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Archaeosomes are liposomes formulated using total polar lipids (TPLs) or semi-synthetic glycolipids derived from archaea. Conventional archaeosomes with entrapped antigen exhibit robust adjuvant activity as demonstrated by increased antigen-specific humoral and cell-mediated responses and enhanced protective immunity in various murine infection and cancer models. However, antigen entrapment efficiency can vary greatly resulting in antigen loss during formulation and variable antigen:lipid ratios. In order to circumvent this, we recently developed an admixed archaeosome formulation composed of a single semi-synthetic archaeal lipid (SLA, sulfated lactosylarchaeol) which can induce similarly robust adjuvant activity as an encapsulated formulation. Herein, we evaluate and compare the mechanisms involved in the induction of early innate and antigen-specific responses by both admixed (Adm) and encapsulated (Enc) SLA archaeosomes. We demonstrate that both archaeosome formulations result in increased immune cell infiltration, enhanced antigen retention at injection site and increased antigen uptake by antigen-presenting cells and other immune cell types, including neutrophils and monocytes following intramuscular injection to mice using ovalbumin as a model antigen. In vitro studies demonstrate SLA in either formulation is preferentially taken up by macrophages. Although the encapsulated formulation was better able to induce antigen-specific CD8+ T cell activation by dendritic cells in vitro, both encapsulated and admixed formulations gave equivalently enhanced protection from tumor challenge when tested in vivo using a B16-OVA melanoma model. Despite some differences in the immunostimulatory profile relative to the SLA (Enc) formulation, SLA (Adm) induces strong in vivo immunogenicity and efficacy, while offering an ease of formulation.

In this study, we demonstrate for the first time the fabrication of carboxylated chitosan nanocrystals (ChsNC) with high degree of deacetylation (DDA) at >80% and narrow size distribution. We also studied its application as a sustainable support material for metal-based catalysts. Carboxylated chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) were initially prepared through partial cleavage of glycosidic bonds in chitin by ammonium persulfate, with concurrent oxidation of chitin C6 primary alcohols to produce carboxylate groups on the surface of the ChNCs. ChsNCs were subsequently prepared using an alkaline deacetylation procedure in the presence of NaBH4 to preserve the nanorod structure of the biomaterial. The resulting nanocrystals feature both carboxyl and amino functional groups. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to determine the morphology and composition of these carboxylated ChNCs and ChsNCs. Subsequently, we tested the ability of the as-made ChsNCs as a biomass-based catalyst support for Au nanoparticles (NPs) using the 4-nitrophenol reduction and the aldehyde-amine-alkyne (A3) coupling reactions to demonstrate its capabilities in regard to the ones of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). In particular, Au NPs over ChsNCs featured the highest turnover frequency (TOF) value for the 4-nitrophenol reduction reported for all Au-based catalysts supported on carbon-based systems. Spectroscopic and imaging techniques confirmed the importance of precisely controlling the redox state of Au as it is being deposited to afford a highly disperse active site on the bionano-support.

Archaeosomes, composed of sulfated lactosyl archaeol (SLA) glycolipids, have been proven to be an effective vaccine adjuvant in multiple preclinical models of infectious disease or cancer. SLA archaeosomes are a promising adjuvant candidate due to their ability to strongly stimulate both humoral and cytotoxic immune responses when simply admixed with an antigen. In the present study, we evaluated whether the adjuvant effects of SLA archaeosomes could be further enhanced when combined with other adjuvants. SLA archaeosomes were co-administered with five different Toll-like Receptor (TLR) agonists or the saponin QS-21 using ovalbumin as a model antigen in mice. Both humoral and cellular immune responses were greatly enhanced compared to either adjuvant alone when SLA archaeosomes were combined with either the TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) or the TLR9 agonist CpG. These results were also confirmed in a separate study using Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and support the further evaluation of these adjuvant combinations.

Chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) were prepared by partial cleavage of glycosidic bonds in chitin with concurrent oxidation of chitin C6 primary alcohols to produce carboxylate groups on the surface of the ChNCs. Following alkaline deacetylation of the ChNCs in the presence of NaBH4 to inhibit “end-peeling” afforded chitosan nanocrystals (ChsNCs) with a degree of deacetylation (DDA) >80%. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to determine the morphology and composition of these carboxylated ChNCs and ChsNCs. Subsequently, two methods were used to deposit Au onto the nanocrystals, and the catalytic activities of the resulting biomass-based nanocatalysts were tested for the 4-nitrophenol reduction and the aldehyde-amine-alkyne (A3) coupling reaction. In particular, Au nanoparticles over ChsNCs featured the highest turnover frequency value for the 4-nitrophenol reduction reported to date. Spectroscopic and imaging techniques confirmed the importance of controlling precisely the redox state of Au as it is being deposited to afford highly disperse active site on the bio-nano-support.

3-Aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines are rapidly synthesized via a facile and mild cyclodehydration-aromatization reaction starting from readily available amides. The cyclodehydration step is mediated by the activation of N-Boc-protected 2-aminopyridine-containing amides by triflic anhydride (Tf2O) in the presence of 2-methoxypyridine (2-MeO-Py). Subsequently, the addition of K2CO3 in THF ensured a clean deprotection-aromatization sequence to afford the desired heterocycle. A wide variety of functional groups and substitution patterns were tolerated under the optimized procedure, and good to excellent yields were obtained for the fused bicyclic 3-aza-heterocycles. In addition, the reaction was found to be scalable to gram-scale and could be performed with unprotected acyclic amide precursors. We also found that the resulting products were valuable intermediates for both Pd- and Ru-catalyzed C–H arylation reactions, allowing for the elaboration to diversely functionalized building blocks.

Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While novel treatments have improved survival outcomes for some patients, new treatment modalities/platforms are needed to combat a wider variety of tumor types. Cancer vaccines harness the power of the immune system to generate targeted tumor-specific immune responses. Liposomes composed of glycolipids derived from archaea (i.e., archaeosomes) have been shown to be potent adjuvants, inducing robust, long-lasting humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to a variety of antigens. Herein, we evaluated the ability of archaeosomes composed of sulfated lactosyl archaeol (SLA), a semi-synthetic archaeal glycolipid, to enhance the immunogenicity of a synthetic long peptide-based vaccine formulation containing the dominant CD8+ T cell epitope, SIINFEKL, from the weakly immunogenic model antigen ovalbumin. One advantage of immunizing with long peptides is the ability to include multiple epitopes, for example, the long peptide antigen was also designed to include the immediately adjacent CD4+ epitope, TEWTSSNVMEER. SLA archaeosomes were tested alone or in combination with the toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist Poly(I:C). Overall, SLA archaeosomes synergized strongly with Poly(I:C) to induce robust antigen-specific CD8+ T cell responses, which were highly functional in an in vivo cytolytic assay. Furthermore, immunization with this vaccine formulation suppressed tumor growth and extended mouse survival in a mouse melanoma tumor model. Overall, the combination of SLA archaeosomes and Poly(I:C) appears to be a promising adjuvant system when used along with long peptide-based antigens targeting cancer.

A two-step synthesis of structurally diverse 3-aminoindazoles from readily available starting materials was developed. This sequence includes a one-pot synthesis of aminohydrazones through chemoselective Tf2O-mediated activation of tertiary amides and subsequent addition of nucleophilic hydrazides. These precursors then participate in an intramolecular ligand-free Pd-catalyzed C-H amination reaction. The azaheterocycles synthesized via this approach were further diversified through subsequent deprotection/functionalization reactions.

International audience; This paper focuses on crevice corrosion resistance of a martensitic stainless steel. First, electrochemical measurements were performed in deaerated bulk electrolytes for different chloride concentrations and different values of the pH to determine the critical parameters leading to dissolution or breakdown of the passive film. Then, a thin-layer cell was designed to confine the electrolyte between two parallel stainless steel planes. Impedance measurements obtained for different immersion times and electrolyte thicknesses clearly showed the influence of these two parameters on the crevice corrosion rate. A significant decrease of the corrosion resistance when the medium is increasingly confined was observed. The data obtained in the bulk electrolytes were used to determine the critical conditions in the thin-layer cell which impede the repassivation of the stainless steel (pH and [Cl−]).

A two-step synthesis of structurally diverse 3-aminoindazoles from readily available starting materials was developed. This sequence includes a one-pot synthesis of aminohydrazones through chemoselective Tf2O-mediated activation of tertiary amides and subsequent addition of nucleophilic hydrazides. These precursors then participate in an intramolecular ligand-free Pd-catalyzed C–H amination reaction. The azaheterocycles synthesized via this approach were further diversified through subsequent deprotection/functionalization reactions.

International audience; This paper focuses on the characterisation of the electrochemical behaviour of a martensitic stainless steel in 0.1 M NaCl + 0.04 M Na2SO4 solution and is a part of a study devoted to crevice corrosion resistance of stainless steels. Polarisation curves and electrochemical impedance measurements were obtained for different experimental conditions in bulk electrolyte. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyse the passive films. At the corrosion potential, the stainless steel was in the passive state and the corrosion process was controlled by the properties of the passive film formed during air exposure. During immersion in the deaerated solution, the passive film was only slightly modified, whereas it was altered both in composition and thickness during immersion in the aerated solution. After cathodic polarisation of the stainless steel electrode surface, the oxide film was almost totally removed and the surface appeared to be uniformly active for oxygen reduction. The new passive film, formed at the corrosion potential, was enriched with iron species and less protective. Impedance diagrams allowed the characterisation of both the oxide film (high-frequency range) and the charge transfer process (low-frequency range).

A phase separation/continuous flow macrocyclization protocol eliminates the need for high-dilution conditions and can be used to prepare gram quantities of biologically relevant macrocyclic lipid structures. The method presents several green advantages towards macrocycle synthesis: (1) the prevention of unwanted oligomers and waste, (2) a reduction in the large quantities of toxic, volatile organic solvents and (3) the use of PEG as an environmentally benign reaction media. Macrocycles could be synthesized in high yields (up to 99%) in short reaction times (1.5 h) and on gram scales without the need to alter the reaction conditions.