PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY: EFFECT ON THE ENDOTHELIAL CELL OF THE RAT AORTA

Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that photodynamic therapy (PDT) of experimental bladder tumors leads to rapid destruction of the endothelial lining within the tumor microvasculature. Endothelial cell death during PDT may be a consequence of direct cell injury resulting from retention of photosensitizer within the endothelial cell or, alternatively, result from intravascular activation of circulating photosensitizer with subsequent indirect endothelial damage. In the experiments described here, we investigated the possibility that photosensitizer retained within the endothelial cell was sufficient to cause endothelial cell injury in the absence of circulating drug. The experimental model was rat aorta photosensitized in vivo via the intravenous injection of tin(II) etiopurpurin dichloride (SnET2), and subsequent in situ or in vitro (in explant culture) light (670 nm) treatment from an argon pumped dye laser. Damage to the lining of the aorta was assessed morphometrically by determining the areal density of silver stained endothelial cells. Results indicate that purpurin SnET2-PDT directly damages the endothelial lining.     

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry of Polyfluorinated Polyether-Based Formulation

High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was successfully applied to elucidate the structure of a polyfluorinated polyether (PFPE)-based formulation. The mass spectrum generated from direct injection into the MS was examined by identifying the different repeating units manually and with the aid of an instrument data processor. Highly accurate mass spectral data enabled the calculation of higher-order mass defects. The different plots of MW and the nth-order mass defects (up to n = 3) could aid in assessing the structure of the different repeating units and estimating their absolute and relative number per molecule. The three major repeating units were -C₂H₄O-, -C₂F₄O-, and -CF₂O-. Tandem MS was used to identify the end groups that appeared to be phosphates, as well as the possible distribution of the repeating units. Reversed-phase HPLC separated of the polymer molecules on the basis of number of nonpolar repeating units. The elucidated structure resembles the structure in the published manufacturer technical data. This analytical approach to the characterization of a PFPE-based formulation can serve as a guide in analyzing not just other PFPE-based formulations but also other fluorinated and non-fluorinated polymers. The information from MS is essential in studying the physico-chemical properties of PFPEs and can help in assessing the risks they pose to the environment and to human health.

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A new FeII quaterpyridyl M4L6 tetrahedron exhibiting selective anion binding

A rigid linear bis-bidentate quaterpyridine undergoes metal directed self-assembly with iron(ii) salts yielding M(4)L(6) host-guest complexes; selective anion binding for PF(6)(-) over BF(4)(-) is observed.     

Formation of oxides and their role in the growth of Ag nanoplates on GaAs substrates

Simple galvanic reactions between highly doped n-type GaAs wafers and a pure aqueous solution of AgNO 3 at room temperature provide an easy and efficient protocol to directly deposit uniform Ag nanoplates with tunable dimensions on the GaAs substrates. The anisotropic growth of the Ag nanoplates in the absence of surfactant molecules might be partially ascribed to the codeposition of oxides of gallium and arsenic, which are revealed by extensive data from electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy, during the growth of the Ag nanoplates. The electron microscopic characterization shows that each Ag nanoplate has a "necked" geometry, that is, it pins on the GaAs lattices through only a tiny neck (with sizes of <10 nm). In addition, the as-grown Ag nanoplates exhibit strong enhancement toward Raman scattering of materials on (or around) their surfaces.     

Determination of pharmacologically active compounds in root extracts of Cassia alata L. by use of high performance liquid chromatography

A simple high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of six phenolic compounds, five anthraquinones (rhein, aloe-emodin, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion) and a flavonoid (kaempferol), in root extracts from Cassia alata L. Solid-phase extraction, using C(18) cartridges, was used to remove interfering substances from the root extracts. The extracts were analyzed on a C(18) column using an isocratic mobile phase which consisted of acetonitrile, methanol, and 10mM aqueous ammonium acetate (25:55:20, v/v). Identification of the analytes was performed by use of standards and on-line mass spectrometric detection using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. The concentration of the phenolic compounds in the root extracts was determined using HPLC with ultraviolet detection at 260nm. The limits of detection obtained for the anlytes were in the range of 0.23-4.61ppm. The overall R.S.D. precision values (intra- and inter-day) for the retention times and peak-areas were lower than 0.16 and 2.10%, respectively. In addition, the recovery of the developed method for the analysis of these phenolic compounds was determined, and ranged from 81.2+/-4.3 to 106+/-2%.     

A modified bisection algorithm for the determination of the eigenvalues of a symmetric tridiagonal matrix

Summary A modification to the well known bisection algorithm [1] when used to determine the eigenvalues of a real symmetric matrix is presented. In the new strategy the terms in the Sturm sequence are computed only as long as relevant information on the required eigenvalues is obtained. The resulting algorithm usingincomplete Sturm sequences can be shown to minimise the computational work required especially when only a few eigenvalues are required.The technique is also applicable to other computational methods which use the bisection process.     

Sorptive recovery of dilute ethanol from distillation column bottoms stream

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Modern ethanol distillation processes are designed to ensure removal of all ethanol from the column bottoms, i.e., to levels &lt;100 ppm ethanol, and...