Targeted diagnostic magnetic nanoparticles for medical imaging of pancreatic cancer

Highly aggressive cancer types such as pancreatic cancer possess a mortality rate of up to 80% within the first 6months after diagnosis. To reduce this high mortality rate, more sensitive diagnostic tools allowing an early stage medical imaging of even very small tumours are needed. For this purpose, magnetic, biodegradable nanoparticles prepared using recombinant human serum albumin (rHSA) and incorporated iron oxide (maghemite, γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles were developed. Galectin-1 has been chosen as target receptor as this protein is upregulated in pancreatic cancer and its precursor lesions but not in healthy pancreatic tissue nor in pancreatitis. Tissue plasminogen activator derived peptides (t-PA-ligands), that have a high affinity to galectin-1 have been chosen as target moieties and were covalently attached onto the nanoparticle surface. Improved targeting and imaging properties were shown in mice using single photon emission computed tomography-computer tomography (SPECT-CT), a handheld gamma camera, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

MagRET Nanoparticles: An Iron Oxide Nanocomposite Platform for Gene Silencing from MicroRNAs to Long Noncoding RNAs

Silencing of RNA to knock down genes is currently one of the top priorities in gene therapies for cancer. However, to become practical the obstacle of RNA delivery needs to be solved. In this study, we used innovative maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) nanoparticles, termed magnetic reagent for efficient transfection (MagRET), which are composed of a maghemite core that is surface-doped by lanthanide Ce(3/4+) cations using sonochemistry. Thereafter, a polycationic polyethylenimine (PEI) polymer phase is bound to the maghemite core via coordinative chemistry enabled by the [CeL(n)](3/4+)cations/complex. PEI oxidation was used to mitigate the in vivo toxicity. Using this approach, silencing of 80-100% was observed for mRNAs, microRNAs, and lncRNA in a variety of cancer cells. MagRET NPs are advantageous in hard to transfect leukemias. This versatile nanoscale carrier can silence all known types of RNAs and these MagRET NPs with oxidized PEI are not lethal upon injection, thus holding promise for therapeutic applications, as a theranostic tool.

A simple homemade reaction station for use in parallel solution-phase synthesis. Optimization of a regioselective one-step deprotective o-formylation reaction mediated by the Vilsmeier-Haack reagent POCl3.DMF

We report herein the fabrication of a simple and price-affordable portable reaction station for use in parallel solution-phase synthesis. This homemade device uses currently available laboratory components and equipment. Specifically designed to fit standard magnetic hotplates/stirrers, it can simultaneously hold up to 24 heated and magnetically stirred glass reactors of both 10 and 50 mL capacities. Glass reactors are connected by flexible 16-gauge metal needles to a central gas manifold equipped with an inlet/outlet for vacuum and inert gases. Reaction temperatures can be optimally varied from -78 ( composite function)C to 150 degrees C. Using a statistical screening DOE method, this parallel array reactor station has been successfully operated to optimize the one-step deprotective O-formylation of a sterically hindered bis-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl (O-TBDPS) aromatic diol. The latter transformation was mediated by the Vilsmeier-Haack reagent POCl3.DMF using a range of Lewis acid and metal salt promoters, including their binary combinations.

Mediated electrochemical detection of catechol by tyrosinase-based poly(dicarbazole) electrodes

A new dicarbazole derivative functionalised by an N-hydroxysuccinimide group has been synthesised and electrochemically characterised. Upon oxidative electropolymerisation of this monomer in organic electrolytes, electroactive poly(dicarbazole) films were formed on platinum electrodes. The subsequent chemical grafting of tyrosinase on the poly(dicarbazole) film was easily performed by immersion in an enzymatic aqueous solution. The amperometric response of the resulting biosensors to catechol has been studied at -0.2 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE). Since the reduction of quinone generates radicals which may induce electrode fouling, thionine, a phenothiazine dye, was covalently bound to the poly(dicarbazole) backbone as it mediates the reduction of quinoid products and therefore induces an enhancement of the performance of the tyrosinase-based biosensor.

The particular sensitivity of silyl ethers of D-glucal toward two Vilsmeier-Haack reagents POCl3.DMF and (CF3SO2)2O.DMF. Their unique and selective conversion to the corresponding C(6)-O-formates

The two electrophilic Vilsmeier-Haack reagents POCl3.DMF 2 or (CF3SO2)2O.DMF 3 mediate the one-step and selective conversion of O-triethylsilyl (O-TES), O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl (O-TBDMS), O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl (O-TBDPS), and O-triisopropylsilyl (O-TIPS) ethers of D-glucal to the corresponding C(6)-O-formates.

In situ examination of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the rat locus coeruleus using (3',5')-[(3)H(2)]-alpha-fluoromethyl-tyrosine as substrate of the enzyme

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity can be modified by changes in the specific activity of the enzyme (SA(TH)) or in the levels of active enzyme. We developed a methodology making it possible to measure with excellent anatomical resolution TH enzymatic activity and TH protein quantity by quantitative autoradiography and immunoautoradiography, respectively, from adjacent sections taken at serial intervals along the longitudinal extent of a same brain. SA(TH) was estimated by the slope of linear regressions established between TH activity and TH quantity measured at each anatomical plane. To evaluate TH activity, we used (3',5')-[(3)H(2)]-(D, L)-alpha-fluoromethyl-tyrosine [(3)H(2)]-MFMT, which is transformed by TH to [(3)H]-MFM-dopa, a potent and irreversible substrate for aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. We found that the SA(TH) in the cell body area of the LC (PKA) was 48% lower than that evaluated in the surrounding pericoerulean neuropil (PCN). In the PCN, 22% only of TH level exhibited a level of enzymatic activity above threshold. We also examined how SA(TH) was distributed in the LC 15 min and 3 days after RU 24722 treatment, a potent phasic and tonic activator of TH enzyme in noradrenergic neurons. Two distinct mechanisms have been observed: the short-term effect was due to an increase in the SA(TH) in the PKA only, while the long-term effect was mainly caused by an increase in the number of active TH proteins in the PCN. These results suggest that the fine regulation of TH activity which occurs in the different compartments of LC neurons may be critical in the functions involving the LC.

Synthesis of [3',5'-3H2]-alpha-fluoromethyl-tyrosine as a radioactive specific label of rat brain tyrosine hydroxylase

The [3',5']-ditritio-alpha-fluoromethyl-tyrosine 4 (specific activity 15.0 Ci/mmol) has been synthesized and used as a radioactive probe for rat neuronal tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). The route of synthesis for the preparation of 3 and 4 allowed us to not only introduce a fluorine atom into 3/4 using an inorganic source of fluorine (CsF), but also to take advantage of the high-yielding cyclization of (alpha,beta)-acetamido alcohols mediated by diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) to give the corresponding oxazolines. The distribution and metabolism of 4 have been studied in control conditions within the rat locus caeruleus (LC). Intracisternal injection of 20 microCi of 4 was followed by a rapid disappearance of 4 (t1/2 = 1.5 h) and by a specific accumulation of radioactivity into the LC anatomical limits. This was investigated each 140 microns along the caudo-rostral axis of the noradrenergic nucleus. In each anatomical interval, its distribution correlated nicely with already described caudo-rostral distribution of TH in noradrenergic cells. Thus, 4 may provide a reliable measure of TH activity in such catecholamine structures.

Conversion of 5,6-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids. A novel pathway for lipoxin formation by human platelets

Leukotriene A4 may be metabolized to 5(S),6(R)- and 5(S),6(S)-dihydroxy-7,9-trans-11,14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acids by enzymatic or non-enzymatic hydrolysis. Incubation of human platelet suspensions with these dihydroxy acids led to the formation of lipoxin A4 and 6(S)-lipoxin A4 via lipoxygenation at C-15. Furthermore, human platelets converted the two 5(R),6(S)- and 5(R),6(R)-dihydroxy-7,9-trans-11,14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acids to tetraene-containing trihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids. In contrast, leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4 were not transformed to cysteinyl-lipoxins. Time-course studies of leukotriene A4 metabolism in human platelet suspensions indicated lipoxin formation via two pathways: (i) direct conversion of leukotriene A4, leading to formation of the lipoxin intermediate 15-hydroxy-leukotriene A4; and (ii) 15-lipoxygenation of the 5(S),6(R)- and 5(S),6(S)-dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids. The results demonstrate that lipoxygenation at C-15 of 5,6-dihydroxy-7,9,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acids may be an alternative novel pathway for platelet-dependent lipoxin formation.

Development of enzyme immunoassays for leukotrienes using acetylcholinesterase

We have developed sensitive solid phase enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to analyze quantitatively leukotrienes (LTs) using acetylcholinesterase from Electrophorus electricus as a label for LTB4, LTC4 and LTE4. However, because of problems specific to LTs, we used different coupling procedures to prepare LTs conjugates necessary for the production of antibodies and for the preparation of enzymatic tracers. For the immunogens, all LTs were coupled to bovine serum albumin using glutaraldehyde (ethylene diamine was used to add an amino group to LTB4). Immunizations in rabbits were done following classical procedures. For the enzymatic tracers, succinimidyl 4-(N-maleimidomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carboxylate was selected to conjugate the LTs via their amino groups to acetylcholinesterase. Titers of the different antisera ranged from 1:30,000 (LTE4), 1:40,000 (LTC4) to 1:50,000 (LTB4) and sensitivities (IC50) were 5.5 pg, 4.3 pg and 2.4 pg, respectively. Cross reactivities were also examined against other LTs. Sensitivities and specificities of the different systems were dependent on the conditions of incubation (temperature). Validation of the technique was done (i) after spiking known amounts of LTC4 in plasma and measuring the substance added after prior extraction and purification, (ii) by analyzing the supernatant of human neutrophils suspended in buffer or in plasma, (iii) by measuring LTE4 in urine. Due to the background provided by these complex matrixes, quantitation was performed after addition of [3H]LTs for recovery, protein precipitation, extraction by Sep-PakR and purification by HPLC. Measurement of LTs can be done in biological fluids with the same ease and advantages as other enzyme immunoassays that we have previously developed for eicosanoids analysis.

Distribution of tritium labeled 12(S) hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) in the rat

The in vivo metabolism of 12-(S)-Hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), the end-lipoxygenase product of arachidonic acid in platelets, has been investigated in the rat. Fifty microcuries of 5,6-[3H]-12-HETE (50 Ci/mmol) were injected to anesthetized rats and the radioactivity was followed in plasma. At the end of the experiment, various organs of the animal were removed and the radioactivity attached to them was determined. The label of the plasma plateaued to approximately one third of the initial radioactivity ten minutes after the injection. Among the various organs tested (brain, heart, intestine, kidney, liver, lungs, spleen, testis/uterus) the kidney was far the most active to accumulate 12-HETE and/or its labeled metabolites, and no radioactivity could be detected in urine during the course of the experiment. The analysis of lipid extracts from the various tissues revealed that 12-HETE was not accumulating in its unesterified form but was likely bound to phospholipids. We conclude that, although the label providing from the initial 12-HETE did not completely disappear from plasma, circulating 12-HETE cannot be considered as a circulating marker of cell activation.

Comparative biological activities of the four synthetic (5,6)-dihete isomers

(5,6)-dihydroxy-7,9-trans-11,14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acids [5,6)-DiHETEs) were synthesized and separated into four pure diastereoisomers. They were tested for comparative binding affinities to leukotriene receptors (LTC4, LTD4, LTB4) in guinea pig lung membranes. Only (5S,6R)-DiHETE was recognized by the LTD4 receptor, the other receptors interacted with neither of the four isomers. (5S,6R)-DiHETE also contracted ileum in vitro and this effect was inhibited by the LTD4 receptor antagonists ICI 198,615 and SKF104,353. These data suggest that the bioproduct (5S,6R)-DiHETE generated by enzymatic conversion of LTA4 could have some LTD4-like activity when produced in large concentrations.

In vivo formation of beta-oxidized metabolites of leukotriene E4 in the rat

Intraperitoneal administration of [3H]-leukotriene E4 in the rat resulted in the appearance of radiolabel in urine and feces. Separation of polar urinary metabolites and chromatographic comparison of synthetic metabolites indicated the in vivo formation of omega-oxidized metabolites of LTE4 with sequential beta-oxidation. Furthermore, the metabolite identified as 16-carboxy-17,18,19,20-tetranor-14,15-dihydro-N-acetyl-LTE4 substantiates the biochemical pathway of beta-oxidation in vivo involving the 2,4-dienoyl CoA reductase as an integral step. These results substantiate beta-oxidation of sulfidopeptide leukotrienes in vivo and these metabolites account for some of the major urinary metabolites of this class of lipid mediator.

Synthesis and contractile activity of new acetylenic and allenic analogues of leukotrienes C4 and D4: importance of the Z-11,12 double bond

The (5S,6R) isomers of new acetylenic and allenic analogues of leukotrienes C4 and D4 were synthesized for comparative pharmacological studies on intestinal smooth muscle preparations. These new analogues are poor spasmogenic agonists, the replacement of the 11,12-ene with a relatively more stable triple bond causing an important reduction in intrinsic activity. They did not show any significant antagonist activity. Unexpectedly, these results prove that the 11,12 portion in the triene structure of the lipophilic chain is critical for an agonist activity.