Complex formation reactions of two sterically hindered platinum(II) complexes with some N-bonding ligands

The kinetics of the complex formation reactions of two [(TL ^tBu)PtCl]⁺ and [Pt(tpdm)Cl]⁺ complexes (TL ^tBu = 2,6-bis[(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-imino)methyl]pyridine and tpdm = terpyridinedimethane) with N-donor ligands, l-histidine (L-His), inosine (Ino), inosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-IMP) and guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP), were studied. All reactions were studied under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of nucleophile concentration and temperature in aqueous 0.1 M NaClO₄ solution in the presence of 10 mM NaCl using variable-temperature Uv–Vis spectrophotometry. The order of reactivity of the studied ligands is L-His > Ino > 5′-GMP > 5′-IMP. This order of reactivity is in relation to their electronic properties and structures. The mechanism of the substitution reactions is associative in nature as supported by the negative entropy of activation.     

Solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method optimization for characterization of surface adsorption forces of nanoparticles

A complete characterization of the different physico-chemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs) is necessary for the evaluation of their impact on health and environment. Among these properties, the surface characterization of the nanomaterial is the least developed and in many cases limited to the measurement of surface composition and zetapotential. The biological surface adsorption index approach (BSAI) for characterization of surface adsorption properties of NPs has recently been introduced (Xia et al. Nat Nanotechnol 5:671–675, 2010; Xia et al. ACS Nano 5(11):9074–9081, 2011). The BSAI approach offers in principle the possibility to characterize the different interaction forces exerted between a NP's surface and an organic—and by extension biological—entity. The present work further develops the BSAI approach and optimizes a solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME/GC-MS) method which, as an outcome, gives a better-defined quantification of the adsorption properties on NPs. We investigated the various aspects of the SPME/GC-MS method, including kinetics of adsorption of probe compounds on SPME fiber, kinetic of adsorption of probe compounds on NP's surface, and optimization of NP's concentration. The optimized conditions were then tested on 33 probe compounds and on Au NPs (15 nm) and SiO₂ NPs (50 nm). The procedure allowed the identification of three compounds adsorbed by silica NPs and nine compounds by Au NPs, with equilibrium times which varied between 30 min and 12 h. Adsorption coefficients of 4.66?±?0.23 and 4.44?±?0.26 were calculated for 1-methylnaphtalene and biphenyl, compared to literature values of 4.89 and 5.18, respectively. The results demonstrated that the detailed optimization of the SPME/GC-MS method under various conditions is a critical factor and a prerequisite to the application of the BSAI approach as a tool to characterize surface adsorption properties of NPs and therefore to draw any further conclusions on their potential impact on health. Graphical Abstract

The basic principle of SPME/GC-MS method for characterization of nanoparticles surface adsorption forces     

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The novel heteronuclear complexes [{cis-PtCl (NH₃)(μ-pyrazine)ZnCl (terpy)}](ClO₄)₂ (Pt-L1-Zn) and [{cis-PtCl (NH₃)(μ-4,4′-bipyridyl)ZnCl (terpy)}](ClO₄)₂ (Pt-L2-Zn) (where terpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine, L1 = pyrazine, L2 = 4,4′-bipyridyl) were synthesized and characterized. The pK_a values were determined, and based on them it was established that the π-acceptor ability of the pyrazine bridging ligand is more affective on lower pK_a values. The kinetic measurements of the substitution reactions with biologically relevant ligands, such as guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP), inosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-IMP) and glutathione (GSH), were studied at pH 7.4. The reactions were followed under pseudo-first-order conditions by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The order of reactivity of the investigated biomolecules for the first reaction is 5′-GMP > 5′-IMP > GSH, while for the second is 5′-IMP > GSH. Pt-L1-Zn complex is more reactive than Pt-L2-Zn. The cytotoxic activity of heteronuclear Pt-L1-Zn and Pt-L2-Zn complexes was determined on human colorectal cancer cell line (HCT-116) and human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231). Both complexes significantly reduced cell viability on tested cell lines and exerted significant cytotoxic effects, with better effect on HCT-116 cells than cisplatin, especially after 72 hr (IC₅₀ < 0.52 μM). The Pt-L2-Zn complex showed higher activity against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) than cisplatin after 72 hr. The higher reactivity toward DNA constituent and significant cytotoxic activity may be attributed to the different geometry, Lewis acidity of different metal centers, as well as, to choice of bridging ligands.     

Substitution behavior of square-planar and square-pyramidal Cu(II) complexes with bio-relevant nucleophiles

Substitution reactions of [CuCl₂(en)] and [CuCl₂(terpy)] complexes (where en = 1,2-diaminoethane and terpy = 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine) with bio-relevant nucleophiles such as inosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-IMP), guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP), L-methionine (L-Met), glutathione (GSH) and DL-aspartic acid (DL-Asp) have been investigated at pH 7.4 in the presence of 0.010 M NaCl. Mechanism of substitution was probed via mole-ratio, kinetic, mass spectroscopic and EPR studies at pH 7.4. In the presence of an excess of chloride, the octahedral complex anion [CuCl₄(en)]^2? is formed rapidly while equilibrium reaction was observed for [CuCl₂(terpy)]. Different order of reactivity of bio-molecules toward Cu(II) complexes was observed. Mass spectrum of [CuCl₂(terpy)] in Hepes buffer has shown two new signals at m/z = 477.150 and m/z = 521.00, assigned to [CuCl(terpy)]⁺-Hepes fragments of coordinated Hepes buffer. These signals also appear in the mass spectra of ligand substitution reactions between [CuCl₂(terpy)] and bio-molecules in molar ratio 1:1 and 1:2. According to EPR data, L-Met forms the most stable complex with [CuCl₂(en)] among the ligands considered, while [CuCl₂(terpy)] complex did not show significant changes in its square-pyramidal geometry in the presence of the buffer or bio-ligands.     

The Substitution Reactions of the Small Biomolecules and Dinuclear Pt(II) Complexes with Alkanediamine Linker

The substitution reactions of the complexes [{trans‐Pt(NH₃)₂H₂O}₂(μ‐1,4‐diaminobutane)]⁴⁺ ( I ), [{trans‐Pt(NH₃)₂H₂O}₂(μ‐1,6‐diaminohexane)]⁴⁺ ( II ), and [{trans‐Pt(NH₃)₂H2O}₂(μ‐1,8‐diaminooctane)]⁴⁺ ( III ), with nucleophiles L‐cysteine (L‐Cys), glutathione (GSH), guanosine‐5′‐monophosphate (5′‐GMP), L‐histidine (L‐His), and pyridine were studied in 0.1 M NaClO₄ aqueous solutions at pH = 2.5. The substitutions were studied under pseudo‐first‐order conditions as a function of concentration and temperature using UV–vis spectrophotometry. At three different temperatures (288, 298, and 308 K) the reactions of the II and III complexes and 5′‐GMP were studied. The order of reactivity of study ligands is L‐Cys > GSH > 5′‐GMP > L‐His > pyridine and the order of reactivity of the complexes is I < II ≈ III . The obtained results indicate that the structure of the alkanediamine linker in the dinuclear Pt(II) complexes controls the substitution process. The negative values reported for entropy of activation confirmed the associative substitution mode. These results are discussed in order to find the connection between structure and reactivity of the dinuclear Pt(II) complexes.     

A chemiluminescence sensor for the determination of hydrogen peroxide

A chemiluminescence one-shot sensor for hydrogen peroxide is described. It is prepared by immobilization of cobalt chloride and sodium lauryl sulphate in hydroxyethyl cellulose matrix cast on a microscope cover glass. Luminol, sodium phosphate and the sample are mixed before use and applied on the membrane by a micropipette. The calibration graph is linear in the range 20-1600 μg/L, and the detection limit of the method (3σ) is 9 μg/L. A relative standard deviation of 4.5% was obtained for 100 μg/L H₂O₂ (n = 11). The sensor has been applied successfully to the determination of hydrogen peroxide in rainwater.     

Interactions of zinc(II) complexes with 5′-GMP and their cytotoxic activity

The mechanism of substitution from tetrahedral [ZnCl₂(en)] and square-pyramidal [ZnCl₂(terpy)] complexes (where en = 1,2-diaminoethane or ethylenediamine and terpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) by guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP) have been investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The substitution reaction of [ZnCl₂(terpy)] complex is faster than the reaction of [ZnCl₂(en)], which was finished after 48?h. Information about the structures of the final products in solution were obtained from the DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) and experimental ¹H NMR data acquired during the course of the reaction. The cytotoxic activity of zinc(II) complexes was tested on human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, human colon cancer cell line HCT-116 and normal human lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5. Both complexes reduced cell viabilities, while [ZnCl₂(terpy)] was significantly cytotoxic on MDA-MB-231 after 72?h, and HCT-116 after 24?h without dose dependence. The differences in reactivity toward 5′-GMP and cytotoxic activity of Zn(II) complexes may be attributed to the very stable square-pyramidal geometry of [ZnCl₂(terpy)] in solution, while weak ligand effect of the en compared to the terpy affected slow interaction of tetrahedral [ZnCl₂(en)] complex with the target bio-molecule.