Optical properties of a polyethylene dispersion with a luminescent silica prepared by surface grafting of a perylene derivative

A micrometric silica modified with perylene derivative (SiO₂–TES) has been prepared by hydrolysis–condensation reactions between silica and N,N’-bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)-perylene-tetracarboxyldiimide (P-TES) and utilized as filler in LLDPE films together with a compatibilizer. Spectroscopic analyses on SiO₂–TES confirmed the grafting of P-TES on silica, while its amount was determined by thermogravimetric analysis. Solid state NMR provided information about the structure of silicon atoms involved in the condensation of SiO₂ and P-TES that resulted mainly in silicon atoms grafted with bi-dentate anchorages.UV–Vis and fluorescence analyses carried out on P-TES showed the ability of the dye to generate J-type aggregates in apolar solvents. The same analyses on SiO₂–TES revealed the presence of both isolated and aggregated dye molecules grafted on silica surface, while on polymeric dispersions of SiO₂–TES, they have shown only the presence of P-TES aggregates grafted to silica.Thanks to the direct correlation between optical properties (obtained both by UV–Vis and by fluorescence analyses) and the chemical environment of composites, the luminescent silica SiO₂–TES could be used to estimate the filler dispersion extent in different microcomposite polymer materials.     

Campestarenes: novel shape-persistent Schiff base macrocycles with 5-fold symmetry

A simple 1-step procedure yields a family of easily modifiable, stable, conjugated Schiff base macrocycles with 5-fold symmetry mediated by 3-center hydrogen bonding.     

Saffron Characterization by a Multidisciplinary Approach

Saffron is a spice obtained from the drying process of the stigmas of the flower Crocus sativus Linnaeus. It is well known that the organoleptic characteristics of this spice are closely linked to the production area and harvesting year. The present work aims to evaluate whether saffron samples produced in different years and origins present sensibly different crocin profiles. To achieve this goal, 120 saffron samples were harvested between 2016 and 2020 in four different Italian areas. The crocins were analysed, identified, and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–ESI–MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM). Subsequently, ANOVA–simultaneous component analysis (ASCA) was used to evaluate whether the origin and annuity significantly affected the composition of the crocins. ASCA confirmed the relevance of these effects. Eventually, soft independent modelling by class analogy (SIMCA) models were created for each of the four different origins. Mixtures of saffron from different areas were also prepared to test the robustness of the models. SIMCA provided satisfying results; in fact, models provided 100% sensitivity for three origins (Cascia, Sardinia, and Città della Pieve) on the external test set (48 samples) and 88% (sensitivity on the external test set) for the Spoleto class.     

Electron Spin Resonance Dosimetry Studies of Irradiated Sulfite Salts

The study of new materials for radiation dosimetry is important to improve the present state of the art and to help in cases of accidents for retrospective dosimetry. Sulfites are compounds that contain a sulfur ion, widely used in the food industry. Due to the significant application of these compounds, sulfites are interesting candidates for accidental dosimetry, as fortuitous radiation detectors. The presence of the SO₃⁻ anion enables its detection by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The Dose–Response behavior, signal stability and other spectral features were investigated for sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite and potassium metabisulfite, all in crystalline forms. The ESR spectrum of salts presented stability and proportional response with dose, presenting potential for dosimetry applications.     

Synthesis,Docking Studies and Pharmacological Evaluation of Serotoninergic Ligands Containing a 5-Norbornene-2-Carboxamide Nucleus

A new series of 5-norbornene-2-carboxamide derivatives was prepared and their affinities to the 5-HT_1A, 5-HT_2A, and 5-HT_2C receptors were evaluated and compared to a previously synthesized series of derivatives characterized by exo-N-hydroxy-5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboximidenucleus, in order to identify selective ligands for the above-mentioned subtype receptors. Arylpiperazines represents one of the most important classes of 5-HT_1AR ligands, and recent research concerning new derivatives has been focused on the modification of one or more portions of such pharmacophore. The combination of structural elements (heterocyclic nucleus, propyl chain and 4-substituted piperazine), known to be critical to the affinity to 5-HT_1A receptors, and the proper selection of substituents led to compounds with high specificity and affinity towards serotoninergic receptors. The most active compounds were selected for further in vivo assays to determine their functional activity. Finally, to rationalize the obtained results, molecular docking studies were performed. The results of the pharmacological studies showed that Norbo-4 and Norbo-18 were the most active and promising derivatives for the serotonin receptor considered in this study.     

High throughput screening for orphan and liganded GPCRs

GPCRs had significant representation in the drug discovery portfolios of most major commercial drug discovery organizations for many years. This is due in part to the diverse biological roles mediated by GPCRs as a class, as well as the empirical discovery that they have proven relatively tractable to the development of small molecule therapeutics. Publication of the human genome sequence in 2001 confirmed GPCRs as the largest single gene superfamily with more than 700 members, furthering the already strong appeal of addressing this target class using efficient and highly parallelized platform approaches. The GPCR research platform implemented at Amgen is used as a case study to review the evolution and implementation of available assays and technologies applicable to GPCR drug discovery. The strengths, weaknesses, and applications of assay technologies applicable to G alpha s, G alpha i and G alpha q-coupled receptors are described and their relative merits evaluated. Particular consideration is made of the role and practice of "de-orphaning" and signaling pathway characterization as a pre-requisite to establishing effective screens. In silico and in vitro methodology developed for rapid, parallel high throughput hit characterization and prioritization is also discussed extensively.     

Graphene Oxide Nanosheets Modified with Single‐Domain Antibodies for Rapid and Efficient Capture of Cells

Peripheral blood can provide valuable information on an individual’s immune status. Cell‐based assays typically target leukocytes and their products. Characterization of leukocytes from whole blood requires their separation from the far more numerous red blood cells. 1 Current methods to classify leukocytes, such as recovery on antibody‐coated beads or fluorescence‐activated cell sorting require long sample preparation times and relatively large sample volumes. 2 A simple method that enables the characterization of cells from a small peripheral whole blood sample could overcome limitations of current analytical techniques. We describe the development of a simple graphene oxide surface coated with single‐domain antibody fragments. This format allows quick and efficient capture of distinct WBC subpopulations from small samples (～30 μL) of whole blood in a geometry that does not require any specialized equipment such as cell sorters or microfluidic devices.     

Characterization of FDR fly ash and brick/lime mixtures

The present research is concerning the characterization of FDR (fuel derived from residues) fly ash and mixtures with lime/brick hydraulic binder by DTA/TG/DTG thermo-analysis, X-ray diffractometry and chemical analysis. The use of hydraulic binder obtained from building brick rejects, which is less expensive than the usual solidifiers such as cementitious binder and silicates, allows us to reutilize, in the meantime, this wreckage material, to the advantage of environmental sustainability. Fly ash samples investigated in the present study were separated in a thermo-incineration plant. Mineralogical DTA/TG/DTG and XRD investigations reveal the presence of different phases as well as chemical analysis shows a moderate concentration of heavy metals and high content of chloride and sulphate. Results obtained from leaching tests with water carried out on hardened pastes containing fly ash lead to interesting results, which highlight behaviour to the release of contaminants. The whole of the results obtained in the present study make it possible to regard the objective of disposing such hardened materials in inert waste landfill sites as achievable.     

Effect of cyclodextrins on physico-chemical and release properties of Eudragit RS 100 microparticles containing glutathione

The objective of this work was to develop a novel microparticulate system based on the mucoadhesive polymer Eudragit-RS 100 and cyclodextrins (CDs), potentially useful for the oral administration of Glutathione (γ–glutamylcysteinylglycine, GSH). For this purpose, an oil-in-oil (O/O) emulsion-solvent evaporation method was used for the preparation of microparticles (MPs) containing GSH alone or together with one of the following CDs: α-, β-, γ-, methyl-β-(Me-β-), hydroxypropyl-β-(HP-β-) or sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE_7m-β-CD). MPs were obtained by emulsifying a mixture of Eudragit RS 100, GSH, CD and magnesium stearate in acetone or acetonitrile with a mixture of liquid paraffin and Span 80. Size, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release of the prepared MPs were evaluated. The results clearly indicated that all the examined properties were dependent on the water-miscible solvents and CD used. In particular, MPs prepared by using acetone or acetonitrile showed different size distributions with mean diameters in the ranges 82–350 and 15–22 μm, respectively. Moreover, encapsulation efficiency values were found to be high in all cases (71–99%) and was significantly affected by the CD type. The GSH release rates were evaluated employing dissolution media with different pH values (1.2, 6.8 and 7.4) and the following rank order was obtained for MPs prepared using acetone: MPs incorporating Me-β-CD > MPs without CD > MPs incorporating the remaining CDs. On the other hand, MPs prepared using acetonitrile gave the highest GSH release rate. Finally, stability of GSH encapsulated in MPs containing HP-β-CD to enzymatic attack by pepsin A, α-chymotrypsin, and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase was also investigated.