Tuning urea-phenanthridinium conjugates for DNA/RNA and base pair recognition

A series of novel urea-phenanthridine conjugates was prepared. The variation of linker length connecting two urea-phenanthridinium conjugates regulated their binding mode toward double stranded polynucleotides, consequently controlling selectivity of compounds toward ds-RNA over ds-DNA stabilization as well as selective fluorescence response toward addition of G-C base pair and A-U(T) base pair containing polynucleotides.     

Paving the way for electrochemistry in Croatia: activities and the most important scientists

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The article describes the development of electrochemistry at research institutions in Croatia. The foundation of electrochemistry in Croatia has been laid...     

Optimisation of aqueous synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) were prepared via aqueous synthesis which combines alkaline co-precipitation (CP) of ferric and ferrous precursors with mild hydrothermal (HT) treatment without cupping agents (CA). In this novel synthesis route, CP + HT, we found the optimal synthesis conditions to obtain IONPs without a second phase and with the size larger than in standard CP: the equal number of Fe(II) and Fe(III) ions are co-precipitated with 6 M ammonia and further HT treated in mild conditions (120 °C for 24 h) without CA. The IONPs obtained by novel CP + HT route had faceted rectangular morphology, a mean TEM diameter of 21.5 ± 6.3 nm, a hydrodynamic diameter of 30.2 ± 9.1 nm and a zeta potential at pH 4 of 48.2 ± 0.6 mV. After the subsequent oxidation step, the final product (IONPs) was studied by XRD, FTIR and XPS, which confirmed the desired structure of γ-Fe₂O₃. Importantly, this synthesis was especially planned for the preparation of IONPs for biomedical applications. Thus, our novel synthesis was designed to be compliant with the regulations of nano-safety: no special atmosphere, no complex multistep size separation, no organic solvents or solvent exchange, no CA and their washing and the use of low temperature in the final optimised conditions. In addition, this simple synthesis route combines the CP and HT methods, which are both proven to be scalable. Moreover, repeatability and reproducibility of the optimal CP + HT synthesis were confirmed on the lab-scale; more than 100 repetitions with different dishes, different operators and different batches of chemicals were performed.     

Optimization of Two Eco-Friendly Extractions of Black Medick (Medicago lupulina L.) Phenols and Their Antioxidant,Cosmeceutical, α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase Inhibitory Properties

Medicago lupulina is an ancient edible plant from the Fabaceae family. In this work, two eco-friendly methods for extraction of bioactive phenolics from M. lupulina were developed using mixtures of water with two non-toxic, skin- and environmentally-friendly polyol solvents: glycerol and polypropylene glycol. Ultrasound-assisted extractions were optimized using a Box–Behnken design. The independent variables were the concentration of organic solvent in water (X₁), extraction temperature (X₂) and time (X₃), while the response was phenolic content. The optimum conditions for extraction of polyphenols were (X₁, X₂, X₃): (45%, 70 °C, 60 min) and (10%, 80 °C, 60 min) for glycerol and polypropylene glycol extraction, respectively. The extracts prepared at optimum conditions were rich in phenolic compounds, mainly derivatives of apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, quercetin, caffeic and ferulic acid, as well as coumestrol. Their cosmeceutical and antidiabetic activity was tested. Both extracts demonstrated notable antioxidant, anti-lipoxygenase and anti-α-amylase activity. In addition to those activities, the glycerol extract efficiently inhibited protein coagulation, elastase and α-glucosidase activity. Glycerol present in the extract displayed enzyme-inhibiting activity in several assays and supported the action of the bioactive constituents. Thus, the optimized glycerol extract is a desirable candidate for direct incorporation in antidiabetic food supplements and cosmeceutical products.     

Interactions of nitrogen-donor bio-molecules with dinuclear platinum(II) complexes

Substitution reactions of the dinuclear Pt(II) complexes, [{Pt(en)Cl}₂(μ-pz)]²⁺ (1), [{Pt(dach)Cl}₂(μ-pz)]²⁺ (2) and [{Pt(dach)Cl}₂(μ-4,4?-bipy)]²⁺ (3), and corresponding aqua analogs with selected biologically important ligands, viz. 1,2,4-triazole, L-histidine (L-His) and guanosine-5?-monophosphate (5?-GMP) were studied under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of concentration and temperature using UV–vis spectrophotometry. The reactions of the chloride complexes were followed in aqueous 25 mmol L^?1 Hepes buffer in the presence of 40 mmol L^?1 NaCl at pH 7.2, whereas the reactions of the aqua complexes were studied at pH 2.5. Two consecutive reaction steps, which both depend on the nucleophile concentration, were observed in all cases. The second-order rate constants for both reaction steps indicate a decrease in the order 1 > 2 > 3 for all complexes. Also, the pK_a values of all three aqua complexes were determined. The order of the reactivity of the studied ligands is 1,2,4-triazole > L-His > 5?-GMP. ¹H NMR spectroscopy and HPLC were used to follow the substitution of chloride in the dichloride 1, 2, and 3 complexes by guanosine-5?-monophosphate (5?-GMP). This study shows that the inert and bridging ligands have an important influence on the reactivity of the studied complexes.     

The supramolecular architecture in 4,4′‐bipyridinium bis(hydrogen oxalate)

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C₁₀H₁₀N₂²⁺·2C₂HO₄⁻, consists of one half of a 4,4′‐bipyridinium cation, which has inversion symmetry, and a hydrogen oxalate anion, in which an intramolecular hydrogen bond exists. The cations and anions are connected by O—H...O, N—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming a two‐dimensional network, whereas π–π stacking interactions involving the 4,4′‐bipyridinium cations lead to the formation of a three‐dimensional supramolecular structure. An unusual deca‐atomic ring is formed between two hydrogen oxalate anions, which are linked side‐to‐side via O—H...O hydrogen‐bonding interactions.     

Combined experimental and computational study of cis-trans isomerism in bis(L-valinato)copper(II)

Heating of polycrystalline cis aquabis(L-valinato)copper(II) at 90 °C resulted in a dehydrated powder. Recrystallization from aqueous solution of the obtained product yielded anhydrous trans bis(L-valinato)copper(II). The X-ray crystal and molecular structures of trans bis(L-valinato)copper(II) and cis aquabis(L-valinato)copper(II) are presented. Molecular modeling calculations were attempted to resolve factors that influenced the isomerization and crystallization of either the aqua cis- or the anhydrous trans-isomer. Conformational analyses of trans- and cis-isomers were completed in vacuo and in crystal by molecular mechanics, and in aqueous solution by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the same force field. Although the conformers with trans-configuration are the most stable in vacuo, those with cis-configuration form more favorable intermolecular interactions. Consequently, both cis- and trans-isomers are predicted to be present in aqueous solution. According to the crystal structure simulations and predictions, cis-isomer requires water molecules to form energetically more stable crystal packings than trans-isomer. The MD modeling of the self-assembly of 16 bis(L-valinato)copper(II) complexes in aqueous solution for the first time predicted the crystallization nucleus formation to proceed from monomers to oligomers by Cu-to-O(carboxylato) and/or N-H···O(carboxylato) weak bonds; these oligomers then bind together via water molecules until they acquire the right positions for noncovalent bonding like in the experimental crystal structures. Fifty-nanosecond MD simulations accomplished for a system consisting of equal numbers of complexes and water molecules at 298 and 370 K suggested complete cis-to-trans transformation at the higher temperature. Prevalence of either cis- or trans-conformers in water upon dissolvation may explain the crystallization results.     

Separation of Sr in combination of ion exchange and Sr resin with alcohol-nitric acid solution and rapid determination of <Superscript>90</Superscript>Sr in wine and soil samples

This paper describes the procedures of isolating strontium from wine and soil samples which enable creating of procedure for rapid determination of ⁹⁰Sr. The method of determination of ⁹⁰Sr includes binding of Sr on the cationic exchanger IR-120 from the sample and simultaneous elution from the cation column and binding on the Sr column, separation of Sr on Sr resin with HNO₃ even in presence of alcohols and subsequent Cherenkov counting. Sr can be efficiently bind on Sr resin and separated from the other elements with lower acid concentrations in the presence of a low portion of alcohol, or even from a wine sample without the loss of Sr resin capacity. The binding strength of Sr on Sr resin decreases with the rising of HNO₃ concentration (1–5 M) in the presence of 13% of ethanol or methanol, and with the rising of the alcohol portion in constant concentration of HNO₃. Application of cation exchanger for Sr binding in phase of sample preparation decreases Sr column loading and improve Sr recovery. The method allows the determination of ⁹⁰Sr activities in wine and soil sample lower than 10 mBq in reasonable time.     

Rapid determination of 89,90Sr in wide range of activity concentration by combination of yttrium, strontium separation and Cherenkov counting

The methodology for the rapid determination of ^89,90Sr in wide range of activity concentration is given. Methodology is based on simultaneous separation of strontium and yttrium from samples by mixed solvent anion exchange chromatography, mutual separation of ^89,90Sr from ⁹⁰Y by hydroxide precipitation and quantitative ^89,90Sr determination by Cherenkov counting within 3 days. It is shown that Y and Sr can be efficiently separated from alkaline, alkaline earth and transition elements as well as from lanthanides and actinides on the column filed by strong base anion exchanger in nitrate form and 0.25 M HNO₃ in mixture of ethanol and methanol as eluent. Decontamination factor for Ba, La and other examined elements except calcium is low and can not affect quantitative determination in predictable circumstances. Methodology for quantitative determination by Cherenkov counting based on following the changes of sample activity over time is described and discussed. It has been shown that ^89,90Sr can be determined with acceptable accuracy when ⁸⁹Sr/⁹⁰Sr ratio is over 10:1 and that separation of Y enables reliable determination of ⁸⁹Sr and ⁹⁰Sr in wide range of ⁸⁹Sr/⁹⁰Sr ratios (60:1) and in some cases in presence of other yttrium and strontium isotopes. The methodology was tested by determination of ^89,90Sr in Analytics crosscheck samples (nuclear waste sample) and ERA proficiency testing samples (low level activity samples). Obtained results shows that by using of low level liquid scintillation counter it can be possible to determine ⁸⁹Sr and ⁹⁰Sr in wide range of concentration activity (1–1,000 Bq/L/kg) with uncertainty below 10% within 2–3 days. Results also show that accuracy of determination of ⁸⁹Sr (and ⁹⁰Sr) strongly depends on the determination of difference between separation and counting time when activity ratio of ⁸⁹Sr/⁹⁰Sr is high. Examination the influence of media and vial type on background radiation and counting efficiency has shown that lowest limit of determination can be obtained by using of HNO₃ in plastic vials as counting media, because in this combination figure of merit is maximized. For the recovery of 50% and 100 min of counting time estimated MDA is 55 Bq and 90 Bq for ⁹⁰Sr and ⁸⁹Sr, respectively. Analysis of combined uncertainty shows that it mainly depends on uncertainty of efficiency and recovery determination, uncertainty of activities determination for both isotopes and level of background radiation.     

Reusable components in decision tree induction algorithms

We propose a generic decision tree framework that supports reusable components design. The proposed generic decision tree framework consists of several sub-problems which were recognized by analyzing well-known decision tree induction algorithms, namely ID3, C4.5, CART, CHAID, QUEST, GUIDE, CRUISE, and CTREE. We identified reusable components in these algorithms as well as in several of their partial improvements that can be used as solutions for sub-problems in the generic decision tree framework. The identified components can now be used outside the algorithm they originate from. Combining reusable components allows the replication of original algorithms, their modification but also the creation of new decision tree induction algorithms. Every original algorithm can outperform other algorithms under specific conditions but can also perform poorly when these conditions change. Reusable components allow exchanging of solutions from various algorithms and fast design of new algorithms. We offer a generic framework for component-based algorithms design that enhances understanding, testing and usability of decision tree algorithm parts.