Copper-thiosemicarbazone complexes conjugated-cellulose fibers: Biodegradable materials with antibacterial capacity

A One-Stone-Two-Birds Strategy for Intervertebral Disc Repair: Constructing a Reductive Chelation Hydrogel to Mitigate Oxidative Stress and Promote Disc Matrix Reconstruction

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is characterized by fibrosis of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and accelerated surrounding extracellular matrix catabolism. Bioactive hydrogels have shown significant potential in regulating cellular functions and tissue homeostasis. In this work, a dynamic hydrogel (HA-NCSN/Cu) is designed via the reductive chelation of hyaluronic acid grafted with thiourea (HA-NCSN) and Cu2+. The reductivity of the grafted thiourea groups of HA-NCSN can quickly reduce part of the chelated Cu2+ to Cu+. Therefore, during the gelation process, the color of hydrogel become dark immediately, which endowed hydrogel with remarkable photothermal effect. The abundant thiourea groups inside hydrogel can effectively scavenge reactive oxygen species to mitigate the inflammatory stress of NP cells. RNA sequencing analysis further reveals that glutathione signaling pathway is significantly altered. Meanwhile, mild photothermal therapy could activate the TGF-β/Smad pathway in NP cells, promoting the expression and secretion of Aggrecan and Collagen II. Ultimately, the combined modulation of inflammation alleviation and matrix regeneration achieves the restoration of the structure and function of the damaged intervertebral disc, which is also strongly demonstrated by the in vivo animal experiments. All of these results demonstrate the great potential of the dynamic HA-NCSN/Cu hydrogel in IVDD treatment.

Functionalizing Thiosemicarbazones for Covalent Conjugation

Thiosemicarbazones (TSCs) with their modular character (thiosemicarbazides + carbonyl compound) allow broad variation of up to four substituents on the main R1R2C=N(1)-NH-C(S)-N(4)R3R4 core and are thus interesting tools for the formation of conjugates or the functionalization of nanoparticles (NPs). In this work, di-2-pyridyl ketone was introduced for the coordination of metals and 9-anthraldehyde for luminescence as R1 and R2 to TSCs. R3 and R4 substituents were varied for the formation of conjugates. Amino acids were introduced at the N4 position to produce [R1R2TSC-spacer-amino acid] conjugates. Further, functions such as phosphonic acid (R-P(O)(OH)2), D-glucose, o-hydroquinone, OH, and thiol (SH) were introduced at the N4 position producing [R1R2TSC-spacer-anchor group] conjugates for direct NP anchoring. Phenyl, cyclohexyl, benzyl, ethyl and methyl were used as spacer units. Both phenyl phosphonic acid TSC derivatives were bound on TiO2 NPs as a first example of direct NP anchoring. [R1R2TSC-spacer-end group] conjugates including OH, S-Bn (Bn = benzyl), NH-Boc (Boc = tert-butyloxycarbonyl), COOtBu, C≡CH, or N3 end groups were synthesized for potential covalent binding to functional molecules or functionalized NPs through amide, ester, or triazole functions. The synthesis of the thiosemicarbazides H2NNH-C(S)-NR3R4 starting from amines, including amino acids, SCCl2 or CS2, and hydrazine and their condensation with dipyridyl ketone and anthraldehyde led to 34 new TSC derivatives. They were synthesized in up to six steps with overall yields ranging from 10 to 85% and were characterized by a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy allowed us to easily trace the dipyridyl imine and anthracene chromophores.

Preparation of Antibacterial Biobased Fibers by Triaxial Microfluidic Spinning Technology Using Ionic Liquids as the Solvents

Bacterial infections have become a serious threat to public health. The utilization of antibacterial textiles offers an effective way to combat bacterial infections at the source, instead of relying solely on antibiotic consumption. Herein, efficient and durable antibacterial fibers based on quercetin and cellulose were prepared by a triaxial microfluidic spinning technology using ionic liquids (ILs) as the solvents. It was indicated that the structure and properties of the antibacterial fibers were affected by the type of IL and the flow rates during the triaxial microfluidic spinning process. Quercetin regenerated from [Emim]Ac underwent structural transformation and obtained an increased water solubility, while quercetin regenerated from [Emim]DEP remained unchanged, which was proven by FI-IR, XRD, and UV analyses. Furthermore, antibacterial fibers regenerated from [Emim]Ac exhibited the highest antibacterial activity of 96.9% against S. aureus, achieved by reducing the inner-to-outer flow rate ratio to 0 and concentrating quercetin at the center of fibers. On the other hand, when [Emim]DEP was used as the solvent, balancing the inner-to-outer flow rate ratio to concentrate quercetin in the middle layer of the fiber was optimal for achieving the best antibacterial activity of 93.3% because it promised both the higher encapsulation efficiency and release rate. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) mathematically predicted the solvent exchange process during triaxial spinning, explaining the influence of IL types and flow rates on quercetin distribution and encapsulation efficiency. It was indicated that optimizing the distribution of antibacterial agents within the fibers can fully unleash its antibacterial potential while preserving the mechanical properties of the fiber. Therefore, the proposed simple triaxial spinning strategy provides valuable insights into the design of biomedical materials.

Proving the Antimicrobial Therapeutic Activity on a New Copper-Thiosemicarbazone Complex

The misuse and overdose of antimicrobial medicines are fostering the emergence of novel drug-resistant pathogens, providing negative repercussions not only on the global healthcare system due to the rise of long-term or chronic patients and inefficient therapies but also on the world trade, productivity, and, in short, to the global economic growth. In view of these scenarios, novel action plans to constrain this antibacterial resistance are needed. Thus, given the proven antiproliferative tumoral and microbial features of thiosemicarbazone (TSCN) ligands, we have here synthesized a novel effective antibacterial copper-thiosemicarbazone complex, demonstrating both its solubility profile and complex stability under physiological conditions, along with their safety and antibacterial activity in contact with human cellular nature and two most predominant bacterial strains, respectively. A significant growth inhibition (17% after 20 h) is evidenced over time, paving the way toward an effective antibacterial therapy based on these copper-TSCN complexes.