Francisco Sánchez-Baeza

Attenuation of thermal nociception and hyperalgesia by VR1 blockers

Vanilloid receptor subunit 1 (VR1) appears to play a critical role in the transduction of noxious chemical and thermal stimuli by sensory nerve endings in peripheral tissues. Thus, VR1 antagonists are useful compounds to unravel the contribution of this receptor to pain perception, as well as to induce analgesia. We have used a combinatorial approach to identify new, nonpeptidic channel blockers of VR1. Screening of a library of trimers of N-alkylglycines resulted in the identification of two molecules referred to as DD161515 {N-[2-(2-(N-methylpyrrolidinyl)ethyl]glycyl]-[N-[2,4-dichlorophenethyl]glycyl]-N-(2,4-dichlorophenethyl)glycinamide} and DD191515 {[N-[3-(N,N-diethylamino)propyl]glycyl]-[N-[2,4-dichlorophenethyl]glycyl]-N-(2,4-dichlorophenethyl)glycinamide} that selectively block VR1 channel activity with micromolar efficacy, rivaling that characteristic of vanilloid-related inhibitors. These compounds appear to be noncompetitive VR1 antagonists that recognize a receptor site distinct from that of capsaicin. Intraperitoneal administration of both trialkylglycines into mice significantly attenuated thermal nociception as measured in the hot plate test. It is noteworthy that these compounds eliminated pain and neurogenic inflammation evoked by intradermal injection of capsaicin into the animal hindpaw, as well as the thermal hyperalgesia induced by tissue irritation with nitrogen mustard. In contrast, responses to mechanical stimuli were not modified by either compound. Modulation of sensory nerve fibers excitability appears to underlie the peptoid analgesic activity. Collectively, these results indicate that blockade of VR1 activity attenuates chemical and thermal nociception and hyperalgesia, supporting the tenet that this ionotropic receptor contributes to chemical and thermal sensitivity and pain perception in vivo. These trialkylglycine-based, noncompetitive VR1 antagonists may likely be developed into analgesics to treat inflammatory pain.

Immunochemical Assays for Direct Sulfonamide Antibiotic Detection In Milk and Hair Samples Using Antibody Derivatized Magnetic Nanoparticles

Two direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) have been developed for detection of sulfonamide antibiotic residues in milk samples. One of them is using magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) for target capture/enrichment (Ab-MNP-ELISA), and the second is performed using microtiter plates. Selective polyclonal antibodies, raised against 5-[6-(4-amino-benzenesulfonylamino)-pyridin-3-yl]-2-methyl-pentanoic acid (SA1), used in combination with an enzyme tracer prepared with the same hapten, has allowed us to reach a limit of detection (LOD) lower than 0.5 microg L(-1) for both ELISA formats. Sulfapyridine, sulfamethoxypyridazine, sulfathiazole, and sulfachloropyridazine are detected below the maximum residue limits established by the European Union for these antibiotics in milk (100 microg L(-1)). Matrix effects and accuracy studies performed with full-cream milk and hair extracts indicated a lack of interference from these sample matrices and very good recovery values, especially when using the Ab-MNP format. Milk samples and hair extracts can be measured without any previous treatment. The results demonstrate the high potential of these methods as screening tools for food safety and inspection controls.

Generation of Broad Specificity Antibodies for Sulfonamide Antibiotics and Development of an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for the Analysis of Milk Samples

Immunoreagents appropriately produced to detect a wide range of sulfonamide antibiotic congeners have been used to develop a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The selectivity has been achieved by combining antibodies raised against 5-[6-(4-aminobenzenesulfonylamino)pyridin-3-yl]-2-methylpentanoic acid (SA1), covalently coupled to horseshoe crab hemocyanin (HCH), and 5-[4-(amino)phenylsulfonamide]-5-oxopentanoic acid (SA2), coupled to ovalbumin (OVA), on an indirect ELISA format. The immunizing hapten has been designed to address selectivity against the common aminobenzenesulfonylamino moieties, using theoretical calculations and molecular modeling tools. Hapten SA1 has been synthesized in four steps from methyl 5-(4-amino-3-pyridinyl)-2-methyl-4-pentenoate through a Heck reaction, under Jeffery conditions, to avoid introduction of additional epitopes in the linker. The microplate immunoassay developed is able to reach the necessary detectability for the determination of the sulfonamide antibiotics most frequently used in the veterinary field, in compliance with the EC Regulation 2377/90. As an example, the IC(50) and LOD values accomplished for sulfapyridine are 2.86 +/- 0.24 and 0.13 +/- 0.03 microg L(-1), respectively. Studies performed with different types of milk samples demonstrate that direct and accurate measurements can be performed in this type of matrix without any previous sample cleanup method.

Flavin excretion from roots of iron-deficient sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

The characteristics of flavin excretion from iron-deficient sugar-beet roots have been studied. Roots from iron-deficient sugar beet excreted flavins when plants were allowed to decrease the pH of the nutrient solution, but not when plants were grown in nutrient solutions buffered at high pH. As shown by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, the two major flavins whose excretion was induced by iron deficiency were different from riboflavin, FMN and FAD. These flavins have been identified as riboflavin 3′-sulfate and riboflavin 5′-sulfate by electrospray-mass spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy, infrared spectrometry and1H-nuclear magnetic resonance. We have characterized the time courses of accumulation of the different flavins in the nutrient solution and considered several possible roles for flavin excretion in iron acquisition.

Impedimetric immunosensor based on a polypyrrole-antibiotic model film for the label-free picomolar detection of ciprofloxacin.

This paper describes the construction of an impedimetric immunosensor for the label-free detection of ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic belonging to synthetic fluoroquinolones. A poly(pyrrole-N-hydroxysuccinimide) film was electrogenerated onto electrodes and then used for the reagentless covalent binding of a fluoroquinolone model bearing an amino group. The resulting electrodes were utilized to immobilize a layer of anticiprofloxacin antibody onto the polymer surface by immunoreaction. In presence of ciprofloxacin, the antibody was displaced in solution inducing marked changes in the impedance of the sensor electrodes. These phenomena were detected and characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy allowing the selective detection of extremely low ciprofloxacin concentration, namely, 1 x 10(-12) g mL(-1) or 3 pmol L(-1). Sensors exposed to ciprofloxacin showed a decrease in the sum of the interfacial resistances with the increase in ciprofloxacin concentration from 1 x 10(-12) to 1 x 10(-6) g mL(-1).

ON THE PREPARATION OF AMINE N-OXIDES BY USING DIOXIRANES

Abstract The reaction of heterocyclic aromatic amines, anilines and tertiary amines with dimethyldioxirane (DMD) was examined. Treatment of heterocyclic aromatic amines and anilines with a slight excess of DMD at 0 °C afforded the corresponding N -oxides in quantitative conversion yields. In addition, the oxidation was chemoselective in the presence of carbon-carbon double bonds. On the other hand, most of the tertiary amines assayed did afford also quantitative yields of the corresponding N -oxides, although reaction conditions, in particular regarding the amount of DMD required, depended on each substrate. Additional studies carried out on selected substrates suggested that certain N -oxides derived from tertiary amines deactivate DMD.

Availability and reactivity of concentrated dimethyldioxirane solutions in solvents other than acetone

Abstract Four to five-fold increase in concentration or the possibility of isolation in “acetone-free” medium has become possible for dimethyldioxirane solutions in CH 2 Cl 2 , CHCl 3 , CCl 4 and CFCl 3 by employing a simple work-up procedure which involved washings with phosphate buffer. This procedure allowed the kinetics of the epoxidation of cis -stilbene to be studied and which were shown to follow a simple second order rate law for all solvents studied. The relative reaction rates were as follows: acetic acid > CHCl 3 > acetone > CCl 4 > toluene > ethyl acetate.

Portable Surface Plasmon Resonance Immunosensor for the Detection of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Residues in Milk

An inexpensive and portable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor, SPReeta Evaluation Kit SPR3, has been used to develop a biosensor for the determination of fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) and to demonstrate its performance analyzing FQ residues in milk samples. The SPReeta three-channel gold chips were activated with a mixed self-assembled monolayer (m-SAM) and functionalized with a FQ haptenized protein. Binding of the antibody produced a concentration-dependent increase of the SPR signal as a result of the change in the refraction index. Similarly, the presence of the FQ produced a dose-dependent decrease of the response, which allowed a good limit of detection (LOD) to be obtained (1.0 ± 0.4 μg L(-1) for enrofloxacin in buffer). The response was reproducible in all three channels, on different injections and days, and also between chips. Milk samples could be analyzed after a simple sample treatment involving fat removal by centrifugation and dilution with water. Under these conditions calibration curves were obtained showing that FQ residues can be analyzed in milk samples with an IC(50) value of 26.4 ± 7.2 μg L(-1) and a LOD of 2.0 ± 0.2 μg L(-1) (for enrofloxacin), far below the European Union regulations for this antibiotic family in this matrix. Finally, the paper also demonstrates that the biosensor is able to selectively detect the presence of FQs in milk samples, even in the presence of other antibiotics. Enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and norfloxacin residues were detected in blind samples supplied by Nestlé Co.

Molecular Modeling Assisted Hapten Design To Produce Broad Selectivity Antibodies for Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics

Antibodies with a wide recognition profile of fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been produced based on chemical criteria, theoretical studies, and molecular modeling assisted hapten design. The immunizing hapten preserves the most important and characteristic epitopes of this antibiotic family. The studies have taken into consideration the zwitterionic character of most of the fluoroquinolones and the relative concentration of the different species in equilibrium at physiologic pH. The hapten is prepared in the form of a stable prehapten through a 5 step synthetic pathway. Immediately before conjugation, the immunizing hapten is obtained by removing the diphenylmethane protecting group. The specificity of the antibodies obtained is directed toward the common area defined by the fluorine atom at position 6 and the β-ketoacid moiety. The ELISA developed is able to recognize with very good detectability important fluoroquinolones used in the veterinary field such as ciprofloxacin (CPFX, IC(50), 0.35 μg L(-1)), enrofloxacin (ERFX, IC(50), 0.65 μg L(-1)), danofloxacin (DNFX, IC(50), 7.31 μg L(-1)), difloxacin (DFX, IC(50), 0.91 μg L(-1)), sarafloxacin (SRFX, IC(50), 0.96 μg L(-1)), norfloxacin (NRFX, IC(50), 0.78 μg L(-1)), ofloxacin (OFX, IC(50), 1.84 μg L(-1)), flumequine (Flume, IC(50), 3.91 μ gL(-1)), marbofloxacin (MBFX, IC(50), 4.30 μ gL(-1)), and oxolinic acid (OXO, IC(50), 23.53 μg L(-1)). The results presented here demonstrate that the antibody affinity is strongly affected by the presence of divalent cations, owing to their complexation with the fluoroquinolone molecules. Moreover, the outcome from the effect of the pH on the immunochemical assays suggests that the selectivity could be modulated with the pH due to the zwitterionic character of the fluoroquinolones and as a function of their different pK(a) values.

Waveguide interrogated optical immunosensor (WIOS) for detection of sulfonamide antibiotics in milk.

An immunosensor was developed for the detection of sulfonamide antibiotics in milk. Detection relied on a competitive immunoassay format, using immunoreagents previously developed for the generic detection of sulfonamide antibiotics and evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The immunoassay was implemented onto a microsystem platform, the wavelength interrogated optical sensing device, which uses the evanescent field to probe changes at the interface of a waveguiding layer, and thus allows sensitive detection of biomolecule adsorption. The immunoreagents were immobilized onto the surface of the waveguide chip, and a fluidic cell allowed flowing analyte and detection solutions above the surface. Sulfapyridine was used as reference sulfonamide and detected with the immunosensor in buffer and in milk with a limit of detection (IC(90)) of 0.2+/-0.1 microg L(-1) and 0.5+/-0.1 microg L(-1), respectively. The analysis time was below 30 min, including regeneration of the sensing surface, with minimum sample preparation required. The reproducibility of the detection was better than 10%. A blind assay allowed identifying milk samples that were contaminated with different sulfonamide antibiotics at or above the maximum residue limits established by the European Union for these compounds (100 microg L(-1)). Thus, the developed immunosensor presents great potential as a generic sensing device for the fast and early detection of food contaminants on the field by non-skilled users.