Mesoporous silica and chitosan based pH-sensitive smart nanoparticles for tumor targeted drug delivery

This study investigated inclusion formation and the physicochemical properties of naringin/cyclodextrin through a combined computational and experimental approach. Molecular dynamics simulations were applied to investigate the thermodynamics and geometry of naringin/cyclodextrin cavity docking. The complexes were investigated by UV, FT-IR, DSC, XRD, SEM, 2D-NOSEY and ¹H-NMR analyses. Clearly visible protons belonging to naringin and chemical shift displacements of the H3 and H5 protons in cyclodextrin were anticipated in the formation of an inclusion complex. Naringin solubility increased linearly with increasing cyclodextrin concentration (displaying an A_L profile). The simulations indicated that the phenyl group of naringin was located deep within the cyclodextrin cavity, while the glycoside group of naringin was on the plane of the wider rim of cyclodextrin. The simulation and molecular modeling results indicate that (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) provided the more stable inclusion complex. This result was also in good concordance with the stability constants that had been determined by the phase solubility method. The consistency of the computational and experimental results indicates their reliability.     

Enzyme-free impedimetric glucose sensor based on gold nanoparticles/polyaniline composite film

A non-enzymatic impedimetric glucose sensor was fabricated based on the adsorption of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) onto conductive polyaniline (PANI)-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The modified electrode (GCE/PANI/GNPs) was characterized by using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The determination of glucose concentration was based on the measurement of EIS with the mediation of electron transfer by ferricyanide ([Fe(CN)₆]^3?). The [Fe(CN)₆]^3? is reduced to ferrocyanide ([Fe(CN)₆]^4?), which in turn is oxidized at GCE/PANI/GNPs. An increase in the glucose concentration results in an increase in the diffusion current density of the [Fe(CN)₆]^4? oxidation, which corresponds to a decrease in the faradaic charge transfer resistance (R _ct). A wide linear concentration range from 0.3 to 10 mM with a lower detection limit of 0.1 mM for glucose was obtained. The proposed sensor shows high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and stability. In addition, the sensor exhibits no interference from common interfering substances such as ascorbic acid, acetaminophen, and uric acid.     

Organotin(IV) complexes with 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde-N(4)-ethylthiosemicarbazone: Synthesis,characterization, and in vitro antibacterial activity

Four new organotin(IV) complexes with 2-hydroxynaphthaldehyde-N(4)-ethylthiosemicarbazone [(H₂DNET), (1)] of the type [MeSnCl(DNET] (2), [BuSnCl(DNET)] (3), [PhSnCl(DNET)] (4), and [Ph₂Sn(DNET] (5) have been synthesized by the direct reaction of H₂DNET (1) with organotin(IV) chloride(s) in the presence of potassium hydroxide in absolute methanol. All the compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductivity, UV-Vis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectral studies. The molecular structure of ligand (1) has been confirmed by X-ray single crystal diffraction. Spectroscopic data clearly suggested that Sn(IV) center is coordinated with the ONS tridentate ligand (H₂DNET) and exhibits a five-coordinate geometry in solution. Antibacterial studies were carried out in vitro against four bacterial strains. All organotin(IV) compounds (2–5) showed good activity against various bacteria but lower activity than the reference drug (Ciprofloxacin). The results demonstrate that organic groups attached to tin(IV) moiety have significant effect on their biological activities. Among them, diphenyltin(IV) derivative 5 exhibits significantly good activity than the other organotin(IV) derivatives (2–4).     

Quasi-uniformization of topological spaces

Mathematische Annalen -     

Composite polymer particles prepared with different amounts of acrylic acid and their usefulness as carriers for biomolecules

Modification of surface properties of polymer particles suitable for biomedical application has been done by incorporating acrylic acid (AA) as a hydrophilic component. First, submicron-sized poly(methyl methacrylate) seed particles were prepared by soap-free emulsion polymerization. Then, seeded emulsion copolymerizations were carried out with varying proportions of AA and methyl methacrylate (MMA). MMA was used as a comonomer to prevent the dissolution of AA from the polymer particles. The adsorption behaviors of different biomolecules indicate that the surface of the composite polymer particles is sufficiently hydrophilic, particularly at higher AA content. Specific activities of adsorbed trypsin on the composite polymer particles were also comparatively high compared to free trypsin, which suggests that the adsorbed trypsin undergoes only slight conformational change owing to the interaction with the surface of particles.     

Separation of negatively charged carbohydrates by capillary electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has recently emerged as a highly promising technique consuming an extremely small amount of sample and capable of the rapid, high-resolution separation, characterization, and quantitation of analytes. CE has been used for the separation of biopolymers, including acidic carbohydrates. Since CE is basically an analytical method for ions, acidic carbohydrates that give anions in weakly acid, neutral, or alkaline media are often the direct objects of this method. The scope of this review is limited to the use of CE for the analysis of carbohydrates containing carboxylate, sulfate, and phosphate groups as well as neutral carbohydrates that have been derivatized to incorporate strongly acidic functionality, such as sulfonate groups.     

Purification,Characterization and N‐terminal Sequence Analysis of Betel Leaf (Piper betle) Invertase

The present study is the first report describing the purification, enzymatic properties and N‐terminal amino acid sequence of a native invertase in betel leaf. The invertase was purified as a monomeric glycoprotein of molecular mass (Mr) 68 kDa. The enzyme was capable to attack β‐fructofuranoside linkages from the fructose end of sucrose, raffinose and stachyose indicating it as an authentic β‐D‐fructofuranosidase with high specificity for sucrose (Km 4.83 mM). The maximum activity was detected at pH 5.2 and 37 °C. Glucose and fructose showed typical inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity where as lectin was found to be effective activators of the enzyme. Significant inhibition by heavy metal ion Hg²⁺ and sulfhydryl group modifying agents suggesting that free sulfhydryl group containing amino acid, cysteine is necessary for the catalytic activity of the invertase. A BLAST search of the N‐terminal amino acid sequence of betel leaf invertase showed significant homology with the homologous invertases in database.     

A novel vic-dioxime ligand and its Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes containing calix[4]pyrrole moiety: synthesis, characterization and redox properties

A new calix[4]pyrrole functionalized vic-dioxime, 3-(4-methyl-9,9,14,14,19,19-hexaethylcalix[4]pyrrole)benzoaminoglyoxime (LH₂) was synthesized from anti-chloroglyoxime and 3-aminophenyl-calix[4]pyrrole at room temperature. The mononuclear complexes {nickel(II), copper(II) and cobalt(II)} of this vic-dioxime ligand were prepared and their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and UV–Vis spectrophotometry, magnetic susceptibility; the MS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of the LH₂ ligand and its Ni(II) complex were also recorded. The experimental results indicated that the ligand:metal ratio was 2:1 in the cases of Ni(II), Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes as is with most vic-dioximes. Electrochemical properties of the ligand, and its complexes were investigated in DMSO solution by cyclic voltammetry at 200?mV?s^?1 scan rate.     

Novel bioactive vic-dioxime ligand containing piperazine moiety: Synthesis,X-ray crystallographic studies, 2D NMR applications and complexation with Ni(II)

A new vic-dioxime ligand bearing an important pharmacophore substituent, anti-1-(4-benzylpiperazine-1-yl) phenylglyoxime (LH₂) (Scheme 1), has been synthesized and its nickel(II) complex was obtained by the reaction of NiCl₂·6H₂O and the ligand. The characterization of the newly formed compounds was performed by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1D NMR (¹H, ¹³C, DEPT), 2D NMR (HMBC), ESI mass-spectrometry, TG/DTA, X-ray crystallography. The antibacterial activity was also studied against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus mutans RSHM 676, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Lactobacillus acidophilus RSHM 06029, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, E. coli ATCC 35218, Pseudomonasaeruginosa ATCC 27853. The antimicrobial test results indicated that all the compounds have mild antibacterial activity against both Gram negative and Gram positive bacterial species.