Simplified Derivatization Method for Triclosan Determination in Personal Care Products by Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry

An efficient and eco‐friendly injection‐port tert‐butyldimethylsilylated (TBDMS) derivatization and gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) was developed to determine triclosan (TCS, an antibacterial agent) in the samples of toothpaste, liquid hand‐soap and facial cleansing cream. This on‐line derivatization coupled ultrasonic extraction provides sensitivity, fast and reproducible results for TCS analysis. The accuracy and precision of the method was evaluated. The developed method was successfully applied to determine the content of TCS in selected personal care products.     

Proteomic and redox‐proteomic study on the role of glutathione reductase in human lung cancer cells

Glutathione reductase (GR), a cytosolic protein, plays a vital role in maintaining a correct redox status in cells. However, comprehensive investigations of GR‐modulated cellular responses, including protein level alteration and redox regulation, have yet to be performed. In this study, we cultured a human lung adenocarcinoma line transfected with empty pLKO.1 vector as a control, CL1‐0shControl, and its GR‐knockdown derivative, CL1‐0shΔGR, to evaluate differential protein level alteration and redox regulation of these two cell lines. We identified 34 spots that exhibited marked changes in intensities, and 13 proteins showing significant changes in thiol reactivity, in response to GR depletion. Several proteins involved in redox regulation, calcium signaling, cytoskeleton regulation, and protein folding showed significant changes in expression, whereas proteins involved in redox regulation, protein folding, and glycolysis displayed changes in thiol reactivity. Interestingly, GR knockdown induces peroxiredoxin‐1 overexpression in the air‐exposed tissue and high oxygen consuming tissue such as cornea and liver, but not in the low oxygen consuming tissues such as breast and uterine. In summary, we used a comprehensive lung adenocarcinoma based proteomic approach for identifying GR‐modulated protein expression alteration and redox modification. Based on our research, this is the first comprehensive proteomic and redox‐proteomic analysis used to investigate the role of GR in a mammalian cell model.     

Increased accumulation of paclitaxel and doxorubicin in proliferating capillary cells and prostate cancer cells following ultrasound exposure

Introduction

We have previously reported enhanced cytotoxic effects of both doxorubicin and antisense oligonucleotides using an optimized ultrasound regime of a single 10 s exposure in burst-mode (4 MHz, 32 W/cm²(SaTa), 50 ms burst period) in both PC3 (prostate cancer) cells and angiogenic Huvec (human umbilical cord endothelial cells). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrasound on the cellular uptake of both hydrophilic agents (rhodamine R123, doxorubicin hydrochloride and mannitol) and hydrophobic agents (rhodamine R6G and paclitaxel) using the same 4 MHz ultrasound exposure system.

Methods

PC3 cells and Huvec were incubated with solutions of radioactive or fluorescent compounds for 1 h and ultrasound was then applied to cells. Following washing and lysis of cells, the degree of drug uptake was measured using liquid scintillation counting or fluorescence spectroscopy.

Results

Ultrasound exposure resulted in the enhanced uptake of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic compounds into cells. For paclitaxel, approximately 100% increased uptake was observed when the drug was encapsulated in a nanoparticulate micellar formulation compared to approximately 50% for free drug.

Conclusions

The 4 MHz, 32 W/cm² ultrasound exposure regime (using burst-mode with 50 ms burst period) allows for the enhanced uptake of both water soluble and insoluble compounds into proliferating cancer and angiogenic cells.     

Construction of superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic polydopamine‐modified h‐BN/poly(arylene ether nitrile) composite membrane for stable oil‐water emulsions separation

Oil/water emulsion separation in harsh environments remains a big challenge. Herein, a double layered nanofibrous composite membrane was developed by assembly of polydopamine‐modified hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN‐PDA) onto a poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN) nanofibrous mat. Owing to the synergistic effect of a h‐BN‐PDA skin layer and a PEN nanofibrous mat supporting layer, as‐prepared composite membrane exhibited high thermal stability, corrosion resistance, and superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic property. Consequently, the PEN composite membrane showed good antifouling performance and a high rejection ratio (>99.0%) for various oil/water emulsions. After 10 cycles, the separation flux of PEN composite membrane still reached 588.1 L/m² h under the operating pressure of 0.04 MPa. Furthermore, the PEN composite membrane could still achieve high separation efficiency and high flux in high‐temperature (65 °C) and strongly corrosive conditions (pH = 1‐13). Therefore, the stable and efficient h‐BN‐PDA/PEN composite membrane showed potential application for treating oily wastewater in harsh environments.     

Thermally Induced Denitrogenative Annulation for the Synthesis of Dihydroquinolinimines and Chroman‐4‐imines

A rapid growth in synthetic methods for the preparation of diverse organic molecules using N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles is of great interest in organic synthesis. Transition metals are generally used to activate the α‐imino diazo intermediates. Metal‐free methods have not been studied in detail, but can be a good complement to transition metal catalysis in the mild reaction conditions. We herein report a novel method for the preparation of 2,3‐dihydroquinolin‐4‐imine and chroman‐4‐imine analogs from their corresponding N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazoles in the absence of metal catalysts. To achieve intramolecular annulation, the introduction of an electron‐donating group is required at the meta position of N‐sulfonyl‐1,2,3‐triazole methyl anilines. The inclusion of tailored substituents on the aniline moieties and nitrogen atoms enhances the nucleophilicity of the phenyl π‐electrons, thus allowing them to undergo a Friedel–Crafts‐type reaction with the highly electrophilic ketenimines. This metal‐free method was carefully optimized to generate a variety of dihydroquinolin‐4‐imines and chroman‐4‐imines in moderate‐to‐good yields.     

Matrix metalloproteinase-28 deletion amplifies inflammatory and extracellular matrix responses to cardiac aging

To determine if matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-28 mediates cardiac aging, wild-type (WT) and MMP-28-/- young (7 ± 1 months, n = 9 each) and old (20 ± 2 months, n = 7 each) female mice were evaluated. MMP-28 expression in the left ventricle (LV) increased 42% in old WT mice compared to young controls (p < 0.05). By Doppler echocardiography, LV function declined at 20 ± 2 months of age for both groups. However, dobutamine stress responses were similar, indicating that cardiac reserve was maintained. Plasma proteomic profiling revealed that macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 α, MIP-1β and MMP-9 plasma levels did not change in WT old mice but were significantly elevated in MMP-28-/- old mice (all p < 0.05), suggestive of a higher inflammatory status when MMP-28 is deleted. RT2-PCR gene array and immunoblotting analyses demonstrated that MIP-1α and MMP-9 gene and protein levels in the LV were also higher in MMP-28-/- old mice (all p < 0.05). Macrophage numbers in the LV increased similarly in WT and MMP-28-/- old mice, compared to respective young controls (both p < 0.05). Collagen content was not different among the WT and MMP-28-/- young and old mice. In conclusion, LV inflammation increases with age, and MMP-28 deletion further elevates inflammation and extracellular matrix responses, without altering macrophage numbers or collagen content.     

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal display device for projection high definition television application

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) is a light scattering material that operates on the principle of electrically modulating the refractive index of the liquid crystal in an optical isotropic, transparent solid. The principle of operation of the PDLC device, the interface requirements between PDLC material and its driving circuit are studied. For high definition television (HDTV) application, a detailed comparison of PDLC vs. twisted nematic/super twisted nematic (TN/STN) display devices will be discussed. It was found that single crystal metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) is better than conventionally used thin film transistor (TFT) in driving these PDLC light valves.