Synthesis,characterization, duplex-DNA interactions,and anticancer activities of novel octahedral [Ni(phen)2(dppz-idzo)]2+ and [Co(phen)2(dppz-idzo)]3+ complexes

Two new octahedral [Ni(phen)₂(dppz-idzo)]²⁺ and [Co(phen)₂(dppz-idzo)]³⁺ complexes have been synthesized and characterized by CHN analysis, electrospray ionization-MS, nuclear magnetic resonance, and UV–Vis spectra. The DNA-binding ability of these complexes was spectrophotometrically, hydrodynamically, and electrophoretically evaluated which indicated that they strongly intercalate into the DNA double helix, and that both induced severe DNA damage in the presence of peroxide. The complexes also showed strong antiproliferative effect against HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells. By contrast, they were found to be inactive against the MCF-7 cell line. The ligand itself was found to be inactive against the cells tested.     

Thermal Analysis of Micro- and Nano-Lignocellulosic Reinforced Styrene Maleic Anhydride Composite Foams

The aim of this study was to measure the thermal properties of foamed nano/macro filler–reinforced styrene maleic anhydride (SMA) composites. SMA (66%) as a polymer matrix (10% maleic anhydride content) and various fillers including wood flour, starch, α-cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose and cellulose nanofibrils as reinforcing agents (30%) and lubricant (4%) were used to manufacture the composites in a twin-screw extruder. According to the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results, thermal degradation of all the foamed composites was found to be lower than that of SMA composites. The storage modulus values were negatively affected with a second time foaming (reprocessing [recycling] the initially processed composites a second time), as were loss modulus and T_g. As a result, second-time-foamed composite modulus values were lower than those of the foamed composites. According to the melt flow index (MFI) results, viscosity of the SMA was found to increase with the addition of fillers.     

Fluorescein Based Three-channel Probe for the Selective and Sensitive Detection of CO32− Ions in an Aqueous Environment and Real Water Samples

Journal of Fluorescence - We have constructed a novel fluorescein-based fluorescent chemosensor, FL-In, functionalised with an indole moiety and capable of sensing by both the optical...     

Characterization and kinetics analysis of the thermal decomposition of the humic substance from hazelnut husk

A humic substance was obtained from hazelnut husk using an alkali extraction. The chemical and morphological structure of the humic matter was characterized via elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance, Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric-FTIR (TG-FTIR). In addition, thermal analysis measurements TG analysis-differential thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DTG/DSC) were performed under dynamic air conditions to better determine the origin, physical and chemical structure, and decomposition process of the humic matter. The Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) methods were used to calculate the kinetic parameters of the high-temperature decomposition process. It was observed that the activation energy values were almost constant at certain conversion and temperature intervals. In addition, the structure of the humic substance at different temperatures was also investigated via FTIR analysis. It was found that the obtained humic substance had a very stable structure and decomposed at a high temperature. The stability of the humic matter can be a useful tool in the environmental quality research of soil.     

In vitro evaluation of apoptosis detection by 99mTc-tetrofosmin in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

Radiolabeled molecules have an important role to evaluate tumor characteristics such as aggressiveness, and to identify the effectiveness of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Various radionuclide (¹⁸F, ^99mTc, ¹²⁴I) labeled molecules can be used apoptosis detection by estimating decrescendos cell viability after therapy. ^99mTc-tetrofosmin which is used as a myocardial perfusion imaging agent in routine and at the same time is known to accumulate in various tumors including breast tumor. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of ^99mTc-tetrofosmin for monitoring the early response of MCF-7 breast cancer to chemotherapy. To evaluate the role of ^99mTc-tetrofosmin in vitro chemotherapy, the uptake ratio was determined using MCF-7 breast cancer line after the cells had been treated with cisplatin. When we examined the apoptotic ratios which induced with different dose of cisplatin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells by using Annexin V and TUNEL methods, it was observed that the rate of apoptosis increased with soaring dose. The uptake rates of ^99mTc-tetrofosmin in MCF-7 cell line in the chemotherapeutic groups were lower than it is in the control group (p < 0.01). The negative correlation between uptake ratios and apoptotic rates shows that ^99mTc-tetrofosmin may be used a radiopharmaceutical for evaluating chemotherapy response. ^99mTc-tetrofosmin might be probably useful as an imaging agent for estimation of early chemotherapy response in breast cancer.     

X-ray and Theoretical Studies of 2-((5-Amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio)-1-phenylethanone

The crystal structure of 2-((5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)thio)-1-phenylethanone was determined by X-ray diffraction method. The compound crystallizes in orthorhombic crystal system, sp. gr. Pbca. The atoms that constitute thiadiazole and phenyl rings do not form any significant deviation from the ring planes. Compound has two intermolecular N–H···N hydrogen bonds and one C–H···π interaction. Using DFT/B3LYP method with 6-31G(d), 6-311G(d), 6-311G(d, p), and 6-311++G(d, p) basis sets, the molecular geometry of the compound was optimised. Bond lenghts, bond angles, torsion angles, dihedral angles, and HOMO–LUMO were calculated from the optimised geometry of the compound. The results obtained by X-ray diffraction method were compared with the results obtained through four different basis sets. Total energy of the molecule was calculated for four different basis sets.     

Simultaneous determination of seven phthalic acid esters in beverages using ultrasound and vortex‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A sensitive, rapid, and simple high‐performance liquid chromatography with UV detection method was developed for the simultaneous determination of seven phthalic acid esters (dimethyl phthalate, dipropyl phthalate, di‐n‐butyl phthalate, benzyl butyl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate, di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate, and di‐n‐octyl phthalate) in several kinds of beverage samples. Ultrasound and vortex‐assisted dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was used. The separation was performed using an Intersil ODS‐3 column (C₁₈, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5.0 μm) and a gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of MeOH/ACN (50:50) and 0.2 M KH₂PO₄ buffer. Analytes were detected by a UV detector at 230 nm. The developed method was validated in terms of linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, repeatability, accuracy, and recovery. Calibration equations and correlation coefficients (> 0.99) were calculated by least squares method with weighting factor. The limit of detection and quantification were in the range of 0.019–0.208 and 0.072–0.483 μg/L. The repeatability and intermediate precision were determined in terms of relative standard deviation to be within 0.03–3.93 and 0.02–4.74%, respectively. The accuracy was found to be in the range of –14.55 to 15.57% in terms of relative error. Seventeen different beverage samples in plastic bottles were successfully analyzed, and ten of them were found to be contaminated by different phthalic acid esters.     

Bioapplications of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers in nanomedicine

Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers are a novel class of spherical, well-designed branching polymers with interior cavities and abundant terminal groups on the surface which can form stable complexes with drugs, plasmid DNA, oligonucleotides, and antibodies. Amine‐terminated PAMAM dendrimers are able to solubilize different families of hydrophobic drugs, but the cationic charges on dendrimer surface may disturb the cell membrane. Therefore, surface modification by PEGylation, acetylation, glycosylation, and amino acid functionalization is a convenient strategy to neutralize the peripheral amine groups and improve dendrimer biocompatibility. Anticancer agents can be either encapsulated in or conjugated to dendrimer and be delivered to the tumor via enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of the nanoparticle and/or with the help of a targeting moiety such as antibody, peptides, vitamins, and hormones. Biodegradability, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, and multifunctionality of PAMAM dendrimer are the key factors which facilitate steady increase of its application in drug delivery, gene transfection, tumor therapy, and diagnostics applications with precision and selectivity. This review deals with the major topics of PAMAM dendrimers including structure, synthesis, toxicity, surface modification, and also possible new applications of these spherical polymers in biomedical fields as dendrimer-based nanomedicine.