The effect of some fluoroquinolone family members on biospeciation of copper(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II) ions in human plasma

Simultaneous adsorption of ciprofloxacin and Cu2+ using Fe and N co-doped biochar: Competition and selective separation

The treatment of combined antibiotics and heavy metals pollution is a critical challenge. Herein, iron and nitrogen co-doped biochar (Fe/N-BC) was synthesized using rape straw as precursor, and applied for the adsorption of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Cu2+ in single and binary systems. The qmax for CIP and Cu2+ were 46.45 mg g-1 and 30.77 mg g-1, respectively. Adsorption decreased in a binary matrix, indicating that there was a competitive effect between CIP and Cu2+, which might be due to CIP and Cu2+ sharing similar active adsorption sites on Fe/N-BC. Interestingly, CIP and Cu2+ co-adsorption was a pH-dependent process. Fe/N-BC has potential to highly selectively separate CIP/Cu2+ from mixed solutions through adjusting pH values. Furthermore, adsorption mechanisms were systematically investigated in this research. This research could help to provide a deeper understanding of the synchronously removing specific antibiotics and heavy metals by biochar adsorbents.

A perception into binary and ternary copper (II) complexes: synthesis, characterization, DFT modeling, antimicrobial activity, protein binding screen, and amino acid interaction

Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages is the third goal of the sustainable development plan, so it was necessary to identify the most important problems that threaten health in our world. The World Health Organization declared that antibiotic resistance is one of the uppermost global public health threats facing humanity and searching for new antibiotics is slow. This problem can be approached by improving available drugs to combat various bacterial threats. To circumvent bacterial resistance, three copper(II) complexes based on the pefloxacin drug were prepared and characterized using analytical, spectroscopic, and thermal techniques. The resulting data suggested the formation of one octahedral binary and two distorted square pyramidal ternary complexes. Fluorescence spectra results revealed the formation of a turn-on fluorophore for amino acid detection. Computational calculations investigated quantum and reactivity parameters. Molecular electrostatic potential profiles and noncovalent bond interaction-reduced density gradient analysis indicated the active sites on the complex surface. The complexes were subjected to six microbial species, where the octahedral binary complex provoked its antimicrobial potency in comparison with ternary complexes. The enhanced antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacterium E-coli compared to gentamicin was exhibited by the three complexes. Docking simulation was performed based on the crystal structure of E. coli and S. pneumoniae receptors using 5I2D and 6O15 codes. The binary complex exhibited a potent fitness score with 5I2D (TBE = - 107 kcal/mol) while ternary complexes displayed the highest docked score of fitness with 6O15.

Potential Diagnostic Significance of Salivary Copper Determination in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study

Determination of the copper content in the saliva of breast cancer patients was carried out to assess the potential diagnostic and prognostic value. The malignant group included 75 breast cancer patients; the benign group included 87 patients with fibroadenomas; and the control group included 20 volunteers without breast pathology. All participants had 1 ml of saliva collected prior to treatment. The determination of copper in saliva was carried out by the stripping voltammetric method. Overall survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method with the presentation of survival curves and the calculation of the significance of differences by Log-rank. The average copper content in the saliva of breast cancer patients is 49.3% higher than in patients with fibroadenomas and 60.4% higher than in volunteers without breast pathologies. Within the group of breast cancer patients, the content of copper in saliva is heterogeneous, which limits the possibilities of using this indicator for diagnostic purposes. The copper content increases when comparing the initial stages and locally widespread (+ 22.4%) and then sharply increases by 3.5 times at the T_3-4N_0-2M₀ stage. For HER2-positive breast cancer, the copper content in saliva is 51.9% higher than for HER2-negative, a similar pattern was observed for luminal A and B breast cancer subtypes. The content of copper in saliva less than 1.14 mg/l is a prognostically unfavorable sign, while the relative risk of dying from breast cancer more than doubles. Thus, the content of copper in saliva can be used in clinical practice for planning treatment tactics.

Biological Effects of Quinolones: A Family of Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Agents

Broad antibacterial spectrum, high oral bioavailability and excellent tissue penetration combined with safety and few, yet rare, unwanted effects, have made the quinolones class of antimicrobials one of the most used in inpatients and outpatients. Initially discovered during the search for improved chloroquine-derivative molecules with increased anti-malarial activity, today the quinolones, intended as antimicrobials, comprehend four generations that progressively have been extending antimicrobial spectrum and clinical use. The quinolone class of antimicrobials exerts its antimicrobial actions through inhibiting DNA gyrase and Topoisomerase IV that in turn inhibits synthesis of DNA and RNA. Good distribution through different tissues and organs to treat Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have made quinolones a good choice to treat disease in both humans and animals. The extensive use of quinolones, in both human health and in the veterinary field, has induced a rise of resistance and menace with leaving the quinolones family ineffective to treat infections. This review revises the evolution of quinolones structures, biological activity, and the clinical importance of this evolving family. Next, updated information regarding the mechanism of antimicrobial activity is revised. The veterinary use of quinolones in animal productions is also considered for its environmental role in spreading resistance. Finally, considerations for the use of quinolones in human and veterinary medicine are discussed.

A novel FRET peptide assay reveals efficient Helicobacter pylori HtrA inhibition through zinc and copper binding

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) secretes the chaperone and serine protease high temperature requirement A (HtrA) that cleaves gastric epithelial cell surface proteins to disrupt the epithelial integrity and barrier function. First inhibitory lead structures have demonstrated the essential role of HtrA in H. pylori physiology and pathogenesis. Comprehensive drug discovery techniques allowing high-throughput screening are now required to develop effective compounds. Here, we designed a novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptide derived from a gel-based label-free proteomic approach (direct in-gel profiling of protease specificity) as a valuable substrate for H. pylori HtrA. Since serine proteases are often sensitive to metal ions, we investigated the influence of different divalent ions on the activity of HtrA. We identified Zn⁺⁺ and Cu⁺⁺ ions as inhibitors of H. pylori HtrA activity, as monitored by in vitro cleavage experiments using casein or E-cadherin as substrates and in the FRET peptide assay. Putative binding sites for Zn⁺⁺ and Cu⁺⁺ were then analyzed in thermal shift and microscale thermophoresis assays. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of novel metal ion-dependent protease inhibitors, which might help to fight bacterial infections.

In situ hydrogelation of forky peptides in prostate tissue for drug delivery

Herein, we have designed and synthesized a novel forky peptide D3F3 that transforms into a hydrogel through crosslinking induced by ZIs stimuli. We have employed D3F3 as a suitable drug carrier that is conjugated with DOX. Since the concentration of zinc ions necessary for triggering gelation falls into the physiological range present in prostate tissue, while other cationic ions fail to trigger at physiological concentrations, the peptide-based drug delivery system (DDS) is injectable and would achieve prostate tissue-specific self-assembly in situ. The D3F3 hydrogels exhibited an optimal gelation time, satisfactory mechanical strength (can be enhanced after incorporation of DOX) as well as excellent thixotropic properties. The DDS reserved some DOX in the prostate 24 h after the injection, making local sustained release possible. In addition, the peptide materials demonstrated no cytotoxicity against normal fibroblast cells and no damage was observed to the prostate tissue of rats. The drug release followed a non-Fickian diffusion model, with no burst release observed. Importantly, the DOX-hydrogel system exhibited good anti-cancer efficacy when incubated with prostate cancer cells DU-145. Therefore, this study lays the groundwork for the future design of tissue-specific DDSs that are triggered by cationic ions (e.g. zinc ions), and the platform could be further developed to incorporate other potent drugs utilized in the field of prostate cancer therapy, thereby increasing their potency and reducing their side effects.

The conjugates of forky peptides and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) self-assemble into supramolecular hydrogels for prostate cancer-specific drug delivery

Herein, we report supramolecular hydrogelators made of forky peptides and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Zinc-ion-mediated self-assembly of forky peptides for prostate cancer-specific drug delivery

A hexapeptide with a unique forky structure can form hydrogels triggered by zinc ions for prostate cancer therapy.

Understanding the bioavailability and sequestration of different metal cations in the presence of a biodegradable chelant S,S-EDDS in biological fluids and natural waters

Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid is a biodegradable alternative to EDTA, therefore its use for the sequestration of Ca(2+), Sn(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+) and Fe(3+) is analyzed. New data on its binding ability towards these cations were obtained with potentiometric, voltammetric and calorimetric measurements at different ionic strengths and at T = 298.15 K. Real multi-component fluids, namely fresh water, urine, sea water, saliva and blood plasma were chosen as case studies to evaluate the sequestering ability of EDDS in comparison with EDTA. Speciation diagrams were drawn in selected conditions, considering all interactions among the "natural" components of the fluid and those studied in this work, EDDS and EDTA (cL = 1 mmol dm(-3)) as sequestering agents and the cited metal cations (cM ∼ 10(-5) mol dm(-3)). The comparison of the sequestering ability of EDDS and EDTA is done using pM and pL0.5. In blood plasma the plasma mobilizing index was adopted. It was found that EDDS is a good alternative to EDTA, which tends to bind Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) more than EDDS. In particular, EDTA cannot be used as a sequestrant for Sn(2+) when cCa > cEDTA. EDDS is more efficient than EDTA at pH < 8, particularly in urine, where carbonate is absent. In sea water, the sequestering ability of EDDS towards Fe(3+) is higher than that of EDTA. In blood plasma, the PMI of EDDS towards Cu(2+) is higher than that of EDTA. Thermodynamic information, in terms of ΔH and ΔS, for the protonation and metal complex formation reactions are reported.

Special issue: practical applications of metal complexes

In 1913 Alfred Werner received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work that was of great importance for the development of coordination chemistry. In the years that followed numerous complexes consisting of metal ions and organic ligands were isolated, thus building a strong connection between inorganic and organic chemistry. Coordination compounds have many interesting properties which find diverse applications in numerous aspects of human life. Fourteeen contributions were received for this Special Issue covering very different aspects of metal complexes and their practical applications. The highest number of manuscripts deals with the biological activity of complexes which might potentially be used in the clinical practice. Authors have tested their cytotoxicity, antibacterial activity and enzyme inhibition. Their optical properties were studied in view of their potential use in photodynamic therapy. Moreover, optical properties could also be used for bioanalysis. It is also known that metal complexes are useful catalysts and a few such examples are also described herein. Many other interesting properties and facts about the isolated and described complexes are also reported (radioactivity, design of metal-organic frameworks, etc.).

Impact of low- and high-molecular-mass components of human serum on NAMI-A binding to transferrin

Imidazolium trans-tetrachloridodimethylsulfoxideimidazolruthenate(III), NAMI-A, a novel antimetastatic ruthenium complex was investigated towards affinity to transferrin (Tf), whether Tf–Ru adducts might be formed after its intravenous injection. Studies were focused on the holotransferrin due to its preferential binding to transferrin receptor. Here, we showed that holotransferrin is able to bind NAMI-A as readily as apotransferrin. The simulation of biological conditions of human serum performed by application of simplified serum models allowed to analyse ruthenium distribution between transferrin and albumin. The presence of physiological concentration of albumin (ca. 18-fold excess over Tf) resulted in a twofold decrease of ruthenium binding to Tf. Interestingly, the introducing of low-molecular-mass components of serum dramatically increased the ruthenation of Tf. Intermolecular competition binding studies between transferrin and albumin showed that both proteins bound similar amount of ruthenium species. Investigation of NAMI-A binding to Tf in human serum showed that this protein was not the major binding partner for Ru complex. However, in spite of many competing proteins still the ruthenation of Tf was observed. The lack of free Ru species (protein unbounded) after incubation with human serum allowed to make an assumption of high affinity of NAMI-A towards serum proteins.