Simultaneous on-line pre-concentration and determination of trace metals in environmental samples by flow injection combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using silica gel modified with niobium(V) oxide

This work presents the development of an on-line pre-concentration system for simultaneous determination of Cd, Cu, Ni, V, Zn, Co and Pb in aqueous environmental samples and detection by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The system is based on cationic retention of the analytes onto a mini-column filled with silica gel modified with niobium(V) oxide. The effects of chemicals and flow variables have been investigated. The optimized operating conditions, selected as a compromise between sensitivity and analytical frequency were: sample pH 7.0, sample flow rate of 6.0mL min(-1), eluent flow rate of 2.0mL min(-1), and eluent (HNO(3)) concentration of 2.5mol L(-1). The relative standard deviation (n=7), enrichment factor and linear working range were 0.8-4.5%, 23.3-37.2 and 0.05-25.0microg L(-1), respectively. Limits of detection were between 0.01 and 0.03microg L(-1). The accuracy of the proposed method was checked with certified materials (NASS-4, NASS-5, CASS-4 and SRM 1643e). Values obtained were in accordance with those reported for the certified materials. Recovery was found to be in the range of 90-110% for a suit of water samples with variable matrices (seawater, tap water and ground water) collected in Florianopolis, Brazil.     

He I photoelectron spectra and valence synchrotron photoionization for XC(O)SCl (X = F, Cl) compounds

Small penta-atomic molecules like FC(O)SCl and ClC(O)SCl have been analyzed by using both photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) and results derived from the use of synchrotron radiation in the same energy range. For this second experiment total ion yield (TIY), photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO), and partial ion yield (PIY) spectra have been recorded. This set of data together with results obtained by computational chemistry allow us to study electronic properties and the ionization channels of both species. Thus, whereas the photodissociation behavior of FC(O)SCl can be divided into three well-defined energy regions, the fragmentation dynamics of ClC(O)SCl seems to be more complex. Nevertheless, simultaneous evaluation of the PES and valence synchrotron photoionization studies helps to clarify the molecular ionization processes.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Photocleavage of Bis-decyl Pteroic Acid: A Folate Derivative with Affinity to Biomembranes†

Here, we provide mechanistic insight to the photocleavage of a compound in the folate family, namely pteroic acid. A bis-decyl chain derivative of pteroic acid was synthesized, structurally characterized and photochemically investigated. We showed that, like folic acid, pteroic acid and the decylated derivative undergo a photocleavage reaction in the presence of H₂O, while no reaction was observed in methanol solution. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations were carried out to predict relative stabilities of hypothetical mono-, bis- and tris-decylated pteroic acid derivatives to help rationalize the regioselectivity of the bis-decyl pteroic acid product. Additionally, the lipophilicity of the bis-decyl pteroic acid appears to confer a hydrophobic property enabling an interaction with biomembranes.     

Protease Production by Different Thermophilic Fungi

A comparative study was carried out to evaluate protease production in solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF) by nine different thermophilic fungi – Thermoascus aurantiacus Miehe, Thermomyces lanuginosus, T. lanuginosus TO.03, Aspergillus flavus 1.2, Aspergillus sp. 13.33, Aspergillus sp. 13.34, Aspergillus sp. 13.35, Rhizomucor pusillus 13.36 and Rhizomucor sp. 13.37 – using substrates containing proteins to induce enzyme secretion. Soybean extract (soybean milk), soybean flour, milk powder, rice, and wheat bran were tested. The most satisfactory results were obtained when using wheat bran in SSF. The fungi that stood out in SSF were T. lanuginosus, T. lanuginosus TO.03, Aspergillus sp. 13.34, Aspergillus sp. 13.35, and Rhizomucor sp. 13.37, and those in SmF were T. aurantiacus, T. lanuginosus TO.03, and 13.37. In both fermentation systems, A. flavus 1.2 and R. pusillus 13.36 presented the lowest levels of proteolytic activity.     

Inclusion complexes of 5-flucytosine with β-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin: characterization in aqueous solution and in solid state

Complexation between 5-flucytosine (5-FC), a cytosine analogue with in vitro antifungal and antiyeast activity, and β-cyclodextrins (β-cyclodextrin and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin) was studied in solution and in solid states. Complexation in solution was evaluated using solubility studies, UV–vis and ¹H-NMR. In the solid state, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FT-IR and X-ray diffraction studies were used. UV–vis, FT-IR and ¹H-NMR spectroscopy studies showed that the complex formed occurs by complexation of piridinique base analogue into inner cavity. DSC studies showed the existence of a complex of 5-FC with β-CDs. X-ray studies confirmed the DSC results of the complex existence. Solubility studies showed that the complexed drug is forty times more soluble than free 5-FC, indicating the obtained systems as future, promising drug carriers.     

Impact of silica environment on hyperfine interactions in 𝜖-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles have found broad applications in medicine, especially for cell targeting and transport, and as contrast agents in MRI. Our samples of ??-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles were prepared by annealing in silica matrix, which was leached off and the bare particles were then coated with amorphous silica layers of various thicknesses. The distribution of particle sizes was determined from the TEM pictures giving the average size ～20 nm and the thickness of silica coating ～5; 8; 12; 19 nm. The particles were further characterized by the XRPD and DC magnetic measurements. The nanoparticles consisted mainly of ??-Fe₂O₃ with admixtures of ～1 % of the α phase and less than 1 % of the γ phase. The hysteresis loops displayed coercivities of ～2 T at room temperature. The parameters of hyperfine interactions were derived from transmission Mössbauer spectra. Observed differences of hyperfine fields for nanoparticles in the matrix and the bare ones are ascribed to strains produced during cooling of the composite. This interpretation is supported by slight changes of their lattice parameters and increase of the elementary cell volume deduced from XRD. The temperature dependence of the magnetization indicated a two-step magnetic transition of the ??-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles spread between ～85 K and ～150 K, which is slightly modified by remanent tensile stresses in the case of nanoparticles in the matrix. The subsequent coating of the bare particles by silica produced no further change in hyperfine parameters, which indicates that this procedure does not modify magnetic properties of nanoparticles.     

Quantification of polyphenols and flavonoid content and evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of Stenocereus stellatus extracts

The hexanic, ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts from branches of Stenocereus stellatus were tested in both the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) – induced ear oedema model and antimicrobial activity assay. The % of oedema inhibition, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), as well as the polyphenolic and flavonoid content were determined. Also, extracts were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). In TPA model, the three extracts showed moderate oedema inhibition. In the antimicrobial activity assay, methanolic extract shows better MIC against all strains. The lowest MICs were for Candida albicans (31 μg/mL) and Rhizopus sp. (15 μg/mL). Also, 50.78 mg eq. of gallic acid/g extract of polyphenol and 115.12 mg eq. of catequine/g extract of flavonoids content were founded in ethyl acetate extract. In the chromatographic analysis, β-sitosterol, β-amyrine, betulin and some other molecules were identified. The results show that S. stellatus possess antimicrobial activities against some fungus species.     

Enantiomeric separation of new phytoalexin analogs with cyclofructan chiral stationary phases in normal‐phase mode

For the first time, three different derivatized cyclofructan chiral stationary phases were used for the direct high‐performance liquid chromatographic enantiomeric separation of 11 new racemic analogs of a natural indole phytoalexin. This class of compounds is known to have significant antiproliferative activity and other potentially useful pharmacological properties. The effect of various experimental factors was investigated to optimize the separations in the normal‐phase mode. It was found that the nature of polar modifier and additive in the mobile phase have significant impact on the enantioseparations. Better chiral recognition of analyzed compounds was achieved on (R)‐naphthylethyl carbamate cyclofructan 6 than on isopropyl carbamate cyclofructan 6 and dimethylphenyl carbamate cyclofructan 7. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the chiral separation was enthalpy controlled in all cases.     

2-Benzyl-2-methyl-2H-benzimidazole 1,3-dioxide derivatives: Spectroscopic and theoretical study

The spectroscopic behavior of 2-benzyl-2-methyl-2H-benzimidazole 1,3-dioxide derivatives in solution was studied in terms of electronic and nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H and (13)C NMR) techniques. The experimental spectra were compared to the theoretical ones, obtained at DFT level, proving that the compounds adopt in solution a bird-like conformational distribution. Also, theoretically this conformational distribution resulted the most stable in gas phase. Infrared spectroscopy was used to study solid state behavior identifying experimentally the N-O stretching near to 1380, 1365 and 1225 cm(-1) and the vibrational benzimidazole skeleton near to 1610 and 1590 cm(-1). The vibrational spectrum was satisfactorily described by DFT calculations funding the N-O stretching as a coupled vibration near to 1470, 1350 and 1285 cm(-1). The fragmentation that takes place in mass spectrometry was assigned for all of the new derivatives.