The Investigation of Bulk and Surface Polariton Modes in Ga1?xNxAs by Using Infrared Magneto Spectroscopy

We present and discuss infrared magnetoplasma reflectivity and surface polariton modes in Ga_1–xN_xAs. It assumed that the sample is characterized by a magnetoplasma dielectric tensor. Surface polariton dispersion for two component magnetoplasma was calculated from reflectivity spectra data. We detect transverse optic phonon of GaN sublattice in 470 cm^-1. The origin of sharp feature in p-polarization reflectivity about 300 cm^–1 as well as LO phonon frequency of GaAs sublattice is due to Brewster mode. An interesting feature of surface modes in Voigt geometry is nonreciprocalicity, which means that the frequency changes when the direction of propagation is reversed. Also, the infrared magnetoplasma reflectivity of GaNAs should be providing determination of the electrons and heavy holes effective mass and carrier's concentration.     

An ultrasensitive fluorescence sensor for determination of trace levels of copper in blood samples

A novel SBA-15-based fluorescent sensor, SBA-PI: mesoporous SBA-15 structure modified with iminostilbene groups, was designed, synthesized, and characterized by Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), low-angle X-ray diffraction techniques (low-angle XRD), and N₂ adsorption–desorption techniques. The SBA-PI as a sensor with a selective behavior for detection of Cu²⁺ comprises iminostilbene carbonyl as the fluorophore group. The SBA-PI sensor displays an excellent fluorescence response in aqueous solutions and the fluorescence intensity quenches remarkably upon addition of Cu²⁺. Other common interfering ions even at high concentration ratio showed either no or very small changes in the fluorescence intensity of SBA-PI in the absence of Cu²⁺. A limit of detection of 8.7 × 10⁻⁹ M for Cu²⁺ indicated that this fluorescence sensor has a high sensitivity and selectivity toward the target copper (II) ion. The fabricated Cu²⁺ sensor was successfully applied for the determination of the Cu²⁺ in human blood samples without any significant interference. With the selective analysis of Cu²⁺ ions down to 0.9 nM in blood, the sensor is a promising and a novel detection candidate for Cu²⁺ and can be applied in the clinical laboratory. A reversibility and accuracy in the fluorescence behavior of the sensor was found in the presence of I^¯ that was described as a masking agent for Cu²⁺.

Graphical abstract

     

Pyrimethamine analogs as strong inhibitors of double and quadruple mutants of dihydrofolate reductase in human malaria parasites

Pyrimethamine acts against malarial parasites by selectively inhibiting their dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase. Resistance to pyrimethamine in Plasmodium falciparum is due to point mutations in the DHFR domain, initially at residue 108 (S108N), with additional mutations imparting much greater resistance. Our previous work, the development of a simple rational drug design strategy to overcome such resistance, used suitable meta-substituents in the pyrimethamine framework to avoid the unfavorable steric clash with mutant side chains at position 108. Interestingly, the meta-chloro analog of pyrimethamine not only overcame the resistance due to S108N, but also that contributed by the more remote mutation, C59R. The present work improves on this by means of other meta-substituents. Against wild type DHFR, double mutant types A16V + S108T and C59R + S108T, and the highly pyrimethamine/cycloguanil-resistant quadruple-mutant form N51I + C59R + S108N + I164L, pyrimethamine itself gave Ki values of 1.5, 2.4, 72.3 and 859 nM, respectively. The meta-substituted analogs, especially the meta-bromo analog, were much more powerful inhibitors of these DHFRs, including the quadruple-mutant form (meta-bromo analog, Ki 5.1 nM). For comparison, the dihydropyrazine antifolate, WR99210, gave Ki values of 0.9, 3.2, 0.8 and 0.9 nM, respectively. Ki values were also measured against recombinant human DHFR, as were their activities against the growth of Plasmodium falciparum cultures bearing the double mutations (FCB and K1 strains) and quadruple mutation (V1/S) and the wild type (3D7). The meta-analogs were highly active against all of these, with the meta-bromo again being the strongest, having an IC50 of 37 nM against V1/S, compared to > 5000 nM for pyrimethamine itself and 1.1 nM for WR99210.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of ferrocene-based bis(pyrazol-1-yl)borate ligands: FcB(Me)pz2K, Fc2Bpz2K, and 1,1′-fc[B(Me)pz2]2K2 (Fc: ferrocenyl, fc: ferrocenylene, pz: pyrazolyl)

Reaction of the ferrocenyl(dimethylamino)boranes FcB(Me)NMe₂, Fc₂BNMe₂, and 1,1′-fc[B(Me)NMe₂]₂ with 1:1 mixtures of pyrazole and potassium pyrazolide in refluxing THF gave the potassium salts of the ferrocene-based bis(pyrazol-1-yl)borate ligands FcB(Me)pz₂K, Fc₂Bpz₂K, and 1,1′-fc[B(Me)pz₂]₂K₂ in good yield (Fc: ferrocenyl, fc: ferrocenylene, pz: pyrazolyl). In the solid state, FcB(Me)pz₂K and Fc₂Bpz₂K form centrosymmetric dimers with short K?Cp contacts suggesting an η⁵ coordination mode of the potassium ion. The crystal lattice of the ditopic ligand 1,1′-fc[B(Me)pz₂]₂K₂ consists of coordination polymer strands featuring essentially the same structural motif that has been observed for the monotopic derivatives. All three scorpionate ligands are thus promising building blocks for the preparation of ferrocene-containing multiple-decker sandwich complexes.     

Theoretical study on interaction of different coordination modes of BH4 ligand with transition metal in [TM(BH4)(CO)4] (TM = Cr, Mo)

Density functional calculations were performed on bonding and structural features of [(ηⁿ-BH₄)TM(CO)₄]⁻ (n = 1, 2, 3; TM = Cr, Mo) complexes. Calculations show that the ground state is bidentate which is in good agreement with experimental results. It has been found that the bridge and terminal hydrogen atoms will interchange by two pathways: (i) twist of BH₄ about one of the bridge B-H and (ii) twist of BH₄ about one of the terminal B-H. The molecular orbital calculations and natural bond orbital methodologies for different isomers of these complexes have been evaluated. The final results indicate that case (i) is more preferable relative to another case.     

Density functional theory study on structural isomers and bonding of model complexes M(CO)5(BH3 · PH3) (M = Cr, Mo, W) and W(CO)5(BH3 · AH3) (A = N, P, As, Sb)

The influence of group 15 various substituents and effect of metal centers on metal-borane interactions and structural isomers of transition metal-borane complexes W(CO)₅(BH₃ · AH₃) and M(CO)₅(BH₃ · PH₃) (A = N, P, As, and Sb; M = Cr, Mo, and W), were investigated by pure density functional theory at BP86 level. The following results were observed: (a) the ground state is monodentate, η¹, with C₁ point group; (b) in all complexes, the η¹ isomer with C_S symmetry on potential energy surface is the transition state for oscillating borane; (c) the η² isomer is the transition state for the hydrogens interchange mechanism; (d) in W(CO)₅(BH₃ · AH₃), the degree of pyramidalization at boron, interaction energy as well as charge transfer between metal and boron moieties, energy barrier for interchanging hydrogens, and diffuseness of A increase along the series A = Sb < As < P < N; (e) in M(CO)₅(BH₃ · PH₃), interaction energy is ordered as M = W > Cr > Mo, while energy barrier for interchanging hydrogens decreases in the order of M = Cr > W > Mo.     

HPLC Determination of Letrozole in Plasma Using Fluorescence Detection: Application to Pharmacokinetic Studies

A simple, rapid and sensitive HPLC method has been developed and validated for the analysis of letrozole in human plasma. The separation was achieved on a monolithic silica column using acetonitrile–phosphate buffer. A fluorescence detector was used for the quantitation with excitation and emission wavelengths at 230 and 295 nm. The assay enables the measurement of letrozole for therapeutic drug monitoring with a minimum quantification limit (LOQ) of 0.5 ng mL^?1. The method involves a simple, one-step extraction procedure with complete recovery. Calibration was linear over the concentration range 0.5–80 ng mL^?1. The coefficients of variation for inter-day and intra-day assay were found to be less than 8%.     

Optimization of the extraction of paclitaxel from Taxus baccata L. by the use of microwave energy

A simple and rapid microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) procedure was developed and optimized for the extraction of paclitaxel (Taxol) from the needles of yew trees Taxus baccata L. grown in Iranian habitats. The samples, immersed in a methanol-water mixture, were irradiated with microwaves in a closed-vessel system. The method was evaluated using a factorial design approach based on parameters such as extraction time, temperature, methanol concentration in water (v/v), and the ratio of grams of sample to 10 mL of solvent. Statistical treatment of the results revealed that the selected parameters were all significant except the extraction time. Optimum conditions would be 1.5 g samples in 10 mL solvent (90% methanol), an extraction temperature of 95 degrees C, and an extraction time of 7 min. The extracts has been analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (LC/UV) at 227 nm for quantification. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for confirmation. The main advantage of the proposed MAE method versus conventional solvent extraction (CSE) are the considerable reductions in time (7 min versus 16 h) and in solvent consumption (20 mL versus 150 mL). The MAE procedure yielded extracts that could be analyzed directly without any preliminary clean-up or solvent exchange steps. Both extraction methods show RSDs lower than 10% and lead to comparable recoveries of paclitaxel (87-92%).     

Influences of nanoparticles and chain length on thermodynamic and electrical behavior of fluorine liquid crystals

Hydrogen-bonded polar nematic liquid crystal series with the general formula nOBAF (n = 7—12) is studied. The mesomorphic characterization is demonstrated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM). The complexes with short alkyl chains (n=7, 8) present a wide nematic range and monotropic smectic F mesophase, whereas the longer alkyl chain (n=10—12) analogues show high melting and low clearing mesomorphic liquid crystals. The thermal range of the mesophase and the birefringence increase with chain length decreasing. Furthermore, the effect of the nanoparticles (LiNbO₃) on the thermal and the electrical behavior of 8OBAF are investigated. The presence of LiNbO₃ nanoparticles increases the conductivity and reduces the resistivity of the complex.