A thiazole-containing tripodal ligand: synthesis, characterization, and interactions with metal ions and matrix metalloproteinases

Photoexpulsion of surface-grafted ruthenium complexes and subsequent release of cytotoxic cargos to cancer cells from mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes have emerged both as promising probes of DNA structure and as anticancer agents because of their unique photophysical and cytotoxic properties. A key consideration in the administration of those therapeutic agents is the optimization of their chemical reactivities to allow facile attack on the target sites, yet avoid unwanted side effects. Here, we present a drug delivery platform technology, obtained by grafting the surface of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) with ruthenium(II) dipyridophenazine (dppz) complexes. This hybrid nanomaterial displays enhanced luminescent properties relative to that of the ruthenium(II) dppz complex in a homogeneous phase. Since the coordination between the ruthenium(II) complex and a monodentate ligand linked covalently to the nanoparticles can be cleaved under irradiation with visible light, the ruthenium complex can be released from the surface of the nanoparticles by selective substitution of this ligand with a water molecule. Indeed, the modified MSNPs undergo rapid cellular uptake, and after activation with light, the release of an aqua ruthenium(II) complex is observed. We have delivered, in combination, the ruthenium(II) complex and paclitaxel, loaded in the mesoporous structure, to breast cancer cells. This hybrid material represents a promising candidate as one of the so-called theranostic agents that possess both diagnostic and therapeutic functions.

Identification of softness syndrome-associated candidate genes and DNA sequence variation in the sea squirt, Halocynthia roretzi

The mortality of sea squirts, Halocynthia roretzi, with softness syndrome threatens the sea squirt aquaculture industry in Asian countries. The molecular approach to understanding the pathogenesis of softness syndrome began with differential gene expression analysis of tissues from normal and dying organisms. In the present study, we show that the expression of Halocynthia roretzi metalloproteinase (HrMMP) was significantly upregulated in the tissues of dying organisms through screening of differentially expressed genes, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and real-time PCR. HrMMP is composed of 482 amino acids, contains a conserved domain found in the astacin family, and has typical metalloproteinase activity. To discriminate between the differential expression of the HrMMP gene in normal and dying organisms, we cloned the HrMMP gene promoter and identified a polymorphism in the HrMMP promoter region that resulted in distinct polymorphisms (G/T) at position - 308 bp. These results suggest that organisms with the GT genotype may have more resistance to softness syndrome than those with the TT genotype. These findings suggest that the HrMMP promoter polymorphism may be associated with an increased risk of softness syndrome in cultivated sea squirts and should be evaluated as a candidate molecular marker for the selective breeding of softness syndrome-resistant sea squirts.

Structure-catalytic function relationship of SiO2-immobilized mononuclear Cu complexes: an EPR study

Mononuclear CuL and Cu(2L) complexes, where L is propyl-thiazol-2-ylmethylene-amine, covalently immobilized onto SiO2, can catalyze efficiently the oxidation of 3,5-di-t-butylcatechol (DTBC) to 3,5-di-t-butylquinone (DTBQ) by utilizing ambient O2 as oxidant. By increasing the loading of L on SiO2, the DTBQ formation can be improved up to 400% vs the homogeneous catalyst. Equally important is however that grafting per se at low loading is not adequate for an improved catalytic activity. Appropriate loadings have to be achieved, which then may result in significant catalytic performance. Based on EPR spectroscopy a theoretical method is developed, eq A12, for spin-spin distance estimation in heterogeneously dispersed surface complexes. Practical rules including error estimates are provided. By applying this method to the [SiO2-CuL] catalysts it is shown that mononuclear copper complexes fixed on SiO2 with Cu...Cu distances as short as 4.9 +/- 0.3 A are responsible for the improved catalytic activity. The present results demonstrate that mononuclear Cu complexes can have considerable catecholase activity, if the proper geometrical proximity can be fixed. Grafting on SiO2 may be an efficient method for engineering catalysts with improved performance.