Amoxicillin removal from aqueous matrices by sorption with almond shell ashes

The adsorption of the antibiotic amoxicillin at low concentration levels (µg?L^?1 order) from aqueous solution on almond shell ashes has been investigated, either by kinetic or equilibrium assays. The effect of the adsorbent amount, initial concentration of the antibiotic, particle diameter (d_p) and temperature were considered to evaluate the adsorption capacity of the adsorbent. The results showed that amoxicillin sorption is dependent on these four factors. The adsorption process was relatively fast and equilibrium was established in about 12 hours. The optimum parameters for an initial concentration of 450?µg?L^?1 were 50?mg of adsorbent, 303?K and d_p?<?600?µm. A comparison of kinetic models showed that pseudo-second order kinetics provides the best correlation of the experimental data. Isotherm data adjusted better to Langmuir equation, with an adsorption capacity of 2.5?±?0.1?mg?g^?1 at 303?K. The desorption process was also evaluated (maximum efficiency of 5%). Thermodynamic parameters were calculated and the negative value of ΔH⁰ and ΔG⁰ showed that adsorption was exothermic and a spontaneous process.     

Sensitive monitoring of penicillin antibiotics in milk and honey treated by stir bar sorptive extraction based on monolith and LC‐electrospray MS detection

In the present study, a convenient and sensitive method for determination of six penicillin antibiotics (amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G, oxacillin, cloxacillin, and dicloxacillin) in milk and honey samples was developed. Milk and honey samples were diluted with water, then directly treated by stir bar sorptive extraction based on poly (vinylimidazole‐divinylbenzene) monolithic material as coating. The analytes were analyzed by LC/ESI‐ MS/MS. Several extraction parameters including extraction and desorption time, pH value, and ionic strength in sample matrix were investigated in detail. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the calculated detection limits for the target compounds were as low as 0.23–2.66 ng/kg in milk and 0.18–1.42 ng/kg in honey, respectively. Good linearity was obtained for analytes with the correlation coefficients (R²) above 0.997. Excellent method reproducibility was achieved in terms of intraday and interday precisions, indicated by the RSDs of <5.0 and <10.0%, respectively. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of penicillin antibiotics residues in different milk and honey samples.     

In Pursuit of a Competitive Target: Total Synthesis of the Antibiotic Kendomycin

Kendomycin is a novel polyketide having a unique quinone methide ansa structure and an impressive biological profile. Herein we provide a chronological overview of the synthetic work towards the title compound. Thus far, over a period of about eight years, eight groups worldwide have published on their synthetic efforts resulting in five total syntheses, one formal synthesis, and a number of fragment syntheses. Most approaches roughly mimic the biogenetic pathway, starting with an aromatic polyphenol subunit to which a polyketide chain is attached. Subsequent key steps include macrocyclization and the formation of the densely substituted tetrahydropyran ring, and then a late‐stage oxidation and lactol formation.     

Controlling Antibacterial Activity Exclusively with Visible Light: Introducing a Tetra-ortho-Chloro-Azobenzene Amino Acid

The introduction of a novel tetra-ortho-chloroazobenzene amino acid (CEBA) has enabled photoswitching of the antimicrobial activity of tyrocidine A analogues by using exclusively visible light, granting spatiotemporal control under benign conditions. Compounds bearing this photoswitchable amino acid become active upon irradiation with red light, but quickly turn-off upon exposure to other visible light wavelengths. Critically, sunlight quickly triggers isomerisation of the red light-activated compounds into their original trans form, offering an ideal platform for self-deactivation upon release into the environment. Linear analogues of tyrocidine A were found to provide the best photocontrol of their antimicrobial activity, leading to compounds active against Acinetobacter baumannii upon isomerisation. Exploration of their N- and C-termini has provided insights into key elements of their structure and has allowed obtaining new antimicrobials displaying excellent strain selectivity and photocontrol.