Biodistribution of gold nanoparticles in mouse lung following intratracheal instillation

Background  

The fate of gold nanoparticles, 2, 40 and 100 nm, administered intratracheally to adult female mice was examined. The nanoparticles were traced by autometallography (AMG) at both ultrastructural and light microscopic levels. Also, the gold content was quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and neutron activation analysis (NAA). The liver is the major site of deposition of circulating gold nanoparticles. Therefore the degree of translocation was determined by the hepatic deposition of gold. Mice were instilled with 5 intratracheal doses of gold nanoparticles distributed over a period of 3 weeks and were killed 24 h after the last dose. One group of mice were given a single intratracheal dose and were killed after 1 h.     

Synthesis of nicotinonitrile derivatives and study of their photophysical properties

Abstract  

A convenient route was developed for the synthesis of novel nicotinonitrile derivatives by a three-component Dimroth reaction of chalcones, malononitrile, and secondary heterocyclic amines or sodium alcoholate. Nicotinonitrile derivatives are obtained in fair to good yields. The structures of all new compounds were established by spectroscopic characteristics and their photophysical properties were studied.     

Synthesis and study of the fluorescent behavior of 3-pyridinecarbonitriles

Abstract  

A series of (2E)-3-(1-chloro-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)-1-(4-aryl)prop-2-en-1-ones (chalcones) have been synthesized by a new synthetic route. The 3-pyridinecarbonitrile derivatives were synthesized by the Michael reaction of malononitrile (in base) and aroylacetonitriles (in acid) with chalcones in one pot. The fluorescent properties and quantum yields of these compounds were studied.     

Tartrate- and imidazole-derived diketones and diols: preparation and stability constants of their Cu2+ complexes

Abstract  

Overall, six tartrate- and imidazole-derived ketones and diols were synthesized in a stepwise manner as model compounds for the coordination of Cu²⁺ ions. The stability constants of copper(II) complexes were studied spectrophotometrically. It was found that the two model structures coordinate Cu²⁺ ions differentially.     

Electrochemical pyridination of hydroquinone in aqueous solution

Abstract  

Electrochemical oxidation of hydroquinone was studied in the presence of pyridine and 4-methylpyridine as nucleophiles in aqueous solution. The results indicate the participation of electrochemically generated p-benzoquinone in Michael addition reaction with pyridine and 4-methylpyridine, converting it to pyridinated compounds.     

Theoretical studies of 1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxamides as possible inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis enoyl reductase

Abstract  

The binding affinity of some novel 1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxamides to enoyl-ACP reductase (InhA) from M. tuberculosis was studied by the docking method. A molecular dynamics simulation lasting 230 ns in total was performed for 19 ligand–enzyme complexes to calculate the binding free energies of these ligands to the enzyme. All of the studied compounds stayed in the active site. An energetics analysis revealed that the van der Waals share is more important than electrostatic in binding of all ligands to the active site.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel piperidin-4-ol derivatives

Abstract  

A series of novel piperidin-4-ol derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for potential treatment of HIV. The compounds were obtained via an efficient synthetic route in excellent yields and have been characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MS, and elemental analysis. The CCR5 antagonistic activities of the compounds have also been evaluated.     

Gold nanoparticles as efficient antimicrobial agents for Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi

Background

It is imperative to eliminate bacteria present in water in order to avoid problems in healthy. Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi bacteria are two common pollutants and they are developing resistance to some of the most used bactericide. Therefore new biocide materials are being tested. Thus, gold nanoparticles are proposed to inhibit the growth of these two microorganisms.

Results

Gold nanoparticles were supported onto clinoptilolite, mordenite and faujasite zeolites. Content of gold in materials varied between 2.3 and 2.8 wt%. The size, dispersion and roughness of gold nanoparticles were highly dependent of the zeolite support. The faujasite support was the support where the 5 nm nanoparticles were highly dispersed. The efficiency of gold-zeolites as bactericides of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi was determined by the zeolite support.

Conclusions

Gold nanoparticles dispersed on zeolites eliminate Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi at short times. The biocidal properties of gold nanoparticles are influenced by the type of support which, indeed, drives key parameters as the size and roughness of nanoparticles. The more actives materials were pointed out Au-faujasite. These materials contained particles sized 5 nm at surface and eliminate 90–95% of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi colonies.     

Microwave-assisted and scandium triflate catalyzed synthesis of tetrahydrobenzo[<Emphasis Type="Italic">a</Emphasis>]xanthen-11-ones

Abstract  

Synthesis of 12-aryl-8,9,10,12-tetrahydro-benzo[a]xanthen-11-ones was achieved by one-pot condensation of β-naphthol, substituted benzaldehydes, and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds catalyzed by Sc(OTf)₃ under microwave irradiation in excellent isolated yields. The catalyst was recycled up to four cycles with no appreciable loss in catalytic activity. The compounds were evaluated for Src kinase activity and anticancer activity.     

An experimental NMR and computational study of 4-quinolones and related compounds

Abstract  

We report the synthesis and structural study of eight compounds, either quinolin-4(1H)-ones or quinolines. Tautomerism as well as (E) → (Z) and rotational isomerism were studied both experimentally (¹H and ¹³C NMR) and theoretically [B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p)].     

Adsorption properties of OCN radical on (6,0), (8,0), and (10,0) zigzag single-walled carbon nanotubes: a density functional study

Abstract  

The behavior of the OCN radical adsorbed on the external surface of H-capped (6,0), (8,0), and (10,0) zigzag single-walled carbon nanotubes was studied by using density functional calculations. Geometry optimizations were carried out at the B3LYP/6-31G* level of theory using the Gaussian 98 suite of programs. We present the nature of the OCN radical–surface interaction in selected sites of the nanotubes. Binding energies corresponding to adsorption of the OCN radical are calculated to be in the range 280–315 kJ mol⁻¹. More efficient binding energies cannot be achieved by increasing the nanotube diameter. We also provide the effects of OCN radical adsorption on the electronic properties of the nanotubes.     

Synthesis and biological activities of novel ethers of quinolinone linked with coumarins

Abstract  

A series of new ethers of quinolinone linked with different substituted coumarins and benzofurans were synthesized from 4-(bromomethyl)quinolinones. All newly synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities. Most of the compounds with chloro substitution at the C-6 or C-7 position in quinolinone showed potent antibacterial and antifungal activities. In pharmacological evaluations, some of these chloroquinolinones also showed 70–77% inhibition of inflammation after 8 h, whereas the other compounds showed 51–55% inhibition. Most of the compounds showed potent analgesic activity compared to the standard and control. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and EI-MS.     

Synthesis and biological activity of novel 4- and 6-(1-alkyl/aryl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene-1,3-diols

Abstract  

A one-pot synthesis of new biologically active 4- and 6-(1-alkyl/aryl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)benzene-1,3-diols has been developed. The compounds were obtained by the reaction of aryl-modified sulfinylbis[(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methanethione] with N-substituted benzene-1,2-diamines. Elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral data were used to elucidate their structures. The developed method offers short reaction times, easy and quick isolation of the products, and good yields. The antiproliferative properties of the synthesized compounds were investigated against a panel of human cancer cell lines. Some of the tested compounds showed significant cytotoxic activity.     

Synthesis of alkaloid-like compounds via the bridging Ritter reaction

Abstract  

Alkaloid-like compounds containing a benzo[c]azepine core structure were successfully prepared in three steps from 5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5-ol via the bridging Ritter reaction. Biological studies of these compounds revealed that some of them are AChE inhibitors and antimalarial agents.     

Chemosensitization of Cancer Cells via Gold Nanoparticle‐Induced Cell Cycle Regulation

We have previously shown that plasmonic nanoparticles conjugated with nuclear‐targeting and cytoplasm‐targeting peptides (NLS and RGD, respectively) are capable of altering the cell cycle of human oral squamous carcinoma cells (HSC‐3). In the present work, we show that this regulation of the cell cycle can be exploited to enhance the efficacy of a common chemotherapeutic agent, 5‐Fluorouracil, by pretreating cells with gold nanoparticles. Utilizing flow cytometry cell cycle analysis, we were able to quantify the 5‐Fluorouracil efficacy as an accumulation of cells in the S phase with a depletion of cells in the G2/M phase. Two gold nanoparticle sizes were tested in this work; 30 nm with a surface plasmon resonance at 530 nm and 15 nm with a surface plasmon resonance at 520 nm. The 30 nm nuclear‐targeted gold nanoparticles (NLS‐AuNPs) showed the greatest 5‐Fluorouracil efficacy enhancement when 5‐Fluorouracil treatment (500 μm , 48 h) is preceded by a 24‐h treatment with nanoparticles. In conclusion, we show that nuclear‐targeted 30 nm gold nanoparticles enhance 5‐Fluorouracil drug efficacy in HSC‐3 cells via regulation of the cell cycle, a chemosensitization technique that could potentially be expanded to different cell lines and different chemotherapies.     

Rational Design of Small 3D Gold Clusters

Abstract  

We designed a series of small 3D gold clusters using a four-atomic tetrahedron with a four center–two electron (4c–2e) bond inside as a building block. The follow-up results of the unbiased global minimum searches proved that indeed the designed 3D structures containing small tetrahedral building blocks with a 4c–2e bond inside are either global minimum structures or low-lying isomers. We believe that the proposed way of building 3D clusters could be used for rational design of other 3D gold clusters.     

Synthesis, cyclic voltammetry, and UV–Vis studies of ferrocene-dithiafulvalenes as anticipated electron-donor materials

Abstract  

New ferrocenyl ketones were obtained as precursors of novel π-conjugated ferrocene-dithiafulvalene (Fc-DTF) and π-extended-ferrocenedithia-fulvalenes (π-exFc-DTF) as electron-donor conducting materials from ferrocene by a direct aroylation process using the Friedel–Crafts reaction. Novel Fc-DTF conjugates were synthesized using the Wittig–Horner reaction and their structures were determined. The redox behavior of the ferrocenyl carbonyl compounds Fc-DTF and Fc-π-exDTF was investigated in comparison to the parent ferrocene by means of cyclic voltammetry. A one-electron redox behavior was observed for carbonylferrocenes as one wave potential, while a two-electron process was observed as two oxidation waves for the conjugates. Introduction of electron-withdrawing groups led to increasing E _pa values and decreasing ΔE _p values. The UV–Vis spectra of some compounds were studied in comparison with ferrocene. The absorption spectra showed a red-shift with a slight increase in the absorption intensities.     

Hydrazine-1-carbonitriles: new synthesis approach to and reactions with carbonyl compounds

Abstract  

A series of 1-(pyrimidin-2-yl)hydrazine-1-carbonitriles was synthesized by base-catalyzed condensation of 3,4-diamino-1,2,4-triazole hydrobromide with several 1,3-dinucleophilic compounds. These final products were formed by ring opening of the 1,2,4-triazolium ring via intermediate 3-amino[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidinium bromides.     

Chemical-genetic profile analysis of five inhibitory compounds in yeast

Background  

Chemical-genetic profiling of inhibitory compounds can lead to identification of their modes of action. These profiles can help elucidate the complex interactions between small bioactive compounds and the cell machinery, and explain putative gene function(s).