Miscellaneous applications of ferrocene‐based peptides/amides

This article provides a critical review of the different applications of ferrocene‐based peptides/amides in biological as well as in non‐biological systems. Ferrocene‐based peptides/amides find many applications in different fields such as materials science, medicine, organic synthesis, bio‐organometallic and biological chemistry, asymmetric catalysis, nonlinear optics, in polymer science as redox active polymers and dendrimers, in molecular recognition as biosensors and in electrochemistry). Extensive research is being done on ferrocene‐based peptides/amides but we will highlight the various applications of ferrocene‐based peptides/amides for the period 2006–2010. The main factors that govern the potential biological and non‐biological applications are an electroactive core, a conjugated linker that can act as a chromophore and lower the oxidation potential of the ferrocene part, an amino acid or peptide derivative that can interact with other molecules via hydrogen bonding or any secondary bonding, and symmetric and asymmetric substitution on the ferrocene moiety. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Small‐Molecule FRET Reporter for the Real‐Time Visualization of Cell‐Surface Proteolytic Enzyme Functions

Real‐time imaging of cell‐surface‐associated proteolytic enzymes is critical to better understand their performances in both physiological and pathological processes. However, most current approaches are limited by their complexity and poor membrane‐anchoring properties. Herein, we have designed and synthesized a unique small‐molecule fluorescent probe, which combines the principles of passive exogenous membrane insertion and Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) to image cell‐surface‐localized furin‐like convertase activities. The membrane‐associated furin‐like enzymatic cleavage of the peptide probe leads to an increased fluorescence intensity which was mainly localized on the plasma membrane of the furin‐expressed cells. This small‐molecule fluorescent probe may serve as a unique and reliable reporter for real‐time visualization of endogenous cell‐surfaceassociated proteolytic furin‐like enzyme functions in live cells and tissues using one‐photon and two‐photon microscopy.     

Effect of Bulky Functional Groups on Donor and Acceptor Interactions and their Photoluminescence Properties

Material designs that use donor and acceptor units are often found in organic optoelectronic devices. Molecular level insight into the interactions between donors and acceptors are crucial for understanding how such interactions can modify the optical properties of the organic optoelectronic materials. In this paper, tris(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)amine (pTPA) was synthesized as a donor in order to compare with unmodified triphenylamine (TPA) in a donor–acceptor system by having 2,4,6-triphenyl-1,3,5-triazine (TRZ) as an acceptor. Dimerization of donors and acceptors occurred in solvent when the concentration of solute is high. At 0 K, using a polarizable continuum model, the nitrogen atom of TPA is found to stack on top of the center of triazine of TRZ, whereas such alignment is offset in pTPA and TRZ. We attributed such alignment in TPA-TRZ as the result of attractive interactions between partial localization of 2p_z electrons at the nitrogen atom of TPA and the π deficiency of triazine in TPA-TRZ. By taking into account random motions of the solvent effect at 300 K in quantum molecular dynamics and classical molecular dynamics simulations to interpret the marked difference in emission spectra between TPA-TRZ and pTPA-TRZ, it was revealed that the attractive interaction between pTPA and TRZ in toluene is weaker than TPA and TRZ. Because of the weaker attractive interaction between pTPA and TRZ in toluene, the dimers adopted numerous ground state conformations resulting in broad emission bands superimposed with multiple small Gaussian peaks. This is in contrast to TPA-TRZ which has only one dominant dimer conformation. This study demonstrates that the strength of intermolecular interactions between donors and acceptors should be taken into consideration in designing supramolecular structures.     

Preparation of tritiated thymidine with high labelling yield via tritiated water

(6-³H)-Thymidine, (5-³H)-methyl-thymidine, and (5′-³H)-thymidine were synthesized by the use of tritiated water. The specific activities of the products were 3.3, 3.4 and 3.0 mCi/mM, respectively. These tritiated thymidines are important tracers to study human lymphocytes and human chromosomes.     

In vivo and in vitro 99mTc-protein bound of renal agents: 99mTc-prylidinomethyltetracycline (99mTc-Sn-Pmt) and 99mTc-Sn-Gluco-ene-diolate (99mTc-Gluco)

Protein binding affects tissue distribution, plasma clearance and uptake of renal radiopharmaceuticals. The ^99mTc bound to plasma protein after incubation ^99mTc-Gluco-ene-diolate (^99mTc-Sn-Gluco) agent or ^99mTc-prylidinomethyl-tetracycline (^99mTc-Sn-PMT) agent with plasma protein. It was observed that the protein bound to ^99mTc is lesser extent with (^99mTc-Sn-Gluco) agent than with the ^99mTc-PMT agent. ^99mTc-Sn-PMT is excreted more rapidly than ^99mTc-Sn-Gluco. On the other hand the percentage binding to protein seems to depend on the origin of the protein and or the type of protein (human or animal). However lower human protein binding or higher protein binding were observed with ^99mTc-Sn-Gluco or with ^99mTc-Sn-PMT, respectively compared with the binding to rat protein. The unbroken down of the chemical form of the origin of these two agents and the highest of ^99mTc-Sn-Gluco remained as origin in urine indicate that ^99mTc-Sn-Gluco are more stable than ^99mTc-Sn-PMT.Concerning the type of protein binding to ^99mTc-Sn-PMT or to ^99mTc-Sn-Gluco, it was observed that Human Plasma Protein is greater binding than Human serum protein or than IgG.     

Determination of major and trace elements in the indigenous medicinal plant Withania somnifera and their possible correlation with therapeutic activity

Withania somnifera (family Solanaceae) has been studied to determine major and trace elements and their possible correlation with therapeutic value of the plant. Nine trace elements were determined in Withania somnifera. This important medicinal plant was found to be rich in Fe, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn. These trace elements are well known for curing diseases. The plant contains nutrient elements, which are best sources for fodder.     

Green Synthesis of CeO2 Nanoparticles from the Abelmoschus esculentus Extract: Evaluation of Antioxidant,Anticancer, Antibacterial,and Wound-Healing Activities

Metal oxide nanoparticles synthesized by the biological method represent the most recent research in nanotechnology. This study reports the rapid and ecofriendly approach for the synthesis of CeO₂ nanoparticles mediated using the Abelmoschus esculentus extract. The medicinal plant extract acts as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The characterization of CeO₂ NPs was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The in vitro cytotoxicity of green synthesized CeO₂ was assessed against cervical cancerous cells (HeLa). The exposure of CeO₂ to HeLa cells at 10–125 µg/mL caused a loss in cellular viability against cervical cancerous cells in a dose-dependent manner. The antibacterial activity of the CeO₂ was assessed against S. aureus and K. pneumonia. A significant improvement in wound-healing progression was observed when cerium oxide nanoparticles were incorporated into the chitosan hydrogel membrane as a wound dressing.