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Habib S, Talhami M, Hassanein A, Mahdi E, Al-Ejji M, Hassan MK, Altaee A, Das P, Hawari AH. Advances in functionalization and conjugation mechanisms of dendrimers with iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:13331-13372. [PMID: 38967017 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01376j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are crucial in various areas due to their unique magnetic properties. However, their practical use is often limited by instability and aggregation in aqueous solutions. This review explores the advanced technique of dendrimer functionalization to enhance MNP stability and expand their application potential. Dendrimers, with their symmetric and highly branched structure, effectively stabilize MNPs and provide tailored functional sites for specific applications. We summarize key synthetic modifications, focusing on the impacts of dendrimer size, surface chemistry, and the balance of chemical (e.g., coordination, anchoring) and physical (e.g., electrostatic, hydrophobic) interactions on nanocomposite properties. Current challenges such as dendrimer toxicity, control over dendrimer distribution on MNPs, and the need for biocompatibility are discussed, alongside potential solutions involving advanced characterization techniques. This review highlights significant opportunities in environmental, biomedical, and water treatment applications, stressing the necessity for ongoing research to fully leverage dendrimer-functionalized MNPs. Insights offered here aim to guide further development and application of these promising nanocomposites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Habib
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Mohammed Talhami
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Amani Hassanein
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Elsadig Mahdi
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, 2713 Doha, Qatar
| | - Maryam Al-Ejji
- Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammad K Hassan
- Center for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ali Altaee
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Probir Das
- Algal Technologies Program, Center for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Alaa H Hawari
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar.
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Havlicek D, Panakkal VM, Voska L, Sedlacek O, Jirak D. Self-Assembled Fluorinated Nanoparticles as Sensitive and Biocompatible Theranostic Platforms for 19F MRI. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300510. [PMID: 38217510 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Theranostics is a novel paradigm integrating therapy and diagnostics, thereby providing new prospects for overcoming the limitations of traditional treatments. In this context, perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are the most widely used tracers in preclinical fluorine-19 magnetic resonance (19F MR), primarily for their high fluorine content. However, PFCs are extremely hydrophobic, and their solutions often display reduced biocompatibility, relative instability, and subpar 19F MR relaxation times. This study aims to explore the potential of micellar 19F MR imaging (MRI) tracers, synthesized by polymerization-induced self-assembly (PISA), as alternative theranostic agents for simultaneous imaging and release of the non-steroidal antileprotic drug clofazimine. In vitro, under physiological conditions, these micelles demonstrate sustained drug release. In vivo, throughout the drug release process, they provide a highly specific and sensitive 19F MRI signal. Even after extended exposure, these fluoropolymer tracers show biocompatibility, as confirmed by the histological analysis. Moreover, the characteristics of these polymers can be broadly adjusted by design to meet the wide range of criteria for preclinical and clinical settings. Therefore, micellar 19F MRI tracers display physicochemical properties suitable for in vivo imaging, such as relaxation times and non-toxicity, and high performance as drug carriers, highlighting their potential as both diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Havlicek
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Vídeňská 1958/9, Prague, 140 20, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biophysics and Informatics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 1660/32, Prague, 121 08, Czech Republic
| | - Vyshakh M Panakkal
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Ludek Voska
- Department of Clinical and Transplant Pathology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Vídeňská 1958/9, Prague, 140 20, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Sedlacek
- Department of Physical and Macromolecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Hlavova 8, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Jirak
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Vídeňská 1958/9, Prague, 140 20, Czech Republic
- Institute of Biophysics and Informatics, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Kateřinská 1660/32, Prague, 121 08, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Health Studies, Technical University of Liberec, 1402/2 Studentská, Liberec, 46117, Czech Republic
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Cherri M, Romero JF, Steiner L, Dimde M, Koeppe H, Paulus B, Mohammadifar E, Haag R. Power of the Disulfide Bond: An Ideal Random Copolymerization of Biodegradable Redox-Responsive Hyperbranched Polyglycerols. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:119-133. [PMID: 38112688 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The development of copolymerization techniques that can randomly incorporate biodegradable moieties into the hyperbranched polyglycerol backbone is an option to prevent its bioaccumulation in vivo. In this study, redox-responsive and biocompatible hyperbranched polyglycerol copolymers of glycidol and 1,4,5-oxadithiepan-2-one were synthesized with an adjustable molecular weight and a defined disulfide bond content through anionic and coordination-insertion ring-opening polymerization. A truly random incorporation of the monomers was achieved under both copolymerization mechanisms. The copolymers were further characterized in terms of their aggregation behavior in solution, degradability, in vitro cell viability, and blood compatibility for potential future biomedical applications. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the copolymer assembled into nanoparticles with a size range of 20 nm. The copolymers underwent degradation when incubated with two different reducing agents, resulting in smaller fragments of the polymer with thiol end groups. The copolymers demonstrated good biocompatibility, making them suitable for further investigation in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Cherri
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - J Fernanda Romero
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Luca Steiner
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Mathias Dimde
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Research Center of Electron Microscopy, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Hanna Koeppe
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Beate Paulus
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ehsan Mohammadifar
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Zabihi F, Cherri M, Guo X, Rancan F, Schumacher F, Mohammadifar E, Kleuser B, Bäumer W, Schirner M, Vogt A, Haag R. Topical Delivery of Tofacitinib in Dermatology: The Promise of a Novel Therapeutic Class Using Biodegradable Dendritic Polyglycerol Sulfates. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:77. [PMID: 38256910 PMCID: PMC10821331 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory skin diseases, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and alopecia areata, occur when the regulatory tolerance of the innate immune system is disrupted, resulting in the activation of the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) inflammatory signaling pathway by interleukin 6 (IL-6) and other key inflammatory cytokines. JAK inhibitors, such as tofacitinib, bind to these enzymes which are coupled to receptors on cell surfaces and block the transcription of inflammatory cytokine-induced genes. The first topical applications are being marketed, yet insufficient effects regarding indications, such as alopecia areata, suggest that improved delivery technologies could help increase the efficacy. In this study, we used sulfated dendritic polyglycerol with caprolactone segments integrated in its backbone (dPGS-PCL), with a molecular weight of 54 kDa, as a degradable carrier to load and solubilize the hydrophobic drug tofacitinib (TFB). TFB loaded in dPGS-PCL (dPGS-PCL@TFB), at a 11 w/w% loading capacity in aqueous solution, showed in an ex-vivo human skin model better penetration than free TFB in a 30:70 (v/v) ethanol/water mixture. We also investigated the anti-inflammatory efficacy of dPGS-PCL@TFB (0.5 w/w%), dPGS-PCL, and free TFB in the water/ethanol mixture by measuring their effects on IL-6 and IL-8 release, and STAT3 and STAT5 activation in ex vivo skin models of simulated inflamed human skin. Our results suggest that dPGS-PCL@TFB reduces the activation of STAT3 and STAT5 by increasing the penetration of the tofacitinib. However, no statistically significant differences with respect to the inhibition of IL-6 and IL-8 were observed in this short incubation time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Zabihi
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (F.Z.); (M.C.); (E.M.); (M.S.)
- Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergy, Charité Universitaetsmedizin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (X.G.); (F.R.)
| | - Mariam Cherri
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (F.Z.); (M.C.); (E.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Xiao Guo
- Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergy, Charité Universitaetsmedizin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (X.G.); (F.R.)
| | - Fiorenza Rancan
- Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergy, Charité Universitaetsmedizin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (X.G.); (F.R.)
| | - Fabian Schumacher
- Institute of Pharmacy (Pharmacology and Toxicology), Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (F.S.); (B.K.)
- Core Facility BioSupraMol PharmaMS, Institute of Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ehsan Mohammadifar
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (F.Z.); (M.C.); (E.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Burkhard Kleuser
- Institute of Pharmacy (Pharmacology and Toxicology), Freie Universität Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 2+4, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (F.S.); (B.K.)
| | - Wolfgang Bäumer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Koserstr. 20, 14195 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Michael Schirner
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (F.Z.); (M.C.); (E.M.); (M.S.)
| | - Annika Vogt
- Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Department of Dermatology, Venereology, and Allergy, Charité Universitaetsmedizin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; (X.G.); (F.R.)
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany; (F.Z.); (M.C.); (E.M.); (M.S.)
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Koeppe H, Horn D, Scholz J, Quaas E, Schötz S, Reisbeck F, Achazi K, Mohammadifar E, Dernedde J, Haag R. Shell-Sheddable Dendritic Polyglycerol Sulfates Loaded with Sunitinib for Inhibition of Tumor Angiogenesis. Int J Pharm 2023:123158. [PMID: 37336299 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.123158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Induced angiogenesis, a specific hallmark of cancer, plays a vital role in tumor progression and can be targeted by inhibitors like sunitinib. Sunitinib is a small hydrophobic molecule suffering from low bioavailability and a short half-life in the bloodstream. To overcome these drawbacks, suitable drug delivery systems need to be developed. In this work dendritic polyglycerol (dPG), a well-known polymer, was functionalized with a sheddable shell. Therefore, aliphatic chains of different lengths (C5, C9, C11) were coupled to dPG through a cleavable ester bond. To restore water solubility and improve tumor targeting, the surface was decorated with sulfate groups. The resulting shell-sheddable dPG sulfates were characterized and evaluated regarding their loading capacity and biocompatibility in cell culture. The nine-carbon chain derivative (dPG-TNS) was selected as the best candidate for further experiments due to its high drug loading capacity (20wt%), and a sustained release in vitro. The cellular biocompatibility of the blank carrier up to 1mg/mL was confirmed after 24h incubation on HeLa cells. Furthermore, the shell-cleavability of dPG-TNS under different physiological conditions was shown in a degradation study over four weeks. The activity of sunitinib-loaded dPG-TNS was demonstrated in a tube formation assay on Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Our results suggest that the drug-loaded nanocarrier is a promising candidate to be further investigated in tumor treatments, as it shows similar efficacy to free sunitinib while overcoming its limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Koeppe
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Horn
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Johanna Scholz
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Quaas
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Schötz
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Felix Reisbeck
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Achazi
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ehsan Mohammadifar
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jens Dernedde
- Institute for Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
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Witt M, Cherri M, Ferraro M, Yapto C, Vogel K, Schmidt L, Haag R, Danker K, Dommisch H. Anti-inflammatory IL-8 Regulation via an Advanced Drug Delivery System at the Oral Mucosa. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2023. [PMID: 37216981 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Oral inflammatory diseases are highly prevalent in the worldwide population. Topical treatment of inflammation is challenging due to dilution effects of saliva and crevicular fluid. Thus, there is a great medical need to develop smart anti-inflammatory drug delivery systems for mucosa treatment. We compared two promising anti-inflammatory dendritic poly(glycerol-caprolactone) sulfate (dPGS-PCL) polymers for their applicability to the oral mucosa. Using an ex vivo porcine tissue model, cell monolayers, and full-thickness 3D oral mucosal organoids, the polymers were evaluated for muco-adhesion, penetration, and anti-inflammatory properties. The biodegradable dPGS-PCL97 polymers adhered to and penetrated the masticatory mucosa within seconds. No effects on metabolic activity and cell proliferation were found. dPGS-PCL97 revealed a significant downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines with a clear preference for IL-8 in cell monolayers and mucosal organoids. Thus, dPGS-PCL97 exhibits excellent properties for topical anti-inflammatory therapy, suggesting new therapeutic avenues in the treatment of oral inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maren Witt
- Department of Periodontology, Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 14197 , Germany
| | - Mariam Cherri
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Magda Ferraro
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Cynthia Yapto
- Institute of Biochemistry, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Katrin Vogel
- Department of Periodontology, Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 14197 , Germany
| | - Lena Schmidt
- Institute of Biochemistry, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Rainer Haag
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - Kerstin Danker
- Institute of Biochemistry, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Henrik Dommisch
- Department of Periodontology, Oral Medicine and Oral Surgery, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 14197 , Germany
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Pouyan P, Cherri M, Haag R. Polyglycerols as Multi-Functional Platforms: Synthesis and Biomedical Applications. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14132684. [PMID: 35808728 PMCID: PMC9269438 DOI: 10.3390/polym14132684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The remarkable and unique characteristics of polyglycerols (PG) have made them an attractive candidate for many applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. The presence of multiple hydroxy groups on the flexible polyether backbone not only enables the further modification of the PG structure but also makes the polymer highly water-soluble and results in excellent biocompatibility. In this review, the polymerization routes leading to PG with different architectures are discussed. Moreover, we discuss the role of these polymers in different biomedical applications such as drug delivery systems, protein conjugation, and surface modification.
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Gonçalves Correa ND, Silva FD, Vieira DP, Soares CRJ, de Queiroz AAA. In vitro cytotoxic data on Se-methylselenocysteine conjugated to dendritic poly(glycerol) against human squamous carcinoma cells. JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE. POLYMER EDITION 2022; 33:651-667. [PMID: 34809530 DOI: 10.1080/09205063.2021.2008788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric nanoparticles acting as sources of selenium (Se) are currently an interesting topic in cancer chemotherapy. In this study, polyglycerol dendrimer (DPGLy) was functionalized with seleno-methyl-selenocysteine (SeMeCys) by means of Steglich esterification with 4-dimethylaminopyridine/(l-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide) (EDC/DMAP) and cerium chloride as cocatalyst in acetonitrile at quantitative yields of 98 ± 1%. The SeMeCys coupling DPGLy efficiency vs. time were determined by Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The cytotoxic effects of SeMeCys-DPGLy on the Chinese Hamster ovary cell line (CHO-K1) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells line were assessed by MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assay. No signs of general toxicity of SeMeCys-DPGLy against CHO-K1 cells were detectable at which cell viability was greater than 98%. MTS assays revealed that SeMeCys-DPGLy reduced HNSCC cell viability and proliferation at higher doses and long incubation times.
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