Multipatterned Chondrocytes' Scaffolds by FL-MOPL with a BSA-GMA Hydrogel to Regulate Chondrocytes' Morphology.

Repairing articular cartilage damage is challenging due to its low regenerative capacity. In vitro, cartilage regeneration is a potential strategy for the functional reconstruction of cartilage defects. A hydrogel is an advanced material for mimicking the extracellular matrix (ECM) due to its hydrophilicity and biocompatibility, which is known as an ideal scaffold for cartilage regeneration. However, chondrocyte culture in vitro tends to dedifferentiate, leading to fibrosis and reduced mechanical properties of the newly formed cartilage tissue. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the mechanism of modulating the chondrocytes' morphology. In this study, we synthesize photo-cross-linkable bovine serum albumin-glycidyl methacrylate (BSA-GMA) with 65% methacrylation. The scaffolds are found to be suitable for chondrocyte growth, which are fabricated by homemade femtosecond laser maskless optical projection lithography (FL-MOPL). The large-area chondrocyte scaffolds have holes with interior angles of triangle (T), quadrilateral (Q), pentagon (P), hexagonal (H), and round (R). The FL-MOPL polymerization mechanism, swelling, degradation, and biocompatibility of the BSA-GMA hydrogel have been investigated. Furthermore, cytoskeleton and nucleus staining reveals that the R-scaffold with larger interior angle is more effective in maintaining chondrocyte morphology and preventing dedifferentiation. The scaffold's ability to maintain the chondrocytes' morphology improves as its shape matches that of the chondrocytes. These results suggest that the BSA-GMA scaffold is a suitable candidate for preventing chondrocyte differentiation and supporting cartilage tissue repair and regeneration. The proposed method for chondrocyte in vitro culture by developing biocompatible materials and flexible fabrication techniques would broaden the potential application of chondrocyte transplants as a viable treatment for cartilage-related diseases.

High-concentration bovine serum albumin enhances fertilization ability of cold-stored rat sperm.

Cold transport of the cauda epididymides is a useful technique for shipping laboratory rat sperm. Cold transport of rat sperm avoids potential risks of microbiological infection, animal escape or death, and animal welfare issues. Previously, we reported that a cold-storage solution containing dimethyl sulfoxide and quercetin maintained the fertility of cold-stored rat sperm. However, cold-stored rat sperm exhibited a decreased fertilization rate after 24-h storage. To recover the fertility of cold-stored sperm, we focused on the effects of bovine serum albumin (BSA), a cholesterol acceptor that induces sperm capacitation. We sought to determine the optimal concentration of BSA in fertilization medium based on the fertility of cold-stored rat sperm. High concentrations of BSA (40 mg/ml) enhanced the fertilization rate of cold-stored rat sperm and maintained sperm fertility for 144 h. Embryos derived from cold-stored and BSA-treated sperm normally developed into pups after embryo transfer. In summary, high BSA concentrations enhanced the fertility of cold-stored rat sperm and prolonged the storage period to 144 h, thereby expanding the transportable region for genetically engineered rats.

In vitro characteristics of X- and Y-bearing ram spermatozoa sorted by bovine serum albumin (BSA) column and TLR7/8 ligand R848.

The quality of the separated fractions in sex-sorted semen is very important for the success of the artificial insemination. This study aimed to evaluate some in vitro characteristics (DNA quantity, kinematic parameters and enzymes activity) of X- and Y-bearing ram spermatozoa sorted by bovine serum albumin (BSA) column and toll-like receptors (TLR)7/8 ligand R848. The ejaculates from six rams were collected by artificial vagina and subjected to a computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). Total motility and percentage of the sperms with rapid and medium progressivity or non-progressivity in whole ejaculates and in X and Y fractions were analyzed. Activity of the enzymes ALP, GGT, CK, LDH and accumulation of lactate in the seminal plasma of ejaculates and in the environmental fluid of sexed spermatozoa were measured by biochemical analyzer. DNA was isolated from precipitated spermatozoa, and its quantity was measured. For both protocols the DNA mass from X-bearing fractions was higher, than from Y-bearing fractions. The high total motility of X- and Y-bearing spermatozoa as well as greater percent sperms with progressive motility were observed after use of BSA protocol. The application of TLR7/8 ligand R848 protocol led to reducing of Y-sperm motility and enhancement of non-progressivity in both fractions, which corresponded to the determined high amount of the extracellular lactate. For both methods, the significantly reduced activity of enzymes in the X and Y spermatozoa environmental fluids was established. Both protocols produce X- and Y-sperm fractions with satisfactory quality (over 80% total motility and over 50% rapid and medium progressive spermatozoa in each fraction).

Diosgenin protects against cationic bovine serum albumin-induced membranous glomerulonephritis by attenuating oxidative stress and renal inflammation via the NF-κB pathway.

CONTEXT: Membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) is a leading cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Diosgenin (DG) has been reported to exert antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the renoprotective activity of DG in a cationic bovine serum albumin-induced rat model of MGN. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups. The MGN model was established and treated with a DG dose (10 mg/kg) and a positive control (TPCA1, 10 mg/kg), while normal control and MGN groups received distilled water by gavage for four consecutive weeks. At the end of the experiment, 24 h urinary protein, biochemical indices, oxidation and antioxidant levels, inflammatory parameters, histopathological examination, immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting were evaluated. RESULTS: DG significantly ameliorated kidney dysfunction by decreasing urinary protein (0.56-fold), serum creatinine (SCr) (0.78-fold), BUN (0.71-fold), TC (0.66-fold) and TG (0.73-fold) levels, and increasing ALB (1.44-fold). DG also reduced MDA (0.82-fold) and NO (0.83-fold) levels while increasing the activity of SOD (1.56-fold), CAT (1.25-fold), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (1.55-fold) and GSH (1.81-fold). Furthermore, DG reduced Keap1 (0.76-fold) expression, Nrf2 nuclear translocation (0.79-fold), and induced NQO1 (1.25-fold) and HO-1 (1.46-fold) expression. Additionally, DG decreased IL-2 (0.55-fold), TNF-α (0.80-fold) and IL-6 (0.75-fold) levels, and reduced protein expression of NF-κB p65 (0.80-fold), IKKß (0.93-fold), p-IKKß (0.89-fold), ICAM-1 (0.88-fold), VCAM-1 (0.91-fold), MCP-1 (0.88-fold) and E-selectin (0.87-fold), and also inhibited the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 (0.64-fold). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a potential therapeutic benefit of DG against MGN due to the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, supporting the need for further clinical trials.

Differential role of bovine serum albumin and HCO3- in the regulation of GSK3 alpha during mouse sperm capacitation.

To become fertile, mammalian sperm are required to undergo capacitation in the female tract or in vitro in defined media containing ions (e.g. HCO3 -, Ca2+, Na+, and Cl-), energy sources (e.g. glucose, pyruvate) and serum albumin (e.g. bovine serum albumin (BSA)). These different molecules initiate sequential and concomitant signaling pathways, leading to capacitation. Physiologically, capacitation induces changes in the sperm motility pattern (e.g. hyperactivation) and prepares sperm for the acrosomal reaction (AR), two events required for fertilization. Molecularly, HCO3 - activates the atypical adenylyl cyclase Adcy10 (aka sAC), increasing cAMP and downstream cAMP-dependent pathways. BSA, on the other hand, induces sperm cholesterol release as well as other signaling pathways. How these signaling events, occurring in different sperm compartments and with different kinetics, coordinate among themselves is not well established. Regarding the AR, recent work has proposed a role for glycogen synthase kinases (GSK3α and GSK3ß). GSK3α and GSK3ß are inactivated by phosphorylation of residues Ser21 and Ser9, respectively, in their N-terminal domain. Here, we present evidence that GSK3α (but not GSK3ß) is present in the anterior head and that it is regulated during capacitation. Interestingly, BSA and HCO3 - regulate GSK3α in opposite directions. While BSA induces a fast GSK3α Ser21 phosphorylation, HCO3 - and cAMP-dependent pathways dephosphorylate this residue. We also show that the HCO3--induced Ser21 dephosphorylation is mediated by hyperpolarization of the sperm plasma membrane potential (Em) and by intracellular pH alkalinization. Previous reports indicate that GSK3 kinases mediate the progesterone-induced AR. Here, we show that GSK3 inhibition also blocks the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin-induced AR, suggesting a role for GSK3 kinases downstream of the increase in intracellular Ca2+ needed for this exocytotic event. Altogether, our data indicate a temporal and biphasic GSK3α regulation with opposite actions of BSA and HCO3 -. Our results also suggest that this regulation is needed to orchestrate the AR during sperm capacitation.

Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) based smart nanofibrous scaffolds for use as on-demand delivery systems for oral and dental tissue regeneration.

Stimuli-responsive domains capable of releasing loaded molecules, "on-demand," have garnered increasing attention due to their enhanced delivery, precision targeting, and decreased adverse effects. The development of an on-demand delivery system that can be easily triggered by dental clinicians might have major roles in dental and oral tissue engineering. A series of random graft poly(NIPAm-co-HEMA-Lactate) copolymers were synthesized using 95:5, 85:5, 60:40, and 40:60 ratios of thermosensitive NIPAm and HEMA-poly lactate respectively then electrospun to produce nanofibrous scaffolds loaded with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Cumulative BSA release was assessed at 25C and 37°C. To appraise the use of scaffolds as on-demand delivery systems, they were subjected to thermal changes in the form cooling and warming cycles during which BSA release was monitored. To confirm the triggered releasing ability of the synthesized scaffolds, the copolymer made with 60% NIPAm was selected, based on the results of the release tests, and loaded with bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). The loaded scaffolds were placed with mesenchymal-like stem cells (iMSCs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and subjected to temperature alterations. Then, the osteogenic differentiation of iMSCs, which might have resulted from the released protein, was evaluated after 10 days by analyzing runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX-2) osteogenic gene expression by the cells using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). BSA release profiles showed a burst release at the beginning followed by a more linear pattern at 25°C, and a much slower release at 37°C. The release also decreased when the PNIPAm content decreased in the scaffolds. Thermal triggering led to a step-like release pattern in which the highest release was reported 30 min through the warming cycles. The iMSCs cultivated with scaffolds loaded with BMP-2 and exposed to temperature alteration showed significantly higher RUNX-2 gene expression than cells in the other experimental groups. The synthesized scaffolds are thermo-responsive and could be triggered to deliver biological biomolecules to be used in oral and dental tissue engineering. Thermal stimuli could be simulated by dental clinicians using simple means of cold therapy, for example, cold packs in intraoral accessible sites for specified times.

Protective effects of l-cysteine and N-acetyl-l-cysteine on boar sperm quality during hypothermic liquid storage with bovine serum albumin as a protectant.

Hypothermic liquid storage at 4-5 °C has emerged as a novel approach for preserving boar semen, offering innovative possibilities for semen preservation. However, this method also presents challenges, including cold shock and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Therefore, reducing oxidative damage induced by low temperatures becomes essential while supplementing appropriate protectants. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) compared to Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and Skim Milk Powder (SMP) in maintaining boar sperm motility and progressive motility using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Among the tested concentrations, 4 g/L of BSA exhibited the best protective effect. Subsequently, we supplemented different concentrations of l-cysteine (LC) and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) as additives in the presence of BSA as a protectant. Our results demonstrated that 1 mmol/L of LC and 0.5 mmol/L of NAC exhibited superior protection of sperm quality compared to other concentrations. Furthermore, the 1 mmol/L LC and 0.5 mmol/L NAC groups showed significantly improved plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity compared to the control group. These groups also exhibited enhanced antioxidant capacity, evidenced by increased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP production, total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and GPX-4 levels. Additionally, they demonstrated decreased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as reduced oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and glutathione reductase (GR) levels. Furthermore, LC and NAC treatment enhanced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. However, inhibiting AMPK using compound C did not inhibit the protective effects of LC and NAC on low-temperature preserved boar sperm. These findings suggest that 4 g/L BSA can serve as an effective protectant for hypothermic liquid storage of boar semen. Additionally, LC and NAC supplementation reduces oxidative damage by enhancing antioxidant capacity rather than through AMPK-mediated ATP supplementation. These results contribute to advancing the application of LC and NAC in hypothermic liquid storage of boar semen.

Celastrol-loaded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles target inflamed neutrophils for improved rheumatoid arthritis therapy.

Inflammatory neutrophils (INEs), motivated by cytokines, continue to migrate into the inflamed joints, driving the development of RA. Hence, inducing apoptosis of INEs to reduce recruitment at inflamed joints is an effective strategy for the treatment of RA. However, simply apoptotic INEs may trigger the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and accelerate the inflammatory process. To overcome these drawbacks, an RGD-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles (CBR NPs) was fabricated to selectively target INEs in situ for intracellular delivery of CLT. Studies have demonstrated that CBR NPs can selectively target circulating INEs and induce INEs apoptosis. Meanwhile, CBR NPs inhibited the activation of NETs via NF-κB pathway and the release of Cit-H3 thereby blocking the release process of NETs. In collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model, CBR NPs suppressed the inflammatory response, and reduced the toxic effects of CLT. In summary, this study shed light on an innovative approach to treat RA by inducing apoptosis of circulating INEs and inhibiting NETs. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: RGD-modified bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles for delivering celastrol, abbreviated as CBR NPs, were constructed to inhibit the infiltration of circulating inflammatory neutrophils (INEs) into inflamed joints while inhibiting the release of NETs to alleviate tissue damage. CBR NPs were prepared for the first time to induce apoptosis of INEs; CBR NPs could inhibit the release of NETs while inducing apoptosis of INEs in vivo and vitro cellular experiments; CBR NPs had favorable anti-inflammatory effects and low toxicity side-effects in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse models. The application of nanotechnology to induce apoptosis of INEs while inhibiting the release of NETs was a promising approach for the treatment of RA.

Functionalisation of brush polyethylene glycol polymers with specific lipids extends their elimination half-life through association with natural lipid trafficking pathways.

Polymeric prodrugs have been applied to control the delivery of various types of therapeutics. Similarly, conjugation of peptide therapeutics to lipids has been used to prolong systemic exposure. Here, we extend on these two approaches by conjugating brush polyethylene glycol (PEG) polymers with different lipid components including short-chain (1C2) or medium-chain (1C12) monoalkyl hydrocarbon tails, cholesterol (Cho), and diacylglycerols composed of two medium-chain (2C12) or long-chain (2C18) fatty acids. We uniquely evaluate the integration of these lipid-polymers into endogenous lipid trafficking pathways (albumin and lipoproteins) and the impact of lipid conjugation on plasma pharmacokinetics after intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) dosing to cannulated rats. The IV and SC elimination half-lives of Cho-PEG (13 and 22 h, respectively), 2C12-PEG (11 and 17 h, respectively) and 2C18-PEG (12 h for both) were prolonged compared to 1C2-PEG (3 h for both) and 1C12-PEG (4 h for both). Interestingly, 1C2-PEG and 1C12-PEG had higher SC bioavailability (40 % and 52 %, respectively) compared to Cho-PEG, 2C12-PEG and 2C18-PEG (25 %, 24 % and 23 %, respectively). These differences in pharmacokinetics may be explained by the different association patterns of the polymers with rat serum albumin (RSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lipoproteins. For example, in pooled plasma (from IV pharmacokinetic studies), 2C18-PEG had the highest recovery in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction. In conclusion, the pharmacokinetics of brush PEG polymers can be tuned via conjugation with different lipids, which can be utilised to tune the elimination half-life, biodistribution and effect of therapeutics for a range of medical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Lipidation of therapeutics such as peptides has been employed to extend their plasma half-life by promoting binding to serum albumin, providing protection against rapid clearance. Here we design and evaluate innovative biomaterials consisting of brush polyethylene glycol polymers conjugated with different lipids. Importantly, we show for the first time that lipidated polymeric materials associate with endogenous lipoprotein trafficking pathways and this, in addition to albumin binding, controls their plasma pharmacokinetics. We find that conjugation to dialkyl lipids and cholesterol leads to higher association with lipid trafficking pathways, and more sustained plasma exposure, compared to conjugation to short and monoalkyl lipids. Our lipidated polymers can thus be utilised as delivery platforms to tune the plasma half-life of various pharmaceuticals.

Impact on canine neutrophil preservation with the addition of bovine serum albumin to K3 -EDTA whole blood samples.

BACKGROUND: Cellular deterioration occurs with blood sample aging, impacting white blood cell (WBC) identification and differential accuracy. This may be exacerbated in samples from patients experiencing inflammation. Previously, bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been shown to improve cellular preservation of blood and other samples, but the effect on cell preservation in canine blood has not been assessed. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine the effects of BSA on neutrophil nuclear area when added to potassium ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (K3 -EDTA)-anticoagulated canine blood prior to blood smear preparation. We evaluated the impact of inflammatory leukograms, sample storage temperatures (4° and 20°C), and time on outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Canine K3 -EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples stored at 4° and 20°C were used from unique patients, 10 with and 10 without inflammatory leukograms. Blood smears were prepared from aliquots with or without the addition of 22% BSA at 0, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. The nuclear area was measured for 25 randomly selected neutrophils per slide using Fiji software. Mixed-effect linear regression modeling was performed (significance: P < 0.05). RESULTS: Nuclear area increased over time with and without added BSA. Both sample storage temperatures and the presence or absence of an inflammatory leukogram significantly impacted neutrophil nuclear area. Samples with added BSA had slightly higher predicted nuclear areas than those without BSA, but this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: BSA did not significantly impact neutrophil nuclear area and did not improve neutrophil preservation in canine blood samples.

Media component bovine serum albumin facilitates the formation of mycobacterial biofilms in response to reductive stress.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) forms physiologically relevant biofilms harboring drug-tolerant bacteria. This observation has brought the study of mycobacterial biofilms to the forefront of tuberculosis research. We established earlier that dithiothreitol (DTT) mediated reductive stress induces cellulose-rich biofilm formation in Mtb cultures. The molecular events associated with the DTT-induced biofilm formation are not known. Furthermore, there are only limited tools for monitoring the presence of cellulose in biofilms. RESULTS: To decipher the molecular events associated with DTT-induced biofilm formation, we used Mtb and non-pathogenic, fast-growing Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm). We observed that DTT induces biofilm formation in Msm cultures. We explored whether media components facilitate biofilm formation in mycobacteria upon exposure to DTT. We observed that media component bovine serum albumin promotes mycobacterial biofilm formation in response to DTT. Furthermore, we analyzed the composition of extracellular polymeric substances of Msm biofilms. We found that, like Mtb biofilms, Msm biofilms are also rich in polysaccharides and proteins. We also developed a novel protein-based molecular probe for imaging cellulose by utilizing the cellulose-binding domain of cellulase CenA from Cellulomonas fimi and fusing it to fluorescent reporter mCherry. Characterization of this new probe revealed that it has a high affinity for cellulose and could be used for visualizing cellulose biosynthesis during the development of Agrobacterium biofilms. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that biological macromolecule cellulose is present in the extracellular polymeric substances of Msm biofilms using this novel probe. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that DTT-mediated reduction of media component BSA leads to the formation of nucleating foci. These nucleating foci are critical for subsequent attachment of bacterial cells and induction of EPS production. Furthermore, this new tool, IMT-CBD-mC, could be used for monitoring cellulose incorporation in plant cells, understanding cellulose biosynthesis dynamics during biofilm formation, etc.

Therapeutic efficacy of albendazole and berberine loaded on bovine serum albumin nanoparticles on intestinal and muscular phases of experimental trichinellosis.

There has been no treatment for trichinellosis until now. Therefore, this work targeted to investigating the efficacy of albendazole and berberine alone and loaded on bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles against intestinal and muscular phases of trichinellosis in mice. Mice were divided into nine different groups: negative control, positive control, blank nanoparticle, albendazole, berberine, a combination of albendazole and berberine, albendazole-loaded nanoparticle, berberine-loaded nanoparticle and combination of albendazole and berberine-loaded nanoparticle. Subsequently, they were sacrificed 6 and 35 days after infection. Treatment efficacies were parasitologically, histopathologically and, immunohistochemically assessed. Parasitological counting for the adult worms and encysted larvae with histopathological assessment using H&E for intestinal and muscular sections and picrosirius red stain for muscular sections were used. Also, immunohistochemical expression of the intestinal nod-like receptor-pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) was investigated. The group treated with nano_combined drugs showed a statistically significant reduction in adult and encysted larval count (p<0.005), a remarkable improvement of intestinal and muscular inflammation, and a reduction in the capsular thickness of the larvae. Also, this group showed the highest reduction of NLRP3 expression. This work revealed that berberine might be a promising anti-trichinellosis drug with a synergistic effect when combined with albendazole through modulation of the immune response, inflammation, and larva capsule formation. Furthermore, delivering both drugs in a nanoparticle form improves their therapeutic response.

Dimethyl-α-cyclodextrin induces capacitation by removing phospholipids from the plasma membrane of mouse sperm†.

Capacitation is an important event in the completion of fertilization by mammalian sperm. Cholesterol efflux is a trigger of capacitation. In general, cholesterol acceptors of albumin and ß-cyclodextrins are used to induce capacitation during in vitro fertilization. Previously, we reported that methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (MBCD), which is composed of seven glucoses, had a higher ability to induce capacitation than bovine serum albumin (BSA) in frozen-thawed mouse sperm. Comparison of albumin and cyclodextrins is helpful for understanding the mechanism of capacitation. In this study, we examined the effects of albumin, MBCD, and a different type of cyclodextrin, dimethyl-α-cyclodextrin (DMACD), which is composed of six glucoses, on several events of sperm capacitation. We showed that DMACD induced sperm capacitation and promoted fertilization ability. The time required to increase the fertilization rate differed among BSA, MBCD, and DMACD. BSA and MBCD enhanced cholesterol and phospholipid efflux, whereas DMACD enhanced only phospholipid efflux. BSA, MBCD, and DMACD increased sperm membrane fluidity, rearrangement of the lipid raft, and the acrosome reaction. These findings suggest that phospholipid efflux is a novel trigger of capacitation. Increasing the choice of sperm capacitation inducers may be useful for improving in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques not only in mice, but also in various species in which it has been difficult to produce embryos by IVF.

Gallium Metal-Organic Nanoparticles with Albumin-Stabilized and Loaded Graphene for Enhanced Delivery to HCT116 Cells.

Background: Gallium (III) metal-organic complexes have been shown to have the ability to inhibit tumor growth, but the poor water solubility of many of the complexes precludes further application. The use of materials with high biocompatibility as drug delivery carriers for metal-organic complexes to enhance the bioavailability of the drug is a feasible approach. Methods: Here, we modified the ligands of gallium 8-hydroxyquinolinate complex with good clinical anticancer activity by replacing the 8-hydroxyquinoline ligands with 5-bromo-8-hydroxyquinoline (HBrQ), and the resulting Ga(III) + HBrQ complex had poor water solubility. Two biocompatible materials, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and graphene oxide (GO), were used to synthesize the corresponding Ga(III) + HBrQ complex nanoparticles (NPs) BSA/Ga/HBrQ NPs and GO/Ga/HBrQ NPs in different ways to enhance the drug delivery of the metal complex. Results: Both of BSA/Ga/HBrQ NPs and GO/Ga/HBrQ NPs can maintain stable existence in different solution states. In vitro cytotoxicity test showed that two nanomedicines had excellent anti-proliferation effect on HCT116 cells, which shown higher level of intracellular ROS and apoptosis ratio than that of cisplatin and oxaliplatin. In addition, the superior emissive properties of BSA/Ga/HBrQ NPs and GO/Ga/HBrQ NPs allow their use for in vivo imaging showing highly effective therapy in HCT116 tumor-bearing mouse models. Conclusion: The use of biocompatible materials for the preparation of NPs against poorly biocompatible metal-organic complexes to construct drug delivery systems is a promising strategy that can further improve drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy.

Mussel inspired multifunctional bovine serum albumin (BSA) coatings loaded with Baicalein (BAI) to enhance osteogenesis and resist oxidative stress for potential application on implant.

Oxidative stress is associated with most traumatic or pathological bone defects, and seriously affects the effect of implantation. The construction of antioxidative and osteogenic coatings is of great significance to accelerate the bone regeneration of implants. In this study, baicalein (BAI), a nature flavonoid drug, was loaded in bovine serum albumin (BSA) by desolvent method to prepare BAI-BSA composite protein, and tannic acid (TA)/BAI-BSA coatings were further built via layer by layer self-assembly technology. BAI-BSA possesses good biocompatibility that showed no cytotoxicity to osteoblasts and erythrocytes, and helps to enhance the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and promote the formation of osteogenic mineralized calcium nodules. After assembled with TA, BAI-BSA coating significantly promoted cell adhesion and in vitro osteogenic mineralization of MC3T3-E1. Moreover, BAI drug loading improved the antioxidative function of BSA coatings effectively. The scavenging rates of (TA/BAI-BSA-10)4 for ABTS+• and DPPH• free radicals were 69.6 ± 16.1 % and 53.4 ± 2.4 %, respectively. At cellular level, the TA/BAI-BSA coating effectively inhibited the impact of oxidative stress on the oxidative damage of osteoblasts. The drug-loaded protein coatings possess both great antioxidative and osteogenic functions, which have important potential in the field of bone repair.

The influence of several nutritional supplements on the rational use of cabozantinib.

To promote the rational use of cabozantinib (CBZ), this paper studied the influence of several nutritional supplements on the interaction between CBZ and bovine serum albumin (BSA), an appropriate alternative model for human serum albumin (HSA) that is one of the important transporter proteins in plasma, by fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. The results showed that CBZ could quench the fluorescence of BSA via a dynamic-static quenching process, and the six nutritional supplements did not change the quenching mode of BSA by CBZ. However, all of them could reduce the binding constant of the CBZ-BSA system at 293 K and increase the polarity around tryptophan residues. Among them, nicotinamide and vitamin B12 (VB12 ) had a greater effect on the binding constants of the CBZ-BSA system. In the meantime, the thermodynamic parameters of the CBZ-BSA system were examined, indicating that the interaction of CBZ with BSA was spontaneous and dominated by hydrophobic forces. Further research discovered that the combining of CBZ with BSA was primarily located within Site I of BSA, and the binding distance r was 2.48 nm. Consequently, while taking CBZ, patients should use VB12 and nicotinamide carefully, which may interfere with the transport of drugs.

The Effects of BSA-Stabilized Selenium Nanoparticles and Sodium Selenite Supplementation on the Structure, Oxidative Stress Parameters and Selenium Redox Biology in Rat Placenta.

The chemical element selenium (Se) is a nonmetal that is in trace amounts indispensable for normal cellular functioning. During pregnancy, a low Se status can increase the risk of oxidative stress. However, elevated concentrations of Se in the body can also cause oxidative stress. This study aimed to compare the effects of BSA-stabilized Se nanoparticles (SeNPs, Se0) (BSA-bovine serum albumin) and inorganic sodium selenite (NaSe, Se+4) supplementation on the histological structure of the placenta, oxidative stress parameters and the total placental Se concentration of Wistar rats during pregnancy. Pregnant females were randomized into four groups: (i) intact controls; (ii) controls that were dosed by daily oral gavage with 8.6% bovine serum albumin (BSA) and 0.125 M vit C; (iii) the SeNP group that was administered 0.5 mg of SeNPs stabilized with 8.6% BSA and 0.125 M vit C/kg bw/day by oral gavage dosing; (iv) the NaSe group, gavage dosed with 0.5 mg Na2SeO3/kg bw/day. The treatment of pregnant females started on gestational day one, lasted until day 20, and on day 21 of gestation, the fetuses with the placenta were removed from the uterus. Our findings show that the mode of action of equivalent concentrations of Se in SeNPs and NaSe depended on its redox state and chemical structure. Administration of SeNPs (Se0) increased fetal lethality and induced changes in the antioxidative defense parameters in the placenta. The accumulation of Se in the placenta was highest in SeNP-treated animals. All obtained data indicate an increased bioavailability of Se in its organic nano form and Se0 redox state in comparison to its inorganic sodium selenite form and Se+4 redox state.

Polyvinyl alcohol, but not bovine serum albumin, promotes the induction of full-type hyperactivation in boar cyclic AMP analog-treated spermatozoa.

This study aimed to verify the effects of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the induction of full-type hyperactivation in boar spermatozoa treated with a cyclic AMP analog (cBiMPS). Washed spermatozoa were treated with cBiMPS (100 µM) for 180 min. As shown in the assessment of sperm motility, PVA (0.05%-0.4%) significantly promoted the induction of full-type hyperactivation, whereas BSA (0.025%-0.4%) did not affect the induction. In comparative experiments, BSA (0.4%) effectively promoted the induction of full-type hyperactivation in bovine spermatozoa treated with cBiMPS, calyculin A (a protein phosphatase inhibitor), and digoxin (a Na+ /K+ -ATPase inhibitor), while PVA (0.1%) did not affect the induction. Western blotting showed that protein tyrosine phosphorylation states of >50 kDa sperm proteins were effectively enhanced by treatment with cBiMPS in the PVA/BSA-free medium and not affected by the addition of PVA (0.1%). The assessment of plasma membrane integrity indicated that BSA (0.4%) significantly decreased spermatozoa with intact plasma membranes. These results indicate that PVA (0.1%) promotes the induction of full-type hyperactivation and does not influence the protein tyrosine phosphorylation states in boar cBiMPS-treated spermatozoa. They also suggest that BSA should not be added to medium containing cBiMPS for boar spermatozoa.

A theranostic metallodrug modulates immunovascular crosstalk to combat immunosuppressive liver cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant, fatal disease with a complex tumor microenvironment (TME) characterized by severe immunosuppression and malformed vascular structures, thus most advanced HCC patients do not respond well to current mainstream pharmacotherapy and T-cell-related immunotherapy. Therefore, an efficient immunovascular crosstalk modulation strategy may help combat HCC by reversing immunosuppression and vessel normalization, especially by reprogramming tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). In this study, tyrosine kinase inhibitor lenvatinib (Len) was loaded into mesoporous Fe3O4 (mFe) nanoparticles (NPs), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was attached to the NP surface to produce a metallodrug (BSA-mFe@Len NPs). In acidic TME, BSA allowed pH-responsive Len release and mFe exposure. Len directly triggered HCC apoptosis and changed the abnormal TME via vessel normalization, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte recruitment, and regulatory T-cell elimination at tailored dosages. After TAM phagocytosis, mFe NPs reprogrammed TAMs into M1 phenotypes to synergistically amplify antitumor immunity. The metallodrug achieved significant tumor growth inhibition, induced tumor vessel normalization effects, and acquired instant antitumor immunity as well as long-term immune memory in vivo. Furthermore, it displayed good T2 weighted magnetic resonance imaging performance, indicating potential theranostic applications. Collectively, this research provides new insights for unleashing the multifaceted potential of current pharmaceuticals in synergy with metallic nanomedicine for treating intractable liver cancer. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Current pharmacotherapy and immunotherapy have limited success in treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) due to its complex tumor microenvironment (TME). Hence, this work first put forward a theranostic metallodrug by loading lenvatinib (Len) into mesoporous Fe3O4 (mFe) nanoparticles (NPs) and coating a pH-degradable bovine serum albumin corona onto the surface. The metallodrug was able to modulate immunovascular TME for combating HCC via metalloimmunotherapy induced by the mFe NPs and Len's multiple functions (direct triggering of tumor apoptosis, vessel normalization, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte recruitment, and regulatory T-cell elimination). In vivo experiments showed that the metallodrug could significantly inhibit HCC growth and evoke long-term antitumor immune memory, paving a new avenue for treating advanced HCC patients.

Apoptotic Body-Rich Media from Tenocytes Enhance Proliferation and Migration of Tenocytes and Bone Marrow Stromal Cells.

The intrinsic healing following tendon injury is ideal, in which tendon progenitor cells proliferate and migrate to the injury site to directly bridge or regenerate tendon tissue. However, the mechanism determining why and how those cells are attracted to the injury site for tendon healing is not understood. Since the tenocytes near the injury site go through apoptosis or necrosis following injury, we hypothesized that secretions from injured tenocytes might have biological effects on cell proliferation and migration to enhance tendon healing. Tenocyte apoptosis was induced by 24 h cell starvation. Apoptotic body-rich media (T-ABRM) and apoptotic body-depleted media (T-ABDM) were collected from culture media after centrifuging. Tenocytes and bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMDSCs) were isolated and cultured with the following four media: (1) T-ABRM, (2) T-ABDM, (3) GDF-5, or (4) basal medium with 2% fetal calf serum (FCS). The cell activities and functions were evaluated. Both T-ABRM and T-ABDM treatments significantly stimulated the cell proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix synthesis for both tenocytes and BMDSCs compared to the control groups (GDF-5 and basal medium). However, cell proliferation, migration, and extracellular matrix production of T-ABRM-treated cells were significantly higher than the T-ABDM, which indicates the apoptotic bodies are critical for cell activities. Our study revealed the possible mechanism of the intrinsic healing of the tendon in which apoptotic bodies, in the process of apoptosis, following tendon injury promote tenocyte and stromal cell proliferation, migration, and production. Future studies should analyze the components of the apoptotic bodies that play this role, and, thus, the targeting of therapeutics can be developed.