A novel mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe was developed via condensation of carbazole with two indolium units, which could realize the detection of bisulfite in a PBS buffer solution. The probe exhibited good mitochondrial location ability and could selectively respond to bisulfite among other sulfur-containing species in living cells.

JK184 can specially inhibit Gli in the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway, which showed great promise for cancer therapeutics. For developing aqueous formulation and improving anti-tumor activity of JK184, we prepared JK184 encapsulated MPEG-PCL micelles by the solid dispersion method without using surfactants or toxic organic solvents. The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of JK184 micelles were both increased compared with the free drug. JK184 micelles induced more apoptosis and blocked proliferation of Panc-1 and BxPC-3 tumor cells. In addition, JK184 micelles exerted a sustained in vitro release behavior and had a stronger inhibitory effect on proliferation, migration and invasion of HUVECs than free JK184. Furthermore, JK184 micelles had stronger tumor growth inhibiting effects in subcutaneous Panc-1 and BxPC-3 tumor models. Histological analysis showed that JK184 micelles improved anti-tumor activity by inducing more apoptosis, decreasing microvessel density and reducing expression of CD31, Ki67, and VEGF in tumor tissues. JK184 micelles showed a stronger inhibition of Gli expression in Hh signaling, which played an important role in pancreatic carcinoma. Furthermore, circulation time of JK184 in blood was prolonged after entrapment in polymeric micelles. Our results suggested that JK184 micelles are a promising drug candidate for treating pancreatic tumors with a highly inhibitory effect on Hh activity.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), combining monoclonal antibody with high cytotoxicity chemotherapeutic drug (warhead), have been successfully applied for clinical cancer therapy. Linker technology to select and design linker connecting warhead with antibody, is critical to the success of therapeutic ADCs. In this study, three kinds of linkers were designed to connect SN-38, the bioactive metabolite of the anticancer drug irinotecan (CPT-11), which is 100–1000 times more potent than CPT-11, with the anti-HER2 antibody trastuzumab to prepare three different ADC conjugates (T-SN38 A, B and C). Meanwhile, we compared the anti-ovarian cancer effect of these three T-SN38 conjugates with trastuzumab in vitro and in vivo. Our in vitro results showed that T-SN38 A, B and C (drug-to-antibody ratio, DAR = 3.7, 3.2, 3.4) were 2 to 3 times as cytotoxic as SN-38, and the IC50 for these three conjugates on SKOV-3 cell line at 72 h were 5.2 ± 0.3, 4.4 ± 0.7, and 5.1 ± 0.4 nM respectively. In our in vivo studies, T-SN38 conjugates had well targeting ability for tumor tissue and all three of them had much higher anti-ovarian cancer potency than trastuzumab. Among of them, T-SN38 B, which coupled SN-38 with trastuzumab by a carbonate bond, has the best anti-ovarian cancer potency. In conclusion, the novel HER2-targeting ADCs T-SN38 have great potential for HER2-positive ovarian cancer. Moreover, the SN-38-Linkers designed in this study can also be used to connect with other antibodies for the therapy of other cancers.Schematic displays the structures of three HER2-targeting antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs): T-SN38 A, T-SN38 B and T-SN38 C. T-SN38 A prepared with the hydrophobic ester linkage linker A which contained ester bond cleavage site; T-SN38 B contains hydrophobic linker B with carbonate cleavage site; T-SN38 C contains linker C with hydrophilic PEG4 fragment and carbonate cleavage site. Results of in vitro and in vivo showed T-SN38 A, B and C (Drug Antibody Rate, DAR = 3.7, 3.2, 3.4) have great potential for HER2-positive ovarian cancer.

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for SO2 derivatives based on the conjugate of carbazole and indolium was presented, which could selectively respond to HSO3− over other thiol compounds. More importantly, CZ-Id is a novel mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe to image exogenous SO2 derivatives.

Breast carcinoma is the most common female cancer with considerable metastatic potential. Signal transducers and activators of the transcription 3 (Stat3) signaling pathway is constitutively activated in many cancers including breast cancer and has been validated as a novel potential anticancer target. Here, we reported our finding with nifuroxazide, an antidiarrheal agent identified as a potent inhibitor of Stat3. The potency of nifuroxazide on breast cancer was assessed in vitro and in vivo. In this investigation, we found that nifuroxazide decreased the viability of three breast cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, western blot analysis demonstrated that the occurrence of its apoptosis was associated with activation of cleaved caspases-3 and Bax, downregulation of Bcl-2. Moreover, nifuroxazide markedly blocked cancer cell migration and invasion, and the reduction of phosphorylated-Stat3Tyr705, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression were also observed. Furthermore, in our animal experiments, intraperitoneal administration of 50 mg/kg/day nifuroxazide suppressed 4T1 tumor growth and blocked formation of pulmonary metastases without detectable toxicity. Meanwhile, histological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed a decrease in Ki-67-positive cells, MMP-9-positive cells and an increase in cleaved caspase-3-positive cells upon nifuroxazide. Notably, nifuroxazide reduced the number of myeloid-derived suppressor cell in the lung. Our data indicated that nifuroxazide may potentially be a therapeutic agent for growth and metastasis of breast cancer.

Two mitochondria-targeted real-time probes were presented, which could selectively respond to hypochlorite over other ROS. Meanwhile, the “off–on” probes could be successfully applied in the in vivo imaging of hypochlorite in living mice.

A series of novel benzamide derivatives were prepared and evaluated using cell-based measurements. Among these compounds, 10f significantly inhibited Hedgehog signaling and showed equivalent or more potency than GDC-0449 in different tests. Furthermore, compound 10f potently inhibited the proliferation of Daoy, a medulloblastoma cell line that is reported to be resistant to GDC-0449, which indicated a promising prospect in the treatment of Hedgehog signaling pathway related cancer in clinical trial.

A rapid and sensitive LC method was developed and validated for the determination of diastereomeric purity of tenofovir alafenamide (GS-7340). Baseline separation with resolution >2.8 was achieved within 17 min on a CHIRALPAK AD-3 (250 × 4.6 mm; particle size 3 μm) column using n-hexane:2-propanol (60:40 v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL min−1. The analytes were detected by UV absorbance at 260 nm. The effects of ethanol, 2-propanol, and temperature on diastereomeric selectivity and resolution of diastereomerism were evaluated. The method was extensively validated and proved to be robust. The recoveries were between 98.17 and 102.84 % with <1.93 % relative standard deviation. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation for GS-7339 were 0.77 and 2.56 μg mL−1 and for GS-7340 were 0.61 and 2.04 μg mL−1, respectively. This method was extensively proved to be accurate, stable, rapid, and sensitive for the determination of diastereomeric purity of tenofovir alafenamide (GS-7340) in bulk samples.

An efficient method for the regioselective synthesis of potentially biologically active tetrasubstituted 1-pyrazolines has been achieved via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. A range of tetrasubstituted 1-pyrazolines bearing one Boc group and two ester groups were obtained in high yields (up to 99%). The structure and relative stereochemistry of cycloadducts were confirmed by NMR spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The possible mechanism was proposed and the major Z-cycloadducts as a single diastereomer could be separated from each other by chromatography.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide

An efficient synthesis of novel exo′-selective spiropyrrolidine bisoxindoles has been achieved via a three-component 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. The azomethine ylides generated in situ from substituted isatin and primary α-amino acid methyl ester (or primary α-amino acids) reacted with the Knoevenagel adducts of substituted isatin to furnish novel spiropyrrolidine bisoxindoles in high yields (up to 99%). The structure and relative stereochemistry of cycloadducts were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The possible mechanism was proposed and the cycloaddition proceeded via exo′-transition state.

Two mitochondria-targeted real-time probes were presented, which could selectively respond to hypochlorite over other ROS. Meanwhile, the “off–on” probes could be successfully applied in the in vivo imaging of hypochlorite in living mice.

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for SO2 derivatives based on the conjugate of carbazole and indolium was presented, which could selectively respond to HSO3− over other thiol compounds. More importantly, CZ-Id is a novel mitochondria-targeted ratiometric fluorescent probe to image exogenous SO2 derivatives.