Photodynamic Activity on Biofilm in Endotracheal Tubes of Patients Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an infection that arises after endotracheal intubation affecting patients under intensive care. The presence of the endotracheal tube (ETT) is a risk factor since it is colonized by multispecies biofilm. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) could be a strategy to decontaminate ETTs. We verify if methylene blue (MB) associated with external illumination of the ETT could be an alternative to destroy biofilm. We performed an in vitro and ex vivo study. In vitro study was performed with P. aeruginosa biofilm grew over ETT for 7 days. After treatment, the surviving cells were cultured for 3 days and the biofilm was analyzed by crystal violet absorbance. Ex vivo study employed ETT obtained from extubated patients. aPDT was performed with MB (100 µm ) and red LED (λ = 640±20 nm). We quantified the biofilm thickness and used scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence technique to verify morphological and functional changes after aPDT. Our results showed that bacteria remain susceptible to aPDT after sequential treatments. We also attested that aPDT can reduce biofilm thickness, disrupt biofilm attachment from ETT surface and kill microbial cells. These data suggest that aPDT should be investigated to decrease VAP incidence via ETT decontamination.     

A Supported Bismuth Halide Perovskite Photocatalyst for Selective Aliphatic and Aromatic C–H Bond Activation

Direct selective oxidation of hydrocarbons to oxygenates by O₂ is challenging. Catalysts are limited by the low activity and narrow application scope, and the main focus is on active C−H bonds at benzylic positions. In this work, stable, lead-free, Cs₃Bi₂Br₉ halide perovskites are integrated within the pore channels of mesoporous SBA-15 silica and demonstrate their photocatalytic potentials for C−H bond activation. The composite photocatalysts can effectively oxidize hydrocarbons (C₅ to C₁₆ including aromatic and aliphatic alkanes) with a conversion rate up to 32900 μmol g_cat⁻¹ h⁻¹ and excellent selectivity (>99 %) towards aldehydes and ketones under visible-light irradiation. Isotopic labeling, in situ spectroscopic studies, and DFT calculations reveal that well-dispersed small perovskite nanoparticles (2–5 nm) possess enhanced electron–hole separation and a close contact with hydrocarbons that facilitates C(sp³)−H bond activation by photoinduced charges.     

One Guest or Two? A Crystallographic and Solution Study of Guest Binding in a Cubic Coordination Cage

A crystallographic investigation of a series of host–guest complexes in which small-molecule organic guests occupy the central cavity of an approximately cubic M₈L₁₂ coordination cage has revealed some unexpected behaviour. Whilst some guests form 1:1 H⋅G complexes as we have seen before, an extensive family of bicyclic guests—including some substituted coumarins and various saturated analogues—form 1:2 H⋅G₂ complexes in the solid state, despite the fact that solution titrations are consistent with 1:1 complex formation, and the combined volume of the pair of guests significantly exceeds the Rebek 55±9 % packing for optimal guest binding, with packing coefficients of up to 87 %. Re-examination of solution titration data for guest binding in two cases showed that, although conventional fluorescence titrations are consistent with 1:1 binding model, alternative forms of analysis—Job plot and an NMR titration—at higher concentrations do provide evidence for 1:2 H⋅G₂ complex formation. The observation of guests binding in pairs in some cases opens new possibilities for altered reactivity of bound guests, and also highlights the recently articulated difficulties associated with determining stoichiometry of supramolecular complexes in solution.     

Quadruplex–Duplex Junction: A High-Affinity Binding Site for Indoloquinoline Ligands

A parallel quadruplex derived from the Myc promoter sequence was extended by a stem-loop duplex at either its 5′- or 3′-terminus to mimic a quadruplex–duplex (Q–D) junction as a potential genomic target. High-resolution structures of the hybrids demonstrate continuous stacking of the duplex on the quadruplex core without significant perturbations. An indoloquinoline ligand carrying an aminoalkyl side chain was shown to bind the Q–D hybrids with a very high affinity in the order K_a≈10⁷ m ⁻¹ irrespective of the duplex location at the quadruplex 3′- or 5′-end. NMR chemical shift perturbations identified the tetrad face of the Q–D junction as specific binding site for the ligand. However, calorimetric analyses revealed significant differences in the thermodynamic profiles upon binding to hybrids with either a duplex extension at the quadruplex 3′- or 5′-terminus. A large enthalpic gain and considerable hydrophobic effects are accompanied by the binding of one ligand to the 3′-Q–D junction, whereas non-hydrophobic entropic contributions favor binding with formation of a 2:1 ligand-quadruplex complex in case of the 5′-Q–D hybrid.     

How mobile NMR can help with the conservation of paintings

The conservation of paintings is fundamental to ensure that future generations will have access to the ideas of the grand masters who created these art pieces. Many factors, such as humidity, temperature, light, and pollutants, pose a risk to the conservation of paintings. To help with painting conservation, it is essential to be able to noninvasively study how these factors affect paintings and to develop methods to investigate their effects on painting degradation. Hence, the use of mobile nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as a method of investigation of paintings is gaining increased attention in the world of Heritage Science. In this mini-review, we discuss how this method was used to better understand the stratigraphy of paintings and the effect different factors have on the painting integrity, to analyze the different cleaning techniques suitable for painting conservation, and to show how mobile NMR can be used to identify forgeries. It is also important to keep in mind its limitations and build upon this information to optimize it to extend its applicability to the study of paintings and other precious objects of cultural heritage.     

Structurally Interesting Diarymethane Derivatives from Securidaca inappendiculata

Securines A—E, three dimeric diarymethane derivatives ( 1 — 3 ) and two enantiomeric diarymethane derivative monomers ( 4 and 5 ), were isolated and characterized from the medicinal plant Securidaca inappendiculata. Compounds 1 and 2 are a pair of enantiomeric diarymethane derivative dimers, and compound 3 is a mesomeric diarymethane derivative dimer. Their structures were determined by a combination of spectroscopic data, X‐ray crystallography, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analysis, and computational ECD calculations. Dimeric compounds 1 — 3 showed moderate antiplasmodial activities with IC₅₀ values of 0.9, 1.4, and 1.5 μM, respectively.     

Synthesis,Structure and Cytotoxicity Testing of Novel 7-(4,5-Dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-2-aryl-6,7-dihydro-2H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-3(5H)-Imine Derivatives

The appropriate 1-arylhydrazinecarbonitriles 1a–c are subjected to the reaction with 2-chloro-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole (2), yielding 7-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-2-aryl-6,7-dihydro-2H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-3(5H)-imines 3a–c, which are subsequently converted into the corresponding amides 4a–e, 8a–c, sulfonamides 5a–n, 9, ureas 6a–I, and thioureas 7a–d. The structures of the newly prepared derivatives 3a–c, 4a–e, 5a–n, 6a–i, 7a–d, 8a–c, and 9 are confirmed by IR, NMR spectroscopic data, as well as single-crystal X-ray analyses of 5e and 8c. The in vitro cytotoxic potency of these compounds is determined on a panel of human cancer cell lines, and the relationships between structure and antitumor activity are discussed. The most active 4-chloro-N-(2-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-6,7-dihydro-2H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-3(5H)-ylidene)benzamide (4e) and N-(7-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-2-(p-tolyl)-6,7-dihydro-2H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-3(5H)-ylidene)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4-sulfonamide (5l) inhibits the growth of the cervical cancer SISO and bladder cancer RT-112 cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 2.38–3.77 μM. Moreover, N-(7-(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)-2-phenyl-6,7-dihydro-2H-imidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-3(5H)-ylidene)-4-phenoxybenzenesulfonamide (5m) has the best selectivity towards the SISO cell line and induces apoptosis in this cell line.     

Bioactive Properties and Phenolic Compound Profiles of Turnip-Rooted,Plain-Leafed and Curly-Leafed Parsley Cultivars

Petroselinum crispum Mill., Fuss., is a culinary vegetable used as an aromatic herb that garnishes and flavours a great variety of dishes. In the present study, the chemical profiles and bioactivities of leaf samples from 25 cultivars (three types: plain- and curly-leafed and turnip-rooted) from this species were assessed. Seven phenolic compounds were identified in all the varieties, including apigenin and kaempherol derivates. Apigenin-O-pentoside-O-hexoside was the major compound in all the tested parsley types (20, 22 and 13 mg/g of extract, respectively) and responsible for its excellent antioxidant activity, also investigated in this study. Antimicrobial activities were also explored, and the results revealed a good bioactivity against specific tested pathogens, such as bacteria and fungi. In conclusion, the leaves of all the types of P. crispum are a good source of natural bioactive compounds that confer health benefits, and thus, they should be part of a balanced and diversified diet.     

Saffron: Chemical Composition and Neuroprotective Activity

Crocus sativus L. belongs to the Iridaceae family and it is commonly known as saffron. The different cultures together with the geoclimatic characteristics of the territory determine a different chemical composition that characterizes the final product. This is why a complete knowledge of this product is fundamental, from which more than 150 chemical compounds have been extracted from, but only about one third of them have been identified. The chemical composition of saffron has been studied in relation to its efficacy in coping with neurodegenerative retinal diseases. Accordingly, experimental results provide evidence of a strict correlation between chemical composition and neuroprotective capacity. We found that saffron’s ability to cope with retinal neurodegeneration is related to: (1) the presence of specific crocins and (2) the contribution of other saffron components. We summarize previous evidence and provide original data showing that results obtained both “in vivo” and “in vitro” lead to the same conclusion.