1. Sustained delivery of Cu(II)-based DNA intercalators by nanometer-sized cyclodextrin-based porous polymersTina Škorjanc, Julian Heinrich, Damjan Makuc, Nora Kulak, Matjaž Valant, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: DNA intercalators are small molecules that insert between adjacent DNA base pairs and thus disturb DNA replication and transcription, which can lead to cell death. Certain metal complexes are excellent DNA intercalators, and have shown promise in chemotherapy. Here, a cyclodextrin porous polymer was prepared, characterized, exfoliated to form nanometer-sized particles, and used as a delivery vehicle for metal-free and Cu(II)-metalated anthraquinone-based DNA intercalators with a goal to minimize side effects of the highly toxic DNA intercalators. NMR experiments, including DOSY NMR, have shown the interaction between the cyclodextrin building block and the studied DNA intercalators. Porous nature of the delivery vehicle provided ample surface area for interaction with the drug candidates, resulting in encapsulation rates of up to 56%. Sustained cargo release from the polymer was achieved over eight days, and time-dependent cytotoxicity was observed. Furthermore, optical microscopy images indicated delivery vehicle internalization as well as disturbed cellular morphology within 24 hours of incubation. We anticipate that this study will stimulate further interest in the development of polymeric delivery systems for metal complexes.
Keywords: porous organic polymers, cyclodextrin, DNA intercalators, Cu(II) complexes, metal complexes
Published in RUNG: 10.11.2023; Views: 2124; Downloads: 6
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2. In vitro tumor hypoxia imaging with fluorescent covalent organic frameworksTina Skorjanc, Dinesh Shetty, Damjan Makuc, Gregor Mali, Martina Bergant Marušič, Matjaž Valant, 2023, published scientific conference contribution abstract Abstract: Hypoxia refers to a condition where cells and tissues experience low, inadequate levels of O2. While healthy tissues are typically supplied with sufficient O2 (normoxia), cancerous tissues commonly face hypoxia due to the tumor’s extraordinarily high demand for oxygen. Various fluorescent small-molecule probes have been designed for selective detection of hypoxia in living cells, but few nanomaterials have been investigated for this type of bioimaging. Herein, we prepare a fluorescent covalent organic framework (COF) with β-ketoenamine linkages and post-synthetically modify it to conjugate hypoxia-sensitive nitroimidazole moieties
into its pores (NI-COF). Stacks of sheets in NI-COF observed under electron microscopy were exfoliated by ultrasonication, and dynamic light scattering measurements confirmed particle size of less than 200 nm. Thus-prepared material exhibited good stability in physiological conditions and low cytotoxicity in in vitro experiments. NI-COF also showed useful fluorescence properties with an emission peak at 490 nm (λex = 420 nm) at both neutral and mildly acidic pH levels that are characteristic of tumor tissues. Encouraged by the favorable properties of the material, we incubated HeLa cells pre-treated in either hypoxic or normoxic conditions with NI-COF. Fluorescence microscopy images demonstrated that the material was preferentially taken up by hypoxic cells, which showed higher fluorescence signal in their interior than cells cultured under normoxia conditions. It is anticipated that this study will stimulate further developments of COFs for imaging various biological conditions.
Keywords: hypoxia, fluorescence, covalent organic frameworks, imaging, tumor cells
Published in RUNG: 19.09.2023; Views: 1752; Downloads: 7
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3. Covalent organic frameworks for fluorescent imaging of hypoxiaTina Škorjanc, Dinesh Shetty, Gregor Mali, Damjan Makuc, Martina Bergant Marušič, Matjaž Valant, 2023, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: hypoxia, covalent organic frameworks, imaging, fluorescence, post-synthetic modification
Published in RUNG: 06.06.2023; Views: 2103; Downloads: 3
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4. Nitroreductase-sensitive fluorescent covalent organic framework for tumor hypoxia imaging in cellsTina Škorjanc, Dinesh Shetty, Sushil Kumar, Damjan Makuc, Gregor Mali, Janez Volavšek, Martina Bergant Marušič, Matjaž Valant, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: covalent organic frameworks, imaging, hypoxia, fluorescence, cancer cells
Published in RUNG: 17.05.2023; Views: 2043; Downloads: 19
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