A New Voltammetric Approach for Electrochemical Determination of Lamotrigine in Pharmaceutical Samples

A new linear sweep voltammetric method for quantitative lamotrigine (LMT) determination based on an electrochemically pre-treated pencil graphite electrode (PGE*) is presented. Response characteristics of the PGE* toward the mentioned compound were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. The quantitative determination of LMT revealed a wide linear range of 2.5 ⋅ 10⁻⁵–1.0 ⋅ 10⁻³ M with a detection limit of 1.94 ⋅ 10⁻⁵ M. The method was used successfully for LMT determination in a pharmaceutical formulation.     

Influence of impurities on the band ferromagnetism

The influence of non-magnetic impurities on band ferromagnetism for an electron gas withδ-function interaction is investigated in the framework of the quantum field theory applied to phase transitions. The Hartree-Fock approximation is used for non-zero temperatures. An equation for the magnetizationM and the critical temperatureT F_c is obtained. It is found that the transition temperature is lowered by increasing impurity concentration. There exists a critical concentration which vanishes the ferromagnetism.     

Expanding the Scope of PNA‐Encoded Synthesis (PES): Mtt‐Protected PNA Fully Orthogonal to Fmoc Chemistry and a Broad Array of Robust Diversity‐Generating Reactions

Nucleic acid‐encoded libraries are emerging as an attractive and highly miniaturized format for the rapid identification of protein ligands. An important criterion in the synthesis of nucleic acid encoded libraries is the scope of reactions that can be used to introduce molecular diversity and devise divergent pathways for diversity‐oriented synthesis (DOS). To date, the protecting group strategies that have been used in peptide nucleic acid (PNA) encoded synthesis (PES) have limited the choice of reactions used in the library synthesis to just a few prototypes. Herein, we describe the preparation of PNA monomers with a protecting group combination (Mtt/Boc) that is orthogonal to Fmoc‐based synthesis and compatible with a large palette of reactions that have been productively used in DOS (palladium cross‐couplings, metathesis, reductive amination, amidation, heterocycle formation, nucleophilic addition, conjugate additions, Pictet–Spengler cyclization). We incorporate γ‐modifications in the PNA backbone that are known to enhance hybridization and solubility. We demonstrate the robustness of this strategy with a library synthesis that is characterized by MALDI MS analysis at every step.     

Synthesis and rheology of thermoreversible polyurethane hydrogels

Polyurethanes based on poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer, succinic or citric acid, and ethyl ester L-lysine diisocyanate were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR and GPC. Wetting properties were evaluated by contact angle determinations. The critical micelle concentration was determined from surface tension measurements. Their abillity to undergo self-aggregation and temperature induced gelation was investigated through dynamic oscillatory measurements. The gelation point, sol-gel transitions, and gel structure are influenced by polymer structure, composition, molecular weight, concentration, and heating rate.      

Identification and specificity profiling of protein prenyltransferase inhibitors using new fluorescent phosphoisoprenoids

Posttranslational modification of proteins with farnesyl and geranylgeranyl isoprenoids is a widespread phenomenon in eukaryotic organisms. Isoprenylation is conferred by three protein prenyltransferases: farnesyl transferase (FTase), geranylgeranyl transferase type-I (GGTase-I), and Rab geranylgeranyltransferase (RabGGTase). Inhibitors of these enzymes have emerged as promising therapeutic compounds for treatment of cancer, viral and parasite originated diseases, as well as osteoporosis. However, no generic nonradioactive protein prenyltransferase assay has been reported to date, complicating identification of enzyme-specific inhibitors. We have addressed this issue by developing two fluorescent analogues of farnesyl and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphates {3,7-dimethyl-8-(7-nitro-benzo[1,2,5]oxadiazol-4-ylamino)-octa-2,6-diene-1}pyrophosphate (NBD-GPP) and {3,7,11-trimethyl-12-(7-nitro-benzo[1,2,5]oxadiazo-4-ylamino)-dodeca-2,6,10-trien-1} pyrophosphate (NBD-FPP), respectively. We demonstrate that these compounds can serve as efficient lipid donors for prenyltransferases. Using these fluorescent lipids, we have developed two simple (SDS-PAGE and bead-based) in vitro prenylation assays applicable to all prenyltransferases. Using the SDS-PAGE assay, we found that, in contrast to previous reports, the tyrosine phosphatase PRL-3 may possibly be a dual substrate for both FTase and GGTase-I. The on-bead prenylation assay was used to identify prenyltransferase inhibitors that displayed nanomolar affinity for RabGGTase and FTase. Detailed analysis of the two inhibitors revealed a complex inhibition mechanism in which their association with the peptide binding site of the enzyme reduces the enzyme's affinity for lipid and peptide substrates without competing directly with their binding. Finally, we demonstrate that the developed fluorescent isoprenoids can directly and efficiently penetrate into mammalian cells and be incorporated in vivo into small GTPases.     

New hybrid nanostructures based on oxacillin-hydrotalcite-like anionic clays and their textural properties

New hybrid nanostructures based on inorganic matrices of hydrotalcite-like anionic clays (HT) incorporated with oxacillin are obtained by using calcinations-restructure method. XRD and TEM analyses are used to study the structural and textural characteristics of the clay containing hybrids. When nanoparticles of iron oxides are loaded on the layered anionic clay matrix a more effective delivery system of the drug is obtained. The results can be used to reduce the toxic side effects of oxacillin (e.g. upset stomach, diarrhea, cholestastic hepatitis), its aggregation process in aqueous solutions and also can open new perspectives for targeted the drug delivery.     

First dinuclear B(II) monocations with bridging guanidinate ligands: synthesis and properties

Reaction between the diborane (4) B2Cl2(NMe2)2 and Li(hpp) (hpp-=1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidinate) leads to [(Me2N)B(mu-hpp)] 2. This species can be protonated by HCl.OEt2 to give [(Me2HN)B(mu-hpp)]2Cl2 featuring two B(II) cations with direct B-B bonding. The unsymmetrical monocation [(Me2N)B2(mu-hpp)2(NHMe2)]+ is also obtained. [(Me2HN)B(mu-hpp)]2Cl2 eliminates NHMe2 in a slow reaction leading to [ClB2(mu-hpp)2(NHMe2)]Cl and ultimately, presumably, to [ClB(mu-hpp)]2. We report the crystal structures of the two monocations [ClB2(mu-hpp)2(NHMe2)]Cl and [(Me2N)B2(mu-hpp)2(NHMe2)]Cl. The experimental results are accompanied by some quantum chemical density-functional theory calculations.     

Cycloaddition versus amidation in reactions of 2-amino-2-oxoethyl-phenanthrolinium ylides to activated alkynes and alkenes

A comparative study regarding cycloaddition versus amidation reactions of 2-amino-2-oxoethyl-phenanthrolinium ylides to activated alkynes and alkenes is presented. The reaction pathway is different, depending on dipolarophile (with triple or double bond) and ylide structures. The monoenamidation reaction proved to be stereoselective leading to a Z-stereochemistry on the acrylate double bond. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds have been proved by spectral analysis (NMR and IR) and in some cases by X-ray diffraction.