Multifunctional redox catalysts as selective enhancers of oxidative stress

Certain cancer cells proliferate under conditions of oxidative stress (OS) and might therefore be selectively targeted by redox catalysts. Among these catalysts, compounds containing a chalcogen and a quinone redox centre are particularly well suited to respond to the presence of OS. These catalysts combine the specific electrochemical features of quinones and chalcogens. They exhibit high selectivity and efficiency against oxidatively stressed rat PC12, human Jurkat and human Daudi cells in cell culture, where their mode of action most likely involves the catalytic activation of existent and the generation of new reactive oxygen species. The high efficiency and selectivity shown by these catalysts makes them interesting for the development of anti-cancer drugs.     

Surface Design for Immobilization of an Antimicrobial Peptide Mimic for Efficient Anti-Biofouling

Microbial surface attachment negatively impacts a wide range of devices from water purification membranes to biomedical implants. Mimics of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constituted from poly(N-substituted glycine) „peptoids“ are of great interest as they resist proteolysis and can inhibit a wide spectrum of microbes. We investigate how terminal modification of a peptoid AMP-mimic and its surface immobilization affect antimicrobial activity. We also demonstrate a convenient surface modification strategy for enabling alkyne–azide „click“ coupling on amino-functionalized surfaces. Our results verified that the N- and C-terminal peptoid structures are not required for antimicrobial activity. Moreover, our peptoid immobilization density and choice of PEG tether resulted in a „volumetric“ spatial separation between AMPs that, compared to past studies, enabled the highest AMP surface activity relative to bacterial attachment. Our analysis suggests the importance of spatial flexibility for membrane activity and that AMP separation may be a controlling parameter for optimizing surface anti-biofouling.     

Phosphorescence polarisation of aromatic compounds oriented in stretched polyethylene films

Phosphorescence polarisation measurements are reported for a number of planar aromatic compounds in stretched polyethylene. The phosphorescence is to about 80% polarised perpendicular to the molecular plane. In the in-plane intensity second order Herzberg-Teller coupling terms may be at least competitive with three-center ππ spin-orbit integrals, in agreement with suggestions of Friedrich, Metz and Dörr.     

Differential-pulse anodic stripping voltammetry at mercury-poly(4-vinylpyridine) coatings on glassy carbon electrodes

The coating layer is simple to prepare and when the HG²⁺ within the layer is reduced it proves useful for determination of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺, but not Cu²⁺. The inherent filtering ability of the poly(vinylpyridine) excludes gelatin, which adsorbs on mercury film electrodes causing irreproducible results.     

Transition Metal Catalysis in Living Cells: Progress,Challenges, and Novel Supramolecular Solutions

The importance of transition metal catalysis is exemplified by its wide range of applications, for example in the synthesis of chemicals, natural products, and pharmaceuticals. However, one relatively new application is for carrying out new-to-nature reactions inside living cells. The complex environment of a living cell is not welcoming to transition metal catalysts, as a diverse range of biological components have the potential to inhibit or deactivate the catalyst. Here we review the current progress in the field of transition metal catalysis, and evaluation of catalysis efficiency in living cells and under biological (relevant) conditions. Catalyst poisoning is a ubiquitous problem in this field, and we propose that future research into the development of physical and kinetic protection strategies may provide a route to improve the reactivity of catalysts in cells.     

Seshadi constants via functions on Newton–Okounkov bodies

The aim of this note is to establish a somewhat surprising connection between functions on Newton–Okounkov bodies and Seshadri constants of line bundles on algebraic surfaces.