Novel astaxanthin prodrug (CDX-085) attenuates thrombosis in a mouse model.

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality in most industrialized countries as well as in developing nations. A pro-oxidative state appears to promote and/or exacerbate vascular disease complications. Furthermore, a state of low-grade chronic inflammation can promote increased oxidative stress and lead to endothelial cell and platelet dysfunction ultimately contributing to thrombogenesis.

Hydrophilic carotenoids: surface properties and aggregation of an astaxanthin-lysine conjugate, a rigid, long-chain, highly unsaturated and highly water-soluble tetracationic bolaamphiphile.

The surface and aggregation properties of a synthetic, highly water-soluble carotenoid, the tetracationic astaxanthin-lysine conjugate (Asly), have been examined through measurements of surface tension, optical absorption and dynamic light scattering. The following parameters were determined: critical aggregation concentration c(M), surface concentration Gamma, molecular area a(m), free energy of adsorption and aggregation (DeltaG(ad) degrees and DeltaG(M) degrees , respectively), and the aggregate size r(H). The compound forms true monomolecular solutions in water below c(M); aggregates emerge only at rather high concentrations (> or =2.

Retrometabolic syntheses of astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-beta,beta-carotene-4,4'-dione) conjugates: a novel approach to oral and parenteral cardio-protection.

Disodium disuccinate astaxanthin has potent cardioprotective effects in animals, with demonstrated preclinical efficacy in the rat, rabbit, and canine models of experimental infarction. It has been effective in subchronic and acute dosing regimens after parenteral administration, and recently published data in rats demonstrate that oral cardioprotection is also readily achieved. Myocardial salvage in the canine can reach 100% with a 4-day subchronic dosing regimen; single-dose I.

Purification of synthetic all-E lycophyll (psi,psi-carotene-16,16'-diol).

An efficient purification of synthetic all-trans (all-E) lycophyll is described. The synthetic preparation of the rare xanthophyll lycophyll produces a mixture of geometric isomers. Purification by HPLC using reverse-phase C30 silica affords milligram quantities of the desired all-trans isomer in >95% purity, as confirmed by (1)H NMR and LC/MS.

Spectroscopy of non-heme iron thiolate complexes: insight into the electronic structure of the low-spin active site of nitrile hydratase.

Detailed spectroscopic and computational studies of the low-spin iron complexes [Fe(III)(S2(Me2)N3 (Pr,Pr))(N3)] (1) and [Fe(III)(S2(Me2)N3 (Pr,Pr))]1+ (2) were performed to investigate the unique electronic features of these species and their relation to the low-spin ferric active sites of nitrile hydratases. Low-temperature UV/vis/NIR and MCD spectra of 1 and 2 reflect electronic structures that are dominated by antibonding interactions of the Fe 3d manifold and the equatorial thiolate S 3p orbitals. The six-coordinate complex 1 exhibits a low-energy S(pi) --> Fe 3d(xy) (approximately 13,000 cm(-1)) charge-transfer transition that results predominantly from the low energy of the singly occupied Fe 3d(xy) orbital, due to pure pi interactions between this acceptor orbital and both thiolate donor ligands in the equatorial plane.

In vitro plasma protein binding and aqueous aggregation behavior of astaxanthin dilysinate tetrahydrochloride.

The tetrahydrochloride salt of astaxanthin di-L-lysinate (lys(2)AST) is a highly water-dispersible astaxanthin-amino acid conjugate, with an aqueous dispersibility of > or = 181.6 mg/mL. The statistical mixture of stereoisomers has been well characterized as an aqueous-phase superoxide anion scavenger, effective at micromolar (microM) concentrations.

Synthesis, characterization, and direct aqueous superoxide anion scavenging of a highly water-dispersible astaxanthin-amino acid conjugate.

The aqueous solubility and/or dispersibility of synthetic carotenoid analogs can be improved by varying the chemical structure(s) of the esterified moieties. In the current study, a highly water-dispersible astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-beta,beta-carotene-4,4'-dione) derivative was synthesized by esterification to the amino acid L-lysine, and subsequently converted to the tetrahydrochloride salt. Deep violet, evenly colored aqueous suspensions were obtained with addition of the novel derivative to USP purified water up to a maximum of 181.

The first example of a nitrile hydratase model complex that reversibly binds nitriles.

Nitrile hydratase (NHase) is an iron-containing metalloenzyme that converts nitriles to amides. The mechanism by which this biochemical reaction occurs is unknown. One mechanism that has been proposed involves nucleophilic attack of an Fe-bound nitrile by water (or hydroxide).