[Genetic transformation of the moss Ceratodon purpureus by novel polycationic carriers of DNA].

There is a big progress in application of genetic engineering for improving the biological properties of different organisms. Viral and non-viral carriers are used for delivery of genetic material into target cells. Nanoscale polymeric materials of natural and synthetic origin are the most promising gene delivery agents. These polymers have demonstrated high efficiency of DNA delivery into the mammalian cells, although they were not very effective in plant cells. Here, the procedure for genetic transformation of Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. moss protoplasts is described. Method is based on the application of novel surface-active polymeric carriers of the polyDMAEM structure and controlled length and charge. It allows obtaining more transient and stable moss transformants per microgram of plasmid DNA when compared with known protocol based on using polyethyleneglycol. It is easier, more convenient, and cheaper than the "gene gun" method. Perspectives for further improvement of structure and functional characteristics of novel polymeric carriers are considered for delivery of genetic material into plant cells.

[Study of rat blood serum biochemical indicators of cardiotoxic action of novel antitumor 4-thiazolidinone derivatives and doxorubicin in complexes with polyethylene glycol-containing polymeric carrier in the rat blood serum].

The aim of this study was to measure the activity of enzymes which reflect cardiotoxic action in rats of novel synthetic 4-thiazolidone derivatives--3882, 3288 and 3833 that demonstrated antineoplastic effect in vitro towards 60 lines of human tumor cells tested in the framework of the program of screening new anticancer drugs at the National Cancer Institute (USA). Such action of these compounds was compared with the effect of well known anticancer agent doxorubicin and after conjugation of all above mentioned substances with new polyethylenglycol-containing polymeric comb-like carrier that was synthesized by the authors. Among the biochemical indicators of cardiotoxic action of anticancer agents, activity of the following enzymes in rat blood serum showed to be the most informative: creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransterase. Tenfold injection of doxorubicin in a dose of 5.5 mg/kg of weight caused rats' death, while 3882, 3288 and 3833 preparations had not such action. Application of the doxorubicin in combination with polymeric carrier prolonged the survival time to 20 days. Thus, the injection of anticancer agents in a complex with polymeric carrier provides a significant decrease in their cardiotoxicity that was confirmed by the corresponding changes in the activity of marker enzymes: creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in blood serum of treated rats.

[Functions of metallothioneins and a system of antioxidant defense under the effect of Co- and Zn-containing nanocomposites on crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)].

The effect of metal-nanocomposites (Me-NC) of cobalt and zinc (Co- and Zn-NC, correspondingly) synthecized on the basis of vinylpyrrolidone (PS) on the metal-accumulative proteins with antioxidant potential metallothioneins (MT) in crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) was studied. Fish was subjected to the effect of Co-NC, Zn-NC, Co2+, Zn2+ or polymer carrier (PC) in the concentrations correspondent to 50 microg x Co/l or 100 microg x Zn/l during 14 days. It was shown that the MTs response is highly specific for the nature of metal, both in ion and Me-NC form: the effect of Co and Co-NC provoked the elevation of total MT concentration (MT-SH) and activation of antioxidant defence, whereas Zn and Zn-NC induced the decrease of the concentration of MT-SH and the inhibition of antioxidant defense. All the exposures provoked the decrease of the concentration of immunoreactive chelating MT form (MTi) and reduced glutathione, activation of anaerobiosys and Mn-superoxide dismutase, and also decrease of the concentration of proteins and lipids oxidative injury products. It was accompanied by the increase of the content of erythrocytes with nuclear abnormalities but did not cause the decrease of choline esterase activity. According to the rate of MT-SH and MTi concentrations, antioxidant potential of MTs is determined by its apoform. Our data indicate that partial biodegradation of Me-NC occurs in the organism of crucian carp.

[Effect of free and polymer carrier encapsulated doxorubicin towards HCT116 cells of human colorectal carcinoma].

Development of novel nanoscale functionalized carriers is nowadays one of the most urgent problems in cancer treatment. The aim of our study was to compare the antineoplastic effect of free doxorubicin and its complex with a nanoscale polymeric carrier towards HTC116 colorectal carcinoma cells. It was established that application of the complex of poly(5-tret-butylperoxy)-5-methyl-1-hexene-3-in-co-glycydyl metacrylat)-graft-polyethyleneglycol (poly(VEP-GMA-PEG)-graft-PEG), where VEP--5-tret-butylperoxy)-5-methyl-1-hexene-3-in; GMA--glycydyl metacrylat; graft-PEG--graft-polyethyleneglycol accordingly, functionalized with phosphatidylcholine for doxorubicin delivery increased 10 times the efficiency of cytotoxic action of this drug, as compared wich such efficiency in case of the action of free doxorubicin. The encapsulated form of doxorubicin caused more intensive cleavage of the reparation enzyme PARP and longer delay in G2/M cell cycle arrest, compared to such effects of free doxorubicin. The developed carrier itself is non-toxic to the used mammalian cells and does not cause impairment in their cell cycle. A deletion in both alleles of p53 gene did not affect the antineoplastic action of doxorubicin that was immobilized on the nanoscale carrier. Thus, p53-dependent signaling pathways are not involved in the cytotoxic action of doxorubicin-carrier complex. It is suggested that novel nanoscale polymeric carrier poly(VEP-GMA-PEG)-graft-PEG functionalized with phosphatidylcholine could be a promising carrier for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs.

[Evaluation of biological effects of cobalt-nanocomposites with the use of biochemical markers of bivalve mollusk Anodonta cygnea].

Intensive implementation of nanomaterials requires development of novel methods for evaluation of their potential ecotoxicity. The aim of our study was to identify specific characteristics of the effect of cobalt-nanocomposite (Co-NC) on the molecular stress-responsive system in the digestive gland of bivalve mollusk Anodonta cygnea. Nanocomposite was synthesized by mixing alcohol solution of copolymer N-vinylpirrolidone, 5-(tret-butylperoxy)-5-methyl-1-hexene-3-yne and dimethylaminoethylmetacrylate and cobalt (II) chloride. After 14 days of the mollusk exposure in the presence of Co-NC, CoCl, or corresponding polymer substance it was shown that the Co-NC, in contrast to other agents, does not cause an oxidative stress due to the superoxide dismutase activity, metallotioneins (MTs) level, glutathione redox index and oxyradical production. Multivariate analysis confirmed specific features of the Co-NC's effect related to an enhanced expression of MTs, while CoCl2 activated lactate dehydrogenate and oxyradical production, and polymer substance enhanced glutathione transferase activity.