Development of SimCells as a novel chassis for functional biosensors

This work serves as a proof-of-concept for bacterially derived SimCells (Simple Cells), which contain the cell machinery from bacteria and designed DNA (or potentially a simplified genome) to instruct the cell to carry out novel, specific tasks. SimCells represent a reprogrammable chassis without a native chromosome, which can host designed DNA to perform defined functions. In this paper, the use of Escherichia coli MC1000 ∆minD minicells as a non-reproducing chassis for SimCells was explored, as demonstrated by their ability to act as sensitive biosensors for small molecules. Highly purified minicells derived from E. coli strains containing gene circuits for biosensing were able to transduce the input signals from several small molecules (glucarate, acrylate and arabinose) into the production of green fluorescent protein (GFP). A mathematical model was developed to fit the experimental data for induction of gene expression in SimCells. The intracellular ATP level was shown to be important for SimCell function. A purification and storage protocol was developed to prepare SimCells which could retain their functions for an extended period of time. This study demonstrates that SimCells are able to perform as 'smart bioparticles' controlled by designed gene circuits

Simultaneous Quantification of Glibenclamide, Simvastatin, and Quercetin by Using LC-UV Method and Its Application to Pharmacokinetic Study in Rats

A sensitive, precise, and simple LC method for the simultaneous quantification of glibenclamide, simvastatin, and quercetin in rat plasma has been developed and validated. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a cyano column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) maintained at room temperature, using isocratic elution with methanol : acetonitrile : 10 mM potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate, pH adjusted to 4.5 with o-phosphoric acid (8 : 32 : 60, v/v) and detected using UV-VIS detector. Plasma samples were deproteinated with 0.1% perchloric acid and acetonitrile for extraction of the glibenclamide, simvastatin, and quercetin which resulted in their high recoveries. LC calibration curves based on the extracts from the rat plasma were linear in the range of 50–1000 ng mL−1 for all the three drugs. The limit of quantification was 50 ng mL−1. The described method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of glibenclamide, simvastatin, and quercetin following oral administration, in combination to Sprague-Dawley rats