New iron(III) anti-cancer aminobisphenolate/phenanthroline complexes: Enhancing their therapeutic potential using nanoliposomes

Malignant melanoma is an aggressive and deadly form of skin cancer and novel and improved therapeutic options are needed. A promising strategy involves the use of metallodrugs combined with liposomes for targeted delivery to cancer cells. In this work, a family of iron(III) complexes was synthesized bearing a trianionic aminobisphenolate ligand (L) and phenanthroline-type co-ligands (NN). Four ternary iron complexes of general formula [Fe(L)(NN)] were obtained: [Fe(L)(amphen)] (1), [Fe(L)(phen)] (2), [Fe(L)(Clphen)] (3), and [Fe(L)(Mephen)] (4), as well as a fifth complex [Fe(L)(NEt₃)(H₂O)] (5) without the bidentate co-ligand. All complexes were characterized by analytic and spectroscopic techniques and demonstrated to be stable in aqueous environment. Complexes 1 and 2 were able to bind DNA and presented high cytotoxic activity towards human cancer cells. Complex 1 (IronC) was selected for incorporation into different liposomal formulations, which were fully characterized and screened against murine melanoma cells. The IronC liposomal formulation with the highest incorporation efficiency (∼95%) and a low IC₅₀ value (7.1 ± 0.7 μM) was selected for in vivo evaluation. In a syngeneic murine melanoma model the liposomal formulation of IronC yielded the highest impairment on tumour progression when compared with the control, temozolomide, and with the iron complex in free form.

Biobased Ionic Liquids as Multitalented Materials in Lipidic Drug Implants

Lipidic implants are valuable controlled delivery systems that present good biocompatibility and are useful for long-lasting therapies. However, these promising systems can present inflexible drug release profiles that limit their performance. Thus, finding new materials to overcome this drawback is crucial. Herein, lipidic implants containing caffeine and poorly soluble salicylic acid and rutin were developed. The inclusion of Gelucire^® 50/02, sucrose, and two biobased ionic liquids, [Cho][Phe] and [Cho][Glu], were evaluated as a mean to improve the performance of the systems. The formulation procedure, dye content distribution, drug content, drug release, water content, and lipidic erosion of the developed systems were assessed. AFM analysis of the implants containing ILs was also performed. The results demonstrated that neither Gelucire^® 50/02 nor sucrose were suitable tools to improve the drug release profile. In contrast, the ILs proved to be promising materials for multiple reasons; not only did they facilitate the formulation and incorporation of the studied drugs into the implants, but they also allowed a more suitable release profile, with [Cho][Glu] allowing a higher drug release due to its ability to increase surface wrinkling. Hence, this study showcases ILs as multitalented materials in lipid-based drug implants.

Further Evidence of Possible Therapeutic Uses of Sambucus nigra L. Extracts by the Assessment of the In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Its PLGA and PCL-Based Nanoformulations

Sambucus nigra L. is widely used in traditional medicine with different applications. However, confirmative studies are strongly required. This study aimed to assess the biological activities of the S. nigra flower's extract encapsulated into two different types of nanoparticles for optimizing its properties and producing further evidence of its potential therapeutic uses. Different nanoparticles (poly(lactide-co-glycolide, PLGA) and poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL), both with oleic acid, were prepared by emulsification/solvent diffusion and solvent-displacement methods, respectively. Oleic acid was used as a capping agent. After the nanoparticles' preparation, they were characterized and the biological activities were studied in terms of collagenase, in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory, and in vitro cell viability. Rutin and naringenin were found to be the major phenolic compounds in the studied extract. The encapsulation efficiency was higher than 76% and revealed to have an impact on the release of the extract, mainly for the PLGA. Moreover, biochemical and histopathological analyses confirmed that the extract-loaded PLGA-based nanoparticles displayed the highest anti-inflammatory activity. In addition to supporting the previously reported evidence of potential therapeutic uses of S. nigra, these results could draw the pharmaceutical industry's interest to the novelty of the nanoproducts.

Potential Modulation on Total Internal Reflection Ellipsometry

Electrochemical-total internal reflection ellipsometry (EC-TIRE) has been proposed as a technique to observe the redox reactions on the electrode surface due to its high phase sensitivity to the electrolyte/electrode interface. In this paper, we mainly focus on the influence of the potential modulation on the TIRE response. The analysis suggests that both dielectric constant variation of gold and the electric double layer transformation would modulate the reflection polarization of the surface. For a nonfaradaic process, the signal of TIRE would be proportional to the potential modulation. To testify the analysis, linear sweep voltammetry and open circuit measurement have been performed. The results strongly support the system analysis.

Studies on the electrochemical growth of (Per)2[Au(mnt)2]

The first stages of the electrocrystallization of (Per)(2)[Au(mnt)(2)] salt from dichloromethane on gold, platinum, and highly orientated pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in order to understand the determinant factors for nucleation and crystal growth. The crystal growth occurs from adsorbed films of dithiolate on gold or platinum and of perylene on HOPG, after homogeneous nucleation, and it is controlled by the low diffusion of the species toward the growing surface.