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Gomaa M, Gad W, Hussein D, Pottoo FH, Tawfeeq N, Alturki M, Alfahad D, Alanazi R, Salama I, Aziz M, Zahra A, Hanafy A. Sulfadiazine Exerts Potential Anticancer Effect in HepG2 and MCF7 Cells by Inhibiting TNFα, IL1b, COX-1, COX-2, 5-LOX Gene Expression: Evidence from In Vitro and Computational Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:189. [PMID: 38399404 PMCID: PMC10891904 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Drug repurposing is a promising approach that has the potential to revolutionize the drug discovery and development process. By leveraging existing drugs, we can bring new treatments to patients more quickly and affordably. Anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to target multiple pathways involved in cancer development and progression. This suggests that they may be more effective in treating cancer than drugs that target a single pathway. Cell viability was measured using the MTT assay. The expression of genes related to inflammation (TNFa, IL1b, COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX) was measured in HepG2, MCF7, and THLE-2 cells using qPCR. The levels of TNFα, IL1b, COX-1, COX-2, and 5-LOX were also measured in these cells using an ELISA kit. An enzyme binding assay revealed that sulfadiazine expressed weaker inhibitory activity against COX-2 (IC50 = 5.27 μM) in comparison with the COX-2 selective reference inhibitor celecoxib (COX-2 IC50 = 1.94 μM). However, a more balanced inhibitory effect was revealed for sulfadiazine against the COX/LOX pathway with greater affinity towards 5-LOX (IC50 = 19.1 μM) versus COX-1 (IC50 = 18.4 μM) as compared to celecoxib (5-LOX IC50 = 16.7 μM, and COX-1 IC50 = 5.9 μM). MTT assays revealed the IC50 values of 245.69 ± 4.1 µM and 215.68 ± 3.8 µM on HepG2 and MCF7 cell lines, respectively, compared to the standard drug cisplatin (66.92 ± 1.8 µM and 46.83 ± 1.3 µM, respectively). The anti-inflammatory effect of sulfadiazine was also depicted through its effect on the levels of inflammatory markers and inflammation-related genes (TNFα, IL1b, COX-1, COX-2, 5-LOX). Molecular simulation studies revealed key binding interactions that explain the difference in the activity profiles of sulfadiazine compared to celecoxib. The results suggest that sulfadiazine exhibited balanced inhibitory activity against the 5-LOX/COX-1 enzymes compared to the selective COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib. These findings highlight the potential of sulfadiazine as a potential anticancer agent through balanced inhibitory activity against the COX/LOX pathway and reduction in the expression of inflammatory genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Gomaa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (N.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Wael Gad
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 6860404, Egypt; (W.G.); (M.A.); (A.Z.); (A.H.)
| | - Dania Hussein
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Faheem Hyder Pottoo
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Nada Tawfeeq
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (N.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Mansour Alturki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (N.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Dhay Alfahad
- College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (D.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Razan Alanazi
- College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia; (D.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Ismail Salama
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 8366004, Egypt;
| | - Mostafa Aziz
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 6860404, Egypt; (W.G.); (M.A.); (A.Z.); (A.H.)
| | - Aboelnasr Zahra
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 6860404, Egypt; (W.G.); (M.A.); (A.Z.); (A.H.)
| | - Abeer Hanafy
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 6860404, Egypt; (W.G.); (M.A.); (A.Z.); (A.H.)
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Ghorbani M, Dehghan G, Allahverdi A. Insight into the effect of ibuprofen on the permeability of the membrane: a molecular dynamic simulation study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37982256 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2283151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Studying interactions between drugs and cell membranes is of great interest to designing novel drugs, optimizing drug delivery, and discerning drug mechanism action. In this study, we investigated the physical properties of the bilayer membrane model of POPC upon interaction with ibuprofen (IBU) using molecular dynamics simulations. The area per lipid (APL) was calculated to describe the effect of ibuprofen on the packing properties of the lipid bilayer. The APL was 0.58 nm2 and 0.63 nm2 for the membrane in low and high IBU respectively, and 0.57 nm2 for the membrane without IBU. Our finding showed that the mean square deviation (MSD) increased with increased ibuprofen content. In addition, the order parameter for the hydrocarbon chain of lipids increased with increased ibuprofen content. There was an increment in the transfer free energy after the head group region while it was maximum in the hydrophobic core for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (∼6.2 kcal.mol-1) and H2O (∼3.4 kcal.mol-1) which then decreased to respective values of (∼4.6 kcal.mol-1), and (∼2.3 kcal.mol-1) at the center of the bilayer in the presence of IBU. It seems that in the presence of ibuprofen, the free energy profile of the permeability of water and H2O2 significantly decreased. These findings show that ibuprofen significantly influences the physical properties of the bilayer by decreasing the packing and intermolecular interaction in the hydrocarbon chain region and increasing the water permeability of the bilayer. These results may provide insights into the local cytotoxic side effects of ibuprofen and its underlying molecular mechanisms.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Abdollah Allahverdi
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Ghorbani M, Dehghan G, Allahverdi A. Concentration-dependent mechanism of the binding behavior of ibuprofen to the cell membrane: A molecular dynamic simulation study. J Mol Graph Model 2023; 124:108581. [PMID: 37536233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2023.108581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Ibuprofen is a commonly used drug for treating headaches, pain, and fever. The lipid bilayer is the primary and most important interface for drugs to interact with biological systems. However, the molecular interactions between ibuprofen and the cell membrane are not well understood. Our findings suggest that the interactions between ibuprofen and the bilayer involve multiple steps and depend on the concentration of the drug. At low concentrations of ibuprofen, it can bind to the surface of the lipid bilayer. The electrostatic and vdW energies of IBU-lipid at 0 ns of the simulation were -22.5 ± 3.2 and -5.9 ± 1.2 kj.mol-1 Fig. 2. In the following, the vdW energy of the IBU-lipid was increased by around -134.6 ± 3.7 kj.mol-1 whereas the electrostatic energy of the IBU-lipid was significantly decreased. This binding is facilitated by electrostatic and vdW interactions between ibuprofen and the head group of lipids. In the second step, ibuprofen is inserted into the lipid bilayer and positioned at the interface between the bilayer and the aqueous phase. In high concentrations of ibuprofen, it moved to the central region of the lipid bilayer. At this concentration, the physical and structural properties of the cell membrane change significantly. Results from the radial distribution function analysis indicate that at low concentrations, ibuprofen molecules are situated close to the head groups of phosphate groups. However, at high concentrations of ibuprofen, these molecules move to the inner side of the lipid bilayer. In addition, our findings indicate that at low concentrations of ibuprofen, these molecules did not significantly alter the physical properties of the cell membrane. In contrast, at high concentrations of ibuprofen, the physical parameters of the hydrocarbon tails, such as thickness, fluidity, and order, changed dramatically. APL parameter for POPC membrane increased slightly to 0.60 and 0.63 nm2 in the presence of low and high concentrations of ibuprofen molecules. The three-step interaction between ibuprofen and the lipid bilayer involves several events, such as the movement of ibuprofen molecules towards the central region of the lipid bilayer and the deformation and alteration of the structural and stability properties of the cell membrane. These effects are observed only at high concentrations of ibuprofen. It appears that the side effects of ibuprofen overdose are related to changes in the properties of the cell membrane and, subsequently, the function of membrane-anchored target proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Abdollah Allahverdi
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Biological Sciences Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal Ale Ahmad Highway, P.O. Box: 14115-111, Tehran, Iran.
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Mostofian B, Martin HJ, Razavi A, Patel S, Allen B, Sherman W, Izaguirre JA. Targeted Protein Degradation: Advances, Challenges, and Prospects for Computational Methods. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:5408-5432. [PMID: 37602861 PMCID: PMC10498452 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic approach of targeted protein degradation (TPD) is gaining momentum due to its potentially superior effects compared with protein inhibition. Recent advancements in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors have led to the development of compounds that are currently in human trials, with some showing promising clinical results. However, the use of computational tools in TPD is still limited, as it has distinct characteristics compared with traditional computational drug design methods. TPD involves creating a ternary structure (protein-degrader-ligase) responsible for the biological function, such as ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation, which depends on the spatial orientation of the protein of interest (POI) relative to E2-loaded ubiquitin. Modeling this structure necessitates a unique blend of tools initially developed for small molecules (e.g., docking) and biologics (e.g., protein-protein interaction modeling). Additionally, degrader molecules, particularly heterobifunctional degraders, are generally larger than conventional small molecule drugs, leading to challenges in determining drug-like properties like solubility and permeability. Furthermore, the catalytic nature of TPD makes occupancy-based modeling insufficient. TPD consists of multiple interconnected yet distinct steps, such as POI binding, E3 ligase binding, ternary structure interactions, ubiquitination, and degradation, along with traditional small molecule properties. A comprehensive set of tools is needed to address the dynamic nature of the induced proximity ternary complex and its implications for ubiquitination. In this Perspective, we discuss the current state of computational tools for TPD. We start by describing the series of steps involved in the degradation process and the experimental methods used to characterize them. Then, we delve into a detailed analysis of the computational tools employed in TPD. We also present an integrative approach that has proven successful for degrader design and its impact on project decisions. Finally, we examine the future prospects of computational methods in TPD and the areas with the greatest potential for impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barmak Mostofian
- OpenEye, Cadence Molecular Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts 02114 United States
| | - Holli-Joi Martin
- Laboratory
for Molecular Modeling, Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal
Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 United States
| | - Asghar Razavi
- ENKO
Chem, Inc, Mystic, Connecticut 06355 United States
| | - Shivam Patel
- Psivant
Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts 02210 United States
| | - Bryce Allen
- Differentiated
Therapeutics, San Diego, California 92056 United States
| | - Woody Sherman
- Psivant
Therapeutics, Boston, Massachusetts 02210 United States
| | - Jesus A Izaguirre
- Differentiated
Therapeutics, San Diego, California 92056 United States
- Atommap
Corporation, New York, New York 10013 United States
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Broni E, Ashley C, Velazquez M, Khan S, Striegel A, Sakyi PO, Peracha S, Bebla K, Sodhi M, Kwofie SK, Ademokunwa A, Miller WA. In Silico Discovery of Potential Inhibitors Targeting the RNA Binding Loop of ADAR2 and 5-HT2CR from Traditional Chinese Natural Compounds. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12612. [PMID: 37628792 PMCID: PMC10454645 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2 (ADAR2) is an important enzyme involved in RNA editing processes, particularly in the conversion of adenosine to inosine in RNA molecules. Dysregulation of ADAR2 activity has been implicated in various diseases, including neurological disorders (including schizophrenia), inflammatory disorders, viral infections, and cancers. Therefore, targeting ADAR2 with small molecules presents a promising therapeutic strategy for modulating RNA editing and potentially treating associated pathologies. However, there are limited compounds that effectively inhibit ADAR2 reactions. This study therefore employed computational approaches to virtually screen natural compounds from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) library. The shortlisted compounds demonstrated a stronger binding affinity to the ADAR2 (<-9.5 kcal/mol) than the known inhibitor, 8-azanebularine (-6.8 kcal/mol). The topmost compounds were also observed to possess high binding affinity towards 5-HT2CR with binding energies ranging from -7.8 to -12.9 kcal/mol. Further subjecting the top ADAR2-ligand complexes to molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) calculations revealed that five potential hit compounds comprising ZINC000014637370, ZINC000085593577, ZINC000042890265, ZINC000039183320, and ZINC000101100339 had favorable binding free energies of -174.911, -137.369, -117.236, -67.023, and -64.913 kJ/mol, respectively, with the human ADAR2 protein. Residues Lys350, Cys377, Glu396, Cys451, Arg455, Ser486, Gln488, and Arg510 were also predicted to be crucial in ligand recognition and binding. This finding will provide valuable insights into the molecular interactions between ADAR2 and small molecules, aiding in the design of future ADAR2 inhibitors with potential therapeutic applications. The potential lead compounds were also profiled to have insignificant toxicities. A structural similarity search via DrugBank revealed that ZINC000039183320 and ZINC000014637370 were similar to naringin and naringenin, which are known adenosine deaminase (ADA) inhibitors. These potential novel ADAR2 inhibitors identified herein may be beneficial in treating several neurological disorders, cancers, viral infections, and inflammatory disorders caused by ADAR2 after experimental validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Broni
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Carolyn Ashley
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Miriam Velazquez
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Sufia Khan
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
- Department of Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Andrew Striegel
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biochemistry, College of Science, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Patrick O. Sakyi
- Department of Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 56, Ghana
- Department of Chemical Sciences, School of Sciences, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani P.O. Box 214, Ghana
| | - Saqib Peracha
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Kristeen Bebla
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Monsheel Sodhi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
| | - Samuel K. Kwofie
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, College of Basic & Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra P.O. Box LG 77, Ghana
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra P.O. Box LG 54, Ghana
| | - Adesanya Ademokunwa
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
- Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL 60660, USA
| | - Whelton A. Miller
- Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Loyola University Medical Center, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
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Identification of potential inhibitors of brain-specific CYP46A1 from phytoconstituents in Indian traditional medicinal plants. JOURNAL OF PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2022; 13:227-245. [PMCID: PMC9667835 DOI: 10.1007/s42485-022-00098-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Niosomes: a novel targeted drug delivery system for cancer. MEDICAL ONCOLOGY (NORTHWOOD, LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 39:240. [PMID: 36175809 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-022-01836-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Recently, nanotechnology is involved in various fields of science, of which medicine is one of the most obvious. The use of nanoparticles in the process of treating and diagnosing diseases has created a novel way of therapeutic strategies with effective mechanisms of action. Also, due to the remarkable progress of personalized medicine, the effort is to reduce the side effects of treatment paths as much as possible and to provide targeted treatments. Therefore, the targeted delivery of drugs is important in different diseases, especially in patients who receive combined drugs, because the delivery of different drug structures requires different systems so that there is no change in the drug and its effectiveness. Niosomes are polymeric nanoparticles that show favorable characteristics in drug delivery. In addition to biocompatibility and high absorption, these nanoparticles also provide the possibility of reducing the drug dosage and targeting the release of drugs, as well as the delivery of both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs by Niosome vesicles. Since various factors such as components, preparation, and optimization methods are effective in the size and formation of niosomal structures, in this review, the characteristics related to niosome vesicles were first examined and then the in silico tools for designing, prediction, and optimization were explained. Finally, anticancer drugs delivered by niosomes were compared and discussed to be a suitable model for designing therapeutic strategies. In this research, it has been tried to examine all the aspects required for drug delivery engineering using niosomes and finally, by presenting clinical examples of the use of these nanocarriers in cancer, its clinical characteristics were also expressed.
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Rossato Viana A, Godoy Noro B, Lenz JC, Luiza Machado Teixeira M, Bolson Serafin M, Hörner R, Franco C, Maria Fontanari Krause L, Stefanello Vizzotto B, Jalfim Maraschin B. Cytotoxic screening and antibacterial activity of Withaferin A. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART A 2022; 85:685-698. [PMID: 35579288 DOI: 10.1080/15287394.2022.2071787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer and bacterial infections are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Plant-derived bioactive compounds constitute promising alternatives for development of new therapeutics. This study aimed at evaluating the biological activity of Withaferin A using 6 tumor cell lines: A549 (lung cancer), U87MG (glioblastoma), SH-SY5Y (neuroblastoma), B16-F10 (mouse melanoma), HeLa (uterine colon cancer) and K562 (chronic myeloid leukemia). In addition, 17 other standard bacterial strains and several multidrug resistant bacteria (MDR) clinical isolates were examined. Cell viability was assessed using the following assays: MTT, neutral red, and dsDNA PicoGreen®. Further, oxidative stress was measured by quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The activity against bacteria was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bacterial concentration (CBM) and antibiofilm activity in the production of strains. Withaferin A was effective, as evidenced by its cytotoxic activity in tumor cell lines, enhanced ROS production in tumor cells and bactericidal and antibiofilm activity. Data demonstrated that Withaferin A may be therapeutically considered as an antitumor and antibacterial agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altevir Rossato Viana
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Nanociências, Universidade Franciscana, Santa Maria, Brasil
| | - B Godoy Noro
- Curso de Biomedicina, Universidade Franciscana, Santa Maria, Brasil
| | - J C Lenz
- Curso de Biomedicina, Universidade Franciscana, Santa Maria, Brasil
| | | | - M Bolson Serafin
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêutica, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brasil
| | - R Hörner
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêutica, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brasil
| | - C Franco
- Mestrado em Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Universidade Franciscana, Santa Maria, Brasil
| | | | - B Stefanello Vizzotto
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Nanociências, Universidade Franciscana, Santa Maria, Brasil
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Molina V, von Plessing C, Romero A, Benavides S, Troncoso JM, Pérez-Correa JR, Franco W. Determination of the Dissolution/Permeation and Apparent Solubility for Microencapsulated Emamectin Benzoate Using In Vitro and Ex Vivo Salmo salar Intestine Membranes. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15060652. [PMID: 35745571 PMCID: PMC9227562 DOI: 10.3390/ph15060652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, two microencapsulation techniques were used to protect and improve the absorption of emamectin benzoate (EB), which is an antiparasitic drug used to control Caligus rogercresseyi. EB has a low aqueous solubility, which affects its absorption in the intestine of Salmo salar. Microparticles were produced by spray drying and ionic gelation, using Soluplus® (EB−SOL) and sodium alginate (EB−ALG) as polymers, respectively. Studies were conducted on dissolution/permeation, apparent permeability (Papp), apparent solubility (Sapp), and absorption using synthetic and biological membranes. Based on these results, the amount of EB in the microparticles needed to achieve a therapeutic dose was estimated. The EB−ALG microparticles outperformed both EB−SOL and free EB, for all parameters analyzed. The results show values of 0.45 mg/mL (80.2%) for dissolution/permeation, a Papp of 6.2 mg/mL in RS−L, an absorption of 7.3% in RS, and a Sapp of 53.1% in EM medium. The EB−ALG microparticles decrease the therapeutic dose necessary to control the parasite, with values of 3.0−2 mg/mL and 1.1−2 mg/mL for EB in EM and RS, respectively. The Korsmeyer−Peppas kinetic model was the best model to fit the EB−ALG and EB−SOL dissolution/permeation experiments. In addition, some of our experimental results using synthetic membranes are similar to those obtained with biological membranes, which suggests that, for some parameters, it is possible to replace biological membranes with synthetic membranes. The encapsulation of EB by ionic gelation shows it is a promising formulation to increase the absorption of the poorly soluble drug. In contrast, the spray-dried microparticles produced using Soluplus® result in even less dissolution/permeation than free EB, so the technique cannot be used to improve the solubility of EB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Molina
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 6904411, Chile; (V.M.); (J.R.P.-C.)
| | | | - Alex Romero
- Laboratory of Immunology and Stress of Aquatic Organisms, Animal Pathology Institute, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile;
- Interdisciplinary Center for Aquaculture Research (INCAR), Centro FONDAP, Valdivia 5090000, Chile
| | - Sergio Benavides
- Research Center in Agri-Food and Applied Nutrition, Universidad Adventista de Chile, Chillán 3820572, Chile;
- Faculty of Sciences for Health Care, Universidad San Sebastián, Concepción 4080871, Chile
| | | | - José Ricardo Pérez-Correa
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 6904411, Chile; (V.M.); (J.R.P.-C.)
| | - Wendy Franco
- Department of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 6904411, Chile; (V.M.); (J.R.P.-C.)
- Department of Health Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics Career, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 6904411, Chile
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +56-223-545-983
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de Oliveira ECL, da Costa KS, Taube PS, Lima AH, Junior CDSDS. Biological Membrane-Penetrating Peptides: Computational Prediction and Applications. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:838259. [PMID: 35402305 PMCID: PMC8992797 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.838259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides comprise a versatile class of biomolecules that present a unique chemical space with diverse physicochemical and structural properties. Some classes of peptides are able to naturally cross the biological membranes, such as cell membrane and blood-brain barrier (BBB). Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and blood-brain barrier-penetrating peptides (B3PPs) have been explored by the biotechnological and pharmaceutical industries to develop new therapeutic molecules and carrier systems. The computational prediction of peptides’ penetration into biological membranes has been emerged as an interesting strategy due to their high throughput and low-cost screening of large chemical libraries. Structure- and sequence-based information of peptides, as well as atomistic biophysical models, have been explored in computer-assisted discovery strategies to classify and identify new structures with pharmacokinetic properties related to the translocation through biomembranes. Computational strategies to predict the permeability into biomembranes include cheminformatic filters, molecular dynamics simulations, artificial intelligence algorithms, and statistical models, and the choice of the most adequate method depends on the purposes of the computational investigation. Here, we exhibit and discuss some principles and applications of these computational methods widely used to predict the permeability of peptides into biomembranes, exhibiting some of their pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewerton Cristhian Lima de Oliveira
- Institute of Technology, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Kauê Santana da Costa, ; Ewerton Cristhian Lima de Oliveira,
| | - Kauê Santana da Costa
- Laboratory of Computational Simulation, Institute of Biodiversity, Federal University of Western Pará, Santarém, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Kauê Santana da Costa, ; Ewerton Cristhian Lima de Oliveira,
| | - Paulo Sérgio Taube
- Laboratory of Computational Simulation, Institute of Biodiversity, Federal University of Western Pará, Santarém, Brazil
| | - Anderson H. Lima
- Laboratório de Planejamento e Desenvolvimento de Fármacos, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
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11
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Radhakrishnan N, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R, Sundar D. Phosphatidylserine Exposed Lipid Bilayer Models for Understanding Cancer Cell Selectivity of Natural Compounds: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:64. [PMID: 35054590 PMCID: PMC8780679 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12010064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Development of drugs that are selectively toxic to cancer cells and safe to normal cells is crucial in cancer treatment. Evaluation of membrane permeability is a key metric for successful drug development. In this study, we have used in silico molecular models of lipid bilayers to explore the effect of phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure in cancer cells on membrane permeation of natural compounds Withaferin A (Wi-A), Withanone (Wi-N), Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) and Artepillin C (ARC). Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to compute permeability coefficients. The results indicated that the exposure of PS in cancer cell membranes facilitated the permeation of Wi-A, Wi-N and CAPE through a cancer cell membrane when compared to a normal cell membrane. In the case of ARC, PS exposure did not have a notable influence on its permeability coefficient. The presented data demonstrated the potential of PS exposure-based models for studying cancer cell selectivity of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Navaneethan Radhakrishnan
- DAILAB, Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India;
| | - Sunil C. Kaul
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan;
| | - Renu Wadhwa
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational and Environmental Research (DAICENTER), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba 305-8565, Japan;
| | - Durai Sundar
- DAILAB, Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India;
- School of Artificial Intelligence, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
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12
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FALLAHPOUR ROSA, MELNIK RODERICK. A MOLECULAR DYNAMICS STUDY OF NANOWIRE RESONATOR BIO-OBJECT DETECTION. J MECH MED BIOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1142/s0219519422500038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis, carried out by the molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, of the vibrations of silicon nanowire (SiNW) resonators, having diverse applications including biological and medical fields. The chosen approach allows us to obtain a better understanding of the nanowire (NW) materials’ characteristics, providing a more detailed insight into the behavior of nanostructures, especially when the topic of interest is relevant to their dynamics, interatomic interactions, and atoms trajectories’ prediction. We first simulate a SiNW to study its frequency of vibrations using MD simulations. Then, we add a molecule of human immunodeficiency virus as an example to investigate the potential of the SiNW resonator for the detection of tiny bio-objects. The developed technique and its application to the detection of tiny objects, such as viruses, are discussed in the context of several key effects pertinent to the design of SiNW.
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Affiliation(s)
- ROSA FALLAHPOUR
- The MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, M2NeT Laboratory, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
| | - RODERICK MELNIK
- The MS2Discovery Interdisciplinary Research Institute, M2NeT Laboratory, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
- BCAM-Basque Center for Applied Mathematics, Alda. Mazarredo, Bilbao E-48009, Spain
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13
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Islam MZ, Hossain SI, Deplazes E, Saha SC. The steroid mometasone alters protein containing lung surfactant monolayers in a concentration-dependent manner. J Mol Graph Model 2021; 111:108084. [PMID: 34826717 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2021.108084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Mometasone is an investigational anti-inflammatory steroidal drug to treat inflammation via pulmonary administration. For steroid drugs to be effective they need to be adsorbed by lung surfactants, a thin monolayer at the air-water interface in alveoli that reduces surface tension. Information on the molecular-level interactions of the drug with lung surfactants is useful to understand the mechanism of adsorption. In this study, we use coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation to understand the concentration-dependent effect of mometasone on a lung surfactant monolayer (LSM) composed of lipids and surfactant proteins, under two different breathing conditions (exhalation, at surface tension 0 mNm-1 and inhalation, surface tension 20-25 mNm-1). A series of fixed-APL and fixed-surface tension simulations were used to demonstrate that in the absence of drugs, the model LSM reproduces the surface tensions for the compressed and expanded states, as well as compressibility at different surface tensions. In-depth analysis of simulations of a LSM in the presence of five different drug concentrations shows that mometasone alters the structure and dynamics of the LSM in a concentration-dependent manner. Mometasone induces a collapse in the monolayer that is affected by the surfactant protein and surface tension. Overall, these findings suggest that the surfactant proteins, surface tension and drug concentration are all critical components affecting monolayer stability and drug adsorption. The outcomes of this study may be beneficial for a more in-depth understanding of how mometasone is adsorbed by lung surfactants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Zohurul Islam
- School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Sheikh I Hossain
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Evelyne Deplazes
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - Suvash C Saha
- School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW, 2007, Australia.
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14
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Róg T, Girych M, Bunker A. Mechanistic Understanding from Molecular Dynamics in Pharmaceutical Research 2: Lipid Membrane in Drug Design. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1062. [PMID: 34681286 PMCID: PMC8537670 DOI: 10.3390/ph14101062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
We review the use of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation as a drug design tool in the context of the role that the lipid membrane can play in drug action, i.e., the interaction between candidate drug molecules and lipid membranes. In the standard "lock and key" paradigm, only the interaction between the drug and a specific active site of a specific protein is considered; the environment in which the drug acts is, from a biophysical perspective, far more complex than this. The possible mechanisms though which a drug can be designed to tinker with physiological processes are significantly broader than merely fitting to a single active site of a single protein. In this paper, we focus on the role of the lipid membrane, arguably the most important element outside the proteins themselves, as a case study. We discuss work that has been carried out, using MD simulation, concerning the transfection of drugs through membranes that act as biological barriers in the path of the drugs, the behavior of drug molecules within membranes, how their collective behavior can affect the structure and properties of the membrane and, finally, the role lipid membranes, to which the vast majority of drug target proteins are associated, can play in mediating the interaction between drug and target protein. This review paper is the second in a two-part series covering MD simulation as a tool in pharmaceutical research; both are designed as pedagogical review papers aimed at both pharmaceutical scientists interested in exploring how the tool of MD simulation can be applied to their research and computational scientists interested in exploring the possibility of a pharmaceutical context for their research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Róg
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Mykhailo Girych
- Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
| | - Alex Bunker
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland;
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15
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Ross AM, Walsh DR, Cahalane RM, Marcar L, Mulvihill JJE. The effect of serum starvation on tight junctional proteins and barrier formation in Caco-2 cells. Biochem Biophys Rep 2021; 27:101096. [PMID: 34401532 PMCID: PMC8358646 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.101096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessing the ability of pharmaceutics to cross biological barriers and reach the site-of-action requires faithful representation of these barriers in vitro. Difficulties have arisen in replicating in vivo resistance in vitro. This paper investigated serum starvation as a method to increase Caco-2 barrier stability and resistance. The effect of serum starvation on tight junction production was examined using transwell models; specifically, transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), and the expression and localization of tight junction proteins, occludin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), were studied using western blotting and immunofluorescence. Changing cells to serum-free media 2 days post-seeding resulted in TEER readings of nearly 5000 Ω cm2 but the TEER rapidly declined subsequently. Meanwhile, exchanging cells to serum-free media 4–6 days post-seeding produced barriers with resistance readings between 3000 and 4000 Ω cm2, which could be maintained for 18 days. This corresponded to an increase in occludin levels. Serum starvation as a means of barrier formation is simple, reproducible, and cost-effective. It could feasibly be implemented in a variety of pre-clinical pharmaceutical assessments of drug permeability across various biological barriers with the view to improving the clinical translation of novel therapeutics. Serum starvation increases the intracellular resistance of Caco-2 cells. Max TEER values of 4783 ± 610 Ω cm2 were achieved in serum free conditions. A barrier of 3000–4000 Ω cm2 could be maintained for up to 18 days. Serum starvation leads to a significant increase in occludin expression. Occludin levels correlate significantly with corresponding TEER values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisling M Ross
- Bioscience and Bioengineering Research (BioSciBer), Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland.,School of Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Darragh R Walsh
- Bioscience and Bioengineering Research (BioSciBer), Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland.,School of Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Rachel M Cahalane
- Bioscience and Bioengineering Research (BioSciBer), Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland.,School of Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - Lynnette Marcar
- Bioscience and Bioengineering Research (BioSciBer), Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland.,Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, Ireland.,Education and Health Sciences, University of Limerick, Ireland
| | - John J E Mulvihill
- Bioscience and Bioengineering Research (BioSciBer), Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland.,School of Engineering, University of Limerick, Ireland.,Health Research Institute (HRI), University of Limerick, Ireland
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16
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Chien TM, Wu KH, Chuang YT, Yeh YC, Wang HR, Yeh BW, Yen CH, Yu TJ, Wu WJ, Chang HW. Withaferin A Triggers Apoptosis and DNA Damage in Bladder Cancer J82 Cells through Oxidative Stress. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10071063. [PMID: 34209212 PMCID: PMC8300680 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10071063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Withaferin A (WFA), the Indian ginseng bioactive compound, exhibits an antiproliferation effect on several kinds of cancer, but it was rarely reported in bladder cancer cells. This study aims to assess the anticancer effect and mechanism of WFA in bladder cancer cells. WFA shows antiproliferation to bladder cancer J82 cells based on the finding of the MTS assay. WFA disturbs cell cycle progression associated with subG1 accumulation in J82 cells. Furthermore, WFA triggers apoptosis as determined by flow cytometry assays using annexin V/7-aminoactinomycin D and pancaspase detection. Western blotting also supports WFA-induced apoptosis by increasing cleavage of caspases 3, 8, and 9 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase. Mechanistically, WFA triggers oxidative stress-association changes, such as the generation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxide and diminishment of the mitochondrial membrane potential, in J82 cells. In response to oxidative stresses, mRNA for antioxidant signaling, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (NFE2L2), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), thioredoxin (TXN), glutathione-disulfide reductase (GSR), quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), and heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), are overexpressed in J82 cells. In addition, WFA causes DNA strand breaks and oxidative DNA damages. Moreover, the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine reverts all tested WFA-modulating effects. In conclusion, WFA possesses anti-bladder cancer effects by inducing antiproliferation, apoptosis, and DNA damage in an oxidative stress-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsu-Ming Chien
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Kuang-Han Wu
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Ya-Ting Chuang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (Y.-T.C.); (Y.-C.Y.); (H.-R.W.)
| | - Yun-Chiao Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (Y.-T.C.); (Y.-C.Y.); (H.-R.W.)
| | - Hui-Ru Wang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (Y.-T.C.); (Y.-C.Y.); (H.-R.W.)
| | - Bi-Wen Yeh
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Hung Yen
- Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (T.-J.Y.)
| | - Tzu-Jung Yu
- Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (T.-J.Y.)
| | - Wen-Jeng Wu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (W.-J.W.); (H.-W.C.); Tel.: +886-7-320-8212 (W.-J.W.); +886-7-312-1101 (ext. 2691) (H.-W.C.)
| | - Hsueh-Wei Chang
- Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (Y.-T.C.); (Y.-C.Y.); (H.-R.W.)
- Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-H.Y.); (T.-J.Y.)
- Center for Cancer Research, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (W.-J.W.); (H.-W.C.); Tel.: +886-7-320-8212 (W.-J.W.); +886-7-312-1101 (ext. 2691) (H.-W.C.)
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