Transport of therapeutic vanadium and ruthenium complexes by blood plasma components.

Low molecular weight and high molecular weight metal ion binders present in blood plasma are shortly described. The binding of vanadium and ruthenium complexes by these components has received much attention, namely their interactions with human serum albumin and transferrin, and these studies are critically reviewed. The influence of the protein binding on the bioavailability of the prospective drugs, namely on the transport by blood plasma and uptake by cells is also discussed. It is concluded that vanadium compounds are mainly transported in blood by transferrin, but that no study has properly addressed the influence of albumin and transferrin in the vanadium uptake by cells. Ruthenium complexes bind strongly to HSA, most likely at the level of His residues, leading to the formation of stable adducts. If the kinetics of binding to this protein is fast enough, probably they are mainly transported by this serum protein. Nevertheless, at least for a few Ru(III)-complexes, hTf seems to play an active role in the uptake of ruthenium, while HSA may provide selectivity and higher activity for the compounds due to an enhanced permeability effect.

Membrane structure and interactions of a short Lycotoxin I analogue.

Lycotoxin I and Lycotoxin II are natural anti-microbial peptides that were identified in the venom of the Wolf Spider Lycosa carolinensis. These peptides were found to be potent growth inhibitors for bacteria (Escherichia coli) and yeast (Candida glabrata) at micromolar concentrations. Recently, shortened analogues of LycoI and LycoII have been reported to have decreased haemolytic effects. A shorter Lyco-I analogue studied, LycoI 1-15 (H-IWLTALKFLGKHAAK-NH2), was active only above 10 microM, but was also the least haemolytic. On the basis of these findings, we became interested in obtaining a deeper insight into the membrane activity of LycoI 1-15, as this peptide may represent the first major step for the future development of selective, i.e. non-haemolytic, Lycotoxin-based antibiotics. The interaction of this peptide with liposomes of different composition was studied by microcalorimetry [differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC)] and CD. The results obtained from the calorimetric and spectroscopic techniques were jointly discussed in an attempt to further understand the interaction of this peptide with model membranes.

Enantioselectivity in Ni(II) Schiff-base complexes derived from amino-acids and (S)-o-N-(N-benzylprolyl)aminobenzophenone: molecular structure of several chiral Ni(II) Schiff-base complexes, circular dichroism and molecular mechanics studies.

Several Ni(II) complexes derived from (S)-o-N-(N-benzylprolyl)aminobenzophenone ((S)-BBP) and amino acids of general formula [Ni((S)-BBP-L-(or D-)-aa)] were prepared. The crystal and molecular structures of [Ni((S)-BBP-Gly)], [Ni((S)-BBP-L-Ser)] and [Ni((S)-BBP-L-aaIm)](aaIm =L-2-amino-3-(imidazol-1-yl)propanoate were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. In the three complexes the nickel atoms display a square-planar coordination and the overall structure around the metal indicates that the entire Schiff-base ligands form quite rigid frameworks. Molecular mechanics calculations were carried out for complexes [Ni((S)-BBP-Gly)], [Ni((S)-BBP-Ser)] and [Ni((S)-BBP-aaIm)] containing either the L- or D-amino acid forms, and the factors controlling the stereoselectivity are discussed. Several other [Ni((S)-BBP-L-aa)] complexes are also prepared and their circular dichroism spectra in solution and of the solids dispersed in KBr disks are measured and discussed. In agreement with other studies in solution with similar [Ni((S)-BBP-aa)] complexes, the Cotton effects for the bands with lambda(max) at 520--530 nm are positive when the amino acids have the L-configuration at the alpha-carbon. The same is observed in this work for the solid-state CD spectra of all compounds.

Micro-focused ultrasonic solid-liquid extraction (muFUSLE) combined with HPLC and fluorescence detection for PAHs determination in sediments: optimization and linking with the analytical minimalism concept.

Analytical minimalism is a concept that deals with the optimization of all stages of an analytical procedure so that it becomes less time, cost, sample, reagent and energy consuming. The guide-lines provided in the USEPA extraction method 3550B recommend the use of focused ultrasound (FU), i.e., probe sonication, for the solid-liquid extraction of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs, but ignore the principle of analytical minimalism. The problems related with the dead sonication zones, often present when high volumes are sonicated with probe, are also not addressed. In this work, we demonstrate that successful extraction and quantification of PAHs from sediments can be done with low sample mass (0.125g), low reagent volume (4ml), short sonication time (3min) and low sonication amplitude (40%). Two variables are here particularly taken into account for total extraction: (i) the design of the extraction vessel and (ii) the solvent used to carry out the extraction. Results showed PAHs recoveries (EPA priority list) ranged between 77 and 101%, accounting for more than 95% for most of the PAHs here studied, as compared with the values obtained after soxhlet extraction. Taking into account the results reported in this work we recommend a revision of the EPA guidelines for PAHs extraction from solid matrices with focused ultrasound, so that these match the analytical minimalism concept.

Bovine serum albumin conformational changes upon adsorption on titania and on hydroxyapatite and their relation with biomineralization.

The biocompatibility of implant materials used for substitution of bone tissue depends on its ability to induce the deposition of a hydroxyapatite layer when in contact with body fluids. In previous work, some of the authors found that bovine serum albumin (BSA) promotes calcium phosphate deposition if preadsorbed on hydroxyapatite and retards precipitation if preadsorbed on titania. In the present study, we investigated the adsorption of BSA upon particles of titania and hydroxyapatite in order to understand the different role played by the protein on the mineralization of both biomaterials. The adsorption isotherms were determined and the structural changes induced by adsorption at different surface coverages were investigated by circular dichroism spectroscopy and differential scanning microcalorimetry. At low surface coverages, the adsorbed BSA molecules lost part of their alpha-helix content. However, at high surface coverages, corresponding to the plateau values of the adsorption isotherms, the BSA molecules did not undergo structural rearrangements upon adsorption. In the latter circumstances, the availability of BSA calcium binding sites, which should be responsible for inducing mineralization, depends on the electrostatic interactions between BSA and the sorbent surface. A possible explanation for the different mineralization behavior of hydroxyapatite and titania is advanced.