Conjugation of VEGFR1/R2-targeting peptide with gold nanoparticles to enhance antiangiogenic and antitumoral activity.

BACKGROUND: Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis through simultaneous targeting of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)-1 and -2 is highly efficacious. An antagonist peptide of VEGFA/VEGFB, referred to as VGB3, can recognize and neutralize both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 on the endothelial and tumoral cells, thereby inhibits angiogenesis and tumor growth. However, improved efficacy and extending injection intervals is required for its clinical translation. Given that gold nanoparticles (GNPs) can enhance the efficacy of biotherapeutics, we conjugated VGB3 to GNPs to enhance its efficacy and extends the intervals between treatments without adverse effects. RESULTS: GNP-VGB3 bound to VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) and 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells. GNP-VGB3 induced cell cycle arrest, ROS overproduction and apoptosis and inhibited proliferation and migration of endothelial and tumor cells more effectively than unconjugated VGB3 or GNP. In a murine 4T1 mammary carcinoma tumor model, GNP-VGB3 more strongly than VGB3 and GNP inhibited tumor growth and metastasis, and increased animal survival without causing weight loss. The superior antitumor effects were associated with durable targeting of VEGFR1 and VEGFR2, thereby inhibiting signaling pathways of proliferation, migration, differentiation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and survival in tumor tissues. MicroCT imaging and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry showed that GNP-VGB3 specifically target tumors and exhibit greater accumulation within tumors than the free GNPs. CONCLUSION: Conjugation to GNPs not only improved the efficacy of VGB3 peptide but also extended the intervals between treatments without adverse effects. These results suggest that GNP-VGB3 is a promising candidate for clinical translation.

Evaluation of novel pyrimidine derivatives as a new class of mushroom tyrosinase inhibitor.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) is responsible for enzymatic browning in fruits and vegetables. Its inhibitors may be applied to efficiently treat hyperpigmentation and are widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, food supplements and insecticides. Previous studies have shown that heterocyclic compounds with an amino group can inhibit tyrosinase activity. The present study aims to evaluate the inhibitory effect of some novel 2,6-diamino-4-chloropyrimidine derivatives (1a-e) and 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine (2a-e) including bioactive aniline moiety on the activity of the mushroom tyrosinase. METHODS: In practice, the azo salt was initially synthesized from aniline derivatives and combined subsequently with the 2,4,6-triaminopyrimidine and 2,6-diamino-4 chloropyrimidine followed by crystallization. The structures of resulting compounds were confirmed by FT-IR, 13C NMR, and 1H NMR. The derivatives (0-100 µM) were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity using l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) as substrate. RESULTS: All compounds showed inhibitory effects against the activity of the enzyme. About 23.72-55.08% inhibition was observed in the presence of 30 µM of each compound. The IC50 values of the synthesized compounds were measured, and their inhibition properties were also visualized by zymography. Based on the results, the compounds 1a-e and 2a-e showed moderate inhibitory activities. Notably, pyrimidine derivatives 1a (IC50=24.68) and 1d (IC50=24.45) also exhibited similar inhibitory activities when compared with the positive control, kojic acid (IC50=25.24 µM). Kinetic studies indicated that the type of inhibition was noncompetitive. CONCLUSION: All results suggest that pyrimidine derivatives, especially 1d and 1a, can be considered as safe and efficient tyrosinase inhibitors.

Gold-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles as an excellent enzyme-responsive nanocarrier for controlled doxorubicin delivery.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have ideal characteristics as next generation of controlled drug delivery systems. In this study, a MSN-based nanocarrier was fabricated and gold nanoparticle (GNP)-biotin conjugates were successfully grafted onto the pore outlets of the prepared MSN. This bioconjugate served as a capping agent with a peptide-cleavable linker sensitive to matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are overexpressed extracellular proteolytic enzymes in cancerous tissue. The prepared nanocarriers were fully characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nitrogen adsorption/desorption, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA). In vitro release studies showed efficient capping of MSNs with gold gate and controlled release of Doxorubicin (DOX) in the presence of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and acidic pH values. High DOX-loading capacity (21%) and encapsulation efficiency (95.5%) were achieved using fluorescence technique. DOX-loaded nanocarriers showed high cytocompatibility and could efficiently induce cell death and apoptosis in the MMP-2 overexpressed cell lines. Moreover, Haemolysis, platelet activation and inflammatory responses assessment approved excellent hemocompatibility and minimal side effects by encapsulation of DOX in MSNs carrier.

Evaluation of thiazolidinone derivatives as a new class of mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors.

Tyrosinase (EC 1.14.18.1) is a key copper-containing metalloenzyme widely distributed in nature and plays determinant role in melanin biosynthesis. The enzyme manifests two unusual catalytic properties including oxidase and monooxygenase activities. Its inhibitors may be applied to efficiently treat of hyperpigmentation and widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, as well as food supplements and insecticides. The present study aims to evaluate the inhibitory effects of some novel azo-hydrazone tautomeric dyes (4a-e) including bioactive thiazolidinone moiety on the activity of the mushroom tyrosinase. When L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-Dopa) was used as the substrate for the enzyme, the compounds 4d, 4a, and 4e showed strong inhibitory effects against the activity of the enzyme (61%, 56%, and 49% inhibition in the presence of 60µM of each compound, respectively). The IC50 values of the synthetized compounds were measured and their inhibition properties were also visualized by zymography. According to tyrosinase inhibitory activity, the compounds 4a, 4c, 4d and 4e exhibited strong inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 45.83, 140.25, 37.59, and 42.31µM, respectively, compared to the positive control kojic acid (29.44µM). Kinetic study of 4d compound (as the most potent inhibitor) revealed that the compound acts as a reversible competitive inhibitor of the enzyme with the Ki value of 31.0µM. We also simulated the molecular docking with the compound 4d and the results confirmed that the compound strongly interacts with the mushroom tyrosinase residues. All results totally suggest that thiazolidine derivatives, especially 4d, 4a, and 4e, can be considered as safe and efficient tyrosinase inhibitors. They also have the potential to be used in the correspond fields.

Curcumin mitigates the fibrillation of human serum albumin and diminishes the formation of reactive oxygen species.

The formation of amyloid fibrils are thought to contribute to pathogenesis of many amyloids associated human diseases. Here the impact of curcumin on amyloid formation of human serum albumin (HSA) was studied. Incubation of HSA at 68°C under physiologic pH led to amyloid fibril formation. Thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence was used for determination of amyloid fibril formation. Atomic force microscopy experiments indicated different fibril structure of HSA incubated with or without curcumin. The monitoring of the changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels upon incubation of curcumin with HSA showed a significant decrease in ROS levels. Similar experiments were also carried out in the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and lead (Pb) ions. Our results indicated that AFM1 and Pb ions promote the fibrillation of HSA and accelerate ROS production, which were inhibited in the presence of curcumin. Thus, curcumin mitigates protein fibrillation activity and diminishes ROS generation.