Chun-Nam Lok

Oxidative Dissolution of Silver Nanoparticles by Biologically Relevant Oxidants: A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study

The oxidative dissolution of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) plays an important role in the synthesis of well-defined nanostructured materials, and may be responsible for their activities in biological systems. In this study, we use stopped-flow spectrophotometry to investigate the kinetics and mechanism of the oxidative dissolution of AgNPs by H(2)O(2) in quasi-physiological conditions. Our results show that the reaction is first order with respect to both [Ag(0)] and [H(2)O(2)], and parallel pathways that involve the oxidation of H(2)O(2) and HO(2)(-) are proposed. The order of the reaction is independent of the size of the AgNPs (approximately 5-20 nm). The rate of dissolution increases with increasing pH from 6.0 to 8.5. At 298 K and I=0.1 M, the value of k(b) is five orders of magnitude higher than that of k(a) (where k(a) and k(b) are the rate constants for the oxidative dissolution of AgNPs by H(2)O(2) and HO(2)(-), respectively). In addition, the effects of surface coating and the presence of halide ions on the dissolution rates are investigated. A possible mechanism for the oxidative dissolution of AgNPs by H(2)O(2) is proposed. We further demonstrate that the toxicities of AgNPs in both bacteria and mammalian cells are enhanced in the presence of H(2)O(2), thereby highlighting the biological relevance of investigating the oxidative dissolution of AgNPs.

Timosaponin A-III induces autophagy preceding mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in hela cancer cells

Timosaponin A-III (TAIII), a saponin isolated from the rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides, exhibits potent cytotoxicity and has the potential to be developed as an anticancer agent. Here, we provide evidence that TAIII induces autophagy in HeLa cells followed by apoptotic cell death. TAIII-induced autophagy was morphologically characterized by the formation of membrane-bound autophagic vacuoles recognizable at the ultrastructural level. TAIII-treated cells expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) displayed punctate fluorescence indicative of LC3 recruitment to the autophagosome. This was associated with the conversion of LC3-I (the cytosolic form) into LC3-II (the lipidated form located on the autophagosome membrane). TAIII treatment also induced mitochondrial dysfunction involving overproduction of reactive oxygen species and reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential accompanied by induction of mitochondrial permeability transition. Prolonged exposure to TAIII resulted in cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation, events that signified the onset of apoptotic cell death. TAIII-induced autophagy preceded apoptosis, as evidenced by early autophagic vacuole formation, GFP-LC3 translocation, and LC3-II increase in the absence of caspase-3 cleavage. Notably, TAIII-mediated apoptotic cell death was potentiated by treatment with autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine or small interfering RNA against the autophagic gene beclin 1. These findings suggest that TAIII-elicited autophagic response plays a protective role that impedes the eventual cell death. In terms of structure-activity relationship, the sugar chain in TAIII is indispensable to the drug action, as the sugar-lacking aglycone sarsasapogenin did not induce autophagy and exhibited weaker cytotoxicity.

Stable Anticancer Gold(III)–Porphyrin Complexes: Effects of Porphyrin Structure

In the design of physiologically stable anticancer gold(III) complexes, we have employed strongly chelating porphyrinato ligands to stabilize a gold(III) ion [Chem. Commun. 2003, 1718; Coord. Chem. Rev. 2009, 253, 1682]. In this work, a family of gold(III) tetraarylporphyrins with porphyrinato ligands containing different peripheral substituents on the meso-aryl rings were prepared, and these complexes were used to study the structure-bioactivity relationship. The cytotoxic IC(50) values of [Au(Por)](+) (Por=porphyrinato ligand), which range from 0.033 to >100 microM, correlate with their lipophilicity and cellular uptake. Some of them induce apoptosis and display preferential cytotoxicity toward cancer cells than to normal noncancerous cells. A new gold(III)-porphyrin with saccharide conjugation [Au(4-glucosyl-TPP)]Cl (2a; H(2)(4-glucosyl-TPP)=meso-tetrakis(4-beta-D-glucosylphenyl)porphyrin) exhibits significant cytostatic activity to cancer cells (IC(50)=1.2-9.0 microM) without causing cell death and is much less toxic to lung fibroblast cells (IC(50)>100 microM). The gold(III)-porphyrin complexes induce S-phase cell-cycle arrest of cancer cells as indicated by flow cytometric analysis, suggesting that the anticancer activity may be, in part, due to termination of DNA replication. The gold(III)-porphyrin complexes can bind to DNA in vitro with binding constants in the range of 4.9 x 10(5) to 4.1 x 10(6) dm(3) mol(-1) as determined by absorption titration. Complexes 2a and [Au(TMPyP)]Cl(5) (4a; [H(2)TMPyP](4+)=meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-4-yl)porphyrin) interact with DNA in a manner similar to the DNA intercalator ethidium bromide as revealed by gel mobility shift assays and viscosity measurements. Both of them also inhibited the topoisomerase I induced relaxation of supercoiled DNA. Complex 4a, a gold(III) derivative of the known G-quadruplex-interactive porphyrin [H(2)TMPyP](4+), can similarly inhibit the amplification of a DNA substrate containing G-quadruplex structures in a polymerase chain reaction stop assay. In contrast to these reported complexes, complex 2a and the parental gold(III)-porphyrin 1a do not display a significant inhibitory effect (<10%) on telomerase. Based on the results of protein expression analysis and computational docking experiments, the anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein is a potential target for those gold(III)-porphyrin complexes with apoptosis-inducing properties. Complex 2a also displays prominent anti-angiogenic properties in vitro. Taken together, the enhanced stabilization of the gold(III) ion and the ease of structural modification render porphyrins an attractive ligand system in the development of physiologically stable gold(III) complexes with anticancer and anti-angiogenic activities.

Proteomic and transcriptomic study on the action of a cytotoxic saponin (Polyphyllin D): Induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondria‐mediated apoptotic pathways

Polyphyllin D (PD) is a potent cytotoxic saponin found in Paris polyphylla. In the present study, bioinformatic, proteomic and transcriptomic analyses were performed to study the mechanisms of action of PD on human nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line (NCI‐H460). Using a gene expression‐based bioinformatic tool (connectivity map), PD was identified as a potential ER stress inducer. Our proteomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed that PD treatment led to upregulation of typical ER stress‐related proteins/genes including glucose‐regulated protein 78 (BiP/GRP78) and protein disulfide isomerase (PDI). In particular, elevated expression of C/EBP homologous transcription factor (chop) and activation of caspase‐4 occurred at early time point (8 h) of PD treatment, signifying an initial ER stress‐mediated apoptosis. Induction of tumor suppressor p53, disruption of mitochondrial membrane, activation of caspase‐9 and caspase‐3 were detected upon prolonged PD treatment. Collectively, these data revealed that PD induced the cytotoxic effect through a mechanism initiated by ER stress followed by mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. The ability of activating two major pathways of apoptosis makes PD an attractive drug lead for anticancer therapeutics.

A Binuclear Gold(I) Complex with Mixed Bridging Diphosphine and Bis(N-Heterocyclic Carbene) Ligands Shows Favorable Thiol Reactivity and Inhibits Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis In Vivo†

In the design of anticancer gold(I) complexes with high in vivo efficacy, tuning the thiol reactivity to achieve stability towards blood thiols yet maintaining the thiol reactivity to target cellular thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is of pivotal importance. Herein we describe a dinuclear gold(I) complex (1-PF6) utilizing a bridging bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligand to attain thiol stability and a diphosphine ligand to keep appropriate thiol reactivity. Complex 1-PF6 displays a favorable stability that allows it to inhibit TrxR activity without being attacked by blood thiols. In vivo studies reveal that 1-PF6 significantly inhibits tumor growth in mice bearing HeLa xenograft and mice bearing highly aggressive mouse B16-F10 melanoma. It inhibits angiogenesis in tumor models and inhibits sphere formation of cancer stem cells in vitro. Toxicology studies indicate that 1-PF6 does not show systemic anaphylaxis on guinea pigs and localized irritation on rabbits.

Luminescent organoplatinum(II) complexes containing bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands selectively target the endoplasmic reticulum and induce potent photo-toxicity

A panel of luminescent platinum(II) complexes containing bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene ligands selectively localize to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) domain, induce ER stress and cell apoptosis. Some of them show potent photo-toxicity to cancer cells.

A dinuclear cyclometalated gold(III)–phosphine complex targeting thioredoxin reductase inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo

A stable gold(III)–phosphine complex [(C⁁N⁁C)2Au2(μ-dppp)](CF3SO3)2 [Au3, HC⁁N⁁CH = 2,6-diphenylpyridine; dppp = bis(diphenylphosphino)propane] displays potent in vitro cytotoxicity towards various cancers with sub-micromolar range cytotoxic IC50 values, and is significantly more potent than its structural and iso-electronic platinum(II) analog [(C⁁N⁁N)2Pt2(μ-dppp)](CF3SO3)2 (HC⁁N⁁N = 6-phenyl-2,2′-bipyridine) and gold(III)–carbene complexes. Complex Au3 displays promising inhibition on tumor growth in animal models, and its acute and sub-chronic toxicities have been examined in mice and beagle dogs. Transcriptomic and connectivity map analyses have revealed that the transcriptional profile of Au3 is similar to those of inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and inducers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. As we found that Au3 is also a nanomolar inhibitor of TrxR, a model of ER stress-induced cell death mediated by inhibition of TrxR is proposed. The transcriptomic analysis also leads to the identification of TRAIL, a ligand for death receptor 5 (DR5), as a synergistic agent of the anti-tumor activity of Au3. Collectively, our results demonstrate that the gold(III) complex Au3 effectively inhibits tumor growth in vivo, and displays promising cytotoxicity towards cancer cells in association with the inhibition of TrxR, induction of ER stress and also a death-receptor-dependent apoptotic pathway.

Anticancer gold(I)–phosphine complexes as potent autophagy-inducing agents

A panel of anticancer gold(I)-phosphine complexes exhibit significant autophagy-inducing properties in cancer cells.

Proteomic Identification of the Cus System as a Major Determinant of Constitutive Escherichia coli Silver Resistance of Chromosomal Origin

Although silver is one of the most potent and rapidly acting toxic metals to bacteria, silver-resistant bacteria do exist with low incidence. A proteomic approach was employed to identify the silver resistance determinants of a silver-resistant Escherichia coli strain isolated from stepwise selection against increasing concentrations of silver (Li et al. J. Bacteriol 1997, 179, 6127-32). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry analysis revealed that members of the CusCFBA copper/silver chemiosmotic efflux system were highly expressed in the silver-resistant strain but undetectable in the parental silver-sensitive strain. Disruption of the cus locus of the silver-resistant strain resulted in a decrease of the minimum inhibitory concentration of Ag (+) from more than 1 mM to 12 microM. These results suggest that the chromosomally encoded Cus system, which naturally controls the periplasmic copper concentrations, is selectable to confer a constitutive silver resistance phenotype.

Oxidative Dissolution of Silver Nanoparticles by Dioxygen: A Kinetic and Mechanistic Study

We have recently reported a kinetic and mechanistic study on oxidative dissolution of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by H(2)O(2). In the present study, the parameters that govern the dissolution of AgNPs by O(2) were revealed by using UV/Vis spectrophotometry. Under the same reaction conditions (Tris-HOAc, pH 8.5, I=0.1 M at 25 °C) the apparent dissolution rate (k(app)) of AgNPs (10±2.8 nm) by O(2) is about 100-fold slower than that of H(2)O(2). The reaction rate is first-order with respect to [Ag(0)], [O(2)], and [Tris](T), and inverse first-order with respect to [Ag(+)] (where [Ag(0)]=total concentration of Ag metal and [Tris](T)=total concentration of Tris). The rate constant is dependent on the size of AgNPs. No free superoxide (O(2)(-)) and hydroxyl radical (·OH) were detected by trapping experiments. On the basis of kinetic and trapping experiments, an amine-activated pathway for the oxidation of AgNPs by O(2) is proposed.