Synthesis and antimicrobial properties of new 2-((4-ethylphenoxy)methyl)benzoylthioureas

New acylthiourea derivatives, 2-((4-ethylphenoxy)methyl)-N-(phenylcarbamothioyl)benzamides, were tested by qualitative and quantitative methods on various bacterial and fungal strains and proved to be active at low concentrations against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as fungi. These compounds were prepared by the reaction of 2-((4-ethylphenoxy)methyl)benzoyl isothiocyanate with various primary aromatic amines, and were characterised by melting point and solubility. The structures were identified by elemental analysis, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and IR spectral data. The level of antimicrobial activity of the new 2-((4-ethylphenoxy)methyl)benzoylthiourea derivatives was dependent on the type, number and position of the substituent on the phenyl group attached to thiourea nitrogen. The iodine and nitro substituents favoured the antimicrobial activity against the Gram-negative bacterial strains, while the highest inhibitory effect against Gram-positive and fungal strains was exhibited by compounds with electron-donating substituents such as the methyl and ethyl groups.     

Influence of fine-grained vanadium-based layers on the photoresponse multiplicity in structures with amorphous As2Se3 films

The fabrication of vanadium-based fine-grained structures including those with a branched (fractal) surface is described. The application of amorphous As₂Se₃ films on these fractal surfaces is shown to increase the multiplicity of photoresponse from the structure.     

Application of a Tetraamino Cobalt(II) Phthalocyanine Modified Screen Printed Carbon Electrode for the Sensitive Electrochemical Determination of L-Dopa in Pharmaceutical and Biological Samples

A novel synthesized tetraamino cobalt(II) phthalocyanine monomer was used for the fabrication of a sensor by electrochemical polymerization. A disposable electrochemical sensor based on the use of a screen printed carbon electrode covered with an electropolymerized film of tetraamino cobalt(II) phthalocyanine for the determination of L-dopa in pharmaceutical tablets and biological samples was described. Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were performed for the characterization of the bare and modified electrode. For the electrochemical detection of L-dopa differential pulse voltammetry was used. The proposed method exhibits a good response towards electrooxidation of L-dopa in the linear concentration range: from 0.1 to 1000.0 μmol L⁻¹ in BRB pH=2.0, with a detection limit of 0.03 μmol L⁻¹ and from 1 to 1000 μmol L⁻¹ in PBS pH=7.4, with a detection limit of 0.33 μmol L⁻¹. Due to the fact that the developed sensor was applied in two different types of real samples, two buffer media were used, BRB pH=2.0 for pharmaceutical and urine samples and PBS pH=7.4 for whole blood samples. The proposed pCoTAPc/SPCE was successfully applied for the determination of L-dopa in pharmaceutical tablets, urine and in whole blood samples with satisfactory results.     

Simultaneous determination of l-thyroxine (l-T(4)), d-thyroxine (d-T(4)), and l-triiodothyronine (l-T(3)) using a sensors/sequential injection analysis system

Requirements of high purity and enantiopurity for the raw materials of active substances used for the pharmaceutical formulations involved utilization of high reliable analytical techniques for the analysis of the active compound. Sequential injection analysis system with electrochemical sensors as detectors proved to be a very good alternative for the chromatographic methods, as it is more reliable, not expensive, and faster. Drugs containing only l-thyroxine (l-T(4)) or both l-T(4) and l-triiodothyronine (l-T(3)) are formulated for the dysfunctions of thyroid. A sequential injection analysis system that can use two amperometric immunosensors (for the assay of l-T(3) and l-T(4)) and an amperometric biosensor (for the assay of d-thyroxine, d-T(4)) as detectors is proposed for the purity and enantiopurity tests of the raw materials used for the formulation of the drugs for thyroid. The system proved to be very reliable. The three compounds can be determined on-line in synthesis process control with a frequency of 20 samples per hour.     

Characterization of water–ethanol electrosprays

The electrospray (ES) ionization method is widely used in the analysis of biological molecules. The stable cone regime spray is usually obtained by adding methanol or ethanol to the electrosprayed dipolar fluid, with the role of reducing fluid surface tension. We investigate the spray onset voltages of water–ethanol mixtures starting from distilled water to pure ethanol. Positive or negative DC is applied separately in our measurements. The experimental setup allows for the study of nozzle-counter electrode gaps of up to 50 cm. Significant variations in the spray onset are observed and analyzed. The onset voltage and the surface tension of water–ethanol binary mixtures appear to be in line with Smith’s formula. The largest variations of onset values are observed for surface tensions of 20 mN/m–40 mN/m in the mixtures. The results of the study may be instrumental to electrospray electrode design and spray control.     

Electroanalysis of Interleukins 1β, 6, and 12 in Biological Samples Using a Needle Stochastic Sensor Based on Nanodiamond Paste

Interleukins proved to be valuable biomarkers for different diseases. Interleukins 1β, 6, and 12 can be used as biomarkers for brain cancer diagnosis, and therefore this paper proposed a needle stochastic sensor based on protoporphyrin IX immobilized in nanodiamond paste for fast screening of biological samples such as whole blood, urine and brain tumoral tissue for these interleukins. The results obtained using this needle stochastic sensor proved that the interleukins 1β, 6, and 12 can be reliable determined from whole blood, urine and brain tumoral tissue, with recoveries higher than 96.00 %, with relative standard deviations lower than 1.00 %.     

Simultaneous determination of creatine and creatinine using amperometric biosensors

In order to determine creatine and creatinine amperometric biosensors were proposed. A bienzymatic biosensor based on creatinase (CI) and sarcosine oxidase (SO) was used for the assay of creatine and a trienzymatic biosensor based on CI, SO and creatininase (CA) for the assay of creatinine. The linear concentration ranges are of pmol l⁻¹ to nmol l⁻¹ magnitude order, with very low limits of detection. The biosensors proved high reliability for determination of creatine and creatinine as raw material, and in the pharmaceutical formulation.     

Enantioselective potentiometric membrane electrodes based on C60 fullerene and its derivatives for the assay of l-Histidine

Novel enantioselective, potentiometric membrane electrodes (EPMEs) based on carbon paste impregnated with C₆₀ fullerene (I), (1,2-methanofullerene C60)-61-carboxylic acid (II), diethyl(1,2-methanofullerene C60)-61-61-dicarboxylate (III) and tert-butyl(1,2-methanofullerene C60)-61-carboxylic acid (IV) are reported. Response characteristics showed that the proposed electrodes could be reliably used in the assay of l-Histidine (l-His), with the best enantioselectivity and time-stability exhibited by fullerene derivatives. The surfaces of the electrodes are stable and easily renewable by simply polishing on an alumina paper. All proposed electrodes proved to be successful for the determination of the enantiopurity of histidine as raw material and of its pharmaceutical formulation.     

Disposable Stochastic Sensors for the Simultaneous Assay of Acetylcholine and Dopamine in Whole Blood Samples

Acetylcholine and dopamine are neurotransmitters important for aging and brain pathology. Their assay in whole blood is essential for fast and early detection of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, polymeric textile covered with a thin layer of Ag was used to provide stochastic sensors modified with maltodextrins presenting different dextrose equivalence: Maltodextrin I (dextrose equivalence 13.0–17.0), and Maltodextrin II (dextrose equivalence 16.5–19.5). These stochastic sensors were used reliable for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of acetylcholine and dopamine in whole blood samples. Their sensitivity and selectivity were high, and they were reliable for the assay of dopamine and acetylcholine in whole blood samples, with recoveries higher than 98.00%, and relative standard deviations (%) values lower than 1.00%.