Inclusion complexes of some antipyrine derivatives with cyclodextrins: influence of guest configuration

Formation of inclusion complexes between α- and β-cyclodextrins and three antipyrine type compounds (antipyrine, 4-amino-antipyrine, 4-nitroso-antipyrine), in solution and in solid state, has been investigated. UV–Vis measurements indicate that in solution antipyrine derivatives do not form inclusion complexes and oxidative process of amino group is not influenced by the presence of cyclodextrins. The oxidation of 4-amino-antipyrine to 4-nitroso-antipyrine using DPPH type radicals was investigated using spin trapping experiments in organic solvents and in water. These results were explained by betainic configuration of antipyrine derivatives in aqueous solutions. Formation of inclusion complexes in solid states was evidenced by DSC, as peaks associated with various thermodynamic events (dehydration, melting, thermal decomposition) are shifted towards higher temperature or disappear in case of inclusion complexes.     

Exponential instability of linear skew-product semiflows in terms of Banach function spaces

In this paper we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for uniform exponential instability of linear skew-product semiflows in terms of Banach sequence spaces and Banach function spaces, respectively. We deduce the versions of some theorems due to Datko, Neerven, Przyluski, Rolewicz and Zabczyk, for the case of instability of linear skew-product semiflows.     

Chelating Ligands Tethered to Carbon Nanotubes

Summary: Carbon nanotubes offer an inert platform on which various species may be supported. A range of applications have been addressed using this approach. Anchoring sites on the nanotubes are usually groups introduced via an oxidative procedure. These groups provide convenient reactive functionality that can be accessed in a variety of ways. In this case, carboxyl functionality have been utilized to attach, through a linker, a good coordinating ligands, 1-10-phenanthroline. In the first instance, 1,10-phenanthroline was converted to the 5,6-epoxide by treatment with hypochlorite. The epoxide was opened in sulfuric acid to generate the 5-hydroxy compound. This, in turn, was treated with ethylene oxide in the presence of a base to provide the alkoxylated compound. The alcohol terminus, as the alkoxide, was used to couple the nanotubes by displacement of tosyl anion from the methylol ester. The carboxyl groups at the nanotubes surface were reduced to the corresponding alcohol and treated with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in the presence of pyridine to generate the tosylate used for coupling. In a second approach the carboxyl groups were converted to the corresponding acid chloride which was treated with alkoxylated phenanthroline to achieve coupling via an ester linkage.     

Electrochemical detection of ursolic acid from spruce (Picea abies) essential oils using modified amperometric microsensors

Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acid found in some medicinal plant species. In this paper, amperometric microsensors based on a powder which contained graphite (G) and carbon nanoparticles (CN) (G-CN) unmodified and modified with chitosan (CHIT) and tetraphenyl-porphine cobalt(II) (Co(II)TPP) are proposed for the analysis of UA plant source essential oils obtained from spruce (Picea Abies). Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to optimize the method and for the determination of ursolic acid from different types of botanical samples. The optimum working pH was 5.00 for the G-CN and (Co(II)TPP)/G-CN microsensors and pH 3.00 for CHIT/G-CN in the presence of a 0.1?mol L^?1 KCl supporting electrolyte. The linear concentration ranges for ursolic acid (UA) were between 0.1 and 100 µmol L^?1 for the unmodified microsensor (G-CN), 0.01, 1 µmol L^?1 for the microsensor modified with chitosan (CHIT/G-CN), and 0.01 and 10 µmol L^?1 for the microsensor modified with (Co(II)TPP)/G-CN). It is the first time these amperometric microsensors have been used for the reliable analysis of ursolic acid (UA) in three original botanical samples obtained from different parts of spruce (Picea abies): resin essential oil, cons essential oil, cons and sprouts essential oil, with recovery rate values up to 99.29%.     

Solid-state caging of 1,10-phenanthroline pi-pi stacked dimers by calix[4]arene dihydroxyphosphonic acid

The calix[4]arene dihydroxyphosphonic acid-1,10-phenanthroline complex shows caging of the guest molecules as a pi-pi stacked dimer in a cavity formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonds and aromatic walls formed by the calixarene.     

Arginine magic with new counterions up the sleeve

The elusive questions how arginine-rich sequences allow peptides and proteins to penetrate cells or to form voltage-gated ion channels are controversial topics of current scientific concern. The possible contributions of exchangeable counterions to these puzzling processes remain underexplored. The objective of this report is to clarify scope and limitations of certain counteranions to modulate cellular uptake and anion carrier activity of oligo/polyarginines. The key finding is that the efficiency of counteranion activators depends significantly on many parameters such as activator-membrane and activator-carrier interactions. This finding is important because it suggests that counteranions can be used to modulate not only efficiency but also selectivity. Specifically, activator efficiencies are found to increase with increasing aromatic surface of the activator, decreasing size of the transported anion, increasing carrier concentration as well as increasing membrane fluidity. Efficiency sequences depend on membrane composition with coronene > pyrene >fullerene > calix[4]arene carboxylates in fluid and crystalline DPPC contrasting to fullerene > calix[4]arene approximately coronene > pyrene carboxylates in EYPC with or without cholesterol or ergosterol. In HeLa cells, the efficiency of planar activators (pyrene) exceeds that of spherical activators (fullerenes, calixarenes). Polyarginine complexes with pyrene and coronene activators exhibit exceptional excimer emission. Decreasing excimer emission with increasing ionic strength reveals dominant hydrophobic interactions with the most efficient carboxylate activators. Dominance of ion pairing with the inefficient high-affinity sulfate activators is corroborated by the reversed dependence on ionic strength. These findings on activator-carrier and activator-membrane interactions are discussed as supportive of arene-templated guanidinium-carboxylate pairing and interface-directed translocation as possible origins of the superb performance of higher arene carboxylates as activators.     

Intramolecular interactions in μ‐oxido‐bis{bis[2‐(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl]stannol}

The title compound, [Sn₂(C₉H₁₂N)₄O(OH)₂], consists of two [2‐(Me₂NCH₂)C₆H₄]₂SnOH units bridged by an O atom located on a twofold rotation axis. The unique Sn atom is six‐coordinated with a (C,N)₂SnO₂ octahedral core, as a result of the strong intramolecular N→Sn dative coordination trans to the Sn—O bonds [N—Sn—O = 170.24 (12) and 167.83 (10)°]. Owing to the presence of intermolecular H...phenyl contacts, the molecules are arranged in a ladder‐like structure.     

Dendrimers as Non-Viral Vectors in Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy

Gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) has been intensively studied as a promising new strategy of prodrug delivery, with its main advantages being represented by an enhanced efficacy and a reduced off-target toxicity of the active drug. In recent years, numerous therapeutic systems based on GDEPT strategy have entered clinical trials. In order to deliver the desired gene at a specific site of action, this therapeutic approach uses vectors divided in two major categories, viral vectors and non-viral vectors, with the latter being represented by chemical delivery agents. There is considerable interest in the development of non-viral vectors due to their decreased immunogenicity, higher specificity, ease of synthesis and greater flexibility for subsequent modulations. Dendrimers used as delivery vehicles offer many advantages, such as: nanoscale size, precise molecular weight, increased solubility, high load capacity, high bioavailability and low immunogenicity. The aim of the present work was to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances regarding the use of dendrimers as non-viral carriers in the GDEPT therapy.     

Topical Dosage Formulation of Lyophilized Philadelphus coronarius L. Leaf and Flower: Antimicrobial,Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Assessment of the Plant

Philadelphus coronarius is a versatile plant and its use in folk medicine has a long tradition; however, scientifically, the medical utilization of the herb is a less explored research field. The aim of our study was to identify and determine the quantity of the bioactive compounds of both the leaf and the flower and prepare a lyophilized product of them, from which medical ointments were formulated, since the topical application of P. coronarius has also not been studied. In vitro drug release, texture analysis and biocompatibility experiments were carried out, as well as the investigation of microbiological, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. According to our results the composition and the selected excipients of the ointments have a great impact on the drug release, texture and bioavailability of the preparation. During the microbiological testing, the P. coronarius leaf was effective against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, but it did not significantly decrease IL-4 production when it was tested on HaCaT cells. P. coronarius is a promising herb, and its topical application in antimicrobial therapy can be a useful addition to modern medical therapy.     

Interaction of Maleic Acid Copolymers with Collagen

One of the present trends to increase the efficiency of the chrome tanning process is the use of chemicals which change the affinity and induce a better binding of the chromium ions in the hides. Recently, some anionic polyelectrolytes based on poly(acrylic acid) or maleic acid copolymers were developed as additives in the chrome tanning. The effect of polyelectrolytes could be explained by their interaction with the collagen from hide. In our work four maleic acid copolymer/collagen systems were investigated by turbidimetric, conductometric and potentiometric titrations. The interaction between the two macromolecular compounds was clearly evidenced, and its dependence on the chemical structure of the maleic acid copolymer and on the amount of added chromium ions was studied. Homogeneous systems or turbid dispersions were observed depending on the hydrophilic or hydrophobic character of the maleic copolymer, on the [CH]/[MP] ratio, and on the concentration of the chromium ions.