New ruthenium(II) complexes with enantiomerically pure bis- and tris(pinene)-fused tridentate ligands. Synthesis, characterization and stereoisomeric analysis

A new set of Ru-Cl complexes containing either the pinene[5,6]bpea ligand (L1) or the C3 symmetric pinene[4,5]tpmOMe (L2) tridentate ligand in combination with the bidentate (B) 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,2-diphenylphosphinoethane (dppe) with general formula [RuCl(L1 or L2)(B)](+) have been prepared and thoroughly characterized. In the solid state, X-ray diffraction analysis techniques have been used. In solution, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy have been employed. DFT calculations have been also performed on these complexes and their achiral analogues previously reported in our group, to interpret and complement experimental results. Whereas isomerically pure complexes ([Ru(II)Cl(L2)(bpy)](BF4), 5 and [Ru(II)Cl(L2)(dppe)](BF4), 6) are obtained when starting from the highly symmetric [Ru(III)Cl3(L2)], 2, isomeric mixtures of cis, fac-[Ru(II)Cl(L1)(bpy)](BF4) (3b/3b'), trans,fac- (3a) and up/down,mer- (3c, 3d) isomers are formed when bpy is added to the less symmetric [Ru(III)Cl3(L1)], 1, in contrast to the case of the bulky dppe ligand that, upon coordination to 1, leads to the trans,fac-[Ru(II)Cl(L1)(dppe)](BF4) (4a) complex as a sole isomer due to steric factors.     

MSFIA-LOV system for Ra isolation and pre-concentration from water samples previous radiometric detection

An automatic system based on multisyringe flow injection analysis (MSFIA) and lab-on-valve (LOV) flow techniques for separation and pre-concentration of ²²⁶Ra from drinking and natural water samples has been developed. The analytical protocol combines two different procedures: the Ra adsorption on MnO₂ and the BaSO₄ co-precipitation, achieving more selectivity especially in water samples with low radium levels.     

Electric field modulation in tissue electroporation with electrolytic and non-electrolytic additives

Electroporation, cell membrane permeabilization with short electrical field pulses, is used in tissue for in vivo gene therapy, drug therapy and minimally invasive tissue ablation. For the electroporation to be successful, the electrical field that develops during the application of the pulses needs to be precisely controlled. In this study we investigate the use of electrolytic and non-electrolytic gels to generate the precise electrical fields required for controlled electroporation, in heterogeneous and irregular tissues, in vivo. Finite element computer simulations are used to illustrate various applications, such as the treatment of irregularly shaped organs and interior cavities. The feasibility of the concept is demonstrated experimentally in vivo with a rat liver subjected to irreversible electroporation.     

In vivo electrical impedance measurements during and after electroporation of rat liver

Electroporation is used for in vivo gene therapy, drug therapy and minimally invasive tissue ablation. Applying electrical pulses across cells can have a variety of outcomes; from no effect to reversible electroporation to irreversible electroporation. Recently, it has been proposed that measuring the passive electrical properties of electroporated tissues could provide real time feedback on the outcome of the treatment. Here we describe the results from the impedance characterization (single dispersion Cole model) for up to 30 min of the electroporation process in in vivo rat livers (n=8). The electroporation sequence consisted of 8 pulses of 100 micros with a period of 100 ms. Half of the animals were subjected to field magnitudes considered to have reversible effects (R group, E=450 V/cm) whereas for the other half irreversible field amplitudes were applied (I group, E=1500 V/cm). As expected, there was an immediate increase of conductivity (R group Deltasigma/sigma(t=0)=9+/-3%; I group Deltasigma/sigma(t=0)=43+/-1%). However, the overall long term pattern of change in conductivity after electroporation is complex and different between reversible and irreversible groups. This suggests the superposition of different phenomena which together affect the electrical properties.     

Determination of NSAIDs in river sediment samples

Consumption of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is increasing and with it the danger of environmental pollution by pharmaceutical residues. Publications regarding NSAIDs in the environment not only show that they are toxic to many animal species, but also highlight the need for robust analytical methods for monitoring the level of such contaminants in environmental matrices. In our study we selected the four most widely used NSAIDs in Slovenia and Central Europe, ibuprofen, naproxen, ketoprofen and diclofenac, and studied their extraction from sediment samples. We examined several extraction techniques (ultrasonic extraction, Soxhlet extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction and microwave-assisted extraction) using a spiked sediment sample and determined optimal extraction conditions. After extraction we applied a clean-up step, derivatisation of the analytes and gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MSD) and selected the most appropriate extraction procedure. The optimised analytical method chosen for analysis of sediment samples consisted of microwave-assisted extraction, clean-up of the extract with SPE, derivatisation with MSTFA and determination with GC-MSD. The optimised procedure was applied to the analysis of two environmental river samples taken from the vicinity of Novo mesto, the biggest town in the south eastern part of Slovenia with 62,000 inhabitants, a hospital and a pharmaceutical factory in its vicinity. While analysis of the sample taken upstream of the town showed no detectable amounts of NSAIDs, analysis of samples taken downstream showed quantifiable levels of two of the studied NSAIDs (naproxen and ketoprofen). Besides these two NSAIDs, river water samples sampled at the same time and location on the River Krka also showed the presence of diclofenac. Sampling on the River Krka and other Slovene rivers will in the future be repeated at different sampling points in order to track down the main sources of pollution.     

A chemoselective approach for the accelerated synthesis of well-defined dendritic architectures

A chemoselective and layered growth approach has been developed for the synthesis of dendrimers, combining Click chemistry with traditional esterification/etherification reactions, without the need for activation steps and with excellent overall yields.     

Fine-tuning ligand-receptor design for selective molecular recognition of dicarboxylic acids

The host-guest interaction between the hexaaza macrocyclic ligand 3,7,11,18,22,26-hexaazatricyclo[26.2.2.2]tetratriaconta-1(31),13(34),14,16(33),28(32),29-hexaene (P3) and three rigid dicarboxylic acids (isophthalic acid, H2is; phthtalic acid, H2ph; and terephthalic acid, H2te) has been investigated using potentiometric equilibrium methods and NMR spectroscopy including the measurement of intermolecular nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) and self-diffusion coefficients (D). Ternary complexes are formed in aqueous solution as a result of hydrogen bond formation and Coulombic interactions between the host and the guest. In the [(H6P3)(is)]4+ complex, those bonding interactions reach a maximum yielding a log K6R of 4.74. Competitive distribution diagrams and total species distribution diagrams are used to illustrate the main features of these systems. In particular, a selectivity of over 89% at p[H] = 5.0 is obtained for the complexation of the is versus the te substrates. The recognition capacity of P3 over dicarboxylic acids (da) is compared to the related hexaaza macrocycle Me2P3 (7,22-dimethyl-3,7,11,18,22,26-hexaazatricyclo[26.2.2.2]tetratriaconta-1(30),13,15,28,31,33-hexaene) that binds da with a lesser strength, and it is not selective. Theoretical calculations performed at molecular dynamics level have also been carried out and point out that the origin of selectivity is mainly due to the capacity of the P3 ligand receptor to adapt to the geometry of the dicarboxylic acid to form relatively strong hydrogen bonds.     

Nuclearity and Thermal States in Conformal Field Theory

We introduce a new type of spectral density condition, that we call L ²- nuclearity. One formulation concerns lowest weight unitary representations of and turns out to be equivalent to the existence of characters. A second formulation concerns inclusions of local observable von Neumann algebras in Quantum Field Theory. We show the two formulations to agree in chiral Conformal QFT and, starting from the trace class condition for the conformal Hamiltonian L ₀, we infer and naturally estimate the Buchholz-Wichmann nuclearity condition and the (distal) split property. As a corollary, if L ₀ is log-elliptic, the Buchholz-Junglas set up is realized and so there exists a β-KMS state for the translation dynamics on the net of C^*-algebras for every inverse temperature β > 0. We include further discussions on higher dimensional spacetimes. In particular, we verify that L ²-nuclearity is satisfied for the scalar, massless Klein-Gordon field. Dedicated to László Zsidó on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday Supported by MIUR, GNAMPA-INDAM and EU network “Quantum Spaces–Non Commutative Geometry” HPRN-CT-2002-00280     

Phytochemistry,Food Application,and Therapeutic Potential of the Medicinal Plant (Withania coagulans): A Review

Herbal plants have been utilized to treat and cure various health-related problems since ancient times. The use of Ayurvedic medicine is very significant because of its least reported side effects and host of advantages. Withania coagulans (Family; Solanaceae), a valuable medicinal plant, has been used to cure abnormal cell growth, wasting disorders, neural as well as physical problems, diabetes mellitus, insomnia, acute and chronic hepatic ailments. This review provides critical insight regarding the phytochemistry, biological activities, and pharmacognostic properties of W. coagulans. It has been known to possess diuretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, cardio-protective, hepato-protective, hypoglycemic, anti-oxidative, and anti-mutagenic properties owing to the existence of withanolides, an active compound present in it. Apart from withanolides, W. coagulans also contains many phytochemicals such as flavonoids, tannins, and β-sterols. Several studies indicate that various parts of W. coagulans and their active constituents have numerous pharmacological and therapeutic properties and thus can be considered as a new drug therapy against multiple diseases.