Synthesis of 1‐Arylethyl‐2‐arylethylamino‐5‐trifluoroacetyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyridines and Related Compounds with Potential Cell Efflux Pump Inhibition

This study reports a simple, fast, and efficient method for the synthesis of a new series of 1‐arylethyl‐2‐arylethylamino‐5‐trifluoroacetyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydropyridines and related compounds from the reaction of 2‐alkoxy‐5‐trifluoroacetyl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐pyrans with 2‐arylethanamines and related 2‐ethanamines. The desired tetrahydropyridines were obtained in excellent yields (90–98%), through a reaction that can be described as an AAB′ three‐component reaction protocol following an ANRORC‐type mechanism.     

Molecule‐adapted basis sets optimized with a quantum Monte Carlo method

The Monte Carlo simulated annealing method is adapted to optimize correlated Gaussian‐type functions in nonrelativistic molecular environments. Starting from an atom‐centered atomic Gaussian basis set, the uncontracted functions are reoptimized in the molecular environments corresponding to the H₂O, CN^?, N₂, CO, BF, NO⁺, CO₂, and CS systems. These new molecular adapted basis sets are used to calculate total energies, harmonic vibrational frequencies, and equilibrium geometries at a correlated level of theory. The present methodology is a simple and effective way to improve molecular correlated wave functions, without the need to enlarge the molecular basis set. Additionally, this methodology can be used to generate hierarchical sequences of molecular basis sets with increasing size, which are relevant to establish complete basis set limits. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A Modular Approach To Study Protein Adsorption on Surface Modified Hydroxyapatite

Biocompatible inorganic nano‐ and microcarriers can be suitable candidates for protein delivery. This study demonstrates facile methods of functionalization by using nanoscale linker molecules to change the protein adsorption capacity of hydroxyapatite (HA) powder. The adsorption capacity of bovine serum albumin as a model protein has been studied with respect to the surface modifications. The selected linker molecules (lysine, arginine, and phosphoserine) can influence the adsorption capacity by changing the electrostatic nature of the HA surface. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of linker‐molecule interactions with the HA surface have been performed by using NMR spectroscopy, zeta‐potential measurements, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analyses. Additionally, correlations to theoretical isotherm models have been calculated with respect to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Lysine and arginine increased the protein adsorption, whereas phosphoserine reduced the protein adsorption. The results show that the adsorption capacity can be controlled with different functionalization, depending on the protein–carrier selections under consideration. The scientific knowledge acquired from this study can be applied in various biotechnological applications that involve biomolecule–inorganic material interfaces.     

Carvedilol: decomposition kinetics and compatibility with pharmaceutical excipients

Carvedilol (CARVE) is an important cardiovascular drug with limited bioavailability. To improve its therapeutic performance, the investigation of new dosage forms is of great interest due its relevance in clinical applications. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the stability of CARVE and its drug–excipient compatibility to support its pharmaceutical development. Kinetic analysis under isothermal conditions using thermogravimetry was performed to determine the activation energy of CARVE through an Arrhenius plot. Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and optical microscopy were used to test binary mixtures of CARVE and selected excipients. The activation energy of CARVE was 81.2 kJ mol^?1, and from the compatibility studies, all the excipients showed strong thermal interactions, presenting changes in the melting profile of the drug. In addition, analytical assays revealed no physical or chemical changes; because of this, all eight excipients studied are considered compatible and are recommended in formulations containing CARVE. All the evidence together attests to the low chemical reactivity of CARVE and provides useful information for the development of new pharmaceutical formulations containing CARVE.     

New RuII(arene) Complexes with Halogen‐Substituted Bis‐ and Tris(pyrazol‐1‐yl)borate Ligands

[RuCl(arene)(μ‐Cl)]₂ dimers were treated in a 1:2 molar ratio with sodium or thallium salts of bis‐ and tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligands [Na(Bp)], [Tl(Tp)], and [Tl(Tp^{iPr, 4Br})]. Mononuclear neutral complexes [RuCl(arene)(κ²‐Bp)] ( 1 : arene=p‐cymene (cym); 2 : arene=hexamethylbenzene (hmb); 3 : arene=benzene (bz)), [RuCl(arene)(κ²‐Tp)] ( 4 : arene=cym; 6 : arene=bz), and [RuCl(arene)(κ²‐Tp^{iPr, 4Br})] ( 7 : arene=cym, 8 : arene=hmb, 9 : arene=bz) have been always obtained with the exception of the ionic [Ru₂(hmb)₂(μ‐Cl)₃][Tp] ( 5′ ), which formed independently of the ratio of reactants and reaction conditions employed. The ionic [Ru(CH₃OH)(cym)(κ²‐Bp)][X] ( 10 : X=PF₆, 12 : X=O₃SCF₃) and the neutral [Ru(O₂CCF₃)(cym)(κ²‐Bp)] ( 11 ) have been obtained by a metathesis reaction with corresponding silver salts. All complexes 1 – 12 have been characterized by analytical and spectroscopic data (IR, ESI‐MS, ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy). The structures of the thallium and calcium derivatives of ligand Tp, [Tl(Tp)] and [Ca(dmso)₆][Tp]₂ ? 2 DMSO, of the complexes 1 , 4 , 5′ , 6 , 11 , and of the decomposition product [RuCl(cym)(Hpz^{iPr, 4Br})₂][Cl] ( 7′ ) have been confirmed by using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Electrochemical studies showed that 1 – 9 and 11 undergo a single‐electron Ru^II→Ru^III oxidation at a potential, measured by cyclic voltammetry, which allows comparison of the electron‐donor characters of the bis‐ and tris(pyrazol‐1‐yl)borate and arene ligands, and to estimate, for the first time, the values of the Lever E_L ligand parameter for Bp, Tp, and Tp^{iPr, 4Br}. Theoretical calculations at the DFT level indicated that both oxidation and reduction of the Ru complexes under study are mostly metal‐centered with some involvement of the chloride ligand in the former case, and also demonstrated that the experimental isolation of the μ³‐binuclear complex 5′ (instead of the mononuclear 5 ) is accounted for by the low thermodynamic stability of the latter species due to steric reasons.     

Biofiltration methods for the removal of phenolic residues

Industrial effluents from the pharmaceutical industry often contain high concentrations of phenolic compounds. The presence of “anthropogenic” organic compounds in the environment is a serious problem for human health; therefore, it merits special attention by the competent public agencies. Different methods have been proposed in the last two decades for the treatment of this kind of industrial residues, the most important of which are those utilizing absorption columns, vaporization and extraction, and biotechnological methods. Biofiltration is a method for the removal of contaminants present in liquid or gaseous effluents by the use of aerobic microorganisms, which are immobilized on solid or porous supports. Although several bacteria can utilize aromatic compounds as carbon and energy source, only a few of them are able to make this biodegradation effectively and with satisfactory rate. For this reason, more investigation is needed to ensure an efficient control of process parameters as well as to select the suited reactor configuration. The aim of this work is to provide an overview on the main aspects of biofiltration for the treatment of different industrial effluents, with particular concern to those coming from pharmaceutical industry and laboratories for the production of galenicals.     

Self-assembled electrodes based on polyaniline grafted with reduced graphene oxide and polystyrene sulfonate

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this work, composites based on polyaniline (PAni) grafted with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) were obtained by the in situ chemical polymerization of...     

Multivariate optimization and HS-SPME/GC-MS analysis of VOCs in red, yellow and purple varieties of Capsicum chinense sp. peppers

Peppers are used not only in cookery, but also in many other applications, like cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nourishing industry. The chemical composition of peppers is quite complex and several volatile and non-volatile substances contribute to their flavor, which is an important sensorial propriety. In this work a headspace/solid phase microextraction/gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry method was developed to evaluate the profiles of volatile compounds that contribute to the aroma of red, yellow and purple varieties of Capsicum chinense sp. peppers. The optimization of the extraction conditions was carried out using multivariate strategies such as factorial design and response surface methodology. The GC-MS analysis allowed the tentative identification of 34 compounds, with similarities higher than 85%, in accordance with the NIST mass spectral library. The data obtained by the analysis of volatile compounds, according to the proposed method, were treated with PCA chemometrics tool in order to group different varieties of C. chinense sp. peppers with similar VOC profiles. Amongst the most abundant VOCs, hexyl ester of pentanoic acid, dimethylcyclohexanols, humulene and esters of butanoic acid were found. Principal component analysis turned possible to visualize the grouping tendencies of the studied varieties of pepper, as well as the identification of the volatile compounds responsible for discriminating the three groups. Considering the fact that many species of peppers are used as human food, the significance of this work is further emphasized by its applicability to the study of food quality indicators, and as a tool for investigations on the composition of the pepper sources.     

Compatibility study of hydroxychloroquine sulfate with pharmaceutical excipients using thermal and nonthermal techniques for the development of hard capsules

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Hydroxychloroquine is effectively used in the treatment for malaria, lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. The study of drug–excipient...     

Squalenyl Hydrogen Sulfate Nanoparticles for Simultaneous Delivery of Tobramycin and an Alkylquinolone Quorum Sensing Inhibitor Enable the Eradication of P. aeruginosa Biofilm Infections

Elimination of pulmonary Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infections is challenging to accomplish with antibiotic therapies, mainly due to resistance mechanisms. Quorum sensing inhibitors (QSIs) interfering with biofilm formation can thus complement antibiotics. For simultaneous and improved delivery of both active agents to the infection sites, self‐assembling nanoparticles of a newly synthesized squalenyl hydrogen sulfate (SqNPs) were prepared. These nanocarriers allowed for remarkably high loading capacities of hydrophilic antibiotic tobramycin (Tob) and a novel lipophilic QSI at 30 % and circa 10 %, respectively. The drug‐loaded SqNPs showed improved biofilm penetration and enhanced efficacy in relevant biological barriers (mucin/human tracheal mucus, biofilm), leading to complete eradication of PA biofilms at circa 16‐fold lower Tob concentration than Tob alone. This study offers a viable therapy optimization and invigorates the research and development of QSIs for clinical use.