Reactive oxygen species generating photosynthesized ferromagnetic iron oxide nanorods as promising antileishmanial agent.

Aim: To investigate the photodynamic therapeutic potential of ferromagnetic iron oxide nanorods (FIONs), using Trigonella foenum-graecum as a reducing agent, against Leishmania tropica. Materials & methods: FIONs were characterized using ultraviolet visible spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Results: FIONs showed excellent activity against L. tropica promastigotes and amastigotes (IC50 0.036 ± 0.003 and 0.072 ± 0.001 µg/ml, respectively) upon 15 min pre-incubation light-emitting diode light (84 lm/W) exposure, resulting in reactive oxygen species generation and induction of cell death via apoptosis. FIONs were found to be highly biocompatible with human erythrocytes (LD50 779 ± 21 µg/ml) and significantly selective (selectivity index >1000) against murine peritoneal macrophages (CC50 102.7 ± 2.9 µg/ml). Conclusion: Due to their noteworthy in vitro antileishmanial properties, FIONs should be further investigated in an in vivo model of the disease.

Redox biology of Leishmania and macrophage targeted nanoparticles for therapy.

Intramacrophage parasite 'Leishmania' has developed various mechanisms for proficient uptake into macrophages and phagosome regulation to avoid macrophage's oxidative burst induced by peroxide, hydroxyl radical, hypochlorous acid and peroxynitrite production. One major barrier for impairing the accession of old fashioned anti-Leishmanial drugs is intrinsic incapability to pass through cell membranes and limiting their abilities to ultimately destroy intracellular pathogens. Receptor-mediated targeted drug delivery to the macrophages by using nanoparticles emerges as promising strategy to improve therapeutic efficacy of old-fashioned drug. Receptor-mediated targeted nanoparticles can migrate across the cell membrane barriers and release enclosed drug cargo at sites of infection. This review is focusing on Leishmania-macrophage signaling alterations, its association with drug resistance and role of nanoparticles for receptor mediated macrophage targeting.

Development of mannose-anchored thiolated amphotericin B nanocarriers for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.

AIM: Our goal was to improve treatment outcomes for visceral leishmaniasis by designing nanocarriers that improve drug biodistribution and half-life. Thus, long-acting mannose-anchored thiolated chitosan amphotericin B nanocarrier complexes (MTC AmB) were developed and characterized. MATERIALS & METHODS: A mannose-anchored thiolated chitosan nanocarrier was manufactured and characterized. MTC AmB was examined for cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, uptake and antimicrobial activities. RESULTS: MTC AmB was rod shaped with a size of 362 nm. MTC AmB elicited 90% macrophage viability and 71-fold enhancement in drug uptake compared with native drug. The antileishmanial IC50 for MTC AmB was 0.02 µg/ml compared with 0.26 µg/ml for native drug. CONCLUSION: These studies show that MTC can serve as a platform for clearance of Leishmania in macrophages.

Annihilation of Leishmania by daylight responsive ZnO nanoparticles: a temporal relationship of reactive oxygen species-induced lipid and protein oxidation.

Lipid and protein oxidation are well-known manifestations of free radical activity and oxidative stress. The current study investigated extermination of Leishmania tropica promastigotes induced by lipid and protein oxidation with reactive oxygen species produced by PEGylated metal-based nanoparticles. The synthesized photodynamic therapy-based doped and nondoped zinc oxide nanoparticles were activated in daylight that produced reactive oxygen species in the immediate environment. Lipid and protein oxidation did not occur in dark. The major lipid peroxidation derivatives comprised of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, and malondialdehyde whereas water, ethane, methanol, and ethanol were found as the end products. Proteins were oxidized to carbonyls, hydroperoxides, and thiol degrading products. Interestingly, lipid hydroperoxides were produced by more than twofold of the protein hydroperoxides, indicating higher degradation of lipids compared to proteins. The in vitro evidence represented a significant contribution of the involvement of both lipid and protein oxidation in the annihilated antipromastigote effect of nanoparticles.

Structure based medicinal chemistry-driven strategy to design substituted dihydropyrimidines as potential antileishmanial agents.

In an attempt to explore novel and more potent antileishmanial compounds to diversify the current inhibitors, we pursued a medicinal chemistry-driven strategy to synthesize novel scaffolds with common pharmacophoric features of dihydropyrimidine and chalcone as current investigational antileishmanial compounds. Based on the reported X-ray structure of Pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1) from Leishmania major, we have designed a number of dihydropyrimidine-based derivatives to make specific interactions in PTR1 active site. Our lead compound 8i has shown potent in vitro antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of L. Major and Leishmania donovani with IC50 value of 0.47 µg/ml and 1.5 µg/ml respectively. The excellent in vitro activity conclusively revealed that our lead compound is efficient enough to eradicate both visceral and topical leishmaniasis. In addition, docking analysis and in silico ADMET predictions were also carried out. Predicted molecular properties supported our experimental analysis that these compounds have potential to eradicate both visceral and topical leishmaniasis.

Antileishmanial, DNA Interaction, and Docking Studies of Some Ferrocene-Based Heteroleptic Pentavalent Antimonials.

A series of ferrocenyl pentavalent antimonials (1-8) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, and multinuclear ((1) H and (13) C) NMR spectroscopy. These antimonials were evaluated for their antileishmanial potential against Leishmania tropica KWH23, and by biocompatibility and membrane permeability assays. Moreover, mechanistic studies were carried out, mediated by DNA targeting followed by computational docking of ferrocenyl antimonials against the leishmanial trypanothione reductase enzyme. It was observed that the antimonials 1-8 were 390-fold more efficacious (IC50 ) as compared with the standard antimonial drug used. Cytotoxicity results showed that these antimonials are highly active even at low concentrations and are biocompatible with human macrophages. Antimonials 1-8 exhibited extensive intercalation with DNA and, furthermore, docking interactions highlighted the potential interactive binding of the anitimonials within the trypanothione reductase active site, with van der Waals interactions contributing significantly to the process. Hence, it is suggested that the reported antimonials demonstrate high efficacy, less toxicity, and target multiple sites of the Leishmania parasite.

Visible-light-responsive ZnCuO nanoparticles: benign photodynamic killers of infectious protozoans.

Human beings suffer from several infectious agents such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoans. Recently, there has been a great interest in developing biocompatible nanostructures to deal with infectious agents. This study investigated benign ZnCuO nanostructures that were visible-light-responsive due to the resident copper in the lattice. The nanostructures were synthesized through a size-controlled hot-injection process, which was adaptable to the surface ligation processes. The nanostructures were then characterized through transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, diffused reflectance spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering, and photoluminescence analysis to measure crystallite nature, size, luminescence, composition, and band-gap analyses. Antiprotozoal efficiency of the current nanoparticles revealed the photodynamic killing of Leishmania protozoan, thus acting as efficient metal-based photosensitizers. The crystalline nanoparticles showed good biocompatibility when tested for macrophage toxicity and in hemolysis assays. The study opens a wide avenue for using toxic material in resident nontoxic forms as an effective antiprotozoal treatment.

PEGylated silver doped zinc oxide nanoparticles as novel photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy against Leishmania.

We describe daylight responsive silver (Ag) doped semiconductor nanoparticles of zinc oxide (DSNs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) against Leishmania. The developed materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Rutherford backscattering (RBS), diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and band-gap analysis. The Ag doped semiconductor nanoparticles of zinc oxide were PEGylated to enhance their biocompatibility. The DSNs demonstrated effective daylight response in the PDT of Leishmania protozoans, through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with a quantum yield of 0.13 by nondoped zinc oxide nanoparticles (NDSN) whereas 0.28 by DSNs. None of the nanoparticles have shown any antileishmanial activity in dark, confirming that only ROS produced in the daylight were involved in the killing of leishmanial cells. Furthermore, the synthesized nanoparticles were found biocompatible. Using reactive oxygen species scavengers, cell death was attributable mainly to 77-83% singlet oxygen and 18-27% hydroxyl radical. The nanoparticles caused permeability of the cell membrane, leading to the death of parasites. Further, the uptake of nanoparticles by Leishmania cells was confirmed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). We believe that these DSNs are widely applicable for the PDT of leishmaniasis, cancers, and other infections due to daylight response.

Antimicrobial, crown gall tumor inhibitory and cytotoxicity assays of N-[(1-methyl-1H-indole-3-yl)methylene]amines synthesized by an improved protocol.

The present paper reports an easy preparation of imines of N-methyl-1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde by its condensation with alkyl and aromatic amines in ethanol without using any catalyst or dehydrating agent. The compounds have been screened for their antibacterial, antifungal, crown gall tumor inhibitory, and cytotoxic activities. As a major finding some of the compounds exhibited potential biological activity. The imine containing a 4-chlorophenyl group exhibits potential antitumor activity and brine shrimp lethality against crown gall tumor and brine shrimps, respectively. Furthermore, this imine containing a 4-chlorophenyl group also exhibits significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans fungal strains. The compound containing N-diphenylmethyl group has been observed most active against the Gram-positive bacteria.

A novel missense mutation in the ectodysplasin-A (EDA) gene underlies X-linked recessive nonsyndromic hypodontia.

BACKGROUND: Nonsyndromic hypodontia or congential absence of one or more permanent teeth is a common anomaly of dental development in humans. This condition may be inherited in an autosomal (dominant/recessive) or X-linked (dominant/recessive) mode. Mutations in three genes, PAX9, MSX1, and AXIN2, have been determined to be associated with autosomal dominant and recessive tooth agenesis. Recent studies in a few families showed that mutations in the ectodysplasin A (EDA) gene result in X-linked nonsyndromic hypodontia. METHODS: Genotyping of a five-generation Pakistani family with X-linked isolated hypodontia having three affected men was carried out using EDA-linked polymorphic microsatellite markers on chromosome Xq12-q13.1. To screen for a mutation in the EDA gene, all of its coding exons and splice junction sites were PCR amplified from genomic DNA of affected and unaffected individuals of the family and sequenced directly in an ABI Prism 310 automated DNA sequencer. RESULTS: We successfully mapped the affected locus to chromosome Xq12-q13.1, and found a novel missense mutation (c.993G>C) in the EDA gene in the affected men. The mutation causes substitution of glutamine with histidine (p.Q331H) in the tumor necrosis factor homology domain of EDA. CONCLUSIONS: A mutation identified in this study extends the body of evidence implicating the EDA gene in X-linked nonsyndromic hypodontia and supports the role of EDA-EDAR-EDARADD signaling in the morphogenesis of teeth.

A homozygous nonsense mutation in the human desmocollin-3 (DSC3) gene underlies hereditary hypotrichosis and recurrent skin vesicles.

Desmosomes are the major players in epidermis and cardiac muscles and contribute to intercellular binding and maintenance of tissue integrity. Two important constituents of desmosomes are transmembrane cadherins named desmogleins and desmocollins. The critical role of these desmosomal proteins in epithelial integrity has been illustrated by their disruption in mouse models and human diseases. In the present study, we have investigated a large family from Afghanistan in which four individuals are affected with hereditary hypotrichosis and the appearance of recurrent skin vesicle formation. All four affected individuals showed sparse and fragile hair on scalp, as well as absent eyebrows and eyelashes. Vesicles filled with thin, watery fluid were observed on the affected individuals' scalps and on most of the skin covering their bodies. A scalp-skin biopsy of an affected individual showed mild hair-follicle plugging. Candidate-gene-based homozygosity linkage mapping assigned the disease locus to 8.30 cM (8.51 Mbp) on chromosome 18q12.1. A maximum multipoint LOD score of 3.30 (theta = 0.00) was obtained at marker D18S877. Sequence analysis of four desmoglein and three desmocollin genes, contained within the linkage interval, revealed a homozygous nonsense mutation (c.2129T>G [p.Leu710X]) in exon-14 of the desmocollin-3 (DSC3) gene.

Quantitation of the cancer marker LASA using immobilized enzymes in a semiautomated system.

Cancer patients are found to have elevated serum levels of lipid-associated sialic acid (LASA). LASA measurement provides a valuable test for the diagnosis of human cancer. The currently used measurement methods are tedious and nonselective. Here we report a method based on immobilized enzyme minicolumns in a flow system for the analysis of this clinically important analyte. Three enzymes comprising two minicolumns are introduced online and the analyte in a precisely injected volume of 20 microL is made to pass through these immobilized enzyme columns. The final product of the reaction is detected amperometrically. Neuraminidase and NANA-aldolase are coimmobilized on controlled pore glass, followed by a column of pyruvate oxidase. The method was applied to the quantitation of LASA in the sera of normal individuals and patients with cancer of the esophagus. We observed no loss of activity of the immobilized enzymes after analyzing about 300 samples. The sample throughput was 30 samples per hour.

Colors as catalysts in enzymatic reactions.

We studied the effects of visible range irradiation (in vitro) on the enzyme solutions (glucose oxidase, cholesterol oxidase + cholesterol esterase and lipase) in order to infer the changes produced in the human body after chromotherapy. The glucose oxidase showed enhanced activity to the color purple (464 nm), while the activity of the other enzymes, cholesterol esterase + cholesterol oxidase and lipase, increased when exposed to dark violet (400 nm). Purple is being used in conventional chromotherapy for diabetes, as supported by the experimental observation in which purple enhanced the activity of enzymes responsible for the oxidation of glucose. Specific wavelengths regulate living processes by acting as catalysts in enzyme activity, while some wavelengths may reduce enzyme activity. The irradiation of specific wavelengths effect enzymatic processes, which as a consequence, accelerated biochemical reactions. This particular frequency when provided to the enzymes (in vitro) lead to changes which may well be occurring in vivo.