(Q)SAR modelling of nanomaterial toxicity: A critical review

There is increasing recognition that some nanomaterials may pose a risk to human health and the environment. Moreover, the industrial use of the novel engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) increases at a higher rate than data generation for hazard assessment; consequently, many of them remain untested. The large number of nanomaterials and their variants (e.g., different sizes and coatings) requiring testing and the ethical pressure towards nonanimal testing means that in a first instance, expensive animal bioassays are precluded, and the use of (quantitative) structure–activity relationships ((Q)SARs) models as an alternative source of (screening) hazard information should be explored. (Q)SAR modelling can be applied to contribute towards filling important knowledge gaps by making best use of existing data, prioritizing the physicochemical parameters driving toxicity, and providing practical solutions for the risk assessment problems caused by the diversity of ENMs. This paper covers the core components required for successful application of (Q)SAR methods to ENM toxicity prediction, summarizes the published nano-(Q)SAR studies, and outlines the challenges ahead for nano-(Q)SAR modelling. It provides a critical review of (1) the present availability of ENM characterization/toxicity data, (2) the characterization of nanostructures that meet the requirements for (Q)SAR analysis, (3) published nano-(Q)SAR studies and their limitations, (4) in silico tools for (Q)SAR screening of nanotoxicity, and (5) prospective directions for the development of nano-(Q)SAR models.     

Surface antimicrobial modification of polyamide by poly(hexamethylene guanidine) hydrochloride

Antimicrobial polyamide (PA) received much attention for the demand of packaging and biomedical fields. In this paper, an antimicrobial PA6 membrane was prepared via a surface chemical reaction. A highly effective antibacterial component (PHMG‐E) with terminal epoxy group was firstly synthesized via a reaction between polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride (PHMG) and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE). Then, PHMG‐E was bonded on the surface of PA6 membrane with secondary amine reduced by borane‐tetrahydrofuran (BH₃‐THF). The antimicrobial rates of surface‐modified PA6 membrane (PA6‐PHMG) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were both higher than 99.99%, and the PHMG was non‐leaching due to the chemical bonding. The hydrophilicity of antibacterial PA6 membrane was also significantly improved and the mechanical performance became better.     

Introducing tox-Profiles of Chemical Reactions

In this Essay, we present a critical analysis of two common practices in modern chemistry—that is, of using speculations about the “greenness” and “nontoxicity” of developed synthesis procedures and of a priori labelling various compounds derived from natural sources as being environmentally safe. We note that every organic molecule that contains functional groups should be biologically active. Thus, analysis of the particular greenness and the potential environmental impact of a given chemical process should account for the biological activity of all its components in a measureable (rather than empirical) way. We highlight the necessity of clarifying discussions on biological activity and toxicity and propose possible ways of introducing tox-Profiles as a reliable overview of the overall toxicity of chemical reactions.     

The Cytotoxic Effect of α-Synuclein Aggregates

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder involving a functional protein, α-synuclein, whose primary function is related to vesicle trafficking. However, α-synuclein is prone to form aggregates, and these inclusions, known as Lewy bodies, are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease. α-synuclein can alter its conformation and acquire aggregating capacity, forming aggregates containing β-sheets. This protein's pathogenic importance is based on its ability to form oligomers that impair synaptic transmission and neuronal function by increasing membrane permeability and altering homeostasis, generating a deleterious effect over cells. First, we establish that oligomers interfere with the mechanical properties of 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC) membrane, as demonstrated by nanoindentation curves. In contrast, nanoindentation revealed that the α-synuclein monomer's presence leads to a much more resistant lipid bilayer. Moreover, the oligomers’ interaction with cell membranes can promote lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, suggesting the activation of cytotoxic events.     

Leaching of zinc and germanium from zinc oxide dust in sulfuric acid-ozone media

A new process of leaching zinc oxide dust by ozone oxidation in a sulfuric acid system was studied. The main factors affecting the leaching rate, such as ozone time, leaching temperature, initial acidity, leaching time, and liquid/solid mass ratio, were comprehensively investigated. The results show that leaching efficiency depends on all the above factors. The optimum conditions for leaching Zn and Ge from zinc oxide dust are as follows: ozone time 10 min, leaching temperature 90 ℃, initial acidity 160 g/L, leaching time 60 min, and liquid/solid mass ratio 7:1. Under the optimum conditions, the leaching rates of Zn and Ge are 95.79% and 93.65%, respectively. The leaching rates of zinc and germanium in the ozone leaching are 4.05% and 10.49% higher than those of the atmospheric leaching, respectively. Therefore, it is determined that ozone in solution plays a key role in rapidly oxidizing sulfide and releasing encapsulated germanium. Sulfuric acid-ozone media can efficiently extract Zn and Ge from zinc oxide dust.     

Computational design of rasagiline derivatives: Searching for enhanced antioxidant capability

A set of new rasagiline derivatives is presented. They were designed to be antioxidant compounds with the potential to be used for treating neurodegenerative disorders. They are expected to be multifunctional molecules that can help reduce oxidative stress, which is thought to contribute to neurodegenerative disorders. The CADMA-Chem computational protocol was used to produce rasagiline derivatives and to evaluate their likeliness as oral drugs and antioxidants. Three of them were identified as the most promising ones. They are proposed to be better free radical scavengers than rasagiline. In addition, they are expected to keep the parent's molecule neuroprotective capability. Hopefully, the results presented here would promote further experimental and theoretical investigations on these compounds.     

Determination of acid volatile sulphur in river sediments by ICP-OES coupled with purge and trap method

The developed and tested method is based on the acid volatile sulphur (AVS) releasing from a sample of sediment by acidification with hydrochloric acid and sequential absorption of released hydrogen sulphide into the absorption solution of sodium hydroxide. Total sulphur absorbed in the absorption solution is subsequently determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique. The method was tested using both model and real samples of the river sediment. Obtained results were compared with the results of iodometric determination as the method routinely used for the AVS determination. In case of using ICP-OES with purge and trap, there is no spectral interference of calcium; therefore for the determination of sulphur, it is possible to use atomic emission line of sulphur S I 180.7 nm. The tested method provides the results comparable with the iodometric method within the range of tested concentrations. The detection limit (LOD) of this method is 0.09 mg· S^2? ? L^?1 in the absorption solution which corresponds to 0.23 mg S^2?·kg^?1 in a sediment. Value of LOD is comparable with the iodometric determination.     

Study of the forced degradation behavior of prasugrel hydrochloride by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with NMR detection and prediction of the toxicity of the characterized degradation products

Prasugrel was subjected to forced degradation studies under conditions of hydrolysis (acid, base, and neutral), photolysis, oxidation, and thermal stress. The drug showed liability in hydrolytic as well as oxidative conditions, resulting in a total of four degradation products. In order to characterize the latter, initially mass fragmentation pathway of the drug was established with the help of mass spectrometry/time‐of‐flight, multiple stage mass spectrometry and hydrogen/deuterium exchange data. The degradation products were then separated on a C₁₈ column using a stability‐indicating volatile buffer method, which was later extended to liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry studies. The latter highlighted that three degradation products had the same molecular mass, while one was different. To characterize all, their mass fragmentation pathways were established in the same manner as the drug. Subsequently, liquid chromatography‐nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy data were collected. Proton and correlation liquid chromatography with NMR spectroscopy studies highlighted existence of diastereomeric behavior in one pair of degradation products. Lastly, toxicity prediction by computer‐assisted technology (TOPKAT) and deductive estimation of risk from existing knowledge (DEREK) software were employed to assess in silico toxicity of the characterized degradation products.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)法测定离子吸附型稀土矿中的浸出稀土元素

对浙江某地大量的离子吸附型稀土样品进行了稀土元素(Y,La,Ce,Pr,Nd,Sm,Eu,Gd,Tb,Dy,Ho,Er,Tm,Yb,Lu)的浸提和测定实验,实验对比了氯化铵和硫酸铵溶液对矿石中稀土元素的浸出性能,选择了杂质浸出较少的硫酸铵溶液作为浸出剂,对不同稀土含量的吸附型稀土矿进行了实验,浸出方法稳定,符合工业开采要求。实验了电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定浸出液中稀土元素分量的方法,浸出液经大比例稀释并酸化后测定,精密度较好,能满足离子吸附型稀土矿评价的质量要求,方法检出限(6σ)0.005~0.26μg/g,单元素测定精密度(n=6,RSD≤6.0%),浸出稀土元素总量测定RSD≤4.0%。实际样品的实验及测定结果满意。     

Synthesis and Toxicity Assessments Some Para-methoxy Chalcones Derivatives

Chalcones is a very interesting compounds because it is known to have various of biological activities such as antimicrobial, antifungal, anticancer, antimalarial, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antidepressant. Moreover, natural and synthetic compounds of chalcones have roles as precursors for other compounds. Therefore, many chalcones become model structures of target compounds by researcher. In this research, methoxy chalcones derivatives have been synthesized using stirrer method and using base catalyst NaOH. The synthesized results obtained are (E)-3-(4-isoprophylphenyl)-1-(4’-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (1), (E)-1-(4’-methoxyphenyl)-3-p-tolylprop-2-en-1-one (2) and (E)-3-(3-bromophenyl)-1-(4’-methoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (3). The purity of all compounds have been tested using TLC, melting point test, analytical HPLC. Then they are characterized using UV, FTIR, ¹H-NMR and MS spectroscopy. The toxicity assessments of the novel compounds were done by Brine Shrimp Lethality Test (BSLT) method. The all compounds showed very good activity with LC₅₀ value<200 μg/mL.