Cytotoxic dimeric half-sandwich Ru(II), Os(II) and Ir(III) complexes containing the 4,4′-biphenyl-based bridging ligands

A series of dinuclear half-sandwich Ru(II), Os(II) and Ir(III) complexes [Ru₂(μ-Lⁿ)(η⁶-pcym)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₂ ( 1 , 4 ), [Os₂(μ-Lⁿ)(η⁶-pcym)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₂ ( 2 , 5 ) and [Ir₂(μ-Lⁿ)(η⁵-Cp*)₂Cl₂](PF₆)₂ ( 3 , 6 ), based on 4,4′-biphenyl-based bridging Schiff base ligands N,N′-(biphenyl-4,4′-diyldimethylidyne)bis-2-(pyridin-2-yl)methanamine (L¹; for 1 – 3 ) and N,N′-(biphenyl-4,4′-diyldimethylidyne)bis-2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethanamine (L²; for 4 – 6 ) is reported; pcym = 1-methyl-4-(propan-2-yl)benzene, Cp* = pentamethylcyclopentadienyl. The complexes were characterized by relevant analytical techniques (i.e. elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR, ESI-MS), and their in vitro cytotoxicity was assessed at six cancerous and two non-cancerous (healthy) human cell lines. Overall, complexes 4 – 6 , containing the L² bridging ligand, revealed higher cytotoxicity as compared with 1 – 3 and, thus, they were studied in greater detail. The best-performing complex 6 exceeded at least twice the in vitro cytotoxicity of cisplatin and showed high selectivity towards the cancer cells over the normal ones, including the primary culture of human hepatocytes. In contrast to cisplatin, complexes 4 – 6 did not induce the cell cycle modification of the treated A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells (studied by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis). High levels of superoxide anion were induced by complexes 4 – 6 at the A2780 cells. The levels of activated forms of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 at the A2780 cells treated by Ru(II) complex 4 were comparable with cisplatin, while complexes 5 and 6 had only a minor effect on activation of these caspases.     

Enrichment of HDL proteome and phospholipidome from human serum via IMAC/MOAC affinity

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and are potentially cardio-protective. Defective HDL function is caused by alterations in both the proteome and lipidome of HDL particles. As potential biomarkers, the development of analytical methods is necessary for the enrichment of HDLs. Therefore, a method for selective enrichment of HDLs using immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) and metal oxide affinity chromatography (MOAC) is presented. SPE-based isolation of HDLs from whole serum is adopted as an alternative to traditional ultracentrifugation methods followed by SDS–PAGE. The enrichment mechanism relies on isoelectric points of lipoproteins and metal oxide. Negatively charged lipoprotein particles interact with positively charged metal oxides and IMAC affinity, which acts as a cation. Identified proteins from HDL through MALDI–MS analysis are apo AI, AII, AIV, CI, CIII, E, J, M, H, serum amyloid A and other nonapoproteins that are part of HDL particles and perform cellular functions. This serum-based proteomics approach gives insight into the functional role of HDL. HDL-associated phospholipids have also been analyzed by LDI–MS. Results suggest that the adopted analytical strategy is a feasible idea to extract lipoproteins from serum. A comparative study of healthy and diseased samples using this approach will provide valuable information in future.     

An estimated quantitative lateral flow immunoassay for determination of artesunate using monoclonal antibody

There have been reports of fake artesunate (ART), which has led to deaths from untreated malaria in South East Asia. To rapidly screen for fake and adulterated ART products in the drug market, a lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) based on a colloidal gold–monoclonal antibody probe for detection of ART within samples was developed. With this method, the calibration curve for ART was determined by the intensity ratio of the test and control bands at various ART concentrations. The linearity range was 12.5–200 μg/ml of ART. Samples were tested by the developed LFIA and can be calculated for ART contents. The levels of ART in the samples were also confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results of the two methods were in good conformance. The proposed LFIA was demonstrated to be a simple and rapid analytical method for detecting ART in the pharmaceutical formulation.     

Volatile organic compounds in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma—An in vitro pilot study

Owing to the lack of specific symptoms, diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) may be delayed. We evaluated volatile organic compounds in tumor samples from patients suffering from HNSCC and tested the hypothesis that there is a characteristic altered composition in the headspace of HNSCC compared with control samples from the same patient with normal squamous epithelium. These results provide the basis for future noninvasive breath analysis in HNSCC. Headspace air of suspected tumor and contralateral control samples in 20 patients were analyzed using ion-mobility spectrometry. Squamous cell carcinoma was diagnosed in 16 patients. In total, we observed 93 different signals in headspace measurements. Squamous cell carcinomas revealed significantly higher levels of volatile cyclohexanol (0.54 ppb_v, 25th to 75th percentiles 0.35–0.86) compared with healthy squamous epithelium (0.24 ppb_v, 25th to 75th percentiles 0.12–0.3; p < 0.001). In conclusion, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma emitted significantly higher levels of volatile cyclohexanol in headspace compared with normal squamous epithelium. These findings form the basis for future breath analysis for diagnosis, therapy control and the follow-up of HNSSC to improve therapy and aftercare.     

Flow Technology for the Genesis and Use of (Highly) Reactive Organometallic Reagents

In the field of organic synthesis, the advent of flow chemistry and flow microreactor technology represented a tremendous novelty in the way of thinking and performing chemical reactions, opening the doors to poorly explored or even impossible transformations using batch methods. In this Concept article, we would like to highlight the impact of flow chemistry for exploiting highly reactive organometallic reagents, and how, alongside the well-known advantages concerning safety, scalability, and productivity, flow chemistry makes possible processes that are impossible to control by using the traditional batch approach.     

压气机悬臂静叶流场非定常数值模拟

以现代高压压气机一排悬臂静叶与一排转叶组成的典型级为研究对象,采用非定常数值模拟方法,分析了非定常与定常数值模拟计算得出的级特性线以及峰值效率点气动参数在展向分布的差异,并对悬臂静叶内部流场结构进行了详细分析,结果表明:当悬臂静叶的轮毂设计间隙为2.5%叶高时,非定常计算的综合喘振裕度比定常大5.85%;在峰值效率点工况下,悬臂静叶总压损失和转子效率的非定常影响范围在10%以内,转叶进口相对气流角沿展向分布的影响在0.5°以内。悬臂静叶根部10%叶高以下区域出现了明显的泄漏流动,3.4%叶高压力系数变化最大,轮毂泄漏流起始于20%弦长附近,发展到70%弦长位置时泄漏损失最大,随后逐渐减弱.     

氩气感应耦合等离子体速度与温度数值模拟

为了获得用于研究再入飞行器热防护系统的感应耦合等离子体风洞流场数据，基于流场、电磁场和化学场的多场耦合建立了非平衡态感应耦合等离子体数值模型。利用该模型对不同入口质量流率和不同工作压力下的感应耦合等离子体进行了数值模拟，得到了相应工作参数下感应耦合等离子体温度与速度的分布特性。计算结果表明：等离子体中心线上的速度随着入口质量流率的增大而增大，而随着工作压力的增大而减小；同时，等离子体中心线上的温度随着入口质量流率的增大而减小，而随着压力的增大先减小后增大。这些结果可为感应耦合等离子体风洞优化设计及其工业应用提供理论指导。     

基于相移偏折法的高反射表面面形测量技术

利用单相机所采集的图像实现了对光滑高反射表面面形的直接检测.首先利用相机获取参考平面在标准平面镜中的镜像,然后通过参考平面上的点与归一化成像平面上图像点之间的密集折返对应关系,求得待测镜面的深度距离,从而实现对高反射表面面形的测量.通过光线追迹将该测量过程转化为求解物空间中关于两对应光线束之间的相交问题.以相位为载体获取面形梯度分布,求得该表面的法向量场,并求解相应的反射光线束.通过光线追迹对该光线束与相应入射光线束求“交点”检测高反射表面.对标准平面镜进行实验检测,测量得到的面形平面度为0.19 mm.采用传统方法与本文所提方法对汽车后视镜进行检测,所得检测结果对应点之间的平均距离为0.15 mm,验证了本文方法检测镜面面形的有效性.