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Metal Sulfide Semiconductor Nanomaterials and Polymer Microgels for Biomedical Applications.
Paca, AM, Ajibade, PA
International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;(22)
Abstract
The development of nanomaterials with therapeutic and/or diagnostic properties has been an active area of research in biomedical sciences over the past decade. Nanomaterials have been identified as significant medical tools with potential therapeutic and diagnostic capabilities that are practically impossible to accomplish using larger molecules or bulk materials. Fabrication of nanomaterials is the most effective platform to engineer therapeutic agents and delivery systems for the treatment of cancer. This is mostly due to the high selectivity of nanomaterials for cancerous cells, which is attributable to the porous morphology of tumour cells which allows nanomaterials to accumulate more in tumour cells more than in normal cells. Nanomaterials can be used as potential drug delivery systems since they exist in similar scale as proteins. The unique properties of nanomaterials have drawn a lot of interest from researchers in search of new chemotherapeutic treatment for cancer. Metal sulfide nanomaterials have emerged as the most used frameworks in the past decade, but they tend to aggregate because of their high surface energy which triggers the thermodynamically favoured interaction. Stabilizing agents such as polymer and microgels have been utilized to inhibit the particles from any aggregations. In this review, we explore the development of metal sulfide polymer/microgel nanocomposites as therapeutic agents against cancerous cells.
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2.
Montelukast and Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Scoping Review.
Sharifinejad, N, Sharafian, S, Salekmoghadam, S, Tavakol, M, Qorbani, M
Iranian journal of allergy, asthma, and immunology. 2021;(4):384-393
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging worldwide issue, that has affected a large number of people around the world. So far, many studies have aimed to develop a therapeutic approach against COVID-19. Montelukast (MK) is a safe asthma controller drug, which is considered as a potential antiviral drug for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This review has a systematic approach to investigate the reports on the use of MK as a part of treatment or a prophylactic agent in COVID-19. The search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases and yielded 35 studies containing the influence of MK on SARS-CoV-2. Ultimately, MK appears to be worth being used as an adjuvant therapeutic and prophylactic drug against SARS-CoV-2. Nevertheless, more clinical trials are required to accurately investigate its effectiveness.
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3.
Role of leukotriene pathway and montelukast in pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations of Covid-19: The enigmatic entity.
Al-Kuraishy, HM, Al-Gareeb, AI, Almulaiky, YQ, Cruz-Martins, N, El-Saber Batiha, G
European journal of pharmacology. 2021;:174196
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Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the responsible agent for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), has its entry point through interaction with angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, highly expressed in lung type II alveolar cells and other tissues, like heart, pancreas, brain, and vascular endothelium. This review aimed to elucidate the potential role of leukotrienes (LTs) in the pathogenesis and clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to reveal the critical role of LT pathway receptor antagonists and inhibitors in Covid-19 management. A literature search was done in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases to find the potential role of montelukast and other LT inhibitors in the management of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations triggered by SARS-CoV-2. Data obtained so far underline that pulmonary and extra-pulmonary manifestations in Covid-19 are attributed to a direct effect of SARS-CoV-2 in expressed ACE2 receptors or indirectly through NF-κB dependent induction of a cytokine storm. Montelukast can ameliorate extra-pulmonary manifestations in Covid-19 either directly through blocking of Cys-LTRs in different organs or indirectly through inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway.
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4.
Persulphide-responsive transcriptional regulation and metabolism in bacteria.
Shimizu, T, Masuda, S
Journal of biochemistry. 2020;(2):125-132
Abstract
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) impacts on bacterial growth both positively and negatively; it is utilized as an electron donor for photosynthesis and respiration, and it inactivates terminal oxidases and iron-sulphur clusters. Therefore, bacteria have evolved H2S-responsive detoxification mechanisms for survival. Sulphur assimilation in bacteria has been well studied, and sulphide:quinone oxidoreductase, persulphide dioxygenase, rhodanese and sulphite oxidase were reported as major sulphide-oxidizing enzymes of sulphide assimilation and detoxification pathways. However, how bacteria sense sulphide availability to control H2S and sulphide metabolism remains largely unknown. Recent studies have identified several bacterial (per)sulphide-sensitive transcription factors that change DNA-binding affinity through persulphidation of specific cysteine residues in response to highly reactive sulphur-containing chemicals and reactive sulphur species (RSS). This review focuses on current understanding of the persulphide-responsive transcription factors and RSS metabolism regulated by RSS sensory proteins.
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Anti-inflammatory medications for the treatment of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea.
Kuhle, S, Urschitz, MS
Paediatric respiratory reviews. 2020;:35-36
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6.
[Research progress in mineral Chinese medicine realgar].
Song, LL, Han, DY, Lin, RC, Huang, JM, Guan, J
Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica. 2019;(3):433-440
Abstract
Realgar is a mineral traditional medicine with definite efficacy. The function of realgar is detoxicating, insecticiding, eliminating dampness and phlegm, etc. It is widely applied in clinical practice by compatibility medicines. However, the safety and scientificalness of clinical application are questioned because of the toxic effect caused by arsenic compounds. At present, there are still many problems in the research of realgar, which are mainly manifested in three areas: the expression of main components and effective substances are inconsistent; the anti-tumor mechanism is difficult to explain at the molecular level; the mechanism of compatibility is not clear. As a result, realgar and realgar-containing Chinese patent medicines are frequently prohibited from entering the international market, and the reputation of traditional Chinese medicine is also damaged. This paper would analyze the research status of realgar at home and abroad as well as its problems from its main components, effective substances, anti-tumor mechanism and compatibility mechanism. In view of these difficulties, quantum chemical calculation method is proposed to solve them, so as to make up for the shortcomings and limitations of experimental technology and experimental conditions, reduce the cost of realgar research and improve research efficiency. Moreover, it provides inspiration for research of other mineral medicine.
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7.
Application of the Pentafluorosulfanyl Group as a Bioisosteric Replacement.
Sowaileh, MF, Hazlitt, RA, Colby, DA
ChemMedChem. 2017;(18):1481-1490
Abstract
The success of fluorinated molecules in drug design has led medicinal chemists to search for new fluorine-containing substituents. A major recently developed group is the pentafluorosulfanyl group. This group is stable under physiological conditions and displays unique physical and chemical properties. There are currently few synthetic methods to install the SF5 group, yet efforts to integrate this group into lead optimization continue unabated. Typically, the SF5 group has been used as a replacement for trifluoromethyl, tert-butyl, halogen, or nitro groups. In this review, the use of the SF5 group as a bioisosteric replacement for each of these three functionalities is compared and contrasted across various groups of biologically active molecules. The organization and presentation of these data should be instructive to medicinal chemists considering to design synthetic strategies to access SF5 -substituted molecules.
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8.
Bacterial magnetosome and its potential application.
Yan, L, Da, H, Zhang, S, López, VM, Wang, W
Microbiological research. 2017;:19-28
Abstract
Bacterial magnetosome, synthetized by magnetosome-producing microorganisms including magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) and some non-magnetotactic bacteria (Non-MTB), is a new type of material comprising magnetic nanocrystals surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer. Because of the special properties such as single magnetic domain, excellent biocompatibility and surface modification, bacterial magnetosome has become an increasingly attractive for researchers in biology, medicine, paleomagnetism, geology and environmental science. This review briefly describes the general feature of magnetosome-producing microorganisms. This article also highlights recent advances in the understanding of the biochemical and magnetic characteristics of bacterial magnetosome, as well as the magnetosome formation mechanism including iron ions uptake, magnetosome membrane formation, biomineralization and magnetosome chain assembly. Finally, this review presents the potential applications of bacterial magnetosome in biomedicine, wastewater treatment, and the significance of mineralization of magnetosome in biology and geology.
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9.
Thioether-derived Macrocycle for Peptide Secondary Structure Fixation.
Tian, Y, Yang, D, Ye, X, Li, Z
Chemical record (New York, N.Y.). 2017;(9):874-885
Abstract
Recently, we developed methods to stabilize peptides into various secondary structures, including α-helix, type III turn and β-hairpin via proper thioether based macrocyclization. These conformationally constrained peptidomimetics confer enhanced biophysical properties and provide a valuable avenue towards clinically-relevant therapeutic molecules. In this personal account, thioether-derived macrocyclization methods developed by our group for stabilization of α-helix, type-III β turn and β-hairpin conformations are discussed.
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10.
Biological chemistry of hydrogen sulfide and persulfides.
Cuevasanta, E, Möller, MN, Alvarez, B
Archives of biochemistry and biophysics. 2017;:9-25
Abstract
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has been traditionally considered to be a toxic molecule for mammals. However, it can be formed endogenously and exert physiological effects with potential health benefits. H2S can partition two-fold in biological membranes and traverse them rapidly, diffusing between compartments. H2S reactivity has similarities to that of thiols, although it is less nucleophilic than thiols and it can form different products. H2S can react with oxidants derived from the partial reduction of oxygen, but direct scavenging is unlikely to explain H2S protective actions. Important effects are exerted on mitochondria including the stimulation or the inhibition of the electron transport chain. Possible mechanisms for unleashing biological consequences are the reactions with metal centers and with thiol oxidation products. The reactions of H2S with disulfides (RSSR) and sulfenic acids (RSOH) lead to the formation of persulfides (RSSH). Persulfides have enhanced nucleophilicity with respect to the corresponding thiol, consistent with the alpha effect. Besides, the inner and outer sulfurs can both act as electrophiles. In this review, we describe the reactions of H2S with oxidized thiol products and the properties of the persulfides formed in the context of the chemical biology of H2S.