The Impact of Preprocessing Methods for a Successful Prostate Cell Lines Discrimination Using Partial Least Squares Regression and Discriminant Analysis Based on Fourier Transform Infrared Imaging

Classification of healthy and cancerous colon cells by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

Colorectal cancer is one of the most diagnosed types of cancer in developed countries. Current diagnostic methods are partly dependent on pathologist experience and laboratories instrumentation. In this study, we used Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in transflection mode, combined with Principal Components Analysis followed by Linear Discriminant Analysis (PCA-LDA) and Partial Least Squares - Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), to build a classification algorithm to diagnose colon cancer in cell samples, based on absorption spectra measured in two spectral ranges of the mid-infrared spectrum. In particular, PCA technique highlights small biochemical differences between healthy and cancerous cells: these are related to the larger lipid content in the former compared with the latter and to the larger relative amount of protein and nucleic acid components in the cancerous cells compared with the healthy ones. Comparison of the classification accuracy of PCA-LDA and PLS-DA methods applied to FTIR spectra measured in the 1000-1800 cm-1 (low wavenumber range, LWR) and 2700-3700 cm-1 (high wavenumber range, HWR) remarks that both algorithms are able to classify hidden class FTIR spectra with excellent accuracy (100 %) in both spectral regions. This is a hopeful result for clinical translation of infrared spectroscopy: in fact, it makes reliable the predictions obtained using FTIR measurements carried out only in the HWR, in which the glass slides used in clinical laboratories are transparent to IR radiation.

Computer-aided discovery of novel SmDHODH inhibitors for schistosomiasis therapy: Ligand-based drug design, molecular docking, molecular dynamic simulations, drug-likeness, and ADMET studies

Schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia or snail fever, is a tropical parasitic disease resulting from flatworms of the Schistosoma genus. This often overlooked disease has significant impacts in affected regions, causing enduring morbidity, hindering child development, reducing productivity, and creating economic burdens. Praziquantel (PZQ) is currently the only treatment option for schistosomiasis. Given the potential rise of drug resistance and the limited treatment choices available, there is a need to develop more effective inhibitors for this neglected tropical disease (NTD). In view of this, quantitative structure-activity relationship studies (QSAR), molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, drug-likeness, and ADMET predictions were applied to 31 inhibitors of Schistosoma mansoni Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (SmDHODH). The designed QSAR model demonstrated robust statistical parameters including an R2 of 0.911, R2adj of 0.890, Q2cv of 0.686, R2pred of 0.807, and cR2p of 0.825, confirming its robustness. Compound 26, identified as the most active derivative, emerged as a lead candidate for new potential inhibitors through ligand-based drug design. Subsequently, 12 novel compounds (26A-26L) were designed with enhanced inhibition activity and binding affinity. Molecular docking studies revealed strong and stable interactions, including hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, between the designed compounds and the target receptor. Molecular dynamics simulations over 100 nanoseconds and MM-PBSA free binding energy (ΔGbind) calculations validated the stability of the two best-designed molecules (26A and 26L). Furthermore, drug-likeness and ADMET prediction analyses affirmed the potential of these designed compounds, suggesting their promise as innovative agents for treating schistosomiasis.

Nanoscale insight into biochemical changes in cervical cancer cells exposed to adaptogenic drug

This paper describes for the first time the application of atomic force microscopy-based infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) to evaluate cellular response to adaptogen, based on an in vitro model of cervical cancer. HeLa cervical cells were exposed to different concentrations of withaferin A, a very promising anti-cancer adaptogenic substance. AFM-IR approach was used to image single cells post-adaptogen treatment and to track subtle biochemical changes in cells at the nanoscale level. Partial least squares (PLS) regression was applied to build predictive models that allowed for the identification of spectral markers of adaptogen-induced alterations Spectroscopic studies were enriched with fluorescence staining to determine whether the adaptogen affects cell morphology. The results showed that with the increase in the concentration of adaptogen, changes in the cell nucleus and the actin cytoskeleton become more and more significant. It has been demonstrated that the AFM-IR technique can successfully study the cellular response to the anti-cancer agent at the single-cell level with nanoscale spatial resolution. On the basis of the promising findings presented in this paper, it is possible to conclude that withaferin A has great potential in inhibiting the proliferation of cervical cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. It has been found that both the increase in the concentration of withaferin A and the increase in incubation time with the adaptogen resulted in a decrease in the intensity of the bands assigned to nucleic acids. This may be due to DNA condensation, internuclear cleavage, or degradation during apoptosis. The findings also suggest changes in the secondary structure of proteins that may be a consequence of disruption of the actin cytoskeleton, progressive apoptosis, or significant biochemical changes. Furthermore, noticeable changes were also observed in the bands originating from lipids vibrations, and an increased share of the band near 2920 cm^-1, considered an important marker of apoptosis, was noted. The metabolism of carbohydrates in cells also changes under the influence of the adaptogen. AFM-IR provides nanoscale insight into the structural and morphological properties of cells after drug treatment and is an indisputable milestone in the development of new anti-cancer approaches.

Adaptogenic activity of withaferin A on human cervical carcinoma cells using high-definition vibrational spectroscopic imaging

Despite invaluable advances in cervical cancer therapy, treatment regimens for recurrent or persistent cancers and low-toxicity alternative treatment options are scarce. In recent years, substances classified as adaptogens have been identified as promising drug sources for preventing and treating cancer-based diseases on their ability to attack multiple molecular targets. This paper establishes the effectiveness of inhibition of the neoplastic process by a withaferin A (WFA), an adaptogenic substance, based on an in vitro model of cervical cancer. This study explores for the first time the potential of high-definition vibrational spectroscopy methods, i.e. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopic (RS) imaging at the single-cell level to evaluate the efficacy of the adaptogenic drug. HeLa cervical cancer cells were incubated with various concentrations of WFA at different incubation times. The multimodal spectroscopic approach combined with partial least squares (PLS) regression allowed the identification of molecular changes (e.g., lipids, protein secondary structures, or nucleic acids) induced by WFA at the cellular level. The results clearly illustrate the enormous potential of WFA in inhibiting the proliferation of cervical cancer cells. WFA inhibited the growth of the studied cancer cell line in a dose-dependent manner. Such studies provide comprehensive information on the sensitivity of cells to adaptogenic drugs. This is a fundamental step towards determining the rate and nature of adaptogen-induced changes in cancer cells.