A rapid dissolution procedure to aid initial nuclear forensics investigations of chemically refractory compounds and particles prior to gamma spectrometry

A rapid and effective preparative procedure has been evaluated for the accurate determination of low-energy (40–200 keV) gamma-emitting radionuclides (²¹⁰Pb, ²³⁴Th, ²²⁶Ra, ²³⁵U) in uranium ores and uranium ore concentrates (UOCs) using high-resolution gamma ray spectrometry. The measurement of low-energy gamma photons is complicated in heterogeneous samples containing high-density mineral phases and in such situations activity concentrations will be underestimated. This is because attenuation corrections, calculated based on sample mean density, do not properly correct where dense grains are dispersed within a less dense matrix (analogous to a nugget effect). The current method overcomes these problems using a lithium tetraborate fusion that readily dissolves all components including high-density, self-attenuating minerals/compounds. This is the ideal method for dissolving complex, non-volatile components in soils, rocks, mineral concentrates, and other materials where density reduction is required. Lithium borate fusion avoids the need for theoretical efficiency corrections or measurement of matrix matched calibration standards. The resulting homogeneous quenched glass produced can be quickly dissolved in nitric acid producing low-density solutions that can be counted by gamma spectrometry. The effectiveness of the technique is demonstrated using uranium-bearing Certified Reference Materials and provides accurate activity concentration determinations compared to the underestimated activity concentrations derived from direct measurements of a bulk sample. The procedure offers an effective solution for initial nuclear forensic studies where complex refractory minerals or matrices exist. It is also significantly faster, safer and simpler than alternative approaches.     

Doxorubicin Encapsulation in Carbon Nanotubes Having Haeckelite or Stone–Wales Defects as Drug Carriers: A Molecular Dynamics Approach

Doxorubicin (DOX), a recognized anticancer drug, forms stable associations with carbon nanotubes (CNTs). CNTs when properly functionalized have the ability to anchor directly in cancerous tumors where the release of the drug occurs thanks to the tumor slightly acidic pH. Herein, we study the armchair and zigzag CNTs with Stone–Wales (SW) defects to rank their ability to encapsulate DOX by determining the DOX-CNT binding free energies using the MM/PBSA and MM/GBSA methods implemented in AMBER16. We investigate also the chiral CNTs with haeckelite defects. Each haeckelite defect consists of a pair of square and octagonal rings. The armchair and zigzag CNT with SW defects and chiral nanotubes with haeckelite defects predict DOX-CNT interactions that depend on the length of the nanotube, the number of present defects and nitrogen doping. Chiral nanotubes having two haeckelite defects reveal a clear dependence on the nitrogen content with DOX-CNT interaction forces decreasing in the order 0N > 4N > 8N. These results contribute to a further understanding of drug-nanotube interactions and to the design of new drug delivery systems based on CNTs.     

Anti-Cancer Effects of Carnosine—A Dipeptide Molecule

Background: Carnosine is a dipeptide molecule (β-alanyl-l-histidine) with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-glycation, and chelating properties. It is used in exercise physiology as a food supplement to increase performance; however, in vitro evidence suggests that carnosine may exhibit anti-cancer properties. Methods: In this study, we investigated the effect of carnosine on breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation. We further examined U937 promonocytic, human myeloid leukemia cell phenotype, gene expression, and cytokine secretion to determine if these are linked to carnosine’s anti-proliferative properties. Results: Carnosine (1) inhibits breast, ovarian, colon, and leukemic cancer cell proliferation; (2) upregulates expression of pro-inflammatory molecules; (3) modulates cytokine secretion; and (4) alters U937 differentiation and phenotype. Conclusion: These effects may have implications for a role for carnosine in anti-cancer therapy.     

A review of bioanalytical methods for chronic lymphocytic leukemia drugs and metabolites in biological matrices

Quantitation of drugs used for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in various biological matrices during both pre-clinical and clinical developments is very important, often in routine therapeutic drug monitoring. The first developed methods for quantitation were traditionally done on LC in combination with either UV or fluorescence detection. However, the emergence of LC with mass spectrometry in tandem in early 1990s has revolutionized the quantitation as it has provided better sensitivity and selectivity within a shorter run time; therefore it has become the choice of method for the analysis of various drugs. In this article, an overview of various bioanalytical methods (HPLC or LC–MS/MS) for the quantification of drugs for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, along with applicability of these methods, is given.     

Synthesis of Heat-resistant Polymers by Thiol–Ene Reaction of N-Allylmaleimide Copolymers Using Glycoluril Crosslinkers with Rigid Molecular Structures

We carried out the thermal curing of the copolymers of N-allylmaleimide (AMI) and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2EHA) using 1,3,4,6-tetra(2-mercaproethyl)glycoluril ( G1 ), 1,3,4,6-tetra(3-mercaptopropyl)glycoluril ( G2 ), 1,3,4,6-tetraallylglycoluril ( G3 ), triallylisocyanurate (TAIC), and pentaerythritol tetrakis(3-mercaptobutyrate) (PEMB) as the crosslinkers. Based on the results for the analysis of thiol–ene reactions monitored by IR spectroscopy, it was confirmed that the curing rate significantly depended on the combination of the used crosslinkers. The insoluble fraction after curing was more than 90% for the systems using the glycoluril crosslinkers, while the conversion of the allyl groups was suppressed due to the rigid structure of these crosslinkers. The heat resistance and the mechanical properties of the crosslinked polymers were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and mechanical tensile tests. For the products cured using the glycoluril crosslinkers, the glass transition temperature (T_g) and the maximum temperature of thermal decomposition (T_max) were 54–59 °C and 395–409 °C, respectively, being higher than those for the cured product prepared with PEMB and TAIC as the conventional crosslinkers. The elasticity (75–139 MPa), the maximum strength (3.0–4.1 MPa), and the adhesion strength (6.7–10.7 MPa) for the polymers cured with the glycoluril crosslinkers, determined by the mechanical tensile and single lap-shear adhesion tests, were higher than those for cured materials produced with PEMB. Thus, the thermal and mechanical properties of the maleimide copolymers were efficiently enhanced by crosslinking using the rigid glycoluril compounds. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 923–931     

In Situ Metal-Assisted Ligand Modification Induces Mn4 Cluster-to-Cluster Transformation: A Crystallography,Mass Spectrometry,and DFT Study

Dehydration of (S,S)-1,2-bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diol (H₄L) to (Z)-1,2-bis(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)ethenol) (H₃L′) was found to be metal-assisted, occurs under solvothermal conditions (H₂O/CH₃OH), and leads to [Mn^II₄(H₃L)₄Cl₂]Cl₂ ⋅ 5 H₂O ⋅ 5 CH₃OH ( Mn₄L₄ ) and [Mn^II₄(H₂L′)₆(μ₃-OH)]Cl ⋅ 4 CH₃OH ⋅ H₂O ( Mn₄L′₆ ), respectively. Their structures were determined by single-crystal XRD. Extensive ESI-MS studies on solutions and solids of the reaction led to the proposal consisting of an initial stepwise assembly of Mn₄L₄ from the reactants via [MnL] and [Mn₂L₂] below 80 °C, and then disassembly to [MnL] and [MnL₂] followed by ligand modification before reassembly to Mn₄L′₆ via [MnL′], [MnL′₂], and [Mn₂L′₃] with increasing solvothermal temperature up to 140 °C. Identification of intermediates [Mn₄L_xL′_6−x] (x=5, 4, 3, 2, 1) in the process further suggested an assembly/disassembly/in situ reaction/reassembly transformation mechanism. These results not only reveal that multiple phase transformations are possible even though they were not realized in the crystalline state, but also help to better understand the complex transformation process between coordination clusters during “black-box” reactions.     

Extracellular Matrix Proteins Involved in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases and characterized by cognitive and memory impairments. Emerging evidence suggests that the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the brain plays an important role in the etiology of AD. It has been detected that the levels of ECM proteins have changed in the brains of AD patients and animal models. Some ECM components, for example, elastin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans, are considered to promote the upregulation of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins. In addition, collagen VI and laminin are shown to have interactions with Aβ peptides, which might lead to the clearance of those peptides. Thus, ECM proteins are involved in both amyloidosis and neuroprotection in the AD process. However, the molecular mechanism of neuronal ECM proteins on the pathophysiology of AD remains elusive. More investigation of ECM proteins with AD pathogenesis is needed, and this may lead to novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers for AD.