Cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of novel Pd(II) complexes against human leukemia cell lines in vitro

In the investigation for alternative chemotherapeutic strategies against leukemia, Pd(II) complexes were synthesized and investigated for cytotoxic and apoptotic properties on two human leukemia cell lines (HL-60 and K562). Pd(II) complexes (Pd-5a and Pd-6a) with 5a and 6a as ligands were synthesized and characterized by ¹H-NMR and F-TIR. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was quantified using MTT method. Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase 3 gene expression levels were estimated using RT-qPCR. Here we show that Pd(II) complexes have important cytotoxic activity on human leukemia cell lines. RT-qPCR indicated that Bax and caspase 3 gene expression levels were increased after 24 h treatment with Pd-5a and Pd-6a complexes in both HL-60 and K562 cells at some selected dose. Furthermore, Bcl-2 gene expression level decreased after 24 h treatment with Pd-5a and Pd-6a complexes in K562 cells at all selected dose. In HL-60 cells, only one selected Pd-5a dose (25 µM) decreased the gene expression level of Bcl-2. The results obtained in the present investigation indicate that these two newly synthesized Pd(II) complexes have apoptotic effects at appropriate doses through caspase 3 and Bax genes and might represent a novel potentially active agents for the management of human leukemia cell lines.     

Responsive microgrooves for the formation of harvestable tissue constructs

Given its biocompatibility, elasticity, and gas permeability, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) is widely used to fabricate microgrooves and microfluidic devices for three-dimensional (3D) cell culture studies. However, conformal coating of complex PDMS devices prepared by standard microfabrication techniques with desired chemical functionality is challenging. This study describes the conformal coating of PDMS microgrooves with poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) by using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD). These microgrooves guided the formation of tissue constructs from NIH-3T3 fibroblasts that could be retrieved by the temperature-dependent swelling property and hydrophilicity change of the PNIPAAm. The thickness of swollen PNIPAAm films at 24 °C was approximately 3 times greater than at 37 °C. Furthermore, PNIPAAm-coated microgroove surfaces exhibit increased hydrophilicity at 24 °C (contact angle θ = 30° ± 2) compared to 37 °C (θ = 50° ± 1). Thus PNIPAAm film on the microgrooves exhibits responsive swelling with higher hydrophilicity at room temperature, which could be used to retrieve tissue constructs. The resulting tissue constructs were the same size as the grooves and could be used as modules in tissue fabrication. Given its ability to form and retrieve cell aggregates and its integration with standard microfabrication, PNIPAAm-coated PDMS templates may become useful for 3D cell culture applications in tissue engineering and drug discovery.     

Surface Characterization of a Novel D-��-D Type Ligand by IGC at Infinite Dilution

The adsorption properties and acid?Cbase contributions to the surface energy of (E)-N-((E)-3-(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)allylidene)-4-(4-((E)-((E))-3-(4(dimethylamino)phenyl)allylidene)amino)-3-methylnaphthalen-1-yl)-2-ethylnaphthalen-1-amine which is a new D-??-D Type Schiff base ligand (L) were determined by inverse gas chromatography (IGC) at infinite dilution. The retentions of several organic solvents on L were measured in the temperature range from 40 to 100 °C by IGC. The dispersive component of the surface energy, $ \gamma_{S}^{D} $ of studied adsorbent surface was estimated using retention times of different nonpolar organics in the infinite dilution region. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption (free energy, $ \Updelta G_{A}^{S} , $ enthalpy, $ \Updelta H_{A}^{S} $ and entrophy, $ \Updelta S_{A}^{S} $ ), dispersive components of the surface energies, $ \gamma_{S}^{D} $ and the acid, K _A and base, K _D constants for the L were calculated. The obtained results proved that IGC is an efficient and successful technique for the characterization of adsorption properties and acid?Cbase quantity of these kinds of materials.     

Vibrational spectroscopic study on some Hofmann type clathrates: M(2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine)2Ni(CN)4·2benzene (M=Ni and Cd)

New Hofmann type benzene clathrates in the form of M(CyHEA)2Ni(CN)4·2benzene (where CyHEA=2-(1-cyclohexenyl)ethylamine and M=Ni or Cd) have been prepared in powder form and FT-IR and Raman spectra have been reported. The results suggest that title compounds are similar in structure to Hofmann type clathrates and their structures consist of polymeric layers of |M-Ni(CN)4|∞ with the CyHEA molecule bounded to the metal atoms (M).     

A multifaceted approach to hydrogen storage

The widespread adoption of hydrogen as an energy carrier could bring significant benefits, but only if a number of currently intractable problems can be overcome. Not the least of these is the problem of storage, particularly when aimed at use onboard light-vehicles. The aim of this overview is to look in depth at a number of areas linked by the recently concluded HYDROGEN research network, representing an intentionally multi-faceted selection with the goal of advancing the field on a number of fronts simultaneously. For the general reader we provide a concise outline of the main approaches to storing hydrogen before moving on to detailed reviews of recent research in the solid chemical storage of hydrogen, and so provide an entry point for the interested reader on these diverse topics. The subjects covered include: the mechanisms of Ti catalysis in alanates; the kinetics of the borohydrides and the resulting limitations; novel transition metal catalysts for use with complex hydrides; less common borohydrides; protic-hydridic stores; metal ammines and novel approaches to nano-confined metal hydrides.     

On approximations of the de Rham complex and their cohomology

For a commutative algebra R, its de Rham cohomology is an important invariant of R. In the paper, an infinite chain of de Rham-like complexes is introduced where the first member of the chain is the de Rham complex. The complexes are called approximations of the de Rham complex. Their cohomologies are found for polynomial rings and algebras of power series over a field of characteristic zero.     

Distinguishing and quantification of the human visual pathways using high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor tractography

Quantification of the living human visual system using MRI methods has been challenging, but several applications demand a reliable and time-efficient data acquisition protocol. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of high-spatial-resolution diffusion tensor fiber tractography (DTT) in reconstructing and quantifying the human visual pathways. Five healthy males, age range 24–37 years, were studied after approval of the institutional review board (IRB) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. We acquired diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data with 1-mm slice thickness on a 3.0-Tesla clinical MRI scanner and analyzed the data using DTT with the fiber assignment by continuous tractography (FACT) algorithm. By utilizing the high-spatial-resolution DTI protocol with FACT algorithm, we were able to reconstruct and quantify bilateral optic pathways including the optic chiasm, optic tract, optic radiations free of contamination from neighboring white matter tracts.     

High-pressure densities and derived volumetric properties (excess, apparent, and partial molar volumes) of binary mixtures of {methanol (1) + [BMIM][BF4] (2)}

The density of seven {(0.0087, 0.0433, 0.1302, 0.2626, 0.4988, 0.7501, and 0.9102) mole fraction of [BMIM][BF₄]} binary {methanol (1) + [BMIM][BF₄] (2)} (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate) mixtures has been measured with a vibrating-tube densimeter. Measurements were performed at temperatures from (298 to 398) K and at pressures up to 40 MPa. The total uncertainties of density, temperature, pressure, and concentration measurements was estimated to be less than 0.15 kg · m⁻³, 15 mK, 5 kPa, and 10⁻⁴, respectively. The uncertainties reported in this paper are expanded uncertainties at the 95% confidence level with a coverage factor of k = 2. The effect of temperature, pressure, and concentration on the density and derived volumetric properties such as excess, apparent, and partial molar volumes was studied. The measured densities were used to develop a Tait-type equation of state for the mixture. The structural properties such as direct and total correlation function integrals and cluster size were calculated using the Krichevskii function concept and the equation of state for the mixture at infinite dilution.     

Synthesis of 2-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-(substituted-phenyl)acrylonitriles: in vitro anticancer activity against MCF-7, PC-3 and A2780 cancer cell lines

A series of 2-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)-1-(substituted-phenyl)acrylonitrile (2–9) were designed and synthesized to develop new cancer drugs. The structures of synthesized compounds 2–9 were described by using melting point, mass (MALDI-TOF-MS), FT-IR, elemental analysis, ¹H, ¹³C, ¹³C-APT and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The in vitro anticancer activities of 2–9 against human breast cancer (MCF-7), human prostate cancer (PC-3) and human ovarian cancer cells (A2780) were investigated by [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol)-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay method. Additionally, the LogIC₅₀ values of these compounds on A2780, MCF-7 and PC-3 cell lines were calculated by using inhibition % values by the GraphPad Prism 6 program on a computer. The results indicated that these compounds have high anticancer activity against MCF-7, PC-3 and A2780 cell lines (especially A2780 cell lines, p < 0.05).