Individual cells immobilization for water-borne pathogen detection and enumeration

A cell counting device has been proposed and implemented for water-borne pathogen detection for drinking water quality monitoring applications. Our approach is based on magnetically-labelled cells immobilization in a high density array of individual cell for optical cell counting. The device has been tested for two water-borne pathogens: Giardia Lamblia & Cryptosporidium. An individual cell immobilization efficiency of 82% was achieved.     

Synthesis,magnetic and spectral studies of iron(III) and cobalt(II,III) complexes of 4-formylantipyrine N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones

The synthesis and characterization of complexes of iron(III), cobalt(II) and cobalt(III) with 4-formylantipyrine N(4)-methyl-, N(4)-dimethyl-, and 3-piperidylthiosemicarbazones are reported. Elemental analyses, molar conductivities, magnetic measurements and spectral (i.r., electronic and e.s.r.) studies have been used to elucidate the nature of the metal complexes. The i.r. spectra show that the thiosemicarbazones behave as bidentate or tridentate ligands, either in the thione or thiolato form. Different stereochemistries are proposed for the various cobalt(II) complexes on the basis of spectral and magnetic studies. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Quantification of retinoid concentrations in human serum and brain tumor tissues

Retinoic acid signaling is essential for central nervous system (CNS) differentiation and appears to be impaired in tumors. Thus far, there are no established methods to quantify relevant retinoids (all-trans-retinoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, 13-cis retinoic acid, and retinol) in human brain tumors. We developed a single step extraction and quantification procedure for polar and apolar retinoids in normal tissue, lipid-rich brain tumor tissues, and serum. This quantification procedure is based on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode-array detection (DAD) using all-trans-acitretin as an internal standard and extraction by liquid–liquid partition with ethyl acetate and borate buffer at pH 9. Recovery with this extraction procedure was higher than earlier (two-step) liquid–liquid extraction procedures based on hexane, NaOH, and HCl. The overall quantification procedure was validated according to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines and fulfilled all criteria of accuracy, precision, selectivity, recovery, and stability. The overall method accuracy varied between −5.6% and +5.4% for serum and −3.8% and +6.2% for tissues, and overall precision ranged from 3.1% to 6.9% for serum and 2.1% to 8.3% for tissues (%CV batch-to-batch). The lower limit of quantification for all compounds in tumor tissue (and serum) was 3.9 ng g⁻¹ (ng mL⁻¹). Using this assay, photodegradation of the retinoids was evaluated and endogenous polar and apolar retinoids were quantified in sera and brain tumor tissues of patients and compared with serum and tonsil tissue concentrations of controls. It may thus serve as a suitable method for the characterization of retinoid uptake and metabolism in the respective compartments.     

Cyclodysidins A–D,cyclic lipopeptides from the marine sponge-derived Streptomyces strain RV15

Four new cyclic lipopeptides, cyclo-(AFA-Ser-Gln-Asn-Tyr-Asn-Ser-Thr), named cyclodysidins A–D, were isolated from the broth culture of Streptomyces strain RV15 associated with the marine sponge Dysidea tupha. The sequences of the amino acid building blocks in the compounds and their structures were determined by 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques and CID-MS/MS experiments. The absolute configurations of all α-amino acids were determined by HPLC analysis after derivatization with Marfey’s reagent and comparison with commercially available reference samples, while those two of the β-amino fatty acids were determined by using racemic and enantiopure reference samples synthetically prepared.     

Synthesis and evaluation of N6-substituted azide- and alkyne-bearing N-mustard analogs of S-adenosyl-l-methionine

The synthesis of a family of N-mustard analogs of S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) containing azides and alkynes at the N6-position of the adenosine base has been accomplished from commercially available inosine. Further biochemical analysis of these analogs indicates successful modification of pUC19 plasmid DNA in an enzyme-dependent fashion with DNA methyltransferases M.TaqI and M.HhaI.     

Metabolomic profiling and anti-infective potential of Zinnia elegans and Gazania rigens (Family Asteraceae)

Abstract

The present study evaluates the chemical composition of Zinnia elegans and Gazania rigens based on their metabolomic profiles using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HR-MS), alongside with the anti-infective activities of their ethanol extracts, as well as, different fractions. A significant difference was observed between the LC-MS profiles of the two plants such as, coumarins, sesquiterpene lactones and phenylethanoids which were characteristic for Z. elegans, while amides and phenolic acid derivatives were characteristic for G. rigens. These results highlight the chemical potential of Z. elegans and G. rigens. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction of Z. elegans showed a significant antimalarial activity with IC₅₀ values of 21.03 and 13.72?µg/mL against Plasmodium falciparum D₆ and P. falciparum W₂, respectively.     

Stability-indicating thin-layer chromatographic method for quantitative determination of ribavirin

A simple and accurate stability-indicating thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method is developed and validated for the quantitative determination of ribavirin (RBV) in its bulk and with used for development consists of chloroform-methanol-acetic acid (60:15:15, v/v/v). The separated spots are visualized as bluish green spots after being sprayed with anisaldehyde reagent. RBV is subjected to different accelerated stress conditions. The drug is found to undergo degradation under all stress conditions, and the degradation products are well resolved from the pure drug with significantly different Rf values. The optical densities of the separated spots are found to be linear with the amount of RBV in the range of 5-40 microg/spot with a good correlation coefficient (r=0.9980). The limit of detection and limit of quantitation values are 1.40 and 4.67 microg/spot, respectively. Statistical analysis proves that the method is repeatable and accurate for the determination of RBV in the presence of its degradation products. The method meets the International Conference on Harmonisation/Food and Drug Administration regulatory requirements. The proposed TLC method is successfully applied for the determination of RBV, pure and in capsules, with good accuracy and precision; the label claim percentages are 98.8%+/-1.5%. The results obtained by the proposed TLC method are comparable with those obtained by the official method.     

Thermodynamics of complexation of lanthanides and some of transition metal ions by 5,5-dimethyl-cyclohexane-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-hydrazono-1,3-dione (DCPHD) and its derivatives

Summary Equilibrium betweenDCPHD,DC-4-Cl-PHD, andDC-4-Me-PHD and protons, transition, and lanthanide ions have been investigated at 30 °C by means of potentiometric titration in 75% (v/v) methanol-water mixture containing 0.10M KNO₃ as a constant ionic medium. Thermodynamic parameters (G, H and S) referring to the formation of species HL ^–,L ^––,ML ^+n–2 andML ₂ ^+n–4 (L ^–– denotes the ligand anion) have been determined in solutions. The solvent effects on the thermodynamic parameters of the complex formation are discussed in terms of differences in the donor ability of methanol and water solvents. The plots of thermodynamic parameters versus ionic potential (Z ²/r) of the lanthanide elements is not linear as expected from ionic theory. The obtained curve can be resolved in an initial group (the lighter lanthanides), an intermediate group (Sm-Dy), and a final group (the heavier ones, Tb-Lu). This behavior was explained in terms of differences in the dehydration of lighter lanthanide(III) from that of heavier ones.

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Thermodynamik der Komplexierung von Lanthaniden und einigen Übergangsmetall-Ionen mit 5,5-Dimethylcyclohexyl-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-hydrazono-1,3-dion (DCPHD) und seinen Derivaten

Zusammenfassung Die Gleichgewichte zwischenDCPHD,DC-4-Cl-PHD undDC-4-Me-PHD mit Protonen, Übergangsmetall- und Lanthaniden-Ionen wurden bei 30 °C mittels potentiometrischer Titration in 75% (v/v) Methanol-Wasser mit einem Gehalt an 0.10M KNO₃ als konstantem ionischem Medium untersucht. Die thermodynamischen Parameter G, H und S zur Bildung der Spezies HL ^–,L ^––,ML ^+n–2 undML ₂ ^+n–4 (L ^–– steht für das Ligandenanion) wurden in Lösung bestimmt. Die Lösungsmitteleffekte auf diese Komplexbildungsparameter werden auf Basis der Differenz im Donorvermögen von Methanol und Wasser als Solventien diskutiert. Die Diagramme der thermodynamischen Parameter gegen die ionischen Potentiale (Z ²/r) der Lanthaniden sind, wie nach der Ionentheorie zu erwarten, nicht linear. Die erhaltene Kurve läßt eine Anfangsgruppe (die leichteren Lanthaniden), eine mittlere Gruppe (Sm-Dy) und eine Endgruppe (die schwereren Lanthaniden. Tb-Lu) erkennen. Dieses Verhalten kann aus dem Unterschied im Dehydratationsverhalten erklärt werden.

     

Studies with 3‐functionally substituted 2‐arylhydrazononitriles: A new route to 3‐substituted‐2‐arylhydrazononitriles, 4‐amino‐pyrazole‐5‐carbonitriles,azadienes and cinnolines

3‐Amino‐3‐phenyl‐2‐phenylazoacrylonitrile 6 is obtained in good yield via reaction of 5 with phenyl magnesium bromide. The compound 6 is readily converted into 4a . The so formed alkanenitrile reacted with phenylmagnesium bromide to yield 8 . Compound 8 could be also obtained from reaction of 9 with phenylmagnesium bromide. The arylhydrazononitriles 8 and 4a reacted with chloroacetonitrile to yield the 4‐aminopyrazoles 12a,b . Compound 12a reacted with acetic anhydride to yield the 15a and with benzoyl chloride to yield the pyrazole 16 which was converted into 15b . Refluxing 10 in acetic acid gave a mixture of the azadiene 21 and the cinnoline 22 is obtained. The azadiene 21 is converted into 22 either thermally or photochemically.     

Synthesis,characterization and biomimetic oxygenations of manganese(II), iron(III) and copper(II) pyridyl hydrazone complexes

The preparation and characterization of MnII, FeIII and CuII complexes of three tridentate pyridyl hydrazones are reported. The ligands were prepared via Schiff base condensation of 6-chloro-2-hydrazopyridine with alpha-formyl-(L1), alpha-acetyl-(L2), or alpha-benzoyl-(L3) pyridine. The structural characterization of the compounds prepared was based on elemental analyses, electrical conductance and magnetic moment measurements, 1H-n.m.r., i.r., u.v.-vis. and e.s.r spectroscopic methods. The overall structure and reactivity of the metal chelates critically depend on the ligand substituents within the carbonyl moiety. Octahedral and tetrahedral monomeric species were proposed for MnII complexes, and an octahedral environment for the FeIII complexes. Regarding the copper(II) complexes, a monomeric square-planar and a dimeric structure with a chloride bridge in square-pyramidal geometry were suggested. In the presence of molecular oxygen, MnII and CuII complexes catalyse the oxidative transformation of catechol (benzene-1,2-diol) to the corresponding o-benzoquinone. Iron(III) complexes catalyse the aerobic oxidation of catechol to the intradiol cleavage product. The catalytic activity has been correlated with the Lewis acidity of the metal centres created according to the nature of the ligand substituents. The probable mechanistic implications of the catalysed oxidation reactions are discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.