Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die photophysikalische Untersuchung Photosensibilisator-beladener Nanopartikel als Transportsysteme für aktives und passives Tumor-Targeting. Zu diesem Zweck wurden sowohl stationäre, als auch zeitaufgelöste spektroskopische Methoden angewandt. Der erste Teil beschäftigt sich mit der photophysikalischen Charakterisierung von Pheo-HSA-Nanopartikeln. Mittels stationärer und zeitaufgelöster Messungen konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Wechselwirkungen zwischen Phäophorbid a und den HSA-Nanopartikeln sehr stark ist. Diese Wechselwirkungen bewirken eine geringe Singulettsauerstoffquantenausbeute (0,07) in D2O verglichen mit dem von Phäophorbid a in Ethanol (0,52). Im Gegensatz dazu konnte nach der Inkubation in Jurkat- und HT-29-Zellen eine intrazelluläre Singulettsauerstoffgenerierung der Pheo-HSA-NPs nachgewiesen werden. Im zweiten Teil wurden mit den Photosensibilisatoren mTHPP and mTHPC beladene HSA- und PLGA-Nanopartikel untersucht. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Photosensibilisator-Beladungsrate die photophysikalischen Eigenschaften der HSA- und PLGA-Nanopartikel stark beeinflusst. Für die HSA-Nanopartikel dominieren bei geringen Beladungsraten die Wechselwirkungen zwischen HSA und den Photosensibilisatormolekülen. Mit steigender Beladung spielen Wechselwirkungen zwischen den Photosensibilisatormolekülen eine zunehmende Rolle. Diese Wechselwirkungen verringern bei hoher Beladung der HSA-Nanopartikel die Generierung von Singulettsauerstoff. Auch für die PLGA-Nanopartikel konnte mit zunehmender Beladung ein verstärktes Singulettsauerstoffquenching nachgewiesen werden. Im dritten Teil dieser Arbeit wurden, für aktives Targeting von Tumorzellen, Oberflächenmodifizierte PLGA- und HSA-Nanopartikel untersucht. Die intrazellulären Singulettsauerstoffmessungen weisen auf eine erleichterte Aufnahme in Tumorzellen von Antikörper- und PEG-modifizierten HSA-Nanopartikeln in vitro hin. / The main goal of this PhD thesis is the photophysical investigation of biodegradable photosensitizer-nanoparticle carrier systems achieving passive and active tumour targeting strategies. For this purpose both steady state and time-resolved spectroscopic methods accompanied by data analysis were utilized. This work contains three main parts: First the photophysical properties of Pheo-HSA nanoparticles were compared to free pheophorbide a. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence experiments have already proved that the interaction between pheophorbide a and HSA nanoparticles is strong. This interaction leads to low singlet oxygen quantum yield (0.07) in D2O compared to free Pheo (0.52) in ethanol. But when incubated in Jurkat and HT-29 cell lines, Pheo-HSA nanoparticles have been proved to generate singlet oxygen inside cells. In the second part the well-known photosensitizers mTHPP and mTHPC were loaded to HSA- and PLGA- nanoparticles. It was found that the loading ratio determines the photophysical properties of both photosensitizer-loaded HSA and PLGA nanoparticles. For HSA nanoparticles, photosensitizer-nanoparticle interaction is the preferential mechanism in low loading ratio sample. But in high loading ratio sample, photosensitizer-photosensitizer interaction becomes the determining interaction. This interaction prevents singlet oxygen generation from high loading sample. For PLGA nanoparticles, high drug loading ratio also leads to a strong singlet oxygen quenching. At high drug loading ratio PLGA nanoparticles, some photosensitizer molecules may be localized deeply inside PLGA matrices and far away from surface. In the third part of this work, active tumour targeting behaviour achieved by surface modification of HSA and PLGA nanoparticles has been tested. Intracellular singlet oxygen measurement reveals that HSA nanoparticles, both with antibody and PEG surface modification have an enhanced targeting of tumour cells in vitro.

Resumo O presente trabalho teve como objetivo sintetizar e caracterizar um novo complexo trinuclear de rutênio, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, através de rotas sintéticas previamente descritas na literatura para complexos análogos. Para a obtenção deste complexo, foram necessárias cinco etapas de síntese, cada qual gerando o precursor da etapa seguinte. Os complexos precursores [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)3]+, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(CO)] e [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(H2O)]+, foram caracterizados por técnicas espectroscópicas e voltamétricas. Para o complexo de interesse, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, além da caracterização por técnicas espectroscópicas e voltamétricas, foram realizados estudos de fotólise e de interação com albumina de soro humano (HSA). Pelas técnicas espectroscópicas, pudemos ratificar as estruturas propostas tanto para o nitrosilo quanto para os precursores estudados. Para a caracterização do complexo [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, utilizando a técnica de espectroscopia de infravermelho verificamos a coordenação do ligante NO ao centro metálico [Ru3O], devido ao estiramento característico deste ligante. Os espectros de absorção UV-vis e RMN mostraram que existe uma forte interação entre o elétron desemparelhado do centro metálico e o elétron do ligante NO. Pelos estudos de voltametria cíclica, observamos que os processos redox envolvendo o ligante NO, são compartilhados com o centro metálico. A fotólise do complexo [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, mostrou-se eficiente, uma vez que a liberação fotoinduzida do NO ocorreu na região do visível e em pH fisiológico. Pelos estudos de supressão de fluorescência, observamos que o complexo realmente interage com a HSA na proporção de 1:1, na região em que se encontra o resíduo de triptofano. / The aim of the present study was synthesize and characterize a new trinuclear ruthenium complex, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, via synthetic routes previously described in the literature for analogous complexes. To obtain this complex, it took five synthetic steps, each one yielding a precursor for the next step. The precursor complexes [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)3]+, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(CO)] and [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(H2O)]+, were characterized by spectroscopic and voltammetric techniques. For the complex of interest, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, in addition to characterization by spectroscopic and voltammetric studies, it was carried out photolysis and interaction with human serum albumin. By spectroscopic techniques, we could confirm the proposed structures for both the nitrosyl and precursors. For characterization of the complex [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, infrared spectroscopy allowed us to verify that the ligand coordination to the metal center [Ru3O], due to the characteristic stretching band of that ligand. The absorption spectra of UV-vis and NMR showed that there is a strong interaction between the unpaired electron of the metal center and the NO ligand. By cyclic voltammetry studies, we observed that the redox processes involving the NO ligand are shared with the metal center processes. The photolysis of the complex [Ru3O (CH3OO) 6 (3-pic) 2 (NO)] +, was efficient, since the photoinduced release of NO occurred in the visible region and at physiological pH. By fluorescence quenching studies, we observed that the complex actually interacts with the HSA in a 1:1 ratio, in the region which is the residue of tryptophan.

Pharmacodynamic studies are important for the optimal use of antimicrobial agents. Combination antifungal therapy may be one method to improve outcome in invasive Candida infections. An in vitro kinetic model to study the pharmacodynamic effects of a combination of two antifungal agents with different elimination rates was developed and the pharmacodynamics of amphotericin B (AMB), voriconazole (VRC) or the combination was evaluated. Exposure to VRC inhibited the fungicidal activity of sequential doses of AMB against VRC-susceptible strains of C. albicans. The interaction was VRC dose-dependent. AMB activity was regained once VRC was removed or it increased gradually when the concentration of VRC had fallen below the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The VRC-AMB interaction, however, was also present against strains of C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. krusei despite reduced VRC susceptibility. Against these strains the interaction was not predicted by the MIC value, suggesting that mechanisms of resistance may be of importance. Until more data are available, a reasonable recommendation is probably to avoid the sequential use of VRC followed by AMB and to use the combination of VRC and AMB for the treatment of Candida infections with caution. Only the unbound fraction of a drug is generally accepted as pharmacologically active. The activity of posaconazole (POS) with a protein binding of 98-99% was tested in serum against Candida species and compared with the calculated unbound serum concentration in protein-free media. Significant differences emerged at clinically relevant POS serum concentrations of 1.0 and 0.10 mg/l compared with the serum control regimen against one strain of C. lusitaniae. In RPMI 1640 the corresponding calculated unbound concentrations resulted in no effect for the low dose regimen compared with the RPMI 1640 control regimen. Further, against seven additional Candida strains tested, the effect of POS was greater in serum than in RPMI 1640. A flux from serum protein bound to fungal lanosterol 14α-demethylase bound POS may be the explanatory mechanism.

Resumo O presente trabalho teve como objetivo sintetizar e caracterizar um novo complexo trinuclear de rutênio, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, através de rotas sintéticas previamente descritas na literatura para complexos análogos. Para a obtenção deste complexo, foram necessárias cinco etapas de síntese, cada qual gerando o precursor da etapa seguinte. Os complexos precursores [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)3]+, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(CO)] e [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(H2O)]+, foram caracterizados por técnicas espectroscópicas e voltamétricas. Para o complexo de interesse, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, além da caracterização por técnicas espectroscópicas e voltamétricas, foram realizados estudos de fotólise e de interação com albumina de soro humano (HSA). Pelas técnicas espectroscópicas, pudemos ratificar as estruturas propostas tanto para o nitrosilo quanto para os precursores estudados. Para a caracterização do complexo [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, utilizando a técnica de espectroscopia de infravermelho verificamos a coordenação do ligante NO ao centro metálico [Ru3O], devido ao estiramento característico deste ligante. Os espectros de absorção UV-vis e RMN mostraram que existe uma forte interação entre o elétron desemparelhado do centro metálico e o elétron do ligante NO. Pelos estudos de voltametria cíclica, observamos que os processos redox envolvendo o ligante NO, são compartilhados com o centro metálico. A fotólise do complexo [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, mostrou-se eficiente, uma vez que a liberação fotoinduzida do NO ocorreu na região do visível e em pH fisiológico. Pelos estudos de supressão de fluorescência, observamos que o complexo realmente interage com a HSA na proporção de 1:1, na região em que se encontra o resíduo de triptofano. / The aim of the present study was synthesize and characterize a new trinuclear ruthenium complex, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, via synthetic routes previously described in the literature for analogous complexes. To obtain this complex, it took five synthetic steps, each one yielding a precursor for the next step. The precursor complexes [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)3]+, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(CO)] and [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(H2O)]+, were characterized by spectroscopic and voltammetric techniques. For the complex of interest, [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, in addition to characterization by spectroscopic and voltammetric studies, it was carried out photolysis and interaction with human serum albumin. By spectroscopic techniques, we could confirm the proposed structures for both the nitrosyl and precursors. For characterization of the complex [Ru3O(CH3OO)6(3-pic)2(NO)]+, infrared spectroscopy allowed us to verify that the ligand coordination to the metal center [Ru3O], due to the characteristic stretching band of that ligand. The absorption spectra of UV-vis and NMR showed that there is a strong interaction between the unpaired electron of the metal center and the NO ligand. By cyclic voltammetry studies, we observed that the redox processes involving the NO ligand are shared with the metal center processes. The photolysis of the complex [Ru3O (CH3OO) 6 (3-pic) 2 (NO)] +, was efficient, since the photoinduced release of NO occurred in the visible region and at physiological pH. By fluorescence quenching studies, we observed that the complex actually interacts with the HSA in a 1:1 ratio, in the region which is the residue of tryptophan.

No description available.

Background: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells that can differentiate into various cell types and possess immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, making them interesting candidates for therapeutic applications. MSCs are present in small quantities in tissues like bone marrow and therefore need to be expanded while preserving their essential characteristics. They should adhere to plastic, differentiate into osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes and express specific cell surface markers. Currently, the “golden standard” culture media supplement is fetal bovine serum (FBS). However, there is a potential contamination risk of MSCs by xenogeneic and zoonotic infectious agents, which can trigger an immune response. As an alternative, xeno-free serum supplements derived from human sources, e.g., human serum (HS) can be used.  Aim: This study aimed to identify and characterize human bone marrow derived MSCs and examine the effects different supplements have on the cells.  Methods: MSCs were cultured in 10% FBS, 2% FBS and 10% HS for 20 -21 days. Differentiation was induced and the potential was detected with immunocytochemistry. Cell surface markers CD73, CD90, CD105 and CD45 were identified with flow cytometry.  Results and Conclusion: There was no significant difference in morphology, differential potential or immunophenotype between the different serum conditions. However, HS-supplemented culture media resulted in a significantly higher number of cells with 1 x 107 cells after 20 days without affecting their differentiation potential and immunophenotype in comparison to 10% FBS with 2.2 x 106 cells (p=0.0004). MSCs cultured in 2% FBS resulted in the least number of cells (9.9 x 105) after 21 days of expansion.

No description available.

Un groupe d'études épidémiologiques fournit une bonne preuve de la relation inverse associé à la consommation de fruits et légumes et les maladies chroniques important comme maladies cardiovasculaires et certains types de cancers. Après les longues années d'études sur phytomacronutrients, le rôle de phytomicronutrients tels que les polyphénols est désormais très étudiée et appréciée dans le contrôle de ces maladies dégénératives. La présente étude combine les études d'extraction, de synthèse et d'analyse sur les principaux polyphénols des fruits d'agrumes, FLAVANONES. Connaissance de nutritionnels et de santé a augmenté la production d'agrumes en provenance des dernières décennies. Ces productions plus générer des bye-produits. Pour leur utilisation alternative à des antioxydants extraits riches, l'extraction assistée par ultrasons (UAE) des polyphénols en particulier flavanones de l'orange (Citrus sinensis L.) par son peau en utilisant l'éthanol comme solvant de qualité alimentaire a été prouvé son efficacité en comparaison avec la méthode conventionnelle . Un plan composite central (CCD) a révélé que l'approche des conditions optimisées pour UAE ont une température de 40 ° C, une puissance de 150W sonication et un 4:1 (v / v) d'éthanol: ratio de l'eau. En outre, l'activité antioxydante déterminée par les tests DPPH et ORAC a confirmé la pertinence des UAE pour la préparation d'extraits de plantes riches en antioxydants.Les glucuronides de flavanone sont les principaux métabolites phénoliques détectés dans le plasma humain après la consommation d'agrumes. Jusqu'à maintenant, toutes les études sur les cellules liées au cancer ou les maladies cardiovasculaires ont été réalisées soit sur les aglycones ou sur leurs glycosides. Par conséquent, il ya grand besoin de glucuronides flavanone pure pour démontrer le potentiel réel de flavanones dans la prévention de ces maladies. Dans ce travail, glucuronides de naringénine (4'- et 7-O-β-D-glucuronides) et de hespérétine (3'- et 7-O-β-D-glucuronides), les aglycones flavanone majeur dans le pamplemousse et d'orange, respectivement, ont été synthétisés chimiquement par une protection et la déprotection sélective des groupements d'acide glucuronique et de flavanone. La caractérisation structurale complète de composés purifiés a été réalisée par résonance magnétique nucléaire et spectrométrie de masse.L'affinité des quatre glucuronides pour l'albumine sérum d’humaine (HSA) a été testée par leur capacité à éteindre la fluorescence intrinsèque de HSA (Trp, seul résidu de sous-domaine IIA). Leurs constantes de fixation (K) ont été estimées de l'ordre de 30 à 60 × 103 M-1 et comparées à celles de l'aglycones (70 à 90 × 103 M-1). Les enquêtes de la liaison compétitive ou non compétitive de la glucuronides dans la présence de sondes fluorescentes (sarcosine dansyl) nous a permis d'obtenir un aperçu dans les sites de liaison. L'étude a également été étendue aux chalcones hespérétine et naringénine (synthétisés en utilisant des conditions alcalines optimisée), qui sont les précurseurs de biosynthèse des flavanones / A bunch of epidemiological studies provides good evidence on the inverse relationship associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables and the chronic diseases importantly cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancers. After the long years of study on phytomacronutrients, the role of phytomicronutrients such as polyphenols is now highly studied and appreciated in the control of such degenerative diseases. The present study combines the extraction, synthetic and analytical studies on the major polyphenols of citrus fruits, FLAVANONES.Awareness of nutritional and health facts has increased the production of citrus fruits from last few decades. These higher productions generate higher by-products. For their alternative utilisation to have antioxidants rich extracts, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of polyphenols especially flavanones from orange (Citrus sinensis L.) peel by using ethanol as afood grade solvent has been proved its efficiency when compared with the conventional method. A central composite design (CCD) approach revealed that the optimized conditions for UAE were a temperature of 40°C, a sonication power of 150W and a 4:1 (v/v) ethanol:water ratio. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity determined by the DPPH and ORAC tests confirmed the suitability of UAE for the preparation of antioxidant-rich plant extracts. Flavanone glucuronides are the major phenolic metabolites detected in human plasma after consumption of citrus fruits. Up to now all cell studies related to cancer or cardiovascular diseases were conducted either on the aglycones or on their glycosides. Hence, there is great need of pure flavanone glucuronides to demonstrate the real potential of flavanones in the prevention of these diseases. In this work, glucuronides of naringenin (4′- and 7-O-β-D-glucuronides) and hesperetin (3′- and 7-O-β-D-glucuronides), the major flavanone aglycones in grapefruit and orange respectively, have been chemically synthesized by selective protection and deprotection of flavanone and glucuronic acid moieties. The complete structural characterisation of purified compounds were realised by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry.The affinity of the four glucuronides for human serum albumin (HSA) was tested via their ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA (single Trp residue in sub-domain IIA). Their binding constants (K) were estimated in the range of 30 – 60 × 103 M-1 and compared with those of the aglycones (70 – 90 × 103 M-1). Investigations of competitive or noncompetitive binding of the glucuronides in the presence of fluorescent probes (dansyl sarcosine) allowed us to get some insight in the binding sites. The study was also extended to the hesperetin and naringenin chalcones (synthesised using optimized alkaline conditions), which are the biosynthetic precursors of flavanones

L'insuffisance rénale chronique (IRC) est une affection caractérisée par une perte progressive de la fonction rénale. L’IRC est associée à l'accumulation de diverses toxines urémiques. Les toxines urémiques ou solutés de rétention de l'urémie sont des composés qui s'accumulent chez les patients atteints d'IRC en raison d'un défaut de clairance rénale et qui exercent des effets biologiques délétères. Les hémodialyses éliminent mal les toxines urémiques liées aux protéines (PBUT), en raison de leur liaison aux protéines plasmatiques, en particulier la sérumalbumine humaine. En conséquence, les toxines urémiques liées aux protéines s'accumulent chez les patients atteints d'IRC et leur concentration ne peut que difficilement être diminuée chez les patients atteints d'insuffisance rénale terminale (IRT). Mes travaux sont principalement centrés sur les toxines urémiques, en particulier les toxines urémiques liées aux protéines, comme l’indoxyl-sulfate (IS), l'acide phénylacétique (PAA) et le p-crésyl-glucuronide (p-CG); et la zinc-alpha2-glycoprotéine (ZAG) qui est une « middle molécule ». Nous avons étudié le rôle de l'IS dans le développement de la résistance à l'insuline et d'autres troubles métaboliques associés à l'IRC, ainsi que ses effets sur l'inflammation et le stress oxydant. Nous avons exploré les propriétés de liaison du PAA et du p-CG à la sérumalbumine, qui est la plus abondante protéine dans le plasma humain. Enfin, nous avons essayé de développer une nouvelle stratégie d'élimination des PBUT, à l’aide de déplaceurs/compétiteurs chimique. / Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition characterized by progressive loss of kidney function. CKD is associated with the accumulation of various uremic toxins. Uremic toxins or uremic retention solutes are compounds that accumulate in patients with CKD due to impaired renal clearance and exert deleterious biological effects. Protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUT) is poorly removed by hemodialysis because of its binding to plasma proteins, particularly human serum albumin. As a result, protein-bound uremic toxins accumulate in patients with CKD and their concentration can hardly be reduced in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). My work focuses mainly on uremic toxins, particularly protein-bound uremic toxins such as indoxyl-sulfate (IS), phenylacetic acid (PAA) and p-cresyl-glucuronide (p-CG); and zinc-alpha2-glycoprotein (ZAG) which is a "middle molecule". We investigated the role of IS in the development of insulin resistance and other metabolic disorders associated with CKD, as well as its effects on inflammation and oxidative stress. We have investigated the binding properties of PAA and p-CG to serum albumin, which is the most abundant protein in human plasma. Finally, we tried to develop a new strategy to eliminate PBUTs, using chemical displacers / competitors.

<p>This thesis describes the crystal structures of two proteins in the context of combatting bacterial infections. The GA module is a bacterial albumin-binding domain from a surface protein expressed by pathogenic strains of the human commensal bacterium <i>Finegoldia magna</i>. The structure of the GA module in complex with human serum albumin (HSA) provides insights into bacterial immune evasion, where pathogenicity is acquired by the bacterial cell through the ability to coat (and disguise) itself with serum proteins. The structure shows binding of the GA module to HSA in the presence of fatty acids, and reveals interactions responsible for the host range specificity of the invading bacterium. The complex resulting from binding of the GA module to HSA readily forms stable crystals that permit structural studies of drug binding to HSA. This was exploited to study the specific binding of the drug naproxen to the albumin molecule.</p><p>Antibiotics play a major role in controlling infections by attacking invading bacteria. The enzyme deacetylcephalosporin C acetyltransferase (DAC-AT) catalyses the last step in the biosynthesis of the beta-lactam antibiotic cephalosporin C, one of the clinically most important antibiotics in current use. The enzyme uses acetyl coenzyme A as cofactor to acetylate a biosynthetic intermediate. Structures of DAC-AT in complexes with reaction intermediates have been determined. The structures suggest that the acetyl transfer reaction proceeds through a double displacement mechanism, with acetylation of a catalytic serine by the cofactor through a suggested tetrahedral transition state, followed by acetyl transfer to the intermediate through a second suggested tetrahedral transition state. The structure of DAC-AT yields valuable information for the continued study of cephalosporin biosynthesis in the context of developing new beta-lactam compounds.</p>