Electrical Stimulation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Conductive Substrates Promotes Neural Priming

Electrical stimulation (ES) within a conductive scaffold is potentially beneficial in encouraging the differentiation of stem cells toward a neuronal phenotype. To improve stem cell-based regenerative therapies, it is essential to use electroconductive scaffolds with appropriate stiffnesses to regulate the amount and location of ES delivery. Herein, biodegradable electroconductive substrates with different stiffnesses are fabricated from chitosan-grafted-polyaniline (CS-g-PANI) copolymers. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) cultured on soft conductive scaffolds show a morphological change with significant filopodial elongation after electrically stimulated culture along with upregulation of neuronal markers and downregulation of glial markers. Compared to stiff conductive scaffolds and non-conductive CS scaffolds, soft conductive CS-g-PANI scaffolds promote increased expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and neurofilament heavy chain (NF-H) after application of ES. At the same time, there is a decrease in the expression of the glial markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin after ES. Furthermore, the elevation of intracellular calcium [Ca²⁺] during spontaneous, cell-generated Ca²⁺ transients further suggests that electric field stimulation of hMSCs cultured on conductive substrates can promote a neural-like phenotype. The findings suggest that the combination of the soft conductive CS-g-PANI substrate and ES is a promising new tool for enhancing neuronal tissue engineering outcomes.     

Computational study of aza-adamantanes as multivalent bases

Structure and bonding characteristics, and gas phase stepwise basicities of proposed multivalent bases 1,3,5,7-tetraazatricyclo[3.3.1.1(3,7)]decane, 1,3,5,7,9,10-hexaazatricyclo[3.3.1.1(3,7)]decane and tricyclo[3.3.1.1(3,7)]azadecane, named and abbreviated here respectively as tetra-aza-adamantane (TAA), hexa-aza-adamantane (HAA) and deca-aza-adamantane (DAA), have been studied using B3LYP/6-311++G** method. Effects of protonation on the bond lengths and angles, and atomic charges, and on their correlations are studied in detail. Results show that the most affected characteristics by protonation are the N–H bond lengths and the charge of the hydrogen atoms. It is found, interestingly, that in the protonation of DAA, electric charges of the unprotonated nitrogen atoms are increased more than that of the protonated nitrogen atoms. Because of very small effects of protonation on the skeletal C–N and N–N bond lengths, it can be said that the aza-adamantane cage volume is not changed significantly upon protonation. The protonation energies approve multivalent nature of these bases with the order of TAA ≈ HAA > DAA. Different isomers for the unprotonated and protonated HAA and DAA are also studied.     

The quantum chemical calculation of NMR two-bond spin–spin coupling constants in the N?···H–OH?→?N–H···OH? switching

A quantum chemical study has been carried out to investigate the effects of the size of H₂O cluster and substituents (X = H, Me, OMe, CHO, NO, and NO₂) in the para position of the anilide ion on the two-bond spin–spin coupling constants (SSCCs) ^2h J _N···O across in the N–H–O switching at B3LYP/6-311 ++G(2d,2p) level of theory. The changes in ^2h J _N···O SSCCs due to variation of substituent and H₂O cluster size were well monitored by changes in binding energy, structural parameter, electron density topography, natural charge, charge transfer, and percentage of p-character of N atom in the C–N bond. Linear correlations were found between ^2h J _N···O and above-mentioned properties.     

Green Oxidations. Manganese(II) Sulfate Aided Oxidations of Organic Compounds by Potassium Permanganate

Summary. The oxidation of arenes and sulfides by potassium permanganate was accomplished in good yields under solvent free and heterogeneous conditions when manganese(II) sulfate is used as a solid support. After extraction of the organic products, the inorganic products can be reoxidized to permanganate. This result is important because it provides an approach to oxidation reactions that is, in theory, infinitely sustainable.     

Development of air‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction‐based supramolecular solvent‐mediated Fe3O4@Cu–Fe–LDH for the determination of tramadol in biological samples

A simple method, air‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction‐based supramolecular solvent was developed for the preconcentration of tramadol in biological samples prior to gas chromatography–flame ionization detection. A new type of carrier liquid, supramolecular solvent based on a mixture of 1‐dodecanol and tetrahydrofuran was combined with layered double hydroxide coated on a magnetic nanoparticle (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Cu–Fe–LDH). The supramolecular solvent was injected into the solution containing Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Cu–Fe–LDH in order to provide high stability and dispersion of the sorbent without any stabilizer agent. Air assisted was applied to enhance the dispersion of the sorbent and solvent. A number of analytical techniques such as Fourier transform‐infrared spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction measurements were applied to assess the surface chemical characteristics of Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@Cu–Fe–LDH nanoparticles. The effects of important parameters on the extraction recovery were also investigated. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection and quantification were obtained in the range of 0.9–2.4 and 2.7–7.5 μg L^?1 with preconcentration factors in the range of 450–472 in biological samples. This method was used for the determination of tramadol in biological samples (plasma, urine and saliva samples) with good recoveries.     

Detection of bone metastases using diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging: comparison with C-methionine PET and bone scintigraphy

Purpose

We evaluated the ability of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to detect bone metastasis by comparing the results obtained using this modality with those obtained using ¹¹C-methionine (MET) positron emission tomography (PET) and bone scintigraphy.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study involved 29 patients with bone metastasis. DWI was obtained using a single-shot echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence with fat suppression using a short inversion time inversion recovery sequence. The detection capabilities of DWI for bone metastases were compared with those of whole body MET PET (in 19 patients) and 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy (in 15 patients).

Results

Among the 19 patients who were diagnosed using DWI and PET, the PET identified 39 bone metastases, while the DWI identified 60 metastases out of 69 metastases revealed with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Among the 15 patients who were diagnosed using DWI and bone scintigraphy, the bone scintigraphy identified 18 bone metastases, while the DWI identified 72 metastases out of 78 metastases revealed with conventional MRI. The overall bone metastasis detection rates were 56.5% for PET, 23.1% for bone scintigraphy and 92.3% for DWI.

Conclusion

DWI is a very sensitive method for detecting bone metastasis and is superior to MET PET and bone scintigraphy in terms of its detection capabilities.     

The Reaction of N-Isocyaniminotriphenylphosphorane With Biacetyl in the Presence of (E)-Cinnamic Acids: Synthesis of Fully Substituted 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Derivatives via Intramolecular AZA-Wittig Reactions of in Situ Generated Iminophosphoranes

Abstract

Reaction of N-isocyaniminotriphenylphosphorane with biacetyl in the presence of (E)-cinnamic acids proceeds smoothly at room temperature and under neutral conditions to afford sterically congested 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives in high yields. The reaction proceeds smoothly and straightforward under mild conditions and no side reactions are observed.     

Carbon Quantum Dots Co‐catalyzed with ZnO Nanoflowers and Poly (CTAB) Nanosensor for Simultaneous Sensitive Detection of Paracetamol and Ciprofloxacin in Biological Samples

A novel platform based incorporation of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and zinc oxide nanoflowers (ZnO‐NFs) decorated with poly cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was developed as electrochemical sensor for the sensitive and selective simultaneous detection of Paracetamol (PAR) and Ciprofloxacin (CIP) in biological samples. For this, CQDs and ZnO‐NFs were first deposited on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and subsequently a Poly (CTAB) layer was grown onto their surfaces through electro‐polymerization. The synthesized nanostructures and the corresponding fabricated sensor were characterized by the techniques of TEM, XRD, FE‐SEM, and EDX analysis. Moreover electrochemical characterization by CV and DPV were performed to elucidate the construction process and electron transfer abilities of the CQDs/ZnO‐NFs/Poly(CTAB)/GCE. Increased sensitivity and efficiency of this sensing system was obtained due to the synergistic effects of CQDs, ZnO‐NFs and Poly (CTAB) with multi‐signal amplification. Under the optimum conditions, the DPV response of proposed sensor to PAR and CIP was linear at 0.05–30.0 μM and 0.01–30.0 μM, with the detection limit of 2.47 nM and 1.97 nM respectively. The sensor possessed high stability, reproducibility, sensitivity, and selectivity toward PAR and CIP detection, over potential interferents and presented high recovery percentage in the real sample matrices.     

Effects of additives on the structure of rhamnolipid (biosurfactant): a small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study

Pollution of soils and sediments by heavy metals is an environmental concern. Among the remedial techniques, soil washing is proving to be reliable. Biosurfactant rhamnolipid has shown its potential as a washing agent. In this research, small angle neutron scattering (SANS) was employed to investigate the size and morphology of rhamnolipid aggregates and micelle structure in the presence of heavy metals Cu, Zn, and Ni. The results indicate the importance of the pH of the system in the morphology of the aggregates in the rhamnolipid solution. Creation of a basic condition by addition of 1% NaOH led to the formation of large aggregates (>2000 A) + micelles with RG approximately 17 A while in the acidic environment with 1% NaCl, large polydisperse vesicles with a radius about 550-600 A were formed. The size of the aggregates in both acidic and basic condition is fine enough to ease the flow of the rhamnolipid solution through the porous media with the pore sizes as small as 200 nm.