Tailoring of carboxyl‐decorated magnetic latex particles using seeded emulsion polymerization

In this research, submicron and carboxyl‐functionalized magnetic latex particles were elaborated by using seeded emulsion polymerization technique in presence of oil‐in‐water (o/w) magnetic emulsion as seed. The polymerization conditions were optimized in order to get well‐defined latex particles with magnetic core and polymer shell bearing carboxylic (–COOH) functionality. Starting from (o/w) magnetic emulsion as seed, synthesis process was performed by copolymerization of styrene (St) monomer with the cross‐linker divinylbenzene (DVB) in presence of 4,4′‐azobis(4‐cyanopentanoic acid) (ACPA) as a carboxyl‐bearing initiator. The prepared magnetic latex particles were first characterized in terms of particle size, chemical composition, morphology, magnetic properties, magnetic content, and colloidal stability using various techniques, e.g. particle size analyzer using dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric analysis, and zeta potential measurements as a function of pH of the dispersion media, respectively. The prepared magnetic latex particles were then used as second seed for further functionalization with methacrylic acid (MAA) in order to enhance carboxylic groups on the magnetic particle's surface. The results showed that final magnetic latex particles possessed spherical morphology with core‐shell structure and enriched carboxylic acid functionality. More importantly, they exhibited superparamagnetism with high magnetic content (58.42 wt%) and high colloidal stability, which considered as the main requirements for their application in the biomedical diagnostic domains. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Validated TLC-Densitometric Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Formoterol Fumarate and Budesonide in Pressurized Metered-Dose Inhaler

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A simple and robust thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitative...     

Improved lower bounds for the online bin stretching problem

We use game theory techniques to automatically compute improved lower bounds on the competitive ratio for the bin stretching problem. Using these techniques, we improve the best lower bound for this problem to 19/14. We explain the technique and show that it can be generalized to compute lower bounds for any online or semi-online packing or scheduling problem.     

DNA photo-oxidative damage hazard in transfection complexes

Complexes of DNA with various cationic vectors have been largely used for nonviral transfection, and yet the photochemical stability of DNA in such complexes has never been considered. We studied, for the first time, the influence of DNA complexation by a cationic lipid and polymers on the amount of damage induced by benzophenone photosensitization. The localization of benzophenone inside the hydrophobic domains formed by a cationic lipid, DOTAP (N-[1-(2,3-dioleoyloxy)propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride), and close to DNA, locally increases the photoinduced cleavage by the reactive oxygen species generated. The same effect was found in the case of DNA complexation with an amphiphilic polymer (polynorbornenemethyleneammonium chloride). However, a decrease in DNA damage was observed in the case of complexation with a hydrophilic polymer (polyethylenimine). The DNA protection in this case was because of the absence of benzophenone hydrophobic incorporation into the complex, and to DNA compaction which decreased the probability of radical attack. These results underline the importance of the chemical structure of the nonviral transfection vector in limiting the risks of photo-oxidative damage of the complexed DNA.     

Mechanistic insight into the reactivity of oxotransferases by novel asymmetric dioxomolybdenum(VI) model complexes

The asymmetric molybdenum(VI) dioxo complexes of the bis(phenolate) ligands 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxybenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐4‐methylbenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,5‐dimethylbenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐3,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐4‐flurobenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane, and 1,4‐bis(2‐hydroxy‐4‐chlorobenzyl)‐1,4‐diazepane (H₂(L1)–H₂(L6), respectively) have been isolated and studied as functional models for molybdenum oxotransferase enzymes. These complexes have been characterized as asymmetric complexes of type [MoO₂(L)] 1–6 by using NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and electrochemical methods. The molecular structures of [MoO₂(L)] 1–4 have been successfully determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses, which show them to exhibit a distorted octahedral coordination geometry around molybdenum(VI) in an asymmetrical cis‐β configuration. The Mo? O_oxo bond lengths differ only by ≈0.01 Å. Complexes 1 , 2 , 5 , and 6 exhibit two successive Mo^VI/Mo^V (E_1/2, ?1.141 to ?1.848 V) and Mo^V/Mo^IV (E_1/2, ?1.531 to ?2.114 V) redox processes. However, only the Mo^VI/Mo^V redox couple was observed for 3 and 4 , suggesting that the subsequent reduction of the molybdenum(V) species is difficult. Complexes 1 , 2 , 5 , and 6 elicit efficient catalytic oxygen‐atom transfer (OAT) from dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to PMe₃ at 65 °C at a significantly faster rate than the symmetric molybdenum(VI) complexes of the analogous linear bis(phenolate) ligands known so far to exhibit OAT reactions at a higher temperature (130 °C). However, complexes 3 and 4 fail to perform the OAT reaction from DMSO to PMe₃ at 65 °C. DFT/B3LYP calculations on the OAT mechanism reveal a strong trans effect.     

Enantiomeric Thin-Layer Chromatographic Assay of Escitalopram in Presence of “In-Process Impurities”

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - A simple, rapid and precise thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method for analysis of escitalopram oxalate (ESC-OX) (S-enantiomer) in...     

Stability-indicating LC assay for butenafine hydrochloride in creams using an experimental design for robustness evaluation and photodegradation kinetics study

A stability-indicating liquid chromatography method for the determination of the antifungal agent butenafine hydrochloride (BTF) in a cream was developed and validated using the Plackett-Burman experimental design for robustness evaluation. Also, the drug photodegradation kinetics was determined. The analytical column was operated with acetonitrile, methanol and a solution of triethylamine 0.3% adjusted to pH 4.0 (6:3:1) at a flow rate of 1 mL/min and detection at 283 nm. BTF extraction from the cream was done with n-butyl alcohol and methanol in ultrasonic bath. The performed degradation conditions were: acid and basic media with HCl 1M and NaOH 1M, respectively, oxidation with H(2)O(2) 10%, and the exposure to UV-C light. No interference in the BTF elution was verified. Linearity was assessed (r(2) = 0.9999) and ANOVA showed non-significative linearity deviation (p > 0.05). Adequate results were obtained for repeatability, intra-day precision, and accuracy. Critical factors were selected to examine the method robustness with the two-level Plackett-Burman experimental design and no significant factors were detected (p > 0.05). The BTF photodegradation kinetics was determined for the standard and for the cream, both in methanolic solution, under UV light at 254 nm. The degradation process can be described by first-order kinetics in both cases.     

The solution stability of copper(I) and silver(I) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbenes

The tris-benzimidazolium cage LH(3)(3+), in MeCN solution, in the presence of OH(-), forms with Cu(I) and Ag(I) ions complexes of formula [M(I)(LH)](2+), in which each metal is linearly coordinated by two carbenes and one imidazolium N-H fragment remains intact. To achieve two-coordination, the two N-heterocyclic moieties of the cage make a saloon-door type motion, with a conformationally costless rotation of ca. 30° each. The two [M(I)(LH)](2+) complexes show high thermodynamic stability and are inert with respect to metal substitution, due to the mechanical constraints imposed by the ligating framework. Complexation with Cu(I) and Ag(I) with the reference unidentate carbene ligand Q, derived from the benzimidazolium precursor QH(+), was studied for comparison. Both metals in MeCN form 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with the carbene ligand Q according to two stepwise equilibria. Q complexes of both metals are labile with respect to metal substitution and those of Ag(I) are more stable than those of Cu(I). A significant cooperative effect has been observed with the formation of the [Ag(I)Q(2)](+) complex.     

Pyridazine based scorpionate ligand in a copper boratrane compound

Reaction of potassium tris(mercapto-tert-butylpyridazinyl)borate K[Tn(tBu)] with copper(II) chloride in dichloromethane at room temperature led to the diamagnetic copper boratrane compound [Cu{B(Pn(tBu))(3)}Cl] (Pn = pyridazine-3-thionyl) (1) under activation of the B-H bond and formation of a Cu-B dative bond. In contrast to this, stirring of the same ligand with copper(I) chloride in tetrahydrofuran (THF) gave the dimeric compound [Cu{Tn(tBu)}](2) (2) where one copper atom is coordinated by two sulfur atoms and one hydrogen atom of one ligand and one sulfur of the other ligand. Hereby, no activation of the B-H bond occurred but a 3-center-2-electron B-H···Cu bond is formed. The reaction of copper(II) chloride with K[Tn(tBu)] in water gave the same product 2, but a formal reduction of the metal center from Cu(II) to Cu(I) occurred. When adding tricyclohexyl phosphine to the reaction mixture of K[Tn(R)] (R = tBu, Me) and copper(I) chloride in MeOH, the distorted tetrahedral Cu complexes [Cu{Tn(R)}(PCy(3))] (R = tBu 3, Me 4) were formed. Compound 4 is exhibiting an "inverted" κ(3)-H,S,S, coordination mode. The copper boratrane 1 was further investigated by density functional theory (DFT) calculations for a better understanding of the M→B interaction involving the d(8) electron configuration of Cu.