Highly Sensitive AdSV Method for Fe(III) Determination in Presence of Solochrome Violet RS on Renewable Amalgam Film Electrode

The new DP AdSV method for high sensitive Fe(III) determination in the presence of Solochrome Violet RS was developed. The use of an innovative renewable amalgam film electrode Hg(Ag)FE allowed to obtain high sensitivity and significantly minimize the mercury consumption. The best results were obtained for surface area of Hg(Ag)FE equal to 11.8 mm². Instrumental parameters were optimized. The optimal results were obtained using differential pulse technique for the following values: sampling and waiting time ts=tw=10 ms, step potential Es=5 mV, pulse amplitude ΔE=50 mV. Measurements were conducted in 0.05 M acetate buffer (pH 5.6), the concentration of SVRS was equal to 5 μM. Deposition step was carried out at the potential ?400 mV for 20 s. Calculated detection limit for 40 s preconcentration time was equal to 1.4 nM (78 ng L^?1). The influence of the common in environment, organic and inorganic interferences was studied. The developed method for Fe(III) determination was successfully applied and validated by investigation of certified reference material SPS‐SW2 Batch 118 and recovery of Fe(III) from various spiked samples as snow, tap water and bottom sediments. The repeatability (for 50 nM of Fe(III)) of the developed method expressed as CV was equal 3.1 % (n=5).     

Synthesis and biological activity of new derivatives with the preserved carane system

Abstract

Terpenoid derivatives, which contain a preserved carane system in their structure, exhibit a broad spectrum of biological activities. Among them, we can distinguish insecticides, structures with pharmacological application etc. In the presented paper, the substrate - (–)-cis-caran-trans-4-ol was transformed using the reactions of typical organic synthesis to obtain novel derivatives. Most importantly, bromolactone ((–)-(1R,4R,6S)-2'-(bromomethyl)-4,7,7-trimethylspiro[bicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-3,3'-furan]-5'(4'H)-one) with the preserved carane system was synthesized. This bromolactone was tested for antifeedant activity against the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer, and peach potato aphid (Myzus persicae). In addition, its moderate antibacterial activity was observed against the Bacillus subtilis strain (with Minimal Inhibitory Concentration of 200 µg/mL).     

Synthesis of β-cyclodextrin-lysozyme conjugates and their physicochemical and biochemical properties

Recently a great interest in the field of protein engineering and the design of innovative drug delivery systems employing specific ligands such as cyclodextrins is observed. The paper reports the solid state, thermal method for protein coupling with β-cyclodextrin and the physicochemical and biological properties of the obtained conjugates. The structure of the obtained conjugates was investigated via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, dynamic light scattering and circular dichroism analysis. The presented conjugates were biologically active and covalently bound β-cyclodextrin preserved the ability to form inclusion complexes with the model compound. This report demonstrates the great potential of cyclodextrin as a modifying unit that can be used to modulate the properties of therapeutic proteins, additionally giving such conjugates the possibility to transport many therapeutic substances in the form of inclusion complexes. In addition, the paper presents the potential of protein-cyclodextrin conjugates to construct innovative bioactive molecules for biological and medical applications.     

Identification of Mushroom and Murine Tyrosinase Inhibitors from Achillea biebersteinii Afan. Extract

Growing scientific evidence indicates that Achillea biebersteinii is a valuable source of active ingredients with potential cosmetic applications. However, the data on its composition and pharmacological properties are still insufficient. This study aims to optimize the extraction procedure of the plant material, evaluate its phytochemical composition, and compare anti-tyrosinase potential of A. biebersteinii extracts obtained by various methods. In order to identify compounds responsible for the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of A. biebersteinii, the most active anti-tyrosinase extract was fractionated by column chromatography. The fractions were examined for their skin lightening potential by mushroom and murine tyrosinase inhibitory assays and melanin release assay. HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS analysis of the total extract revealed the presence of several phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavonoid glucosides, and carboxylic acid. Among them, fraxetin-8-O-glucoside, quercetin-O-glucopyranose, schaftoside/isoschaftoside, gmelinin B, 1,3-dicaffeoylquinic acid (1,3-DCQA), and ferulic acid were found in the fractions with the highest skin lightening potential. Based on obtained qualitative and quantitative analysis of the fractions, it was assumed that the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives are more likely responsible for mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity of A. biebersteinii extracts and fractions. Ferulic acid was proposed as the most active murine tyrosinase inhibitor, responsible also for the reduced melanin release from B16F10 murine melanoma cells.     

A new type of cation‐exchange polymeric microspheres with pendant methylenethiol groups

Synthesis and characterization of the new styrene microspheres with pendant methylenethiol groups are presented. At the first stage, the polymeric matrices were obtained by the suspension–emulsion polymerization of monomers: styrene (St) with 2,3‐(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)naphthalene (NAF.DM) or (bis[4(2‐hydroxy‐3‐methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfide (BES.DM) or divinylbenzene (DVB). At the second stage, the modification of the sythesized matrices was performed as follows: the matrices were reacted with paraformaldehyde in the presence of hydrochloric acid forming chloromethyl derivatives. Next, by reaction with thiourea, a thiouronium salt was obtained, and then the hydrolysis with NaOH solution and acidification with HCl were carried out. Finally, microspheres with –CH₂SH groups on their surface were obtained. The –SH group content (elemental analysis), thermal properties (thermogravimetric analysis), Fourier transform infrared as well as the swelling characteristics of the functional microspheres were examined. The surface texture was also visualized by the atomic force microscopy (AFM) method. The obtained polymers were screened towards sorption of Cu(II) ions. It was found that a better correlation between the experimental Cu(II) uptake and the theoretical curves predicted by the Langmuir or Freundlich models is obtained in the case of the DVB–St–SH polymer. In the case of the BES.DM–St–SH and 2,3‐NAF–St–SH ones, the Freundlich model corresponded quite well to the experimental data. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of oxidation number of sulfur on the polymerization and thermo-mechanical properties of dimethacrylate copolymers

Structure and characterization of the sulfur-containing monomers bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfide (S·DM), bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfinyl (SO·DM), bis[4(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloyloxypropoxy)phenyl]sulfonyl (SO₂·DM), and their photopolymerization with N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP) are presented. The monomers were obtained in the reaction of derivatives of aromatic diols with 2-(chloromethyl)oxirane in the two-phase liquid/liquid system, including organic and aqueous phases. Next, esterification of the obtained diglycidyl ether was carried out with the use of methacrylic acid. Photopolymerization of the compositions (S·DM, SO·DM, SO₂·DM and NVP) and the initiator (Irgacure 651) was carried out. The influence of oxidation number of sulfur on the properties of the obtained copolymers was studied. The following properties were determined: density, glass transition temperature, Young’s modulus, hardness and tensile strength. Additionally, dynamic-mechanical and thermal properties were investigated. Thermal properties of copolymers under different conditions (in air, in nitrogen and in helium) were tested.     

Tm2.22Co6Sn20 and TmLi2Co6Sn20 stannides as disordered derivatives of the Cr23C6 structure type

A new ternary dithulium hexacobalt icosastannide, Tm_2.22Co₆Sn₂₀, and a new quaternary thulium dilithium hexacobalt icosastannide, TmLi₂Co₆Sn₂₀, crystallize as disordered variants of the binary cubic Cr₂₃C₆ structure type (cF116). 48 Sn atoms occupy sites of m.m2 symmetry, 32 Sn atoms sites of .3m symmetry, 24 Co atoms sites of 4m.m symmetry, eight Li (or Tm in the case of the ternary phase) atoms sites of symmetry and four Tm atoms sites of symmetry. The environment of one Tm atom is an 18‐vertex polyhedron and that of the second Tm (or Li) atom is a 16‐vertex polyhedron. Tetragonal antiprismatic coordination is observed for the Co atoms. Two Sn atoms are enclosed in a heavily deformed bicapped hexagonal prism and a monocapped hexagonal prism, respectively, and the environment of the third Sn atom is a 12‐vertex polyhedron. The electronic structures of both title compounds were calculated using the tight‐binding linear muffin‐tin orbital method in the atomic spheres approximation (TB–LMTO–ASA). Metallic bonding is dominant in these compounds, but the presence of Sn—Sn covalent dumbbells is also observed.     

Trichothecenes in Food and Feed,Relevance to Human and Animal Health and Methods of Detection: A Systematic Review

Trichothecene mycotoxins are sesquiterpenoid compounds primarily produced by fungi in taxonomical genera such as Fusarium, Myrothecium, Stachybotrys, Trichothecium, and others, under specific climatic conditions on a worldwide basis. Fusarium mold is a major plant pathogen and produces a number of trichothecene mycotoxins including deoxynivalenol (or vomitoxin), nivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, and T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin. Monogastrics are sensitive to vomitoxin, while poultry and ruminants appear to be less sensitive to some trichothecenes through microbial metabolism of trichothecenes in the gastrointestinal tract. Trichothecene mycotoxins occur worldwide however both total concentrations and the particular mix of toxins present vary with environmental conditions. Proper agricultural practices such as avoiding late harvests, removing overwintered stubble from fields, and avoiding a corn/wheat rotation that favors Fusarium growth in residue can reduce trichothecene contamination of grains. Due to the vague nature of toxic effects attributed to low concentrations of trichothecenes, a solid link between low level exposure and a specific trichothecene is difficult to establish. Multiple factors, such as nutrition, management, and environmental conditions impact animal health and need to be evaluated with the knowledge of the mycotoxin and concentrations known to cause adverse health effects. Future research evaluating the impact of low-level exposure on livestock may clarify the potential impact on immunity. Trichothecenes are rapidly excreted from animals, and residues in edible tissues, milk, or eggs are likely negligible. In chronic exposures to trichothecenes, once the contaminated feed is removed and exposure stopped, animals generally have an excellent prognosis for recovery. This review shows the occurrence of trichothecenes in food and feed in 2011–2020 and their toxic effects and provides a summary of the discussions on the potential public health concerns specifically related to trichothecenes residues in foods associated with the exposure of farm animals to mycotoxin-contaminated feeds and impact to human health. Moreover, the article discusses the methods of their detection.