Novel Semi-Synthetic Cu (II)–Cardamonin Complex Exerts Potent Anticancer Activity against Triple-Negative Breast and Pancreatic Cancer Cells via Inhibition of the Akt Signaling Pathway

Cardamonin is a polyphenolic natural product that has been shown to possess cytotoxic activity against a variety of cancer cell lines. We previously reported the semi-synthesis of a novel Cu (II)–cardamonin complex (19) that demonstrated potent antitumour activity. In this study, we further investigated the bioactivity of 19 against MDA-MB-468 and PANC-1 cancer cells in an attempt to discover an effective treatment for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and pancreatic cancer, respectively. Results revealed that 19 abolished the formation of MDA-MB-468 and PANC-1 colonies, exerted growth-inhibitory activity, and inhibited cancer cell migration. Further mechanistic studies showed that 19 induced DNA damage resulting in gap 2 (G2)/mitosis (M) phase arrest and microtubule network disruption. Moreover, 19 generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) that may contribute to induction of apoptosis, corroborated by activation of caspase-3/7, PARP cleavage, and downregulation of Mcl-1. Complex 19 also decreased the expression levels of p-Akt and p-4EBP1, which indicates that the compound exerts its activity, at least in part, via inhibition of Akt signalling. Furthermore, 19 decreased the expression of c-Myc in PANC-1 cells only, which suggests that it may exert its bioactivity via multiple mechanisms of action. These results demonstrate the potential of 19 as a therapeutic agent for TNBC and pancreatic cancer.     

De novo enantioselective syntheses of galacto-sugars and deoxy sugars via the iterative dihydroxylation of dienoate

An efficient route to various sugar lactones has been developed. Key to the overall transformation is the sequential osmium-catalyzed dihydroxylation of 2,4-dienoates. The simplest (one-step/racemic) example of this reaction occurs when the dihydroxylation is performed with aqueous NMO in MeOH. When the first dihydroxylation is performed using the AD-mix procedure, an enantioselective variant results. When a matched AD-mix procedure is used for the second dihydroxylation, an exceedingly diastereo- and enantioselective synthesis of galacto-1,4-lactone results. [Reaction: see text]     

Molecularly imprinted polyaniline-polyvinyl sulphonic acid composite based sensor for para-nitrophenol detection

We report results of the studies relating to the fabrication and characterization of a conducting polymer based molecularly imprinted para-nitrophenol (PNP) sensor. A water pollutant, para-nitrophenol is electrochemically imprinted with polyvinyl sulphonic acid (PVSA) doped polyaniline onto indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrate. This PNP imprinted electrode (PNPI-PANI-PVSA/ITO) prepared via chronopotentiometric polymerization and over-oxidation is characterized by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, contact angle (CA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies. The response studies of PNPI-PANI-PVSA/ITO electrode carried out using DPV reveal a lower detection limit of 1 × 10⁻³ mM, improved sensitivity as 1.5 × 10⁻³ A mM⁻¹ and stability of 45 days. The PNPI-PANI-PVSA/ITO electrode shows good precision with relative standard deviation of 2.1% and good reproducibility with standard deviation of 3.78%.     

TRANSITION METAL,NON-METAL CARBONYL CLUSTRS AS SUPPORTS FOR UNUSUAL ACETYLIDE REACTIVITY

Group 16 elements serve as useful bridging and stabilising single atom ligands in mixed-metal carbonyl complexes and impart unusual reactivity on coordinated acetylenic moieties. Reactions of [Fe ₃ (CO) ₉ (μ ₃ -E) ₂ ] (E = S, or Se) with mononuclear acetylide complexes, [CpM(CO)_3-x(CCR)] (M = Mo or W, x = 0, R = Ph; M = Fe, x = 1, R = Ph or ferrocenyl) under facile conditions yield complexes featuring acetylide coupling, acetylide-flip and formation of oxo and acetylide-bridged complexes. In presence of free acetylenes, unusual ligand systems arising from C─S bond formation are observed and under certain conditions, formation of quinones by coupling of acetylenes with carbon monoxide is facilitated.     

Fatty amides synthesized from vegetable oil as extractant of molybdenum(VI)

In this study, fatty amides (FAs) synthesized from palm olein were used to extract and separate Mo(VI) from acidic media. Effects of various parameters upon the separation of Mo(VI) from Co(II), Ni(II), Al(III) and Mn(II), including extractant concentration, metal ion concentration, contact time, diluent, and acidity, were investigated. It was found that Mo(VI) was successfully separated from the above commonly associated metal ions by stripping from the loaded organic phase. Different acidic and alkaline solutions were used. Ammonium hydroxide solution was an optimal. Extraction of Mo(VI) into the organic phase involved the formation of 1:3 complexes. This work presents the development of a low-cost and environmentally friendly extractant to recycle and recover molybdenum.     

Water Structure Modification by Sugars and Its Consequence on Micellization Behavior of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide in Aqueous Solution

Water structure modification by sugars with a wide difference in stereoregular structures ranging from monosaccharide to trisaccharide and its consequence on the micellization behavior of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in aqueous medium have been investigated. The characteristic variation in water absorption peaks in the presence of d(?)fructose has been studied by near-infrared spectroscopy. The analyses show that the hydrogen bonding capability of d(+)glucose, d(?)fructose, sucrose, trehalose and raffinose is mainly responsible for the variation in water-additive interactions. The critical micelle concentration determined by specific conductivity measurement and aggregation number determined by steady state fluorescence quenching method show significant variations in presence of additives for CTAB in aqueous solution. The sugars interact with the water structure to varying extents owing to differences in hydrogen bonding capability depending on the stereoregularity of the structure. This induces differences in the microenvironment for competition between the hydrophobic interaction and degree of hydration of the hydrophilic group of the surfactant to ultimately influence the micellization behavior in aqueous solution.     

Near‐IR Absorbing Ruthenium Complexes of Non‐Innocent 6,12‐Di(pyridin‐2‐yl)indolo[3,2‐b]carbazole: Variation as a Function of Co‐Ligands

This article deals with the hitherto unexplored metal complexes of deprotonated 6,12‐di(pyridin‐2‐yl)‐5,11‐dihydroindolo[3,2‐b]carbazole (H₂L). The synthesis and structural, optical, electrochemical characterization of dimeric [{Ru^III(acac)₂}₂(μ‐L^.?)]ClO₄ ([ 1 ]ClO₄, S=1/2), [{Ru^II(bpy)₂}₂(μ‐L^.?)](ClO₄)₃ ([ 2 ](ClO₄)₃, S=1/2), [{Ru^II(pap)₂}₂(μ‐L^2?)](ClO₄)₂ ([ 4 ](ClO₄)₂, S=0), and monomeric [(bpy)₂Ru^II(HL^?)]ClO₄ ([ 3 ]ClO₄, S=0), [(pap)₂Ru^II(HL^?)]ClO₄ ([ 5 ]ClO₄, S=0) (acac=σ‐donating acetylacetonate, bpy=moderately π‐accepting 2,2’‐bipyridine, pap=strongly π‐accepting 2‐phenylazopyridine) are reported. The radical and dianionic states of deprotonated L in isolated dimeric 1 ⁺/ 2 ³⁺ and 4 ²⁺, respectively, could be attributed to the varying electronic features of the ancillary (acac, bpy, and pap) ligands, as was reflected in their redox potentials. Perturbation of the energy level of the deprotonated L or HL upon coordination with {Ru(acac)₂}, {Ru(bpy)₂}, or {Ru(pap)₂} led to the smaller energy gap in the frontier molecular orbitals (FMO), resulting in bathochromically shifted NIR absorption bands (800–2000 nm) in the accessible redox states of the complexes, which varied to some extent as a function of the ancillary ligands. Spectroelectrochemical (UV/Vis/NIR, EPR) studies along with DFT/TD‐DFT calculations revealed (i) involvement of deprotonated L or HL in the oxidation processes owing to its redox non‐innocent potential and (ii) metal (Ru^III/Ru^II) or bpy/pap dominated reduction processes in 1 ⁺ or 2 ²⁺/ 3 ⁺/ 4 ²⁺/ 5 ⁺, respectively.     

Effect of ethylene-co-vinyl acetate-glycidylmethacrylate and cellulose microfibers on the thermal,rheological and biodegradation properties of poly(lactic acid) based systems

The properties and biodegradation behavior of blends of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and ethylene-vinyl acetate-glycidylmethacrylate copolymer (EVA-GMA), and their composites with cellulose microfibers (CF) were investigated. The blends and composites were obtained by melt mixing and the morphology, phase behavior, thermal and rheological properties of PLA/EVA-GMA blends and PLA/EVA-GMA/CF composite films were investigated as a function of the composition. The disintegrability in composting conditions was examined by means of morphological, thermal and chemical analyses to gain insights into the post-use degradation processes. The results indicated a good compatibility of the two polymers in the blends with copolymer content up to 30 wt.%, while at higher EVA-GMA content a phase separation was observed. In the composites, the presence of EVA-GMA contributes to improve the interfacial adhesion between cellulose fibers and PLA, due to interactions of the epoxy groups of GMA with hydroxyls of CF. The addition of cellulose microfibers in PLA/EVA-GMA system modifies the rheological behavior, since complex viscosity increased in presence of fibers and decreased with an increase in frequency. Disintegration tests showed that the addition of EVA-GMA influence the PLA disintegration process, and after 21 days in composting conditions, blends and composites showed faster degradation rate in comparison with neat PLA due to the different morphologies induced by the presence of EVA-GMA and CF phases able to allow a faster water diffusion and an efficient PLA degradation process.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of Methyleneamine‐Linked Bis‐heterocycles

A new class of methyleneamine‐linked bis‐heterocycles that exhibit antimicrobial activity was synthesized. Bromination of 1 followed by condensation with thiourea gave 3 . The reaction of 3 with propargyl bromide in dry toluene under inert atmosphere led to the formation of 4 . Its subsequent reaction with different nitrile oxides using CuSO₄.5H₂O–sodiumascorbate system in a 2:1 mixture of water and tert‐butyl alcohol yielded the title compounds 6a , 6b , 6c , 6d , 6e , 6f , 6g , 6h , 6i , 6j , 6k , 6l in good yields. The identities of these compounds were confirmed following elemental analysis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral studies. All the title compounds exhibited pronounced in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities.     

Liquid crystalline banana‐shaped monomers derived from 2,7‐naphthalene: synthesis and properties

Three banana‐shaped monomers, i.e. 2,7‐naphthalene bis[4‐(4‐allyloxyphenylazo)‐benzoate], 2,7‐naphthalene bis[4‐(4‐allyloxy‐3‐fluorophenylazo)benzoate] and 2,7‐naphthalene bis{4‐[4‐(10‐undecenyloxy)phenylazo]benzoate}, containing azobenzene as side arms, 2,7‐dihydroxynaphthalene as central units and terminal double bonds as polymerisable functional groups, were synthesised and their mesophase behaviour investigated. Polarizing optical microscopy and DSC measurements reveal that all compounds exhibit nematic mesophases. The absorption spectrum of the trans‐azobenzene groups displays a high‐intensity π–π* transition at about 365 nm and a low‐intensity n–π* transition at around 450 nm for all compounds. Hence, photochromism can be achieved by the introduction of the azo linkage to banana‐shaped liquid crystals molecules.