Tailoring the surface charges of iron-crosslinked dextran nanogels towards improved tumor-associated macrophage targeting

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have emerged as therapeutic interests in cancer nanomedicine because TAMs play a pivotal role in the immune microenvironment of solid tumors. Dextran and its derived nanocarriers are among the most promising nanomaterials for TAM targeting due to their intrinsic affinities towards macrophages. Various dextran-based nanomaterials have been developed to image TAMs. However, the effects of physiochemical properties especially for surface charges of dextran nanomaterials on TAM-targeting efficacy were ambiguous in literature. To figure out the surface charge effects on TAM targeting, here we developed a facile non-covalent self-assembly strategy to construct oppositely charged dextran nanogels (NGs) utilizing the coordination interaction of ferric ions, chlorine e6 (Ce6) dye and three dextran derivatives, diethylaminoethyl-, sulfate sodium- and carboxymethyl-dextran. The acquired dextran NGs exhibit different charges but similar hydrodynamic size, Ce6 loading and mechanical stiffness, which enables a side-by-side comparison of the effects of NG surface charges on TAM targeting monitored by the Ce6 fluorescence imaging. Compared with negative NGs, the positive NG clearly displays a superior TAM targeting in murine breast cancer model. This study identifies that positively charged dextran NG could be a promising approach to better engineer nanomedicine towards an improved TAM targeting.

Investigation of hexacyanoferrate(II)/(III) charge-dependent interactions with bovine and human serum albumins

In the present paper, the binding interactions of highly negative-charged ions, namely hexacyanoferrates(II/III), i.e. [Fe(CN)₆]^4- and [Fe(CN)₆]^3- with bovine and human serum albumins (BSA and HSA, respectively) have been studied for the first time in an aqueous solution (10 mM cacodylate buffer of pH 7.0) using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and CD spectroscopy supported by molecular dynamics-based computational approaches. The Stern-Volmer equation as well as its modifications suggested that hexacyanoferrates(II/III) effectively quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of the albumins through a static mechanism. The proteins under study possess only one binding site on the surface capable of binding one mole of hexacyanoferrates(II/III) ions per one mole of albumin (HSA or BSA). The formation of albumin complexes is an enthalpy-driven process (|ΔH_ITC| > |TΔS_ITC|). The strength of the interactions depends mainly on the type of albumin, and changes as follows: BSA-K₃[Fe(CN)₆] ∼ BSA-K₄[Fe(CN)₆] > HSA-K₃[Fe(CN)₆] ∼ HSA-K₄[Fe(CN)₆]. Finally, potential binding sites of bovine and human serum albumins have been investigated and discussed based on a competitive fluorescence displacement assay (with warfarin and ibuprofen as site markers) and molecular dynamics simulations.

The difference in the cellular uptake of tocopherol and tocotrienol is influenced by their affinities to albumin

Vitamin E is classified into tocopherol (Toc) and tocotrienol (T3) based on its side chains. T3 generally has higher cellular uptake than Toc, though the responsible mechanism remains unclear. To elucidate this mechanism, we hypothesized and investigated whether serum albumin is a factor that induces such a difference in the cellular uptake of Toc and T3. Adding bovine serum albumin (BSA) to serum-depleted media increased the cellular uptake of T3 and decreased that of Toc, with varying degrees among α-, β-, γ-, and δ-analogs. Such enhanced uptake of α-T3 was not observed when cells were incubated under low temperature (the uptake of α-Toc was also reduced), suggesting that Toc and T3 bind to albumin to form a complex that results in differential cellular uptake of vitamin E. Fluorescence quenching study confirmed that vitamin E certainly bound to BSA, and that T3 showed a higher affinity than Toc. Molecular docking further indicated that the differential binding energy of Toc or T3 to BSA is due to the Van der Waals interactions via their side chain. Overall, these results suggested that the affinity of Toc and T3 to albumin differs due to their side chains, causing the difference in their albumin-mediated cellular uptake. Our results give a better mechanistic insight into the physiological action of vitamin E.

Decoding the binding interaction of steroidal pyridines with bovine serum albumin using spectroscopic and molecular docking techniques

The present study reports a comprehensive and conformational aspect of binding of steroidal pyridines (1-6) with a model transport protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA) by fluorescence, UV-visible, circular dichroism, and molecular docking techniques. Quenching of BSA emission was attributed to the formation of the ground state complex after the compound (1-6) binds to the backbone of the protein. Synchronous fluorescence spectra reveals changes in the microenvironment of the aromatic residues. UV-visible absorption spectra further reiterate the quenching mechanism to be static and binding of compound (1-6) results in the formation of a ground-state complex. Circular dichroism spectra indicated that compound 1-3 causes unfolding and compound 4-6 leads to the stabilization of the protein structure. In addition, a molecular docking study revealed the binding pocket for the formation of the ligand-protein complex through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, hemolytic activity suggested that the compounds (1-6) are biocompatible in nature. Evaluation of such steroid-protein interaction helps in better understanding of the biomolecular interaction of steroidal compounds with biomacromolecule and opens up new approaches in steroid based drug-design process.

Improvement of Oxidative Stability of Fish Oil-in-Water Emulsions through Partitioning of Sesamol at the Interface

The susceptibility of polyunsaturated fatty acids to oxidation severely limits their application in functional emulsified foods. In this study, the effect of sesamol concentration on the physicochemical properties of WPI-stabilized fish oil emulsions was investigated, focusing on the relationship between sesamol-WPI interactions and interfacial behavior. The results relating to particle size, zeta-potential, microstructure, and appearance showed that 0.09% (w/v) sesamol promoted the formation of small oil droplets and inhibited oil droplet aggregation. Furthermore, the addition of sesamol significantly reduced the formation of hydrogen peroxide, generation of secondary reaction products during storage, and degree of protein oxidation in the emulsions. Molecular docking and isothermal titration calorimetry showed that the interaction between sesamol and β-LG was mainly mediated by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Our results show that sesamol binds to interfacial proteins mainly through hydrogen bonding, and increasing the interfacial sesamol content reduces the interfacial tension and improves the physical and oxidative stability of the emulsion.

White light-emitting, biocompatible, water-soluble metallic magnesium nanoclusters for bioimaging applications

Ultra-small (1.6 nm), water-soluble, white light-emitting (WLE), highly stable (∼8 months) BSA templated metallic (Mg⁰) nanoclusters (fluorescent magnesium nanoclusters = FMNCs) is developed using the green and facile route. Synthesis was facilitated by the reduction of magnesium salt, where template bovine serum albumin is utilized as a reducing agent and ascorbic acid act as a capping agent to impart stability in water, thereby obtaining stabilized Mg⁰nanoclusters In solution, stabilized Mg⁰nanoclusters produce white light (450-620 nm with FWHM ∼120 nm) upon 366 nm light excitation. This white light emission was found to have a CIE coordinate of 0.30, 0.33 [pure white light CIE (0.33, 0.33)]. Taking advantage of WLE and ultrasmall size, FMNCs were used forin vitrofluorescence imaging of HaCaT cell lines, yielding blue (τ= 2.94 ns, with a relative of QY = 1.2 % w.r.t QS), green (τ= 3.07 ns; relative quantum yield of 4.6% w.r.t R6G) and red (τ= 0.3 ns) images. Further, incubation of FMNCs with HEK293 (Human embryonic kidney cell) and cancerous MDA-MB-231 (Breast cancer cell line) human cell lines yielded 100 % cell viability. Current work is envisioned to contribute significantly in the area of science, engineering, and nanomedicine.

Spontaneous Transfer of Indocyanine Green from Liposomes to Albumin Is Inhibited by the Antioxidant α-Tocopherol

Indocyanine Green (ICG) is a clinically approved organic dye with near-infrared absorption and fluorescence. Over the years, many efforts to improve the photophysical and pharmacokinetic properties of ICG have investigated numerous nanoparticle formulations, especially liposomes with membrane-embedded ICG. A series of systematic absorption and fluorescence experiments, including FRET experiments using ICG as a fluorescence energy acceptor, found that ICG transfers spontaneously from liposomes to albumin protein residing in the external solution with a half-life of ∼10 min at 37 °C. Moreover, transfer of ICG from liposome membranes to external albumin reduces light-activated leakage from thermosensitive liposomes with membrane-embedded ICG. A survey of lipophilic liposome additives discovered that the presence of clinically approved antioxidant, α-tocopherol, greatly increases ICG retention in the liposomes (presumably by forming favorable aromatic stacking interactions), inhibits ICG photobleaching and prevents albumin-induced reduction of light-triggered liposome leakage. This new insight will help researchers with the specific task of optimizing ICG-containing liposomes for fluorescence imaging or phototherapeutics. More broadly, the results suggest a broader design concept concerning light triggered liposome leakage, that is, proximity of the light absorbing dye to the bilayer membrane is a critical design feature that impacts the extent of liposome leakage.

Conformational Changes in the BSA-LT4 Complex Induced by the Presence of Vitamins: Spectroscopic Approach and Molecular Docking

Levothyroxine (LT4) is known for its use in various conditions including hypothyroidism. LT4 interaction with serum albumin may be influenced by the presence of vitamins. For this reason, we investigated the effect of vitamin C, vitamin B12, and folic acid on the complex of Bovine Serum Albumin with LT4 (BSA-LT4). UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to monitor the influence of vitamins on the BSA-LT4 complex. Fluorescence spectroscopy revealed a static quenching mechanism of the fluorescence of BSA-LT4 complex by the vitamin C and folic acid and a combined mechanism for vitamin B12. The interaction of vitamin C and folic acid with BSA-LT4 was moderate, while the binding of vitamin B12 was much stronger, extending the storage time of LT4 in blood plasma. Synchronous fluorescence found that the vitamins were closer to the vicinity of Trp than to Tyr and the effect was more pronounced for the binding of vitamin B12. The thermal stability of the BSA-LT4 complex was more evident, but no influence on the stability of BSA-LT4 complex was obtained for vitamin C. Molecular docking studies showed that vitamin C and folic acid bound the same site of the protein, while vitamin B12 bonded to a different site.

Effects of tocopherols on the stability of flaxseed oil-in-water emulsions stabilized by different emulsifiers: Interfacial partitioning and interaction

The potential effects of tocopherols (100 μM in emulsions) on the physicochemical stability of whey protein isolate (WPI), soy lecithin (SL), or Tween 20 (TW) stabilized flaxseed oil (FO)-in-water emulsions were investigated. During the storage (18 days at 55 ℃), the particle size, microstructure, and multiple light scattering results showed WPI-stabilized emulsions exhibited better physical stability when tocopherols were added hydroperoxides and TBARS concentration in TW-stabilized emulsions were higher than those of SL or WPI, which were suppressed differently by tocopherols. Among homologues, δ-tocopherol was more effective in inhibiting lipid oxidation than α-tocopherol, which was related to the higher interface partitioning. Moreover, the increased interfacial tension indicated tocopherols, especially δ-tocopherol, were adsorbed on the interface and interacted with WPI or SL via hydrophobic or electrostatic interactions determined by isothermal titration calorimetry. Our results suggest tocopherols are more applicable in WPI emulsion systems to achieve steady-state delivery of ALA.

Radioprotective Role of Vitamins C and E against the Gamma Ray-Induced Damage to the Chemical Structure of Bovine Serum Albumin

Radioprotective effects of vitamin C and vitamin E as a water-soluble and a lipid-soluble agent, respectively, were investigated at the molecular level during the imposition of gamma radiation-induced structural changes to bovine serum albumin (BSA) at the therapeutic dose of 3 Gy. Secondary and tertiary structural changes of control and irradiated BSA samples were investigated using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. The preirradiation tests showed nonspecific and reversible binding of vitamins C and E to BSA. Secondary and tertiary structures of irradiated BSA considerably changed in the absence of the vitamins. Upon irradiation, α-helices of BSA transitioned to beta motifs and random coils, and the fluorescence emission intensity decreased relative to nonirradiated BSA. In the presence of the vitamins C or E, however, the irradiated BSA was protected from these structural changes caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The two vitamins exhibited different patterns of attachment to the protein surface, as inspected by blind docking, and their mechanisms of protection were different. The hydrophilicity of vitamin C resulted in the predominant scavenging of ROS in the solvent, whereas hydrophobic vitamin E localized on the nonpolar patches of the BSA surface, where it did not only form a barrier for diffusing ROS but also encountered them as an antioxidant and neutralized them thanks to the moderate BSA binding constant. Very low concentrations of vitamins C or E (0.005 mg/mL) appear to be sufficient to prevent the oxidative damage of BSA.

Effect of ascorbic acid and citric acid on bioavailability of iron from Tegillarca granosa via an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture system

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) has been receiving worldwide attention. Developing safe and effective iron supplements is of great significance for IDA treatment. Tegillarca granosa (T. granosa), a traditional aquaculture bivalve species in China, is considered to be an excellent source of micronutrients, but the distribution and bioavailability of these minerals have yet to be investigated. The present research was conducted to determine the contents and in vitro enzymatic digestibility of minerals in T. granosa, using beef and wheat flour as reference foods. Meanwhile, two iron-binding proteins, hemoglobin and ferritin, were extracted from T. granosa, and their structures, iron accessibility and bioavailability were investigated. Moreover, the effects of ascorbic acid (AA) and citric acid (CA), two commonly applied dietary factors, on these parameters were evaluated. Our results indicated that the mineral levels varied significantly among different food matrices, with T. granosa showing the highest contents of the tested elements. Comparison of iron absorption of meat versus wheat flour and hemoglobin versus ferritin confirmed that heme iron exhibited higher bioavailability than non-heme iron. The addition of the two organic acids notably enhanced the cellular iron uptake of T. granosa-derived proteins. This could be because AA/CA weakened hydrogen bonds within proteins and caused disordered secondary structures, thereby improving their enzymatic digestibility and releasing more soluble iron to be available for absorption. The results of this study provided a basis for the development of T. granosa-derived protein-based iron supplements, promoting the diverse utilization of marine aquatic resources.

Antioxidant activity of Lactobacillus plantarum NJAU-01 in an animal model of aging

BACKGROUND

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) can cause serious damage to the human body and may cause various chronic diseases. Studies have found that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have antioxidant and anti-aging effects, and are important resources for the development of microbial antioxidants. This paper was to explore the potential role of an antioxidant strain, Lactobacillus plantarum NJAU-01 screened from traditional dry-cured meat product Jinhua Ham in regulating D-galactose-induced subacute senescence of mice. A total of 48 specific pathogen free Kun Ming mice (SPF KM mice) were randomly allocated into 6 groups: control group with sterile saline injection, aging group with subcutaneously injection of D-galactose, treatments groups with injection of D-galactose and intragastric administration of 107, 108, and 109 CFU/mL L. plantarum NJAU-01, and positive control group with injection of D-galactose and intragastric administration of 1 mg/mL Vitamin C.

RESULTS

The results showed that the treatment group of L. plantarum NJAU-01 at 109 CFU/mL showed higher total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and the antioxidant enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) than those of the other groups in serum, heart and liver. In contrast, the content of the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA) showed lower levels than the other groups (P < 0.05). The antioxidant capacity was improved with the supplement of the increasing concentration of L. plantarum NJAU-01.

CONCLUSIONS

Thus, this study demonstrates that L. plantarum NJAU-01 can alleviate oxidative stress by increasing the activities of enzymes involved in oxidation resistance and decreasing level of lipid oxidation in mice.

Two Faces of Vitamin C in Hemodialysis Patients: Relation to Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

Hemodialysis (HD) is the most common method of renal replacement therapy. Besides toxins, it eliminates nutrients from the circulation, such as ascorbic acid (AA). HD-patients present AA deficiency more often than representatives of the general population, also due to dietary restrictions. This condition aggravates oxidative stress and inflammation related to uremia and extracorporeal circulation and increases cardiovascular risk followed by mortality. Supplementation of AA seems to be a promising approach in the treatment of hemodialysis patients. Many successful interventions restored plasma AA concentration in HD patients by enteral or intravenous supplementation, concomitantly inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation. A significant number of studies reported opposite, serious pro-oxidant effects of AA. In this narrative review, we present studies, commenting on their limitations; on AA plasma or serum concentration and the influence of its supplementation on protein and lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, reactive oxygen species generation, paraoxonase activity, advanced glycation endproducts, and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration. Moreover, in terms of safety, the possible development of oxalosis in HD patients regarding the intravenous or enteral route of AA administration is discussed. Unequivocal clinical results of recent studies on hemodialysis patients are displayed.

Context dependent effects of ascorbic acid treatment in TET2 mutant myeloid neoplasia

Loss-of-function TET2 mutations (TET2^MT) are common in myeloid neoplasia. TET2, a DNA dioxygenase, requires 2-oxoglutarate and Fe(II) to oxidize 5-methylcytosine. TET2^MT thus result in hypermethylation and transcriptional repression. Ascorbic acid (AA) increases dioxygenase activity by facilitating Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox reaction and may alleviate some biological consequences of TET2^MT by restoring dioxygenase activity. Here, we report the utility of AA in the prevention of TET2^MT myeloid neoplasia (MN), clarify the mechanistic underpinning of the TET2-AA interactions, and demonstrate that the ability of AA to restore TET2 activity in cells depends on N- and C-terminal lysine acetylation and nature of TET2^MT. Consequently, pharmacologic modulation of acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases may regulate TET dioxygenase-dependent AA effects. Thus, our study highlights the contribution of factors that may enhance or attenuate AA effects on TET2 and provides a rationale for novel therapeutic approaches including combinations of AA with class I/II HDAC inhibitor or sirtuin activators in TET2^MT leukemia.

Using TET2- and ascorbic acid deficient model systems Guan et al show that long term treatment with ascorbic acid delays myeloid neoplasia in mice and reveal a complex interplay of post-translational modification of lysine residues that modulate TET2 activity in neoplastic evolution.

Differential-based biosensor array for fluorescence-chemometric discrimination and the quantification of subtle chloropropanols by cross-reactive serum albumin scaffolding

Food contamination is a serious concern because of a high level of chemicals in food causes severe health issues. Safeguarding the public from the risk of adulterated foods has become a challenging mission. Chloropropanols are of importance to food safety and food security because they are common chemical food contaminants and believed to be carcinogenic to humans. In chemical sensing, chloropropanols are challenging analytes owing to the lacking diversity of functional groups and difficulty in targeting the hydroxyl group in aqueous environments. Moreover, because of their small molecular size, the compositions of chloropropanols remain challenging for achieving chromatographic determination. Herein, to simulate human smell and taste sensations, serum albumins, which are protein-based receptors, were introduced as low-selective receptors for differential sensing. Utilizing serum albumins, a fluorophore (PRODAN), and an additive (ascorbic acid), a differential-based optical biosensor array was developed to detect and differentiate chloropropanols. By integrating the sensor array with linear discriminant analysis (LDA), four chloropropanols were effectively differentiated based on their isomerism properties and the number of the hydroxyl groups, even at ultra-low concentration (5 nM). This concentration is far below the maximum tolerable level of 0.18 μM for chloropropanols. The sensing array was then employed for chloropropanols differentiation and quantification in the complex mixtures (e.g., synthetic soy and dark soy sauces). Leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) analysis demonstrated 100% accurate classification for all tests. These results signify our differential sensing array as a practical and powerful tool to speedily identify, differentiate, and even quantify chloropropanols in food matrices.

Influence of Ascorbic Acid on the Structure and Function of Alpha-2- macroglobulin: Investigations using Spectroscopic and Thermodynamic Techniques

Background:

Ascorbic acid is a classic dietary antioxidant which plays an important role in the body of human beings. It is commonly found in various foods as well as taken as dietary supplement.

Objective:

The plasma ascorbic acid concentration may range from low, as in chronic or acute oxidative stress to high if delivered intravenously during cancer treatment. Sheep alpha-2- macroglobulin (α2M), a human α2M homologue is a large tetrameric glycoprotein of 630 kDa with antiproteinase activity, found in sheep’s blood.

Methods:

In the present study, the interaction of ascorbic acid with alpha-2-macroglobulin was explored in the presence of visible light by utilizing various spectroscopic techniques and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC).

Results:

UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy suggests the formation of a complex between ascorbic acid and α2M apparent by increased absorbance and decreased fluorescence. Secondary structural changes in the α2M were investigated by CD and FT-IR spectroscopy. Our findings suggest the induction of subtle conformational changes in α2M induced by ascorbic acid. Thermodynamics signatures of ascorbic acid and α2M interaction indicate that the binding is an enthalpy-driven process.

Conclusion:

It is possible that ascorbic acid binds and compromises antiproteinase activity of α2M by inducing changes in the secondary structure of the protein.

Quercetin-induced inactivation and conformational alterations of alpha-2-macroglobulin: multi-spectroscopic and calorimetric study

Quercetin is a widely used bioflavonoid found in onions, grapes, berries and citrus fruits. Under certain conditions, quercetin acts as a pro-oxidant thereby generating reactive oxygen species and promoting the oxidation of molecules. Our study investigates the effect of quercetin on the structure and function of alpha-2-macroglobulin (α₂M) by employing various biophysical techniques and trypsin inhibitory assay. α₂M is the major antiproteinase present in the plasma of vertebrates. Results of activity assay indicated that α₂M loses its 56% of inhibitory activity on treatment with quercetin in the presence of light. UV spectroscopy reveals hyper chromaticity in absorption spectra of protein on interaction with quercetin suggesting structural change. The intrinsic fluorescence studies showed quenching of α₂M spectra in the presence of quercetin, and the mode of quenching was found to be static in nature. Synchronous fluorescence indicated the alteration in the microenvironment of tryptophan residues. CD and FTIR spectroscopy confirms concentration-dependent alterations in secondary structure of α₂M instigated by quercetin. The magnitude of binding constant, enthalpy change, entropy change and free energy change during the interaction process was determined by isothermal titration calorimetry. Hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction were the main intermolecular forces involved during the process. This study identifies and signifies the damage induced by quercetin to α₂M due to its pro-oxidant action. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Curious Results in the Prospective Binding Interactions of the Food Additive Tartrazine with β-Lactoglobulin

The detailed characterizations of the binding interactions between food additive tartrazine (TZ) and β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) have been investigated through spectroscopic techniques combined with a molecular modeling study. A series of analyses, such as hyperchromic change in the UV-visible spectra, temperature-dependent quenching constant, time-resolved fluorescence, and Rayleigh scattering measurements, show that quenching of β-LG proceeds by a static quenching mechanism. TZ specifically binds with β-LG in a stoichiometry ratio of 1:1, and the observed binding constants (10⁴, K) are 7.64, 9.13, 9.72, and 10.79 at 293, 298, 303, and 308 K, respectively. However, the curious results of binding constants (K) with temperature, encountered in the static quenching, have been well explained on the basis of Le Chatelier's principle. Thermodynamic data and pH-dependent studies along with the surface hydrophobicity binding displacement assay reveal that the durable mode of binding is chiefly entropy-driven, revealing noteworthy interactions of such ionic molecules with the hydrophobic part of β-LG. The modulation of protein conformation has been investigated through steady-state absorption spectroscopy, synchronous emission spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and dynamic light scattering studies. TZ acts as a potential inhibitor in fibrillogenesis. Furthermore, the molecular docking study offers accurate insights about the binding of TZ with β-LG, in consistence with the experimental results. This study would be helpful in pharmaceutical, food, and industrial engineering chemistry research.

Multi-spectroscopic and molecular modeling approaches to elucidate the binding interaction between bovine serum albumin and darunavir, a HIV protease inhibitor

Darunavir (DRV), a second-generation HIV protease inhibitor, is widely used across the world as an important component of HIV therapy. The interaction of DRV with bovine serum albumin (BSA), a major carrier protein, has been studied under simulated physiological conditions (pH7.4) by multi-spectroscopic techniques in combination with molecular modeling. Fluorescence data revealed that the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA was quenched by DRV in terms of a static quenching procedure due to the formation of the DRV-BSA complex. The results indicated the presence of single weak affinity binding site (~10³M^-1, 310K) on protein. The thermodynamic parameters, namely enthalpy change (ΔH⁰), entropy change (ΔS⁰) and Gibbs free energy change (ΔG⁰) were calculated, which signified that the binding reaction was spontaneous, the main binding forces were hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. Importantly, competitive binding experiments with three site probes, phenylbutazone (in sub-domain IIA, site I), ibuprofen (in sub-domain IIIA, site II) and artemether (in the interface between sub-domain IIA and IIB, site II'), suggested that DRV was preferentially bound to the hydrophobic cavity in site II' of BSA, and this finding was validated by the docking results. Additionally, synchronous fluorescence, three-dimensional fluorescence and Resonance Rayleigh Scattering (RRS) spectroscopy gave qualitative information on the conformational changes of BSA upon adding DRV, while quantitative data were obtained with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR).

Novel insights into the effect of folate–albumin binding on the transport of ascorbic acid as an anticancer agent: chemometric analysis based on combined spectroscopic and electrochemical studies

The electrochemical behavior of ascorbic acid and folic acid upon their interaction with albumin is investigated using electrochemical, chemometric and docking studies.

Unraveling the thermodynamics, binding mechanism and conformational changes of HSA with chromolyn sodium: Multispecroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and molecular docking studies

Cromolyn sodium is an anti-allergic drug effective for treatment in asthma and allergic rhinitis. In this project, interaction of chromolyn sodium (CS) with human serum albumin (HSA) has been investigated by various techniques such as UV-vis, fluorescence, circular dichorism (CD), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetric (ITC) and molecular docking. The fluorescence quenching results revealed that there was static quenching mechanism in the interactions of CS with HSA. The binding constant (K_b), enthalpy change (ΔH°), entropy change (ΔS°) and Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°) were calculated. The negative values of TΔS° and ΔH° obtained from fluorescence spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry, indicate that hydrogen bonding and van der Waal's forces played major role in the binding process and the reaction is exothermic in nature. The binding constant (K_b) was found to be in the order of 10⁴M^-1 which depicts a good binding affinity of CS towards HSA. The conformational changes in the HSA due to interaction of CS were investigated from CD and FT-IR spectroscopy. The binding site of CS in HSA was sub-domain IIA as evident from site probing experiment and molecular docking studies.

Physicochemical aspects of the energetics of binding of sulphanilic acid with bovine serum albumin

The thermodynamic study of the binding of sulphanilic acid with model transport protein bovine serum albumin is a promising approach in the area of synthesizing new sulfa drugs with improved therapeutic effect. Thus, such binding studies play an important role in the rational drug design process. The binding between sulphanilic acid and bovine serum albumin has been studied using calorimetry, light scattering in combination with spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. The calorimetric data reveals the presence of two sequential nature of binding sites where the first binding site has stronger affinity (~10(4)M(-1)) and second binding site has weaker affinity (~10(3)M(-1)). However, the spectroscopic (absorption and fluorescence) results suggest the presence of single low affinity binding site (~10(3)M(-1)) on protein. The contribution of polar and non-polar interactions to the binding process has been explored in the presence of various additives. It is found that sulphanilic acid binds with high affinity at Sudlow site II and with low affinity at Sudlow site I of protein. Light scattering and circular dichroism measurements have been used to study the effect on the molecular topology and conformation of protein, respectively. Thus these studies provide important insights into the binding of sulphanilic acid with bovine serum albumin both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Analysis of binding ability of two tetramethylpyridylporphyrins to albumin and its complex with bilirubin

An interaction between 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(N-methyl-x-pyridyl)porphyrins, x=2; 4 (TMPyPs) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and its bilirubin (BR) complex was investigated by UV-Viz and fluorescence spectroscopy under imitated physiological conditions involving molecular docking studies. The parameters of forming intermolecular complexes (binding constants, quenching rate constants, quenching sphere radius etc.) were determined. It was showed that the interaction between proteins and TMPyPs occurs via static quenching of protein fluorescence and has predominantly hydrophobic and electrostatic character. It was revealed that obtained complexes are relatively stable, but in the case of TMPyP4 binding with proteins occurs better than TMPyP2. Nevertheless, both TMPyPs have better binding ability with free protein compared to BRBSA at the same time. The influence of TMPyPs on the conformational changes in protein molecules was studied using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. It was found that there is no competition of BR with TMPyPs for binging sites on protein molecule and BR displacement does not occur. Molecular docking calculations have showed that TMPyPs can bind with albumin via tryptophan residue in the hydrophilic binding site of protein molecule but it is not one possible interaction way.

Probing the binding mechanisms of α-tocopherol to trypsin and pepsin using isothermal titration calorimetry, spectroscopic, and molecular modeling methods

α-Tocopherol is a required nutrient for a variety of biological functions. In this study, the binding of α-tocopherol to trypsin and pepsin was investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, and molecular modeling methods. Thermodynamic investigations reveal that α-tocopherol binds to trypsin/pepsin is synergistically driven by enthalpy and entropy. The fluorescence experimental results indicate that α-tocopherol can quench the fluorescence of trypsin/pepsin through a static quenching mechanism. The binding ability of α-tocopherol with trypsin/pepsin is in the intermediate range, and one molecule of α-tocopherol combines with one molecule of trypsin/pepsin. As shown by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, α-tocopherol may induce conformational changes of trypsin/pepsin. Molecular modeling displays the specific binding site and gives information about binding forces and α-tocopherol-tryptophan (Trp)/tyrosine (Tyr) distances. In addition, the inhibition rate of α-tocopherol on trypsin and pepsin was studied. The study provides a basic data set for clarifying the binding mechanisms of α-tocopherol with trypsin and pepsin and is helpful for understanding its biological activity in vivo.

Synthesis of imidazole derivatives and the spectral characterization of the binding properties towards human serum albumin

Small molecular drugs that can combine with target proteins specifically, and then block relative signal pathway, finally obtain the purpose of treatment. For this reason, the synthesis of novel imidazole derivatives was described and this study explored the details of imidazole derivatives binding to human serum albumin (HSA). The data of steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence showed that the conjugation of imidazole derivatives with HSA yielded quenching by a static mechanism. Meanwhile, the number of binding sites, the binding constants, and the thermodynamic parameters were also measured; the raw data indicated that imidazole derivatives could spontaneously bind with HSA through hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds which agreed well with the results from the molecular modeling study. Competitive binding experiments confirmed the location of binding. Furthermore, alteration of the secondary structure of HSA in the presence of the imidazole derivatives was tested.

Application of isothermal titration calorimetry as a tool to study natural product interactions

The study of molecular interactions of natural products by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a potent tool to get new insights of the underpinning driving forces.

The inhibitory kinetics and mechanism of dietary vitamins D3and B2on xanthine oxidase

Dietary guidelines to promote health are usually based on the patterns’ prediction on disease risk of foods and nutrients.

Exploring the thermodynamics and conformational aspects of nicotinic acid binding with bovine serum albumin: a detailed calorimetric, spectroscopic and molecular docking study

An attempt to obtain a physicochemical and conformational outlook on the binding interaction of vitamin B₃ (NA) with a model transport protein BSA using calorimetry, light scattering, molecular docking, and spectroscopic techniques.

Dietary Flavonoids as Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors: Structure-Affinity and Structure-Activity Relationships

The flavonoid family has been reported to possess a high potential for inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XO). This study concerned the structural aspects of inhibitory activities and binding affinities of flavonoids as XO inhibitors. The result indicated that the hydrophobic interaction was important in the binding of flavonoids to XO, and the XO inhibitory ability increased generally with increasing affinities within the class of flavones and flavonols. The planar structure and the C2═C3 double bonds of flavonoids were advantageous for binding to XO and for XO inhibition. Both the hydroxylation on ring B and the substitution at C3 were unfavorable for XO inhibition more profoundly than their XO affinity. The methylation greatly reduced the inhibition (0.75-3.07 times) but hardly affected the affinity. The bulky sugar substitutions of flavonoids decreased the inhibition (1.69-1.99 times) and lowered the affinities (4.20-9.22 times) to different degrees depending on the conjunction site.

Deciphering the binding patterns and conformation changes upon the bovine serum albumin-rosmarinic acid complex

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is an importantly and naturally occurring polyphenol from plants of the mint family with potent biological activities. Here, the in vitro interaction of RA with bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been investigated using various biophysical approaches as well as molecular modeling methods, to ascertain its binding mechanism and conformational changes. The fluorescence results demonstrated that the fluorescence quenching of BSA by RA was mainly the result of the formation of a ground state BSA-RA complex, and BSA had one high affinity RA binding site with a binding constant of 4.18 × 10(4) mol L(-1) at 298 K. Analysis of thermodynamic parameters revealed that hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions were the dominant intermolecular force in the complex formation. The primary binding site of RA in BSA (site I) had been identified by site marker competitive experiments. The distance between RA and the tryptophan residue of BSA was evaluated at 3.12 nm based on Förster's theory of non-radiation energy transfer. The UV-vis absorption, synchronous fluorescence, three-dimensional fluorescence, 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra confirmed that the conformation and structure of BSA were altered in the presence of RA. Moreover, the nuclear magnetic spectroscopy showed that the aromatic groups of RA took part in the binding reaction during the BSA-RA complexation. In addition, the molecular picture of the interaction mechanism between BSA and RA at the atomic level was well examined by molecular docking and dynamics studies. In brief, RA can bind to BSA with noncovalent bonds in a relatively stable way, and these findings will be beneficial to the functional food research of RA.

Dissection of the binding ofl-ascorbic acid to trypsin and pepsin using isothermal titration calorimetry, equilibrium microdialysis and spectrofluorimetry

Clear and quantitative information on the nature ofl-ascorbic acid interaction with trypsin/pepsin should provide a firm base for its rational use in clinical practice.