Quantum dots protect against MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in a cell model of Parkinson’s disease through autophagy induction

Autophagy is a basic cellular process that decomposes damaged organelles and aberrant proteins. Dysregulation of autophagy is implicated in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's disease(PD). Pharmacological compounds that stimulate autophagy can provide neuroprotection in models of PD. Nanoparticles have emerged as regulators of autophagy and have been tested in adjuvant therapy for diseases. In this present study, we explore the effects of quantum dots(QDs) that can induce autophagy in a cellular model of Parkinson's disease. Cd Te/Cd S/Zn S QDs protect differentiated rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells from MPP+-induced cell damage, including reduced viability, apoptosis and accumulation of α-Synuclein, a characteristic protein of PD. The protective function of QDs is autophagy-dependent. In addition, we investigate the interaction between quantum dots and autophagic pathways and identify beclin1 as an essential factor for QDs-induced autophagy. Our results reveal new promise of QDs in the theranostic of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Spectrophotometric determination of certain CNS stimulants in dosage forms and spiked human urine via derivatization with 2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene

A new spectrophotometric method is developed for the determination of phenylpropanolamine HCl (PPA), ephedrine HCl (EPH) and pseudoephedrine HCl (PSE) in pharmaceutical preparations and spiked human urine. The method involved heat-catalyzed derivatization of the three drugs with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) producing a yellow colored product peaking at 370 nm for PPA and 380 nm for EPH and PSE, respectively. The absorbance concentration plots were rectilinear over the range of 2-20 for PPA and 1-14 μg/mL for both of EPH and PSE, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) values were 0.20, 0.13 and 0.20 μg/mL for PPA, EPH and PSE, respectively and limit of quantitation (LOQ) values of 0.60 and 0.40 and 0.59 μg/mL for PPA, EPH and PSE, respectively. The analytical performance of the method was fully validated and the results were satisfactory. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of the three studied drugs in their commercial dosage forms including tablets, capsules and ampoules with good percentage recoveries. The proposed method was further applied for the determination of PSE in spiked human urine with a mean percentage recovery of 108.17 ± 1.60 for (n = 3). Statistical comparison of the results obtained with those of the comparison methods showed good agreement and proved that there was no significant difference in the accuracy and precision between the two methods. The mechanism of the reaction pathway was postulated.     

Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of Some 5‐N‐Arylaminomethyl‐2‐glycosylsulphanyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazoles and Their Analogs against Hepatitis A and Herpes Simplex Viruses

N‐Arylaminomethyl‐3H‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐2‐thiones 2a,b were prepared from the corresponding N‐arylglycinoylhydrazides. A number of their thioglycoside derivatives 4–7a–c and S‐functionalized analogs 8–11a,b were synthesized by the reaction with different acetobromosugars and acyclic hydroxyalkylating agents. The antiviral activity of a number of the synthesized compounds against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) and hepatitis A virus (HAV) was evaluated. Compounds 5a and 5b showed promising results against HAV.     

Comparative effects of different cosurfactants on sterile prednisolone acetate ocular submicron emulsions stability and release

Pluronic F68 is a nonionic, thermogelling block copolymer showing a high dehydration resistance during autoclaving due to its high cloud point (>100 °C). Tween 80 (with cloud point of 72.5 °C), is a polyoxyethylene-based cosurfactant, susceptible to temperature because of a decrease in its solubility by temperature increase. This study was done to explore whether or not, when compared with Tween 80, Pluronic F68 could be used blindly as a suitable cosurfactant for the preparation of terminally sterilized ocular submicron emulsions containing a lipid soluble drug, prednisolone acetate (PA). Various oils of variable viscosities were also tried. The results proved that no prediction can be made based on previously known physico-chemical properties alone and that emulsion stability depends on the contribution of the various emulsion components including: oil, surfactant and cosurfactant, in addition to the drug properties.     

Selective Heck reaction of aryl bromides with cyclopent-2-en-1-one or cyclohex-2-en-1-one

The selective Heck reaction of cyclopent-2-en-1-one or cyclohex-2-en-1-one with aryl bromides gives a simple access to the corresponding 3-arylcycloalk-2-en-1-ones. The choice of the base was found to be crucial to avoid the formation of 3-arylcyclopentanones or 3-arylcyclohexanones as side-products. Using KF as base, DMF as solvent and Pd(OAc)₂ as catalyst, the target products were obtained in moderate to good yields with a variety of aryl bromides. Substituents such as fluoro, trifluoromethyl, acetyl, benzoyl, formyl, ester or nitrile on the aryl bromide are tolerated. Sterically congested aryl bromides or bromopyridines can also be employed.     

Validated Stability-Indicating Chromatographic Methods for the Determination of Veralipride in Presence of Its Degradation Products

Two sensitive and selective chromatographic methods were developed and validated for determination of veralipride in presence of its degradation products. Forced degradation studies were performed, using HCl, NaOH and 3% H₂O₂. The first method is based on thin-layer chromatographic separation of the intact drug spot from its degradation, followed by densitometric measurements. The second method is based on isocratic liquid chromatographic separation of the studied drug from its degradation on a reversed phase C₁₈ column. The proposed LC method was utilized to investigate the kinetics of alkaline degradation process of the selected drug at different temperatures.     

Generation of mono- and bis-dioxiranes from 2,3-butanedione

Biacetyl reacts with oxone to give bis-dioxirane [3,3'-dimethyl-3,3'-bidioxirane, 3B] and mono-dioxirane [1-(3-methyl-dioxiran-3-yl)ethanone, 3A)]. Bis-dioxirane 3B is formed when two oxygens are incorporated into biacetyl, while mono-dioxirane 3A incorporated only one. A greater stability is observed in 3B compared to 3A, which is attributed to an alpha-dioxiranyl (anomeric) effect in the former. In contrast, 3A suffers from a destabilizing pi-electron withdrawing effect from the adjacent carbonyl group.     

Concise synthesis of the tricyclic core of lycoposerramine S

The tricyclic core of lycoposerramine S has been synthesised in 10 steps from a symmetrical cyclohexadiene precursor by way of a desymmetrising free-radical cyclisation and iodocyclisation.     

Second-derivative synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy for the simultaneous determination of cinnarizine and nicergoline in pharmaceutical preparations

A rapid, simple, and highly sensitive second-derivative synchronous fluorometric method has been developed for the simultaneous analysis of binary mixtures of cinnarizine (CN) and nicergoline (NIC). The method is based upon measurement of the native fluorescence of these drugs at constant wavelength difference (Deltalambda) = 80 nm in aqueous methanol (50%, v/v). The different experimental parameters affecting the native fluorescence of the studied drugs were carefully studied and optimized. The fluorescence-concentration plots were rectilinear over the range of 0.025-1.5 and 0.25-5.5 microg/mL for CN and NIC, respectively, with lower detection limits of 0.58 and 0.82 ng/mL and quantitation limits of 1.93 and 2.73 ng/mL for CN and NIC, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of the studied compounds in synthetic mixtures and in commercial tablets. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained with reference methods. The high sensitivity attained by the proposed method allowed the determination of CN in real and spiked human plasma. The mean recovery in the case of spiked human plasma [number of trials (n) = 3] was 102.82 +/- 2.17%, while that in real human plasma (n = 3) was 105.25 +/- 2.05.     

Stereodivergent radical cyclisation reactions of cyclohexa-1,4-dienes

Derivatives of cyclohexa-1,4-diene diol 5 undergo highly diastereoselective free-radical cyclisation reactions. Selective reaction of either double bond is possible depending on the protecting groups used.