Rings of Power: Controlling SOD Mimic Activity by the Addition of Pyridine Rings within the Pyridinophane Scaffold.

Superoxide dismutase enzymes are a major defense against superoxide, which is a potent reactive oxygen species. Misregulation of reactive oxygen species and subsequent neuronal damage are etiological hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease. Macrocyclic small molecules have offered inroads toward functional SOD1 mimics.

Impact of Indole Inclusion in the Design of Multi-Tactical Metal-Binding Tetra-Aza Macrocycles that Target the Molecular Features of Neurodegeneration.

Numerous small molecules have been studied for their ability to counteract oxidative stress, a key contributor to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. Despite these efforts, the pharmacological properties and structure-activity relationships of these compounds remain insufficiently understood, yet they are critical in evaluating a drug molecule's therapeutic potential. A modified tetra-aza macrocycle has demonstrated strong antioxidant activity through various mechanisms; however, its limited permeability presents challenges for advanced formulation studies.

Prostate Cancer Treatment via CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Facilitated by Polyethyleneimine-Derived Graphene Quantum Dots.

CRISPR-Cas9 is a programmable gene editing tool with a promising potential for cancer gene therapy. This therapeutic function is enabled in the present work via the non-covalent delivery of CRISPR ribonucleic protein (RNP) by cationic glucosamine/PEI-derived graphene quantum dots (PEI-GQD) that aid in overcoming physiological barriers and tracking genes of interest. PEI-GQD/RNP complex targeting the TP53 mutation overexpressed in ~50% of cancers successfully produces its double-stranded breaks in solution and in PC3 prostate cancer cells.

Cancer Therapeutic siRNA Delivery and Imaging by Nitrogen- and Neodymium-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots.

While small interfering RNA (siRNA) technology has become a powerful tool that can enable cancer-specific gene therapy, its translation to the clinic is still hampered by the inability of the genes alone to cell transfection, poor siRNA stability in blood, and the lack of delivery tracking capabilities. Recently, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have emerged as a novel platform allowing targeted drug delivery and fluorescence image tracking in visible and near-infrared regions. These capabilities can aid in overcoming primary obstacles to siRNA therapeutics.

Dual-Mode Fluorescence/Ultrasound Imaging with Biocompatible Metal-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots.

Sonography offers many advantages over standard methods of diagnostic imaging due to its non-invasiveness, substantial tissue penetration depth, and low cost. The benefits of ultrasound imaging call for the development of ultrasound-trackable drug delivery vehicles that can address a variety of therapeutic targets. One disadvantage of the technique is the lack of high-precision imaging, which can be circumvented by complementing ultrasound contrast agents with visible and, especially, near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores.