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An efficient and simple approach for stereoselective synthesis of β-Kdo C-glycosides was described, which relies on easily available peracetylated anomeric acetate or anomeric 2-pyridyl sulfide to couple with carbonyl compounds via SmI2-mediated Reformatsky reactions. The utility of this methodology is exemplified by the streamlined synthesis of a practical β-Kdo C-glycoside with an anomeric aminopropyl linker to conjugate with other biomolecules for further biological studies.

The codelivery of drugs at specific optimal ratios to cancer cells is vital for combination chemotherapy. However, most of the current strategies are unable to coordinate the loading and release of drug combinations to acquire precise and controllable synergistic ratios. In this work, we designed an innovative dual-drug backboned and reduction-sensitive polyprodrug PEG-P(MTO-ss-CUR) containing the anticancer drugs mitoxantrone (MTO) and curcumin (CUR) at an optimal synergistic ratio to reverse drug resistance. Due to synchronous drug activation and polymer backbone degradation, drug release at the predefined ratio with a synergistic anticancer effect was demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Therefore, the dual-drug delivery system developed in this work provides a novel and efficient strategy for combination chemotherapy.

As a promising new form of non-apoptotic regulated cell death, ferroptosis has potential as an effective supplement to apoptosis-based cancer treatments. However, high intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels and insufficient hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the tumor limit the efficacy of ferroptosis. Here, we designed a theranostic nanoplatform, named FCS/GCS, by incorporating amphiphilic polymer skeletal (P-SS-D), cinnamaldehyde prodrug (CA-OH) and iron ions (Fe3+)/gadolinium ions (Gd3+) via chelation reactions between Fe3+/Gd3+ and polyphenols. When delivered in the tumor microenvironment with high GSH level, the nanoparticles are depolymerized by the poly(disulfide) backbone of P-SS-D. The activated CA consumes the GSH and elevates intracellular H2O2, followed by a high level of Fenton reaction to generate abundant •OH levels. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) further accelerates CA activation. The GSH consumption by disulfide, CA and Fe3+, downregulates GPX4 and generates •OH, which accelerate lipid peroxides (LPO) accumulation and consequently enhances ferroptosis. Additionally, the released Gd3+ may serve as a contrast agent for tumor-specific T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thus, the rationally designed FCS/GCS system is a promising strategy for effective MRI-based visual ferroptosis therapy. Statement of significance : Ferroptosis is a new form of non-apoptotic regulated cell death and has potential as an effective supplement to apoptosis-based cancer treatment. However, the efficiency of ferroptosis is limited by excessive glutathione level and insufficient hydrogen peroxide level in tumor site. In this study, we fabricate a theranostic nanoplatform (FCS/GCS) to amplify oxidation stress in tumor site for effective ferroptosis-based cancer treatment, and tumor specific magnetic resonance imaging is introduced for supervision. Our nanoplatform may provide a promising strategy for MRI-based visual ferroptosis therapy with high specificity and efficiency.

SummaryRabbits play an important role in people’s lives due to their high nutritional value and high-quality hair that can be used as raw material for textiles. Furthermore, rabbits are an important animal model for human disease, as genome-edited animals are particularly valuable for studying gene functions and pathogenesis. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is an important technique for producing genome-edited animals and it has great value in saving endangered species and in clone stem cell therapy. However, the low efficiency of SCNT limits its application, with the selection of suitable rabbit oocytes being crucial to its success. In the present study, we collected oocytes from ovarian follicles and stained them with 26 μM brilliant cresyl blue (BCB). We then matured the oocytes in vitro and used them for SCNT. Comparison of the BCB-positive oocytes with BCB-negative oocytes and the control group showed that the BCB-positive group had a significantly higher maturation rate (81.4% vs. 48.9% and 65.3% for the negative and control groups, respectively), cleavage rate (86.6% vs. 67.9% and 77.9%), blastocyst rate (30.5% vs. 12.8% and 19.6%), total number of blastocysts (90±7.5 vs. 65.3±6.3 and 67.5±5.7), and inner cell mass (ICM)/ trophectoderm (TE) index (42.3±4.2 vs. 30.2±2.1 and 33.9±5.1) (PPin vitro, indicating that BCB staining is a reliable method for selecting oocytes to enhance the efficiency of SCNT.

In recent years, the stimuli-responsive delivery of drugs based on diselenide-bridged polymeric nanocomposites have gathered significant attention from researchers towards augmented anticancer therapy, owing to the unique dual reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as glutathione (GSH) redox-responsive diselenide bonds. Despite their success in delivery of diverse therapeutics, the fabrication of such diselenide-bridged polymeric nanocomposites with high performance efficiency is often limited due to the relatively high sensitivity of diselenide bonds to various stimuli such as light, temperature, and both oxidation and reduction. In an attempt to address these attributes, herein, we demonstrate the fabrication of indocyanine green (ICG)-loaded diselenide-containing polymeric nanoparticles using the supercritical fluid (SCF)-assisted rapid and facile synthesis approach for ROS/GSH-responsive drug delivery platform towards augmented anticancer therapy. Initially, the diselenide-containing poly (ethylene glycol)-poly(e-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) block copolymers (PSe) are synthesized based on stannous octoate initiated ring-opening polymerization and subsequent esterification with carboxylic acid-functionalized polyethylene glycol (PEG-COOH). Further, the ICG molecules are loaded into the copolymer nanocomposites via the incorporation of coprecipitation interactions between PSe and ICG through the convenient and highly effective SCF technology. These nanocomposites afforded high drug loading (up to 48.5%) and encapsulation efficiency (up to 85.1%), along with uniform distribution and desired photo-stability. Finally, various photodynamic therapy (PDT)-related experiments both in vitro and in vivo have shown that the fabricated ROS-responsive drug delivery system based on ICG and PSe is capable of devastating tumor cells.

The role of water and stereoselectivity in the direct syn-aldol reaction involving 3-pentanone and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde catalyzed by amino acid derivatives on water has been investigated by density functional theory. Calculations indicate that the formation of intermediate enamine is the rate determining step via a three-step process with activation enthalpies of 50 kcal/mol in the gas phase and 21 kcal/mol in the presence of water. The subsequent nucleophilic addition of enamine to aldehyde is relatively easier with activation enthalpies below 10 kcal/mol both in the gas phase and in the presence of water. The diastereoselective formation of syn- and anti-aldol products results from the preferential formation of Z-enamine to E-enamine, kinetically and thermodynamically. The enantioselectivity of both syn- and anti-products is controlled by the steric repulsive interactions between the amino alcohol moiety of catalyst and the phenyl ring of aldehyde. Calculations show that water molecule can act as a proton shuttle in the proton-transport catalytic processes. The water-assisted proton-transfer is very efficient to reduce the activation barriers via protonation and deprotonation in the formation of C-N and C-C bonds, dehydration, and β-elimination processes by inhibiting the generation of zwitterionic transition states. The theoretical discoveries indicate that in the present proton-transport assistance, the amino alcohol moiety of the catalyst plays a critical role as hydrogen bond donor to anchor substrates with carbonyl group close to the amine or enamine moiety so that the water molecule can bridge the NH of amine and the oxygen of carbonyl by hydrogen bonding interaction around the reactive site to activate the reactants and promote the reaction effectively.