Poly(p‐phenylene) with Poly(ethylene glycol) Chains and Amino Groups as a Functional Platform for Controlled Drug Release and Radiotherapy

Conventional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or combination of these two result in side effects, which lower the quality of life of the patients. To overcome problems with these methods, altering the drug properties by conjugating them to carrier polymers has emerged. Such polymeric carriers also hold the potential to make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Herein, poly(p‐phenylene) (PPP) polymer with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains and primary amino groups (PPP‐NH₂‐g‐PEG) is synthesized and conjugated with anticancer drug Doxorubicin (DOX). pH dependent drug release experiments are performed at pH 5.3 and pH 7.4, respectively. Cell viability studies on human cervix adenocarcinoma cells show that lower doses of DOX inhibit cell proliferation when conjugated with nontoxic doses of PPP‐NH₂‐g‐PEG polymer. Additionally, PPP‐NH₂‐g‐PEG/Cys/DOX bioconjugate significantly increases radiosensitive properties of DOX. It is possible to use lower doses of DOX when conjugated to PPP‐NH₂‐g‐PEG in combination with radiotherapy.

     

Anticarcinogenic and antimitotic effects of Turkish propolis and mitomycin-C on tissue cultures of bladder cancer

The in vitro anticarcinogenic and antimitotic effects of propolis and mitomycin-C (MMC) on transitional carcinoma cell cultures were investigated. Tissue samples were obtained from 22 patients with bladder carcinomas, which were exposed to propolis (0.1 mL) and MMC (1.6 microL). The mean MI rates for control, propolis and MMC were 8.327 +/- 0.624, 6.990 +/- 0.519 and 5.423 +/- 0.479, respectively. The differences between the control and exposed cells were significant (p < 0.05). We conclude that exposure to propolis can decrease cell division and it may be used as an antimitotic and anticarcinogenic agent.     

Determination of Dimenhydrinate Nasal Delivery System in the Blood by RP-LC

Dimenhydrinate (DM) is used therapeutically for the prevention of motion sickness associated with nausea and vomiting. The aim of this investigation is the development of a new, rapid, sensitive, simple and fully validated RP-LC procedure for the suitable assay of DM in pharmaceutical formulation applied in blood samples. The method was validated before the amount determination studies in order to confirm linearity, precision, accuracy, selectivity, determination and quantification limit and consistency. High determination coefficient (r ² = 0.998) of the standard curve drawn in the linearity studies showed that the line equation can be used in the quantification of the DM. Literature was reviewed for the methods based on diphenhydramine (DIP), its metabolite dimenhydrinate, in the in vivo determination of dimenhydrinate amount. The most appropriate method to be used in LC was decided to be the method applied by benefitting from the fluorescence characteristic of DIP. Maximum excitation and emission wavelengths in the developed method were scanned using multiple wavelengths and, maximum excitation and emission wavelengths were found to be 215 and 300 nm, respectively. In the validation study used to prove validity of the method, determination coefficient of the developed standard curve was calculated as 0.998 (RSD %), and line equation was concluded to be appropriate for use in amount determination studies. BBS % (1.06, 1.84 %) values obtained as “<2 %” in the intra-day and inter-day precision studies proved the precision of the method. Selectivity study revealed that other materials used in the formulation did not exhibit absorbance in the same wavelengths. Detection and quantification limit were found as 1 and 5 ng mL⁻¹, respectively. The determination of DM plasma concentrations using the proposed and fully validated LC assay has allowed us to characterize DMPK in the sheep, as well as determine DM relative bioavailability.

     

Evaluation of Computational Modifications in HPTLC with Gel Analysis Software and Flatbed Scanner for Lipid Separation

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - High-performance thin-layer chromatography plays an important role in the determination of lipid fractions. However, it requires...     

Development of a cloud point extraction and preconcentration method for chromium(III) and total chromium prior to flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A sensitive and selective method has been developed for the determination of chromium in water samples based on using cloud point extraction (CPE) preconcentration and determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The method is based on the complexation of Cr(III) ions with Brilliant Cresyl Blue (BCB) in the presence of non-ionic surfactant Triton X-114. Under the optimum conditions, the preconcentration of 50 mL of water sample in the presence of 0.5 g/L Triton X-114 and 1.2 × 10⁻⁵ M BCB permitted the detection of 0.42 μg/L chromium(III). The calibration graph was linear in the range of 1.5–70 μg/L, and the recovery of more than 99% was achieved. The proposed method was used in FAAS determination of Cr(III) in water samples and certified water samples. In addition, the developed CPE-FAAS method was also used for speciation of the inorganic chromium species after reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) using a thiosulphate solution of 120 mg/L in the presence of Hg(II) ion as a stabilizer.     

Electrorheological properties of PMMA-b-PSt copolymer suspensions

In this study, a block copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and styrene (St) synthesized by combined ultrasonic irradiation and reverse atom transfer radical polymerization (RATRP) processes was used. PMMA-b-PSt was partially hydrolyzed and converted to a lithium salt, PMMA-b-PSt-Li, before the electrorheological (ER) measurements carried out. Average particle diameter of PMMA-b-PSt-Li polymeric salt was determined by dynamic light scattering (DLS) as 22 mum. Suspensions of PMMA-b-PSt-Li polymeric salts were prepared in silicone oil. ER properties of PMMA-b-PSt-Li/silicone oil suspensions were studied as a function of electric field strength, dispersed phase concentration, shear rate, shear stress, temperature, frequency, and polar promoter. Further dielectric properties of PMMA-b-PSt-Li ionomer were also investigated.     

Improved of cathode performance of LiFePO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/C composite using different carboxylic acids as carbon sources for lithium-ion batteries

Among the several materials under development for use as a cathodes in lithium-ion batteries olivine-type LiFePO₄ is one of the most promising cathode material. However, its poor conductivity and low lithium-ion diffusion limits its practical application. In this study, we report seven different carboxylic acids used to synthesize LiFePO₄/C composite, and influences of carbon sources on electrochemical performance were intensively studied. The structure and electrochemical properties of the LiFePO₄/C were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, electrical conductivity, and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements. Among the materials studied, the sample E with tartaric acid as carbon source exhibited the best cell performance with a maximum discharge capacity of 160 mAh g⁻¹ at a 0.1 C-rate. The improved electrochemical properties were attributed to the reduced particle size and enhanced electrical contacts by carbon.     

Non-Kolmogorov spectrum scintillation aspects of dark hollow and flat topped beams

The scintillation aspects of dark hollow (DH) and flat topped (FT) beams propagating in the turbulent atmosphere containing the non-Kolmogorov power spectrum are investigated. It is found that low scintillations will occur when the exponent of the power spectrum is just above the numeric value of 3. Initially, the rises in scintillations will take place as the exponent becomes larger, but later the scintillation reductions will be experienced as the exponent grows further, eventually minimum scintillations will be seen when the exponent has reached the value of 4. This will be the case, for scintillation variations against propagation distance, source size, wavelength, inner and outer scales of turbulence. Furthermore, it is found that at the small source sizes, DH beams will offer less scintillation than FT beams, while at the large source sizes, the reverse will be applicable.