Heavy metal-free 19F NMR probes for quantitative measurements of glutathione reductase activity using silica nanoparticles as a signal quencher

Application of bacterial agent YH for remediation of pyrene-heavy metal co-pollution system: Efficiency, mechanism, and microbial response

The combination of organic and heavy metal pollutants can be effectively and sustainably remediated using bioremediation, which is acknowledged as an environmentally friendly and economical approach. In this study, bacterial agent YH was used as the research object to explore its potential and mechanism for bioremediation of pyrene-heavy metal co-contaminated system. Under the optimal conditions (pH 7.0, temperature 35°C), it was observed that pyrene (PYR), Pb(II), and Cu(II) were effectively eliminated in liquid medium, with removal rates of 43.46%, 97.73% and 81.60%, respectively. The microscopic characterization (SEM/TEM-EDS, XPS, XRD and FTIR) results showed that Pb(II) and Cu(II) were eliminated by extracellular adsorption and intracellular accumulation of YH. Furthermore, the presence of resistance gene clusters (cop, pco, cus and pbr) plays an important role in the detoxification of Pb(II) and Cu(II) by strains YH. The degradation rate of PYR reached 72.51% in composite contaminated soil, which was 4.33 times that of the control group, suggesting that YH promoted the dissipation of pyrene. Simultaneously, the content of Cu, Pb and Cr in the form of F4 (residual state) increased by 25.17%, 6.34% and 36.88%, respectively, indicating a decrease in the bioavailability of heavy metals. Furthermore, YH reorganized the microbial community structure and enriched the abundance of hydrocarbon degradation pathways and enzyme-related functions. This study would provide an effective microbial agent and new insights for the remediation of soil and water contaminated with organic pollutants and heavy metals.

Use of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) in Drug Delivery, Photodynamic Therapy and Bioimaging

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have attracted considerable attention in the design of novel organic-inorganic hybrid materials with high performance capabilities. Features such as their well-defined nanoscale structure, chemical tunability, and biocompatibility make POSS an ideal building block to fabricate hybrid materials for biomedical applications. This review highlights recent advances in the application of POSS-based hybrid materials, with particular emphasis on drug delivery, photodynamic therapy and bioimaging. The design and synthesis of POSS-based materials is described, along with the current methods for controlling their chemical functionalization for biomedical applications. We summarize the advantages of using POSS for several drug delivery applications. We also describe the current progress on using POSS-based materials to improve photodynamic therapies. The use of POSS for delivery of contrast agents or as a passivating agent for nanoprobes is also summarized. We envision that POSS-based hybrid materials have great potential for a variety of biomedical applications including drug delivery, photodynamic therapy and bioimaging.

Cytidine-gold nanoclusters as peroxidase mimetic for colorimetric detection of glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG) and glutathione reductase (GR)

Abnormal levels of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione oxidized (GSSG) usually relates to some diseases, thus quantifying the amount of GSH or GSSG is of great significance. A label-free sensing assay based on the enzyme-mimicking property of Cytidine-Au nanoclusters (Cy-AuNCs) was demonstrated for colorimetric detection of GSH, GSSG and glutathione reductase (GR). Firstly, obvious blue color accompanied with an absorption peak at 652 nm was observed due to the high peroxidase-like activity of Cy-AuNCs toward 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Then, in the presence of target, the mimetic activity of Cy-AuNCs could be strongly inhibited and used to achieve the visualization detection. The inhibition effect arose from the surface interaction between GSH and Cy-AuNCs. Linear relationships between absorbance response and concentration were obtained between 0 and 0.4 mM for GSH, 0-2.5 mM for GSSG and 0-0.2 U/mL for GR. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated as low as 0.01 mM, 0.03 mM and 0.003 U/mL for GSH, GSSG and GR, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed method displayed rapid response, easy procedure and high selectivity.

Synthesis of Organosilyl-Functionalized Cage-Type Germanoxanes Containing Fluoride Ions

Eight corners of a double-four ring cage-type germanoxane, containing a fluoride ion, were successfully silylated by the combination of chlorosilanes and silazanes. Three different silyl groups, trimethylsilyl, dimethylsilyl, and dimethylvinylsilyl, were attached on the corners of germanoxane cage. The solubility and reactivity of the cage modified with dimethylvinylsilyl groups were significantly increased, allowing for further reaction. Hydrosilylation reaction between dimethylvinylsilylated cage geramanoxanes and dimethylsilylated cage siloxanes afforded porous solids. Functionalization of the corners of germanoxanes with silyl groups should provide valuable building blocks in various functional materials.

Glutathione responsive polymers and their application in drug delivery systems

Materials which respond to biological cues are the subject of intense research interest due to their possible application in smart drug delivery vehicles.

Facile design of organic-inorganic hybrid gels for molecular recognition of nucleoside triphosphates

We report the molecular recognition for nucleoside triphosphates inside the ligand-modified water-soluble organic-inorganic hybrid gels composed of polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS). The series of ligands were designed to make hydrogen bonds with each nucleobase and introduced into the hybrid gels. From the titration experiments, the binding constants between the ligand inside the gels and nucleosides were evaluated. Accordingly, it was found that the ligands inside the gels can form a stable complex only with the target nucleoside triphosphate which has the complementary pattern of the hydrogen bonds (Ka=G-gel/cytidine triphosphate (CTP), 3.5×10(8)M(-1); U-gel/adenosine triphosphate (ATP), 1.6×10(3)M(-1); A-gel/uridine triphosphate (UTP), 1.9×10(7), respectively). With other nucleoside derivatives which have different numbers of phosphate units or different types of nucleobases, the much weaker interaction was detected. These data indicate that the complex formation only with nucleoside triphosphates should occur inside the hybrid gels, and selective recognition of each nucleoside triphosphate can be accomplished.

Redox-responsive polymer-drug conjugates based on doxorubicin and chitosan oligosaccharide-g-stearic acid for cancer therapy

Here, a biodegradable polymer-drug conjugate of doxorubicin (DOX) conjugated with a stearic acid-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO-SA) was synthesized via disulfide linkers. The obtained polymer-drug conjugate DOX-SS-CSO-SA could self-assemble into nanosized micelles in aqueous medium with a low critical micelle concentration. The size of the micelles was 62.8 nm with a narrow size distribution. In reducing environments, the DOX-SS-CSO-SA could rapidly disassemble result from the cleavage of the disulfide linkers and release the DOX. DOX-SS-CSO-SA had high efficiency for cellular uptake and rapidly released DOX in reductive intracellular environments. In vitro antitumor activity tests showed that the DOX-SS-CSO-SA had higher cytotoxicity against DOX-resistant cells than free DOX, with reversal ability up to 34.8-fold. DOX-SS-CSO-SA altered the drug distribution in vivo, which showed selectively accumulation in tumor and reduced nonspecific accumulation in hearts. In vivo antitumor studies demonstrated that DOX-SS-CSO-SA showed efficient suppression on tumor growth and relieved the DOX-induced cardiac injury. Therefore, DOX-SS-CSO-SA is a potential drug delivery system for safe and effective cancer therapy.

Microwave-driven enzyme deactivation using imidazolium salt-presenting silica nanoparticles

Thermal enzyme deactivation by the imidazolium-presenting silica nanoparticles with the microwave irradiation is presented in this manuscript. The modified nanoparticles were synthesized, and it was observed that the modified nanoparticles can be a heat source in the buffer under the weak-power microwave irradiation. Finally, based on the heat-generating ability of these nanoparticles, deactivation of glutathione reductase and alkaline phosphatase with the modified nanoparticles were demonstrated.

Labeling of islet cells with iron oxide nanoparticles through DNA hybridization for highly sensitive detection by MRI

A labeling method for islet cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIOs) based on DNA hybridization is proposed for monitoring of transplanted islets by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The surfaces of SPIOs were modified by via Michael reaction by reacting oligo-(deoxyadenylic acid)-bearing a terminal thiol group at the 5'-end ((dA)20-SH) with maleic acid functional groups on the SPIOs. The SPIOs were immobilized on islet cells which had been pretreated with oligo-(thymidylic acid)-poly(ethylene glycol)-phospholipid conjugates ((dT)20-PEG-DPPE) through DNA hybridization. Transmission electron microscopy observations revealed that SPIOs were initially anchored on the islet cell surfaces and subsequently transferred to endosomes or exfoliated with time. The SPIO-labeled islet cells could be clearly detected as dark spots by T2(*)-weighted MR image, whereas non-labeled islet cells could not be detected.

Heat-initiated detection for reduced glutathione with ¹⁹F NMR probes based on modified gold nanoparticles

For detecting reduced glutathione (GSH) with a (19)F NMR spectroscopy with time-specificity, we developed the probes based on gold nanoparticles modified with the fluorinated groups via the thermally-cleavable linkers. Before the heating treatment with the probe, the maleimide moiety as a binding site with GSH in the probe is inactivated by cycloaddition of furan. At this silent state, the magnitude of (19)F NMR signals from the fluorinated groups was suppressed. By heating for the activation of the probe, the maleimide moiety was produced via retro Diels-Alder reaction, and (19)F NMR signals were observed. From this moment, GSH started the reaction with the probe via Michael addition to the maleimide moiety, leading to the observation of the new peak in (19)F NMR spectra. Finally, the amounts of GSH were determined from the increase of the magnitude of (19)F NMR signals.