Impact of TiO2 Reduction and Cu Doping on Bacteria Inactivation under Artificial Solar Light Irradiation

Preparation of TiO₂ using the hydrothermal treatment in NH₄OH solution and subsequent thermal heating at 500–700 °C in Ar was performed in order to introduce some titania surface defects. The highest amount of oxygen vacancies and Ti³⁺ surface defects were observed for a sample heat-treated at 500 °C. The presence of these surface defects enhanced photocatalytic properties of titania towards the deactivation of two bacteria species, E. coli and S. epidermidis, under artificial solar lamp irradiation. Further modification of TiO₂ was targeted towards the doping of Cu species. Cu doping was realized through the impregnation of the titania surface by Cu species supplied from various copper salts in an aqueous solution and the subsequent heating at 500 °C in Ar. The following precursors were used as a source of Cu: CuSO₄, CuNO₃ or Cu(CH₃COO)₂. Cu doping was performed for raw TiO₂ after a hydrothermal process with and without NH₄OH addition. The obtained results indicate that Cu species were deposited on the titania surface defects in the case of reduced TiO₂, but on the TiO₂ without NH₄OH modification, Cu species were attached through the titania adsorbed hydroxyl groups. Cu doping on TiO₂ increased the absorption of light in the visible range. Rapid inactivation of E. coli within 30 min was obtained for the ammonia-reduced TiO₂ heated at 500 °C and TiO₂ doped with Cu from CuSO₄ solution. Photocatalytic deactivation of S. epidermidis was greatly enhanced through Cu doping on TiO₂. Impregnation of TiO₂ with CuSO₄ was the most effective for inactivation of both E. coli and S. epidermidis.     

pH-dependent modification of lipophilicity of porphyrin-type photosensitizers

Structural modifications of photosensitizers (changes in protonation, ionic state and aggregation state) under different environmental conditions should be precisely determined to understand the interaction of the photosensitizers with biological systems. In the present study partition coefficients of hematoporphyrin IX (HpIX), disulfonated meso-tetraphenylporphine, meso-tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)porphine (mTHPP) and meso-tetra(3-hydroxyphenyl)chlorin in the 1-octanol-phosphate buffer system were determined in the pH region 4.0-8.0. Only the partition coefficients of HpIX and mTHPP were found to be pH dependent. Computer processing of fluorimetric titration data was applied to estimate pKa values of the imino nitrogens of mTHPP. Monoprotonated species of mTHPP seem to be unstable or nonexistent. The possibility that both imino nitrogens of this dye are protonated according to a common pKa is proposed. The pKa value of the imino nitrogens of mTHPP was found to be 2.99 +/- 0.04 after the application of a model taking aggregation of the drug into account. The contributions of various aqueous ionic species of mTHPP as functions of pH were calculated and compared with partition coefficients.     

Polyoxometallates as inorganic templates for electrocatalytic network films of ultra-thin conducting polymers and platinum nanoparticles

We develop a concept of fabrication of the multilayer network films on electrodes by exploring the ability of a Keggin-type polyoxometallate, phosphododecamolybdate (PMo(12)O(40)(3-)), to form stable anionic monolayers (templates) on carbon and metals including platinum. By repeated alternate treatments in the solution of PMo(12)O(40)(3-) (or in the colloidal suspension of polyoxometallate-protected Pt-nanoparticles) and in the solution of monomer (e.g. anilinium) cations, the amount of the material can be increased systematically (layer-by-layer) to form stable three-dimensional assemblies on electrode (e.g. glassy carbon) surfaces. In the resulting hybrid (organic-inorganic) films, the layers of negatively charged polyoxometallate, or polyoxometallate-protected (stabilized) Pt-nanoparticles, are linked or electrostatically attracted by ultra-thin layers of such positively charged conducting polymers as polyaniline (PANI), polypyrrole (PPy) or poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT. Consequently, the attractive physicochemical properties of polymers and reactivity of polyoxometallate or noble metal particles are combined. The films are functionalized and show electrocatalytic properties towards reduction of nitrite, bromate, hydrogen peroxide or oxygen. They are of importance to the chemical and biochemical sensing as well as to the biochemical and medical applications.     

X-ray and UV Radiation Damage of dsDNA/Protein Complexes

Simple SummaryOne of the most common diseases in the world is cancer. The development of an appropriate treatment pathway for cancer patients seems to be crucial to fight this disease. Therefore, solving the problem that affects more and more people in an aging society is crucial. The study presents the results of radiation and photochemical damage to DNA interacting with proteins (specifically/non-specifically). The obtained results of the analysis of photoliths and radiolites by means of the LC-MS technique allowed to identify possible mechanisms of degradation of DNA interacting with proteins. Results suggest the protective action of protein against hydroxyl radicals or solvated electrons and increased damaging effect when sensitized DNA is irradiated by UV light (280 or 320 nm) compared to the DNA alone (without protein interaction).AbstractRadiation and photodynamic therapies are used for cancer treatment by targeting DNA. However, efficiency is limited due to physico-chemical processes and the insensitivity of native nucleobases to damage. Thus, incorporation of radio- and photosensitizers into these therapies should increase both efficacy and the yield of DNA damage. To date, studies of sensitization processes have been performed on simple model systems, e.g., buffered solutions of dsDNA or sensitizers alone. To fully understand the sensitization processes and to be able to develop new efficient sensitizers in the future, well established model systems are necessary. In the cell environment, DNA tightly interacts with proteins and incorporating this interaction is necessary to fully understand the DNA sensitization process. In this work, we used dsDNA/protein complexes labeled with photo- and radiosensitizers and investigated degradation pathways using LC-MS and HPLC after X-ray or UV radiation.     

Standardless energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis using primary radiation monochromatized with LiF(200) crystal

Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (EDXRF) with primary radiation monochromatized by LiF(200) crystal was developed. In the constructed spectrometer, the radiation from the Ag target X-ray tube operated at 50 kV and 40 mA excites the secondary target (Cu, Se, Zr or Mo). The characteristic radiation (Cu K_α, Se K_α, Zr K_α or Mo K_α) of the target is monochromatized with LiF(200) crystal and excites elements in the analyzed sample. The X-ray spectra are collected by thermoelectrically cooled Si-PIN detector with resolution of 145 eV at 5.9 keV. The pinhole collimator placed in front of the X-ray detector allows reducing size of the analyzed area. Quantitative analysis is performed using standardless fundamental parameters (FP) method. Because sample is excited using highly monochromatized radiation, the calculations are much simpler and analysis error resulting from uncertainty of X-ray tube spectral distribution is completely eliminated. Moreover, EDXRF system allows obtaining very low background and appropriate secondary target can be selected for the best excitation of the determined elements and to avoid overlapping of the analyte peaks with characteristic radiation originating from the secondary target. The FP calculations were verified using several certified reference materials of stainless steel. The spectrometer was used for nondestructive analysis of mono- and polycrystals of selenide spinels of general formula M_xN_yCr_zSe₄ (where M, N are Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ge²⁺, Ni²⁺, V³⁺, Sb³⁺, Ga³⁺). The results from EDXRF were compared with those obtained by means of the wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF).     

A new class of arylpiperazine derivatives: the library synthesis on SynPhase lanterns and biological evaluation on serotonin 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptors

An efficient solid-supported method for the synthesis of a new class of arylpiperazine derivatives containing amino acid residues has been developed. A 72-membered library was synthesized on SynPhase Lanterns functionalized by a BAL linker. A one-pot cleavage/cyclization step of aspartic and glutamic acid derivatives yielded succinimide- and pyroglutamyl-containing ligands (chemsets 9 and 10). The library representatives under study showed different levels of affinity for 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptors (estimated K(i) = 24-4000 and 1-2130 nM, respectively). Several dual 5-HT(1A)/5-HT(2A) ligands were found, of which two (9(3,3) and 9(3,5)) displayed high 5-HT(2A) affinity comparable to that of the reference drug ritanserin. A set of individual fragment contributions for the prediction of 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) affinity of all the library members were defined on the basis of the Free-Wilson analysis of 26 compounds. An alkylarylpiperazine fragment had essentially the same impact on the affinity for both receptors, whereas different terminal amide fragments were preferred by 5-HT(1A) (chemset 17, R(2) = adamantyl) and 5-HT(2A) (chemset 9, R(2) = norborn-2-ylmethyl) binding sites.     

Studies on the positive-ion mass spectra from atmospheric pressure chemical ionization of gases and solvents used in liquid chromatography and direct liquid injection

Detailed studies have been made using different source gases and solvents in a Micromass Quattro mass spectrometer under positive ion atmospheric pressure chemical ionization conditions. The major background ions from nitrogen, air, or carbon dioxide were investigated by tandem mass spectrometry, followed by similar studies on solvents commonly employed in normal- and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, namely, water-acetonitrile, acetonitrile, and dichloromethane, with nitrogen, air, or carbon dioxide; hydrocarbon solvents were studied using nitrogen. Spectra were interpreted in terms of the gases, solvents, and their impurities. The acetonitrile spectra provided clear evidence for both charge exchange and proton transfer, the former being facilitated by the introduction of some air into a flow of nitrogen. Radical cations of acetonitrile dimers, trimers, and tetramers were observed, as were protonated dimer and trimer species. Examination of the analytical response of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in various hydrocarbon solvents, with nitrogen gas, showed that the sensitivity of detection for an analyte and its ionization mechanism are dependent on both the analyte structure and the solvent, with pyrene showing the highest sensitivity, phenanthrene and fluorene being intermediate, and naphthalene having the lowest sensitivity. The degree of protonation followed the same trend. Signal intensity and degree of protonation were dependent on the alkane solvent used, with isooctane providing the best overall sensitivity for the sum of protonated molecules and molecular ions. The ions observed in these studies appeared to be the most stable ions formed under equilibrium conditions in the source.     

Protolytic dissociation of cyanophenols in ground and excited states in alcohol and water solutions

The effect of cyano substituents on acidity in ground and excited states of mono- and dicyanophenols was investigated. The equilibrium dissociation constants of 3,4-dicyanophenol in ground and lowest excited states in water solution and the change of these constants in the excited state during the transfer to the ground state for o-, m-, p-cyanophenol and 3,4-dicyanophenol in alcohol and water solutions were determined. It was shown that the cyano substitution increases the acidity of ortho-, meta- and dicyano-derivative in ground state in comparison to the phenol, which makes the anions of these derivatives appear in solutions from methanol to 1-butanol. In the excited state the acidity of investigated compounds changes significantly in comparison to the ground state. 3,4-Dicyanophenol is the strongest acid in the lowest excited singlet state, while p-cyanophenol is the weakest one in both alcohol and water solutions. The distribution of the electronic charge and dipole moments of all investigated cyanophenols in ground and excited states were determined on the basis of ab initio calculations using the GAMESS program.     

Spectrophotometric studies on complex formation in dilute benzene solutions of [{Rh(diene)(μ–Cl)}2]–PR3–SnCl2 systems

There is no correlation between the stability of complexes formed in dilute solutions of [{Rh(diene)(–Cl)}2]–PR3–SnCl2 systems [with ligand combinations cod+PPh3, nbd+PPh3, cod+PPhMe2 and cod+ PCy3 (Cy=cyclohexyl)] and the possibility of isolating them as solids. In general, high dilution favours the formation of pentacoordinate complexes that decompose upon attempted crystallization. [RhCl(cod)(PPhMe2)2], [Rh(SnCl3)(cod)(PPh3)2], [Rh(SnCl3)(cod)(PCy3)2], [Rh(SnCl3)(cod)(PPhMe2)2] and [Rh(SnCl3)(nbd)(PPh3)2] have been identified in solution, but only the last two, previously known, have been isolated in the solid state. The steric properties of the coordinated phosphine seem to be the most important factor in determining the stabilities of [RhCl(diene)(PR3)2] complexes, whilst in the case of [Rh(SnCl3)(diene)(PR3)2] complexes the steric properties of the phosphine and the diene appear to have similar importance.     

Geometry of the locus of polynomials of degree 4 with iterative roots

We study polynomial iterative roots of polynomials and describe the locus of complex polynomials of degree 4 admitting a polynomial iterative square root.