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Two p-cymenerutheniumchlorido complexes with thiourea derivative of 7-chloroquinoline (C1) and pyridine-3-imidazole (C2) were synthesized starting from [(η 6 -p-cymene)RuCl 2 ] 2 and corresponding ligands. The structures of complexes were determined with elemental analysis and IR, ESIMS, 1 H and 13 C{ 1 H} NMR, and 2D 1 H− 15 N correlation NMR spectroscopy. Cytotoxic activities examined by the MTT assay were performed in five human neoplastic cell lines (HeLa, K562, A549, MDA-MB-231, EA.hy926) and one nontumor human fetal lung fibroblast cell line (MRC-5). Tested complexes exhibited low micromolar activities with IC 50 in the range 11.03−56.45 μM, while ligands L1 and L2 were significantly less active. Complex C1 showed cytoselective activity toward the K562 cell line (IC 50 = 11.03 ± 1.39 μM) and was 3 times less active against the nontumor MRC-5 cell line. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that complexes C1 and C2 after 24 h treatment caused a concentration-dependent increase of the apoptotic sub-G1 fraction (up to 18.4%), comparable to cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum(II) (cisplatin, CDDP), although without other substantial alterations of the cell cycle. A drug-accumulation and DNA-binding study performed by ICP-MS in the K562 cell line revealed that complex C1 had a high intracellular uptake (1.38 μg Ru/10 6 cells), which significantly exceeded the intracellular uptake levels of CDDP (0.29 μg Pt/10 6 cells) and C2 (0.08 μg Ru/10 6 cells). However, both ruthenium complexes C1 and C2 bind to cellular DNA less efficiently in comparison to CDDP. The structure−activity relationship clearly suggested that introduction of a 7-chloroquinoline moiety in the ruthenium(II)-p-cymene complex significantly contributed to the intracellular uptake of C1 and higher cytotoxicity and cytoselectivity.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), composed of a family of seven serotypes (categorized A – G), are the deadliest of known biological toxins. The activity of the metalloprotease, light chain (LC) component of the toxins is responsible for causing the life-threatening paralysis associated with the disease botulism. Herein we report significantly more potent analogs of novel, lead BoNT serotype A LC inhibitor 2,5-bis(4-amidinophenyl)thiophene (Ki = 10.88 μM ± 0.90 μM). Specifically, synthetic modifications involved simultaneously replacing the lead inhibitor’s terminal bis-amidines with secondary amines and the systematic tethering of 4-amino-7-chloroquinoline substituents to provide derivatives with Ki values ranging from 0.302 μM (± 0.03 μM) – 0.889 μM (± 0.11 μM).

The design and evaluation of novel 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate/gelatin/alginate/graphene oxide hydrogels as innovative scaffolding biomaterials, which concurrently are the suitable drug delivery carrier, was proposed. The hydrogels were prepared by the adapted porogen leaching method; this is also the first time this method has been used to incorporate nanocolloidal graphene oxide through the hydrogel and simultaneously form porous structures. The effects of a material’s composition on its chemical, morphological, mechanical, and swelling properties, as well as on cell viability and in vitro degradation, were assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), measurements of Young’s modulus, gravimeter method and MTT test, respectively. The engineered hydrogels show good swelling capacity, fully hydrophilic surfaces, tunable porosity (from 56 to 76%) and mechanical properties (from 1.69 to 4.78 MPa), curcumin entrapment efficiency above 99% and excellent curcumin release performances. In vitro cytotoxicity on healthy human fibroblast (MRC5 cells) by MTT test reveal that the materials are nontoxic and biocompatible, proposing novel hydrogels for in vivo clinical evaluation to optimize tissue regeneration treatments by coupling the hydrogels with cells and different active agents to create material/biofactor hybrids with new levels of biofunctionality.

Alginate is a natural polymer of marine origin and, due to its exceptional properties, has great importance as an essential component for the preparation of hydrogels and scaffolds for biomedical applications. The design of biologically interactive hydrogels and scaffolds with advanced, expected and required properties are one of the key issues for successful outcomes in the healing of injured tissues. This review paper presents the multifunctional biomedical applications of alginate-based hydrogels and scaffolds in selected areas, highlighting the key effect of alginate and its influence on the essential properties of the selected biomedical applications. The first part covers scientific achievements for alginate in dermal tissue regeneration, drug delivery systems, cancer treatment, and antimicrobials. The second part is dedicated to our scientific results obtained for the research opus of hydrogel materials for scaffolds based on alginate in synergy with different materials (polymers and bioactive agents). Alginate has proved to be an exceptional polymer for combining with other naturally occurring and synthetic polymers, as well as loading bioactive therapeutic agents to achieve dermal, controlled drug delivery, cancer treatment, and antimicrobial purposes. Our research was based on combinations of alginate with gelatin, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, apatite, graphene oxide and iron(III) oxide, as well as curcumin and resveratrol as bioactive agents. Important features of the prepared scaffolds, such as morphology, porosity, absorption capacity, hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, in vitro degradation, and in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility, have shown favorable properties for the aforementioned applications, and alginate has been an important link in achieving these properties. Alginate, as a component of these systems, proved to be an indispensable factor and played an excellent “role” in the optimal adjustment of the tested properties. This study provides valuable data and information for researchers and demonstrates the importance of the role of alginate as a biomaterial in the design of hydrogels and scaffolds that are powerful medical “tools” for biomedical applications.