Quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly attracting attention in recent years due to their potential in biological imaging and drug delivery applications. Despite their significant advantages over organic dyes and fluorescent proteins, cytotoxicity is still a major problem in live-cell QD labeling. In this work, in-vitro characterization of a novel CdTe/2MPA quantum dot capped with CdS-DMSA was conducted on human cervical cancer (HeLa) and mouse fibroblast (NIH/3T3) cell lines. Biocompatibility of this novel particle was evaluated in comparison to a commercial quantum dot (Qdot 565) and various QDs with CdTe core. Cytotoxicity of quantum dots was investigated using XTT and proliferation assays. Cellular internalization and localization of particles were studied using confocal laser scanning microscopy. For quantitative determination of internalization and intracellular QD stability, we also performed uptake and cadmium release assays. Optimal cell imaging concentration with CdTe-CdS/2MPA-DMSA was determined as 10-50 ug/mL in HeLa cells. Localization of the internalized QD particles was observed in the perinuclear region of the cells. XTT and proliferation assays provided identical viability results for the tested QDs. CdS-DMSA capping increased cytocompatibility of CdTe/2MPA by 15% in NIH/3T3 cells. Biocompatibility of this capped particle was further increased by 3-folds with pegylation. For pegylated CdTe-CdS/2MPA-DMSA and commercial Qdot 565, we have not observed QD-related cytotoxicity on NIH/3T3 cells following 24-hr QD exposure at 50 ug/mL. Our in-vitro characterization studies indicate that CdTe-CdS/2MPA-DMSA is a promising live-cell imaging probe which can be effectively excited in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Drug delivery systems are designed to achieve low, local doses at the target site. Delivery systems can provide the drug in a continuous manner or in response to environmental stimuli such as temperature, pH or UV. This study aimed to develop photosensitive liposomes that achieve UV-responsive release of their content. The main mechanism was to incorporate a light sensitive molecule into the liposomal bilayer then achieve destabilization of the membrane by exposure to UV. This would result in an on demand release of the bioactive content. Suprofen, a nonstereoidal anti-inflammatory drug, also a light sensitive molecule, was selected to achieve the destabilization in this study. Lipid vesicles were prepared with different ratios of phosphatidyl choline, cholesterol and Suprofen (PC:CHOL:SPF) and characterized in terms of encapsulation efficiency, release rate and responsiveness to UV. Preliminary studies were carried out with calcein (CAL), a fluorescent dye, due to the ease of detection and the in vitro studies were carried out with the cancer drug Cisplatin.

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is one of the most common cancers and is the leading cause of cancer deaths in much of the developed world. Owing to the high incidence of drug resistance and potential toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs, much research is currently underway to design better strategies for smart drug delivery systems. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway is associated with poor prognosis in colon carcinomas. The selective COX-2 inhibitor drug Celecoxib (CLX) has been shown to posses COX-2 independent anti-carcinogenic effects in addition to inhibition of prostaglandins synthesis. The aim of the presented thesis was to develop a liposomal delivery system for CLX and to evaluate functional effects in CRC cell lines. Starting with multilamellar vesicles capable of CLX encapsulation and retention, nano sized liposomes were prepared and characterized in vitro. The optimum composition was determined as 10:1 DSPC: Cholesterol molar ratio and Polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafting at 2% of phospholipids. The extent of cellular association of PEGylated liposome formulation was analyzed quantitatively and cellular localization was analyzed qualitatively. We detected that CLX loaded PEGylated liposomes inhibited proliferation and cellular motility of cancer cells in a 2D model system. Our results showed that, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) targeted CLX loaded immunoliposomes were extremely cytotoxic in cancer cells with high EGFR expression but not in cells devoid of EGFR expression. This delivery system may pioneer studies that may potentially circumvent the harmful systemic side effects of cancer preventive and chemotherapy drugs as well as allow the use of targeted combinatorial therapies.

Thesis (M.S. in Aeronautical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Isaac Kaminer, Vladimir Dobrokhodov. Includes bibliographical references (p. 67). Also available online.

SCREENING FOR ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF SEVERAL MEDICINAL PLANT EXTRACTS AND THEIR EFFECTS ON GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE ACTIVITY ABSTRACT Sagdi&ccedil / oglu Celep, A. G&uuml / l&ccedil / in Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Nursen &Ccedil / oruh May 2005, 154 pages The consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants are known to be associated with a long life span and low incidence of oxidative stress related diseases such as Alzheimer&amp / #8217 / s, Parkinson&amp / #8217 / s, cancer, aging and cardiovascular diseases. Fitotherapeutic effects of medicinal plants is virtually attributable to their phenolic compounds with low cytotoxicity. In this study, plants used in Anatolian folk medicine for their effects such as antiinflammatory, antiulcer, antipyretic, fertility, analgesic and aphrodisiac, namely Aesculus hippocastanum L., Papaver bracteatum L., Urtica urens L., Gundelia tournefortii L., Prangos ferulacea L., Chaerophyllum macropodum Boiss., Heracleum persicum Desf., Allium vineale L., Aconitum cochleare Woroschin, Rheum ribes L., Ferula rigidula DC., Rosa heckeliana Tratt, were screened for their antioxidative effects. Antioxidant characteristics of the specified plants were studied using lipid peroxidation inhibiton and DPPH radical scavenging methods. Total phenolics content and their effects on glutathione-S-transferase activity of the plants were further investigated. Rheum ribes L, Ferula rigidula DC, Rosa heckeliana Tratt., Prangos ferulacea L. were found to be very effective antioxidants and also effective inhibitors for glutathione-S-transferase activities among the plants. Rosa heckeliana Tratt. root extracts exhibited very high total phenolics content (0.7 mg/mg of extract) and antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 11.2 &micro / g/mL and 5.1 &micro / g/mL for DPPH scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition, respectively. Ferula rigidula DC was identified as the most potent inhibitor for glutathione-S-transferase activity, with IC50 values of 49 &micro / g/mL.

No / This article explores the implications for human rights and human security arising from the development and use of weapons employing certain toxic chemicals, termed incapacitating chemical agents (ICAs), ostensibly intended for law enforcement operations. Publicly accessible information clearly indicates that China, Israel and the Russian Federation have acquired or developed ICA weapons, and that such weapons are either in the possession, or have been used by law enforcement or security services, of those countries since the coming into force of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in 1997. Although there is evidence of potentially applicable dual-use research in additional states, the full nature and purpose of such research, in certain states, is unclear as are the intended applications to which it will be put. Following a survey of state practice, existing obligations upon states derived from relevant international law are examined, specifically the CWC and applicable human rights instruments. Whilst existing international law certainly severely constrains and arguably prohibits the development, acquisition and use of such weapons for law enforcement, there are areas of contested interpretation, which need to be urgently addressed by the international community.

S.absconditiflora is one of the endemic Salvia species grown in Turkey, which is consumed as a herbal tea. Because of the presence of high amounts of vesicles on their leaves, S.absconditiflora is very rich in active compounds. S.absconditiflora water extract was investigated for its antioxidant capacity by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were quantified by spectrophotometric methods. LC-MS/MS analyses revealed the presence and quantities of caffeic acid, luteolin rutin and coumaric acid. Cytotoxic effects of water extract of S.absconditiflora on breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) were examined via XTT colorimetric assay and Trypan Dye Exclusion cell viability assay. IC50 values for each cell line at 24 and 48 hours were determined. The results indicated that water extract of leaves of S.absconditiflora could inhibit cell proliferation in MCF-7 and MDA-231 cells in dose dependent but not in time dependent manner. Effects of S.absconditiflora water extract on the expression of glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were investigated with qRT-PCR technique. IC50 values calculated in XTT experiment for 24h incubation was used as cytotoxic extract concentration. It was found that treatment of MCF-7 cells with 1,558 mg/ml of extract enhanced an increase in expression as 2 and 2,8 fold in GSTO1 and GSTZ1 genes, respectively. Treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with 1,131 mg/ml of extract resulted in 1,57 fold increase for GSTO1 and 1,56 fold increase for GSTZ1.

Chemotherapy is one of the common treatments in cancer therapy. The effectiveness of chemotherapy is limited by several factors one of which is the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR). MDR is caused by the activity of diverse ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters that pump drugs out of the cells. There are several drugs which have been used in treatment of cancer. One of them is doxorubicin that intercalates and inhibits DNA replication. However, doxorubicin has been found to cause development of MDR in tumors. It has been reported that there is a correlation between multidrug resistance and invasiveness of cancer cells. Vimentin is a type III intermediate filament protein that is expressed frequently in epithelial carcinomas correlating with invasiveness and also poor prognosis of cancer. There are several studies that have shown the connection between expression level of vimentin and invasiveness. In this study, MCF-7 cell line (MCF-7/S), which is a model cell line for human mammary carcinoma, and doxorubicin resistant MCF-7 cell line (MCF-7/Dox) were used. The resistant cell line was previously obtained by stepwise selection in our laboratory. The main purpose of this study was to investigate changes of metastatic behaviour in MCF-7/Dox cell line, after transient silencing of vimentin gene by siRNA. In conclusion, down-regulation of vimentin gene expression in MCF-7/Dox cell lines was expected to change the characteristics in migration and invasiveness shown by migration and invasion assays.

Complexed microspheres of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (P4VN) and alginic acid were prepared by internal gelation method and subsequent freeze drying. The 4% and 10% microspheres were loaded with Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 (BMP-7), respectively for in vitro studies and were entrapped in PLGA foams. Foams containing only 4%, BMP-2 microspheres, only 10%, BMP-7 microspheres and both populations were prepared. Control samples of each group were prepared with drug free microspheres. Bone marrow derived stem cells from rat femur and tibia isolated by a surgical operation, were seeded onto foams. Proliferation of cells on foams containing both microsphere populations was higher at all time points regardless of the presence of BMPs. This was attributed to different porosity characteristics. Proliferation was higher at all times in control samples in comparison to their positive samples for all groups, suggesting proliferation attenuation related enhancement in osteogenic activity due to BMP supply. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were lower at all time points for foams containing both microsphere populations regardless of BMP presence. This was attributed to different physical characteristics of foams confirmed by the inverse correlation between proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Total and specific ALP activity results demonstrated the significant positive influence of all BMP containing types in enhancing osteogenic differentiation. Best results were obtained with co-administration of sequential delivery performing 4% and 10% microspheres loaded with BMP-2 and BMP-7, respectively.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease characterized by the progressive degradation of articular cartilage. Current strategies for the disease are mainly towards relieving symptoms. This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic potentials of Bone Morphogenetic Protein-9 (BMP-9), Raloxifene (Ral) and Pluronic F-68 (PLF-68) with a three-dimensional in vitro OA model. Articular chondrocytes isolated from rats were cultured in growth media and embedded in agarose to obtain agarose-chondrocyte discs. Dynamic hydrostatic mechanical stress was applied to discs. The discs were incubated with Aza-C for 48 hours for OA development. After its removal, chondrocytes were treated with different doses of BMP-9, Ral and PLF-68 for 10 days. The efficacies of treatments were evaluated by measuring cell number, glycosaminoglycan and collagen amount, and mechanical properties of the v discs. Measurements of these properties were performed with MTT, quantitative colorimetric assays, histochemical staining and mechanical tests, respectively. According to comparative results with healthy groups and controls (osteoarthritic chondrocytes without any treatment), it was found that BMP-9 had negative effect on osteoarthritic chondrocytes. On the other hand, Ral showed positive results related with matrix synthesis and mechanical properties especially at 5 &amp / #956 / M dose suggesting that it holds promise for the treatment of OA. The therapeutic effect of Ral on OA was documented for the first time in literature. The potential of PLF-68 for treatment of OA was also supported by this study considering its positive effects on cell number, collagen synthesis and mechanical properties. Yet, further investigations are also suggested for conclusive results on this agent.