Oil-based cyclo-oligosaccharide nanodevices for drug encapsulation

Analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: An update for 2017-2018

This review is the tenth update of the original article published in 1999 on the application of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI) mass spectrometry to the analysis of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates and brings coverage of the literature to the end of 2018. Also included are papers that describe methods appropriate to glycan and glycoprotein analysis by MALDI, such as sample preparation techniques, even though the ionization method is not MALDI. Topics covered in the first part of the review include general aspects such as theory of the MALDI process, new methods, matrices, derivatization, MALDI imaging, fragmentation and the use of arrays. The second part of the review is devoted to applications to various structural types such as oligo- and poly-saccharides, glycoproteins, glycolipids, glycosides, and biopharmaceuticals. Most of the applications are presented in tabular form. The third part of the review covers medical and industrial applications of the technique, studies of enzyme reactions, and applications to chemical synthesis. The reported work shows increasing use of combined new techniques such as ion mobility and highlights the impact that MALDI imaging is having across a range of diciplines. MALDI is still an ideal technique for carbohydrate analysis and advancements in the technique and the range of applications continue steady progress.

PTS micelles for the delivery of hydrophobic methotrexate

Polyoxyethanyl-α-tocopheryl sebacate (PTS) is an amphiphilic compound with self-emulsifying properties known to form micelles. In this work, we report the production of PTS micelles for the encapsulation and delivery of a hydrophobic derivative of methotrexate, MTX di-ethylated (MTX-OEt). We optimized the micelles production by testing two different techniques: auxiliary solvent and sonication. Small and homogeneous micelles (≈40 nm) were obtained through the auxiliary solvent method performed at 30 °C and using 15 mg/mL of PTS. The produced micelles with the most promising physicochemical properties did not induce cytotoxicity when tested in normal human cells (BJ5ta cells), being considered for the encapsulation of MTX-OEt. This prodrug was achieved by Fisher esterification using ethanol, being isolated in good yield (η = 68%). MTX-OEt was efficiently encapsulated onto the produced micelles which preserved their physicochemical properties. The PTS micelles loaded with MTX-OEt, free MTX-OEt and free unmodified MTX revealed similar biological effect against cancer cells (Caco-2 cells). These results demonstrated that the biological activity of MTX is not altered after modification. The developed PTS micelles revealed a promising intracellular delivery performance with potentiality for cancer therapy.