Investigación Avanzada en Fisiología Integrativa para la Vida (IAFIV)

Inert cationic iridium(iii) complexes with phenanthroline-based ligands: application in antimicrobial inactivation of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains

2026-02-19T01:05:24Z

Inert cationic iridium(iii) complexes with phenanthroline-based ligands: application in antimicrobial inactivation of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains Busto Vázquez, Natalia; Vigueras, Gloria; Cutillas, Natalia; García Ruiz, Begoña; Ruiz, José The antimicrobial activity of a new series of heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes of the type [Ir(C^N)2(N^N)][PF6] (C^N = deprotonated 2-phenylbenzimidazole-κN, κC; N^N = phen (Ir1), dpq (Ir2), dppz (Ir3), dppn (Ir4), and dppz-idzo (Ir5)) was studied towards two Gram positive (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram negative (Acinetobacter baumanii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) multidrug-resistant bacterial strains of clinical interest. Although the complexes were inactive towards Gram negative bacteria, their effectiveness against Gram positive strains was remarkable, especially for Ir1 and Ir2, the most bactericidal complexes that were even more active (10 times) than the fluoroquinolone antibiotic norfloxacin and displayed no toxicity in human kidney cells (HEK293). Mechanistic studies revealed that the cell wall and membrane of MRSA S. aureus remained intact on treatment with these compounds and that DNA was not their main target. It is important to note that the complexes were able to induce ROS generation, this being the feature key to their antimicrobial activity.

Adding Diversity to a Diruthenium Biscyclopentadienyl Scaffold via Alkyne Incorporation: Synthesis and Biological Studies

2026-02-17T01:05:41Z

Adding Diversity to a Diruthenium Biscyclopentadienyl Scaffold via Alkyne Incorporation: Synthesis and Biological Studies Bresciani, Giulio; Boni, Serena; Funaioli, Tiziana; Zacchini, Stefano; Pampaloni, Guido; Busto Vázquez, Natalia; Biver, Tarita; Marchetti, Fabio We report the synthesis and the assessment of the anticancer potential of two series of diruthenium biscyclopentadienyl carbonyl complexes. Novel dimetallacyclopentenone compounds (2–4) were obtained (45–92% yields) from the thermal reaction (PhCCPh exchange) of [Ru2Cp2(CO)(μ-CO){μ-η1:η3-C(Ph)═C(Ph)C(═O)}], 1, with alkynes HCCR [R = C5H4FeCp (Fc), 3-C6H4(Asp), 2-naphthyl; Cp = η5-C5H5, Asp = OC(O)-2-C6H4C(O)Me]. Protonation of 1–3 by HBF4 afforded the corresponding μ-alkenyl derivatives 5–7, in 40–86% yields. All products were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy; moreover, cyclic voltammetry (1, 2, 5, 7) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (5, 7) analyses were performed on representative compounds. Complexes 5–7 revealed a cytotoxic activity comparable to that of cisplatin in A549 (lung adenocarcinoma), SW480 (colon adenocarcinoma), and ovarian (A2780) cancer cell lines, and 2, 5, 6, and 7 overcame cisplatin resistance in A2780cis cells. Complexes 2, 5, and 7 (but not the aspirin derivative 6) induced an increase in intracellular ROS levels. Otherwise, 6 strongly stabilizes and elongates natural DNA (from calf thymus, CT-DNA), suggesting a possible intercalation binding mode, whereas 5 is less effective in binding CT-DNA, and 7 is ineffective. This trend is reversed concerning RNA, and in particular, 7 is able to bind poly(rA)poly(rU) showing selectivity for this nucleic acid. Complexes 5–7 can interact with the albumin protein with a thermodynamic signature dominated by hydrophobic interactions. Overall, we show that organometallic species based on the Ru2Cp2(CO)x scaffold (x = 2, 3) are active against cancer cells, with different incorporated fragments influencing the interactions with nucleic acids and the production of ROS.

Rhodiola rosea supplementation on sports performance: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

2026-02-06T01:05:24Z

Rhodiola rosea supplementation on sports performance: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials Sanz‐Barrio, Patricia M.; Noreen, Eric E.; Gilsanz‐Estebaranz, Laura; Lorenzo‐Calvo, Jorge; Martínez Ferrán, María; Pareja-Galeano, Helios

Antioxidant vitamin supplementation on muscle adaptations to resistance training: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial

2026-02-06T01:05:34Z

Antioxidant vitamin supplementation on muscle adaptations to resistance training: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial Martínez Ferrán, María; Berlanga, Luis A.; Barcelo-Guido, Olga; Matos-Duarte, Michelle; Vicente-Campos, Davinia; Sánchez-Jorge, Sandra; Romero-Morales, Carlos; Munguía-Izquierdo, Diego; Pareja-Galeano, Helios Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine whether antioxidant vitamin supplementation with vitamin C (VitC) and vitamin E (VitE) affects the hypertrophic and functional adaptations to resistance training in trained men. Methods: This was a double-blind, randomized controlled trial in which participants were supplemented daily with VitC and VitE ( n = 12) or placebo ( n = 11) while completing a 10-wk resistance training program accompanied by a dietary intervention (300 kcal surplus and adequate protein intake) designed to optimize hypertrophy. Body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), handgrip strength, and one-repetition maximum (1-RM), maximal force (F0), velocity (V0), and power (Pmax) were measured in bench press (BP) and squat (SQ) tests conducted before and after the intervention. To detect between-group differences, multiple-mixed analysis of variance, standardized differences, and qualitative differences were estimated. Relative changes within each group were assessed using a paired Student's t test. Results: In both groups, similar improvements were produced in BP 1-RM , SQ 1-RM SQ, and BP F0 (P < 0.05) after the resistance training program. A small effect size was observed for BP 1-RM (d = 0.53), BP F0 (d = 0.48), and SQ 1-RM (d = –0.39), but not for SQ F0 (d = 0.03). Dominant handgrip strength was significantly increased only in the placebo group (P < 0.05). According to body composition data, a significant increase was produced in upper body fat-free mass soft tissue (FFMST; P < 0.05) in the placebo group, whereas neither total nor segmental FFMST was increased in the vitamin group. Small intervention effect sizes were observed for upper body FFSMT (d = 0.32), non-dominant and dominant leg FFMST (d = –0.39; d = –0.42). Although a significant increase in total body fat was observed in both groups (P < 0.05) only the placebo group showed an increase in visceral adipose tissue (P < 0.05), showing a substantial intervention effect (d = 0.85). Conclusions: The data indicated that, although VitC/VitE supplementation seemed to blunt upper body strength and hypertrophy adaptations to resistance training, it could also mitigate gains in visceral adipose tissue elicited by an energy surplus.