Ultrasmall Manganese Ferrites for In Vivo Catalase Mimicking Activity and Multimodal Bioimaging.

Manganese ferrite nanoparticles display interesting features in bioimaging and catalytic therapies. They have been recently used in theranostics as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and as catalase-mimicking nanozymes for hypoxia alleviation. These promising applications encourage the development of novel synthetic procedures to enhance the bioimaging and catalytic properties of these nanomaterials simultaneously. Herein, a cost-efficient synthetic microwave method is developed to manufacture ultrasmall manganese ferrite nanoparticles as advanced multimodal contrast agents in MRI and positron emission tomography (PET), and improved nanozymes. Such a synthetic method allows doping ferrites with Mn in a wide stoichiometric range (Mnx Fe3-x O4 , 0.1 ≤ x ≤ 2.4), affording a library of nanoparticles with different magnetic relaxivities and catalytic properties. These tuned magnetic properties give rise to either positive or dual-mode MRI contrast agents. On the other hand, higher levels of Mn doping enhance the catalytic efficiency of the resulting nanozymes. Finally, through their intracellular catalase-mimicking activity, these ultrasmall manganese ferrite nanoparticles induce an unprecedented tumor growth inhibition in a breast cancer murine model. All of these results show the robust characteristics of these nanoparticles for nanobiotechnological applications.

Rational Design and Experimental Analysis of Short-Oligonucleotide Substrate Specificity for Targeting Bacterial Nucleases.

An undecamer oligonucleotide probe based on a pair of deoxythymidines flanked by several modified nucleotides is a specific and highly efficient biosensor for micrococcal nuclease (MNase), an endonuclease produced by Staphylococcus aureus. Herein, the interaction mode and cleavage process on such oligonucleotide probes are identified and described for the first time. Also, we designed truncated pentamer probes as the minimum-length substrates required for specific and efficient biosensing. By means of computational (virtual docking) and experimental (ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight) techniques, we perform a sequence/structure-activity relationship analysis, propose a catalytically active substrate-enzyme complex, and elucidate a novel two-step phosphodiester bond hydrolysis mechanism, identifying the cleavage sites and detecting and quantifying the resulting probe fragments. Our results unravel a picture of both the enzyme-biosensor complex and a two-step cleavage/biosensing mechanism, key to the rational oligonucleotide design process.

Development and validation of a LC-MS assay for the quantification of ikh12 a novel anti-tumor candidate in rat plasma and tissues and its application in a pharmacokinetic study.

IKH12 is a novel histone deacetylase 6 selective inhibitor. A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of IKH12 in rat plasma and tissue with kendine 91 as internal standard (IS). The samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction with tert-butyl methyl ether. The chromatographic separation was accomplished by using a Zorbax Extend C18 4.6 × 150 mm, 5 µm column, with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and 0.1% formic acid (75:25 v/v). Multiple reaction monitoring, using electrospray ionization in positive ion mode, was employed to quantitatively detect IKH12 and IS. The monitored transitions were set at m/z 418 → 252 and 444 → 169 for IKH12 and kendine 91, respectively. The calibration curve was linear over the concentration range 2-1000 ng mL(-1) . The intra- and inter-assay precision and accuracy of the quality controls and the limit of quantification were satisfactory in all cases (according to European Medicines Agency guidelines). Stability studies showed that plasma samples were stable in the chromatography rack for 24 h and at -80°C for 2 months and also after three freeze-thaw cycles. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of IKH12 in rat.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of Kendine 91, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, in mice.

PURPOSE: The present investigation was undertaken to characterize the pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of Kendine 91 in mice and to compare it with other HDAC (histone deacetylases) inhibitors. METHODS: After administration of a single intravenous dose (10 mg/kg) or a single oral dose (50 mg/kg) blood and tissues samples were collected and analysed by HPLC/MS/MS. RESULTS: Elimination half-life was higher than that of SAHA (5.87 vs. 0.38 h after intravenous (IV) administration and 10.29 versus 0.75 h after oral administration). Absolute oral bioavailability was found to be 18%. Total body clearance (7.72 l/h/kg) was greater than the hepatic blood flow of 5.4 l/h/kg in mice and larger than glomerular filtration rate in mice (0.84 l/h/kg). Tissue levels and distribution volume indicate a high capacity of Kendine 91 to distribute into tissues. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary pharmacokinetic evaluation prompts us to believe that it is worth pursuing further development of Kendine 91 as an anticancer drug.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of Kendine 91, a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, in mice plasma and tissues: application to a pharmacokinetic study.

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS) has been developed and validated to determine the concentration of Kendine 91 in mice plasma and tissues. Simvastatin was employed as the internal standard. Separation was performed on a C8 column, with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and aqueous 10 mM formic acid (73:27 v/v). Both analyte and internal standard were determined using electrospray ionization and the MS data acquisition was via multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive scanning mode. Quantification was performed using the transitions m/z 444-->169 and 441-->325 for Kendine 91 and simvastatin, respectively. The method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery and stability. This assay has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after intravenous injection of Kendine 91 in mice in a dose of 10mg/kg.

Solvent-free thermal and microwave-assisted [3 + 2] cycloadditions between stabilized azomethine ylides and nitrostyrenes. An experimental and theoretical study.

The stereochemical outcomes observed in the thermal and microwave-assisted [3 + 2] cycloaddition between stabilized azomethine ylides and nitrostyrenes have been analyzed using experimental and computational approaches. It has been observed that, in the absence of solvent, three stereoisomers are formed, both under classical heating conditions and under microwave irradiation. This result contrasts with that observed in solution under classical thermal conditions. The 4-nitropyrrolidines obtained in this way can be aromatized under further microwave irradiation to yield mixtures of pyrroles and 4-nitropyrroles. It is found that ground state cycloadditions between imines and nitrostyrenes take place by three-step mechanisms. The first step involves enolization of the starting imine, and this is followed by a pseudopericyclic 10-electron [1.4]-hydrogen shift. Finally, the cycloaddition takes place by a relatively asynchronous aromatic six-electron supra-supra thermal mechanism.