Optimisation of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Systems for Complexation of Naproxen : Beta-Cyclodextrin

Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂)offers several attractive scenarios for thepharmaceutical processing as an alternativeto aqueous and organic solvents. In thiswork naproxen, a widely used non steroidalanti-inflammatory drug with analgesic andanti-inflammatory properties, was chosenas a model drug. Its complexation with cyclodextrinsimproves the rate and extent of dissolutionof the drug, increase its rate of absorption and mayreduce the unpleasant side-effects of the drug.The interest in using this supercritical technologyled us to develop an experimental unit for the useof supercritical CO₂ as a processing medium forthe complexation of naproxen with beta cyclodextrin (CD).     

A Comparative Study of Naproxen – Beta Cyclodextrin Complexes Prepared by Conventional Methods and Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

Naproxen is a poorly soluble anti-inflammatorydrug, the solubility of which canbe enhanced by complexation withbeta-cyclodextrin. Besides that, the inclusioncomplex reduces the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects of the drug. The aim of this work was to compare the physicochemical characteristics of the solid complexes prepared by traditional methods (kneading, freeze-drying and spray-drying) and using a supercritical fluid technology. The unusual solvent properties of carbon dioxide above their critical temperature and pressure were exploited in order to prepare inclusion compounds. Complexes prepared using supercritical fluid technology showed similar properties to those of freeze-drying andspray-drying complexes as proved by DSC, FT-IRand UV.     

Amidomethylation of amodiaquine: antimalarial N-Mannich base derivatives

Novel N-Mannich base-type derivatives of the antimalarial drug amodiaquine were synthesised by reaction with tertiary N-chloromethylamides. With the exception of the derivative of ethyl hippurate, all the so-formed (1-amidomethyl-1H-quinolin-4-ylidene)arylamines displayed high chemical and enzymatic stability. These compounds displayed antimalarial activity against the multi-drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain Dd2 (IC₅₀ values 15-31 nM) and demonstrated no significant loss in activity compared to amodiaquine (IC₅₀ 30 nM).     

Light‐Controlled Regioselective Synthesis of Fullerene Bis‐Adducts

Multi‐functionalization and isomer‐purity of fullerenes are crucial tasks for the development of their chemistry in various fields. In both current main approaches—tether‐directed covalent functionalization and supramolecular masks—the control of regioselectivity requires multi‐step synthetic procedures to prepare the desired tether or mask. Herein, we describe light‐responsive tethers, containing an azobenzene photoswitch and two malonate groups, in the double cyclopropanation of [60]fullerene. The formation of the bis‐adducts and their spectroscopic and photochemical properties, as well as the effect of azobenzene photoswitching on the regiochemistry of the bis‐addition, have been studied. The behavior of the tethers depends on the geometry of the connection between the photoactive core and the malonate moieties. One tether lead to a strikingly different adduct distribution for the E and Z isomers, indicating that the covalent bis‐functionalization of C₆₀ can be controlled by light.     

Lactose as a “Trojan Horse” for Quantum Dot Cell Transport

A series of glycan‐coated quantum dots were prepared to probe the effect of glycan presentation in intracellular localization in HeLa and SV40 epithelial cells. We show that glycan density mostly impacts on cell toxicity, whereas glycan type affects the cell uptake and intracellular localization. Moreover, we show that lactose can act as a “Trojan horse” on bi‐functionalized QDs to help intracellular delivery of other non‐internalizable glycan moieties and largely avoid the endosomal/lysosomal degradative pathway.     

Effects of cadmium on cation concentrations in sycamore cells (Acer pseudoplatanus L.): application of EDXRF

Knowledge of the element content of biological systems is important in enabling understanding of uptake mechanisms and physiological response to stress conditions. In this work concentrations of mineral elements in sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) cells grown in the presence of cadmium have been analysed and compared with concentrations in control cells. Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to quantify the nutrients K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn present in the cells. The reproducibility and accuracy of the technique were demonstrated by analysis of biological reference materials. Exposure of sycamore cells to cadmium had induced variation in the content of some elements. Mn, Cu, Zn, and, particularly, Fe concentrations in cells exposed to Cd were higher than those found in control cells. Ca is adsorbed on the cell walls and the concentration of K is not affected by the presence of Cd.     

A high statistics measurement of the Lambda(+)(c) lifetime

A high statistics measurement of the Lambda(+)(c) lifetime from the Fermilab fixed-target FOCUS photoproduction experiment is presented. We describe the analysis technique with particular attention to the determination of the systematic uncertainty. The measured value of 204.6 +/- 3.4 (stat) +/- 2.5 (syst) fs from 8034 +/- 122 Lambda(+)(c)-->pK(-)pi(+) decays represents a significant improvement over the present world average.     

Basis reduction for cryptogroups and orthogroups

Semigroup Forum - The goal of this note is to provide equivalent bases of identities for subvarieties of completely regular semigroups.