Recent advances in mesoporous silica nanoparticles for antitumor therapy: our contribution

Since 2001, when our research group proposed for the first time MCM-41 as a drug release system, the scientific community has demonstrated a growing interest in mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for their revolutionary potential in nanomedicine. Among the diverse pathologies that can be treated with MSNs, cancer has received increasing attention. MSNs can be loaded with large amounts of therapeutic cargoes and once intravenously administrated preferentially accumulate in solid tumours via the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect. Herein we report the recent developments achieved by our research group as a pioneer in this field, highlighting: the design of sophisticated MSNs as stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems to release the entrapped cargo upon exposure to a given stimulus while preventing the premature release of highly cytotoxic drugs before reaching the target; transporting non-toxic prodrugs and the enzyme responsible for its conversion into cytotoxic agents into the same MSNs; improving the selectivity and cellular uptake by cancer cells by active targeting of MSNs; increasing the penetration of MSNs within the tumour mass, which is one of the major challenges in the use of NPs to treat solid tumours

Selective palladium-catalyzed amination of the heterocyclic core of variolins

A new and selective palladium-catalyzed amination of the pyrido[3′,3′:4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine nucleus, the heterocyclic core of the variolin alkaloids, is described. The method allows the introduction of amino and aryl- and alkylamino substituents on the C9 position in advanced precursors of variolin B and deoxyvariolin.We acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (project CTQ2005/011060), Comunidad de Madrid (CAM) and Universidad de Alcalá (UAH) (project CAM/UAH-2005/044) and a grant (A.B.) from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles grafted with a light-responsive protein shell for highly cytotoxic antitumoral therapy

A novel phototriggered drug delivery nanocarrier, which exhibits very high tumor cytotoxicity against human tumoral cells, is presented. This device is based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles decorated with a biocompatible protein shell cleavable by light irradiation. The proteins that compose the protein shell (avidin, streptavidin and biotinylated transferrin) act as targeting and capping agents at the same time, avoiding the use of redundant systems. The light responsive behavior is provided by a biotinylated photocleavable cross-linker covalently grafted on the mesoporous surface, which suffers photocleavage by UV radiation (366 nm). Human tumoral cells incubated in the presence of a very low particle concentration enter into the apoptotic stage after a short irradiation time. Thus, the system described here could be applied to the treatment of exposed tumors that affect the skin, oesophagus, and stomach, among others, and are easily accessible for light irradiation

Electron microscopy for inorganic-type drug delivery nanocarriers for antitumoral applications: What is possible to see?

The use of nanoparticles able to transport drugs, in a selective and controlable manner, directly to diseased tissues and cells have improved the therapeutic arsenal for addressing unmet clinical situations. In the recent years, a vast number of nanocarriers with inorganic, organic, hybrid and even biological nature have been developed, expecially for their application in oncology fied. The exponential growing in the nanomedicine field would not have been possible without the also rapid expansion of electron microscopy techniques, which allow a more precise observation of nanometric objects. The use of these techniques provides a better understanding of the key parameters which rule their synthesis and behavior. In this review, the recent advances performed in the application of inorganic nanoparticles for clinical uses and the role which has played electron microscopy will be presented

Palladium-mediated C-N, C-C, and C-O functionalization of azolopyrimidines: a new total synthesis of variolin B

A new total synthesis of the alkaloid variolin B is achieved by a selective and sequential palladium-mediated functionalization of a\ud trihalo-substituted pyrido[30\ud ,20\ud :4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine. This intermediate is obtained by a new heterocyclization reaction between\ud an appropriate bromomethyl azaindole and N-tosylmethyl dichloroformimide. The methodology may be effective for the synthesis of\ud some analogs by substitution on the relatively unexplored C4 and C9 positions of the alkaloid.The authors acknowledge financial support from the\ud Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (project\ud CTQ2005/011060/BQU), Comunidad de Madrid (CAM),\ud and Universidad de Alcalá (UAH) (project CCG-UAH/\ud SAL-0660) and a grant from the Ministerio de Educación\ud y Ciencia (A.B.)

Estudio de la relación entre los balances en superficie de onda larga y onda corta utilizando datos del proyecto SRB (Surface Radiation Budget)

Ponencia presentada en: III Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología “El agua y el clima”, celebrado en Palma de Mallorca del 16 al 19 de junio de 2002.[ES]En este trabajo se muestra la influencia de diferentes regímenes climáticos en el balance de radiación en superficie, a través de las comparaciones entre los balances de onda larga y onda corta en diferentes regiones del globo. Las regiones estudiadas son cuatro zonas desérticas o semidesérticas, seis oceánicas y dos localizadas en el Mediterráneo. Se observa una gran influencia de la cobertura nubosa en los balances de radiación de onda corta y larga, así como el efecto estacional en ambos hemisferios. Asimismo, aparecen diferencias claras si comparamos regiones del Mar Mediterráneo con regiones centrales del Océano Pacífico o el Atlántico.[EN]In this work we show the influence of different climatic regimes on the surface radiation balance through the comparisons between the long wave balance and the short wave balance over different regions in the globe. The studied regions are four deserted or semi-deserted areas, six ocean areas and two areas located in the Mediterranean basin. A large influence of cloud cover is observed in both short wave and long wave balances, as well as the seasonal effect in both hemispheres. Likewise, remarkable differences appear if we compare Mediterranean Sea regions with central regions of the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans

Key Ideas on the Singularity of the Town “La Linea de la Concepcion” in the light of International Law and European Law - Preliminary Report

Informe previo– Claves sobre la singularidad de la Línea de la Concepción a la luz del derecho internacional y del derecho europe

Novel environmentally benign procedures for the synthesis of styryl dyes

A series of styrylpyridinium, styrylquinolinium and styrylbenzothiazolium dyes have been synthesized by novel environmentally benign procedures. The condensation of 4-methylpyridinium methosulphate, 2- or 4-methylquinolinium methosulphate or 2-methylbenzothiazolium methosulphate with aromatic aldehydes was performed under solvent-free conditions or microwave irradiation in the presence of different basic or acidic reagents. The chemical structures of the derived styrylcyanine dyes were confirmed by 1H NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies and elemental analysis

Editorial Chemical Engineering Journal

RESEARCHER ID M-3378-2014 (María Vallet Regí) ORCID 0000-0002-6104-4889 (María Vallet Regí) RESEARCHER ID M-3316-2014 (Antonio Salinas Sánchez) ORCID 0000-0002-8408-3389 (Antonio Salinas Sánchez) RESEARCHER ID K-8193-2014 (Alejandro Baeza) ORCID 0000-0002-9042-8865 (Alejandro Baeza) RESEARCHER ID K-3719-2014 (Miguel Manzano García) ORCID 0000-0001-6238-6111 (Miguel Manzano García)Depto. de Química en Ciencias FarmacéuticasFac. de Farmaciapu