Potentiation of 5-fluorouracil encapsulated in zeolites as drug delivery systems for in vitro models of colorectal carcinoma

The studies of potentiation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), a traditional drug used in the treatment of several cancers, including colorectal (CRC), were carried out with zeolites Faujasite in the sodium form, with different particle sizes (NaY, 700nm and nanoNaY, 150nm) and Linde type L in the potassium form (LTL) with a particle size of 80nm. 5-FU was loaded into zeolites by liquid-phase adsorption. Characterization by spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C and 27Al solid-state MAS NMR), chemical analysis, thermal analysis (TGA), nitrogen adsorption isotherms and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), demonstrated the successful loading of 5-FU into the zeolite hosts. In vitro drug release studies (PBS buffer pH 7.4, 37°C) revealed the release of 80-90% of 5-FU in the first 10min. To ascertain the drug release kinetics, the release profiles were fitted to zero-order, first-order, Higuchi, Hixson-Crowell, Korsmeyer-Peppas and Weibull kinetic models. The in vitro dissolution from the drug delivery systems (DDS) was explained by the Weibull model. The DDS efficacy was evaluated using two human colorectal carcinoma cell lines, HCT-15 and RKO. Unloaded zeolites presented no toxicity to both cancer cells, while all DDS allowed an important potentiation of the 5-FU effect on the cell viability. Immunofluorescence studies provided evidence for zeolite-cell internalization.RA is recipient of fellowship SFRH/BI/51118/2010 from Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). This work was supported by the FCT projects refs. PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011 and PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2011 and the Centre of Chemistry and Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (University of Minho, Portugal). The NMR spectrometer is part of the National NMR Network (RNRMN), supported with funds from FCT/QREN (Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional)

Zeolite structures loading with an anticancer compound as drug delivery systems

The authors are thankful to Dr. A. S. Azevedo for collecting the powder diffraction data.Two different structures of zeolites, faujasite (FAU) and Linde type A (LTA), were studied to investigate their suitability for drug delivery systems (DDS). The zeolites in the sodium form (NaY and NaA) were used as hosts for encapsulation of α-cyano-4- hydroxycinnamic acid (CHC). CHC, an experimental anticancer drug, was encapsulated in both zeolites by diffusion in liquid phase. These new drug delivery systems, CHC@zeolite, were characterized by spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, 1H NMR, 13C and 27Al solidstate MAS NMR, and UV−vis), chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of the zeolites and CHC@zeolite drug deliveries on HCT-15 human colon carcinoma cell line viability was evaluated. Both zeolites alone revealed no toxicity to HCT-15 cancer cells. Importantly, CHC@zeolite exhibit an inhibition of cell viability up to 585-fold, when compared to the non-encapsulated drug. These results indicate the potential of the zeolites for drug loading and delivery into cancer cells to induce cell deathO.M. and R.A. are recipients of fellowships (SFRH/BD/36463/2007, SFRH/BI/51118/2010) from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). This work was supported by the FCT projects refs PEst-C/ QUI/UI0686/2011, PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2011, and PTDC/ SAU-FCF/104347/2008, under the scope of “Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade” (COMPETE) of “Quadro Comunitário de Apoio III” and cofinanced by Fundo Comunitário Europeu FEDER, and the Centre of Chemistry and Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (University of Minho, Portugal)

Interaction of tetrameric silver with ammonia in AgCs-rho zeolite.

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Ammonium Dithionate – a New Material for Highly Sensitive EPR Dosimetry

Polycrystalline ammonium dithionate has been examined for its radiation response in the low dose range (< 5 Gy) using EPR technique. The •SO3- radical ion was detected as a single EPR line with a peak-to-peak derivative width of ca. 0.44 mT in irradiated samples and its intensity was found to vary linearly with dose. At equal and moderate settings of microwave power and modulation amplitude ammonium dithionate was at least 7 times more sensitive than L-alanine which is the most common EPR dosimeter standard. Pulse experiments were performed on the powder samples to obtain the longitudinal relaxation time. These and microwave saturation experiments served to indicate the optimal microwave power to be applied during measurements as an EPR dosimeter for best sensitivity of this material. It is thus claimed that ammonium dithionate has excellent potential to become an EPR dosimeter with a low limit of the measurable dose for cases where tissue equivalence is not required or can be corrected for.Original publication: M. Danilczuka, H. Gustafsson, M.D. Sastry, E. Lund and A. Lund, Ammonium Dithionate – a New Material for Highly Sensitive EPR Dosimetry, 2008, Spectrochimica Acta - Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, (69), 1, 18-21. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1016/j.saa.2007.03.001. Copyright: Copyright: Elsevier B.V., http://www.elsevier.com

EPR study of highly stable methyl radicals trapped in synthetic H-rho zeolite

Methyl radicals generated by ă-irradiation in the proton form of synthetic rho zeolite exposed to CH4 have been investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) in the temperature range 110-370 K. Depending on the methane adsorption temperature two EPR spectra of oCH3 radicals were recorded. The isotropic quartet observed after CH4 adsorption at room temperature was assigned to oCH3 radicals freely rotating in the middle of octagonal prism. After adsorption at 413 K, the isotropic quartet is overlapped with the second signal characterized with anisotropy of hyperfine splitting and g-value. It is postulated that anisotropic signal represents the oCH3 radicals located in á-cages and strongly interacting with silicaalumina framework. The mechanisms of radiolytic formation of methyl radicals and the possible stabilization sites are also discussed

In-Depth Profiling of Degradation Processes in a Fuel Cell: 2D Spectral-Spatial FTIR Spectra of Nafion Membranes

We present in-depth profiling by micro FTIR of cross sections for Nafion 115 membranes in membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) degraded during 52 or 180 h at open circuit voltage (OCV) conditions, 90 °C and 30% relative humidity. Analysis of optical images showed highly degraded zones in both MEAs. Corresponding 2D FTIR spectral-spatial maps indicated that C–H and CO groups are generated during degradation. The highest band intensities for both groups appeared at a depth of 82 μm from the cathode in the MEA degraded for 180 h; the same bands were present but less intense at a depth of 22 μm from the cathode. Degradation at these depths is most likely associated with the location of the Pt band formed from Pt dissolution and migration into the membrane. The two degradation bands, CO and C–H, appeared at the same depths from the cathode, 82 and 22 μm, suggesting that they are generated by a common mechanism or intermediate. This result is rationalized by a very important first reaction: Abstraction of a fluorine atom from the polymer main chain and side chain by hydrogen atoms, H^•. This step is expected to cause main chain and side chain scission and to generate R_F–CF₂^• radicals that can react with H₂O₂, H₂O, and H₂ to produce both −COOH and RCF₂H groups