Analysis of a Broad Range of Carbonyl Metabolites in Exhaled Breath by UHPLC-MS.

Analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath (EB) has shown great potential for disease detection including lung cancer, infectious respiratory diseases, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although many breath sample collection and analytical methods have been developed for breath analysis, analysis of metabolic VOCs in exhaled breath is still a challenge for clinical application. Many carbonyl compounds in exhaled breath are related to the metabolic processes of diseases. This work reports a method of ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) for the analysis of a broad range of carbonyl metabolites in exhaled breath. Carbonyl compounds in the exhaled breath were captured by a fabricated silicon microreactor with a micropillar array coated with 2-(aminooxy)ethyl-N,N,N-trimethylammonium (ATM) triflate. A total of six subgroups consisting of saturated aldehydes and ketones, hydroxy-aldehydes, and hydroxy-ketones, unsaturated 2-alkenals, and 4-hydroxy-2-alkenals were identified in the exhaled breath. The combination of a silicon microreactor for the selective capture of carbonyl compounds with UHPLC-MS analysis may provide a quantitative method for the analysis of carbonyls to identify disease markers in exhaled breath.

Magnetic nanoparticle-supported lipid bilayers for drug delivery.

Magnetic nanoparticle-supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) constructed around core-shell Fe3O4-SiO2 nanoparticles (SNPs) were prepared and evaluated as potential drug carriers. We describe how an oxime ether lipid can be mixed with SNPs to produce lipid-particle assemblies with highly positive ζ potential. To demonstrate the potential of the resultant cationic SLBs, the particles were loaded with either the anticancer drug doxorubicin or an amphiphilic analogue, prepared to facilitate integration into the supported lipid bilayer, and then examined in studies against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The assemblies were rapidly internalized and exhibited higher toxicity than treatments with doxorubicin alone. The magnetic SLBs were also shown to increase the efficacy of unmodified doxorubicin.

Synthesis and in vivo evaluation of a radiofluorinated ketone body derivative.

The ketone bodies d-beta-hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetic acid represent the principal oxidative energy sources of most tissues when dietary glucose is scarce. An 18F-labeled ketone body could be a useful tool for studying ketone body metabolism using positron emission tomography (PET). Here, we report the first radiofluorinated ketone body derivative (3S)-4-[18F]fluoro-3-hydroxybutyric acid ([18F]FBHB) as well as its enantiomer and l-beta-hydroxybutyric acid derivative, (3R)-4-[18F]fluoro-3-hydroxybutyric acid ((R)-[18F]F3HB). PET imaging in mice showed biodistribution profiles of the radiotracers that were consistent with the biodistribution of the respective endogenous compounds. Moreover, both enantiomers visualized breast cancer xenografts in vivo. Fasting over 24 h showed significantly enhanced brain and heart uptake of [18F]FBHB and tumor uptake of (R)-[18F]F3HB. Disorders exhibiting altered energy substrate utilization, such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, diabetes, and cancer may be of interest for PET imaging studies using [18F]FBHB.

Oxime ether lipids containing hydroxylated head groups are more superior siRNA delivery agents than their nonhydroxylated counterparts.

AIM: To evaluate the structure-activity relationship of oxime ether lipids (OELs) containing modifications in the hydrophobic domains (chain length, degree of unsaturation) and hydrophilic head groups (polar domain hydroxyl groups) toward complex formation with siRNA molecules and siRNA delivery efficiency of resulting complexes to a human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). MATERIALS & METHODS: Ability of lipoplex formation between oxime ether lipids with nucleic acids were examined using biophysical techniques. The potential of OELs to deliver nucleic acids and silence green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene was analyzed using MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-231/GFP cells, respectively. RESULTS & CONCLUSION: Introduction of hydroxyl groups to the polar domain of the OELs and unsaturation into the hydrophobic domain favor higher transfection and gene silencing in a cell culture system.

A Carbonyl Capture Approach for Profiling Oxidized Metabolites in Cell Extracts.

Fourier-transform ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) detection of oxidized cellular metabolites is described using isotopologic, carbonyl-selective derivatizing agents that integrate aminooxy functionality for carbonyl capture, quaternary nitrogen for electrospray enhancement, and a hydrophobic domain for sample cleanup. These modular structural features enable rapid, sensitive analysis of complex mixtures of metabolite-derivatives by FT-ICR-MS via continuous nanoelectrospray infusion. Specifically, this approach can be used to globally assess levels of low abundance and labile aldehyde and ketone metabolites quantitatively and in high throughput manner. These metabolites are often key and unique indicators of various biochemical pathways and their perturbations. Analysis of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells established a profile of carbonyl metabolites spanning multiple structural classes. We also demonstrate a procedure for metabolite quantification using pyruvate as a model analyte.