Biodegradable polycarbonates containing side carboxyl groups—synthesis,properties, and degradation study

The main objective of the presented research was to synthesise biodegradable aliphatic polycarbonates containing reactive carboxyl pendant groups and to examine the influence of the copolymer chain microstructure and composition on the process of their hydrolytic degradation and cytocompatibility. The work describes copolymerization of cyclic trimethylene carbonate derivative containing benzyl‐ester pendant group (benzyl 5‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐dioxane‐5‐carboxylate) with trimethylene carbonate. The copolymerization was conducted with the use of zinc (II) and lanthanum (III) acetylacetonates as ring‐opening polymerization coordination initiators. Detailed NMR analysis allowed to define the microstructure of the obtained copolymers, which depended on the composition and type of used initiator. The final tapered chain microstructure of the obtained copolymers was related to huge differences in comonomers reactivity and evidenced low level of transesterification of the main copolymer backbone. Chosen copolymers, with unprotected carbonyl groups, were subjected to in vitro degradation test and cytocompatibility studies. It was found that high concentration of carboxyl groups resulted in copolymers which formed hydrogels and were very prone to hydrolytic degradation; they were also cytotoxic toward osteoblast‐like MG 63 cells. Copolymers with lower content of carboxyl groups were found less susceptible to degradation and cytocompatible with studied cells. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 2756–2769     

In situ Raman imaging of astaxanthin in a single microalgal cell

Raman imaging is shown to be a highly selective and sensitive method of studying in situ and in vivo astaxanthin distribution, concentration and molecular structure in the cyst form of the unicellular microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis.     

Application of new synthesized zwitterionic surfactants as hair shampoo components

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to applicate new synthesized zwitterionic surfactants as hair shampoo components. Hair shampoos formulated for the study contained newly synthesized sulfobetaines at a concentration of 2%. The above additives were evaluated to determine their effect on shampoo dynamic viscosity, texture, yield stress, foaming properties and surface tension of aqueous shampoo solutions. The viscosity of the sulfobetaine-enriched hair shampoos ranged between 6,000 and 21,000?mPa·s, which ensures the required application properties of the formulated products. The yield stress in three prototypical shampoos was equal to approximately 10?Pa, which represents the minimum value that should characterize cosmetics of this type. The sulfobetaines added to the formulations were not found to significantly affect the parameters of hardness and adhesive force. All the formulations under study, except for the shampoo containing N-dodecyl-N-piperidinium-1-propanesulfonate, exhibited good foaming properties. The incorporation of sulfobetaines into hair shampoos contributes to an effective decrease in the surface tension of their aqueous solutions, which may indicate beneficial washing properties. The use of the proposed sulfobetaines in hair shampoos favorably modifies their physicochemical and functional properties. The findings of the study can provide useful insights for the formulation of hair shampoos containing zwitterionic surfactants.     

The MM2QM tool for combining docking,molecular dynamics,molecular mechanics,and quantum mechanics†

The use of the MM2QM tool in a combined docking + molecular dynamics (MD) + molecular mechanics (MM) + quantum mechanical (QM) binding affinity prediction study is presented, and the tool itself is discussed. The system of interest is Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) pantothenate synthetase in complexes with three highly similar sulfonamide inhibitors, for which crystal structures are available. Starting from the structure of MTB pantothenate synthetase in the “open” conformation and following the combined docking + MD + MM + QM procedure, we were able to capture the closing of the enzyme binding pocket and to reproduce the position of the ligands with an average root mean square deviation of 1.6 Å. Protein–ligand interaction energies were reproduced with an average error lower than 10%. The discussion on the MD part and a protein flexibility importance is carried out. The presented approach may be useful especially for finding analog inhibitors or improving drug candidates. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Comparison of contact angle hysteresis of different probe liquids on the same solid surface

Advancing and receding contact angles of water, formamide and diiodomethane were measured on 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) layers deposited on three different solid supports—glass, mica and poly(methyl methacrylate). Up to five statistical monolayers were deposited on the surfaces by spreading DPPC solution. It was found that even on five statistical DPPC monolayers, the hysteresis of a given liquid depends on the kind of solid support. Also on the same solid support the contact angle hysteresis is different for each probe liquid used. The AFM images show that the heights of roughness of the DPPC films cannot be the primary cause of the observed hysteresis because the heights are too small to cause the observed hystereses. It is believed that the hysteresis is due to the liquid film present right behind the three-phase solid surface/liquid drop/gas (vapour) contact line and the presence of Derjaguin pressure. The value of contact angle hysteresis depends on both the solid surface and liquid properties as well as on intermolecular interactions between them.     

Sensitive adsorptive stripping voltammetric method for direct determination of trace concentration of lead in the presence of cupferron in natural water samples

This paper reports the use of an adsorptive voltammetric technique for Pb(II) determination using cupferron as a selective complexing agent. After accumulation of the complex onto a hanging mercury drop electrode, the electrode potential was scanned with differential pulse modulation and the reduction current of lead was observed at about??0.5?V. Under optimum conditions (5?×?10^?4?mol?L^?1 cupferron concentration, 0.1?mol?L^?1 acetate buffer (pH 5.5), adsorption at??50?mV for 30?s) the detection limit was 5.1?×?10^?10?mol?L^?1. The relative standard deviation of five measurements for low lead concentration was 3.1%. The accuracy of the method was tested by analysing certified reference material (SPS-WW1 Waste Water). Finally, the method was successfully applied to the determination of Pb(II) in river water samples without any pretreatments.     

Simple and fast voltammetric procedure of U(VI) determination in the presence of high concentrations of surface active substances

In this work, a simple and fast procedure for elimination of interfering surface active substances and for U(VI) adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination was developed. The adsorption in the form of U(VI)-cupferron complexes was performed, because as it was proved before, U(VI) forms with cupferron stable complexes, which were employed in voltammetric procedures. The procedure is based on two steps: the first is an adsorption of surface active substances onto an Amberlite XAD-16 or XAD-7 resin and the second is a voltammetric determination of U(VI) with a pulsed potential of accumulation alternate –0.65–0.3 V with the frequency of 0.5 Hz and then the differential pulse voltammogram was recorded, whereas the potential was scanned from –0.65 to –1.2 V. The detection limit estimated from three times the standard deviation for a low U(VI) concentrations was equal to 1.7 × 10^?10 mol L^?1 (7.2 × 10^?8 g L^?1). The linear range of U(VI) was observed over the concentration range from 5.0 × 10^?10 mol L^?1 (2.1 × 10^?7 g L^?1) to 2.0 × 10^?8 mol L^?1 (8.5 × 10^?6 g L^?1) for an accumulation time of 60 s. The influence of different kinds of surfactants, such as non-ionic, cationic and anionic on the uranium voltammetric signal was studied. The results confirm the possibility of U(VI) determination in water samples containing high concentrations of surface active substances even up to 50 mg L^?1.     

Development of purely structure-based pharmacophores for the topoisomerase I-DNA-ligand binding pocket

Purely structure-based pharmacophores (SBPs) are an alternative method to ligand-based approaches and have the advantage of describing the entire interaction capability of a binding pocket. Here, we present the development of SBPs for topoisomerase I, an anticancer target with an unusual ligand binding pocket consisting of protein and DNA atoms. Different approaches to cluster and select pharmacophore features are investigated, including hierarchical clustering and energy calculations. In addition, the performance of SBPs is evaluated retrospectively and compared to the performance of ligand- and complex-based pharmacophores. SBPs emerge as a valid method in virtual screening and a complementary approach to ligand-focussed methods. The study further reveals that the choice of pharmacophore feature clustering and selection methods has a large impact on the virtual screening hit lists. A prospective application of the SBPs in virtual screening reveals that they can be used successfully to identify novel topoisomerase inhibitors.     

Alkali metal cation complexation by 1,3-alternate,mono-ionisable calix[4]arene-benzocrown-6 compounds

Alkali metal cation extraction behaviour for two series of 1,3-alternate, mono-ionisable calix[4]arene-benzocrown-6 compounds is examined. In Series 1, the proton-ionisable group (PIG) is a substituent on the benzo group of the polyether ring that directs it away from the crown ether cavity. In Series 2, the PIG is attached to one para position in the calixarene framework, thereby positioning it over the crown ether ring. Competitive solvent extraction of alkali metal cations from aqueous solutions into chloroform shows high Cs⁺ efficiency and selectivity. Single-species extraction pH profiles of Cs⁺ for Series 1 and 2 ligands with the same PIG are very similar. Thus, association of Cs⁺ with the calixcrown ring is more important than the position of the PIG relative to the crown ether cavity. Solid-state structures of two unionised ligands from Series 2 are presented. Also described is a crystal containing two different ionised ligand–Cs⁺ complexes.