Formyl-peptide Receptor Agonists and Amorphous SiO2-NPs Synergistically and Selectively Increase the Inflammatory Responses of Human Monocytes and PMNs

We tested whether amorphous SiO2-NPs and formyl-peptide receptor (FPRs) agonists synergistically activate human monocytes and neutrophil polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMNs). Peptide ligands specifically binding to FPR1 (f-MLP) and to FPR2 (MMK-1, WKYMVM and WKYMVm) human isoforms did not modify the association of SiO2-NPs to both cell types or their cytotoxic effects. Similarly, the extent of CD80, CD86, CD83, ICAM-1 and MHCII expression in monocytes treated with SiO2-NPs was not significantly altered by any FPRs agonist. However, FPR1 stimulation with f-MLP strongly increased the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 by human monocytes, and of IL-8 by PMNs in the presence of SiO2-NPs, due to the synergic stimulation of gene transcription. FPR2 agonists also up-modulated the production of IL-1β induced by monocytes treated with SiO2-NPs. In turn, SiO2-NPs increased the chemotaxis of PMNs toward FPR1-specific ligands, but not toward FPR2-specific ones. Conversely, the chemotaxis of monocytes toward FPR2-specific peptides was inhibited by SiO2-NPs. NADPH-oxidase activation triggered by FPR1- and FPR2-specific ligands in both cell types was not altered by SiO2-NPs. Microbial and tissue danger signals sensed by FPRs selectively amplified the functional responses of monocytes and PMNS to SiO2-NPs, and should be carefully considered in the assessment of the risk associated with nanoparticle exposure

Selective targeting of proteins by hybrid polyoxometalates: Interaction between a bis-biotinylated hybrid conjugate and avidin

The Keggin-type polyoxometalate [\u3b3-SiW10O36]8 12 was covalently modified to obtain a bis-biotinylated conjugate able to bind avidin. Spectroscopic studies such as UV-vis, fluorimetry, circular dichroism, coupled to surface plasmon resonance technique were used to highlight the unique interplay of supramolecular interactions between the homotetrameric protein and the bis-functionalized polyanion. In particular, the dual recognition mechanism of the avidin encompasses (i) a complementary electrostatic association between the anionic surface of the polyoxotungstate and each positively charged avidin subunit and (ii) specific host-guest interactions between each biotinylated arm and a corresponding pocket on the tetramer subunits. The assembly exhibits peroxidase-like reactivity and it was used in aqueous solution for L-methionine methyl ester oxidation by H2O2. The recognition phenomenon was then exploited for the preparation of layer-by-layer films, whose structural evolution was monitored in situ by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Finally, cell tracking studies were performed by exploiting the specific interactions with a labeled streptavidin

C1q-Mediated Complement Activation and C3 Opsonization Trigger Recognition of Stealth Poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)-Coated Silica Nanoparticles by Human Phagocytes

Poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) (PMOXA) is an alternative promising polymer to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) for design and engineering of macrophage-evading nanoparticles (NPs). Although PMOXA-engineered NPs have shown comparable pharmacokinetics and in vivo performance to PEGylated stealth NPs in the murine model, its interaction with elements of the human innate immune system has not been studied. From a translational angle, we studied the interaction of fully characterized PMOXA-coated vinyltriethoxysilane-derived organically modified silica NPs (PMOXA-coated NPs) of approximately 100 nm in diameter with human complement system, blood leukocytes, and macrophages and compared their performance with PEGylated and uncoated NP counterparts. Through detailed immunological and proteomic profiling, we show that PMOXA-coated NPs extensively trigger complement activation in human sera exclusively through the classical pathway. Complement activation is initiated by the sensing molecule C1q, where C1q binds with high affinity (Kd = 11 \ub1 1 nM) to NP surfaces independent of immunoglobulin binding. C1q-mediated complement activation accelerates PMOXA opsonization with the third complement protein (C3) through the amplification loop of the alternative pathway. This promoted NP recognition by human blood leukocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages. The macrophage capture of PMOXA-coated NPs correlates with sera donor variability in complement activation and opsonization but not with other major corona proteins, including clusterin and a wide range of apolipoproteins. In contrast to these observations, PMOXA-coated NPs poorly activated the murine complement system and were marginally recognized by mouse macrophages. These studies provide important insights into compatibility of engineered NPs with elements of the human innate immune system for translational steps

Porphyrin Derivatives as Optical Molecular Sensors

In this Doctorate Thesis project, a small library of four structurally related melamine-bridge bis(porphyrin-ZnII) receptors, was synthesized The coordination properties of these porphyrin derivatives has been investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy for a series of aliphatic diamines of general formula H2N (CH2)n NH2 (n = 4-8). A marked colour variation occours due to a favourable host-guest ditopic interaction. The binding constants, higher than 10e7 M-1, make these receptors excellent candidates for the development of sensor devices for continuous flow analyses, in which the porphyrin derivatives are covalently supported onto appropriate solid materials. These dimeric metalloporphyrin hosts (molecular tweezers), have also been successfully exploited as chirality probes for determination of the absolute configuration (AC) for a wide variety of chiral molecules (diamines, amino esters, amino amides, amino alcohols and secondary monoalcohols) by using circular dichroism spectroscopy, in collaboration with Prof. Nina Berova of Columbia University. The deposition of porphyrin derivatives on different matrices was also investigated. Characterizations of substrates were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunneling microscopy. These results show promising potential in the synthesis of highly ordered networks of surface-supported functional materials for sensing and solar energy applications.Il progetto di ricerca di questa Tesi di Dottorato ha riguardato la sintesi, la caratterizzazione e lo studio delle proprietà di ricognizione molecolare di nuovi derivati bis-porfirinici contenenti un ponte triazinico. Studi di spettroscopia UV-vis hanno permesso di determinare l’affinità di tali recettori nei confronti delle diammine lineari di formula generale H2N(CH2)nNH2, con n = 4-8. Le costanti di formazione dei complessi host-guest sono molto grandi, fino a 10e7 M-1, grazie all’effetto ditopico realizzato dai due centri porfirinici. La coordinazione delle diammine al dimero porfirinico è associata ad una variazione marcata del colore e questo fatto ha favorito l’impiego di tali derivati in ambito sensoristico. A tal proposito, è stata messa a punto una procedura per supportare i dimeri porfirinici su materiali polimerici per la costruzione di sensori da utilizzare per l’analisi in flusso continuo. Questi derivati sono stati anche utilizzati come pinze molecolari (tweezers) per la determinazione della configurazione assoluta di molecole chirali (diammine, ammino esteri, ammino ammidi e ammino alcoli, monoalcoli secondari) mediante l’impiego della spettroscopia di dicroismo circolare (CD), in collaborazione con la Prof. Berova della Columbia University. Parallelamente, sono stati realizzati studi di deposizione di derivati porfirinici su superfici in vista di applicazioni di tipo sensoristico e in campo energetico (fotovoltaico). La caratterizzazione dei substrati è stata condotta mediante misure di microscopia elettronica a scansione (SEM), microscopia a forza atomica (AFM) e microscopia a scansione ad effetto tunnel (STM). Questi studi di deposizione hanno dimostrato come, scegliendo le opportune condizioni di deposizione, sia possibile costruire dei sistemi ordinati a lungo raggio, su superfici di diversa natura, rendendo questi sistemi candidati ideali per lo sviluppo di nuovi materiali ad alto contenuto tecnologico

Sintesi e caratterizzazione di dimeri porfirinici supportati su resine tentagel e loro uso come sensori ottici molecolari

Sintesi, caratterizzazione e studio di dimeri porfirinici come recettori molecolari, in soluzione e in fase eterogenea. Sono stati preparati 3 dimeri porfirinici metallati con zinco e mediante spettroscopia UV-visibile, sono state esaminate le proprietà di riconoscimento molecolare nei confronti di ammine lineari. Successivamente si è passati alla sintesi in fase solida di questi sistemi immobilizzandoli covalentemente a resine funzionalizzate con gruppi amminici

Synthesis, heterogenization and sensing properties of melamine-bridged bis-porphyrin dimers

A straightforward, "one-pot" approach to the construction of a new class of molecular tweezers and their heterogenization onto various aminated materials is reviewed here. It is based on nucleophilic substitution of the cyanuric chloride scaffold with tailored aminoporphyrin subunits. The molecular recognition properties of these porphyrinic materials for diamine sensing are also discussed

Solid-supported Zn(II) porphyrin tweezers as optical sensors for diamines

A melamine-bridged bis-Zn(II) porphyrin dyad covalently attached onto amino-functionalized TentaGel polymer beads or controlled pore glass (CPG) undergoes a reversible and marked colour change from purple to green upon exposure to a biogenic diamine such as cadaverine both in organic and aqueous media

Melamine-Bridged Bis(Porphyrin-Zn-II) Receptors: Molecular Recognition Properties

Dimeric metalloporphyrin hosts with tweezer-like structures have been synthesized by reacting the cyanuric chloride scaffold, CC, with 5-(4-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-triphenylporphyrin, P, and 5-(4-aminophenyl)-10,15,20-trimesitylporphyrin, M, to yield the homoconjugates free bases PP and MM and the heterodyad PM. Metalation with Zn(II), gives three structurally related ditopic receptors P(Zn)P(Zn), P(Zn)M(Zn), and M(Zn)M(Zn) with differential steric hindrance and conformational rigidity. The solution structure and supramolecular properties of these porphyrin dimers have been investigated as isolated molecules and in the presence of aliphatic alpha,omega-diamines of general formula H(2)N-(CH(2))n-NH(2) (n = 4-8) by spectroscopic and theoretical studies including multidimensional NMR, UV-vis, molecular modeling, and computational NMR methods. Binding constants in the range 4.2 x 10(6) to 3.4 x 10(7) M(-1) are observed in dichloromethane at 298 K, with a 3 orders of magnitude increase as compared to monodentate nBuNH(2), thus indicating the occurrence of a host-guest ditopic interaction. Linear correlation graphs are obtained by plotting the Soret band shift (Delta v, cm(-1)) of the complex as a function of the diamine chain length. Combined NMR evidence and OPLS 2005 Force Field conformational analysis point to a mutual adaption of both the binding partners in the host-guest complex, whose geometry is mainly dictated by the steric impact of the bulky substituents at the porphyrin periphery

Combined Action of Human Commensal Bacteria and Amorphous Silica Nanoparticles on the Viability and Immune Responses of Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) regulate the host-microbe balance in the gut and skin, tissues likely exposed to nanoparticles (NPs) present in drugs, food, and cosmetics. We analyzed the viability and the activation of DCs incubated with extracellular media (EMs) obtained from cultures of commensal bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis) or pathogenic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus) in the presence of amorphous silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs). EMs and NPs synergistically increased the levels of cytotoxicity and cytokine production, with different nanoparticle dose-response characteristics being found, depending on the bacterial species. E. coli and S. epidermidis EMs plus NPs at nontoxic doses stimulated the secretion of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), IL-12, IL-10, and IL-6, while E. coli and S. epidermidis EMs plus NPs at toxic doses stimulated the secretion of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-4, and IL-5. On the contrary, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa EMs induced cytokines only when they were combined with NPs at toxic concentrations. The induction of maturation markers (CD86, CD80, CD83, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and major histocompatibility complex class II) by commensal bacteria but not by pathogenic ones was improved in the presence of noncytotoxic SiO2 NP doses. DCs consistently supported the proliferation and differentiation of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells secreting IFN-gamma and IL-17A. The synergistic induction of CD86 was due to nonprotein molecules present in the EMs from all bacteria tested. At variance with this finding, the synergistic induction of IL-1 beta was prevalently mediated by proteins in the case of E. coli EMs and by nonproteins in the case of S. epidermidis EMs. A bacterial costimulus did not act on DCs after adsorption on SiO2 NPs but rather acted as an independent agonist. The inflammatory and immune actions of DCs stimulated by commensal bacterial agonists might be altered by the simultaneous exposure to engineered or environmental NPs

Preparation of ORMOSIL nanoparticles conjugated with vitamin D3 analogues and their biological evaluation

Dye-doped, 90 nm diameter, multifunctional organically modified silica (ORMOSIL) nanoparticles were prepared by condensation of vinyltriethoxysilane within surfactant-stabilized microemulsions and conjugated with several vitamin D3 derivatives. For this, vitamin D analogues possessing at least one hydroxyl group derivatized as vinylcarbonate have been synthesized. These analogues were conjugated to ORMOSIL nanoparticles through the carbonate function, forming carbamate derivatives of vitamin D nanoparticles. The interaction between these nanoparticles and human serum albumin, which is one of the serum transporters of the insoluble vitamin D3, was investigated by surface plasmon resonance. The results obtained revealed that this approach allows obtaining water-soluble vitamin D3 derivatives, which maintain their full protein binding ability