Syntheses of novel galactosyl ligands for liposomes and their accumulation in the rat liver

Chitosan-coated liposomes loaded with butyric acid demonstrate anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity in human hepatoma HepG2 cells

Butyric acid (BA) has been reported to induce anticancer effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells both in vitro and in vivo. However, its delivery and release in cancer tissues must be optimized. On the basis of these requirements, we prepared liposomes coated with chitosan and uncoated liposomes and both types were loaded with BA through a thin-film hydration method. The liposomes coated or uncoated with chitosan had a mean hydrodynamic size of 83.5 and 110.3 nm, respectively, with a homogeneous size distribution of the particles. For evaluation of the biological effects of the nanoformulations, the hepatoblastoma (HB) HepG2 cell line was utilized. BA-loaded liposomes coated with chitosan showed a considerable higher cytotoxicity than both uncoated liposomes and free BA, with IC50 values, after 72 h of incubation, of 7.5, 2.5 and 1.6 mM, respectively. Treatment of HepG2 cells for 5 h with the BA-loaded liposomes coated with chitosan at 5 mM lowered the extent of the increase in IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β expression of approximately 64, 58, 85 and 73.8%, respectively, when compared to the untreated cells. The BA-loaded liposomes coated with chitosan had marked capacity to be internalized in human HB cells showing an increased cytotoxic activity when compared with free BA and important anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting production of cytokines with a central role in liver cell survival.

A glycoporphyrin story: from chemistry to PDT treatment of cancer mouse models

Glycoporphyrin: from bench to preclinical studies on PDX xenografted on mice.

Clicked and long spaced galactosyl- and lactosylcalix[4]arenes: new multivalent galectin-3 ligands

Four novel calix[4]arene-based glycoclusters were synthesized by conjugating the saccharide units to the macrocyclic scaffold using the CuAAC reaction and using long and hydrophilic ethylene glycol spacers. Initially, two galactosylcalix[4]arenes were prepared starting from saccharide units and calixarene cores which differ in the relative dispositions of the alkyne and azido groups. Once the most convenient synthetic pathway was selected, two further lactosylcalix[4]arenes were obtained, one in the cone, the other one in the 1,3-alternate structure. Preliminary studies of the interactions of these novel glycocalixarenes with galectin-3 were carried out by using a lectin-functionalized chip and surface plasmon resonance. These studies indicate a higher affinity of lactosyl- over galactosylcalixarenes. Furthermore, we confirmed that in case of this specific lectin binding the presentation of lactose units on a cone calixarene is highly preferred with respect to its isomeric form in the 1,3-alternate structure.

New strategy for targeting of photosensitizers. Synthesis of glycodendrimeric phenylporphyrins, incorporation into a liposome membrane and interaction with a specific lectin

Two glycodendrimeric phenylporphyrins were synthesized and their interaction with phospholipids was studied at the air-water interface and in liposome bilayers; such liposomes bearing glycodendrimeric porphyrin could constitute an efficient carrier for drug targeting in photodynamic therapy.

Tetrapyrrolic Glycosylated Macrocycles for an Application in PDT

The synthesis and characterization of amphiphilic glycoconjugated porphyrins, benzochlorin, and azaporphyrins were reported. Among these molecules, several were found to be efficient photosensitizers in an in vitro assay using the human tumoral cell line HT29. Moreover, glycosylated benzochlorin and azaporphyrins, whose absorption bands in the red region of the visible spectrum are substantially increased as compared to porphyrins, display a good photocytotoxicity on tumor cells after irradiation with wavelength above 590 nm. © 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Sialyl Lewis X-polysaccharide conjugates: targeting inflammatory lesions

A novel system for active targeting of inflammatory lesions has been established. A SLeX-CMPul conjugate (2) showed accumulation that was 2.5-fold higher in inflammatory lesions in vivo than a SLN-CMPul conjugate (4) and 300-fold higher than monovalent SLeX (6).