Advances in the molecular design of potential anticancer agents via targeting of human telomeric DNA

Telomerases are an attractive drug target to develop new generation drugs against cancer. A telomere appears from the chromosomal termini and protects it from double-stranded DNA degradation. A short telomere promotes genomic instability, like end-to-end fusion and regulates the over-expression of the telomere repairing enzyme, telomerase. The telomerase maintains the telomere length, which may lead to genetically abnormal situations, leading to cancer. Thus, the design and synthesis of an efficient telomerase inhibitor is a viable strategy toward anticancer drugs development. Accordingly, small molecule induced stabilization of the G-quadruplex structure, formed by the human telomeric DNA, is an area of contemporary scientific art. Several such compounds efficiently stabilize the G-quadruplex forms of nucleic acids, which often leads to telomerase inhibition. This Feature article presents the discovery and development of the telomere structure, function and evolution in telomere targeted anticancer drug design and incorporates the recent advances in this area, in addition to discussing the advantages and disadvantages in the methods, and prospects for the future.

Cationic gemini lipids containing polyoxyethylene spacers as improved transfecting agents of plasmid DNA in cancer cells

Lipoplex nano-aggregates have been analyzed through biophysical characterization (electrostatics, structure, size and morphology), and biological studies (transfection efficiency and cell viability) in five cancer cell lines. Lipoplexes were prepared from pEGFP-C3 plasmid DNA (pDNA) and mixed liposomes, constituted by a zwitterionic lipid (DOPE) and a gemini cationic lipid (GCL) synthesized in this work, bis(hexadecyl dimethyl ammonium) oxyethylene], referred to as (C16Am)(2)(C2O)(n), (where n is the oxyethylene spacer length, n = 1, 2 or 3, between the ammonium heads). Cryo-TEM micrographs show nano-aggregates with two multilamellar structures, a cluster-type (at low-to-medium GCL composition) and a fingerprint-type that coexists with the cluster-type at medium GCL composition and appears alone at high GCL composition. SAXS diffractograms show that these lipoplexes present three lamellar structures, two of them coexisting at low and high GCL composition. The optimized transfection efficiency (TE) of pDNA was higher for lipoplexes containing GCLs with a longer (n = 3) or shorter (n = 1) polyoxyethylene spacer, at high GCL composition (alpha - 0.7) with low charge ratio (rho(eff) 2). In the all cancer cell lines studied, the TE of the optimized formulations was much better than those of both lipofectamine 2000 and lipoplexes with GCLs of the bis(hexadecyl dimethyl ammonium) alkane series recently reported. Probably, (a) the coexistence of two lamellar structures at high GCL composition synergizes the TE of these lipid vectors, (b) the orientation of the polyoxyethylene region in (C16Am)(2)(C2O)(3)/DOPE may occur in such a way that the spacing between two cationic heads becomes smaller than that in (C16Am)(2)(C2O)(2)/DOPE which is poor in terms of TE, and (c) the synergistic interactions between serum proteins and (C16Am)(2)(C2O)(n)/DOPE-pDNA lipoplexes containing a polyoxyethylene spacer improve TE, especially at high GCL content. Lipoplexes studied here show very low levels of toxicity, which confirm them as improved vectors of pDNA in gene therapy.

Dual enzyme responsive and targeted nanocapsules for intracellular delivery of anticancer agents

We report the fabrication of dual enzyme responsive hollow nanocapsules which can be targeted to deliver anticancer agents specifically inside cancer cells. The enzyme responsive elements, integrated in the nanocapsule walls, undergo degradation in the presence of either trypsin or hyaluronidase leading to the release of encapsulated drug molecules. These nanocapsules, which were crosslinked and functionalised with folic acid, showed minimal drug leakage when kept in pH 7.4 PBS buffer, but released the drug molecules at a rapid rate in the presence of either one of the triggering enzymes. Studies on cellular interactions of these nanocapsules revealed that doxorubicin loaded nanocapsules were taken up by cervical cancer cells via folic acid receptor medicated endocytosis. Interestingly the nanocapsules were able to disintegrate inside the cancer cells and release doxorubicin which then migrated into the nucleus to induce cell death. This study indicates that these nanocapsules fabricated from biopolymers can serve as an excellent platform for targeted intracellular drug delivery to cancer cells.

alpha-Tocopherol derived lipid dimers as efficient gene transfection agents. Mechanistic insights into lipoplex internalization and therapeutic induction of apoptotic activity

In this report, we present cationic dimeric (gemini) lipids for significant plasmid DNA (pDNA) delivery to different cell lines without any marked toxicity in the presence of serum. Six gemini lipids based on alpha-tocopherol were synthesized, which differed in their spacer chain lengths. Each of these gemini lipids mixed with a helper lipid, 1,2-dioleoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE), was capable of forming stable aqueous suspensions. These co-liposomal systems were examined for their potential to transfect pEGFP-C3 plasmid DNA into nine cell lines of different origins. The transfection efficacies noticed in terms of EGFP expression levels using flow cytometry were well corroborated using independent fluorescence microscopy studies. Significant EGFP expression levels were reported using the gemini co-liposomes, which counted significantly better than one well known commercial formulation, Lipofectamine 2000 (L2 K). Transfection efficacies were also analyzed in terms of the degree of intracellular delivery of labeled plasmid DNA (pDNA) using confocal microscopy, which revealed an efficient internalization in the presence of serum. The cell viability assays performed using optimized formulations demonstrated no significant toxicity towards any of the cell lines used in the study. We also had a look at the lipoplex internalization pathway to profile the uptake characteristics. A caveolae/lipid raft route was attributed to their excellent gene transfection capabilities. The study was further advanced by using a therapeutic p53-EGFP-C3 plasmid and the apoptotic activity was observed using FACS and growth inhibition assay.

An Easy Access to Benzofurans via DBU Induced Condensation Reaction of Active 2-Hydroxy Acetophenones with Phenacyl Chlorides: A Novel Class of Antioxidant Agents

A convenient and efficient one-pot synthesis of benzofurans 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, 3h, 3i, 3j, 3k, 3l, 3m, 3n, 3o, 3p, 3q, 3r, 3s, 3t has been described from 2-hydroxy acetophenones and phenacyl chlorides in the presence of DBU. The procedure was applicable for a variety of phenacyl chlorides and provides a variety of benzofurans with higher yields. DBU acts as a base and as well as nucleophiles. All the derivatives were subjected to in vitro antioxidant screenings against representative 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals and results worth for further investigations.

Synthesis and evaluation of the biological activity of N `-2-oxo-1,2 dihydro-3H-indol-3-ylidene] benzohydrazides as potential anticancer agents

New N'-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-3H-indol-3-ylidene]benzohydrazide derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic properties against murine leukemia, L1210, human leukemia, REH and K562, human T-cell leukemia, CEM and human cervix carcinoma, HeLa cells. Among the tested compounds, the 3,4,5-trimethoxy-N'-5-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-3H-indol-3-ylidene]ben zohydrazide derivative (5t) emerged as the most potent inhibitor against all the tumor cell lines evaluated. To investigate the mechanism of action, 5t was further studied by cell cycle analysis, mitochondrial membrane potential analysis, DNA fragmentation and Annexin V-FITC flow cytometric analysis, which suggested that 5t was able to induce apoptosis at submicromolar range.

RNA nucleosides as chiral sensing agents in NMR spectroscopy

The study reports chiral sensing properties of RNA nucleosides. Adenosine, guanosine, uridine and cytidine are used as chiral derivatizing agents to differentiate chiral 1 degrees-amines. A three component protocol has been adopted for complexation of nucleosides and amines. The chiral differentiating ability of nucleosides is examined for different amines based on the H-1 NMR chemical shift differences of diastereomers (Delta delta(R,S)). Enantiomeric differentiation has been observed at multiple chemically distinct proton sites. Adenosine and guanosine exhibit large chiral differentiation (Delta delta(R,S)) due to the presence of a purine ring. The diastereomeric excess (de) measured by using adenosine is in good agreement with the gravimetric values.

Synthesis and evaluation of 2,5-di(4-aryloylaryloxymethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles as anti-cancer agents

A series of 2,5-di(4-aryloylaryloxymethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles 9a-j were obtained via multistep synthesis from hydroxybenzophenones 4a-e. The cytotoxicity of compounds 9a-j was evaluated against human leukemia cell lilies (K562 and CEM). The compounds exhibited moderate to good anti-cancer activity with compounds 9b and 9i having a chloro group exhibiting the best activity (IC50 = 10 mu M). Compound 9i exhibited activity against both the cell lines and 9b only exhibited activity against CEM. Further, a lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay and DNA fragmentation studies of the compounds 9a-j were also performed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Vacancy-Engineered Nanoceria: Enzyme Mimetic Hotspots for the Degradation of Nerve Agents

Organophosphorus-based nerve agents, such as paraoxon, parathion, and malathion, inhibit acetylcholinesterase, which results in paralysis, respiratory failure, and death. Bacteria are known to use the enzyme phosphotriesterase (PTE) to break down these compounds. In this work, we designed vacancy-engineered nanoceria (VE CeO2 NPs) as PTE mimetic hotspots for the rapid degradation of nerve agents. We observed that the hydrolytic effect of the nano-material is due to the synergistic activity between both Ce3+ and Ce4+ ions located in the active site-like hotspots. Furthermore, the catalysis by nanoceria overcomes the product inhibition generally observed for PTE and small molecule-based PTE mimetics.

Stimuli-responsive protamine-based biodegradable nanocapsules for enhanced bioavailability and intracellular delivery of anticancer agents

Enzyme-and pH-responsive polyelectrolyte nanocapsules having diameters in the range of 200 +/- 20 nm were fabricated by means of Layer-by-Layer assembly of biopolymers, protamine, and heparin, and then loaded with anticancer drug doxorubicin. The incorporation of the FDA-approved peptide drug protamine as a wall component rendered the capsules responsive to enzyme stimuli. The stimuli-responsive drug release from these nanocapsules was evaluated, and further modulation of capsule permeability to avoid premature release was demonstrated by crosslinking the wall components. The interaction of the nanocapsules with cancer cells was studied using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These capsules were readily internalized and disintegrated inside the cells, culminating in the release of the loaded doxorubicin and subsequent cell death as observed by confocal microscopy and MTT Assay. The bioavailability studies performed using BALB/c mice revealed that the encapsulated doxorubicin exhibited enhanced bioavailability compared to free doxorubicin. Our results indicate that this stimuli-responsive system fabricated from clinically used FDA-approved molecules and exhibiting minimal premature release has great potential for drug-delivery applications.

Vacancy-Engineered Nanoceria: Enzyme Mimetic Hotspots for the Degradation of Nerve Agents

Organophosphorus-based nerve agents, such as paraoxon, parathion, and malathion, inhibit acetylcholinesterase, which results in paralysis, respiratory failure, and death. Bacteria are known to use the enzyme phosphotriesterase (PTE) to break down these compounds. In this work, we designed vacancy-engineered nanoceria (VE CeO2 NPs) as PTE mimetic hotspots for the rapid degradation of nerve agents. We observed that the hydrolytic effect of the nano-material is due to the synergistic activity between both Ce3+ and Ce4+ ions located in the active site-like hotspots. Furthermore, the catalysis by nanoceria overcomes the product inhibition generally observed for PTE and small molecule-based PTE mimetics.

Stimuli-responsive protamine-based biodegradable nanocapsules for enhanced bioavailability and intracellular delivery of anticancer agents

Enzyme-and pH-responsive polyelectrolyte nanocapsules having diameters in the range of 200 +/- 20 nm were fabricated by means of Layer-by-Layer assembly of biopolymers, protamine, and heparin, and then loaded with anticancer drug doxorubicin. The incorporation of the FDA-approved peptide drug protamine as a wall component rendered the capsules responsive to enzyme stimuli. The stimuli-responsive drug release from these nanocapsules was evaluated, and further modulation of capsule permeability to avoid premature release was demonstrated by crosslinking the wall components. The interaction of the nanocapsules with cancer cells was studied using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These capsules were readily internalized and disintegrated inside the cells, culminating in the release of the loaded doxorubicin and subsequent cell death as observed by confocal microscopy and MTT Assay. The bioavailability studies performed using BALB/c mice revealed that the encapsulated doxorubicin exhibited enhanced bioavailability compared to free doxorubicin. Our results indicate that this stimuli-responsive system fabricated from clinically used FDA-approved molecules and exhibiting minimal premature release has great potential for drug-delivery applications.

Isolation of mineralizing Nestin+ Nkx6.1+ vascular muscular cells from the adult human spinal cord

Background: The adult central nervous system (CNS) contains different populations of immature cells that could possibly be used to repair brain and spinal cord lesions. The diversity and the properties of these cells in the human adult CNS remain to be fully explored. We previously isolated Nestin(+) Sox2(+) neural multipotential cells from the adult human spinal cord using the neurosphere method (i.e. non adherent conditions and defined medium). -- Results: Here we report the isolation and long term propagation of another population of Nestin(+) cells from this tissue using adherent culture conditions and serum. QPCR and immunofluorescence indicated that these cells had mesenchymal features as evidenced by the expression of Snai2 and Twist1 and lack of expression of neural markers such as Sox2, Olig2 or GFAP. Indeed, these cells expressed markers typical of smooth muscle vascular cells such as Calponin, Caldesmone and Acta2 (Smooth muscle actin). These cells could not differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes, neuronal and glial cells, however they readily mineralized when placed in osteogenic conditions. Further characterization allowed us to identify the Nkx6.1 transcription factor as a marker for these cells. Nkx6.1 was expressed in vivo by CNS vascular muscular cells located in the parenchyma and the meninges. -- Conclusion: Smooth muscle cells expressing Nestin and Nkx6.1 is the main cell population derived from culturing human spinal cord cells in adherent conditions with serum. Mineralization of these cells in vitro could represent a valuable model for studying calcifications of CNS vessels which are observed in pathological situations or as part of the normal aging. In addition, long term propagation of these cells will allow the study of their interaction with other CNS cells and their implication in scar formation during spinal cord injury.

Destruction of Chemical Agents in a Plasma Reactor with Working Gas of Hydrogen