Novel cysteine substitution p.(Cys1084Tyr) causes variable expressivity of qualitative and quantitative VWF defects

Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is an extremely cysteine-rich multimeric protein that is essential for maintaining normal hemostasis. The cysteine residues of VWF monomers form intra- and inter-molecular disulfide bonds that regulate its structural conformation, multimer distribution and ultimately its hemostatic activity. In this study we investigated and characterized the molecular and pathogenic mechanisms through which a novel cysteine variant p.(Cys1084Tyr) causes an unusual, mixed phenotype form of von Willebrand disease (VWD). Phenotypic data including bleeding scores, laboratory values, VWF multimer distribution and desmopressin response kinetics were investigated in 5 members (2 parents and 3 daughters) of a consanguineous family. VWF synthesis and secretion were also assessed in a heterologous expression system and in a transient transgenic mouse model. Heterozygosity for p.(Cys1084Tyr) was associated with variable expressivity of qualitative VWF defects. Heterozygous individuals had reduced VWF:GPIbM (<0.40IU/mL) and VWF:CB (<0.35IU/mL) as well as relative reductions in high-molecular weight multimers, consistent with type 2A VWD. In addition to these qualitative defects, homozygous individuals also displayed reduced FVIII:C/VWF:Ag leading to very low FVIII levels (0.03-0.1IU/mL) as well as reduced VWF:Ag (<0.40IU/mL) and VWF:GPIbM (<0.30IU/ml). Accelerated VWF clearance and impaired VWF secretion contributed to the fully expressed homozygous phenotype with impaired secretion arising due to disordered disulfide connectivity.

Hydrogels Based on Alginates and Carboxymethyl Cellulose with Modulated Drug Release—An Experimental and Theoretical Study

New hydrogels films crosslinked with epichlorohydrin were prepared based on alginates and carboxymethyl cellulose with properties that recommend them as potential drug delivery systems (e.g., biocompatibility, low toxicity, non-immunogenicity, hemostatic activity and the ability to absorb large amounts of water). The characterization of their structural, morphological, swelling capacity, loading/release and drug efficiency traits proved that these new hydrogels are promising materials for controlled drug delivery systems. Further, a new theoretical model, in the framework of Scale Relativity Theory, was built with to offer insights on the release process at the microscopic level and to simplify the analysis of the release process.

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Recombinant FIX Variants in the FIX Knockout Mouse Tail Clip Bleeding Model

Introduction: The recessive X-linked bleeding disorder Hemophilia B is caused by a mutation in the coagulation factor (F) IX gene leading to partial or total loss of its function. Preventive treatment with replacement long-acting FIX is an attractive option for patients to reduce administration frequency and prevent bleeding. New recombinant FIX therapeutics like the albumin-fused FIX (rFIX-FP) or the Fc-fused FIX (rFIX-Fc) enable longer half-life in circulation and thus less frequent administration, as compared to non-fused FIX (rFIX). Studies in FIX knockout (KO) mice were conducted to characterize the effect of the modifications on the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties of the different recombinant FIX products. Methods: Pharmacokinetics: Recombinant FIXs were administered intravenously at doses of 25 nmol/kg (corresponding to ~175-400 IU/kg FIX clotting activity) to FIX KO mice. Blood samples were collected starting at 5 min, and up to 336 h. FIX plasma levels were measured with an ELISA-based assay with anti-human FIX paired antibodies. PK was evaluated by non-compartmental analysis. Biodistribution: 3H-labeled recombinant FIXs were administered intravenously at doses of 200 IU/kg to FIX KO mice. Plasma levels and organ distribution were quantified starting at 15 min, and up to 240 h. Pharmacodynamics: FIX KO mice were treated intravenously with 50 IU/kg FIX clotting activity (nominal or labeled potency) of different rFIX products at 24, 72, 120 168 and 336 h prior to determination of bleeding time and total blood loss in a tail clip bleeding model. Immediately upon lesion, the tail tip was submerged in isotonic saline (0.9 %), kept at the mice physiological body temperature. Time to hemostasis is quantified as the time until bleeding stops for a minimum of 2 min. The volume of total blood loss was calculated by measuring the hemoglobin present in the isotonic saline solution at the end of the experiment. Results: Distinct PK profiles were observed for the three FIX molecules, where rFIX and rFIX-Fc exhibit an initial rapid distribution phase from plasma, while rFIX-FP showed a monophasic elimination profile up to 120 h post administration (p.a.). In the terminal phase, rFIX levels were quantifiable for up to 48 h p.a., while both; rFIX-FP and rFIX-Fc were measurable in plasma up to 240 h p.a. In line with this, the overall exposure AUC 0-inf is ranked in the following order: rFIX-FP > rFIX-Fc > rFIX. In the biodistribution study, a similar plasma PK profile was determined. Given the sensitivity of the radioactive method, an exposure plateau was observed for rFIX-Fc, and at lower levels for rFIX, whereas rFIX-FP continued to exhibit monophasic plasma clearance behavior. rFIX-FP exposure in the extravascular space (EVS) was lower than for the other FIX products. This is in line with volumes of distribution (Vss and Vz) which were highest for rFIX-Fc (AUC ranking rFIX-Fc > rFIX > rFIX-FP). FIX hemostatic efficacy in tail clip model was comparable for all 3 FIXs at the early time points but diverged at later time points post dosing. The blood loss and bleeding time measurements returned to baseline within 168 h for rFIX and rFIX-Fc, while the rFIX-FP group maintained robust hemostatic activity for up to 336 h. In contrast to lowest tissue exposure of rFIX-FP, the plasma AUC for rFIX-FP was highest, compared to FIX-Fc or FIX. In line, efficacy over time was also highest for rFIX-FP, suggesting that tissue exposure might not be the main driver for hemostatic activity. Conclusion: Different FIX products exhibit divergent PK and PD behaviors. rFIX-FP plasma PK profile suggests somewhat lower tissue distribution in comparison to rFIX-Fc and rFIX, which was confirmed in the tissue biodistribution study. Despite its limited extravasation into tissue, rFIX-FP exhibits superior and prolonged hemostatic activity in the FIX KO mouse tail clip model. rFIX and rFIX-Fc show comparable tissue biodistribution behavior, with robust extravasation into the EVS. Despite having the longest half-life and overall (plasma and tissue) exposure in the mouse, rFIX-Fc lost hemostatic activity in the tail clip model significantly faster than rFIX-FP. As a result, hemostatic efficacy was highest for the FIX-FP, the product with the lowest distribution volumes. The results therefore suggest that EVS is not the main determining factor for FIX efficacy in vivo. Disclosures Pestel: CSL Behring Innovation GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Peil: CSL Behring Innovation GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Knoll Machado: CSL Behring Innovation GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Claar: CSL Behring Innovation GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Raquet: CSL Behring Innovation GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Ponnuswamy: CSL Behring Innovation GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Mischnik: CSL Behring Innovation GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Herzog: CSL Behring GmbH: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company.

Insight into Factors Influencing Wound Healing Using Phosphorylated Cellulose-Filled-Chitosan Nanocomposite Films

Marine polysaccharides are believed to be promising wound-dressing nanomaterials because of their biocompatibility, antibacterial and hemostatic activity, and ability to easily shape into transparent films, hydrogels, and porous foams that can provide a moist micro-environment and adsorb exudates. Current efforts are firmly focused on the preparation of novel polysaccharide-derived nanomaterials functionalized with chemical objects to meet the mechanical and biological requirements of ideal wound healing systems. In this contribution, we investigated the characteristics of six different cellulose-filled chitosan transparent films as potential factors that could help to accelerate wound healing. Both microcrystalline and nano-sized cellulose, as well as native and phosphorylated cellulose, were used as fillers to simultaneously elucidate the roles of size and functionalization. The assessment of their influences on hemostatic properties indicated that the tested nanocomposites shorten clotting times by affecting both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways of the blood coagulation system. We also showed that all biocomposites have antioxidant capacity. Moreover, the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the materials against two cell lines, human BJ fibroblasts and human KERTr keratinocytes, was investigated. The nature of the cellulose used as a filler was found to influence their cytotoxicity at a relatively low level. Potential mechanisms of cytotoxicity were also investigated; only one (phosphorylated microcellulose-filled chitosan films) of the compounds tested produced reactive oxygen species (ROS) to a small extent, and some films reduced the level of ROS, probably due to their antioxidant properties. The transmembrane mitochondrial potential was very slightly lowered. These biocompatible films showed no genotoxicity, and very importantly for wound healing, most of them significantly accelerated migration of both fibroblasts and keratinocytes.

The Procoagulant Activity of Emoxilane®: A New Appealing Therapeutic Use in Epistaxis of the Combination of Sodium Hyaluronate, Silver Salt, α-tocopherol and D-panthenol

Epistaxis is one of the most frequent hemorrhages resulting from local or systemic factors. Its management without hospitalization has prompted an interest in locally applied hemostatic agents. Generally, the therapy approaches involve sprays or creams acting as a physical barrier, even used as tampons or gauze. In this study, we have investigated the activity of Emoxilane®, a combination of sodium hyaluronate, silver salt, α-tocopherol acetate and D-panthenol, which is known to be able to separately act in a different biological manner. Our in vitro results, obtained on endothelial and nasal epithelial cells, have shown that the association of these molecules presented a notable antioxidant activity mainly due to the α-tocopherol and D-panthenol and a significant antimicrobial role thanks to the silver compound. Moreover, remarkable hemostatic activity was found by evaluating plasmin inhibition attributable to the sodium hyaluronate. Interestingly, on human plasma, we have confirmed that Emoxilane® strongly induced the increase of thrombin levels. These data suggest that the use of this association could represent an appealing pharmacological approach to actively induce hemostasis during epistaxis. Our future perspective will aim to the creation of a formulation for an easy topical application in the nose which is able to contrast the bleeding.

In vivo Hemostatic Activity of Jatropha mollissima: A Triple-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial in an Animal Model

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the hemostatic activity of the sap from Jatropha mollissima (Pohl) Baill. in rats. Materials and Methods Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomized into four groups (n = 6): the JM25 and JM40 groups were treated with ethanolic extract from the sap of J. mollissima, in a concentration of 25 and 40 mg·mL1, respectively; the MO group was treated with Monsel’s solution and the control group SC with a 0.9% sodium chloride solution. Statistical Analysis Data were submitted to the Kurskal–Wallis’ test, followed by Dunn’s post hoc (p < 0.05). Results There was a significant reduction in the bleeding time of the group from the JM25 extract (p = 0.001) when compared with MO and SC. There were no statistically significant differences between groups JM25 and JM40 (p > 0.05). The JM25 group did not present rebleeding, a result significantly different from the MO group (p = 0.001). Monsel’s solution showed significant bleeding, six times greater than the control group SC. Conclusion The J. mollissima extract, in the concentration of 25 mg·mL1, showed the highest hemostatic efficiency and was found to be a promising biomaterial for the elaboration of a hemostatic product.

Determination of indicators allowing to evaluating the hemostatic activity of chitosan without a biological experiment

The biopolymer chitosan is widely used for the development of local hemostatic agents. However, the physicochemical parameters of chitosan that determine its hemostatic properties have not yet been determined. Standard quality control of chitosan-containing raw materials and medical products on its basis do not allow us to make a conclusion about the effectiveness of their use for stopping bleeding. The most reliable method for assessing hemostatic activity remains in vivo experiment on large animals. The aim of this study was to determine additional physicochemical parameters of chitosan, which would make it possible to predict its hemostatic activity without conducting a biological experiment. In this work, using the methods of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, spectrophotometry and viscometry, it has been shown that the ability to initiate hemostasis is depending of the molecular weight and degree of deacetylation of chitosan, but not enough linearly. The hemostatic properties in vitro increases in a series of samples with a relatively constant molecular weight with an increase in the degree of deacetylation. As well as in a series with the same degree of deacetylation with an increase in molecular weight. However, at molecular weight values more than 300 kDa, the viscosity of the polymer causes the opposite effect: with an increase in the degree of deacetylation, the hemostatic activity decreases. The best ability to initiate hemostasis have chitosan samples with a degree of deacetylation of 90.0%–97.4% and molecular weight 145.7–284.7 kDa, in which at pH of solution close to physiological, a significant part of the molecules transitioned from conformation state rigid rod to state globule. It was accompanied by an abrupt change in light transmission of the solution. It was concluded, that it is possible to study conformational states by spectrophotometry to assess the hemostatic activity of chitosan samples without performing biological experiment.

Synthesis And Characterization of Vancomycin-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles For Drug Delivery

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide with and prominent physicochemical and biological properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxicity, non-immunogenicity, bioadhesion, antibacterial, antifungal and hemostatic activity. Due to these properties, it has found many applications in cosmetic, textile, and food industries; agriculture; biotechnology; pharmaceutical industry and medicine; specially in biomedical applications. The special chemical structure of chitosan allows some specific modifications and by reducing the size of chitosan particles to Nano size, it becomes an excellent drug nanocarrier. Vancomycin is a typical antibiotic used for bacterial infections caused by geram positive bacteria. In this work, chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) were prepared via ionotropic gelation using tripolyphosphate (TPP) as crosslinker. The effect of chitosan and TPP concentration on the size of chitosan nanoparticles was studied and CS:TPP ratio of 1:1 with average size of nanoparticle about 100 nm were selected. The prepared samples were characterized using DLS, FTIR, TGA, DSC, and SEM techniques. The results confirmed that vancomycin has been loaded successfully on chitosan nanoparticles and there was not any interaction between vancomycin and chitosan. Also, it is observed that 40% of vancomycin is released burstly in the first 9 h and after that the drug release is continued gradually to receive 90% at 100 h.

Lessons to learn from tumor-educated platelets

Platelets have long been known to play important roles beyond hemostasis and thrombosis. Now recognized as a bonafide mediator of malignant disease, platelets influence various aspects of cancer progression, most notably tumor cell metastasis. Interestingly, platelets isolated from cancer patients often display distinct RNA and protein profiles, with no clear alterations in hemostatic activity. This phenotypically distinct population termed tumor-educated platelets now receive significant attention for their potential use as a readily available liquid biopsy for early cancer detection. Although the mechanisms underpinning platelet education are still being defined, direct uptake and storage of tumor-derived factors, signal-dependent changes in platelet RNA processing, and differential platelet production by tumor-educated megakaryocytes are the most prominent scenarios. This article aims to cover the various modalities of platelet education by tumors, in addition to assessing their diagnostic potential.