Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Oleuropein-Loaded ZnO/Au Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle in 5-FU-Resistant Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Purpose: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a first-line chemotherapeutic agent used to treat colorectal cancer (CRC). However, 5-FU induces drug resistance and activation of cancer stem cells (CSCs). In the present study, we designed a novel biocompatible nanomedicine system with high efficacy and biocompatibility by synthesizing mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN)-structured ZnO and gold ions. Oleuropein (OLP) is a phenolic compound derived from olive leaves that exerts anti-cancer effects. Therefore, we synthesized OLP-loaded ZnO/Au MSNs (ZnO/Au/OLP MSNs) and examined their anti-cancer effects on 5-FU-resistant CRC cells. Methods: ZnO/Au MSNs were synthesized and functionalized, and their physical and chemical compositions were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Their effects were assessed in terms of cellular proliferation capacity, migration and invasion ability, colony-forming ability, spheroid-forming ability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Results: ZnO/Au MSNs were mostly composed of various ions containing ZnO and gold ions, had a spheroid phenotype, and exhibited no cytotoxicity. ZnO/Au/OLP MSNs reduced cell viability and CSC formation and induced apoptosis of 5-FU-resistant CRC cells via necrosis via ROS accumulation and DNA fragmentation. Conclusion: ZnO/Au/OLP MSNs exhibited anti-cancer activity by upregulating necrosis. These results revealed that ZnO/Au/OLP MSNs are a novel drug delivery system for 5-FU CRC therapy.

Effect of oligoarginine conjugation on the antiwrinkle activity and transdermal delivery of GHK peptide.

GHK (Gly-His-Lys), a natural peptide found in human skin and plasma, has been widely used in the cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical fields. The hydrophilic GHK and GHK-Cu are limited in their abilities to penetrate deeply into skin; because of this, various strategies for their skin delivery have been developed. In this investigation, Arg4 was conjugated with GHK to get heptapeptide, GHK-R4, and then in vitro antiwrinkle activity and transdermal delivery were compared between GHK and GHK-R4. Notably, Arg4 conjugation accelerated the cellular penetration of GHK both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, higher in vitro antiwrinkle activity and collagen biosynthesis was obtained with GHK-R4 at much lower doses than with control R4-free GHK. The enhanced activity and delivery of GHK-R4 might be due to the cell penetrating ability and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitory activity of R4 itself.

HPLC of fluoroquinolone antibacterials using chiral stationary phase based on enantiomeric (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6.

A residual silanol group-protecting chiral stationary phase (CSP) based on optically active (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6 was successfully applied to the resolution of fluoroquinolone compounds including gemifloxacin mesylate. The chiral recognition ability of the residual silanol group-protecting CSP was generally greater than that of the residual silanol group-containing CSP. From these results, it was concluded that the simple protection of the residual silanol groups of the latter CSP with lipophilic n-octyl groups can improve its chiral recognition ability for the resolution of racemic fluoroquinolone compounds. The chromatographic resolution behaviors were investigated as a function of the content and type of organic and acidic modifiers and the ammonium acetate concentration in aqueous mobile phase and the column temperature. Especially, the addition of ammonium acetate to the mobile phase was found to be a quite effective means of reducing the enantiomer retentions without sacrificing the chiral recognition efficiency of the CSP.

Liquid chromatographic resolution of beta-amino acids on CSPs based on optically active (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6.

Two chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on optically active (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6 covalently bonded to silica gel were utilized for the first time for the resolution of racemic beta-amino acids using high performance liquid chromatography. All of the 10 beta-amino acids tested were resolved on the CSP containing residual silanol-protecting n-octyl groups, while only five beta-amino acids were resolved on the CSP containing residual silanol groups. The superiority of the CSP containing residual silanol-protecting n-octyl groups and the characteristic retention behaviors of the two enantiomers on the CSP were rationalized to stem from the removal of the residual silanol groups, which can otherwise induce the non-enantioselective retention of the analytes, and the improved lipophilicity of the CSP. The elution orders of the two enantiomers of beta-amino acids were identical on the two CSPs and, consequently, it was concluded that the two CSPs were concluded to utilize identical chiral recognition mechanisms. The different elution orders of the analytes were proposed to be attributed to the presence or absence of pi-pi interactions between the CSP and analytes.

Effect of the residual silanol group protection on the liquid chromatographic resolution of racemic primary amino compounds on a chiral stationary phase based on optically active (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6.

A liquid chromatographic chiral stationary phase (CSP) based on (3,3'-diphenyl-1,1'-binaphthyl)-20-crown-6, which has been utilized in the resolution of alpha-amino acids, amines and amino alcohols, was treated with excess of n-octyltriethoxysilane to prepare a new improved CSP. The residual silanol groups of the original CSP were protected by n-octyl groups in the new CSP. The chiral recognition ability of the new CSP was superior to that of the original CSP in the resolution of alpha-amino acids, amines and amino alcohols. Retention factors (k1) for the resolution of alpha-amino acids were lower on the new CSP than on the original CSP while those for the resolution of amines and amino alcohols were higher on the new CSP than on the original CSP. The improved chiral recognition ability of the new CSP and the retention behaviors of the two enantiomers on the new CSP have been rationalized to stem from the removal of the non-enantioselective interactions between the analytes and the residual silanol groups of the original CSP and the improved lipophilicity of the CSP.

Amino-functionalized SBA-15 type mesoporous silica having nanostructured hexagonal platelet morphology.

Amino-functionalized SBA-15 type mesoporous silicas having unique hexagonal platelet morphologies with short channels (100-300 nm) running parallel to the thickness of the nanostructured hexagonal platelet type morphologies have been directly synthesized by co-condensation of aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and sodium metasilicate as a silica source in the presence of Pluronic P123 triblock copolymer as a structure directing agent.

Liquid chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of beta-amino acids on a ligand exchange chiral stationary phase.

A liquid chromatographic ligand exchange chiral stationary phase (CSP) derived from (S)-leucinol was applied in the separation of the enantiomers of 12 beta-amino acids. The resolution was quite successful especially for the enantiomers of beta-amino acids containing aromatic functional group in the side chain. The chromatographic resolution behaviors were dependent on the organic modifier and Cu(II) concentration in aqueous mobile phase and the column temperature.

New ligand exchange chiral stationary phase for the liquid chromatographic resolution of alpha- and beta-amino acids.

A new ligand exchange chiral stationary phase (CSP) has been developed by covalently bonding (R)-N,N-carboxymethyl undecyl phenylglycinol mono-sodium salt onto silica gel and applied in the resolution of alpha- and beta-amino acids. In the resolution of alpha-amino acids, the new CSP was better insome cases than the old one, which was previously developed by covalently bonding (S)-N,N-carboxymethyl undecyl leucinol mono-sodium salt onto silica gel, but worse in some other cases than the old one in terms of the separation factors (alpha). However, the new CSP wasalways much better than the old one in terms of the resolution factors (Rs). In the resolution of beta-amino acids, the new CSP was always much better than the old one in terms of both the separation and resolution factors. In an effort to characterize the new CSP, the chromatographic behaviors for the resolution of selected alpha- and beta-amino acids were investigated with the variation of the content of organic modifier and Cu(II) concentration in aqueous mobile phase and the column temperature.

Liquid chromatographic resolution of gemifloxacin mesylate on a chiral stationary phase derived from crown ether.

A new racemic fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent, gemifloxacin mesylate, has been successfully resolved on a chiral stationary phase (CSP) derived from (+)-(18-crown-6)-2,3,11,12-tetracarboxylic acid. Compared to the Crownpak CR(+) column, the CSP used in this study was more effective for the resolution of racemic gemifloxacin mesylate, especially in terms of analytical time. The resolution of gemifloxacin mesylate enantiomers on the CSP was found to be dependent on the type and content of organic and acidic modifiers in the aqueous mobile phase and the column temperature.

Liquid chromatographic resolution of N-acyl-alpha-amino acids as their anilide derivatives on a chiral stationary phase based on (S)-leucine.

A chiral stationary phase (CSP 1) derived from N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)leucine N-phenyl N-alkylamide was used for the liquid chromatographic resolution of anilide derivatives of N-acyl-alpha-amino acids and the chromatographic resolution results were compared with those from four other commercial CSPs. The chromatographic resolution results showed that CSP 1 was most effective among five CSPs used in this study. The chiral recognition mechanism exerted by CSP 1 for the resolution of anilide derivatives of N-acyl-alpha-amino acids is proposed to involve a face-to-face pi-pi interaction and two hydrogen bonding interactions between the CSP and the analytes from the chromatographic resolution behaviors of slightly modified anilide derivatives of N-acyl-alpha-amino acids. The chiral recognition mechanism proposed is quite similar to that advanced previously for the resolution of N-(3,5-methoxybenzoyl)-alpha-amino acids on CSP 1, even though the interaction sites of the two types of analytes were totally different from each other. The apparent similarity of the two chiral recognition mechanisms was assumed to stem from the identical interaction modes of the two types of analytes with the CSP. In addition, the dependence of the enantioselectivity of anilide derivatives of N-acyl-alpha-amino acids on the length of the alkyl tail of the N-acyl group of analytes was rationalized to stem from the intercalation of the N-acyl group of the (R)-enantiomer of analytes between the tethers of the CSP.

Liquid chromatographic resolution of racemic amines, amino alcohols and related compounds on a chiral crown ether stationary phase.

A chiral stationary phase (CSP) based on diphenyl-substituted 1,1'-binaphthyl crown ether was applied in resolving various racemic amines, amino alcohols and alpha-aminocarbonyl compounds including pharmaceutically important compounds such as amphetamine analogues, mexiletine, norepinephrine and norephedrine. The resolution was quite successful. In order to find out the effects of mobile phase additives on the chromatographic resolution behaviors, four selected racemic compounds were resolved on the CSP with the variation of the type and content of organic, acidic and cationic modifiers in aqueous mobile phase and with the variation of column temperature. The resolution behaviors were quite dependent on the type and the content of organic, acidic and cationic modifiers in aqueous mobile phase and on column temperature.

Preparation and application of a new ligand exchange chiral stationary phase for the liquid chromatographic resolution of alpha-amino acid enantiomers.

A new liquid chromatographic ligand exchange CSP has been prepared by covalently bonding (S)-N,N-carboxymethyl undecyl leucinol monosodium salt onto silica gel and employed in resolving various alpha-amino acids. The new CSP was quite good in resolving various a-amino acids and the resolution results were dependent on the type and content of organic modifier in the mobile phase. From these results, a chiral recognition model using a lipophilic interaction between the tethering alkyl group of the CSP and the substituent at the chiral center of alpha-amino acids was proposed. The liquid chromatographic resolution of alpha-amino acids on the new CSP was also found to be dependent on the Cu(II) concentration in the mobile phase and the column temperature.

Liquid chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of fluoroquinolone antibacterials on a chiral stationary phase based on a chiral crown ether.

A chiral stationary phase (CSP) recently developed by bonding (diphenyl-substituted 1,1'-binaphthyl) crown ether to silica gel for the liquid chromatographic separation of enantiomers was applied to the resolution of investigational fluoroquinolone antibacterial agents including gemifloxacin (formerly LB20304a). All fluoroquinolone compounds used in this study were resolved quite well on the CSP. Especially, the resolution of gemifloxacin and its analogs on the CSP was excellent and even greater than that on the commercial Crownpak CR(+). The resolution was found to be dependent on the type and the content of organic, acidic, and inorganic modifiers added to the mobile phase and on the column temperature.