Design, synthesis and stimuli responsive gelation of novel stigmasterol-amino acid conjugates

Aggregation induced emission and volatile acid vapour sensing in acridine appended poly (aryl ether) based low molecular weight organogelator

Considerable research attention has been devoted to the development of portable and rapid fluorescence sensors that can selectively detect volatile acids, due to the harmful effects of acid vapour on the environment and human health. Although various types of fluorophores have been reported for sensing volatile acid vapours, regulation of the sensory response using aggregation induced emissive (AIE) based gelators has rarely been reported. In this study, we present the design and synthesis of a novel organogelator that is capable of sensing volatile acids through AIE. An acridine-attached poly(aryl ether) dendron molecular system is synthesized through an aldimine coupling reaction, which self-assembles and forms a gel, exhibiting AIE behavior. The synthesized molecule and prepared gel were characterized using NMR, MASS, XRD, HRSEM and rheology techniques. The AIE property of APD was investigated using steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopic techniques. The sensory response of the APD gelator was tested with various analytes, and the results indicated that APD shows rapid response, particularly to acid vapours, where the detection limits (DL) of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), hydrochloric acid (HCl) and nitric acid (HNO3) vapor were as low as 0.22, 0.9 and 0.30 ppm, respectively. An APD solid film in filter paper shows a visual color change from yellow to red in an aqueous acidic medium, and the effect is reversed in an alkaline medium. These findings suggest that an APD gelator could potentially be utilized to generate a portable acid vapor sensor kit due to its low detection limit and rapid response time, and it could be also be used as a substitute for existing acid indicators.

Rapid Self-Healing and Thixotropic Organogelation of Amphiphilic Oleanolic Acid-Spermine Conjugates

Natural and abundant plant triterpenoids are attractive starting materials for the synthesis of conformationally rigid and chiral building blocks for functional soft materials. Here, we report the rational design of three oleanolic acid-triazole-spermine conjugates, containing either one or two spermine units in the target molecules, using the Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The resulting amphiphile-like molecules 2 and 3, bearing just one spermine unit in the respective molecules, self-assemble into highly entangled fibrous networks leading to gelation at a concentration as low as 0.5% in alcoholic solvents. Using step-strain rheological measurements, we show rapid self-recovery (up to 96% of the initial storage modulus) and sol ⇔ gel transition under several cycles. Interestingly, rheological flow curves reveal the thixotropic behavior of the gels. To the best of our knowledge, this kind of behavior was not shown in the literature before, neither for a triterpenoid nor for its derivatives. Conjugate 4, having a bolaamphiphile-like structure, was found to be a nongelator. Our results indicate that the position and number of spermine units alter the gelation properties, gel strength, and their self-assembly behavior. Preliminary cytotoxicity studies of the target compounds 2-4 in four human cancer cell lines suggest that the position and number of spermine units affect the biological activity. Our results also encourage exploring other triterpenoids and their derivatives as sustainable, renewable, and biologically active building blocks for multifunctional soft organic nanomaterials.

Recent Achievements in Medicinal and Supramolecular Chemistry of Betulinic Acid and Its Derivatives ‡

The subject of this review article refers to the recent achievements in the investigation of pharmacological activity and supramolecular characteristics of betulinic acid and its diverse derivatives, with special focus on their cytotoxic effect, antitumor activity, and antiviral effect, and mostly covers a period 2015–2018. Literature sources published earlier are referred to in required coherences or from historical points of view. Relationships between pharmacological activity and supramolecular characteristics are included if such investigation has been done in the original literature sources. A wide practical applicability of betulinic acid and its derivatives demonstrated in the literature sources is also included in this review article. Several literature sources also focused on in silico calculation of physicochemical and ADME parameters of the developed compounds, and on a comparison between the experimental and calculated data.

Bipyridine based metallogels: an unprecedented difference in photochemical and chemical reduction in the in situ nanoparticle formation

Metal co-ordination induced supramolecular gelation of low molecular weight organic ligands is a rapidly expanding area of research due to the potential in creating hierarchically self-assembled multi-stimuli responsive materials. In this context, structurally simple O-methylpyridine derivatives of 4,4'-dihydroxy-2,2'-bipyridine ligands are reported. Upon complexation with Ag(i) ions in aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions the ligands spontaneously form metallosupramolecular gels at concentrations as low as 0.6 w/v%. The metal ions induce the self-assembly of three dimensional (3D) fibrillar networks followed by the spontaneous in situ reduction of the Ag-centers to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) when exposed to daylight. Significant size and morphological differences of the AgNP's was observed between the standard chemical and photochemical reduction of the metallogels. The gelation ability, the nanoparticle formation and rheological properties were found to be depend on the ligand structure, while the strength of the gels is affected by the water content of the gels.

Androsterone-based gels enable diastereospecific reductions and diastereoselective epoxidations of gelators

A quantitative, diastereospecific and conventionally unachievable reduction of the carbonyl group was achieved in the gels of seven gelators.

Spectral and microscopic study of self-assembly of novel cationic spermine amides of betulinic acid

Supramolecular characteristics of two spermine amides of betulinic acid (1 and 2) were studied by measuring and evaluating their UV-VIS-NIR spectra in aqueous acetonitrile and DOSY-NMR spectra in tetradeuteromethanol, accompanied by atomic force microscopy (AFM) images, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs. Fibrous supramolecular self-assembly of 1 and 2 was observed by AFM images, as well as by the SEM and TEM micrographs. Bathochromic shifts of the absorbance maximum at 870nm to 1015-970nm in the UV-VIS-NIR spectra were observed with increasing water content in the acetonitrile/water systems, indicating formation of fibrous J-type aggregates. Variable temperature DOSY-NMR spectral measurement showed non-linear dependence that also suggests self-assembly behavior of the studied systems. Chiral supramolecular structures were formed by self-assembling due to the chirality of the monomeric molecules. Application of aqueous media during self-assembly procedures is an important factor in the development of targeted drug delivery systems.

In situ injection of phenylboronic acid based low molecular weight gels for efficient chemotherapy

Injectable low molecular weight gels (LMWGs) based on the derivatives of phenylboronic acid were prepared and used as substrates for efficient in situ chemotherapy. The gelators as well as LMWGs were characterized by (1)H NMR, UV-vis, FTIR, MS and SEM. Anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was encapsulated in the gels. The rheological properties and rapid recovery capability of both blank and drug-loaded gels were tested. The LMWGs were non-toxic to both 3T3 fibroblasts and 4T1 breast cancer cells. The gels were formed rapidly after injected in vivo. The in vivo anticancer activities of DOX-loaded LMWGs were investigated in breast cancer bearing mice. The intratumoral injection of DOX loaded LMWGs with dose of 30 mg/kg revealed that the gels could coat around the tumor tissues to release DOX sustainingly and maintain effective DOX concentration for chemotherapy. The systemic toxicity of DOX was reduced significantly with the in situ administration of LMWGs formulations. The injectable LMWGs exhibited excellent therapeutic efficacy and low side effects in local chemotherapy.

Solid state NMR studies of gels derived from low molecular mass gelators

Since its invention more than six decades ago, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has evolved as an inevitable part of chemical as well as structural analysis of small molecules, polymers, biomaterials and hybrid materials. In the solution state, due to the increased viscosity of complex viscoelastic fluids such as gels, liquid crystals and other soft materials, the rate of molecular tumbling is reduced, which in turn affects the chemical shift anisotropy, dipolar and quadrupolar interactions. As a consequence the solution state NMR spectra show broad lines, and therefore, extracting detailed structural information is a challenging task. In this context, solid state (SS) NMR has the ability to distinguish between a minute amount of polymorphic forms, conformational changes, and the number of non-equivalent molecules in an asymmetric unit of a crystal lattice, and to provide both qualitative as well as quantitative analytical data with a short-range order. Therefore, SS NMR has continued to evolve as an indispensable tool for structural analysis and gave birth to a new field called NMR crystallography. Solid state cross polarization (CP) and high resolution (HR) magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy has been used to study weak interactions in polymer gels. However, the application of SS NMR spectroscopy to study gels derived from low molecular weight gelators has been limited until recently. In this review, we will focus on the importance of solid state NMR spectroscopy in understanding and elucidating the structure of supramolecular gels derived from low molecular weight gelators with selected examples.

Caffeine as a Gelator

Caffeine (a stimulant) and ethanol (a depressant) may have opposite effects in our body, but under in vitro conditions they can "gel" together. Caffeine, being one of the widely used stimulants, continued to surprise the scientific community with its unprecedented biological, medicinal and physicochemical properties. Here, we disclose the supramolecular self-assembly of anhydrous caffeine in a series of alcoholic and aromatic solvents, rendering a highly entangled microcrystalline network facilitating the encapsulation of the solvents as illustrated using direct imaging, microscopy analysis and NMR studies.

Low molecular weight gels induced differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Four low molecular weight gels (LMWGs) with different moduli were fabricated as scaffolds to investigate the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Studies on supramolecular gel formation using DOSY NMR

Herein, we present the results obtained from our studies on supramolecular self-assembly and molecular mobility of low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) in organic solvents using pulsed field gradient (PFG) diffusion ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) NMR. A series of concentration-dependent DOSY NMR experiments were performed on selected LMWGs to determine the critical gelation concentration (CGC) as well as to understand the behaviour of the gelator molecules in the gel state. In addition, variable-temperature DOSY NMR experiments were performed to determine the gel-to-sol transition. The PFG NMR experiments performed as a function of gradient strength were further analyzed using monoexponential DOSY processing, and the results were compared with the automated Bayesian DOSY transformation to obtain 2D plots. Our results provide useful information on the stepwise self-assembly of small molecules leading to gelation. We believe that the results obtained from these experiments are applicable in determining the CGC and gel melting temperatures of supramolecular gels.

Amides derived from heteroaromatic amines and selected steryl hemiesters

The current interest of the team has been focused on investigation of novel amides with potential cytotoxicity. The presented series of compounds was synthesized from selected steryl hemiesters and heteroaromatic amines. The synthetic protocol was designed in a simple and economic way, and divided into several general methodologies applicable to the compounds synthesized. The cytotoxicity was tested on cells derived from human T-lymphoblastic leukemia, breast adenocarcinoma and cervical cancer, and compared with tests on normal human fibroblasts. Most of the lanosterol-based compounds (3-5 and 7-10) showed medium to good cytotoxicity, while only two derivatives of cholesterol (18 and 19) showed medium cytotoxicity on human T-lymphoblastic leukemia cell line. The compounds 8 and 9 displayed the reasonable cytotoxicity among this series of amides, tested on the cell lines of T-lymphoblastic leukemia [14.5±0.4 μM (8) and 18.5±3.9 μM (9)], breast adenocarcinoma [19.5±2.1 μM (8) and 23.1±4.0 μM (9)] and cervical cancer [24.8±5.3 μM (8) and 29.1±4.7 μM (9)]. Only the compound 8 was adequately less active on normal human fibroblasts (40.4±11.1 μM).

A novel glucose/pH responsive low-molecular-weight organogel of easy recycling

A new phenylboronic acid based gelator was developed to prepare low-molecular-weight organogel (LMOG), which could interact with several solvents to assemble into a three-dimensional nanofiber network. (1)H NMR spectroscopy study suggests that the driving force for the gelation includes hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking. Evaluated by UV-spectroscopy, the gel showed a prompt initial response to glucose at low concentration of 0.012 mmol/mL, which is a critical concentration of venous plasma glucose for diabetes. Significantly, this organogel exhibits excellent sensitivity to glucose among seven sugars tested (i.e., mannitol, galactose, lactose, maltose, sucrose, and fructose). The proposed formation of hydrogen-bonded complexes during the glucose sensing was supported by our energy calculation. Meanwhile, this organogel exhibits pH-response. Importantly, this LMOG could be conveniently recycled and thus be reused.

Estrogenic and mutagenic activities of Crotalaria pallida measured by recombinant yeast assay and Ames test

Background

Crotalaria pallida Ailton is a plant belonging to the Fabaceae family, popularly known as “rattle or rattlesnake” and used in traditional medicine to treat swelling of the joints and as a vermifuge. Previous pharmacological studies have also reported anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antifungal activities. Nevertheless, scientific information regarding this species is scarce, and there are no reports related to its possible estrogenic and mutagenic effects. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the estrogenic potential of C. pallida leaves by means of the Recombinant Yeast Assay (RYA), seeking an alternative for estrogen replacement therapy during menopause; and to reflect on the safe use of natural products to assess the mutagenic activity of the crude extract from C. pallida leaves, the dichloromethane fraction and stigmasterol by means of the Ames test.

Methods

The recombinant yeast assay with the strain BY4741 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was performed with the ethanolic extract, dichloromethane fraction and stigmasterol isolated from the leaves of C. pallida. Mutagenic activity was evaluated by the Salmonella/microsome assay (Ames test), using the Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA100, TA98, TA97 and TA102, with (+S9) and without (-S9) metabolization, by the preincubation method.

Results

All samples showed estrogenic activity, mainly stigmasterol. The ethanolic extract from C. pallida leaves showed mutagenic activity in the TA98 strain (-S9), whereas dichloromethane fraction and stigmasterol were found devoid of activity.

Conclusion

Considering the excellent estrogenic activity performed by stigmasterol in the RYA associated with the absence of mutagenic activity when evaluated by the Ames test, stigmasterol becomes a strong candidate to be used in hormone replacement therapy during menopause.

Regulation of substituent groups on morphologies and self-assembly of organogels based on some azobenzene imide derivatives

In this paper, new azobenzene imide derivatives with different substituent groups were designed and synthesized. Their gelation behaviors in 21 solvents were tested as novel low-molecular-mass organic gelators. It was shown that the alkyl substituent chains and headgroups of azobenzene residues in gelators played a crucial role in the gelation behavior of all compounds in various organic solvents. More alkyl chains in molecular skeletons in present gelators are favorable for the gelation of organic solvents. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy observations revealed that the gelator molecules self-assemble into different aggregates, from wrinkle, lamella, and belt to fiber with the change of solvents. Spectral studies indicated that there existed different H-bond formations between amide groups and conformations of methyl chains. The present work may give some insight to the design and character of new organogelators and soft materials with special molecular structures.

In situ formation of steroidal supramolecular gels designed for drug release

In this work, a steroidal gelator containing an imine bond was synthesized, and its gelation behavior as well as a sensitivity of its gels towards acids was investigated. It was shown that the gels were acid-responsive, and that the gelator molecules could be prepared either by a conventional synthesis or directly in situ during the gel forming process. The gels prepared by both methods were studied and it was found that they had very similar macro- and microscopic properties. Furthermore, the possibility to use the gels as carriers for aromatic drugs such as 5-chloro-8-hydroxyquinoline, pyrazinecarboxamide, and antipyrine was investigated and the prepared two-component gels were studied with regard to their potential applications in drug delivery, particularly in a pH-controlled drug release.

Polyamine conjugates of stigmasterol

Three new polyamine conjugates with stigmasterol [(3β,22E)-stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-ol] were synthesized and subjected to basic antimicrobial and cytotoxic tests. The conjugate derived from spermine, (3β,22E)-stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-yl 4(12-amino-4,9-diaza-dodecylamino)-4-oxobutanoate (5c), displayed considerable antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus aureus at low concentration (50 μg mL(-1)). The cytotoxic activity was tested on cells of human T-lymfoblastic leukemia (IC(50)=35.8 ± 10.3 μM (5c) and IC(50)=35.9 ± 5.7 μM (5b)) and normal human fibroblasts (IC(50)=38.0 ± 2.8 μM (5c) and IC(50)=45.5 ± 1.9 μM (5b)). Conjugate 5a displayed no activity in both tests.

Stigmasterol-based novel low molecular weight/mass organic gelators

Conjugates consisting of stigmasterol and L-phenylalanine, interconnected through short-chained dicarboxylic acyls by ester and amide bonds, respectively, were synthesized as potential low molecular weight/mass organic gelators (LMWGs/LMMGs). Their physico-chemical properties were subjected to investigation, especially their ability to form gels reversibly based on changes of the environmental conditions. Other self-assembly properties detectable by UV-VIS traces were measured in systems consisting of two miscible solvents (water/acetonitrile) with varying solvent ratios and using constant concentrations of the studied compounds. Partition and diffusion coefficients and solubility in water were calculated for the target conjugates. The conjugate 3a was the only compound from this series capable of forming a gel in 1-octanol. All three conjugates 3a–3c displayed supramolecular characteristics in the UV-VIS spectra.