Superoxide Dismutase-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles Protect Cultured Human Neurons Under Oxidative Stress

The objective of our study was to investigate the neuroprotective efficacy of superoxide dismutase (SOD), loaded in poly(D,L-lactide co-glycolide; PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs), in cultured human neurons challenged with hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced oxidative stress. We hypothesized that the protected and sustained intracellular delivery of SOD encapsulated in NPs would demonstrate better neuroprotection from oxidative stress than either SOD or pegylated SOD (PEG-SOD) in solution. SOD-NPs (approximately 81 +/- 4 nm in diameter, 0.9% w/w SOD loading) released the encapsulated SOD in an active form with 8.2% cumulative release during the first 24 h, followed by a slower release thereafter. The results demonstrated that PLGA-NPs are compatible with human neurons, and the neuroprotective effect of SOD-NPs is dose-dependent, with efficacy seen at >100 U SOD, and less significant effects at lower doses. Neither SOD (25-200 U) nor PEG-SOD (100 U) in solution demonstrated the neuroprotective effect under similar conditions. The neuroprotective effect of SOD-NPs was seen up to 6 h after H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress, but the effect diminished thereafter. Confocal microscopic studies demonstrated better intracellular neuronal uptake of the encapsulated model protein (fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled BSA) than the protein in solution. Thus, the mechanism of efficacy of SOD-NPs appears to be due to the stability of the encapsulated enzyme and its better neuronal uptake after encapsulation.     

Highly enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of indoles with 2-enoylpyridine 1-oxides catalyzed by chiral pyridine 2,6-bis(5',5'-diphenyloxazoline)-Cu(II) complexes

The catalytic enantioselective Friedel-Crafts reaction of indoles with 2-enoylpyridine 1-oxides has been studied in the presence of chiral pyridine 2,6-bis(5',5'-diphenyloxazoline)-Cu(II) complexes. The reaction furnished alkylated indoles in excellent yields (up to 97%) and enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee).     

Oligoethylene glycols as highly efficient mutifunctional promoters for nucleophilic-substitution reactions

Herein, we report the promising use of n-oligoethylene glycols (oligoEGs) as mutifunctional promoters for nucleophilic-substitution reactions employing alkali metal salts. Among the various oligoEGs tested, pentaethylene glycol (pentaEG) had the most efficient catalytic activity. In particular, when compared with other nucleophiles examined, a fluorine nucleophile generated from CsF was significantly activated by the pentaEG promoter. We also performed various facile nucleophilic-displacement reactions, such as the halogenation, acetoxylation, thioacetoxylation, nitrilation, and azidation of various substrates with potassium halides, acetate, thioacetate, cyanide, and sodium azide, respectively, in the presence of the pentaEG promoter. All of these reactions provided their desired products in excellent yields. Furthermore, the combination of pentaEG and a tert-alcohol medium showed tremendous efficiency in the nucleophilic-displacement reactions (fluorination and methoxylation) of base-sensitive substrates with basic nucleophiles (cesium fluoride and potassium methoxide, respectively). The catalytic role of oligoEGs was examined by quantum-chemical methods. The oxygen atoms in oligoEGs were found to act as Lewis bases on the metal cations to produce the "flexible" nucleophile, whereas the two terminal hydroxy (OH) groups acted as "anchors" to orientate the nucleophile and the substrate into an ideal configuration for the reaction.     

Synthesis of new ESIPT-fluorescein: photophysics of pH sensitivity and fluorescence

ESIPT-inspired benzimidazolyl substituted fluorescein dyes were synthesized. PH-sensitivity was determined by the photophysical property measured at a physiological possible pH range. Fluorescence quantum efficiency values were calculated independently at two different emissions. A rational relationship is defined between fluorescence quantum efficiency and calculated HOMO energy.     

A new beryllium ion-selective membrane electrode based on dibenzo(perhydrotriazino)aza-14-crown-4 ether

Beryllium(II) selective electrodes have been fabricated based on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix membranes containing newly synthesized neutral carrier dibenzo(perhydrotriazino)aza-14-crown-4 ethers as ionophore. Best performance was exhibited by the membrane having a composition ionophore (IIa):PVC:sodium tetraphenylborate (NaTPB):tributyl phosphate (TBP) in the ratio (w/w; mg) of 5:30:3:65. This membrane worked well over a wide concentration range 7.6 × 10⁻⁶ to 1.0 × 10⁻¹ M of Be²⁺ with a Nernstian slope of 30.7 mV per decade of beryllium activity. The response time of the sensor is 15 s and the membrane can be used over a period of 4 months with good reproducibility. The proposed electrode works well in a wide pH range 3.0–9.0. It was successfully applied to the determination of beryllium in a mineral sample.     

Cleavage of activated cyclic amines: Unprecedented approach toward 2-substituted cyclobutanones

We report, for the first time, ring opening of activated four- to six-membered cyclic amines followed by an intramolecular expansion of cyclopropanol to cyclobutanone via carbocation intermediate. In the case of a N-tosylaziridine ester, a cyclobutanol was formed in a stereospecific manner during the Kulinkovich reaction step.     

Enantioselective one-pot three-component synthesis of propargylamines

[reaction: see text] A copper(I) complex of i-Pr-pybox-diPh has been found to be an efficient catalyst for an enantioselective one-pot three-component synthesis of propargylamines from aldehydes, amines, and alkynes. The reaction has been applied to a wide variety of aromatic aldehydes with excellent yields (up to 99%) and enantiomeric excesses (up to 99% ee). A transition-state model has been proposed to explain the stereochemical outcome of the reaction.     

间苯二酚保护的抗菌Pd纳米粒子催化C-C偶联反应活性(英文)

合成了新型四甲氧基间苯二酚-四酰肼(TMRTH),并作为还原剂和封端剂用于合成水分散性稳定的Pd纳米粒子(PdNPs).采用紫外-可见光谱、透射电镜、能量散射谱和粉末X射线衍射对所得TMRTH-PdNPs样品进行了表征.结果表明,所制纳米粒子具有多分散性,粒径为5±2 nm,并在Suzuki-Miyuara交叉偶联反应中可重复使用5次,具有较高的催化效率.该纳米催化剂在反应时间、催化剂用量和可重复使用性能等方面优于常规Pd催化剂.另外,TMRTH-PdNPs样品对革兰(氏)阳性菌具有较好的抗菌活性,因而有望用于一些生物领域.