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Amorim JC, Carpio JM. Alpha-Naphthoflavone as a Novel Scaffold for the Design of Potential Inhibitors of the APH(3')-IIIa Nucleotide-Binding Site of Enterococcus faecalis. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2351. [PMID: 37764195 PMCID: PMC10535617 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The spread of nosocomial infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus faecalis is one of the major threats to global health at present. While aminoglycosides are often used to combat these infections, their effectiveness is reduced by various resistance mechanisms, including aminoglycoside modifying enzymes, and there are currently no drugs to inhibit these enzymes. To address this issue, this study was conducted to identify potential aminoglycoside adjuvants from a database of 462 flavones. The affinity of these molecules with the nucleotide-binding site (NBS) of aminoglycoside phosphotransferase type IIIa of E. faecalis (EfAPH(3')-IIIa) was evaluated, and the five molecules with the highest binding energies were identified. Of these, four were naphthoflavones, suggesting that their backbone could be useful in designing potential inhibitors. The highest-ranked naphthoflavone, 2-phenyl-4H-benzo[h]chromen-4-one, was modified to generate two new derivatives (ANF2OHC and ANF2OHCC) to interact with the NBS similarly to adenine in ATP. These derivatives showed higher binding free energies, better stability in molecular dynamics analysis and superior pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles compared to the parent molecule. These findings suggest that these alpha-naphthoflavone derivatives are potential inhibitors of EfAPH(3')-IIIa and that this core may be a promising scaffold for developing adjuvants that restore the sensitivity of aminoglycosides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Marcelo Carpio
- Unidad Académica de Salud y Bienestar, Universidad Católica de Cuenca, Av. Las Américas, Cuenca 010105, Ecuador;
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An In-Silico Evaluation of Anthraquinones as Potential Inhibitors of DNA Gyrase B of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122434. [PMID: 36557686 PMCID: PMC9783175 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization reported that tuberculosis remains on the list of the top ten threats to public health worldwide. Among the main causes is the limited effectiveness of treatments due to the emergence of resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. One of the main drug targets studied to combat M. tuberculosis is DNA gyrase, the only enzyme responsible for regulating DNA topology in this specie and considered essential in all bacteria. In this context, the present work tested the ability of 2824 anthraquinones retrieved from the PubChem database to act as competitive inhibitors through interaction with the ATP-binding pocket of DNA gyrase B of M. tuberculosis. Virtual screening results based on molecular docking identified 7122772 (N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-9,10-dioxoanthracene-2-sulfonamide) as the best-scored ligand. From this anthraquinone, a new derivative was designed harbouring an aminotriazole moiety, which exhibited higher binding energy calculated by molecular docking scoring and free energy calculation from molecular dynamics simulations. In addition, in these last analyses, this ligand showed to be stable in complex with the enzyme and further predictions indicated a low probability of cytotoxic and off-target effects, as well as an acceptable pharmacokinetic profile. Taken together, the presented results show a new synthetically accessible anthraquinone with promising potential to inhibit the GyrB of M. tuberculosis.
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Feuser PE, Possato JC, Scussel R, Cercena R, de Araújo PHH, Machado-de-Ávila RA, Dal Bó AG. In vitro phototoxicity of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) loaded in liposomes against human breast cancer cells. J PORPHYR PHTHALOCYA 2020. [DOI: 10.1142/s1088424621500073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In this study, zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) was encapsulated in liposomes (Phosphatidylcholine (PC) from soybean lecithin (95% phosphatidylcholine, 5% lysophosphatidylcholine), and phosphatidic acid) obtained by a reverse-phase evaporation method. Liposomes were characterized and cytotoxicity and phototoxicity assays were performed using mouse embryo fibroblast (NIH3T3) and human breast cancer (MDAMB231), respectively. ZnPc was successfully encapsulated in liposomes ([Formula: see text]80%), presenting single populations with sizes of [Formula: see text]300 nm and negative zeta potential (-35 to -40 mV). The release profile at different pH presented a biphasic release controlled by the Fickian diffusion mechanism. The cytotoxicity assays carried out on NIH3T3 cells showed that the liposomes provided good protection for ZnPc, and did not affect the viability of non-cancerous cells. In contrast, free ZnPc significantly reduced non-cancerous cell viability at higher concentrations. ZnPc loaded in liposomes ensured a higher phototoxic effect on the MDAMB231 cells at all concentrations tested when exposed to low light dose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Emilio Feuser
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Health Science, University of the Extreme South Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Jonathann Corrêa Possato
- Postgraduate Program in Health Science, University of the Extreme South Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Rahisa Scussel
- Postgraduate Program in Health Science, University of the Extreme South Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Cercena
- Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, University of the Extreme South Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Pedro Henrique Hermes de Araújo
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre Gonçalves Dal Bó
- Postgraduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering, University of the Extreme South Santa Catarina, Criciuma, Santa Catarina, Brazil
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Assolini JP, da Silva TP, da Silva Bortoleti BT, Gonçalves MD, Tomiotto-Pellissier F, Sahd CS, Carloto ACM, Feuser PE, Cordeiro AP, Sayer C, Hermes de Araújo PH, Costa IN, Conchon-Costa I, Miranda-Sapla MM, Pavanelli WR. 4-nitrochalcone exerts leishmanicidal effect on L. amazonensis promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, and the 4-nitrochalcone encapsulation in beeswax copaiba oil nanoparticles reduces macrophages cytotoxicity. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 884:173392. [PMID: 32735985 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Leishmaniasis treatment currently available involves some difficulties, such as high toxicity, variable efficacy, high cost, therefore, it is crucial to search for new therapeutic alternatives. Over the past few years, research on new drugs has focused on the use of natural compounds such as chalcones and nanotechnology. In this context, this research aimed at assessing the in vitro leishmanicidal activity of free 4-nitrochalcone (4NC) on promastigotes and encapsulated 4NC on L. amazonensis-infected macrophages, as well as their action mechanisms. Free 4NC was able to reduce the viability of promastigotes, induce reactive oxygen species production, decrease mitochondrial membrane potential, increase plasma membrane permeability, and expose phosphatidylserine, in addition to altering the morphology and lowering parasite cellular volume. Treatment containing encapsulated 4NC in beeswax-copaiba oil nanoparticles (4NC-beeswax-CO Nps) did not alter the viability of macrophages. Furthermore, 4NC-beeswax-CO Nps reduced the percentage of infected macrophages and the number of amastigotes per macrophages, increasing the production of reactive oxygen species, NO, TNF-α, and IL-10. Therefore, free 4NC proved to exert anti-promastigote effect, while 4NC-beeswax-CO Nps showed a leishmanicidal effect on L. amazonensis-infected macrophages by activating the macrophage microbicidal machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Paulo Assolini
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, PR, Brazil.
| | - Thais Peron da Silva
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Bruna Taciane da Silva Bortoleti
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, PR, Brazil; Biosciences and Biotechnology Postgraduate Program, Carlos Chagas Institute (ICC), Fiocruz, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Tomiotto-Pellissier
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, PR, Brazil; Biosciences and Biotechnology Postgraduate Program, Carlos Chagas Institute (ICC), Fiocruz, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Claudia Stoeglehner Sahd
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo Emilio Feuser
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil
| | - Arthur Poester Cordeiro
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil
| | - Claudia Sayer
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, SC, Brazil
| | | | - Idessania Nazareth Costa
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Ivete Conchon-Costa
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Wander Rogério Pavanelli
- Department of Pathological Sciences, Center of Biological Sciences, State University of Londrina, PR, Brazil; Biosciences and Biotechnology Postgraduate Program, Carlos Chagas Institute (ICC), Fiocruz, Curitiba, Brazil.
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Dos Santos PCM, Feuser PE, Cordeiro AP, Scussel R, Abel JDS, Machado-de-Ávila RA, Rocha MEM, Sayer C, Hermes de Araújo PH. Antitumor activity associated with hyperthermia and 4-nitrochalcone loaded in superparamagnetic poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles. JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE-POLYMER EDITION 2020; 31:1895-1911. [PMID: 32552460 DOI: 10.1080/09205063.2020.1782699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The combination of hyperthermia and chemotherapy has a potential synergic effect in antitumor activity. The development of new biocompatible and biodegradable polymers to simultaneously encapsulate magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and antitumoral drugs offer new cancer treatment opportunities. Here, biodegradable and biocompatible poly(thioether-ester) (PTEe) was used to encapsulate MNPs and 4-nitrochalcone (4NC) using miniemulsification and solvent evaporation. The resulting hybrid particles (MNPs-4NC-PTEe) had nanometer-scale diameters, spherical morphology, negative surface charge, high encapsulation efficiency, and superparamagnetic properties. Results showed that 4NC release occurred through diffusion. Free 4NC and MNPs + 4NC-PTEe did not have any cytotoxic effect on erythrocytes and mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH3T3) cells. 4NC antitumor activity was verified on human cervical cancer (HeLa) and melanoma (B16F10) cells. Cellular uptake of MNPs + 4NC-PTEe nanoparticles was higher in HeLa cells compared to B16F10 and NIH3T3 cells. The hyperthermia application (115 kHz-500 Oe) potentiated the 4NC effects on HeLa and B16F10 cells when MNPs + 4NC-PTEe nanoparticles were used, indicating more effective antitumor activity. We concluded that the use of MNPs + 4NC-PTEe nanoparticles associated with hyperthermia is a promising form of treatment for some types of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paulo Emilio Feuser
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
| | - Arthur Poester Cordeiro
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
| | - Rahisa Scussel
- Postgraduate Program in Health Science, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Brazil
| | - Jessica da Silva Abel
- Postgraduate Program in Health Science, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Criciúma, Brazil
| | | | | | - Claudia Sayer
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil
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