkat T cells. Optimizing the three side chains around the quinolinone skeleton revealed the most active compound: 11l. This compound exhibits potent inhibitory activity toward IL-2 release in both 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (PMA)/A23187 (ionomycin) (IC50=80±10nM) and anti-CD3/CD28-stimulated Jurkat T cells (83% inhibition at 10µM) without cytotoxic effects. Further investigation into the underlying mechanism of 11l indicated the suppression of NF-κB and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) promoter activities in Jurkat T cells.

The discovery of 2,5-isomers of triazole-pyrrolopyrimidine as selective Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitors versus JAK1 and JAK3.

Members of the Janus kinase (JAK) family are potential therapeutic targets. Abnormal signaling by mutant JAK2 is related to hematological malignancy, such as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We discovered a potent and highly selective inhibitor of JAK2 over JAK1 and -3 based on the structure of 4-(2,5-triazole)-pyrrolopyrimidine. Among all triazole compounds tested, 2,5-triazole regioisomers more effectively inhibited JAK2 kinase activity than isomers with substitutions of various alkyl groups at the R2 position, except for methyl-substituted 1,5-triazole, which was more potent than the corresponding 1,4- and 2,5-triazoles. None of the synthesized 1,4-isomers inhibited all three JAK family members. Compounds with phenyl or tolyl group substituents at the R1 position were completely inactive compared with the corresponding analogues with a methyl substituted at the R1 position. As a result of this structure-activity relationship, 54, which is substituted with a cyclopropylmethyl moiety, exhibited significant inhibitory activity and selectivity (IC50=41.9nM, fold selectivity JAK1/2 10.6 and JAK3/2 58.1). Compound 54 also exhibited an equivalent inhibition of wild type JAK2 and the V617F mutant. Moreover, 54 inhibited the proliferation of HEL 92.1.7 cells, which carry JAK2 V617F, and gefitinib-resistant HCC827 cells. Compound 54 also suppressed STAT3 phosphorylation at Y705.

Erratum: Extracellular Matrix Revisited: Roles in Tissue Engineering.

[This corrects the article on p. S23 in vol. 20, PMID: 27230457.].

Potent Suppressive Effects of 1-Piperidinylimidazole Based Novel P2X7 Receptor Antagonists on Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion.

The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) has been reported as a key mediator in inflammatory processes and cancer invasion/metastasis. In this study, we report the discovery of novel P2X7R antagonists and their functional activities as potential antimetastatic agents. Modifications of the hydantoin core-skeleton and the side chain substituents of the P2X7R antagonist 7 were performed. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) and optimization demonstrated the importance of the sulfonyl group at the R1 position and the substituted position and overall size of R2 for P2X7R antagonism. The optimized novel analogues displayed potent P2X7 receptor antagonism (IC50 = 0.11-112 nM) along with significant suppressive effects on IL-1ß release (IC50 = 0.32-210 nM). Moreover, representative antagonists (12g, 13k, and 17d) with imidazole and uracil core skeletons significantly inhibited the invasion of MDA-MB-231 triple negative breast cancer cells and cancer cell migration in a zebrafish xenograft model, suggesting the potential therapeutic application of these novel P2X7 antagonists to block metastatic cancer.

2,3,4-Trihydroxybenzyl-hydrazide analogues as novel potent coxsackievirus B3 3C protease inhibitors.

Human coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) 3C protease plays an essential role in the viral replication of CVB3, which is a non-enveloped and positive single-stranded RNA virus belonging to Picornaviridae family, causing acute viral myocarditis mainly in children. During optimization based on SAR studies of benserazide (3), which was reported as a novel anti-CVB3 3C(pro) agent from a screening of compound libraries, the 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzyl moiety of 3 was identified as a key pharmacophore for inhibitory activity against CVB3 3C(pro). Further optimization was performed by the introduction of various aryl-alkyl substituted hydrazide moieties instead of the serine moiety of 3. Among the optimized compounds, 11Q, a 4-hydroxyphenylpentanehydrazide derivative, showed the most potent inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.07 µM). Enzyme kinetics studies indicated that 11Q exhibited a mixed inhibitory mechanism of action. The antiviral activity against CVB3 was confirmed using the further derived analogue (14b) with more cell permeable valeryl ester group at the 2,3,4-trihydroxy moiety.

Extracellular Matrix Revisited: Roles in Tissue Engineering.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a heterogeneous, connective network composed of fibrous glycoproteins that coordinate in vivo to provide the physical scaffolding, mechanical stability, and biochemical cues necessary for tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis. This review highlights some of the recently raised aspects of the roles of the ECM as related to the fields of biophysics and biomedical engineering. Fundamental aspects of focus include the role of the ECM as a basic cellular structure, for novel spontaneous network formation, as an ideal scaffold in tissue engineering, and its essential contribution to cell sheet technology. As these technologies move from the laboratory to clinical practice, they are bound to shape the vast field of tissue engineering for medical transplantations.

Structure-activity relationship studies of pyrimidine-2,4-dione derivatives as potent P2X7 receptor antagonists.

As an optimization strategy, the flexible structure of KN-62, a known P2X7 receptor antagonist, was converted into conformationally constrained derivatives using pyrimidine-2,4-dione as the core skeleton. Various modifications at the 4-position of the piperazine moiety of the new lead compound were performed to improve P2X7 receptor antagonistic activities, which were evaluated in HEK293 cells stably expressing the human P2X7 receptor (EtBr uptake assay) and in THP-1 cells (IL-1ß ELISA assay). According to the results, polycycloalkyl acyl or di-halogenated benzoyl substituents were much more favorable than the original phenyl group of KN-62. Among these compounds, the trifluoromethyl-chloro benzoyl derivative 18 m and adamantyl carbonyl derivatives 19 g-19 i and 19k showed potent antagonistic effects, with IC50 values ranging from 10 to 30 nM. In addition, the in vitro adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profile of 18 m was determined to be in acceptable ranges in terms of metabolic stability and cytotoxicity. These results suggest that pyrimidine-2,4-dione derivatives may be promising novel P2X7 receptor antagonists for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Discovery of novel purine-based heterocyclic P2X7 receptor antagonists.

The pyridine core skeleton of the previously reported dichloropyridine-based potent hP2X7 receptor antagonist 5 (IC50 = 13 nM in hP2X7-expressing HEK293 cells) was modified with various heterocyclic scaffolds. Among the derivatives with quinoline, quinazoline, acridine, and purine scaffolds, the chloropurine-based analog 9o exhibited the most potent antagonistic activity, with an IC50 value of 176 ± 37 nM in an ethidium bromide uptake assay. In addition, 9o significantly inhibited IL-1ß release in THP-1 cells stimulated with LPS/IFN-γ/BzATP (IC50 = 120 ± 15 nM). Although 9o was less active than the previous antagonist 5, 9o exhibited greatly improved metabolic stability in the in vitro evaluation (71.4% in human, 72.3% in mouse).

Pheophorbide-a conjugates with cancer-targeting moieties for targeted photodynamic cancer therapy.

Pheophorbide-a, a non-selective photosensitizer, was conjugated with cancer-targeting moieties, such as folic acid, the CRGDLASLC peptide, the cRGDfK peptide and leuprorelin, for the purpose of targeted photodynamic cancer therapy. The cellular uptake of pheophorbide-a conjugates in cancer cells overexpressing the corresponding receptors of the targeting moieties was largely enhanced compared with that in the receptor-negative cells. In the study of in vitro photodynamic activity and selectivity of pheophorbide-a conjugates in the receptor-positive and receptor-negative cells, a pheophorbide-a conjugate, (14) with an αvß6 ligand (CRGDLASLC) exhibited the highest selectivity in the positive FaDu cells. Targeted PDT with 14 induced cell death through apoptosis and morphological apoptosis-like characteristics. These results suggest that pheophorbide-a conjugate 14 could be utilized in selective photodynamic therapy for oral cancers primarily expressing the αvß6 receptor.

Discovery of novel 2,5-dioxoimidazolidine-based P2X(7) receptor antagonists as constrained analogues of KN62.

Novel 2,5-dioxoimidazolidine-based conformationally constrained analogues of KN62 (1) were developed as P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) antagonists using a rigidification strategy of the tyrosine backbone of 1. SAR analysis of the 2,5-dioxoimidazolidine scaffold indicated that piperidine substitution at the N3 position and no substitution at N1 position were preferable. Further optimization of the substituents at the piperidine nitrogen and the spacer around the skeleton resulted in several superior antagonists to 1, including 1-adamantanecarbonyl analogue 21i (IC50 = 23 nM in ethidium uptake assay; IC50 = 14 nM in IL-1ß ELISA assay) and (3-CF3-4-Cl)benzoyl analogue (-)-21w (54 nM in ethidium uptake assay; 9 nM in IL-1ß ELISA assay), which was more potent than the corresponding (+) isomer. Compound 21w displayed potent inhibitory activity in an ex vivo model of LTP-induced pain signaling in the spinal cord and significant anti-inflammatory activity in in vivo models of carrageenan-induced paw edema and type II collagen-induced joint arthritis.

Solid-phase synthesis of quinolinone library.

Quinolinones have various biological activities, including antibacterial, anticancer, and antiviral properties. The 3-substituted amide quinolin-2(1H)-ones not only show antibacterial activity, but also act as immunomodulators, 5-HT4 receptor agonists, cannabinoid receptor inverse agonists, and AchE and, BuchE inhibitors. To investigate the potent biological activity of 3-substituted amide quinolin-2(1H)-ones, a large number of 3,5-amide substituted-2-oxoquinolinones were prepared by parallel solid-phase synthesis. The compound 5-amino-1-(4-methoxybenzyl)-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid was loaded onto 4-formyl-3,5-dimethoxyphenoxy (PL-FDMP) resin by reductive amination with high efficiency. Various building blocks were attached to the 3 and 5 positions to yield 3,5-disubstituted-2-oxoquinolinones with high purity and good yield. The ability some of these compound to inhibit the release of IL-1ß, a cytokine involved in the immune response was measured, and they showed about 50% inhibition at 10 µM.

RUNX3 confers sensitivity to pheophorbide a-photodynamic therapy in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with photosensitizer is one of the promising modalities for cancer treatment. For clinical use of PDT, screening process should be preceded to enhance sensitivity to PDT. Thus, we investigated a molecular biomarker to determine the sensitivity to pheophorbide a (Pa)-PDT in immortalized human oral keratinocytes (IHOK) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines. Two IHOK and several OSCC cell lines were used. After Pa-PDT, cell viability was reduced by more than 50%, and reactive oxygen species were generated in IHOK and OSCC cell lines. Additionally, apoptosis occurred in PDT-treated cells. IHOK(S) and IHOK(P), the two IHOK cell lines derived from the same source, showed a difference in cytotoxicity after Pa-PDT. To explain this difference in cytotoxicity, we looked at the expression of Wnt signaling-related genes in these two cell lines, for the morphology of IHOK(S) which was spindle like and elongated and distinct from IHOK(P) and the parent cell. Among the relevant genes, runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3), an apoptosis-related gene, was selected as a potential marker that confers sensitivity to PDT. We found that the cytotoxicity by Pa-PDT was proportional to RUNX3 expression in OSCC cell lines. Additionally, knockdown of RUNX3 expression reduced cytotoxicity by Pa-PDT, suggesting that RUNX3 might be a biomarker to determine sensitivity to Pa-PDT. This was the first study to find a new target molecule that enhances Pa-PDT effects in IHOK and OSCC cell lines. Hence, the development of a PDT-dependent biomarker could provide a novel approach to improve the effects of PDT on oral precancerous and cancerous lesions.

Active digital microfluidic paper chips with inkjet-printed patterned electrodes.

Active, paper-based, microfluidic chips driven by electrowetting are fabricated and demonstrated for reagent transport and mixing. Instead of using the passive capillary force on the pulp to actuate a flow of a liquid, a group of digital drops are transported along programmed trajectories above the electrodes printed on low-cost paper, which should allow point-of-care production and diagnostic activities in the future.