Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Evaluation of a Novel Probucol Derivative: Protective Activity in Neuronal Cells Through GPx Upregulation

Recent studies have shown that probucol (PB), a hipocholesterolemic agent with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, presents neuroprotective properties. On the other hand, adverse effects have limited PB's clinical application. Thus, the search for PB derivatives with no or less adverse effects has been a topic of research. In this study, we present a novel organoselenium PB derivative (RC513) and investigate its potential protective activity in an in vitro experimental model of oxidative toxicity induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBuOOH) in HT22 neuronal cells, as well as exploit potential protective mechanisms. tBuOOH exposure caused a significant decrease in the cell viability, which was preceded by (i) increased reactive species generation and (ii) decreased mitochondrial maximum oxygen consumption rate. RC513 pretreatment (48 h) significantly prevented the tBuOOH-induced decrease of cell viability, RS generation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Of note, RC513 significantly increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and mRNA expression of GPx1, a key enzyme involved in peroxide detoxification. The use of mercaptosuccinic acid, an inhibitor of GPx, significantly decreased the protective activity of RC513 against tBuOOH-induced cytotoxicity in HT22 cells, highlighting the importance of GPx upregulation in the observed protection. In summary, the results showed a significant protective activity of a novel PB derivative against tBuOOH-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which was related to the upregulation of GPx. Our results point to RC513 as a promising neuroprotective molecule, even though studies concerning potential beneficial effects and safety aspects of RC513 under in vivo conditions are well warranted.

Organic-coated nanoparticulate zero valent iron for remediation of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and dissolved metals from tropical landfill leachate

The use of nanoparticulate zero valent iron (NZVI) in the treatment of inorganic contaminants in landfill leachate and polluted plumes has been the subject of many studies, especially in temperate, developed countries. However, NZVI's potential for reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and treatment of metal ion mixtures has not been explored in detail. We investigated the efficiency of NZVI synthesized in the presence of starch, mercaptoacetic, mercaptosuccinic, or mercaptopropenoic acid for the reduction of COD, nutrients, and metal ions from landfill leachate in tropical Sri Lanka. Synthesized NZVI were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. Of the samples tested, Starch-NZVI (S-NZVI) and mercaptoacetic-NZVI (MA-NZVI) performed well for treatment both COD and metal mixture. The removal percentages for COD, nitrate-nitrogen, and phosphate from S-NZVI were 50, 88, and 99 %, respectively. Heavy metal removal was higher in S-NZVI (>95 %) than others. MA-NZVI, its oxidation products, and functional groups of its coating showed the maximum removal amounts for both Cu (56.27 mg g(-1)) and Zn (28.38 mg g(-1)). All mercapto-NZVI showed well-stabilized nature under FTIR and XRD investigations. Therefore, we suggest mercapto acids as better agents to enhance the air stability for NZVI since chemically bonded thiol and carbonyl groups actively participation for stabilization process.

Electrophoretic analysis of gold nanoparticles: size-dependent electrophoretic mobility of nanoparticles

Efforts were made to realise a two-dimensional, on-line-coupled isotachophoresis-capillary zone electrophoresis system. The electrophoretic behaviour of gold nanoparticles was investigated with the idea that they could be used to improve the control of this electrophoretic set-up. The well-known citrate-ligated gold nanoparticles were not suitable for this application, because the ligand was desorbed, and the nanoparticle solutions were degraded. Therefore mercaptocarboxylic acids were used, because the chemisorption of thiols on the gold surface was improved. Isotachophoretic measurements were carried out with these nanoparticles. A size-dependent electrophoretic mobility was found according to theoretical predictions, and the surface and zeta-potential were discussed for the small particle range. A new method for concentration measurements of nanoparticles is presented by means of isotachophoresis.

D-penicillamine-induced increase in intracellular glutathione correlating to clinical response in rheumatoid arthritis

Measurement of glutathione (GSH) in consecutive blood samples from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) revealed, in good responders to D-penicillamine, a 20% to 35% increase in erythrocyte-GSH (E-GSH) levels after 2 to 8 wk of treatment. Usually this rise predicted a clinical response some wk later. Nonresponders to D-penicillamine who did not show an increase in E-GSH could be converted to responders by receiving L-cysteine. E-GSH rose--prior to the clinical response--by up to 50% of pretreatment values. In RA patients with spontaneous changes in disease activity, E-GSH tended to decrease during relapses and increase before remissions.

99mTc-thiomalic acid complex: a nonstannous chelate for renal scanning

Thiomalic acid (monomercaptosuccinic acid) has been labeled with 99mTc without the use of an intermediary reducing agent. Tissue distribution studies in rats following the injection of 99mTc-tagged thiomalic acid (99mTc-TMA) showed 40-48% of the injected dose in the kidneys. Renal incorporation of this compound was influenced by various parameters such a pH, quantity of thiomalic acid, heating time, and the preparation-injection interval. Scintigrams of a midline kidney slice showed that the 99mTc activity concentrated mainly in the renal cortex. As a proposed renal-imaging agent 99mTc-TMA compared favorably with 99mTc-Sn-dimercaptosuccinate and 99mTc-penicillamine regarding the precent incorporation into the kidney and was superior in this respect to 99mTc-Sn-glucoheptonate and 99mTc-Sn-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid. The 99mTc-TMA was also shown to be highly stable through 24 hr. The reagent can be made available in kit form and is easily combined with 99mTc in two steps. Finally, the absence of stannous ion in the 99mTc-TMA complex should avoid the problem of interference with other procedures involving pertechnetate 99mTco4- as the imaging agent.

Tongue muscle regeneration, Gold marker studies following cold injury

Rat's tongues were injured by cold and the reactive processes were observed by light and electron microscopy. Injured animals and untreated controls were injected with aurothiomalate and the cells in tongue muscles which contained gold were observed after increasing injection-sacrifice time intervals. In the very rapid regeneration, gold-containing macrophage-like cells fused with each other and with well preserved parts of myofibers. The selectivity of gold localization suggested, at least morphologically, a macrophage to myoblast development. The possible factors affecting the rate of muscle regeneration have been discussed with special reference to the nature of the injurious stimulus and the type of cellular response.