Isolation of tumor cells using size and deformation

The isolation and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood are the subject of intense research. Although tests to detect metastasis on a molecular level are available, progress has been hampered by a lack of tumor-specific markers and predictable DNA abnormalities. The main challenge in this endeavor is the small number of available cells of interest, 1–2 per mL in whole blood. We have designed a micromachined device to fractionate whole blood using physical means to enrich for and/or isolate rare cells from peripheral circulation. It has arrays of four successively narrower channels, each consisting of a two-dimensional array of columns. Current devices have channels ranging in width from 20 to 5 μm, and in depth from 20 to 5 μm. Several optimizations resulting in the fabrication of a total of 10 derivative devices have been carried out; only two types are used in this study. Both have increasingly narrower gap widths between the columns along the flow axis with 20, 15, 10, and 5 μm spacing all on one device. The first 20 μm wide segment disperses the cell suspension and creates an evenly distributed flow over the entire device, whereas the others were designed to retain increasingly smaller cells. The channel depth is constant across the entire device, the first type was 10 μm deep and the second type is 20 μm deep. When cells from each of eight tumor cell lines were loaded into the device, all cancerous cells were isolated. In mixing experiments using human whole blood, we were able to fractionate cancer cells without interference from the blood cells. Additionally, either intact cells, or DNA, could be extracted for molecular analysis. The ultimate goal of this work is to characterize the cells on the molecular level to provide non-invasive methods to monitor patients, stage disease, and assess treatment efficacy. Furthermore, this work will use gene expression profiles to gain insights into metastasis.     

Solid phase selective separation and green preconcentration of Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in drinking water by using novel functionalized resin

A new solid — phase extraction sorbent was developed based on stepwise anchoring of two ligand molecules for the determination of copper, zinc, lead and cadmium in drinking water by flame AAS. Amberlite XAD-2 functionalized with 4′-(2-hydroxyphenylazo)-3′-methyl-1′-phenyl-2′-pyrazolin-5′-one (HPAPyr) was utilized for preconcentration/separation of these elements. The sorbent was prepared by two successive azo coupling reactions. First, 2-aminophenol was anchored to the amino groups in the resin resulted from nitration followed by reduction. Then, the resulted 2-aminophenol functionalized resin was further diazotized and coupled to the pyrazolone compound and the final product HPAPyr-XAD-2 was characterized by IR and elemental analysis. The optimum pH range for sorption, shaking time, exchange capacity, sample flow rate, preconcentration factor and interference from co-existing ions were investigated. All metal ions were quantitatively desorbed from the resin by 4.5 mol L⁻¹ nitric acid solution. The sorbent provides limit of detection within the range 0.9–3.3 μg L⁻¹ and concentration factor up to 250. The procedure was validated by analysis of certified material NIST-SRM 1577b. Application to drinking water showed satisfactory results with relative standard deviation RSD ≤ 8.5%.      

Kinetic spectrophotometric determination of amodiaquine and chloroquine

Abstract  

Two simple, sensitive, and selective spectrophotometric methods were developed for determining amodiaquine (AQ) and chloroquine (CQ) based on their oxidation with potassium iodate and potassium bromate, respectively. The initial rates of oxidation of AQ and CQ were monitored at 342 and 343 nm, the wavelengths of maximum absorptions of the two drugs. The various experimental parameters affecting oxidation reactions were thoroughly studied and optimized. Beer’s law was obeyed for 0.2–4.0 and 0.5–5.0 μg cm⁻³, with correlation coefficients of 0.9999 and 0.9998 (n = 6) and a detection limit (based on the 3S _b -criterion) of 0.04 and 0.06 μg cm⁻³ for AQ and CQ. The proposed methods were conveniently applied to determining AQ and CQ in pure and dosage forms.     

A novel synthesis of 2-arylhydrazono-6-amino-4-arylbenzene-1,3-dicarbonitriles and their conversion into phthalazines

Compounds 1a-d react with benzylidenemalononitrile 2 to yield dihydroaminopyridazines 3a-d and, in contrast, compounds 1e,f react with 2 under the same conditions to yield aminobenzenedicarbonitriles 8e,f compound 8e underwent intramolecular cyclization to phthalazine 9e. Compound 10e reacted with 2a to yield 11e.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic studies of methoxy-substituted phenylthienylnicotinamidines

Abstract

Five thienylnicotinamidine derivatives 5a–e were prepared from their corresponding nicotinonitriles 3a–e on treatment with lithium trimethylsilylamide [LiN(TMS)₂] followed by hydrolysis using ethanolic/HCl (gas). The nicotinonitriles 3a–e were prepared via Suzuki coupling reaction of bromothienyl derivative 1 with the appropriate phenylboronic acids 2a–e. The DFT calculation was used to optimize the geometric structure of the newly synthesized nicotinamidines. The comparison of DFT/B3LYP calculated spectral data (¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR) with the experimental data showed acceptable agreement. Mass fragmentation patterns of 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl, 3,5-dimethoxyphenyl, and 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl thienylnicotinamidine derivatives were investigated.     

Synthetic strategies and functional reactivity of versatile thiophene synthons

Abstract

Thiophenes are a highly important group of heterocycles and have been of great interest to researchers due to their various reactivities. Many synthetic strategies are used to generate functionalized thiophene derivatives. Several reactions are described, depending on the reactivity of the substituents attached to the thiophene nucleus toward different nucleophiles to yield the versatile thiophene products. Many diverse applications have been utilized for thiophenes from medicinal chemistry to material science.     

Analytical method development and validation of anticancer agent, 5-fluorouracil,and its metabolites in biological matrices: An updated review

Abstract

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) refers to a fluorinated pyrimidine analogue that has been widely used as an anticancer agent for colon, head, and neck cancers. Detection of 5-FU and its metabolites; 5-fluorouridine and 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine in biological samples allows optimization of pharmacotherapy and encourages fundamental investigations of this medication. The development of accurate and reliable sample preparation, as well as analytical methods, is critical to isolate targeted analytes from complex matrices, apart from increasing detection sensitivity of analytes. With that, this paper presents a review of prior studies pertaining to chromatographic and electrophoretic methods that focused on the analysis of 5-FU and its metabolites in biological matrices such as plasma and urine. This paper concentrates on HPLC, GC and CE systems, which are the most commonly used strategies for analytical separation of 5-FU and its metabolites from samples. Detection of these antineoplastic agents at trace level demands highly sensitive and selective analytical methodologies. Application of these analytical techniques to biological matrices is reviewed with a focus on method development strategies, including types of mobile phases and background electrolytes employed in LC and CE systems.     

Rotenoid and isoflavone metabolites from an antioxidant seed extract of Dalbergia lanceolaria subsp. paniculata (roxb.) thoth

Abstract

A new rotenoid named 12-O-methylrotenolol along with five known rotenoid and isoflavone metabolites were isolated from the seeds of Dalbergia lanceolaria subsp. paniculata, collected from Egypt. The structures of these compounds were identified by physical and spectroscopic data measurements ([α]_D, UV, 1D- and 2D-NMR and MS). The methanol extract of the seeds exhibited strong antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ value 0.7?µg/µl against DPPH radical, in respect to quercetin as antioxidant reference (IC₅₀ 1.5?μM), while the tested compounds from this extract showed weak activities with IC₅₀ values ranged from 19.6 to 33.0?µM.     

Reactions of 4-(2-aminothiazole-4-yl)-3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-2-pyrazoline. Synthesis of thiazolo[3,2- a ]pyrimidine and imidazo[2,1- b ]thiazole derivatives

4-(2-Aminothiazol-4-yl)-3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-2-pyrazoline was synthesized via the reaction of 4-bromoacetyl-3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-2-pyrazoline with thiourea [7] and was transformed to related fused heterocyclic systems. The antifungal and antibacterial studies revealed in some cases excellent biocidal properties.     

Meldrum ’s acid in heterocyclic synthesis: azoles incorporating a 2,4-dichlorophenoxy moiety with anticipated molluscicidal activity

Synthesis of the title ring system is described using ethyl 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-3-oxobutanoate as starting material. The latter was prepared through acylating Meldrum’s acid with the phenoxy acid chloride derivative.