Contact between the β1 and β2 Segments of α‐Synuclein that Inhibits Amyloid Formation

Conversion of the intrinsically disordered protein α‐synuclein (α‐syn) into amyloid aggregates is a key process in Parkinson’s disease. The sequence region 35–59 contains β‐strand segments β1 and β2 of α‐syn amyloid fibril models and most disease‐related mutations. β1 and β2 frequently engage in transient interactions in monomeric α‐syn. The consequences of β1–β2 contacts are evaluated by disulfide engineering, biophysical techniques, and cell viability assays. The double‐cysteine mutant α‐synCC, with a disulfide linking β1 and β2, is aggregation‐incompetent and inhibits aggregation and toxicity of wild‐type α‐syn. We show that α‐syn delays the aggregation of amyloid‐β peptide and islet amyloid polypeptide involved in Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes, an effect enhanced in the α‐synCC mutant. Tertiary interactions in the β1–β2 region of α‐syn interfere with the nucleation of amyloid formation, suggesting promotion of such interactions as a potential therapeutic approach.     

Solid phase extraction of antidepressant drugs amitriptyline and nortriptyline from plasma samples using core-shell nanoparticles of the type Fe3O4@ZrO2@N- cetylpyridinium,and their subsequent determination by HPLC with UV detection

The solid phase extraction (SPE) is described for preconcentration of the antidepressant drugs amitriptyline and nortriptyline prior to their determination by HPLC with UV detection. It is based on the use of water-dispersible core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) of the Fe₃O₄@ZrO₂@N-cetylpyridinium type. The positively charged surfactant N-cetylpyridinium forms mixed aggregates with the drugs on the surface of the core-shell and thereby improves the adsorption of amitriptyline and nortriptyline through hydrophobic and/or ionic interactions. Their extraction depends on the type and amount of surfactant, sample pH, extraction time, desorption conditions, sample volume and amount of NPs that were optimized by application of experimental design. The enrichment factors are 220 and 250, respectively, for amitriptyline and nortriptyline, and the detection limits are 0.04 and 0.08 ng·mL‾¹. This protocol enables accurate and precise quantification of the two drugs in complex and low content samples. It was applied to the determination of the two drugs in plasma samples with relative recoveries in the range from 89 to 105 % and RSDs less than 4 %.

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Synthesis of Ag nanoparticles for the electrochemical detection of anticancer drug flutamide

Ag nanoparticles were synthesized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode modified with p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arene and p‐tert‐butylcalix[6]arene by the deposition of Ag+at an open circuit potential ...     

Solid-phase extraction of Pb2+ ion from environmental samples onto L-AC-Ag-NP by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS)

The development of a solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure for the pre-concentration of trace amounts of Pb²⁺ ion on 2-furan-2-yl-1-furan-2-ylmethyl-1H-benzoimidazole loaded on activated carbon modified with silver nanoparticles (L-AC-Ag-NP) was presented. The metal ion retained on the sorbent was quantitatively determined via complexation with the ligand. The complexed metal ion was efficiently eluted using 10 mL of 4 mol L^?1 sulphuric acid in 10 w/v% acetone. The influences of the analytical parameters, including pH, amounts of the ligand and the solid phase, eluent conditions and sample volume, on the recoveries of the metal ion were optimised. Using the optimised parameters, the linear response of the SPE method for Pb²⁺ ion were in the ranges of 0.2–160 µg L^?1, and the detection limit for Pb²⁺ ion was 0.034 µg L^?1. The proposed method exhibits a pre-concentration factor (PF) of 80 and an enhancement factor of 30 for Pb²⁺ ion. The presented results demonstrate the successful application of the proposed method for the determination of Pb²⁺ ion in some real samples with high recoveries (>93%) and reasonable relative standard deviation (RSD < 2%).     

Facile and direct synthesis of symmetrical acid anhydrides using a newly prepared powerful and efficient mixed reagent

An efficient mixed reagent for direct synthesis of symmetrical carboxylic anhydrides from carboxylic acids has been prepared. Carboxylic acids are converted to anhydrides using triphenylphosphine/trichloroisocyanuric acid under mild reaction conditions at room temperature. Short reaction time, excellent yields of products, low cost, availability of reagents, simple experimental procedure, and easy work-up of the products are the main advantages of the presented method.     

Cellulose@Fe2O3 nanoparticle composites: magnetically recyclable nanocatalyst for the synthesis of 3-aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

Research on Chemical Intermediates - 3-Aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines have been synthesized through a condensation reaction of 2-aminopyridine, an aldehyde and an alkyl or aryl isocyanide in high...     

Sulfur multilayer formation on Au(111): new insights from the study of hexamethyldisilathiane

Hexamethyldisilathiane was successfully used as a new precursor for the formation of S layers on Au and to study their interaction. Characterization of the S modified gold surface was done by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Key findings include the direct observation by STM of (i) coexistence of different phases, (ii) multiple sulfur layers formation, (ii) formation of rectangular structures not only on the adlayer but also on the top layer, and (iv) rectangular structure mobility on different layers. These results provide clear evidence regarding the adsorbate nature of the rectangular structures, solving a highly debated question.