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Effect of Total Apple Polyphenols Extract as Inhibitors of Amyloid Protein Aggregation By: Guarrasi, Valeria; Rappa, Cinzia Giacoma; Costa, Maria Assunta; et al. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY Volume: 52 Supplement: 1 Pages: S94-S94 Published: NOV-DEC 2018

Xyloglucans (XGs) are interesting substrates for the production of scaffolds for tissue engineering, drug delivery depots and hydrogel dressings, thanks to their ability to gel in appropriate conditions, such as in the presence of hydro-alcoholic solvents or by addition of sugar molecules. Due to their natural source, they are characterized by high average molecular weights and broad molecular weight distributions. High energy irradiation is a suitable tool to reduce polysaccharides molecular weight without a dramatic alteration of the polymer chemical structure and gelation ability. In this work, the effect of the radiation dose on the molecular weight of a XG derived from Tamarind seeds is investigated. The rheological properties of the gels obtained by adding ethanol to the polymer water solutions are also described. The effects of alcohol content, storage time and irradiation dose on gel strength are discussed.

In this work the influence of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) concentration in water on the organization and dynamics of the corresponding macro-/nanogel networks has been systematically investigated. Irradiation has been performed at the same irradiation dose (within the sterilization dose range) and dose rate. In the selected irradiation conditions, the transition between macroscopic gelation and micro-/nanogels formation is observed just below the critical overlap concentration (∼1 wt%), whereas the net prevalence of intra-molecular over inter-molecular crosslinking occurs at a lower polymer concentration (below 0.25 wt%). Dynamic–mechanical spectroscopy has been applied as a classical methodology to estimate the network mesh size for macrogels in their swollen state, while 13C NMR spin–lattice relaxation spectroscopy has been applied on both the macrogel and nanogel freeze dried residues to withdraw interesting information of the network spatial organization in the passage of scale from macro to nano.

Alzheimer Hsp60 Aggregation

Xyloglucans (XGs) are interesting substrates for the production of scaffolds for tissue engineering, drug delivery depots and hydrogel dressings, thanks to their ability to gel in appropriate conditions, such as in the presence of hydro-alcoholic solvents or by addition of sugar molecules. Due to their natural source, they are characterized by high average molecular weights and broad molecular weight distributions. High energy irradiation is a suitable tool to reduce polysaccharides molecular weight without a dramatic alteration of the polymer chemical structure and gelation ability. In this work, the effect of the radiation dose on the molecular weight of a XG derived from Tamarind seeds is investigated. The rheological properties of the gels obtained by adding ethanol to the polymer water solutions are also described. The effects of alcohol content, storage time and irradiation dose on gel strength are discussed

Nanogels (NGs), or small particles formed by physically or chemically crosslinked polymer networks, represent a niche in the development of “smart” nanoparticles for drug delivery and diagnostics. They offer unique advantages over other systems, including a large and flexible surface for multivalent bio-conjugation; an internal 3D aqueous environment for incorporation and protection of (bio)molecular drugs; the possibility to entrap active metal or mineral cores for imaging or phototherapeutic purposes; stimuli-responsiveness to achieve temporal and/or site control of the release function and biocompatibility. The availability of inexpensive and robust preparation methodologies is at the basis of the development of effective nanogel-based theragnostic devices. The design rules for mass fabrication of nanoscale hydrogel particles with the recourse to industrial-type accelerators is here discussed.

Recognizing the complexity of the fibrillogenesis process provides a solid ground for the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing or inhibiting protein-protein aggregation. Under this perspective, it is meaningful to identify the possible aggregation pathways and their relative products. We found that Aβ-peptide dissolved in a pH 7.4 solution at small peptide concentration and low ionic strength forms globular aggregates without typical amyloid β-conformation. ThT binding kinetics was used to monitor aggregate formation. Circular dichroism spectroscopy, AFM imaging, static and dynamic light scattering were used for structural and morphological characterization of the aggregates. They appear stable or at least metastable with respect to fiber growth, therefore appearing as an incidental product in the pathway of fibrillogenesis

Much interest has been paid to develop a variety of radiation-crosslinked hydrated polymeric materials, which swell in water but do not dissolve, as biocompatible materials used for wound healing, drug delivery system, surface-coating material for medically used devices, etc. With the aim of establishing design rules to produce hydrogels of controlled size at the nanoscale and desired internal network structure using conventional electron accelerators and set-ups, here we attempt a description in terms of structural and dynamic properties of polymer networks generated through e-beam irradiation of aqueous solutions of the same model polymer, a commercial grade poly(N-vinyl-pyrrolidone), subjected to e-beam irradiation with a 12 MeV Linac accelerator, at same dose (40kGy) and dose-rate (100 kGy/h) and at the variance of polymer concentration in water. Concentration has been systematically varied from above (10, 8, 6, 4, 2 % w) to below (1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.1, 0.05 % w) the critical chain overlap concentration value (~1%w) of the chosen polymer in water, as estimated by intrinsic viscosity measurements. The transition between macroscopic gelation and micro-/nanogels formation is observed just below the critical overlap concentration (0.5 %w), whereas the net prevalence of intra-molecular over inter-molecular crosslinking occurs at a polymer concentration below 0.25 % w, as revealed by both dynamic and static laser light scattering measurements. Significant structural differences between nanoscalar “finite” crosslinked networks and macrogels are evidenced by both FTIR and solid state NMR spectra. Polymeric segments mobility of the formed networks, at the different scales, has been assessed through stress-rheometry, solid-state cross-polarization times and nuclear relaxation time NMR studies of the freeze-dried residues.

It is currently accepted that the human Hsp60 resides and works not only in the mitochondria, the canonical residence, but also outside it. It is also known that Hsp60 although coded by a nuclear gene is synthesized in the cytosol and includes an N-terminal mitochondrial import signal (MIS), which directs the polypeptide toward the inside of the organelle where the MIS is removed. Therefore, there are at least two functional types of Hsp60, with and without MIS, the former in the cytosol the latter inside the mitochondria. A key question is: how do these two forms of Hsp60 differ beyond the fact that while one has MIS the other lacks it? How presence or absence of MIS affects the ability of Hsp60 to form oligomers, which are considered important for chaperoning peptides and assist them to reach a native state? We report here our initial observations on this issue. Typically, in the mitochondria, Hsp60 forms ring-shaped heptamers, two of which associate to build a barrel-shaped tetradecamer, the functional chaperoning complex. It is not known if the cytosolic Hsp60 with its MIS, also forms hepta- and tetradecamers. A clarification of this issue will most likely shed light on the physiological functions of extramitochondrial Hsp60, and also on its pathogenic role in Hsp60 chaperonopathies. Consequently, we compared recombinant Hsp60 bearing the MIS with the prokaryotic ortholog GroEL, which under normal conditions forms functional double-ring tetradecamers. Characteristic hydrodynamic sizes of the oligomeric complex for both systems were investigated by small angle X-ray (SAXS) and static and dynamic light scattering (SLS and DLS) in solution under similar physicochemical conditions. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and blue native polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis were used to further clarify the equilibrium between the different oligomeric species of the two proteins over a wide range of concentrations. Hsp60 with MIS formed hepta- and tetradecamers similarly to GroEL. Oligomerization was dependent on concentration for GroEL and Hsp60, but for the latter, formation of larger oligomers, e.g., tetradecamers, required higher concentrations than the former., Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, Vol 118, No 2 (Supplement) 2013

Human insulin has long been known to form amyloid fibrils under given conditions. The molecular basis of insulin aggregation is relevant for modeling the amyloidogenesis process, which is involved in many pathologies, as well as for improving delivery systems, used for diabetes treatments. Insulin aggregation displays a wide variety of morphologies, from small oligomeric filaments to huge floccules, and therefore different specific processes are likely to be intertwined in the overall aggregation. In the present work, we studied the aggregation kinetics of human insulin at low pH and different temperatures and concentrations. The structure and the morphogenesis of aggregates on a wide range of length scales (from monomeric proteins to elongated fibrils and larger aggregates networks) have been monitored by using different experimental techniques: time-lapse atomic force microscopy (AFM), quasi-elastic light-scattering (QLS), small and large angle static light-scattering, thioflavin T fluorescence, and optical microscopy. Our experiments, along with the analysis of scattered intensity distribution, show that fibrillar aggregates grow following a thermally activated heterogeneous coagulation mechanism, which includes both tip-to-tip elongation and lateral thickening. Also, the association of fibrils into bundles and larger clusters (up to tens of microns) occurs simultaneously and is responsible for an effective lag-time.

Study of macromolecular structure and dynamics of networks formed by pulsed electron-beam irradiation of poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) aqueous solutions, at relatively low energy per pulse and across different concentration regimes, provides the basis for the understanding of a new generation of functional nanostructures. Networks are the result of the follow-up reactions initiated by a continuous series of electron pulse-generated hydroxyl radicals, which may have a different fate at the variance of polymer concentration. Different spectroscopic techniques, FT-IR, 13C {1H} CP-MAS NMR and Raman, applied to characterize the formed networks, describe a profound modification of the chemical structure when network size is approaching the nanoscale. Static light scattering measurements provide further information on the average weight molecular weight modification of PVP when forming nanogel particles. From the simultaneous control of network size and modification of chemical functionality stems also an intrinsic fluorescence of these nanogels never observed before. Altogether the obtained radiation-sculptured nanogels exhibit interesting multifunctionality that, coupled with the already proven biocompatibility, can be exploited in the biomedical field.

Background: alpha(s1)-Casein is one of the four types of caseins, the largest protein component of bovine milk. The lack of a compact folded conformation and the capability to form micelles suggest a relationship of alpha(s1)-casein with the class of the intrinsically disordered (or natively unfolded) proteins. These proteins are known to exert a stabilizing activity on biomolecules through specific interaction with hydrophobic surfaces. In the present work we focused on the effect of alpha(s1)-casein on the fibrillogenesis of 1-40 beta-amyloid peptide, involved in Alzheimer's disease. Methods: The aggregation kinetics of beta-peptide in presence and absence of alpha(s1)-casein was followed under shear at 37 degrees C by recording the Thioflavine fluorescence, usually taken as an indicator of fibers formation. Measurements of Static and Dynamic Light Scattering, Circular Dichroism, and AFM imaging were done to reveal the details of alpha(s1)-casein-A beta(1-40) interaction. Results and discussions: alpha(s1)-Casein addition sizably increases the lag-time of the nucleation phase and slows down the entire fibrillization process. alpha(s1)-Casein sequesters the amyloid peptide on its surface thus exerting a chaperone-like activity by means a colloidal inhibition mechanism. General significance: Insights on the working mechanism of natural chaperones in preventing or controlling the amyloid aggregation.

Pectin is a very important polysaccharide in food technology, due to its ability to thicken or gel in aqueous solution under specific condition. One of the most common uses of pectin is in making jellies or jams, which requires the addition of a large amount of sucrose to acidic solutions. The role of sucrose in promoting pectin gelation has been ascribed to the strengthening of hydrophobic interaction consistently with its well-known stabilizing effect on protein structure. On the other hand, more specific effects on dimension and stiffness of pectin chains have been suggested by computational work. Here we present measurements of rheology, static and dynamic light scattering on samples of pectin containing different amounts of sucrose, ranging from few percent up to close the solubility limit of sucrose. This corresponds to spanning from low viscous liquid samples to strong gels. Results show that below the threshold value of 55% w/w, sucrose acts a critical parameter for the sol/gel transition by increasing the strength of excluded volume and hydrodynamic interaction between polymer chains. A further increase of sucrose above the critical concentration yields gels with a higher viscoelastic component corresponding to a higher amount of frozen structural inhomogeneities.

Fibril deposit formation of ainyloid P-protreiri (AP) iii the braiii is a liallmark oi Alzlieiiiicr disease (AD). Fibril: forination is triggered by 1nolecu1a.rc o~lformationacl hangeii and protein-protein interactions iiivolvirig partially unfo1de:i regioris of different AP peptide moleciiles. lncreasing cvi(.erice suggests that toxicity is linlced to diffusible AP oligoiners, which liave bccri foiind in soluble brain extracts of AI) patients, ratl-ier thail to the insoluble fibres. New thcrapcl tical approach, based 011 searchiiig molecules capable of regulating the peptide aggregation, is currently developiilg.

Visible light, scattered within an angle of few degrees, (Small Angle Light Scattering, SALS) yields information on the spatial correlations and dynamical properties on the scale of the micrometers. In this way a quick and non-invasive characterization of a variety of samples is feasible. Lately the SALS instruments have been built around multielement optical sensors (CCD, CMOS), allowing the simultaneous measurement of the complete structure factor even during fast kinetics. An assessment of some sensor matrices of different technology will be presented. The macromolecular assemblies produced by polysaccharides or proteins can be functional or dysfunctional, their properties being either desirable or detrimental. Anyhow, their morphology often depends, in a very delicate way, on the presence of cosolutes, on the thermal history, on the biopolymer concentration etc. We present some applications of low angle dynamic and static light scattering to the study of gelling systems (agarose, pectin, insulin).

We have studied, by optical rotation dispersion, light scattering and rheology, the κ-Carrageenan system to elucidate the processes involved in gel formation (on decreasing the temperature) and gel melting (on increasing the temperature). Our results show that, on decreasing the temperature, a conformational transition from coils to double helices first occurs, followed by aggregation of the double helices into domains and gel formation at appropriate polymer concentration. Structural details of this sequence are better revealed by re-heating the system. Melting appears as a two-step process characterized by first a conformational change of helices involved in junction zones between aggregates, followed by the conformational transition of the helices inside the aggregates. These helices can regain the coil conformation only when the aggregates melt at higher temperature, in full agreement with the old ‘domain’ model. The full description of the sol–gel mechanism of this system can be useful in the search for new methods to control the gel texture, a relevant property for many industrial applications.

In cancer, Extracellular Vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, contribute to tumor progression by regulating local and systemic parameters [1,2]. Since exosomes are released into body fluids, they may be used in nanomedicine as a valuable source of diagnostic biomarkers [3]. The prognosis of brain tumors is poor even after surgical resection followed by post-operatory chemo- and radio-therapies and it is cogent to find innovative treatments. The discovery that molecular chaperones can be determinant factors in tumorigenesis and the increasing understanding of exosomes, particularly in what refers to their release by tumor cells and contents, including chaperones and miRNA, provide elements to develop novel treatment strategies and means [4]. We measured the chaperone HSP60 and related miRNAs in primary brain tumors and peritumoral cells in vivo to determine levels and distribution. In addition, the presence and levels of HSP60 and miRNAs involved in its regulation were investigated in blood exosomes isolated from tumor patients before and after ablative surgery. Blood and pathological tissue samples were taken on the surgery day, blood was collected at one week, one month, and three months after surgery, and exosomes were isolated. The results revealed distinctive changes in the levels of miRNAs involved in HSP60 regulation in brain tumors, pointing to their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and patient monitoring during treatment. References [1] Santiago-Dieppa, D. R.; Steinberg, J.; Gonda, D.; et al. Extracellular vesicles as a platform for ‘liquid biopsy’ in glioblastoma patients. Expert Rev. Mol. Diagn. 2014, 14, 819–825. [2] Roma-Rodrigues, C.; Fernandes, A. R.; Baptista, P. V. Exosome in tumour microenvironment: overview of the crosstalk between normal and cancer cells. Biomed Res. Int. 2014, 2014, 179486. [3] Cappello, F.; Logozzi, M.; Campanella, C.; et al. Exosome levels in human body fluids: tumor marker by themselves? Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. 2017, 96. [4] Caruso Bavisotto, C.; Graziano, F.; Rappa, F.; et al. Exosomal Chaperones and miRNAs in Gliomagenesis: State-of-Art and Theranostics Perspectives. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 2626.

A new family of water-borne, biocompatible and carboxyl- functionalized nanogels was developed for glutathione- mediated delivery of anticancer drugs. Poly(N-vinyl- pyrrolidone)-co-acrylic acid nanogels were generated by e- beam irradiation of aqueous solutions of a crosslinkable polymer, using industrial-type linear accelerators and set- ups. Nanogels physico-chemical properties and colloidal stability, in a wide pH range, were investigated. In vitro cell studies proved that the nanogels are fully biocompatible and able to quantitatively bypass cellular membrane. An anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), was linked to the carboxyl groups of NGs through a spacer containing a disulphide cleavable linkage. In vitro release studies showed that glutathione is able to trigger the release of DOX through the reduction of the S-S linkage at a concentration comparable to its levels in the cytosol.

The aim of this work is the evaluation of the addition of Moringa leaf powder (MLP) in cookies in terms of antioxidant properties, dough processability and sensorial properties of the cookies. The total content of biophenols and flavonoids in MLP was detected and the identification of the bioactive molecules was performed by HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS measurements, before and after oven treatment at 180 ◦C for 20 min. After a preliminary evaluation of the MLP water soluble fraction (MLPsf) cytotoxicity, its protective effect against an oxidative injury induced in the SH-SY5Y cells was assessed. Data evidence that the bioactive molecules present in MLPsf are effective in preventing ROS production and in protecting neuronal cells against oxidative stress. Prototypes of cookies containing MLP in different concentrations were then produced and evaluated by a consumer panel. Selected doughs containing MLP were analysed to determine the total content of biophenols in the cookies after baking and their enrichment in terms of valuable chemical elements. The influence of MLP on the viscoelastic behaviour and morphology of the doughs was also assessed. Finally, the potential role in counteracting the insurgence of not treatable neurodegenerative pathologies of two main MLP components, glucomoringin and kaempferol derivatives, present also after the thermal treatment, was discussed.

Xyloglucans are highly branched, hydroxyl rich polyglucans that for their abundance in nature, biocompatibility, film forming and gelation ability may take a prominent role in the design and fabrication of biomedical devices, including in situ forming scaffolds for tissue engineering, wound dressings and epidermal sensors. The understanding and exploitation of their self-assembly behavior is key for the device performance optimization. A multi-scale analysis, conducted combining small-angle X-ray scattering, both static and dynamic light scattering at large and small angles, and rheological measurements, provides a description of the supramolecular organization of this biopolymer, from the scale of a few nano-meter, to the meso- and macro-scale both in the sol and gel states. Xyloglucan self-assembly is described as multi-step and hierarchical process with different levels of organization.

BACKGROUND: Molecular chaperones are a very special class of proteins that play essential roles in many cellular processes like folding, targeting and transport of proteins. Moreover, recent evidence indicates that chaperones can act as potentially strong suppressor agents in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Indeed, in vitro experiments demonstrate that several chaperones are able to significantly slow down or suppress aggregation of Aβ peptide and in vivo studies reveal that treatment with specific chaperones or their overexpression can ameliorate some distinct pathological signs characterizing AD. METHODS: Here we investigate using a biophysical approach (fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), transmission electron (TEM) and atomic force (AFM) microscopy, size exclusion chromatography (SEC)) the effect of the human chaperonin Hsp60 on Aβ fibrillogenesis. RESULTS: We found that Hsp60 powerfully inhibits Aβ amyloid aggregation, by closing molecular pathways leading to peptide fibrillogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: We observe that Hsp60 inhibits Aβ aggregation through a more complex mechanism than a simple folding chaperone action. The action is specifically directed toward the early oligomeric species behaving as aggregation seeds for on-pathway amyloid fibrillogenesis. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: Understanding the specificity of the molecular interactions of Hsp60 with amyloid Aβ peptide allowed us to emphasize the important aspects to be taken into consideration when considering the recent promising therapeutic strategies for neurodegeneration. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.