Ultrasonically controlled estrone-modified liposomes for estrogen-positive breast cancer therapy.

A new modality of drug targeting to tumors has been proposed. The ligand-mediated approach, that already increases the therapeutic index of the drug, can still be optimized by the encapsulation of the drug into sonosensitive nanoparticles. In this work, an endogenous ligand, estrone, was used to synthesize doxorubicin-encapsulating liposomes for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer therapy with cyanuric chloride (2,4,6 trichloro-1,3,5 triazine) being used as a linking molecule to attach 3-OH group of estrone to the surface of liposomes. Then, drug release from liposomes was studied using ultrasound waves as a triggering mechanism with different frequencies and power densities. In addition, drug uptake by two cell lines ER-positive (MCF-7) and ER-negative (MDA-MB-231) was assessed, with the former cell line being examined later to study the synergetic effect of the receptor mediator targeting and ultrasound trigger. The sizes of the liposomes loaded with calcein (as a doxorubicin model drug) were determined by dynamic light scattering, and they were characterized as large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). The release from the prepared liposomes triggered by ultrasound (US) waves at low frequency (20 kHz) and high frequency (1.07 and 3.24 MHz), at several power densities, was determined by monitoring the changes in calcein fluorescence, using a spectrofluorometer. Increasing power densities showed a significant effect on release at high frequencies and during the first two US pulses at low frequency. The echogenicity of the liposomes was proven and characterized at different power densities and frequencies. To confirm the viability of the carrier as a doxorubicin carrier, doxorubicin-encapsulating liposomes were prepared using the ammonium sulfate transmembrane gradient method. The liposomes were LUVs and were US-sensitive, exhibiting similar behavior to calcein-encapsulating liposomes. The calcein uptake by an ER + cell line (MCF-7) was compared with the uptake by an ER-cell line (MDA-MB-231). The MCF-7 uptake was significantly higher than the MDA-MB-231 uptake, which proved the targeting potential of estrone-conjugated liposomes. The exposure to low-frequency ultrasound (LFUS) revealed a statistically significant uptake of calcein compared to uptake without ultrasound. The described drug delivery (DD) system, comprising a new echogenic liposomal formulation, promises a non-immunogenic and site-specific biomedical approach to ER-positive breast cancer therapy.

Synergistic Nanomedicine: Passive, Active, and Ultrasound-Triggered Drug Delivery in Cancer Treatment.

Nanocarriers are heavily researched as drug delivery vehicles capable of sequestering antineoplastic agents and then releasing their contents at the desired location. The feasibility of using such carriers stems from their ability to produce a multimodel delivery system whereby passive, ligand and triggered targeting can be applied in the fight against cancer. Passive targeting capitalizes on the leaky nature of tumor tissue which allows for the extravasation of particles with a size smaller than 0.5 µm into the tumors. Ligand targeting utilizes the concept of receptor-mediated endocytosis and involves the conjugation of ligands onto the surface of nanoparticles, while triggered targeting involves the use of external and internal stimuli to release the carriers contents upon reaching the diseased location. In this review, micelles and liposomes have been considered due to the promising results they have shown in vivo and in vitro and their potential for advancements into clinical trials. Thus, this review focuses on the most recent advancements in the field of micellar and liposomal drug delivery and considers the synergistic effect of passive- and ligand-targeting strategies, and the use of ultrasound in triggering drug release at the tumor site.

(99m)Tc-tricarbonyl complexes functionalized with anthracenyl fragments: synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of their radiotoxic effects in murine melanoma cells.

Different pyrazolyl-diamine ligands bearing anthracenyl or anthrapyrazole functionalities as DNA-binding groups, at different positions of the chelator framework, were labeled with the fac-[(99m)Tc(CO)(3)](+) core. The resulting complexes, 1-4, are highly stable in vitro under physiologic conditions; all of them have been identified by high-performance liquid chromatography comparison with the Re congeners, with the exception of 3, that is anchored by an anthrapyrazole diamine ligand. Aiming to assess the ability of these complexes to target the cell nucleus and to induce enhanced cell death by effect of the Auger electrons emitted by (99m)Tc, the intracellular distribution and radiotoxicity of 1-4 were evaluated by using B16F1 murine melanoma cells. The radiotoxic effects depend very much on the position used to introduce the DNA-binding group and are well correlated with the nuclear uptake of the compounds. Complex 2, having the anthracenyl substituent at the 4-position of the pyrazolyl ring, rapidly entered the cells and accumulated inside the nucleus, exhibiting the highest radiotoxic effects. This compound induced an apoptotic cellular outcome, and its enhanced radiotoxic effects were certainly due to the Auger electrons emitted by the radiometal in close proximity to DNA.

Pyrazolyl-diamine ligands that bear anthracenyl moieties and their rhenium(I) tricarbonyl complexes: synthesis, characterisation and DNA-binding properties.

Two novel families of pyrazolyl-diamine ligands that bear an anthracen-9-yl group as a DNA-binding fragment, pz*(CH2)2NH(CH2)2NHCH2-9-anthryl (pz*=pz (L(1)), 3,5-Me2pz (L2)) and pz*(CH2)2NH(CH2)2NH(2 (pz*=4-(9-anthrylmethyl)pz (L3), 3,5-Me2-4-(9-anthrylmethyl)pz (L4)), have been prepared and fully characterised. In the case of L2-L4, the evaluation of their coordination capability towards the fac-[Re(CO)3]+ core led to the synthesis of the organometallic complexes fac-[Re(CO)(3){3,5-Me(2)pz(CH2)2NH(CH2)2NHCH2-9-anthryl}]Br (7) and fac-[Re(CO)3{4-(9-anthrylmethyl)pz*(CH2)2NH(CH2)2NH2}]Br (pz*=pz (8), 3,5-Me2pz 9). The interaction of the novel pyrazole-diamine ligands and the rhenium(I) complexes with calf thymus (CT) DNA has been investigated with a variety of spectroscopic techniques (UV-visible, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) and linear dichroism (LD)). All of the evaluated compounds have a moderate affinity to CT DNA (3.46x10(3)

Rhenium(V) oxocomplexes with novel pyrazolyl-based N4- and N3S-donor chelators.

The novel pyrazolyl-based ligands 3,5-Me2pz(CH2)2NH(CH2)2NH(CH2)2NH2 and pz*(CH2)2NH-Gly-CH2STrit (pz*=pz, 3,5-Me2pz, 4-(EtOOC)CH(2)-3,5-Me2pz) were synthesized, and their suitability to stabilize Re(V) oxocomplexes was evaluated using different starting materials, namely (NBu4)[ReOCl4], [ReOCl3(PPh3)2] and trans-[ReO2(py)4]Cl. Compound reacts with trans-[ReO2(py)4]Cl yielding the cationic compound [ReO(OMe){3,5-Me2pz(CH2)2N(CH2)2NH(CH2)2NH2}](BPh4) in a low isolated yield. In contrast, the neutral complexes [ReO{pz*(CH2)2NH-Gly-CH2S}] (pz*=pz, 3,5-Me2pz, 4-(EtOOCCH2)-3,5-Me2pz) were synthesized almost quantitatively by reacting [ReOCl3(PPh3)2] or (NBu4)[ReOCl4] with the trityl-protected chelators. The X-ray diffraction analysis of and confirmed the tetradentate coordination mode of the respective ancillary ligands. In the monoanionic chelator coordinates to the metal through four nitrogen atoms, while in the chelator is trianionic, coordinating to the metal through three nitrogens and one sulfur atom. Solution NMR studies of , including two-dimensional NMR techniques (1H COSY and 1H/13C HSQC), confirmed that the N3S coordination mode of the chelators is retained in solution. Unlike , complexes may be considered relevant in the development of radiopharmaceuticals, as further corroborated by the synthesis of the congener [99mTcO{pz(CH2)2-NH-Gly-CH2S}]. This radioactive compound was obtained from 99mTcO4- in aqueous medium, in almost quantitative yield and with high specific activity and radiochemical purity.

Flavonoids of an extract of Pterospartum tridentatum showing endothelial protection against oxidative injury.

Pterospartum tridentatum is a Leguminosae that grows spontaneously in Portugal. The flowers are used in popular medicine for the treatment of throat irritation conditions and in herbal mixtures for diabetes. Diabetic vascular complications are due, among other reasons, to increased oxidative stress and for that reason antioxidants are believed to be beneficial for the diabetic patient. The flower water extract of this herbal drug showed dose-dependent protective effect of cultured human endothelial cells against oxidative injury induced by H2O2, at concentrations > or =0.3 mg/ml. This water extract, after liquid-liquid and chromatographic fractionation afforded one new isoflavone (5,5'-dihydroxy-3'-metoxi-isoflavone-7-O-beta-glucoside) and three other known isoflavones (prunetin, genistin and sissotrin). The structural characterisation of isolated compounds was achieved by UV, NMR and MS analysis. The flavonol glycoside isoquercitrin was also identified in the extract by HPLC analysis. Isoquercitrin is one of the active antioxidant principles of the extract since it showed dose-dependent protective effect against oxidative injury at concentrations > or =0.3 mM. Isoflavones were inactive at the same concentrations. The results suggest that the water extract of this herbal drug may prevent or reduce the development of diabetic vascular complications.