Research

Bioactive lipids

Lipids are key regulators of cell physiology through the control of many aspects of cellular life and survival. Lipids serve important functions as membrane constituents and also as energy storing molecules. Beside these functions certain lipid species have been recognized as signaling molecules that regulate a multitude of cellular responses, including cell growth and death, and also key aspects of important diseases. Bioactive lipids were described that are controlling inflammatory processes in one or the other way.

Solid lipid nanoparticles

Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) have gained ground since they are generally regarded as nontoxic, biocompatible, and easy-to-produce formulations. Pharmaceutical applications of lipid nanocarriers are a booming field for the transport and delivery of a diversity of therapeutic agents, from biotechnological products to small drug molecules. Liposomes can be used as SLNs and their ability for various drug entrapment/release in physiological conditions.

Lectins

Lectins, the carbohydrate-binding proteins recognize specific carbohydrate targets, bind to receptors present on the target cell/tissue, and play an important role in cell recognition. Several lectins preferentially interact with the tumor cells more than normal cells because of their differential glycosylation patterns. Also, many lectins are reported to show antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo.

Protein-Ligand Interactions

Steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy is useful for studying protein–substrate interactions, protein–nucleic acid interactions, protein–nucleotide interactions, protein–protein interactions, etc. The binding of drugs with carrier proteins is essential for the transport and metabolism of drugs. The microenvironment and architecture experienced by the ligand are determined largely by the folding/unfolding and/or transformation of protein structure during the interaction. In drug development for example, information about the binding site is very crucial, and this information is provided by spectroscopic properties of ligands housed in the microenvironment of proteins like serum proteins, which in turn will reflect the immediate surroundings of the molecule inside the target proteins.