Prolonged and Controllable Release of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride from the Composite Electrospun Poly(ε-Caprolactone)/Polyvinylpyrrolidone Scaffolds.

Burst release, typical for the drug-loaded electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds is unfavorable in case of cytostatics due to the toxic levels reached during the initial implantation period. In the present short communication, we report an unexpected ability of the composite scaffolds made of PCL and water-soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to provide long-term release of widely used anti-cancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX-HCl). That effect was observed for electrospun DOX-HCl-loaded composite scaffolds based on PCL and PVP with various mass ratios (100/0, 95/5, 90/10, 75/25 and 50/50). After the morphology and water contact angle studies, it was concluded that PVP content has no effect on the average fiber diameter, while PVP content higher 10 wt. % changes the hydrophobic character of the scaffolds surface (water contact angle of 123.9 ± 3.5°) to superhydrophilic (water contact angle of 0°). Despite the dramatic change in water wettability, by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), it was revealed that the PVP content in the scaffolds reduces the DOX-HCl release rate under short (first hours) and long-term (during 1 month) exposure to phosphate buffer saline (PBS). These results are in good agreement with in vitro studies, in which the viability of HeLa cervical cancer cells was higher after 24 h of culture with scaffolds with high PVP content.

Intramolecular amination via acid-catalyzed rearrangement of azides: a potent alternative to intermolecular direct electrophilic route.

Although acid-catalyzed intramolecular rearrangement of organic azides is an attractive route to amines, its mechanism and synthetic prospective are still debated. Herein, through computational and experimental studies, we demonstrated that azide intramolecular rearrangement could serve as a potent synthetic route to a sought-after amine functionality including preparation of difficult to access and valuable heterocyclic amines. Using quantum chemical calculations at MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ and B3LYP/aug-cc-pVDZ levels, we discovered that this reaction proceeds via a concerted transition state with nitrogen elimination and alkyl/aryl migration occurring at the same time. Two conformers of protonated azides - syn- and anti- - were shown to precede corresponding transition states. It was shown that the reaction follows Curtin-Hammett scenario as the energy gap required for conformer interconversion was substantially lower than activation barrier of either transition state. Intramolecular amination via azide rearrangement was predicted to be a selective process with migratory aptitude increasing in a row alkyl

Poly(ε-caprolactone) Scaffolds Doped with c-Jun N-terminal Kinase Inhibitors Modulate Phagocyte Activation.

The modulation of phagocyte responses is essential for successful performance of biomaterials in order to prevent negative outcomes associated with inflammation. Herein, we developed electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds doped with the novel potent c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one oxime (IQ-1) and 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one O-(O-ethylcarboxymethyl) oxime(IQ-1E) as a promising approach for modulating phagocyte activation. Optimized electrospinning parameters allowed us to produce microfiber composite materials with suitable mechanical properties. We found that embedded compounds were bound to the polymer matrix via hydrophobic interactions and released in two steps, with release mostly controlled by Fickian diffusion. The fabricated scaffolds doped with active compounds IQ-1 and IQ-1E effectively inhibited phagocyte inflammatory responses. For example, they suppressed human neutrophil activation by the biomaterials, as indicated by decreased neutrophil reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and Ca2+ mobilization. In addition, they inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NF-κB/AP-1 reporter activity in THP-1Blue cells and interleukin (IL)-6 production in MonoMac-6 cells without affecting cell viability. These effects were attributed to the released compounds rather than cell-surface interactions. Therefore, our study demonstrates that doping tissue engineering scaffolds with novel JNK inhibitors represents a powerful tool for preventing adverse immune responses to biomaterials as well as serves as a platform for drug delivery.

The determination of enantiomer composition of 1-((3-chlorophenyl)-(phenyl)methyl) amine and 1-((3-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)-methyl) urea (Galodif) by NMR spectroscopy, chiral HPLC, and polarimetry.

For the first time, a method for enantiomer resolution of the anticonvulsant Galodif (1-((3-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl) urea) by chiral HPLC was developed, whereas the enantiomeric composition of 1-((3-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl) amine-precursor in Galodif synthesis-cannot be resolved by this method. However, starting 1-((3-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl) amine quantitatively forms diastereomeric N-((3-chlorophenyl)(phenyl)methyl)-1-camphorsulfonamides in reaction with chiral (1R)-(+)- or (1S)-(-)-camphor-10-sulfonyl chlorides. The diastereomeric ratio of obtained camphorsulfonamides can be easily determined by NMR 1 H and 13 C spectroscopy. The DFT calculations of specific rotation of Galodif enantiomers showed good agreement with experimental data. The absolute configuration of enantiomers was proposed for the first time.

A new look at acid catalyzed deacetylation of carbohydrates: A regioselective synthesis and reactivity of 2-O-acetyl aryl glycopyranosides.

In the present work we report that acetyl groups of per - acetylated aryl glycosides have different reactivity during the acidic deacetylation using HCl/EtOH in CHCl3, which leads to preferential deacetylation at O-3, O-4 and O-6. Thereby, the one-step preparation of 2-O-acetyl aryl glycosides with simple aglycon was accomplished for the first time. It was proved that the found reagent is to be general and unique for the preparation of series of 2-О-acetyl aryl glycosides. We have determined the influence of both carbohydrate moiety and the aglycon on the selectivity of deacetylation reaction by kinetic experiments. Using DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and semi-empirical АМ1 methods we have found that the highest activation barrier is for 2-О-acetyl group. This completely explains the least reactivity of 2-О-acetyl group.

A new approach for the immobilization of poly(acrylic) acid as a chemically reactive cross-linker on the surface of poly(lactic) acid-based biomaterials.

A new approach for the immobilization of poly(acrylic) acid (PAA) as a chemically reactive cross-linker on the surface of poly(lactic) acid-based (PLA) biomaterials is described. The proposed technique includes non-covalent attachment of a PAA layer to the surface of PLA-based biomaterial via biomaterial surface treatment with solvent/non-solvent mixture followed by the entrapment of PAA from its solution. Surface morphology and wettability of the obtained PLA-PAA composite materials were investigated by AFM and the sitting drop method respectively. The amount of the carboxyl groups on the composites surface was determined by using the fluorescent compounds (2-(5-aminobenzo[d]oxazol-2-yl)phenol (ABO) and its acyl derivative N-(2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)benzo[d]oxazol-5-yl)acetamide (AcABO)). It was shown that it is possible to obtain PLA-PAA composites with various surface relief and tunable wettability (57°, 62° and 66°). The capacity of the created PAA layer could be varied from 1.5nmol/cm2 to 0.1µmol/cm2 depending on the modification conditions. Additionally, using bovine serum albumin (BSA) it was demonstrated that such composites could be modified with proteins with high binding density (around 0.18nmol/cm2). Obtained fluoro-labeled PLA-PAA materials, as well as PLA-PAA composites themselves, are valuable since they can be used for biodegradable polymer implants tracking in living systems and as drug delivery systems.

The first example of a one-step synthesis of 2'-O-acetyl aryl-D-glucopyranosides.

A selective acidic system for partial deacetylation of phenolic d-glucopyranosides per-acetates has been developed that allows synthesis of the corresponding 2'-O-acetyl-D-glucosides. Many disadvantages of generally used methods for preparing such mono-acyl derivatives involving multistep procedures or the use of enzymes are avoided. The ion at m/z 289 in mass spectra of their TMS derivatives indicates a particular and characteristic fragmentation pattern of these 2'-O-acetyl derivatives of d-glucopyranosides. Quantum-chemical calculations applying B3LYP/TZVP level of theory revealed the stability of 2'-O-acetyl glucopyranoside if compare with 3'-, 4'- and 6'- O-acetyl glucopyanosides.

Matsuda-Heck reaction with arenediazonium tosylates in water.

An environmentally friendly Matsuda-Heck reaction with arenediazonium tosylates has been developed for the first time. A range of alkenes was arylated in good to quantitative yields in water. The reaction is significantly accelerated when carried out under microwave heating. The arylation of haloalkylacrylates with diazonium salts has been implemented for the first time.

Surface modification of biomaterials based on high-molecular polylactic acid and their effect on inflammatory reactions of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages: perspective for personalized therapy.

Polylactic acid (PLA) based implants can cause inflammatory complications. Macrophages are key innate immune cells that control inflammation. To provide higher biocompatibility of PLA-based implants with local innate immune cells their surface properties have to be improved. In our study surface modification technique for high-molecular PLA (MW=1,646,600g/mol) based biomaterials was originally developed and successfully applied. Optimal modification conditions were determined. Treatment of PLA films with toluene/ethanol=3/7 mixture for 10min with subsequent exposure in 0.001M brilliant green dye (BGD) solution allows to entrap approximately 10(-9)mol/cm(2) model biomolecules. The modified PLA film surface was characterized by optical microscopy, SERS, FT-IR, UV and TG/DTA/DSC analysis. Tensile strain of modified films was determined as well. The effect of PLA films modified with BGD on the inflammatory reactions of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages was investigated. We developed in vitro test-system by differentiating primary monocyte-derived macrophages on a coating material. Type 1 and type 2 inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, CCL18) secretion and histological biomarkers (CD206, stabilin-1) expression were analyzed by ELISA and confocal microscopy respectively. BGD-modified materials have improved thermal stability and good mechanical properties. However, BGD modifications induced additional donor-specific inflammatory reactions and suppressed tolerogenic phenotype of macrophages. Therefore, our test-system successfully demonstrated specific immunomodulatory effects of original and modified PLA-based biomaterials, and can be further applied for the examination of improved coatings for implants and identification of patient-specific reactions to implants.

Synthesis of acyl derivatives of salicin, salirepin, and arbutin.

The total synthesis of two natural phenolglycosides of the family Salicaceae, namely: populoside and 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxy benzyl (3-methoxy-4-hydroxy) cinnamoate and nine not found yet in plants acyl derivatives of phenoglycosides: 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-benzylcinnamoate, 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-benzyl (4-hydroxy) benzoate, 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-benzyl (3-methoxy-4-hydroxy) benzoate, 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxy benzyl (3,4-dihydroxy) cinnamoate, 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxy benzylcinnamoate, 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxy benzyl (4-hydroxy) benzoate, 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxy benzyl (3-methoxy-4-hydroxy) benzoate, 2-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-benzoyloxy benzylbenzoate and 4-(ß-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-phenylbenzoate, starting from readily available phenols and glucose was developed for the first time.

DFT investigation of the thermodynamics and mechanism of electrophilic chlorination and iodination of arenes.

Quantum chemical calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G level have been carried out in order to investigate the reaction mechanisms of the iodination of benzene and its monosubstituted derivatives with ICl, I(+), I (3) (+) and reagents containing N-I and O-I bonds as the iodinating agents. The results are compared with those obtained for chlorination by Cl(+) and Cl(2), both in the gas phase and in methanol solution using the PCM solvent model. We have also used the MP2/DGDZVP level of theory and the IEFPCM model to perform comparisons in a few cases. The thermodynamic parameters for the reactions have been calculated, the structures of the intermediate products (π- and σ-complexes) and transition states have been optimized, and the profiles of the free energy surfaces have been constructed.

Unusually stable, versatile, and pure arenediazonium tosylates: their preparation, structures, and synthetic applicability.

A new, simple, and effective method for the diazotization of a wide range of arylamines has been developed by using a polymer-supported diazotization agent in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid. Various pure arenediazonium tosylates with unusual stabilities can be easily prepared by this method. As a result, these salts are useful and versatile substrates for subsequent transformations, such as halogenation and Heck-type reactions. The unusual stabilities of arenediazonium tosylates are also preliminarily discussed with their X-ray structures.