Comparative stability constants for metal ions with tetraazamacrocycles of various ring sizes carrying a single amine or carboxylate pendant group

Acid dissociation constants for a series of tetraazamonocycloalkanes of {13}–{15} membered ring sizes, as well as for a related reinforced {15R} tetraazabicycloalkane, each with one primary amine or carboxylate C-pendant, are reported. Further, formation constants with the metal ions Zn^II, Cd^II, Pb^II, Hg^II, Mn^II and Co^II have been determined. The ligands differ in their selection of metal ions, reflected in the formation constants for 1:1 complexation (K _ML). Differences arise in part from the increasing ring size or rigidity and also from the availability of potential pendant O-donors versus N-donors in stepping from amine to carboxylate pendant ligands, implying a role for the pendants in binding the metal ions.     

Comparison of adsorption performances of metal–chelated polyamide hollow fibre membranes in lysozyme separation

Commercially available microporous polyamide hollow fibres are modified by acid hydrolysis to activate the reactive groups and subsequently binding of the ligand, i.e. Cibacron Blue F3GA. Then the Cibacron Blue F3GA-derived hollow fibres were loaded with different metal ions (i.e. Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II)) to form the metal chelate. The internal polymer matrix was characterised by scanning electron microscopy. The effects of pH, initial concentration of lysozyme, metal type and temperature on the adsorption of lysozyme to the metal–chelated hollow fibres were examined in a batch reactor. The non-specific adsorption of lysozyme onto the polyamide hollow fibres was 1.8 mg/g. Cibacron Blue F3GA immobilisation increased the lysozyme adsorption up to 62.3 mg/g. Metal–chelated hollow fibres showed a significant increase of the adsorption efficiency. Lysozyme adsorption capacities of Zn(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II)-chelated hollow fibres were different. The maximum capacities of Zn(II), Cu(II) or Ni(II)-chelated hollow fibres were 144.2, 75.2 and 68.6 mg/g, respectively. Significant amount of the adsorbed lysozyme (up to 97%) was eluted in 1 h in the elution medium containing 1.0 M NaSCN at pH 8.0 and 25 mM EDTA at pH 4.9. Repeated adsorption–desorption process showed that this novel metal–chelated polyamide hollow fibres are suitable for lysozyme adsorption.     

Novel hydrogel membrane based on copoly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate/p-vinylbenzyl-poly(ethylene oxide)) for biomedical applications: properties and drug release characteristics

The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize a novel biocompatible polymeric membrane system and demonstrate its potential use in various biomedical applications. Synthetic hydrogels based on poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate), poly(HEMA), have been widely studied and used in biomedical fields. A novel copolymer hydrogel was prepared in the membrane form using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer (HEMA) and a macromonomer p-vinylbenzyl-poly(ethylene oxide) (V-PEO) via photoinitiated polymerization. A series of poly(HEMA/V-PEO) copolymer membranes with different compositions was prepared. The membranes were characterized using infrared, thermal and SEM analysis. The thermal stabilities of the copolymer membranes were found to be lowered by an increase in the ratio of macromonomer (V-PEO) in the membrane structure. Because of the incorporation of PEO segments, the copolymers exhibited significantly higher hydrophilic surface properties than pure poly(HEMA), as demonstrated by contact angle measurements. Equilibrium swelling studies were conducted to investigate the swelling behavior of the membranes. The equilibrium water uptake was reached in about 4 h. Moreover, the blood protein adsorption and platelet adhesion were significantly reduced on the surface of the PEO containing copolymer membranes compared to control pure poly(HEMA). Drug release experiments were performed in a continuous release system using model drug (vancomycin) loaded copoly(HEMA/V-PEO) membranes. A specific poly(HEMA/V-PEO) membrane formulation possessing the highest PEO content (with a HEMA:V-PEO (mmol:mmol) feed ratio of 112:1 and loaded with 40 mg antibiotic/g polymer) released about 81% of the total loaded drug in 24 h at pH 7.4. This membrane composition provided the best results and can be considered as a potential candidate for a transdermal antibiotic carrier and various biomedical and biotechnological applications.     

New method to measure the K-shell absorption jump factor in some rare-earth elements

The Compton scattering of 59.54 keV gamma rays by an Al scatterer has been used as a primer source at scattering angles from 48 to 118° by using a Si(Li) detector, and this primer gamma ray has been send to absorbers including Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho and Er. A new method has been developed to determine the K-shell absorption jump factor of elements and compounds. This method is based on simultaneous measurement of fluorescence radiation and scattered radiation, thus avoiding the problems with measuring the source strength and source-to-detector solid angle. In this method, the jump factor is effected from the scattering angle. Evident energies near to K-absorption edges of each lanthanide element have been determined for chosen angles, after the incident photon energy (59.5 keV) is exposed to Compton scattering from Al (secondary source). The experimental absorption jump factors are compared with the theoretical estimates and literature experimental values.     

Kinetics of formation,dissociation and equilibrium constants of pentacyanoaquoruthenate(II) with heterocycles

The kinetics of formation and dissociation reactions of [Ru(CN)₅L]^3– with a series of heterocyclic ligands were studied in aqueous media. In this presence of an excess of heterocycle, the observed second order rate constants were calculated from the k_obs versus [ligand] plot at =0.100m NaClO₄. Activation parameters for the formation reactions (H=28±7kJmol^–1 and S=140±35JK^–1mol^–1) are comparable for all systems, indicating a common mechanism. The kinetics of exchange of coordinated heterocycles for 1,3,5-triazine yielded a rate saturation typical of a limiting dissociative mechanism. Activation parameters of the limiting first order specific rate of dissociation reactions were H=85±7kJmol^–1 and S=18±4JK^–1mol^–1. Equilibrium constants were calculated from the second order rates of formation and pseudo-first order rates of dissociation reaction.     

Synthesis and anticancer activities of 1,4-phenylene-bis-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetyl- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-phenylpyrazoline derivatives

Novel 1,4-phenylene-bis-N-acetyl- (3a–h) and bis-N-phenylpyrazoline derivatives (4a–h) were obtained by addition of hydrazine hydrate and phenylhydrazine to bis-chalcone derivatives (1a–h) in acetic acid and acetic acid/ethanol for 4 and 8 h in reflux conditions, respectively. The structures of the obtained bis-N-acetylpyrazoline and bis-N-phenylpyrazoline derivatives were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) spectroscopic methods and elemental analysis. Compounds 3a–h and 4a–h were investigated to evaluate their anticancer activities against C6 (rat brain tumor cells) and HeLa (human uterus carcinoma) in vitro using a dose-dependent assay from 5 to 100 μM with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as standard anticancer drug. Compound 3a showed higher cell-selective activity compared with 5-FU against HeLa cells. Compounds 3a–h (except 3d) were shown to have better activities than 5-FU against both cells, particularly at high concentration. Compound 4c showed higher cell-selective activity compared with 5-FU against C6 cells. Compound 3a may be particularly promising as an anticancer drug against HeLa cells.     

Synthesis,characterization, and investigations of antimicrobial activity of 6,6-dimethyl-3-aryl-3′,4′,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H,3H-spiro[benzofuran-2,2′-naphthalene]-1′,4(5H)-dione

Chalcone-like compounds 3a–l, 2-(benzylidene)-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one, were synthesized from the addition of different benzaldehyde derivatives (2a–l) to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-napthalone (1) in basic medium. Mn(OAc)₃-mediated addition of dimedone (4) to chalcone-like compounds gave the spirobenzofuran derivatives (5a-l), 6,6-dimethyl-3-aryl-3′,4′,6,7-tetrahydro-1′H,3H-spiro[benzofuran-2,2′-naphthalene]-1′,4 (5H)-dione, in good yields. The structures of synthesized compounds 5a–l were elucidated on basis of spectral data (NMR, IR) and elemental analysis. In addition, their antibacterial activities were screened against some human pathogenic microorganisms.     

Measurements of K X-ray fluorescence cross sections of Fe,Co, and Ni in an external magnetic field

The effects of the external magnetic field has been investigated on the K XRF cross sections of Fe, Co, Ni, and some of their compounds by using an energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The samples were irradiated by using the γ-rays of 59.537 keV emitted from an ²⁴¹Am radioisotope source of 100 mCi. The samples were prepared from pure foil of Fe, Co, Ni, and some of their compounds. The external magnetic fields have been applied two opposite directions and the magnitude of the external magnetic field has been fixed at 0.400 T and −0.400 T. The measured K XRF cross sections have been compared with the calculated theoretical data and interpolated values of Puri et al. Our experimental results show that the K XRF cross sections have been affected by the external magnetic field.