Determination of Milnacipran in Human Plasma Using GC–MS

A new, simple, and fully validated gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method was presented for quantitative analysis of milnacipran (MNP) in human plasma. MNP was efficiently derivatized with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilyltrifluoroacetamide (MSTFA) before analysis. The role of catalyst, temperature, time, solvent on the trimethylsilylation reaction were evaluated. The proposed method was fully validated by assessment of the following parameters: limits of detection and quantitation, precision, accuracy, linearity, specificity, stability, extraction recovery and robustness/ruggedness. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 30 ng mL^?1. The calibration curve was linear (r ² > 0.9988) in the range 30–500 ng mL^?1. The method was found specific, precise, accurate, selective and reliable according to validation data. This developed method was successfully applied to determine the steady state concentration of MNP in patients.     

Quantum-chemical,spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction studies on nickel complex of 2-hydroxyacetophenone thiosemicarbazone with triphenylphospine

Reaction of 2-hydroxyacetophenone thiosemicarbazone with [Ni(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] in optimized conditions afforded a mixed ligand complex with an isolated triphenylphosphine molecule. The structure was characterized by elemental analysis, IR, NMR and UV–Vis. spectroscopies and single crystal X-ray diffraction technique. In addition, the molecular geometry, vibrational frequencies and gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shift values of the title compound in the ground state have been calculated using the density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method with the 6-31G(d,p) basis set for the C, N, O, S, P, H atoms and LANL2DZ pseudo-potential for the Ni atom, and compared with the experimental data. Besides, atomic charge distributions, molecular electrostatic potential and frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) analysis of the title compound were investigated by theoretical calculations. The thermodynamic properties of the compound at different temperatures have been calculated and corresponding relations between the properties and temperature have also been obtained. Atomic charge distributions indicate that during forming the title compound, the free ligand of thiosemicarbazone ion transfers their negative charges to central Ni(II) ion. The effect of different solvents (chloroform, methanol and water) on the geometry, vibrational frequencies, total energies and dipole moments was studied using the density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP) method by applying the Onsager and the Polarizable Continuum Model (PCM).     

Polymer electrolyte membranes based on p‐toluenesulfonic acid doped poly(1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole): Synthesis,thermal and proton conductivity properties

Throughout this work, the synthesis, thermal as well as proton conducting properties of acid doped heterocyclic polymer were studied under anhydrous conditions. In this context, poly(1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole), PVTri was produced by free radical polymerization of 1‐vinyl‐1,2,4‐triazole with a high yield. The structure of the homopolymer was proved by FTIR and solid state ¹³C CP‐MAS NMR spectroscopy. The polymer was doped with p‐toluenesulfonic acid at various molar ratios, x = 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, with respect to polymer repeating unit. The proton transfer from p‐toluenesulfonic acid to the triazole rings was proved with FTIR spectroscopy. Thermogravimetry analysis showed that the samples are thermally stable up to ～250 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry results illustrated that the materials are homogeneous and the dopant strongly affects the glass transition temperature of the host polymer. Cyclic voltammetry results showed that the electrochemical stability domain extends over 3 V. The proton conductivity of these materials increased with dopant concentration and the temperature. Charge transport relaxation times were derived via complex electrical modulus formalism (M*). The temperature dependence of conductivity relaxation times showed that the proton conductivity occurs via structure diffusion. In the anhydrous state, the proton conductivity of PVTri1PTSA and PVTri2PTSA was measured as 8 × 10^?4 S/cm at 150 °C and 0.012 S/cm at 110 °C, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1016–1021, 2010     

Rubbery wound closure adhesives. I. design,synthesis, characterization,and testing of polyisobutylene‐based cyanoacrylate homo‐ and co‐networks

Novel rubbery wound closures containing various proportions and molecular weights of polyisobutylene (PIB) and poly(2‐octyl cyanoacrylate) [P(OctCA)] for potential clinical use were designed, synthesized, characterized, and tested. Homo‐networks were prepared by crosslinking 3‐arm star‐shaped PIBs fitted with terminal cyanoacrylate groups, [Ø(PIB‐CA)₃], and co‐networks by copolymerizing Ø(PIB‐CA)₃ with OctCA using N‐dimethyl‐p‐toluidine (DMT). Neat Ø(PIB‐CA)₃, and Ø(PIB‐CA)₃/OctCA blends, upon contact with initiator, polymerize within seconds to optically transparent strong rubbery co‐networks, Ø(PIB‐CA)₃‐co‐P(OctCA). Homo‐ and co‐network formation was demonstrated by sol/gel studies, and structures and properties were characterized by a battery of techniques. The T_g of P(OctCA) is 58 °C by DSC, and 75 °C by DMTA. Co‐networks comprising 25% Ø(PIB‐CA)₃ (M_n = 2400 g/mol) and 75% P(OctCA) are stronger and more extensible than skin. Short and long term creep studies show co‐networks exhibit high dimensional stability and <6% creep strain at high loading. When deposited on porcine skin co‐networks yield hermetically‐adhering clear rubbery coatings. Strips of porcine skin coated with co‐networks could be stretched and twisted without compromising membrane integrity. The co‐network is nontoxic to L‐929 mouse fibroblasts. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 1640–1651     

Bmp 2 and Bmp 7 Induce Odonto- And Osteogenesis of Human Tooth Germ Stem Cells

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) initiate, promote, and maintain odontogenesis and osteogenesis. In this study, we studied the effect of bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP 2) and bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP 7) as differentiation inducers in tooth and bone regeneration. We compared the effect of BMP 2 and BMP 7 on odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation of human tooth germ stem cells (hTGSCs). Third molar-derived hTGSCs were characterized with mesenchymal stem cell surface markers by flow cytometry. BMP 2 and BMP 7 were transfected into hTGSCs and the cells were seeded onto six-well plates. One day after the transfection, hTGSCs were treated with odontogenic and osteogenic mediums for 14 days. For confirmation of odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation, mRNA levels of BMP2, BMP 7, collagen type 1 (COL1A), osteocalsin (OCN), and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) genes were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. In addition to this, immunocytochemistry was performed by odontogenic and osteogenic antibodies and mineralization obtained by von Kossa staining. Our results showed that the BMP 2 and BMP 7 both promoted odontogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hTGSCs. Data indicated that BMP 2 treatment and BMP 7 treatment induce odontogenic differentiation without affecting each other, whereas they induce osteogenic differentiation by triggering expression of each other. These findings provide a feasible tool for tooth and bone tissue engineering.     

Preparation,characterization, and antibacterial activity of organo-sepiolite/chitosan/silver bionanocomposites

Bionanocomposites with different loadings of silver (Ag) were prepared via synthesis of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the wet chemical reduction method in the lamellar space layer of the organo-sepiolite/chitosan (O-SEP/CS). The prepared O-SEP/CS/Ag bionanocomposites were characterized using various analysis methods for their structure, morphology, and optical properties. The characteristic absorption bands from the UV–visible absorption spectrum confirmed the formation of AgNPs. The antibacterial activities of O-SEP/CS/Ag bionanocomposites were investigated against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using the disc diffusion method. The results suggest that O-SEP/CS/Ag bionanocomposites can be useful in wide range of bio-medical applications because of high antibacterial activity.     

Two new potential optical materials: Co(II) and Ni(II) 3-fluorobenzoate complexes with pyridine-3-carboxamide

Two new complexes, [Co(3-fba)₂(na)₂(H₂O)₂] (1) and [Ni(3-fba)₂(na)₂(H₂O)₂] (2) (where 3-fba = 3-fluorobenzoate and na?=?pyridine-3-carboxamide, nicotinamide), were synthesized and characterized using different techniques (elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, fluorescence spectroscopy, and TGA/DTA analysis). X-ray structural analysis revealed that 1 and 2 are isostructural and exhibit distorted octahedral coordination geometry. In each molecule, metal atoms (Co⁺² and Ni⁺²) are linked by two 3-fluorobenzoate anions, two pyridine-3-carboxamide ligands, and two water molecules per formula unit. The 3-fluorobenzoate and pyridine-3-carboxamide are monodentate through a carboxylate oxygen atom and the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring, respectively. UV-Vis results showed that the studied complexes have absorption edges similar to semiconductor structures. Namely, 1 and 2 indicated emission behaviors around 370?nm and 361?nm, respectively.     

Dehydration kinetics of ulexite from thermogravimetric data

In the present study, the kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition of ulexite were investigated by using TGA data. For the kinetic analysis, the Suzuki and Coats-Redfern methods were applied. It was determined that the process fits a first-order kinetic model, and the value of the activation energies and frequency factors decreased with decreasing particle size, which can be attributed to the increasing particle internal resistance to the escape of water as the grain size increases. The activation energy values were found to be 47.34–60.01 kJ mol^–1 for region I and 0.225–1.796 kJ mol^–1 for region II for the range of particle size fraction used. The frequency factors were calculated to be 9821.8–524.9 s^–1 for region I and 3.05×10^–44–2.807×10^–5 for region II for the same conditions.     

Syntheses,spectroscopic and crystallographic characterizations of 4-nitrobenzyloxy derivatives and benzofurans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>-substituted benzaldehydes and 4-nitrobenzyl bromide

A series of benzyloxybenzaldehyde derivatives (1–3) were prepared by the reactions of 4-nitrobenzyl bromide with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin), 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (o-vanillin) and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde. When the reaction time is quite long, benzofuran derivatives (4 and 5) were obtained by the reactions of ortho-hydroxyaldehydes with the 4-nitrobenzyl bromide. Condensation reactions among the three benzyloxybenzaldehyde derivatives (1–3) with 2-aminomethylfuran (furfurylamine) yielded the new imine compounds (6–8). The structures of these aldehydes (1–3), benzofuran derivatives (4 and 5) and imine compounds (6–8) were confirmed on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR and mass spectroscopy. The solid-state structures of compounds 4–6 were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.     

A quantum chemical investigation on methylated pyridines

The structural features of the methylated pyridine series have been studied by quantum chemical methods. The aromatic character of these molecules is derived from the frontier molecular orbital energies, harmonic oscillator model of aromaticity (HOMA), and nucleus independent chemical shift (NICS) values. Hybrid density functional theory with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set was employed for all calculations.