Characterization of the new Bi∼6.2Cu∼6.2O8(PO4)5 oxyphosphate; a disordered compound containing 2- and 3-O(Bi, Cu)4 tetrahedra—wide polycationic ribbons

The present work is dedicated to the XRD, ED and HREM characterization of a new bismuth copper oxyphosphate Bi_∼6.2Cu_∼6.2O₈(PO₄)₅ (a=11.599(2)Å, , c=37.541(5)Å, R₁=0.0755, Rw₂₌0.174, G.S Pn2₁a). The relatively long size of its c parameter is due to the arrangement along this direction of two kinds of ribbon-like polycations formed by edge sharing O(Bi, Cu)₄ tetrahedra. The existence of such cations is characterized by the b∼5.2 Å value intrinsic to the ribbons structure and commonly found in bismuth oxyphosphate materials. In the title compound, 2-tetrahedra wide [Bi_∼2.4Cu_∼3.6O₄]^6.4+ and 3-tetrahedra wide [Bi_∼5Cu_∼3O₆]⁹⁺ ribbons are isolated by phosphate groups and alternate along c. The interstitial site created between two different sizes ribbons is occupied by Cu²⁺ cations disordered over several close crystallographic sites. The mixed Bi³⁺/Cu²⁺ nature of certain edge-of-ribbons positions induces a disorder over several configurations of the phosphate groups. The concerned oxygen atoms form the environment of the disordered interstitial Cu²⁺ cations which occupy tunnels formed by the phosphate anions. The high-resolution electron microscope study enables a precise correlation between the observed images and the refined crystal structure, evidencing the polycations visualization. Furthermore, this material being the second example of partially disordered compound similar chemical system, some topological rules can be deduced. The b-axis doubling was observed by ED and HREM and is assigned to the ordering of interstitial Cu²⁺ within tunnels cations. A partial intra-tunnel ordering was also observed.     

Etude par RMN du 13C d'un heterocycle derive du dibora-2,4 diazaro-1,3 benzene et du borazine correspondant

¹³C NMR spectra and complete assignment by means of coupled spectra and off resonance experiments, are reported for a new kind of organoboron heterocycle and the related borazine (o-CH₃C₆H₄NBCH₃)₃; π-charge densities, obtained from LCAO-MO Hückel calculations, are in reasonable agreement with experimental chemical shifts for the former compound.     

Kinetics of calcium phosphate reduction by carbon

A fundamental study was made on the reduction of calcium phosphate by carbon. The mechanism of reduction was presented on applying different additions. Both silica and alumina increased the extent of reduction but with variable rates. The activation energies were calculated on the basis of first-order reactions. The phases formed during reduction were investigated by X-ray analysis.     

Emulsion liquid membrane extraction of fission products promoted by polyvalent and organic acids

Emulsion liquid membranes (ELM) with di-2-ethylhexylphosphoric acid in n-alkane, and dipicrylamine and cobalt(III) dicarbollide in nitrobenzene stabilized in double emulsions by SPAN 80/85 surfactant were used for preconcentration of radioactive fission products (¹³⁷Cs,⁹⁰Sr,¹³⁹Ce, and¹⁵²Eu) from slightly acidic nitrate solutions. The efficiency of sulfuric, phosphotungstic and silicotungstic acids as stripping agents, and picric acid as the bulky anion additive was investigated. A group separation of the fission products is possible by the ELM technique and can be considered for their removal from waste water solutions.     

The solution photochemistry of αβ-unsaturated sulphones

1-Phenyl-2-(benzenesulphonyl)-ethylene and 1-phenyl-2-(benzenesulphonyl)-prop-1-ene have been shown to undergo $\text{Z}$,$\text{E}$-photoisomerisation, whereas 2-benzenesulphonylindene readily forms [_π2 + _π2] photoadducts with 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene, cyclopentene, and cyclohexene.     

Energetic Bio-Activation of Some Organic Molecules and Their Antioxidant Activity in the Pulp of the Moroccan Argan Tree «Argania spinosa L.»

Argania spinosa L. Skeels is an emblematic tree in Morocco, known worldwide for its medicinal and nutritional value. Its fruits contain kernels used to prepare an edible oil, the leaves are used to feed livestock, and its wood is used as fuel. If the oil acquires high importance, the other components of the fruit of the argan are undervalued. Our objective is to invest the waste of the argan industry. Particularly, our study aimed to assess the effect of thermal activation of argan pulp on its therapeutic value, its phenolic profile and its functional and physicochemical properties. After heat treatment, the HPLC analysis for the average total phenolic content varied from 2% to 37%, depending on temperature. The antioxidant activity was increased with heat treatment. Higher values of antioxidant activity, polyphenol and pigment content were recorded at 70 °C. Functional properties analysis indicated that water solubility index and water absorption capacity were significantly affected by heat stress. Physicochemical analysis showed that moisture content, titratable acidity and soluble solids were affected.     

Carnosic Acid Encapsulated in Albumin Nanoparticles Induces Apoptosis in Breast and Colorectal Cancer Cells

Carnosic acid (CA) is a natural phenolic compound with several biomedical actions. This work was performed to study the use of CA-loaded polymeric nanoparticles to improve the antitumor activity of breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and colon cancer cells (Caco-2). CA was encapsulated in bovine serum albumin (BSA), chitosan (CH), and cellulose (CL) nanoparticles. The CA-loaded BSA nanoparticles (CA-BSA-NPs) revealed the most promising formula as it showed good loading capacity and the best release rate profile as the drug reached 80% after 10 h. The physicochemical characterization of the CA-BSA-NPs and empty carrier (BSA-NPs) was performed by the particle size distribution analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential. The antitumor activity of the CA-BSA-NPs was evaluated by measuring cell viability, apoptosis rate, and gene expression of GCLC, COX-2, and BCL-2 in MCF-7 and Caco-2. The cytotoxicity assay (MTT) showed elevated antitumor activity of CA-BSA-NPs against MCF-7 and Caco-2 compared to free CA and BSA-NPs. Moreover, apoptosis test data showed an arrest of the Caco-2 cells at G₂/M (10.84%) and the MCF-7 cells at G2/M (4.73%) in the CA-BSA-NPs treatment. RT-PCR-based gene expression analysis showed an upregulation of the GCLC gene and downregulation of the BCL-2 and COX-2 genes in cells treated with CA-BSA-NPs compared to untreated cells. In conclusion, CA-BSA-NPs has been introduced as a promising formula for treating breast and colorectal cancer.     

Microscale Thermophoresis and Molecular Modelling to Explore the Chelating Drug Transportation in the Milk to Infant

The microscale thermophoresis (MST) technique was utilized to investigate lactoferrin–drug interaction with the iron chelator, deferiprone, using label-free system. MST depends on the intrinsic fluorescence of one interacting partner. The results indicated a significant interaction between lactoferrin and deferiprone. The estimated binding constant for the lactoferrin–deferiprone interaction was 8.9 × 10⁻⁶ ± 1.6, SD, which is to be reported for the first time. Such significant binding between lactoferrin and deferiprone may indicate the potentiation of the drug secretion into a lactating mother’s milk. The technique showed a fast and simple approach to study protein–drug interaction while avoiding complicated labeling procedures. Moreover, the binding behavior of deferiprone within the binding sites of lactoferrin was investigated through molecular docking which reflected that deferiprone mediates strong hydrogen bonding with ARG121 and ASP297 in pocket 1 and forms H-bond and ionic interaction with ASN640 and ASP395, respectively, in pocket 2 of lactoferrin. Meanwhile, iron ions provide ionic interaction with deferiprone in both of the pockets. The molecular dynamic simulation further confirmed that the binding of deferiprone with lactoferrin brings conformational changes in lactoferrin that is more energetically stable. It also confirmed that deferiprone causes positive correlation motion in the interacting residues of both pockets, with strong negative correlation motion in the loop regions, and thus changes the dynamics of lactoferrin. The MM-GBSA based binding free energy calculation revealed that deferiprone exhibits ∆G TOTAL of −63,163 kcal/mol in pocket 1 and −63,073 kcal/mol in pocket 2 with complex receptor–ligand difference in pocket 1 and pocket 2 of −117.38 kcal/mol and −111.54 kcal/mol, respectively, which in turn suggests that deferiprone binds more strongly in the pocket 1. The free energy landscape of the lactoferrin–deferiprone complex also showed that this complex remains in a high energy state that confirms the strong binding of deferiprone with the lactoferrin. The current research concluded that iron-chelating drugs (deferiprone) can be transported from the mother to the infant in the milk because of the strong attachment with the lactoferrin active pockets.     

Electrochemical behavior of aluminum and some of its alloys in chloroaluminate ionic liquids: electrolytic extraction and electrorefining

The electrochemical behaviors of pure Al, Al–6%Si, Al–3%Cu, and Al–3.7%Cu–0.9%Mg–0.8%Pb–0.6%Fe alloys were investigated in the chloroaluminate ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [BMIm]Cl/AlCl₃ (40/60 mol%) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [EMIm]Cl/AlCl₃ (40/60 mol%). Electrolytic extraction of copper from Al–Cu alloys in the employed ionic liquids was explored. The alloys were anodically dissolved in the ionic liquids and then pure copper was recovered under potentiostatic conditions. Due to the large difference between the deposition potentials of Cu and Al, pure Cu can be obtained without Al contamination. Electrorefining of Al–3%Cu and Al–6%Si alloys was also investigated in [BMIm]Cl/AlCl₃ (40/60 mol%) at room temperature. High purity aluminum deposits were obtained with significantly low energy consumption of about 2 kWh/kg of Al.