Silver Ion-Histidine Interplay Switches Peptide Hydrogel from Antiparallel to Parallel ß-Assembly and Enables Controlled Antibacterial Activity.

Understanding the chemical absorption process of silver ions helps the rational design of functional materials for effective release to minimize unwanted toxicity. To this end, a histidine-containing aliphatic peptide (IH6) was designed to immobilize the silver ion (Ag+) through coordinate interaction. Using circular dichroism spectroscopy, Ag+ was found to dose-dependently induce parallel ß-sheet conformation of IH6 to a saturation molar ratio of 1:2. A conformational switch of IH6 from antiparallel to parallel ß-sheet assembly upon Ag + coordination was further revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The resultant Ag-IH6 hydrogel displayed substantially enhanced mechanical strength as well as controlled release of Ag+. Ag-IH6 hydrogel thus exhibited strong dose-dependent bactericidal activities that can be tuned selectively, sparing the cocultured human keratinocytes in normal. Overall, the study demonstrates an unusual silver ion-induced peptide conformational switch between ß-structure subtypes and the bilateral effects on hydrogel-based chemical control of silver ion absorption and release, thus, revealing the potential in antibacterial applications.

Protective effects of escin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice.

Escin, a natural mixture of triterpenoid saponin isolated from the seed of the horse chestnut, is reported to have a potent antiulcer activity against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions. This study investigated the possible mechanisms underlying the gastroprotective effect of escin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice. Gastric ulceration was induced by a single intragastric administration of indomethacin (18 mg/kg). The mice underwent intragastric treatment with escin at doses of 0.45, 0.9 or 1.8 mg/kg. Gastric lesion was estimated morphometrically and histopathologically 6 h after the indomethacin administration. The antioxidative parameters in gastric mucosa were measured. Moreover, the activity of myeloperoxidase and the contents of TNF-α, P-selectin and VCAM-1 in gastric tissues were determined. The results showed that escin protected gastric tissues against indomethacin-induced gastropathy as demonstrated from a reduction in the ulcer index and an attenuation of histopathologic changes. Escin caused significant reductions of the contents of malondialdehyde, TNF-α, P-selectin, VCAM-1 and myeloperoxidase activity. The altered activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in the stomach tissues were also ameliorated by escin treatment. The present study demonstrated that escin had a protective effect against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in mice, not only by virtue of its antioxidant potential, but also due to its anti-inflammatory effect.