GC/MS analysis of thermally degraded neuromelanin from the human substantia nigra

Neuromelanin (NM) is a complex polymer pigment found in catecholaminergic neurons of the human brain. The structure, formation pathway, and physiological function of NM have not yet been clarified, but interest in this polymer has been sparked by the suggestion that NM is involved in cell death in Parkinson's disease. In the current study, pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis was applied for structural investigation of NM isolated from the human substantia nigra, using synthetic eumelanin and pheomelanin-type pigments as reference materials. None of the heterocyclic, sulfur-containing compounds being characteristic thermal degradation products of cysteinyldopamine-derived units of synthetic pheomelanin standard was detected in the pyrolysates of natural NM. The results suggest that nigral pigment isolated from normal brain tissue does not contain benzothiazine-type monomer units. Pyrolytic experiments in the presence of a derivatizing agent allowed identification of high levels of saturated and monounsaturated straight-chain C14-C18 fatty acids and led to the conclusion that a part of a lipid component is chemically bound to the NM macromolecule. The nigral pigment was also shown to be tightly associated with an isoprenoid-type compound.     

Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro pH-controllable drug release from mesoporous silica spheres with switchable gates

To accomplish pH-controllable drug release on mesoporous carrier, one of the best ways is to graft stimuli-responsive organic molecules around mesopore outlets. In this work, the pH-responsive propyldiethylenetriamine groups (abbreviative phrase: multiamine chains) were grafted around mesopore outlets of mesoporous silica spheres (MSS) and expected to act as pH-responsive gates. To this end, three multiamine-grafted MSS (i.e., NM1, NM2, and NM3) were synthesized under different reaction temperatures and reaction times. The reaction temperature and time for multiamine grafting were 25 °C and 12 h for NM1, 100 °C and 1 h for NM2, and 100 °C and 12 h for NM3, respectively. Through systematic investigations of TEM, SEM, N(2) adsorption/desorption, TG, and (29)Si MAS NMR, it was found that NM3 had the highest grafting amount of multiamine chains. It was further confirmed that the multiamine chains around the pore outlets of NM3 played the role of "molecular switch" that could well control the transport of guest drug molecules. In contrast, the multiamine chains around the pore outlets of NM2 and NM3 did not show gate effect. The difference should be decided by the fact whether the grafting amount of multiamine chains around mesopore outlets were sufficient under determined reaction temperature and time. In the tests of in vitro drug release, multiamine-gated MSS (i.e., NM3) showed highly sensitive response to the solution pH. At high pH (pH 7.5), ibuprofen (IBU) in this carrier released rapidly and completely within 2 h; at low pH (pH 4.0 or 5.0), only a small part of the IBU (13 wt %) was slowly released from this carrier and the most of IBU was effectively confined in mesopores.     

Combined biochemical separation and INAA for the determination of iron and other metals in Neuromelanin of human brain Substantia Nigra

In Parkinson disease Fe and other metals increase in Substantia Nigra(SN) and other basal nuclei. Since Fe can generate citotoxic free radicals,Neuromelanin (NM) could play an important protective role in neurons. In thiswork an original procedure for separation of NM, preparation of samples andanalysis is presented. The determination of SN and its NM elemental contentwas carried out by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Several actionswere taken to reduce the metal contaminations: use of high purity reagents,dissection of tissues with titanium coated tools and adequate processing ofsamples.     

New metallochromic indicator for barium: Determination of sulfate in water and soil extracts

A new metallochromic indicator for barium, Orthanilic NM, is synthesized and proposed. The color reaction of Orthanilic NM with barium ions is compared with the reactions of carboxyarsenazo and other orthanilic group reagents, such as Orthanilic K, nitchromazo, etc. The quantitative characteristics of the reactions are determined. It is shown that Orthanilic NM can be used for the titrimetric (down to 20 mg/L) and photometric (down to 0.2 mg/L) determinations of sulfate. Substantial amounts of conventional anions, alkali, alkaline-earth, and nonferrous metals do not interfere with the titrimetric determination (at pH 2.5). For the photometric determination, a 1:1 Ba²⁺-Orthanilic NM complex is used at pH 2. In these conditions, sulfite and phosphate do not interfere with the determination either. Procedures are developed for the determination of sulfate in various types of water and soil extracts. Examples of their practical application are given.     

Benchmarking the ACEnano Toolbox for Characterisation of Nanoparticle Size and Concentration by Interlaboratory Comparisons

ACEnano is an EU-funded project which aims at developing, optimising and validating methods for the detection and characterisation of nanomaterials (NMs) in increasingly complex matrices to improve confidence in the results and support their use in regulation. Within this project, several interlaboratory comparisons (ILCs) for the determination of particle size and concentration have been organised to benchmark existing analytical methods. In this paper the results of a number of these ILCs for the characterisation of NMs are presented and discussed. The results of the analyses of pristine well-defined particles such as 60 nm Au NMs in a simple aqueous suspension showed that laboratories are well capable of determining the sizes of these particles. The analysis of particles in complex matrices or formulations such as consumer products resulted in larger variations in particle sizes within technologies and clear differences in capability between techniques. Sunscreen lotion sample analysis by laboratories using spICP-MS and TEM/SEM identified and confirmed the TiO₂ particles as being nanoscale and compliant with the EU definition of an NM for regulatory purposes. In a toothpaste sample orthogonal results by PTA, spICP-MS and TEM/SEM agreed and stated the TiO₂ particles as not fitting the EU definition of an NM. In general, from the results of these ILCs we conclude that laboratories are well capable of determining particle sizes of NM, even in fairly complex formulations.     

Vibrational overtone spectroscopy and intramolecular dynamics of ethene

The first through fourth C-H stretching overtone regions of ethene were measured by photoacoustic spectroscopy of room-temperature molecules and action spectroscopy of jet-cooled molecules. The rotational cooling led to improved resolution in the action spectra, turning these spectra into key players in determining the multiple band appearance in each region, their types, and origins. These manifolds arise from strong couplings of the C-H stretches to doorway states and were analyzed in terms of a simplified joint local-mode/normal-mode (LM)/(NM) model and an equivalent NM model, accounting for principal resonances. The diagonalization of the LM/NM and NM vibrational Hamiltonians and the least-square fittings revealed model parameters, enabling assignment of A- and B-type bands. These bands behave differently through the V = 2-4 manifolds, showing coupling to doorway states for the former but not for the latter. The energy flow out of the fourth C-H overtone is governed by the interaction with bath states due to the increase in the density of states.     

Stability prediction of nafamostat mesilate in an intravenous admixture containing sodium bisulfite

The hydrolysis of nafamostat mesilate (NM) in aqueous solution was found to be accelerated by sodium bisulfite (SBS) using high-performance liquid chromatographic assay. The hydrolysis of NM catalyzed by SBS was pseudo-first-order and was considered to be a reaction between nafamostat cation (N+) and sulfite ion. The effects of SBS concentration and temperature on the hydrolysis of NM in buffer solution were examined. From the findings obtained, we estimated the compatible pH range of the intravenous admixture (mixed infusion) of NM after a constant storage time at a constant SBS concentration and temperature employing a simulated pH-profile for the mixed infusion. In order to evaluate the compatibility of the prescribed mixed infusion, the method of pH estimation for the mixed infusion was also investigated using the pH titration curve of each preparation.     

Quantitative Distinction between Noble Metals Located in Mesopores from Those on the External Surface

We compare three methods for quantitatively distinguishing the location of noble metal (NM) particles in mesopores from those found on the external support surface. MCM-41 and SBA-15 with NM located in mesopores or on the external surface were prepared and characterized by TEM. ³¹P MAS NMR spectroscopy was used to quantify arylphosphines in complexes with NM. Phosphine/NM ratios drop from 2.0 to 0.2 when increasing the probe diameter from 1.08 to 1.54 nm. The reaction between NM and triphenylphosphine (TPP) within 3.0 nm MCM-41 pores takes due to confinement effects multiple weeks. In contrast, external NM react with TPP instantly. A promising method is filling the pores by using the pore volume impregnation technique with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS). TPP loading revealed that 66 % of NMs are located on the external surface of MCM-41. The pore filling method can be used in association with any probe molecule, also for the quantification of acid sites.     

Thermodynamics of cesium cation complexation with dibenzo-24-crown-8 in mixed nonaqueous solvents

Thermodynamics of complexation of cesium cation by dibenzo-24-crown-8 was studied in three binary solvent mixtures: acetonitrile-nitromethane (AN/NM),N,N-dimethylformamide-nitromethane (DMF/NM) and acetonitrile-propylene carbonate (AN/PC) using the¹³³Cs-NMR technique. In all cases the variation of the formation constant,K _f, with the solvent composition was monotonic:K _f increased as the mole-% of the solvent of low donicity was increased. The temperature dependence ofK _f indicated that the complexes are generally enthalpy stabilized, but entropy destabilized. The enthalpy and entropy of complexation reactions are quite sensitive to the solvent composition. However, their variation with solvent composition was not monotonic but showed maxima or minima at the isosolvation points of the cation or the complexed cation. In all cases an enthalpy-entropy compensating effect was observed.     

Ultrafiltration behavior of selected pharmaceuticals on natural and synthetic membranes in the presence of humic-rich hydrocolloids

The separation behavior of the frequently administered pharmaceuticals sulfamethoxazol (Sulfa), carbamazepine (Carba), diclofenac (Diclo), and ibuprofen (Ibu) on different natural and synthetic ultrafiltration membranes was studied. Commercially available cattle intestine natural membranes (NM), polyethersulfone (PES), and regenerated cellulose-based (RC) flat membranes (nominal cut-off 1 kDa) have been investigated as ultrafiltration membranes in a small tangential-flow ultrafiltration unit (TF-UF). First, the nominal cut-off of the NM membranes under study was assessed at approximately 5 kDa, by using polystyrenesulfonate standards for pore-size classification at low TF-UF pressure (0.25×10⁵ Pa). Working pressures of >1.5×10⁵ Pa strongly increased the cut-off of NM, in contrast with that of PES and RC membranes. Sulfa, Carba, Diclo and Ibu (1 mg L^–1 each) in colloid-free aqueous solutions (400 mg L^–1 NaCl) completely permeated through NM membranes, but less through PES and RC, which had particular sorption capability towards Diclo. The drugs were routinely determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Detailed TF-UF investigation of drug retention on NM in the presence of humic hydrocolloids revealed strong interactions between aquatic humic substances (HS) and Diclo and Ibu (but not with Sulfa and Carba) causing retention of up to 80% of Diclo and Ibu, probably because of their binding to macromolecular HS. The standard deviation (SD) of both drug and HS permeation through a single NM was between 2.5 (Sulfa) and 4.0% (Diclo), in contrast with the SD of permeation through separate membranes taken from different lots [SD up to 14.0% (Diclo)], presumably caused by natural variation of the studied NM. Accordingly, membrane filtration of drug-containing water samples on cattle intestines enables both analyte/matrix separations for Carba and Sulfa in the presence of humic colloids and analytical discrimination between free and colloid-bound Diclo and Ibu fractions.Dedicated to the memory of Wilhelm Fresenius     

Realistic sampling of amino acid geometries for a multipolar polarizable force field

The Quantum Chemical Topological Force Field (QCTFF) uses the machine learning method kriging to map atomic multipole moments to the coordinates of all atoms in the molecular system. It is important that kriging operates on relevant and realistic training sets of molecular geometries. Therefore, we sampled single amino acid geometries directly from protein crystal structures stored in the Protein Databank (PDB). This sampling enhances the conformational realism (in terms of dihedral angles) of the training geometries. However, these geometries can be fraught with inaccurate bond lengths and valence angles due to artefacts of the refinement process of the X‐ray diffraction patterns, combined with experimentally invisible hydrogen atoms. This is why we developed a hybrid PDB/nonstationary normal modes (NM) sampling approach called PDB/NM. This method is superior over standard NM sampling, which captures only geometries optimized from the stationary points of single amino acids in the gas phase. Indeed, PDB/NM combines the sampling of relevant dihedral angles with chemically correct local geometries. Geometries sampled using PDB/NM were used to build kriging models for alanine and lysine, and their prediction accuracy was compared to models built from geometries sampled from three other sampling approaches. Bond length variation, as opposed to variation in dihedral angles, puts pressure on prediction accuracy, potentially lowering it. Hence, the larger coverage of dihedral angles of the PDB/NM method does not deteriorate the predictive accuracy of kriging models, compared to the NM sampling around local energetic minima used so far in the development of QCTFF. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Computational Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Inclusion Complexation of Anti-HIV Drug with β-Cyclodextrin

The purpose of present investigation was to investigate the effect of complexation of Nelfinavir Mesylate (NM) – an Anti-HIV drug with Beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on its dissolution characteristics and subsequent effect on its absorption properties and bioavailability. Phase solubility studies were conducted to find the interaction of NM with β-CD. Physical mixing and milling method were used for complexation. The inclusion complexes were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, FT-IR and NMR studies and further studied by in-vitro dissolution testing. The plain NM and complex was subjected to intestinal absorption studies by using Everted intestinal sac model. Data was treated statistically by Mann–Whitney U test. Pharmacokinetic studies were carried out in rabbits using cross over design and data was treated by Student’s t test. Phase solubility studies confirmed 1:1 complex formation of NM with β-CD with stability constant of 204.84 M⁻¹. In-vitro dissolution studies of inclusion complexes of NM with β-CD prepared by milling method (T ₉₀=60.89 min) showed better dissolution rate kinetics in distilled water in comparison with plain NM (T ₉₀=374.31). The increased solubility with decreased crystallinity is attributed by inclusion of NM in the cavity of β-CD, which was further confirmed by instrumental studies. Intestinal absorption studies further supports these findings by showing 2.13 times enhancement in the absorption rate of complex as compared to plain NM. The percent relative bioavailability of complex in rabbits was 185.37 as compared to the plain NM.     

Vibrational motion in the local- and normal-mode pictures

Vibrational states of H₂O are calculated and represented in both the conventional normal-mode (NM) and in the local-mode (LM) picture. The states are consistently purer in the LM than in the NM picture. The LM picture allows an extremely simple determination of vibrational energies and states.     

A comparison of the decomposition of electronically excited nitro-containing molecules with energetic moieties C-NO2, N-NO2, and O-NO2

Decomposition of electronically excited nitro-containing molecules with different X-NO(2) (X = C, N, O) moieties has been intensively investigated over the past decades; however, their decomposition behavior has not previously been compared and contrasted. Comparison of their unimolecular decomposition behavior is important for the understanding of the reactivity differences among electronically excited nitro-containing molecules with different X-NO(2) (X = C, N, O) bond connections. Nitromethane (NM), dimethylnitramine (DMNA), and isopropylnitrate (IPN) are used as model molecules for C-NO(2), N-NO(2), and O-NO(2) active moieties, respectively. Ultraviolet lasers at different wavelengths, such as 226, 236, and 193 nm, have been employed to prepare the excited states of these molecules. The decomposition products are then detected by resonance enhanced two photon ionization (R2PI), laser induced fluorescence (LIF) techniques, or single photon ionization at 10.5 eV. NO molecules are observed to be the major decomposition product from electronically excited NM, DMNA, IPN using R2PI techniques. The NO products from decomposition of electronically excited (226 and 236 nm) NM and IPN display similar rotational (600 K) and vibrational distributions [both (0-0) and (0-1) bands of the NO molecule are observed]. The NO product from DMNA shows rotational (120 K) and vibrational distributions (only (0-0) transition is observed) colder than those of NM and IPN. At the 193 nm excitation, electronically excited NO(2) products are observed from NM and IPN via fluorescence detection, while no electronically excited NO(2) products are observed from DMNA. Additionally, the OH radical is observed as a minor dissociation product from all three compounds. The major decomposition pathway of electronically excited NM and IPN involves fission of the X-NO(2) bond to form electronically excited NO(2) product, which further dissociates to generate NO. The production of NO molecules from electronically excited DMNA is proposed to go through a nitro-nitrite isomerization pathway. Theoretical calculations show that a nitro-nitrite isomerization for DMNA occurs on the S(1) surface following a (S(2)/S(1))(CI) conical intersection (CI), whereas NO(2) elimination occurs on the S(1) surface following the (S(2)/S(1))(CI) conical intersection for NM and IPN. The present work provides insights for the understanding of the initiation of the decomposition of electronically excited X-NO(2) energetic systems. The presence of conical intersections along the reaction coordinate plays an important role in the detailed mechanism for the decomposition of these energetic systems.     

Polymerization of 2-naphthyl methacrylate in the presence of electron acceptors

The polymerization of 2-naphthyl methacrylate (NM) in toluene in the presence of tetracyanoethylene and picric acid was studied dilatometrically. The overall activation energy for the polymerization was calculated both in the absence and in the presence of electron acceptors. The results (13-7 kcal/ mole for pure NM; 15-1 kcal/mole for NM in the presence of picric acid; 212 kcal/mole for NM in the presence of tetracyanoethylene) show that the influence of the electron acceptor increases with its electron affinity. To explain the kinetics, it was assumed that donor-acceptor interaction of the additives occurs not only with the aromatic ring in the monomer but also with the growing radicals.     

Fluorescence study of arene probe microenvironment in the intraparticle void volume of zeolites interfaced with bathing polar solvents

Fluorescence methodologies have been utilized to examine micropolarity, intramolecular motion, and singlet quenching in the intraparticle void volume of zeolites X, Y, and ultrastable Y (USY) interfaced with bathing polar solvents. Micropolarity was assessed from the 3-to-1 band ratio (III/I) of the fluorescence spectrum of pyrene (PY) and from lambda(max) of the fluorescence spectrum of 1-pyrenecarboxaldehyde (1-PCA). In zeolites bathed in anhydrous solvents, both PY and 1-PCA reported increased micropolarity according to the trend USY < bulk solvent < NaX approximately NaY. For example, in NaY (USY), III/I ranged from 0.44 (0.98) in acetonitrile to 0.52 (1.34) in n-hexanol, compared to 0.60, 1.06, and 1.62 in bulk acetonitrile (ACN), n-hexanol, and n-hexane, respectively. The polarity studies reveal that the ionic nature of NaX and NaY and the hydrophobic nature of USY strongly influence the microenvironment of the arene despite the presence of desorbing polar solvents. Constraints on intramolecular motion were examined in polar-solvated NaX through measurements of the fluorescence lifetime of trans-stilbene. Lifetimes ranged from 113 ps in NaX-ACN to 671 ps in NaX-tert-butyl alcohol. The latter value is close to that observed in bulk glycerol. Diffusion-controlled quenching of PY fluorescence by O2 and a series of nitrocompounds dissolved in solvents bathing the zeolite was examined by a time-resolved approach. For all of the quenchers and solvents studied, quenching was more efficient in USY compared to NaX and NaY. Interestingly, the rate of O2 quenching in USY-MeOH was only 12 times lower than that in bulk MeOH. In contrast, in NaY-MeOH and NaX-MeOH the rate of O2 quenching was too low to be measured. The rate constants in these systems were therefore taken as the rate constant for diffusion-controlled quenching of trapped electrons measured previously. These values were 600 times and 10(5) times lower than the rate of fluorescence quenching in USY-MeOH, respectively. The O2 quenching studies show that dispersive interactions of polar solvents with the cavity walls dominate in USY because of the hydrophobic nature of the USY surface. In NaX and NaY, stronger ion-dipole and hydrogen bonding interactions dominate and lead to more restricted access and lowered quenching efficiency. Perrin (or static) quenching of pyrene fluorescence was also examined to infer the concentration of nitromethane (NM) in the void volume of NaX and NaY bathed in MeOH, ACN, or H2O. The results indicate that access of NM to the interior of NaY is more inhibited in ACN compared to MeOH, presumably because of the higher dipole moment of ACN and its resulting stronger association with the zeolite surface. At similar levels of static quenching equated to a similar NM concentration in the zeolite, dynamic quenching by NM varied by no more than a factor of 2 in all systems compared. This implies that the rate of NM diffusion in solvated zeolite interiors is similar regardless of zeolite or solvent properties. In contrast to O2 diffusion in zeolites, NM exhibits a high dipole moment and can therefore migrate through polar-solvated zeolite apertures by adsorbing to the zeolite. Overall, the results of this study show a close relationship between the behavior of probes and quenchers in the confines of polar-solvated zeolite interiors and the chemical properties of the zeolite. Differences between weakly and strongly interacting surfaces are revealed clearly in the results.     

Bio-inspired nanoenzyme for metabolic reprogramming and anti-inflammatory treatment of hyperuricemia and gout

Gout,a common type of inflammatory arthritis resulting from chronic elevation of uric acid(UA)level,is usually accompanied with hyperuricemia.The current clinical drugs for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia are greatly restricted by their limited therapeutic efficacy,off-target toxicity and severe side effects.Here,a neutrophil membrane(NM)-coated and cascade catalytic nanoenzyme was devised with excellent inflammation targeting,inflammatory cytokines neutralizing and UA degrading characteristics for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia with high efficacy and safety.This nanoenzyme was fabricated by encapsulating uricase(UOx)and catalase(CAT)into zeolitic imidazolate framework-8(ZIF-8)and further coating it with NM.The NM-coated nanoenzyme inherits the antigenic exterior and cell membrane functions of neutrophils for inflammation targeting and cytokine neutralization.UOx and CAT encapsulated in ZIF-8 could efficiently degrade UA and eliminate hydrogen peroxide(H₂O₂)via a biocatalytic cascade,thus successfully blocking the inflammation amplification during gout development.Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the preferable potentials of the nanoenzyme for gout targeting,inflammation elimination and UA degradation,exhibiting great promise for the treatment of gout and hyperuricemia in an effective and safe manner.     

Theoretical studies of energy transfer rates of secondary explosives

Understanding the mechanism of shock-induced chemical reaction in secondary explosives is necessary to pursue the development and the safe use of new explosives having high performance and low sensitivity. In an effort to understand the mechanism, the energy transfer rates of such secondary explosives as PETN(I), PETN(II), delta-HMX, alpha-HMX, beta-HMX, RDX, ANTA, DMN, and NM have been evaluated based on the formula derived by Fried and Ruggiero [Fried, L. E.; Ruggiero, A. J. J. Phys. Chem. 1994, 98, 9786]. The energy transfer rates were determined in terms of the density of vibrational states and the unharmonic vibron-phonon coupling term, which were calculated by using a flexible potential containing both intra- and intermolecular terms. For the secondary explosives, a good correlation was found between the energy transfer rates and the impact sensitivity. The energy transfer rates are several times faster for the explosives with higher sensitivity such as PETN, HMX, and RDX than those with lower sensitivity such as ANTA, DMN, and NM. The calculations presented suggest the energy transfer rate in secondary explosive crystals is a significant factor in their sensitivity and introduction of double bond, or hydrogen bonds, or caged structure into secondary explosives is expected to decrease the sensitivity.