Journal of pharmaceutical analysis最新文献

Allergic conjunctivitis is a common ocular surface condition. Although corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory agents for its management, their use is often restricted by potential side effects. Conventional eye drops face challenges such as short retention time and poor corneal permeability, resulting in low drug bioavailability. To overcome these limitations, we developed a preservative-free synthetic high-density lipoprotein (sHDL) nanodisc eye drop containing dexamethasone palmitate. This novel formulation enhances drug stability and extends retention time on the ocular surface. In a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic conjunctivitis, the nanodisc eye drop significantly alleviated symptoms while reducing corticosteroid concentration, demonstrating excellent safety and biocompatibility. This innovative approach shows great promise for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis and may lay the groundwork for new therapeutic strategies in anterior ocular disease management.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent gastrointestinal malignancy. However, the lack of diagnostic accuracy of traditional clinical serum biomarkers carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) results in patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Herein, we developed a novel method of ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS) for relative quantification based on the non-specific enzyme pronase E and an isotope mass spectrometry (MS) probe 3-benzoyl/(benzoyl-2,3,4,5,6-d5)-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid d0/d5-BOTC to screen novel glycan biomarkers. We applied the method in a cohort of 102 serum samples (including 51 healthy volunteers (HV), 26 stage II CRC, and 25 stage III CRC) and 90 tissue samples (including 45 paracancerous tissue and 45 cancerous tissue). Results revealed that the serum levels of H5N4F, H5N4F3SA, H4N5F1SA, and H5N4SA2 in CRC patients were significantly different from those in HV (P < 0.01). The area under the curve values of H5N4F, H5N4F3SA, and H4N5F1SA in serum samples were 0.77, 0.71, and 0.91, respectively. The clinical diagnostic accuracies of these glycans ranged from 65% to 91%, which were significantly higher than those of CEA. Additionally, differential glycan profiles in tissues were further examined using the same method and compared with serum levels. H5N4F was found to be significantly down-regulated in all CRC groups (P < 0.0001), indicating strong specificity for CRC diagnosis. The glycans identified in this study are expected to serve as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of CRC, offering valuable reference points for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

β-elemene, a bioactive compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been clinically used in cancer therapy. However, its molecular physicochemical properties require further optimization, and its precise anticancer mechanisms remain unknown. In modern drug development, structure-based drug design (SBDD) has significantly conserved resources, with computer-aided techniques such as molecular docking and molecule generation playing essential roles. A comprehensive review of existing molecular biology studies and virtual docking experiments led to the hypothesis that methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) may serve as a potential target of β-elemene. This discovery establishes a scientific foundation for integrating advanced, rational drug design strategies with β-elemene to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of TCM. Moreover, current (AI)-based molecular generation models were examined, focusing on de novo molecular generation and lead optimization models. Their applications in the rational drug design of β-elemene were preliminarily explored to identify potential strategies for developing more potent anticancer derivatives by analyzing ligand-receptor interactions.

Image 1.

To address the pressing issue of bacterial resistance, antibiotics with new mechanisms were urgently needed; yet, the majority of efforts centered on discovering novel structural compounds, often plagued by lengthy research timelines and unpredictability. In this study, we introduce an alternative strategy that rejuvenates outdated antibiotics through a unique delivery system. Specifically, we leveraged polymyxin B (PMB) and created a liposomal carrier encapsulating PMB and Fe²⁺, designated P/Fe@L-P. When administered to PMB-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, P/Fe@L-P triggered a downregulation of Nrf2 and GPX4 proteins, accompanied by a significant surge in reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels, signifying the induction of ferroptosis. This mechanism imparted potent antibacterial activity, with P/Fe@L-P achieving minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of 54 and 192 μM, respectively, outperforming free PMB (72 and 768 μM). In vivo evaluations in mice models further validated the superior efficacy of P/Fe@L-P over PMB in treating PMB-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii pneumonia. This work establishes a highly effective and practical "old drug, new trick" paradigm, potentially expediting the fight against the escalating threat of bacterial resistance.

Abnormal bile acid (BA) metabolism has been implicated in the pathogenesis of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, but its role in epilepsy remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between gut microbiota-driven dysregulation of BA metabolism and seizure-induced ferroptotic neuronal death in epilepsy. Our targeted metabolomic analysis revealed elevated levels of deoxycholic acid (DCA) in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of epileptic patients, which correlated with cognitive impairment. In a pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced mouse model of epilepsy, 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequencing showed significant alterations in gut microbiota composition. Importantly, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from healthy mice into epileptic mice significantly reduced seizure activity and improved cognitive function, primarily by normalizing serum and brain levels of secondary bile acids (SBAs), including DCA. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that DCA promotes ferroptosis in hippocampal neurons by activating the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). This activation triggered the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway, known to be involved in oxidative stress and cell death regulation. Our findings suggest that the upregulation of DCA, through its effects on FXR and HO-1, plays a critical role in the progression of epilepsy by inducing ferroptosis in hippocampal neurons. Targeting the DCA-FXR-HO-1 axis may provide a novel therapeutic strategy for treating seizures and associated cognitive deficits in epilepsy.

Natural products (NPs) are an important source of new drugs for the treatment of stroke. Identifying cellular targets for bioactive molecules is a major challenge and critical issue in the development of new drugs for stroke. Small-molecule probes play a unique role in target discovery. However, drawbacks to these probes include non-specificity, unstable activity, and difficulty in synthesis. Small-molecule probes based on NPs at least partially compensate for these shortcomings. NPs feature rich chemical and structural diversity, biocompatibility, and unique biological activities. These features could be exploited to provide new ideas and tools for target discovery. Small-molecule probes based on NPs provide a precise and direct search for interacting protein targets of NPs-active small molecules. This review explores the properties of small-molecule probes based on NPs and their applications in mechanistic studies of stroke and other diseases. We hope that this review will bring new perspectives to the mechanistic study of NPs-active small molecules and accelerate the translation of these ingredients into drug candidates for the treatment of stroke.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) represents a predominant cause of blindness among older adults, with limited therapeutic options currently available. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and retinal pigment epithelium injury are recognized as key contributors to the pathogenesis of AMD. Regulated cell death plays a pivotal role in mediating cellular responses to stress, maintaining tissue homeostasis, and contributing to disease progression. Recent research has elucidated several regulated cell death pathways-such as apoptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and autophagy-that may contribute to the progression of AMD owing to cell death in the retinal pigment epithelium. These discoveries open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in patients with AMD. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary and analysis of the latest advancements regarding the relationship between regulated cell death and AMD. Moreover, we examined the therapeutic potential of targeting regulated cell death pathways for the treatment and prevention of AMD, highlighting their roles as promising targets for future therapeutic strategies.

Image 1.

Mitochondria are fundamental organelles that play a crucial role in cellular energy metabolism, substance metabolism, and various essential cellular signaling pathways. The dysfunction of mitochondria is significantly implicated in the onset and progression of aging, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic disorders, and tumors, thereby rendering mitochondria-targeted regulation, a vital strategy for disease prevention and treatment. The recently developed mitochondrial membrane chromatography (MMC) technique, which immobilizes mitochondrial proteins as a chromatographic separation medium, has shown great potential for efficiently screening mitochondria-targeted modulators from complex compound library. In contrast to traditional screening methods, MMC has no need to purify mitochondrial proteins and can preserve its in situ and physiological conformation. Consequently, it presents broader application prospects for screening mitochondrial modulators as well as investigating receptor-ligand interactions involving any target protein associated with mitochondria. This review aims to elucidate the critical role of mitochondria in the development and progression of major chronic diseases, discuss recent advancements and applications of MMC, and propose future directions for MMC in the identification of novel mitochondrial modulators.