Spectroscopic characterization of human and mouse primary cells,cell lines and malignant cells

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is currently being developed as a new optical approach to the diagnosis and characterization of cell or tissue pathology. The advantage of FTIR microspectroscopy over conventional FTIR spectroscopy in the diagnosis of malignancies is that it facilitates inspection of restricted regions of the cell culture or tissue. In this study, we set out to evaluate FTIR microspectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for identifying retrovirus-induced malignancies. Our study showed significant and consistent differences between cultures of different types of cells of both mouse and human origin, i.e. primary fibroblast cells (one to two passages in cell culture), fibroblast cell lines and malignant cells transformed by murine sarcoma virus. An impressive decrease in the levels of phosphate and other metabolites was seen in malignant cells compared with primary cells. The levels of these metabolites in the cell lines were significantly lower than in the primary cells but higher than in the malignant cells. In addition, the peak attributed to the PO2- symmetric stretching mode at 1082 cm(-1) in primary cells shifted significantly to 1085 cm(-1) for the cell line and to 1087 cm(-1) for the malignant cells. These differences taken together with differences in the shapes of various bands throughout the spectrum strongly support the possibility of developing FTIR microspectroscopy for the detection and study of malignant--and possibly premalignant--cells.     

Hexaphosphapentaprismane: a new gateway to organophosphorus cage compound chemistry

Several independent synthetic routes are described leading to the formation of a novel unsaturated tetracyclic phosphorus carbon cage compound tBu4C4P6 (1), which undergoes a light-induced valence isomerization to produce the first hexaphosphapentaprismane cage tBu4C4P6 (2). A second unsaturated isomer tBu4C4P6 (9) of 1 and the bis-[W(CO)5] complex 13 of 1 are stable towards similar isomerization reactions. Another starting material for the synthesis of the hexaphosphapentaprismane cage tBu4C4P6 (2) is the trimeric mercury complex [(tBu4C4P6)Hg]3 (11), which undergoes elimination of mercury to afford the title compound 2. Single-crystal X-ray structural determinations have been carried out on compounds 1, 2, 9, 11, and 13.     

Optimization of profenofos organophosphorus pesticide degradation by zero-valent bimetallic nanoparticles using response surface methodology

This study synthesized bimetallic Fe/Ni nanoparticles and used them for catalytic degradation of profenofos, an organophosphorus pesticide. This novel bimetallic catalyst (Fe/Ni) was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis spectroscopy (EDAX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The bimetallic nano-catalyst was prepared at diameters of 20–50 nm and was shown to effectively degrade profenofos. A three-factor central composite design combined with response surface methodology was used to maximize profenofos removal using the bimetallic system. A quadratic model was built to predict degradation efficiency. ANOVA was used to determine the significance of the variables and interactions between them. Good correlation between the experimental and predicted values was confirmed by the high F-value (16.38), very low P-value (<0.0001), non-significant lack of fit, an appropriate coefficient of determination (R² = 0.936) and adequate precision (14.75). The highest removal rate attained was 94.51%.     

Carbon‐based Nanosensors for Salicylate Determination in Pharmaceutical Preparations

Thiourea derivative‐based carbon paste electrode (TUD1‐CPE) was constructed as a potentiometric sensor for the determination of salicylate anion in pharmaceutical formulations, Aspocid® and Aspirin®. The optimized CPE contained 45.5 % graphite, 0.5 % reduced graphene oxide (rGO), 46.0 % nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) plasticizer, 5.0 % TUD1 ionophore, and 3.0 % tridodecylmethyl ammonium chloride as additive. The incorporation of NPOE of high dielectric constant, and rGO in electrode caused better performance of the sensor; Nernstian response of 59.0 mV decade^?1 in the concentration range of 10^?1–10^?5 mole L^?1, a detection limit of 1×10^?5 mole L^?1 in a very short response time of 6 seconds. The prepared sensor showed high selectivity against similar anions (i. e. , benzoate, I^?, SCN^?). Selectivity was confirmed by calculating the formation constant (K_β) using sandwich membrane method, where K_β for TUD1‐salicylate is 10^0.43. Theoretical calculations at DFT‐B3LY/6‐31G** level of theory were performed to find interaction mechanism, Energies of HOMO and LUMO orbitals, non‐linear optical (NLO) properties (the electronic dipole moment (μ), first‐order hyperpolarizability (β), the hyper‐Rayleigh scattering (β_HRS) and the depolarization ratio (DR)), and other global properties; these calculations showed lower values of β and DR, higher value of β_HRS, and the shortest lengths of the four N?H bonds between TUD1 and salicylate which confirm their strong complexation and salicylate‐selectivity. Also, all the studied anion‐TUD1 exhibited relatively high NLO properties, and these results were considered as a preliminary study for investigating new types of NLO bearing materials. The sensors were applied successfully for the determination of salicylate anion in Aspocid® and Aspirin®.     

A new flavonol glycoside and other flavonoids from the aerial parts of Taverniera aegyptiaca

Isolation of flavonoids from the aerial parts of Taverniera aegyptiaca Bioss. (Fabaceae) led to identification of one new flavonol glycoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranoside (1), along with eleven compounds, which previously have not been isolated from this plant quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-galactopyranoside] (2), isorhamnetin-3-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (3), quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), isorhamnetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside (7), isorhamnetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-galactopyranoside] (8), isorhamnetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranoside] (9), kaempferol 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-galactopyranoside] (10), isorhamnetin (11), 4,4′-dihydroxy-2′-methoxychalcone (12), formononetin (13) and calycosin (15)] and some compounds already known from this plant [quercetin-3-O-robinobioside (5), isorhamnetin-3-O-robinobioside (6), afrormosin (14) and odoratin (16)].     

Synthesis,characterization of Schiff base metal complexes and their biological investigation

A new Schiff base ligand named (E)‐2‐(((3‐aminophenyl)imino)methyl)phenol (HL) was prepared through condensation reaction of m‐phenylenediamine and 2‐hydroxybenzaldehyde in 1:1 molar ratio. The new ligand was characterized by elemental analysis and spectral techniques. The coordination behavior of a series of transition metal ions named Cr (III), Mn (II), Fe (III), Co (II), Ni (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) and Cd (II) with the newly prepared Schiff base ligand (HL) is reported. The nature of bonding and the stereochemistry of the complexes have been deduced from elemental analyses, IR, UV–Vis, ¹H NMR, mass, electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility and conductivity measurements and further their thermal stability was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG). From IR spectra, it was observed that the ligand is a neutral tridentate ligand coordinates to the metal ions through protonated phenolic oxygen, azomethine nitrogen and nitrogen atom of NH₂ group. The existence, the number and the position of the water molecules was studied by thermal analysis. The molecular structures of the Schiff base ligand (HL) and its metal complexes were optimized theoretically and the quantum chemical parameters were calculated. The synthesized ligand and its complexes were screened for antimicrobial activities against bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillis subtilis, (gram positive bacteria)), (Salmonella SP., Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, (gram negative bacteria)) and fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans). The complexes were found to possess high biological activities against different organisms. Molecular docking was used to predict the efficiency of binding between Schiff base ligand (HL) and both receptors of Escherichia coli (3 T88) and Staphylococcus aureus (3Q8U). The receptor of Escherichia coli (3 T88) showed best interaction with Schiff base ligand (HL) compared to receptor of Staphylococcus aureu (3Q8U).     

Influence of solvent polarity and medium acidity on the UV-Vis spectral behavior of 1-methyl-4-[4-amino-styryl] pyridinum iodide

Electronic absorption, and excitation spectra of 1-methyl-4-[4-aminostyryl] pyridinum iodide (M-NH2) were measured in solvents of different polarity. The (M-NH2) dye exhibits negative solvatochromism, i.e. a hypsochromic band shift as the solvent polarity increases. The fluorescence quantum yield is also sensitive to the polarity and viscosity of the medium. The ground and excited state protonation constants were calculated and amount to 3.35 and 0.62, respectively. The effect of micellization on the emission spectrum of (M-NH2) are also studied in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). The fluorescence intensity increases as the concentration of SDS increases with an abrupt change at cmc. The quantum yield of the cis trans photoisomerization is also determined in aqueous buffer solution of pH 1.1.     

Novel monofunctional and bifunctional boronic acid‐functionalized squarylium dyes as precolumn and on‐column labels for protein analysis by capillary electrophoresis with laser‐induced fluorescence

This article presents a continuous capillary electrophoresis with laser‐induced fluorescence (CE‐LIF) following spectral studies of the noncovalent interactions between novel Squarylium Boronic Acid 4 (SQ‐BA4) & Squarylium Diboronic Acid 2 (SQ‐DBA2) squarylium dyes and human serum albumin (HSA). Two protocols were used wherein the on‐column‐labeling protocol was found to be more sensitive than the precolumn one by showing a better enhancement in the peak area of the HSA–dye complex besides lower limits of detection (LODs) for HSA. Also, stability studies were conducted with or without HSA using precolumn‐labeling mode over one week exhibiting the superiority of SQ‐BA4 to SQ‐DBA2. Then, a mixture containing three model proteins, HSA, β‐lactoglobulin B, and transferrin, was labeled on‐column with both dyes and completely resolved by CE‐LIF after optimization of several parameters. Both dyes provided lower LODs for HSA than those of β‐lactoglobulin B and transferrin with higher sensitivities. In addition, the SQ‐BA4 dye showed again greater sensitivities with all the three proteins than SQ‐DBA2.     

Dielectric relaxation spectroscopy of aqueous micellar electrolyte solutions: A novel application to infer Dukhin number and zeta potential of a micelle

The complex permittivities of aqueous SDS solutions, with and without the addition of sodium chloride (NaCl), are measured in the frequency range from 200 MHz to 14 GHz. The SDS concentrations are chosen such that the SDS molecules aggregate to micelles. In this frequency range, the measured spectra allow for the identification of two different relaxation processes. That is, the relaxation of the water molecules at frequencies above 1 GHz and the micellar relaxation at frequencies lower than 1 GHz. It is found that the addition of NaCl to the system mostly affects the micellar relaxation process. In detail, the time constant as well as the amplitude of the relaxation decrease by adding NaCl. These effects are attributed to the change in the solution conductivity that changes the properties of the micelle's electrical double layer. We also extract the Dukhin number of the micelles as a function of surfactant and electrolyte content from the measurements. The Dukhin number is a dimensionless group that describes the influence of the surface conductivity on a phenomena. A regression between Dukhin numbers and free sodium ions is found so that all data collapses on a single curve independent of the surfactant concentration. The surface conductivity is a manifestation of the electrical double layer and we use the Bikerman equation to infer the zeta potential of the micelles. Comparison to literature data shows very good agreement and proves that dielectric relaxation spectroscopy can be engaged to infer the zeta potential of micelles. Abbreviations: CMC critical micelle concentration, DRS dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, EDL electrical double layer     

Substituted γ-lactones. Some observations on the synthesis and reactivity of 4-aroyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanones

The reaction pathway towards formation of 4-aroyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanones 1 from the base catalyzed reaction between an acetophenone, diethyl oxalate and formaldehyde was investigated. If methoxide was used as base, a transesterification was found to occur in the first step, while a side reaction, namely the retro Claisen reaction, was in competition with the desired lactone formation in the second step. The nature of the solvent and the acidic character of 1 as well as the basicity of the aminoarylene were found to have a profound influence on the course of the reaction of 1 with aminoarylenes.