Overcoming MDR by Associating Doxorubicin and pH-Sensitive PLGA Nanoparticles Containing a Novel Organoselenium Compound—An In Vitro Study

In this study, we developed PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) as an effective carrier for 5′-Se-(phenyl)-3-(amino)-thymidine (ACAT-Se), an organoselenium compound, nucleoside analogue that showed promising antitumor activity in vitro. The PLGA NPs were prepared by the nanoprecipitation method and modified with a pH-responsive lysine-based surfactant (77KL). The ACAT-Se-PLGA-77KL-NPs presented nanometric size (around 120 nm), polydispersity index values <0.20 and negative zeta potential values. The nanoencapsulation of ACAT-Se increased its antioxidant (DPPH and ABTS assays) and antitumor activity in MCF-7 tumor cells. Hemolysis study indicated that ACAT-Se-PLGA-77KL-NPs are hemocompatible and that 77KL provided a pH-sensitive membranolytic behavior to the NPs. The NPs did not induce cytotoxic effects on the nontumor cell line 3T3, suggesting its selectivity for the tumor cells. Moreover, the in vitro antiproliferative activity of NPs was evaluated in association with the antitumor drug doxorubicin. This combination result in synergistic effect in sensitive (MCF-7) and resistant (NCI/ADR-RES) tumor cells, being especially able to successfully sensitize the MDR cells. The obtained results suggested that the proposed ACAT-Se-loaded NPs are a promising delivery system for cancer therapy, especially associated with doxorubicin.

CF3-substituted diselenide modulatory effects on oxidative stress, induced by single and repeated morphine administrations, in susceptible tissues of mice

Studies reveal that oxidative stress is associated with morphine long-term treatment adverse effects. CF3-substituted diselenide (CF3) is a multitarget organoselenium compound that has antioxidant properties in different experimental models. This study aimed to investigate the CF3 effects against redox imbalance in peripheral and central tissues of mice, after single or multiple morphine doses. Swiss male mice received a single dose of morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c) and CF3 (10 mg/kg, i.g), or morphine was repeatedly injected (5 mg/kg, s.c) and CF3 (10 mg/kg, i.g) administered twice daily for 7 days. Oxidative stress was determined in the hippocampus, liver, and kidney. CF3 reversed the increase in reactive species caused by single and multiple morphine doses in the peripheral tissues. CF3 increased hepatic non-protein thiol (NPSH) levels and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity decreased by a single morphine dose. CF3 reversed the reduction in SOD activity in the kidney of mice repeatedly exposed to morphine. The study demonstrates that peripheral tissues were more susceptible than the hippocampus to oxidative stress induced by morphine in mice. The results show that CF3 modulated parameters of oxidative stress modified by single and multiple morphine administrations in peripheral and central tissues of mice.

ROLE OF 7-CHLORO-4-(PHENYLSELANYL) QUINOLINE IN THE TREATMENT OF OXALIPLATIN-INDUCED HEPATIC TOXICITY IN MICE

There is an increasing incidence of oxaliplatin (OXA)-induced hepatotoxicity. Therefore researchers’ attention has been drawn to therapeutic alternatives that may decrease OXA-induced hepatotoxicity. Studies indicate that oxidative stress plays a major role in OXA-induced liver injury. Since several pharmacological effects of 7-chloro-4-(phenylselanyl) quinole (4-PSQ) involve its antioxidant action, the hypothesis that this organoselenium compound could be promising for the treatment or prevention of hepatotoxicity induced by treatment with OXA was investigated. To test this hypothesis, male Swiss mice received OXA (10 mg/kg), on days 0 and 2, followed by the oral administration of 4-PSQ (1 mg/kg), on days 2 to 14. 4-PSQ reduced the plasma aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activity increased by exposure to OXA. The histopathological examination of the liver showed that 4-PSQ markedly improved OXA-induced hepatic injury. In addition, treatment with 4-PSQ reduced the oxidation of lipids and proteins (thiobarbituric acid reactive species levels and protein carbonyl content) and attenuated the increase of hepatic catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity caused by OXA. The inhibition of hepatic δ-aminolevulinic dehydratase activity induced by OXA was reverted by 4-PSQ. In conclusion, results indicate that 4-PSQ may be a good therapeutic strategy for attenuating OXA-induced liver damage.

2,2′-Dipyridyl diselenide (Py2Se2) induces G1 arrest and apoptosis in human lung carcinoma (A549) cells through ROS scavenging and reductive stress

This study demonstrates the cytotoxic activity and the underlying mechanisms of a synthetic organoselenium compound containing pyridine and diselenide moieties.

2-[(4-Chlorophenyl)selanyl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-5,6-dione: crystal structure and Hirshfeld analysis

The title organoselenium compound, C19H13ClO3Se {systematic name: 2-[(4-chlorophenyl)selanyl]-2H,3H,4H,5H,6H-naphtho[1,2-b]pyran-5,6-dione}, has the substituted 2-pyranyl ring in a half-chair conformation with the methylene-C atom bound to the methine-C atom being the flap atom. The dihedral angle between the two aromatic regions of the molecule is 9.96 (9)° and indicates a step-like conformation. An intramolecular Se...O interaction of 2.8122 (13) Å is noted. In the crystal, π–π contacts between naphthyl rings [inter-centroid distance = 3.7213 (12) Å] and between naphthyl and chlorobenzene rings [inter-centroid distance = 3.7715 (13) Å], along with C—Cl...π(chlorobenzene) contacts, lead to supramolecular layers parallel to theabplane, which are connected into a three-dimensional architectureviamethylene-C—H...O(carbonyl) interactions. The contributions of these and other weak contacts to the Hirshfeld surface is described.