Determination of dynamic doxorubicin-EC50 value in an automated high-content workstation for cellular assays.

To overcome the problems of endpoint tests routinely required for EC50 determination, we utilized a novel automated high-content workstation and calculated a time-resolved EC50 value of MCF-7 mamma carcinoma cells treated with a pharmacologic agent. Measuring parameters were the cellular oxygen consumption and the extracellular acidification. These parameters were detected in real-time and label free with optochemical sensor spots in a modified 24-well sensor plate. In particular, the objective was to compare the measuring data of the workstation with a classical standard resazurin cell assay and to transfer the benefit of continuously recorded metabolic data of the workstation to practical time-resolved information about the effect of the applied active reagent (doxorubicin). MCF-7 cells were treated with a broad range of doxorubicin concentrations (100 µM to 1 nM) over 24 h and cellular activities were investigated with both, the resazurin assay and the automated workstation. Twenty-four hours after treatment, the resazurin assay showed an EC50 value (6.3 µM) which was about one decade above the value obtained from oxygen consumption rate (0.37 µM) and extracellular acidification rate (0.72 µM), measured with the workstation. Presumably, the differences are due to the different metabolic nature and regulation behind these measuring parameters. By polynomial fitting of continuously recorded metabolic data, we were able to point out a dynamic, time-resolved EC50 characteristic for different time points. The workstation is a powerful tool to record in vitro kinetic data of pharmacologic effects in vital cells in an automated experimental run.

The influence of chitosan valence on the complexation and transfection of DNA: the weaker the DNA-chitosan binding the higher the transfection efficiency.

The DNA-chitosan polyplexes have attracted for some years now the attention of physical-chemists and biologists for their potential use in gene therapy, however, the correlation between the physicochemical properties of these polyplexes with their transfection efficiency remains still unclear. In a recent paper we demonstrated by means of DLS that the DNA-chitosan complexation is favored at acidic conditions considering that fewer amounts of chitosan were required to compact the DNA. As a second study, in the present work we analyze the influence of chitosan valence on the complexation and transfection of DNA. Three chitosans of different molecular weights (three different valences) are characterized as gene carriers at 25°C and pH 5 over a wide range of chitosan-Nitrogen to DNA-Phosphate molar ratios, N/P, by means of conductometry, electrophoretic mobility, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and ß-galactosidase and luciferase expression assays.

Effects of intravenous zoledronic acid once yearly on bone remodeling and bone structure.

UNLABELLED: In a substudy of the HORIZON pivotal fracture trial, in which yearly intravenous zoledronic acid 5 mg was found to significantly reduce risk of various fracture types in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis, 152 patients underwent bone biopsy. Zoledronic acid reduced bone turnover by 63% and preserved bone structure and volume, with evidence of ongoing bone remodeling in 99% of biopsies obtained. INTRODUCTION: In the HORIZON pivotal fracture trial (PFT), enrolling 7,736 women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, three annual intravenous infusions of the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (5 mg) significantly reduced morphometric vertebral, clinical vertebral, hip, and nonvertebral fractures by 70%, 77%, 41%, and 25%, respectively. Whereas 79% of patients received zoledronic acid/placebo only (stratum I, n = 6,113), 21% received concomitant treatment with other antiresorptive drugs, excluding other bisphosphonates, PTH, and strontium (stratum II, n = 1,652). MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine effects on bone remodeling and bone architecture, iliac crest bone biopsies were obtained in 152 patients on active treatment or placebo at 3 yr after double tetracycline labeling. In five patients, only qualitative histology was performed, leaving 147 biopsy cores (79 on active treatment and 68 on placebo) for microCT analysis and histomorphometry. RESULTS: Analysis of bone structure by microCT revealed higher trabecular bone volume (BV/TV) in the zoledronic acid group (median, 16.6% versus 12.8%; p = 0.020). In addition, patients treated with zoledronic acid exhibited higher trabecular numbers (p = 0.008), decreased trabecular separation (p = 0.011), and a trend toward improvement in connectivity density (p = 0.062), all indicating better preservation of trabecular structure after treatment with zoledronic acid. Qualitative analysis revealed presence of tetracycline label in 81 of 82 biopsies from patients on zoledronic acid and all 70 biopsies from placebo patients, indicative of continued bone remodeling. No bone pathology was observed. Zoledronic acid induced a 63% median (71% mean) reduction of the activation frequency (Ac.f; p < 0.0001) and reduced mineralizing surface (MS/BS; p < 0.0001) and volume referent bone formation rate (BFR/BV) versus placebo, indicating reduced bone turnover. Mineral appositional rate was higher in the zoledronic acid group (p = 0.0002), suggesting improved osteoblast function compared with placebo. Mineralization lag time was similar in the two groups, whereas osteoid volume (OV/BV; p < 0.0001) and osteoid thickness (O.Th; p = 0.0094) were lower in zoledronic acid-treated patients, indicating normal osteoid formation and mineralization of newly formed bone. Concomitant administration of other antiresorptive osteoporosis therapies (e.g., raloxifene, tamoxifen, tibolone, ipriflavone) did not significantly alter the tissue level response to zoledronic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Annual dosing for 3 yr with zoledronic acid 5 mg intravenously resulted in a median 63% (mean, 71%) reduction of bone turnover and preservation of bone structure and mass without any signs of adynamic bone. Concomitant treatment with other osteoporosis therapies did not significantly affect the bone response to zoledronic acid.