Rapid Screening and Identification of BSA Bound Ligands from Radix astragali Using BSA Immobilized Magnetic Nanoparticles Coupled with HPLC-MS

Acute myocardial infarction therapy using calycosin and tanshinone co-loaded; mitochondrion-targeted tetrapeptide and cyclic arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid peptide co-modified lipid-polymer hybrid nano-system: preparation, characterization, and anti myocardial infarction activity assessment

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common ischemic heart diseases. However, lack of sufficient drug concentration (in the ischemic heart) is the major factor of treatment failure. It is urgent for researchers to engineer novel drug delivery systems to enhance the targeted delivery of cardioprotective agents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-AMI ability of calycosin (CAL) and tanshinone (TAN) co-loaded; mitochondrion-targeted tetrapeptide (MTP) and cyclic arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide co-modified nano-system.: We prepared CAL and TAN combined lipid-polymer hybrid nano-system, and RGD was modified to the system to achieve RGD-CAL/TAN NS. MTP-131 was conjugated with PEG and modified onto the nanoparticles to achieve dual ligands co-modified MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS. The physicochemical properties of nano-systems were characterized. The AMI therapy ability of the systems was investigated in AMI rats' model. The size of MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS was 170.2 ± 5.6 nm, with a surface charge of -18.9 ± 1.9 mV. The area under the curve (AUC) and blood circulation half-life (T_1/2) of MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS was 178.86 ± 6.62 μg·min/mL and 0.47 h, respectively. MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS exhibited the most significant infarct size reduction effect of 22.9%. MTP/RGD-CAL/TAN NS exhibited the highest heart accumulation and best infarct size reduction effect, which could be used as a promising system for efficient treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Acute myocardial infarction therapy using calycosin and tanshinone co-loaded mitochondria targeted lipid-polymer hybrid nano-system: Preparation, characterization, and anti myocardial infarction activity assessment

BACKGROUND

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common ischemic heart diseases. However, lack of sufficient drug concentrations in the ischemic heart may led to treatment failure. It is urgent for researchers to engineer novel drug delivery systems to enhance the targeted delivery of cardioprotective agents.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-AMI ability of calycosin (CAL) and tanshinone (TAN) co-loaded mitochondria targeted lipid-polymer hybrid nano-system.

METHODS

CAL and TAN combined lipid-polymer hybrid nano-systems were prepared and MTP-131 was conjugated with PEG and modified onto the nanoparticles to achieve MTP-CAL/TAN NS. The physicochemical properties of nano-systems were characterized, the AMI therapy ability of the systems was investigated in AMI rats' model.

RESULTS

The size of MTP-CAL/TAN NS was 168.7 ± 5.1 nm, with a surface charge of - 21.3 ± 2.3 mV. The area under the curve (AUC) and blood circulation half-life (T_1/2) of MTP-CAL/TAN NS was 178.86 ± 6.62 μg·min/mL and 0.47 h, respectively. MTP-CAL/TAN NS exhibited the most significant infarct size reduction effect of 23.9 %.

CONCLUSION

MTP-CAL/TAN NS exhibited the highest heart accumulation and best infarct size reduction effect, which could be used as a promising system for efficient treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Synthesis and surface modification of magnetic Fe3O4@SiO2 core-shell nanoparticles and its application in uptake of scandium (III) ions from aqueous media

The main objective of this work is to produce an eco-friendly and economically nano-adsorbent which can separate scandium metal ions Sc from a model aqueous phase prior to applying these adsorbents in industrial filed. The magnetic core-shell structure Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by modified Stöber method and functionalized with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane APTES as a coupling agent and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a ligand. Magnetic nano support adsorbents exhibit many attractive opportunities due to their easy removal and possibility of reusing. The ligand grafting was chemically robust and does not appreciably influence the morphology or the structure of the substrate. To evaluate the potential, the prepared hybrid nanoparticles were used as nano-adsorbent for Sc ions from model aqueous solutions due to the fact that rare earth elements (REEs) have a strong affinity for oxygen and nitrogen donors. The iron oxide nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method at pH 10 and pH 11 to get the best morphology and nanoscale dimensions of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles. The particle size, morphology, specific surface area, and surface modification were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles with average particle size of 15 ± 3 nm were successfully synthesized at pH 11, and 25 °C. Moreover, the prepared Fe3O4 nanoparticles were coated with amorphous SiO2 and functionalized with amino and carboxyl groups. The adsorption study conditions of Sc are as follows: the initial concentrations of the Sc model solution varied 10-50 mg/L, 20 mL volume, 20-80 mg of the Fe3O4@SiO2-COO adsorbent, pH range of 1-5, and 5 h contact time at 25 °C temperature. The adsorption equilibrium was represented with Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models. Langmuir model was found to have the correlation coefficient value in good agreement with experimental results. However, the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetics.

Recent advances in screening active components from natural products based on bioaffinity techniques

Natural products have provided numerous lead compounds for drug discovery. However, the traditional analytical methods cannot detect most of these active components, especially at their usual low concentrations, from complex natural products. Herein, we reviewed the recent technological advances (2015–2019) related to the separation and screening bioactive components from natural resources, especially the emerging screening methods based on the bioaffinity techniques, including biological chromatography, affinity electrophoresis, affinity mass spectroscopy, and the latest magnetic and optical methods. These screening methods are uniquely advanced compared to other traditional methods, and they can fish out the active components from complex natural products because of the affinity between target and components, without tedious separation works. Therefore, these new tools can reduce the time and cost of the drug discovery process and accelerate the development of more effective and better-targeted therapeutic agents.

Metabolomics combined with network pharmacology exploration reveals the modulatory properties of Astragali Radix extract in the treatment of liver fibrosis

Background

Astragali Radix (AR) is widely-used for improving liver fibrosis, but, the mechanism of action has not been systematically explained. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of AR intervention in liver fibrosis based on comprehensive metabolomics combined with network pharmacology approach.

Materials and methods

UPLC–Q-TOF/MS based metabolomics technique was used to explore the specific metabolites and possible pathways of AR affecting the pathological process of liver fibrosis. Network pharmacology analysis was introduced to explore the key targets of AR regarding the mechanisms on liver fibrosis.

Results

AR significantly reduced the levels of ALT, AST and AKP in serum, and improved pathological characteristics. Metabolomics analysis showed that the therapeutic effect of AR was mainly related to the regulation of nine metabolites, including sphingosine, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1a, LysoPC (O-18:0), 3-dehydrosphinganine, 5,6-epoxy-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid, leukotriene C4, taurochenodesoxycholic acid, LysoPC (18:1 (9Z)) and 2-acetyl-1-alkyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Pathway analysis indicated that the treatment of AR on liver fibrosis was related to arachidonic acid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis. Validation of the key targets by network pharmacology analysis of potential metabolic markers showed that AR significantly down-regulated the expression of CYP1B1 and up-regulated the expression of CYP1A2 and PCYT1A.

Conclusion

Metabolomics combined with network pharmacology was used for the first time to clarify that the treatment of AR on liver fibrosis, which is related to the regulation of arachidonic acid metabolism and ether lipid metabolism by modulating the expression of CYP1A2, CYP1B1 and PCYT1A. And the integrated approach can provide new strategies and ideas for the study of molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicines in the treatment of liver fibrosis.

Screening techniques for the identification of bioactive compounds in natural products

Natural products (NPs) have a long history of clinical use and are rich source of bioactive compounds. The development of tools and techniques for identifying and analyzing NP bioactive compounds to ensure their quality and discover new drugs is thus very important and still in demand. Screening techniques have proven highly useful for screening and analyzing active components in complex mixtures, which rely on cell culture, dialysis, ultrafiltration, chromatographic methods and target molecule immobilization, using biological targets to identify the active compounds. The recent progress in biological screening techniques in the field of natural products is reviewed here. This includes a review on the strategy and application of the screening methods, their detailed description and discussion of their existing limitations of the different models along with prospective in future development of screening techniques.

Pharmacokinetics and Bioavailability of the Isoflavones Formononetin and Ononin and Their in Vitro Absorption in Ussing Chamber and Caco-2 Cell Models

Formononetin and its glycoside ononin are bioactive isoflavones widely present in legumes. The present study investigated the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and in vitro absorption of formononetin and ononin. After an oral administration to rats, formononetin showed a higher systemic exposure over ononin. The oral bioavailability of formononetin and ononin were 21.8% and 7.3%, respectively. Ononin was more bioavailable than perceived, and its bioavailability reached 21.7% when its metabolite formononetin was taken into account. Both formononetin and ononin exhibited better absorption in large intestine segments than that in small intestine segments. Formononetin displayed a better permeability in all intestinal segments over ononin. Transport of formononetin across Caco-2 cell monolayer was mainly through passive diffusion, while ononin was actively pumped out by MRP2 but not P-gp. The results provide evidence for better understanding of the pharmacological actions of formononetin and ononin, which advocates more in vivo evaluations or human trials.

Comprehensive Identification of Guan-Xin-Shu-Tong Capsule via a Mass Defect and Fragment Filtering Approach by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry: In Vitro and In Vivo Study

The Guan-Xin-Shu-Tong capsule (GXSTC) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that is used for the treatment of coronary heart disease. Despite its common use in China, basic pharmacological research on its active components is limited. A comprehensive analytical method using quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF/MS), specifically with the Triple TOF 5600 platform, was developed to characterize the compounds in the GXSTC powder itself (in vitro) as well as the active components in healthy and heart disease model rats after its oral administration (in vivo). The 5600 platform was operated in both positive and negative ion modes, before the raw data were processed using the extracted ion chromatography (EIC), mass defect filtering (MDF) and fragment filtering (FF) techniques. With the aid of reference compounds for retention time and fragment ion comparisons, 18 compounds were unambiguously identified in vitro. An additional 56 other compounds were tentatively characterized using the accurate quasi-molecular ion mass and Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) fragmentation pattern strategies. Among them, 30 compounds were characterized based on the MDF and FF approaches. Normal rats in addition to hyperlipidemic (HL) and acute blood stasis (ABS) model rats were given a single oral dose of GXSTC solution for subsequent blood analysis at 1 and 2 h after administration. A total of 24 prototypecomponents and 20 metabolites derived from GXSTC were differentially detected across the three animal groups, including the absence of four phase II phenolic acid metabolites in the ABS group and the presence of three diterpenoid-related metabolites exclusive to the HL group. The use of reference compounds as well as the mass defect and fragment-filtering strategies were critical to identify GXSTC compounds in vitro and in vivo. This can be used for further quality control and pharmacological studies aimed at characterizing the active and potential beneficial compounds of this ancient medicine.

Recent advances in pharmacokinetics approach for herbal medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), an indispensable part of herbal medicine, has been used for treating many diseases and/or symptoms for thousands of years.

Rapid identification of α-glucosidase inhibitors from Dioscorea opposita Thunb peel extract by enzyme functionalized Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles coupled with HPLC-MS/MS

Two α-glucosidase inhibitors identified as 2,4-dimethoxy-6,7-dihydroxyphenanthrene and batatasin I were conveniently extracted from Dioscorea opposita Thunb peel extract using αG-MNPs.