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Martha Sibrian-Vazquez

Publications and source records attributed to Martha Sibrian-Vazquez.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Synthesis and cellular studies of PEG-functionalized meso-tetraphenylporphyrins.

The total syntheses of four PEG-functionalized porphyrins, containing one to four low molecular weight PEG chains linked via amide bonds to the para-phenyl positions of meso-tetraphenylporphyrin, are reported. The hydrophobic character of the PEG-porphyrins decreases with the number of PEG chains linked to the porphyrin ring, while their tendency for aggregation in buffered aqueous solution increases. The porphyrins containing one or two PEG chains accumulated within human HEp2 cells to a much higher extent than those having three or four PEGs at the macrocycle periphery. All PEG-porphyrins were found to be non-toxic in the dark, and only those containing one or two PEG chains were phototoxic (IC(50)=2 microM at 1J/cm(2) light dose). The preferential sites of subcellular localization of the porphyrins containing one or two PEG chains were found to be the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), while those containing three or four PEG chains localize preferentially in the lysosomes.

Animals↗

Peptide-mediated cell transport of water soluble porphyrin conjugates.

Five new porphyrin-peptide conjugates bearing a nuclear localizing sequence SV40 or a fusogenic peptide (HIV-1Tat 40-60 or octa-arginine) linked by low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) have been synthesized. In vitro studies using human HEp2 cells show that the cellular uptake of the conjugates depends significantly on the nature and sequence of amino acids in the peptide and on the nature of the substituents on the porphyrin macrocycle. The fusogenic peptide sequences HIV-1Tat 40-60 and octa-arginine were the most effective in delivering the conjugates to the cells. The subcellular distribution of the conjugates was found to be dependent on the nature of substituents on the porphyrin macrocycle. The conjugates bearing a hydrophobic porphyrin localized preferentially in the endoplasmic reticulum and were significantly more phototoxic to HEp2 cells than the carboxylic acid functionalized porphyrin conjugates, which localized mainly in the lysosomes.

Arginine↗

Molecular imprinting made easy.

A simple method of molecular imprinting is presented that uses a single cross-linking monomer N,O-bismethacryloyl ethanolamine (NOBE) along with template, initiator, and solvent. This formulation eliminates the need for additional functional monomers and empirical optimization of relative ratios of functional monomers, cross-linkers, and template. In fact, utilization of NOBE alone often provides molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with higher performance than MIPs incorporating functional monomer (e.g., methacrylic acid).

Binding Sites↗

Improving the strategy and performance of molecularly imprinted polymers using cross-linking functional monomers.

A new strategy for monomer design has been investigated that combines interactive monomer functionality with a cross-linking format, giving as a result noncovalent molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) with improved performance. This strategy was explored under the premise that more functionality could be introduced without suffering performance losses due to reduced cross-linking. While this proved to be correct, equally important contributions to selectivity enhancement at the molecular level by conformation control and diastereomeric complexation were also discovered. Monomers derived from l-serine and l-aspartic acid were synthesized and used to prepare MIPs, with the best performance obtained for the MIP formulated with the serine-based cross-linker (N,O-bis-methacryloyl l-serine, 3), versus the aspartic-acid-based cross-linkers and the traditional methacrylic acid/ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (MAA/EGDMA) formulation. Quantitative structure-selectivity relationship (QSSR) studies revealed that the improved performance of 3 was due to three key factors: (1) the cross-linking nature of this monomer; (2) control of conformational flexibility; (3) a strong influence of monomer chirality on enantioselectivity in MIPs.

Aspartic Acid↗

Synthesis and characterization of positively charged porphyrin-peptide conjugates.

The total syntheses of 14 porphyrin conjugates containing one to four positively charged amino acids and two distinct linkers are described. All conjugates were fully characterized using spectroscopic methods, and the X-ray structure of a porphyrin isothiocyanate precursor was obtained. In vitro studies using HEp2 cells show that these conjugates have low cytotoxicity (IC50 > 250 microM) and that the extent of their cellular uptake depends significantly on the number, nature, and sequence of amino acids in the peptide, and on the presence of a centrally chelated metal ion. Metal-free conjugates bearing three consecutive arginine residues accumulated the most within cells. On the other hand, the preferential sites of subcellular localization were found to be independent from the number, nature, and sequence of amino acids in the conjugate, the linker, and coordinated metal ion; it is suggested, based on theoretical calculations, that the peptides in these conjugates fold over the porphyrin macrocycle in order to maximize intramolecular hydrophobic interactions.

Cell Line↗

Enhanced cellular uptake with a cobaltacarborane-porphyrin-HIV-1 Tat 48-60 conjugate.

A series of four porphyrin-cobaltacarborane conjugates have been synthesized, containing three or four cobaltabisdicarbollide anions linked by O(CH(2)CH(2)O)(2) groups to the porphyrin macrocycle and one of them containing a HIV-1 Tat 48-60 peptide sequence linked via a low molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer. The cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and preferential sites of intracellular localization of the conjugates were evaluated in human HEp2 cells. All conjugates are nontoxic in the dark at the concentrations studied. Upon exposure to low light dose (1 J cm(-)(2)) only the porphyrin-cobaltacarborane-HIV-1 Tat 48-60 conjugate showed 30% inhibition of cell proliferation at a concentration of 10 microM. The cellular uptake was dependent on the number of carborane cages and was significantly enhanced by the presence of the cell penetrating peptide sequence HIV-1 Tat 48-60. All conjugates preferentially localized in the cell lysosomes.

Cell Line↗