Nystatin—dextran conjugates: Synthesis and characterization

The coupling of nystatin (Nys), a water-insoluble antifungal agent, to dextran via an imine or amine bond was systematically investigated. Dextran was first oxidized to dialdehyde dextran using potassium periodate, purified from the oxidizing agent, and reacted with Nys to form the Schiff base. The Schiff base was reduced to the amine using borohydride. All reactions took place in water. The purification of the oxidized dextran from the oxidizing agent was essential to prevent oxidative degradation of Nys at the coupling step. The effects on the coupling yield of the following factors: dextran molecular weight, degree of oxidation (aldehyde content), Nys to dextran ratio, temperature, and reaction pH were studied. A 95% coupling yield was obtained at the optimized coupling conditions: pH 8.9 ± 0.1, 50% degree of oxidation, and initial ratio of Nys to dialdehyde dextran 1:2.5. In all experiments, dextran was decreased in molecular weight during the oxidation step. Both imine and amine forms of Nys-dextran conjugates were soluble in water and exhibited improved stability in aqueous solutions as compared to the unbound drug. The conjugates showed comparable minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The conjugates were about 25 times less toxic than free Nys after a single injection in mice. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Comparison between Total Determination and Extractable Heavy Metals from River Sediments using Conventional and Microwave Accelerated Leaching Tests

Abstract

In the present study the concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) in sediments collected from different sampling stations of the Leça river (Portugal) was determined, using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. In order to estimate the potential mobility of metals in these samples, the results of the total digestion were compared with those obtained by single extractions using EDTA and acetic acid as extractant solutions; in all samples studied, Cu and Zn were found to be the most mobile elements; Ni and Pb showed a smaller mobility in presence of either acidic medium and complexing ligands; Cr was found the least mobilizable element, given that the low extractability obtained with the two extractants tested in this work. In the single extraction tests, microwave energy was also employed to replace the conventional treatment and only in the case of the EDTA the results obtained were similar to those of the conventional procedure (recoveries between 90.16 and 98.76%); the precision (RSD, n=3) of the proposed microwave procedure for EDTA extractions was comparable to those of the conventional method with values always lower than 8% for all metals.     

Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cell Culture in a Microfluidically Controlled Environment with a Static Molecular Gradient of Polyphenol

To study the simultaneous effect of the molecular gradient of polyphenols (curcumin, trans-resveratrol, and wogonin) and biological factors released from tumor cells on apoptosis of adjacent cells, a novel microfluidic system was designed and manufactured. The small height/volume of microfluidic culture chambers and static conditions allowed for establishing the local microenvironment and maintaining undisturbed concentration profiles of naturally secreted from cells biochemical factors. In all trials, we observe that these conditions significantly affect cell viability by stimulating cell apoptosis at lower concentrations of polyphenols than in traditional multiwell cultures. The observed difference varied between 20.4–87.8% for curcumin, 11.0–37.5% for resveratrol, and 21.7–62.2% for wogonin. At low concentrations of polyphenols, the proapoptotic substances released from adjacent cells, like protein degradation products, significantly influence cell viability. The mean increase in cell mortality was 38.3% for microfluidic cultures. Our research has also confirmed that the gradient microsystem is useful in routine laboratory tests in the same way as a multiwell plate and may be treated as its replacement in the future. We elaborated the new repetitive procedures for cell culture and tests in static gradient conditions, which may become a gold standard of new drug investigations in the future.     

Host compounds (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL) and (2R,3R)-(−)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) with guests o-, m- and p- toluidine: A comparative investigation

In this work, we have compared the host abilities of closely related compounds (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetraol (TETROL) and (2R,3R)-(?)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) when these were recrystallized from single and mixed toluidine guests. Significant differences in host behaviour and selectivities were revealed and these were explained by means of single crystal diffraction experiments. Thermal analyses were used to determine the relative complex stabilities, and these data correlated exactly with the host selectivity orders for both TETROL and DMT.     

Complexes of host compound (−)-(2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,3<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-2,3-dimethoxy-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,4-diol (DMT) with guests anisole and the methyl-substituted anisoles: host selectivity,thermal and single crystal diffraction considerations

Interaction between cucurbit[6]uril (Q[6]) and the guest 1-hexyl-4-(4-pyridyl)pyridinium bromide (HV⁺) has been investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, isothermal titration calorimetry, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Experimental results have shown that the host Q[6]) preferentially encapsulates the hexyl moiety of the 1-hexyl-4-(4-pyridyl)pyridinium bromide guest in its hydrophobic cavity to form a 1:1 inclusion complex, both in aqueous solution and in the solid state. This inclusion complex is stabilized through an interplay of hydrogen-bonding and ion–dipole interactions.     

Host proficiency of N,N′-bis(9-phenyl-9-thioxanthenyl)ethylenediamine for pyridine and the methylpyridine guests – a competition study

N,N′-Bis(9-phenyl-9-thioxanthenyl)ethylenediamine proved to be an extremely efficient host compound for pyridine and the isomeric methylpyridines. Furthermore, this host displayed selective behaviour during equimolar guest competitions, consistently favouring 3-methylpyridine in binary, ternary and quaternary experiments. Selectivity orders were 3-methylpyridine >> 4-methylpyridine > 2-methylpyridine, and 3-methylpyridine > pyridine > 4-methylpyridine > 2-methylpyridine, for equimolar ternary and quaternary solutions, respectively. When guest concentrations in binary competitions were varied, 3-methylpyridine remained the favoured guest, even at low 3-methylpyridine concentrations. Single crystal X-ray diffraction showed that all four complexes were isostructural (monoclinic, P2₁/n) while guests occupy discrete cavities in the crystal. Only 3-methylpyridine experiences (guest methyl)C–H???π(host) and (guest methyl)C–H???H–Ar(host) interactions, explaining the observed affinity of the host for this guest. DSC analyses provided further affirmation for the host preference: endotherm peak temperatures for the guest release processes correlated directly with the selectivity order for the three methylpyridine isomers.     

A computational,X-ray crystallographic and thermal stability analysis of TETROL and its pyridine and methylpyridine inclusion complexes

The identification and application of (+)-(2R,3R)-1,1,4,4-tetraphenylbutane-1,2,3,4-tetrol (TETROL) as an efficient and selective host compound is described. Computational and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that the butane backbone of TETROL adopts a relatively rigid anti-conformation, with the hydroxy groups oriented syn and connected through a cyclic, homodromic arrangement of their O–H bonds. This structure is stabilised through a pair of 1,3-hydrogen bonding interactions. TETROL forms inclusion complexes with pyridine and 3- and 4-methylpyridine, and does so selectively from mixtures of the pyridines. X-ray diffraction (single crystal and powder) and thermal analyses of the inclusion compounds are described.     

Application of Leaching Tests for the Assessment of Available Heavy Metals from Domestic and Industrial Sludges

Various sludge samples from different domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants were analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry to evaluate their total and available contents of heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn and Fe). The EDTA and acetic acid single extraction procedures were applied to these samples with the aim to study the leaching behaviour of the metals in the different sludges and also to predict their possible mobility when these wastes are disposed on the environment and landfills. In acidic medium, a higher extraction efficiency was observed for the major part of the elements studied in the industrial sludges, except for Ni and Zn, which were also considerably released from domestic sludges. In contrast, in the presence of the EDTA complexing ligand, a more elevated mobility of metals was found in the domestic sludges and little or no metals were released from the industrial sludges. Moreover, the results of the microwave total digestions were compared, for all metals, with those obtained using a more simplified pseudototal digestion procedure (based on the EPA Method 3051, named microwave assisted acid digestion of sediments, sludges, soils and oils) and a good agreement was found between them, except for Cr and Ni in some particular samples. The between-batch precision (expressed as RSD) of both compared digestion methods was very similar and values lower than 7.7% were obtained in both cases. A certified domestic sludge material (SRM 2781) was employed to validate the two digestion procedures and no significant differences were found between the certified and experimental values for all the elements studied.     

Host selectivity behaviour of trans-N,N′-bis(9-phenyl-9-xanthenyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine and trans-N,N′-bis(9-phenyl-9-thioxanthenyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine when presented with six-membered heterocyclic guest mixtures

Two compounds, trans-N,N′-bis(9-phenyl-9-xanthenyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (1,2-DAX) and trans-N,N′-bis(9-phenyl-9-thioxanthenyl)cyclohexane-1,2-diamine (1,2-DAT), were assessed for their host ability in the presence of four heterocyclic guest species, namely pyridine (PYR), piperidine (PIP), morpholine (MOR) and dioxane (DIO). Each of these guests formed single solvent complexes with both host compounds. When 1,2-DAX and 1,2-DAT were recrystallized from various guest mixtures, it was shown that their selectivity orders were identical, DIO (46.6%)?>?MOR (23.0%)?>?PYR (18.9%)?>?PIP (11.5%) and DIO (85.9%)?>?MOR (23.7%)?>?PYR (8.9%)?>?PIP (8.5%), respectively, but that the thio host derivative possessed a significantly enhanced preference for DIO compared with its oxygen analogue. Additional experiments in order to investigate the various parameters at play in these complexation experiments involved single crystal diffraction experiments and thermal analyses.