Chemical composition and biological activity of the volatile extracts of Achillea millefolium

In this study, flowering aerial parts of wild Achillea millefolium growing on the Mediterranean coast (Sardinia Island, Italy) and on the Atlantic coast (Portugal- Serra de Montemuro) were used as a matrix for supercritical extraction of volatile oil with CO2 (SFE). The collected extracts were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS methods and their composition were compared with that of the essential oil isolated by hydrodistillation. A strong chemical variability in essential oils depending on the origin of the samples was observed. The results showed the presence of two type oils. The Italian volatile extracts (SFE and essential oil) are predominantly composed by alpha-asarone (25.6-33.3%, in the SFE extract and in the HD oil, respectively), beta-bisabolene (27.3-16.6%) and alpha-pinene (10.0-17.0%); whereas the main components of the Portuguese extracts are trans-thujone (31.4-29.0%), trans-crhysanthenyl acetate (19.8-15.8%) and beta-pinene (1.2-11.1%). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal lethal concentration (MLC) were used to evaluate the antifungal activity of the oils against Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. guillermondii, C. parapsilosis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, T. verrucosum, Microsporum canis, M. gypseum, Epidermophyton floccosum, Aspergillus niger, A. fumigatus and A. flavus. The oils showed the highest activity against dermatophyte strains, with MIC values ranging from 0.32-1.25 microL mL(-1).     

The nanostructured morphology of linear polyurethanes observed by transmission electron microscopy

The morphology of polyester-based polyurethanes was observed by transmission electron microscopy, which highlighted a nanostructured system made by a continuous distribution of hard domains with size equal to few nanometres in the soft matrix.     

Design and synthesis of a bombesin peptide-conjugated tripodal phosphino dithioether ligand topology for the stabilization of the fac-[M(CO)3]+ core (M=(99 m)Tc or Re)

A new tumor-seeking tridentate topology consisting of a phosphino dithioether ((HOCH(2))(2)PCH(2)CH(2)S(CH(2))(n)CH(2)SR; PS(2)) ligand framework for the production of kinetically inert and in vivo stable facial [(99m)Tc(CO)(3)(PS(2))](+) or [Re(CO)(3)(PS(2))](+) is described. The X-ray crystal structure of fac-Re(CO)(3)(PS(2))PF(6) is reported. The bioconjugation strategies for incorporating bombesin (BBN) peptides on to the PS(2) tripodal framework and, thereby, de novo designing of GRP receptor-seeking Tc(PS(2)-BBN)(CO)(3) are developed.     

Facile synthesis of zero-, one-, and two-dimensional vanadyl pyrophosphates

Crystallization of Na(2)VOP(2)O(7) from its aqueous solution results in formation of a one-dimensional inorganic polymer {Na(2)VO(H(2)O)P(2)O(7)·7H(2)O}(n) (1). When this polymer is dehydrated at elevated temperatures this polymer undergoes a phase transition to form the two-dimensional framework β-Na(2)VOP(2)O(7), which although previously reported had been difficult to access. Exchanging lithium for sodium via ion-exchange chromatography results in formation of a discrete, cyclic, tetramer species, Li(8)[VOP(2)O(7)(H(2)O)·4H(2)O](4) (2). Isolation of crystalline β-Li(2)VOP(2)O(7) using a dehydration procedure analogous to the one employed for the sodium derivative was unsuccessful. In contrast, we show that β-K(2)VOP(2)O(7) can be obtained from the amorphous phase K(2)VOP(2)O(7)·nH(2)O (n = 0-7) upon thermal dehydration.     

Thiophene based europium β-diketonate complexes: effect of the ligand structure on the emission quantum yield

The synthesis and the molecular and photophysical characterization, together with solid state and solution structure analysis, of a series of europium complexes based on β-diketonate ligands are reported. The Eu(III) complex emission, specifically its photoluminescence quantum yield (PL-QY), can be tuned by changing ligands which finely modifies the environment of the metal ion. Steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy and overall PL-QY measurements are reported and related to geometrical features observed in crystal structures of some selected compounds. Moreover, paramagnetic NMR, based on the analogous complexes with other lanthanides, are use to demonstrate that there is a significant structural reorganization upon dissolution, which justifies the observed differences in the emission properties between solid and solution states. The energy of the triplet levels of the ligands and the occurrence of nonradiative deactivation processes clearly account for the luminescence efficiencies of the complexes in the series.     

Deoxycholate as an efficient coating agent for hydrophilic silicon nanocrystals

A layer of macrocyclic calix[4]arene derivatives has been grafted on the internal surface of the mesochannels of the ordered mesoporous SBA-15 to develop highly efficient trap for heavy transition metal (HTM) ions. To ensure the successful anchoring of calix[4]arene derivatives on the surface of SBA-15, two different types of calix[4]arene derivatives, one with one trimethoxysilane functional group and another with two trimethoxysilane functional groups have been explored. XRD, N(2) adsorption and TEM results provide strong evidence that the mesoporous structure of the supporting materials retain their long range ordering throughout the grafting process. Solid-state NMR, TG and FT-IR spectroscopy indicate that both types of calix[4]arene derivatives can be well-anchored on the surface of the wall of SBA-15. Calix[4]arene derivative with only one trimethoxysilane functional group showed high grafting efficiency compared to that with two trimethoxysilane functional groups due to the intramolecular and intermolecular polycondensation between two trimethoxysilane functional groups. The HTM ions extraction capacity in aqueous solution of macrocycle functionalized SBA-15 nanohybrides for a series of HTM ions has been studied. The obtained materials demonstrated very high HTM ions extraction capacity up to 96% for Pb(2+) in aqueous solution.     

Changes in amniotic fluid and umbilical cord serum proteomic profiles of foetuses with intrauterine growth retardation

Foetal growth is a result of a complex net of processes, requiring coordination within the maternal, placental, and foetal compartments, the imbalance or lack of which may lead to intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). IUGR is the major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, and is also related to enhanced morbidity and metabolic abnormalities later in life. In the present study, the protein profiles of umbilical cord serum (UCS) and amniotic fluid (AF) of ten IUGR and ten appropriate for gestational age newborns have been analysed by 2-DE, and nanoHPLC-Chip/MS technology. A total of 18 and 13 spots were found to be differentially expressed (p<0.01) in UCS and AF respectively. The unique differentially expressed proteins identified by MS/MS analysis were 14 in UCS, and 11 in AF samples. Protein gene ontology classification indicate that 21% of proteins are involved in inflammatory response, 20% in immune response, while a smaller proportion are related to transport, blood pressure, and coagulation. These results support the conclusion that the IUGR condition alters the expression of proteins involved in the coagulation process, immune mechanisms, blood pressure and iron and copper homeostasis control, offering a new insight into IUGR pathogenesis.     

Determination of 99Tc in evaporator concentrates using solid phase extraction techniques

This paper describes a simple and rapid method of ⁹⁹Tc pre-concentration, separation and purification by using AnaLig^? Tc02 gel in two stages or AnaLig^? Tc02 gel in a first stage and TEVA^? resin in a second stage, which are commercially available from IBC advanced technologies, Inc. and Eichrom technologies, Inc., respectively. The method is suitable for analyzing large volume concentrate samples in a relatively short time. The use and effectiveness of AnaLig^? Tc02 and Eichrom’s TEVA^? resin were successfully tested by analysis of evaporator concentrate samples which belong to the class of most difficult matrices to analyze.     

Aldolase activity of serum albumins

Bovine and human serum albumins catalyze the aldol reaction of aromatic aldehyedes and acetone, with saturation kinetics and moderate and opposite enantioselectivity. The reaction occurs at the binding site in domain IIa, and is inhibited by warfarin. Kinetic data are consistent with an enamine mechanism. The activity is conserved in a 103 aminoacid peptide derived from the albumin sequence.