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Welsh A, Matshitse R, Khan SF, Nyokong T, Prince S, Smith GS. Trinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes: Evaluation as photosensitizers for enhanced cervical cancer treatment. J Inorg Biochem 2024; 256:112545. [PMID: 38581803 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Trinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes anchored to benzimidazole-triazine / trisamine scaffolds were investigated as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy. The trinuclear complexes were noted to produce a significant amount of singlet oxygen in both DMF and aqueous media, are photostable and show appreciable emission quantum yields (ɸem). In our experimental setting, despite the moderate phototoxic activity in the HeLa cervical cancer cell line, the phototoxic indices (PI) of the trinuclear complexes are superior relative to the PIs of a clinically approved photosensitizer, Photofrin®, and the pro-drug 5-aminolevulinic acid (PI: >7 relative to PI: >1 and PI: 4.4 for 5-aminolevulinic acid and Photofrin®, respectively). Furthermore, the ruthenium complexes were noted to show appreciable long-term cytotoxicity upon light irradiation in HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Consequently, this long-term activity of the ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes embodies their ability to reduce the probability of the recurrence of cervical cancer. Taken together, this presents a strong motivation for the development of polymetallic complexes as anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athi Welsh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, ,South Africa
| | - Refilwe Matshitse
- Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140, South Africa
| | - Saif F Khan
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Science, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
| | - Tebello Nyokong
- Institute for Nanotechnology Innovation, Rhodes University, Makhanda 6140, South Africa
| | - Sharon Prince
- Division of Cell Biology, Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Faculty of Health Science, Observatory, 7925, South Africa
| | - Gregory S Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7700, ,South Africa.
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2
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Xu M, Wei S, Duan L, Ji Y, Han X, Sun Q, Weng L. The recent advancements in protein nanoparticles for immunotherapy. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:11825-11848. [PMID: 38814163 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00537f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, the advancement of nanoparticle-based immunotherapy has introduced an innovative strategy for combatting diseases. Compared with other types of nanoparticles, protein nanoparticles have obtained substantial attention owing to their remarkable biocompatibility, biodegradability, ease of modification, and finely designed spatial structures. Nature provides several protein nanoparticle platforms, including viral capsids, ferritin, and albumin, which hold significant potential for disease treatment. These naturally occurring protein nanoparticles not only serve as effective drug delivery platforms but also augment antigen delivery and targeting capabilities through techniques like genetic modification and covalent conjugation. Motivated by nature's originality and driven by progress in computational methodologies, scientists have crafted numerous protein nanoparticles with intricate assembly structures, showing significant potential in the development of multivalent vaccines. Consequently, both naturally occurring and de novo designed protein nanoparticles are anticipated to enhance the effectiveness of immunotherapy. This review consolidates the advancements in protein nanoparticles for immunotherapy across diseases including cancer and other diseases like influenza, pneumonia, and hepatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaomiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Siyuan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Lifan Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Yifan Ji
- Portland Institute, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaofan Han
- Portland Institute, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Qipeng Sun
- Portland Institute, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lixing Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biosensors, Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing 210023, China.
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3
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Cheng J, Li J, Yu Q, Li P, Huang J, Li J, Guan L, Xu Z, Xiao J, Duan X. Laser-activable murine ferritin nanocage for chemo-photothermal therapy of colorectal cancer. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:297. [PMID: 38812019 PMCID: PMC11134727 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02566-6] [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: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy, as a conventional strategy for tumor therapy, often leads to unsatisfied therapeutic effect due to the multi-drug resistance and the serious side effects. Herein, we genetically engineered a thermal-responsive murine Ferritin (mHFn) to specifically deliver mitoxantrone (MTO, a chemotherapeutic and photothermal agent) to tumor tissue for the chemotherapy and photothermal combined therapy of colorectal cancer, thanks to the high affinity of mHFn to transferrin receptor that highly expressed on tumor cells. The thermal-sensitive channels on mHFn allowed the effective encapsulation of MTO in vitro and the laser-controlled release of MTO in vivo. Upon irradiation with a 660 nm laser, the raised temperature triggered the opening of the thermal-sensitive channel in mHFn nanocage, resulting in the controlled and rapid release of MTO. Consequently, a significant amount of reactive oxygen species was generated, causing mitochondrial collapse and tumor cell death. The photothermal-sensitive controlled release, low systemic cytotoxicity, and excellent synergistic tumor eradication ability in vivo made mHFn@MTO a promising candidate for chemo-photothermal combination therapy against colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinmei Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Qilin Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Peishan Li
- Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Junyi Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Translational Medicine Research Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China
| | - Jinhui Li
- Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Leyang Guan
- Experimental Education/Administration Center, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Zhiyong Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Jisheng Xiao
- Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Center, Guangdong Provincial Biomedical Engineering Technology Research Center for Cardiovascular Disease, Translational Medicine Research Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510280, China.
| | - Xiaopin Duan
- Department of General Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
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4
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Giacomazzo GE, Conti L, Paderni D, Sfragano PS, Quadrini L, Macedi E, Andreini C, Donati C, Bernacchioni C, Mulas G, Valtancoli B, Palchetti I, Giorgi L, Fusi V, Cencetti F, Giorgi C. Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes with Benzoxazole Derivatives and Non-Innocent Ligands as Effective Antioxidants in Human Neuroblasts. Chemistry 2024:e202400834. [PMID: 38716700 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes continue to raise increasing interest for the encouraging results in several biomedical areas. Considering their vast chemical-physical repertoire, in particular the possibility to switch from the sensitization of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to ROS-scavenging abilities by tuning the nature of their ligands, it is therefore surprising that their potential as antioxidants has not been largely investigated so far. Herein, we explored the antioxidant behaviour of the novel ruthenium compound [Ru(dbpy)(2,3-DAN)Cl]PF6 (Ru1), featuring a benzoxazole derivative (dpby=2,6-bis(4-methyl-2-benzoxazolyl)pyridine) and the non-innocent 2,3-diamminonaftalene (2,3-DAN) ligand, along with the reference tpy-containing analogue [Ru(tpy)(2,3-DAN)Cl]PF6 (Ru2) (tpy=2,2':6',2''-terpyridine). Following the synthesis and the electrochemical characterization, chemical antioxidant assays highlighted the beneficial role of dpby for the ROS-scavenging properties of Ru1. These data have been corroborated by the highest protective effect of Ru1 against the oxidative stress induced in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma, which exerts pro-survival and anti-inflammatory actions. The results herein reported highlight the potential of Ru1 as pharmacological tool in neurodegenerative diseases and specially prove that the antioxidant properties of such compounds are likely the result of a non-trivial synergetic action involving the bioactive ligands in their chemical architectures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Elena Giacomazzo
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI), Italy
| | - Luca Conti
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI), Italy
| | - Daniele Paderni
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences "Carlo Bo", University of Urbino, Via della Stazione 4, 61029, Urbino., Italy
| | - Patrick Severin Sfragano
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI), Italy
| | - Lorenzo Quadrini
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI), Italy
| | - Eleonora Macedi
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences "Carlo Bo", University of Urbino, Via della Stazione 4, 61029, Urbino., Italy
| | - Camilla Andreini
- Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare-INGM, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milano, Italy
| | - Chiara Donati
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 50, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Caterina Bernacchioni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 50, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Gloria Mulas
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 50, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Barbara Valtancoli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI), Italy
| | - Ilaria Palchetti
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI), Italy
| | - Luca Giorgi
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences "Carlo Bo", University of Urbino, Via della Stazione 4, 61029, Urbino., Italy
| | - Vieri Fusi
- Department of Pure and Applied Sciences "Carlo Bo", University of Urbino, Via della Stazione 4, 61029, Urbino., Italy
| | - Francesca Cencetti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale Morgagni, 50, 50134, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudia Giorgi
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, FI), Italy
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5
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Giacomazzo GE, Doria S, Revilla-Cuesta A, De Monte N, Pagliai M, Pietraperzia G, Valtancoli B, Torroba T, Conti L, Di Donato M, Giorgi C. Photosensitizers Based on Bichromophoric Dyads Combining Ru(II)-Polypyridyl Complexes and Dissymmetric Perylene Monoimide Derivatives: The Nontrivial Role of Ligand Substitution. Inorg Chem 2024; 63:6248-6259. [PMID: 38533555 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c04569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The covalent modification of Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes (RPCs) with organic chromophores is a powerful strategy to obtain metal-based photosensitizer agents (PSs) with improved performance for application in photodynamic therapy (PDT). In this respect, perylene-imides are of particular interest due to their rich chemical-physical repertoire, and it is therefore quite surprising that their combination with RPCs has been poorly considered so far. Herein, we report on the photophysical behavior of two newly synthesized RPCs bearing a perylene monoimide appendant (PMI-Ad). Differently from the majority of RPCs-perylene-imides dyads, these chromophores are dissymmetric and are tethered to the metal centers through a single C-C bond in the 3- or 5-position of 1,10-phenanthroline (Ru-3PMI-Ad and Ru-5PMI-Ad). Both compounds show excellent singlet oxygen photosensitizing activity, with quantum yields reaching >90% in the case of Ru-3PMI-Ad. A combined spectroscopic and theoretical analysis, also involving transient absorption and luminescence lifetime measurements, demonstrates that both compounds undergo intersystem crossing on a very fast time scale (tens of picoseconds) and with high efficiency. Our results further demonstrate that the increased electron delocalization between the metal center and the PMI-Ad chromophore observed for Ru-3PMI-Ad additionally contributes to increase the singlet oxygen quantum yields by prolonging the lifetime of the triplet state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Elena Giacomazzo
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
| | - Sandra Doria
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
- CNR-ICCOM, via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
| | - Andrea Revilla-Cuesta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Burgos, Pza. Misael Bañuelos s/n, Burgos 09001, Spain
| | - Nicola De Monte
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
| | - Marco Pagliai
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
| | - Giangaetano Pietraperzia
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
| | - Barbara Valtancoli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
| | - Tomás Torroba
- Department of Chemistry, University of Burgos, Pza. Misael Bañuelos s/n, Burgos 09001, Spain
| | - Luca Conti
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
| | - Mariangela Di Donato
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via N. Carrara 1, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
- CNR-ICCOM, via Madonna del Piano 10, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
| | - Claudia Giorgi
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino (FI) 50019, Italy
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Tu L, Li C, Ding Q, Sharma A, Li M, Li J, Kim JS, Sun Y. Augmenting Cancer Therapy with a Supramolecular Immunogenic Cell Death Inducer: A Lysosome-Targeted NIR-Light-Activated Ruthenium(II) Metallacycle. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:8991-9003. [PMID: 38513217 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c13224] [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: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Though immunogenic cell death (ICD) has garnered significant attention in the realm of anticancer therapies, effectively stimulating strong immune responses with minimal side effects in deep-seated tumors remains challenging. Herein, we introduce a novel self-assembled near-infrared-light-activated ruthenium(II) metallacycle, Ru1105 (λem = 1105 nm), as a first example of a Ru(II) supramolecular ICD inducer. Ru1105 synergistically potentiates immunomodulatory responses and reduces adverse effects in deep-seated tumors through multiple regulated approaches, including NIR-light excitation, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, selective targeting of tumor cells, precision organelle localization, and improved tumor penetration/retention capabilities. Specifically, Ru1105 demonstrates excellent depth-activated ROS production (∼1 cm), strong resistance to diffusion, and anti-ROS quenching. Moreover, Ru1105 exhibits promising results in cellular uptake and ROS generation in cancer cells and multicellular tumor spheroids. Importantly, Ru1105 induces more efficient ICD in an ultralow dose (10 μM) compared to the conventional anticancer agent, oxaliplatin (300 μM). In vivo experiments further confirm Ru1105's potency as an ICD inducer, eliciting CD8+ T cell responses and depleting Foxp3+ T cells with minimal adverse effects. Our research lays the foundation for the design of secure and exceptionally potent metal-based ICD agents in immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Tu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Chonglu Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Qihang Ding
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Amit Sharma
- Amity School of Chemical Sciences, Amity University Punjab, Sector 82A, Mohali, Punjab 140306, India
| | - Meiqin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Junrong Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Jong Seung Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
| | - Yao Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, International Joint Research Center for Intelligent Biosensor Technology and Health, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
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Hu J, Sha X, Li Y, Wu J, Ma J, Zhang Y, Yang R. Multifaceted Applications of Ferritin Nanocages in Delivering Metal Ions, Bioactive Compounds, and Enzymes: A Comprehensive Review. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:19903-19919. [PMID: 37955969 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c05510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Ferritin, a distinctive iron-storage protein, possesses a unique cage-like nanoscale structure that enables it to encapsulate and deliver a wide range of biomolecules. Recent advances prove that ferritin can serve as an efficient 8 nm diameter carrier for various bioinorganic nutrients, such as minerals, bioactive polyphenols, and enzymes. This review offers a comprehensive summary of ferritin's structural features from different sources and emphasizes its functions in iron supplementation, calcium delivery, single- and coencapsulation of polyphenols, and enzyme package. Additionally, the influence of innovative food processing technologies, including manothermosonication, pulsed electric field, and atmospheric cold plasma, on the structure and function of ferritin are examined. Furthermore, the limitations and prospects of ferritin in food and nutritional applications are discussed. The exploration of ferritin as a multifunctional protein with the capacity to load various biomolecules is crucial to fully harnessing its potential in food applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangnan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Xinmei Sha
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Yue Li
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Jincan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Junrui Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
| | - Yuyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Geriatric Nutrition and Health (Beijing Technology and Business University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Rui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin 300457, China
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Giacomazzo GE, Conti L, Fagorzi C, Pagliai M, Andreini C, Guerri A, Perito B, Mengoni A, Valtancoli B, Giorgi C. Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes and Metronidazole Derivatives: A Powerful Combination in the Design of Photoresponsive Antibacterial Agents Effective under Hypoxic Conditions. Inorg Chem 2023; 62:7716-7727. [PMID: 37163381 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes (RPCs) are gaining momentum in photoactivated chemotherapy (PACT), thanks to the possibility of overcoming the classical reliance on molecular oxygen of photodynamic therapy while preserving the selective drug activation by using light. However, notwithstanding the intriguing perspectives, the translation of such an approach in the development of new antimicrobials has been only barely considered. Herein, MTZH-1 and MTZH-2, two novel analogues of metronidazole (MTZ), a mainstay drug in the treatment of anaerobic bacterial infections, were designed and inserted in the strained ruthenium complexes [Ru(tpy)(dmp)(MTZ-1)]PF6 (Ru2) and [Ru(tpy)(dmp)(MTZ-2)]PF6 (Ru3) (tpy = terpyridine, dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) (Chart 1). Analogously to the parental compound [Ru(tpy)(dmp)(5NIM)]PF6 (Ru1) (5-nitroimidazolate), the Ru(II)-imidazolate coordination of MTZ derivatives resulted in promising Ru(II) photocages, capable to easily unleash the bioactive ligands upon light irradiation and increase the antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, which was chosen as a model of Gram-positive bacteria. The photoreleased 5-nitroimidazole-based ligands led to remarkable phototoxicities under hypoxic conditions (<1% O2), with the lead compound Ru3 that exhibited the highest potency across the series, being comparable to the one of the clinical drug MTZ. Besides, the chemical architectures of MTZ derivatives made their interaction with NimAunfavorable, being NimA a model of reductases responsible for bacterial resistance against 5-nitroimidazole-based antibiotics, thus hinting at their possible use to combat antimicrobial resistance. This work may therefore provide fundamental knowledge in the design of novel photoresponsive tools to be used in the fight against infectious diseases. For the first time, the effectiveness of the "photorelease antimicrobial therapy" under therapeutically relevant hypoxic conditions was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Elena Giacomazzo
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Luca Conti
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Camilla Fagorzi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Marco Pagliai
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Claudia Andreini
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Annalisa Guerri
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Brunella Perito
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Alessio Mengoni
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Barbara Valtancoli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Claudia Giorgi
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino, 50019 Firenze, Italy
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9
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Cosottini L, Zineddu S, Massai L, Ghini V, Turano P. 19F: A small probe for a giant protein. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 244:112236. [PMID: 37146532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112236] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Herein we describe a method for the efficient production (∼90% fluorination) of 5-F-Trp human H ferritin via the selective incorporation of 19F into the side chain of W93 using 5-fluoroindole as the fluorinated precursor of the amino acid. Human H ferritin is a nanocage composed of 24 identical subunits, each containing a single Trp belonging to a loop exposed on the external surface of the protein nanocage. This makes 5-F-Trp a potential probe for the study of intermolecular interactions in solution by exploiting its intrinsic fluorescence. More interestingly, albeit the large size of the cage (12 nm external diameter, ∼500 kDa molecular mass) we observe a broad but well defined NMR 19F resonance that can be used for the dual purpose of detecting solution intermolecular interactions via chemical shift perturbation mapping and monitoring the uptake of ferritin by cells treated with ferritin-based drug carriers, the latter being an application area of increasing importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucrezia Cosottini
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Stefano Zineddu
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Lara Massai
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Veronica Ghini
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Paola Turano
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy.
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10
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Proteins and their functionalization for finding therapeutic avenues in cancer: Current status and future prospective. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188862. [PMID: 36791920 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite the remarkable advancement in the health care sector, cancer remains the second most fatal disease globally. The existing conventional cancer treatments primarily include chemotherapy, which has been associated with little to severe side effects, and radiotherapy, which is usually expensive. To overcome these problems, target-specific nanocarriers have been explored for delivering chemo drugs. However, recent reports on using a few proteins having anticancer activity and further use of them as drug carriers have generated tremendous attention for furthering the research towards cancer therapy. Biomolecules, especially proteins, have emerged as suitable alternatives in cancer treatment due to multiple favourable properties including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and structural flexibility for easy surface functionalization. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have reported that various proteins derived from animal, plant, and bacterial species, demonstrated strong cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties against malignant cells in native and their different structural conformations. Moreover, surface tunable properties of these proteins help to bind a range of anticancer drugs and target ligands, thus making them efficient delivery agents in cancer therapy. Here, we discuss various proteins obtained from common exogenous sources and how they transform into effective anticancer agents. We also comprehensively discuss the tumor-killing mechanisms of different dietary proteins such as bovine α-lactalbumin, hen egg-white lysozyme, and their conjugates. We also articulate how protein nanostructures can be used as carriers for delivering cancer drugs and theranostics, and strategies to be adopted for improving their in vivo delivery and targeting. We further discuss the FDA-approved protein-based anticancer formulations along with those in different phases of clinical trials.
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11
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Tu L, Li C, Xiong X, Hyeon Kim J, Li Q, Mei L, Li J, Liu S, Seung Kim J, Sun Y. Engineered Metallacycle-Based Supramolecular Photosensitizers for Effective Photodynamic Therapy. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202301560. [PMID: 36786535 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202301560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Although metallacycle-based supramolecular photosensitizers (PSs) have attracted increasing attention in biomedicine, their clinical translation is still hindered by their inherent dark toxicity. Herein, we report what to our knowledge is the first example of a molecular engineering approach to building blocks of metallacycles for constructing a series of supramolecular PSs (RuA-RuD), with the aim of simultaneously reducing dark toxicity and enhancing phototoxicity, and consequently obtaining high phototoxicity indexes (PI). Detailed in vitro investigations demonstrate that RuA-RuD display high cancer cellular uptake and remarkable antitumor activity even under hypoxic conditions. Notably, RuD exhibited no dark toxicity and displayed the highest PI value (≈406). Theoretical calculations verified that RuD has the largest steric hindrance and the lowest singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔEST , 0.61 eV). Further in vivo studies confirmed that RuD allows safe and effective phototherapy against A549 tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Tu
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Chonglu Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Xiaoxing Xiong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Ji Hyeon Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Qian Li
- Key Laboratory of Optic-electric Sensing and Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Qingdao University of Science & Technology, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Longcan Mei
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Junrong Li
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Shuang Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jong Seung Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea
| | - Yao Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
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12
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Lucignano R, Stanzione I, Ferraro G, Di Girolamo R, Cané C, Di Somma A, Duilio A, Merlino A, Picone D. A new and efficient procedure to load bioactive molecules within the human heavy-chain ferritin nanocage. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1008985. [PMID: 36714262 PMCID: PMC9880187 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1008985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
For their easy and high-yield recombinant production, their high stability in a wide range of physico-chemical conditions and their characteristic hollow structure, ferritins (Fts) are considered useful scaffolds to encapsulate bioactive molecules. Notably, for the absence of immunogenicity and the selective interaction with tumor cells, the nanocages constituted by the heavy chain of the human variant of ferritin (hHFt) are optimal candidates for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs. hHFt nanocages can be disassembled and reassembled in vitro to allow the loading of cargo molecules, however the currently available protocols present some relevant drawbacks. Indeed, protein disassembly is achieved by exposure to extreme pH (either acidic or alkaline), followed by incubation at neutral pH to allow reassembly, but the final protein recovery and homogeneity are not satisfactory. Moreover, the exposure to extreme pH may affect the structure of the molecule to be loaded. In this paper, we report an alternative, efficient and reproducible procedure to reversibly disassemble hHFt under mild pH conditions. We demonstrate that a small amount of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is sufficient to disassemble the nanocage, which quantitatively reassembles upon SDS removal. Electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography show that the reassembled protein is identical to the untreated one. The newly developed procedure was used to encapsulate two small molecules. When compared to the existing disassembly/reassembly procedures, our approach can be applied in a wide range of pH values and temperatures, is compatible with a larger number of cargos and allows a higher protein recovery.
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13
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Verrucchi M, Giacomazzo GE, Sfragano PS, Laschi S, Conti L, Pagliai M, Gellini C, Ricci M, Ravera E, Valtancoli B, Giorgi C, Palchetti I. Characterization of a Ruthenium(II) Complex in Singlet Oxygen-Mediated Photoelectrochemical Sensing. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:679-689. [PMID: 36574357 PMCID: PMC9835978 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c03042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A water-soluble ruthenium(II) complex (L), capable of producing singlet oxygen (1O2) when irradiated with visible light, was used to modify the surface of an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode decorated with a nanostructured layer of TiO2 (TiO2/ITO). Singlet oxygen triggers the appearance of a cathodic photocurrent when the electrode is illuminated and biased at a proper reduction potential value. The L/TiO2/ITO electrode was first characterized with cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, NMR, and Raman spectroscopy. The rate constant of singlet oxygen production was evaluated by spectrophotometric measurements. Taking advantage of the oxidative process initiated by 1O2, the analysis of phenolic compounds was accomplished. Particularly, the 1O2-driven oxidation of hydroquinone (HQ) produced quinone moieties, which could be reduced back at the electrode surface, biased at -0.3 V vs Ag/AgCl. Such a light-actuated redox cycle produced a photocurrent dependent on the concentration of HQ in solution, exhibiting a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.3 μmol dm-3. The L/TiO2/ITO platform was also evaluated for the analysis of p-aminophenol, a commonly used reagent in affinity sensing based on alkaline phosphatase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Verrucchi
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Gina Elena Giacomazzo
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Patrick Severin Sfragano
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Serena Laschi
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Luca Conti
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Marco Pagliai
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Cristina Gellini
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Marilena Ricci
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Enrico Ravera
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
- CERM, Università degli Studi di
Firenze, Via Luigi Sacconi
6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino
(FI), Italy
- CIRMMP, Via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Barbara Valtancoli
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Claudia Giorgi
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Ilaria Palchetti
- Dipartimento
di Chimica Ugo Schiff, Università
degli Studi di Firenze, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
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14
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Highly Charged Ru(II) Polypyridyl Complexes as Photosensitizer Agents in Photodynamic Therapy of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113302. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer recurrence is frequent and associated with chemoresistance, leading to extremely poor prognosis. Herein, we explored the potential anti-cancer effect of a series of highly charged Ru(II)-polypyridyl complexes as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT), which were able to efficiently sensitize the formation of singlet oxygen upon irradiation (Ru12+ and Ru22+) and to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in their corresponding dinuclear metal complexes with the Fenton active Cu(II) ion/s ([CuRu1]4+ and [Cu2Ru2]6+). Their cytotoxic and anti-tumor effects were evaluated on human ovarian cancer A2780 cells both in the absence or presence of photoirradiation, respectively. All the compounds tested were well tolerated under dark conditions, whereas they switched to exert anti-tumor activity following photoirradiation. The specific effect was mediated by the onset of programed cell death, but only in the case of Ru12+ and Ru22+ was preceded by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential soon after photoactivation and ROS production, thus supporting the occurrence of apoptosis via type II photochemical reactions. Thus, Ru(II)-polypyridyl-based photosensitizers represent challenging tools to be further investigated in the identification of new therapeutic approaches to overcome the innate chemoresistance to platinum derivatives of some ovarian epithelial cancers and to find innovative drugs for recurrent ovarian cancer.
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15
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Combination of light and Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes: Recent advances in the development of new anticancer drugs. Coord Chem Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2022.214656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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