Cytotoxic performances of new anionic cyclometalated Pt(II) complexes bearing chelated O^O ligands

The in vitro biological activity towards the MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cell line of two different series of anionic Pt(II) organometallic complexes was tested. For the first time, cytotoxic activity of anionic Pt(II) complexes has been observed. The anionic compounds of general formula NBu₄[(C^N)Pt(O^O)], where (C^N) represents the cyclometalated form of 2-phenylpyridine (H(PhPy)), 2-thienylpyridine (H(Thpy)) or 2-benzo[h]quinoline (H(Bzq)), feature two different (O^O) chelated ligands: tetrabromocatechol [BrCat]²⁻ ( 1 – 3 ) or alizarine [Aliz]²⁻ ( 4 – 6 ). Complexes 1 – 6 displayed a significant cytotoxic effect against the studied cell line (IC₅₀ range of 1.9–52.8 μM). For BrCat-containing complexes 1 – 3 , the biological activity was independent of the nature of the coordinated (C^N) ligand. In contrast, in the case of 4 – 6 , the cytotoxicity (significantly high for 4 ) was concomitantly induced by the presence of either the PhPy or the [Aliz]²⁻ ligand. Since complexes 1–6 are emissive in solution, the potential use of 4 as a theranostic agent was investigated using confocal analysis. The fluorescence signal from MDA-MB-231 cells incubated with 4 indicated the localization of the compound into the cytosol region.     

Active manganese dioxide promoted cyclization of ortho-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)aryl and heteroaryl carboxylic acids to 5H-pyrrolo[1,2-a][3,1]benzoxazin-5-one derivatives

The hitherto unknown lactone 5H-pyrrolo[1,2-a][3,1]benzoxazin-5-one and six of its substituted derivatives have been prepared by active manganese dioxide promoted oxidative cyclization of the corresponding 2-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)benzoic acids, under mild conditions, in moderate yields. The method was successfully extended to the cyclization of some ortho-(1H-pyrrol-1-yl)heteroaryl carboxylic acids and 2-(1H-indol-1-yl)benzoic acids.     

Review: multistage mass spectrometry in quality, safety and origin of foods

Quality and safety control and the validation of origin are hot issues in the production of food and its distribution, and are of primary concern to food and agriculture organization. Modern mass spectrometry (MS) provides unique, reliable and affordable methodologies to approach with a high degree of scientificity any problem which may be posed in this field. In this review the contribution of mass spectrometry to food analysis is presented aiming at providing clues on the fundamental role of the basic principles of gas-phase ion chemistry in applied research fields. Applications in proteomics, allergonomics, glycomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, food safety and traceability have been surveyed. The high level of specificity and sensitivity of the MS approach allows the characterization of food components and contaminants present at ultra-trace levels, providing a distinctive and safe validation of the products.     

Design of Practical and Provably Good Random Number Generators

We present a construction for a family of pseudo-random generators that are very fast in practice, yet possess provable statistical and cryptographic unpredictability properties. Such generators are useful for simulations, randomized algorithms, and cryptography.Our starting point is a slow but high quality generator whose use can be mostly confined to a preprocessing step. We give a method of stretching its outputs that yields a faster generator. The fast generator offers smooth memory–time–security trade-offs and also has many desired properties that are provable. The slow generator can be based on strong one-way permutations or block ciphers. Our implementation based on the block cipher DES is faster than popular generators.     

Dynamics of cell membrane passive depolarization: a phase portrait

Does a persistent blockage of the ionic pumps bring cell membrane voltage to zero? This apparently trivial question of basic cellular Biology stirred up an intriguing problem of nonlinear dynamics. A 3-ion model based on continuity and charge conservation proves that membrane voltage actually sets on a negative value, meaning that chemical equilibrium is never reached, rather an inversion of the Na+ concentration gradient occurs, usually hours after the blockage of the pumps. Experimental tests carried out with PC12 cells incubated with Oubaine for a period of 24 hours show an increase of cytosolic Na+ of about 266 mM/l with respect to a control sample. The result is compatible with an inversion of the Na+ gradient, which eventually brings the membrane voltage to a negative value. Reactivation of the Na+-K+ pumps even after a prolonged period of blockage (late repolarization) should lead to repolarization and revival of the cell. In the 3D space of the ionic concentrations, the dynamics of passive depolarization reveals an intriguing topology, all trajectories being stacked in parallel planes, each set ending to a unique fixed point via an infinitely dense set of lines. The dynamics of repolarization has a different phase portrait, especially in the case of late repolarization. Thus, a sequence of depolarization- repolarization cycles may result in a path wandering in the phase space, or in a closed loop, depending on the timing of the sequence.     

Polycondensed nitrogen heterocycles. IX. 5,6-dihydro-7H-pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one

The reaction of amino derivative I with bromoacetyl bromide led to the formation of a complex mixture from which, in addition to the title compound, which was formed in low yield, compounds III, IV and VI were separated. Pyrrolo[1,2-d][1,4]benzodiazepine V was obtained in 85% yield when the bromoamide III was treated with an equimolar amount of potassium t-butoxide.     

Goos-Hänchen and Imbert-Fedorov shifts of a nondiffracting Bessel beam

Goos-H?nchen (GH) and Imbert-Fedorov (IF) shifts are diffractive corrections to geometric optics that have been extensively studied for a Gaussian beam that is reflected or transmitted by a dielectric interface. Propagating in free space before and after reflection or transmission, such a Gaussian beam spreads due to diffraction. We address here the question of how the GH and IF shifts behave for a "nondiffracting" Bessel beam.     

Turbinamide, a new selective cytotoxic agent from the Mediterranean tunicate Sidnyum turbinatum

A unique cytotoxic metabolite, turbinamide (1), has been isolated from the marine tunicate Sidnyum turbinatum through a bioassay-guided approach. Its structure has been elucidated by an extensive spectroscopic analysis. Turbinamide demonstrated a strong and selective cytotoxic effect against neuronal cells rather than immune system cells. Structure: see text.     

Decay modes of the 3000 Å emission band in KCl: Tl+

The time behavior of the 3000 Å luminescence signals of KCl: Tl crystals is complex. Three different components can be resolved in the temperature range investigated (80–340K). These results that are typical for the A_x emission of phosphors like Kl:Tl⁺ and KCl:Pb²⁺, cannot be explained with the available theoretical models for KCl:Tl system.