Wasserphotolyse mit Hilfe von funktionellen Tris-(2,2′-bipyridin)ruthenium(II)-Komplexen

19 Tris(2,2-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) complexes with functional groups were synthesized and investigated as sensitizers in photochemical hydrogen production by visible light with the four component system Ru(bipy) ₃ ²⁺ , methylviologen, ethylenediamintetraacetic acid and colloidal platinum ruthenium-bipyridine complexes with electron accepting groups, e.g. halogen or carboxylate were found to be most effective in hydrogen generation.

Herrn Prof. Dr. mult.Viktor Gutmann zum 65. Geburtstag gewidmet.     

Quantitative GC determination of water in small samples

Summary A gas chromatographic method with thermal conductivity detector (TCD) was developed for the determination of water in small amounts (2mg–20 mg) of solid chemicals. Quantification of water is carried out by using ethanol as an internal standard. The method shows good linearity in the range 0.1%–10% water. The precision as repeatability tested with a sample containing 0.5% water has a coefficient of variation of 5.3%. Comparison of the GC test results with another independent method (Karl-Fischer-titration) confirms the accuracy of the new method. Easy handling, independence of the chemical structure of the test substance and the small amount of sample needed are the major advantages of this alternative method of determining the water content of solid chemicals.     

Convenient Synthesis of 1-Oxa-3,8-diazaspiro [4,5] Decan-2-ones

Synthesis of 1-oxa-3,8-diazospiro [4,5] decan-2-ones from 4-pyridone by addition of trimethylsilyl cyanide.     

Zinc and Copper Ions Induce Aggregation of Human β-Crystallins

Cataracts are defined as the clouding of the lens due to the formation of insoluble protein aggregates. Metal ions exposure has been recognized as a risk factor in the cataract formation process. The γ and β crystallins are members of a larger family and share several structural features. Several studies have shown that copper and zinc ions induce the formation of γ-crystallins aggregates. However, the interaction of metal ions with β-crystallins, some of the most abundant crystallins in the lens, has not been explored until now. Here, we evaluate the effect of Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions on the aggregation of HβA1, as a representative of the acidic form, and HβB2, as a representative of the basic β-crystallins. We used several biophysical techniques and computational methods to show that Cu(II) and Zn(II) induce aggregation following different pathways. Both metal ions destabilize the proteins and impact protein folding. Copper induced a small conformational change in HβA1, leading to high-molecular-weight light-scattering aggregates, while zinc is more aggressive towards HβB2 and induces a larger conformational change. Our work provides information on the mechanisms of metal-induced aggregation of β-crystallins.     

万亿摄氏度下烹煮夸克汤：核物质相结构和量子色动力学相变临界点的实验研究

高温高密核物质相结构是核物理研究领域的热点和前沿。量子色动力学(QCD)相变临界点的实验确认将是探索核物质相结构的里程碑,具有重要科学意义。为了在这一具有潜在重大发现的研究方向上占据领先地位、取得突破,各国纷纷建造大型加速器以及粒子探测器,开展重离子碰撞实验,其主要目标就是从实验上探索高温高密核物质相结构、寻找QCD相变临界点。文章总结了近年来相对论重离子碰撞中核物质相结构及QCD临界点的实验研究进展,并对未来探索高重子密度区核物质相结构、寻找QCD临界点的重要实验装置做了展望。     

Evaluation of the Effects of Genistein In Vitro as a Chemopreventive Agent for Colorectal Cancer—Strategy to Improve Its Efficiency When Administered Orally

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) ranks third in terms of incidence and second in terms of mortality and prevalence worldwide. In relation to chemotherapy treatment, the most used drug is 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); however, the use of this drug generates various toxic effects at the systemic level. For this reason, new therapeutic strategies are currently being sought that can be used as neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatments. Recent research has shown that natural compounds, such as genistein, have chemotherapeutic and anticancer effects, but the mechanisms of action of genistein and its molecular targets in human colon cells have not been fully elucidated. The results reported in relation to non-malignant cell lines are also unclear, which does not allow evidence of the selectivity that this compound may have. Therefore, in this work, genistein was evaluated in vitro in both cancer cell lines SW480 and SW620 and in the non-malignant cell line HaCaT. The results obtained show that genistein has selectivity for the SW480 and SW620 cell lines. In addition, it inhibits cell viability and has an antiproliferative effect in a dose-dependent manner. Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also found, suggesting an association with the cell death process through various mechanisms. Finally, the encapsulation strategy that was proposed made it possible to demonstrate that bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is capable of protecting genistein from the acidic conditions of gastric fluid and also allows the release of the compound in the colonic fluid. This would allow genistein to act locally in the mucosa of the colon where the first stages of CRC occur.     

Study of antiviral and virucidal activities of aqueous extract of Baccharis articulata against Herpes suis virus

Baccharis articulata is native of América and traditionally used for the treatment of digestive disorders and urinary infections. Cytotoxicity of aqueous extracts of B. articulata was investigated in Vero cells. As the maximal non cytotoxic concentration has been established, this concentration has been used to evaluate antiviral and virucidal activities against Herpes suis virus type 1, member of the same subfamily of Herpes simplex virus. Aqueous extracts of B. articulata exhibited more than 95% of virucidal activity. These findings support their potential application as a disinfectant or antiseptic with low toxicity and provide a valuable knowledge to ethnopharmacology properties of Baccharis articulata.     

Asymmetric synthesis of α-alkyl α-selenocarbonyl compounds catalyzed by bifunctional organocatalysts

A new organocatalytic approach for the synthesis of a variety of α-alkyl, α-phenylselenyl ketones as well as their corresponding esters and amides, by the addition of α-selenocarbonyl derivatives to nitroalkenes catalyzed by thiourea or squaramide cinchona catalysts, is presented. This catalytic system allows the preparation in high yields of enantiomerically enriched selenocarbonyl derivatives bearing two chiral centers with excellent ee's and dr's by using catalytic loadings of 3 mol%.     

Post-Harvest Use of Ultraviolet Light (UV) and Light Emitting Diode (LED) to Enhance Bioactive Compounds in Refrigerated Tomatoes

Different strategies have been developed to increase the concentration of bioactive compounds in tomatoes during post-harvest, with ultraviolet light (UV) and light emitting diodes (LEDs) being interesting tools. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ultraviolet (UVA at 366 nm and UVC at 254 nm) pre-treatment (1 kJ/m²) and red–blue LED light (25.4 µmol/m²/s) on the concentration of carotenoids, (poly)phenols and hydrophilic/lipophilic antioxidant capacity during 7 days of refrigeration storage of green tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivar “Raf”. In addition, special attention was paid to quality parameters (weight loss, colour, acidity, soluble solids and ripening index). Tomatoes exposed to LED light at 6 °C for 7 days increased up to three times the total carotenoids content (mainly β-carotene and E-lycopene) compared to tomatoes refrigerated in the dark, while UV treatments alone did not significantly affect the carotenoid content. Besides, exposure to LEDs increased the hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant capacity of tomatoes by 30%, without affecting phenolic contents. Thus, LED treatments alone during refrigerated storage fostered ripening and improved the nutritional value of tomatoes, without compromising quality parameters. Further studies must be carried out to evaluate the impact on sensory attributes and consumer acceptance.