Bis-conjugation of Bioactive Molecules to Cisplatin-like Complexes through (2,2′-Bipyridine)-4,4′-Dicarboxylic Acid with Optimal Cytotoxicity Profile Provided by the Combination Ethacrynic Acid/Flurbiprofen

A facile route to Pt^II complexes doubly functionalized with bioactive molecules through a bipyridine-type ligand is described. Initially, ligands L ^EE (containing two ethacrynic acid units), L ^EF (ethacrynic acid+flurbiprofen) and L ^EB (ethacrynic acid+biotin) were obtained in moderate to good yields from 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid. Subsequent reaction of the ligands with [PtCl₂(DMSO)₂] afforded complexes [PtCl₂( L ^EE )] ( 2 ), [PtCl₂( L ^EF )] ( 3 ) and [PtCl₂( L ^EB )] ( 4 ) in high yields. All compounds were fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. Complexes 2 – 4 are highly stable in water/DMSO solution at 37 °C after 72 h, whereas progressive release of the bioactive fragments was detected in a cell culture medium. The compounds were assessed for their in vitro antiproliferative activity towards tumorigenic A2780, A2780cisR and Y79 cells and non-tumourigenic HEK293 cells. In particular, the combination of ethacrynic acid and flurbiprofen in 3 overcomes cisplatin-based resistance and provides strong cancer cell selectivity. Enzyme inhibition assays on human GST P1 and human COX-2 and cross-experiments with complex 1 , analogous to 2 – 4 but lacking bio-groups, revealed a clear synergy between the Pt^II frame and the bioactive organic components.     

Capillary electrophoresis using immobilized whole cells with overexpressed endothelin receptor for specific ligand screening

A new capillary electrophoresis method using immobilized cells as the stationary phase has been developed. The power of this method is demonstrated by the separation and identification of endothelin antagonists on a capillary column coated by the transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells with overexpressing endothelin receptors. The screening results are validated by functional assays suppressing the increase of intracellular calcium concentration induced by endothelin-1. Instead of making efforts in isolating protein receptors, the easily prepared whole-cell capillary column provides a superior tool on the basis of ligand/receptor affinity for a rapid screening of potent drug candidates from compound libraries.     

Quantitative structure-based design: formalism and application of receptor-dependent RD-4D-QSAR analysis to a set of glucose analogue inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase

A method for performing quantitative structure-based design has been developed by extending the current receptor-independent RI-4D-QSAR methodology to include receptor geometry. The resultant receptor-dependent RD-4D-QSAR approach employs a novel receptor-pruning technique to permit effective processing of ligands with the lining of the binding site wrapped about them. Data reduction, QSAR model construction, and identification of possible pharmacophore sites are achieved by a three-step statistical analysis consisting of genetic algorithm optimization followed by backward elimination multidimensional regression and ending with another genetic algorithm optimization. The RD-4D-QSAR method is applied to a series of glucose inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase b, GPb. The statistical quality of the best RI- and RD-4D-QSAR models are about the same. However, the predictivity of the RD- model is quite superior to that of the RI-4D-QSAR model for a test set. The superior predictive performance of the RD- model is due to its dependence on receptor geometry. There is a unique induced-fit between each inhibitor and the GPb binding site. This induced-fit results in the side chain of Asn-284 serving as both a hydrogen bond acceptor and donor site depending upon inhibitor structure. The RD-4D-QSAR model strongly suggests that quantitative structure-based design cannot be successful unless the receptor is allowed to be completely flexible.     

Synthesis of Some New 6,8‐Disubstituted 7,8‐Dihydropyrimido[2,3:4,3]pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines and 6,7,8‐Trisubstituted Pyrimido[2,3:4,3]Pyrazolo[1,5‐a]Pyrimidine Derivatives

Cyclization of 5‐cyano‐1,6‐dihydro‐4‐methyl‐2‐phenyl‐6‐thioxopyrimidine 4 with excess of 85% hydrazine hydrate afforded the 3‐amino‐4‐methyl‐6‐phenylpyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine 5 , which can react with appropriate Mannich base derivatives 13a‐c and chalcones 27a,b to yield the corresponding 6,8‐disubstituted 7,8‐dihydropyrimido[2,3:4,3]pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines 15a‐c and 30a,b , respectively. On the other hand, the 6,7,8‐trisubstituted pyrimido[2,3:4,3]pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidine derivatives 8a‐g, 20a‐e, 36 and 38 were obtained by treatment of compound 5 with appropriate 1,3‐diketones 6a‐g , 3‐dimethylamino‐1‐(substituted)prop‐2‐enones 18a‐e , 3‐aminocrotononitrile 3 , and ethoxymethylenemalononitrile 37 under acidic condition, respectively.     

A Low Cost LED Based Spectrometer

A low cost LED based spectrometer is described. This LED based spectrometer could be operated as a standalone instrument or under PC control via serial link. A total of seven wavelength selections are available by the plug‐and‐measure LED light module. With the seven wavelength selections, the LED based spectrometer could provide qualitative visible absorption spectra that predict the absorption maximum. Based upon the qualitative visible spectra, quantitative photometric information could be obtained.     

Zinc triflate-catalyzed synthesis of pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones

Using zinc triflate, the direct one-pot double cyclodehydration of linear tripeptides to the total synthesis of pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones (1a-l) on solid support was achieved with good overall yields in short reaction time. These syntheses of the pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazoline-3,6-diones were conveniently achieved in only three steps, starting from the amino acid-bound Wang resin.     

Blind phase retrieval and source separation of electromagnetic fields

Blind source separation of two electromagnetic fields is investigated. The difficulty of this task lies in the fact that only the power, which is the square of the sum of the electromagnetic fields, can be directly measured; the cross term of the electromagnetic fields is inevitable, and a strong correlation occurs in blind deconvolution. However, the relative phase is physically different from the field intensities, and, hence, extracting the phase during separation seems inconceivable. Our results demonstrate that the intensities and the relative phase of two electromagnetic waves can be determined with eigenvalue problem formalism even when the mixing processes are completely unknown.