Evaluation of DMSO dextrose as a suitable alternative for DMSO dextran in cord blood cryopreservation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Umbilical cord blood is considered an alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells. Standard banking procedures use 50/55% DMSO in dextran 40 for cryopreservation and dextran-based solutions for thawing, however, due to the potential risk of crystallization of dextran, dextran 40 approved for clinical use has become limited or unavailable. This affects cryopreservation and thawing procedures. Carbohydrates, in particular sucrose, trehalose and glucose, have been shown to be effective in reducing cell damage during dehydration and have cryoprotective potential. We aim to study a 50/55% DMSO in 5% dextrose cryopreservation solution as an alternative to DMSO dextran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen samples were divided into two aliquots and cryopreserved, one using standard solution and the other with DMSO dextrose experimental solution. Both aliquots were thawed and diluted with PBS or saline. Total nucleated cells counts, 7-AAD viability of CD45+ cells and recovery of CD34+ viable cells were assessed on thawed samples and compared between pair of aliquots. RESULTS: No differences were observed in the total nucleated cells recovery between cryopreservation solutions, however, higher viability and CD34+ viable cells recoveries were observed using the experimental solution. CONCLUSION: Results showed that DMSO dextrose cryopreservation solution had better results than the standard solution when thawed in an isotonic solution. This indicates that DMSO dextrose is probably a better alternative for direct infusion or when dextran thawing solutions are unavailable. Viability of CD45+ cells and recovery of CD34+ viable cells have positive correlation with engraftment, highlighting the relevance of the optimization of the cryopreservation and thawing process.

Perspectives for novel mixed diruthenium-organic drugs as metallopharmaceuticals in cancer therapy.

Ruthenium compounds have been actively studied as metallodrugs for cancer therapy. Representatives of ruthenium-based antitumor drugs are the classes of ruthenium(III)-chlorido-(N-ligand) complexes, including the drugs namely NAMI-A and KP1019 in clinical trials, and ruthenium(II)-arene organometallics, with some compounds currently undergoing advanced preclinical testing. An alternative approach for tumor-inhibiting metallodrugs is the coordination of metal ions to organic pharmaceuticals. The combination of antitumor-active ruthenium ion with biologically-active pro-ligands in single compounds can result in the enhancement of activity, for example through synergistic effects. In the present article, some developments in the ruthenium-based antitumor drugs field are briefly highlighted and recent studies on mixed diruthenium-organic drugs as metallopharmaceuticals in cancer therapy are described. Novel organic pharmaceuticals-containing diruthenium(II,III) complexes have shown promising antitumor activity for C6 rat glioma - a model for glioblastoma multiforme (GBA).

3-{[4-Amino-6-methoxy-2-(methylsulfanyl)pyrimidin-5-yl]amino}-1,2'-biindenylidene-1',3'-dione dimethyl sulfoxide solvate: pi-stacked sheets of hydrogen-bonded chains of edge-fused rings.

In the title compound, C(24)H(18)N(4)O(3)S.C(2)H(6)OS, the biindenylidene component shows evidence of polarization of the electronic structure. The dimethyl sulfoxide solvent molecules are disordered over two sites, and they are linked to the biindenylidenedione components via N-H...O and C-H...O hydrogen bonds. A combination of N-H...N and N-H...O hydrogen bonds links the nonsolvent components into a chain of edge-fused centrosymmetric R(2)(2)(8) and R(2)(2)(22) rings, and these chains are linked into sheets by a single aromatic pi-pi stacking interaction.