Role of Intracellular Iron in Switching Apoptosis to Ferroptosis to Target Therapy-Resistant Cancer Stem Cells

Iron is a crucial element required for the proper functioning of the body. For instance, hemoglobin is the vital component in the blood that delivers oxygen to various parts of the body. The heme protein present in hemoglobin comprises iron in the form of a ferrous state which regulates oxygen delivery. Excess iron in the body is stored as ferritin and would be utilized under iron-deficient conditions. Surprisingly, cancer cells as well as cancer stem cells have elevated ferritin levels suggesting that iron plays a vital role in protecting these cells. However, apart from the cytoprotective role iron also has the potential to induce cell death via ferroptosis which is a non-apoptotic cell death dependent on iron reserves. Apoptosis a caspase-dependent cell death mechanism is effective on cancer cells however little is known about its impact on cancer stem cell death. This paper focuses on the molecular characteristics of apoptosis and ferroptosis and the importance of switching to ferroptosis to target cancer stem cells death thereby preventing cancer relapse. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review to demonstrate the importance of intracellular iron in regulating the switching of tumor cells and therapy resistant CSCs from apoptosis to ferroptosis.     

Zeolite‐Supported One‐Pot Synthesis of Bis‐azetidinones under Microwave Irradiation

In an attempt to synthesize antibacterial agents effective against gram‐positive and gram‐negative bacteria, the efficient synthesis of novel bis‐azetidinones ( 3a–j ) has been established. Thus, cycloaddition reaction of substituted bis‐imines with chloroacetylchloride under microwave irradiation in the presence of zeolite yielded bis‐azetidinones ( 3a–j ). Structures of the synthesized compounds have been elucidated on the basis of their elemental analysis and spectral data (IR, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectra). The synthesized bis‐azetidinones were screened for their antibacterial activity against five microorganisms: Bacillus subtilis, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. They were found to exhibit good to moderate antibacterial activity.     

Synthesis of Nordstrandite and Nordstrandite-Derived Layered Double Hydroxides of Li and Al: A Comparative Study with the Bayerite Counterpart

The layered double hydroxides (LDHs) of Li and Al can be synthesized from the four polymorphs of Al(OH)₃, namely gibbsite, bayerite, nordstrandite, and doyleite. The crystal structure of this class of compounds depends on the type of the precursor used due to their topotactic reaction mechanism. While the LDHs derived from gibbsite and bayerite yield different crystal structures, the incorporation of Li into nordstrandite was expected to yield new LDH structures different from those derived from gibbsite and bayerite. The structure of nordstrandite derived LDHs were however identical to that derived from the bayerite counterpart. The absence of symmetry in the interlayer of nordstrandite (C₁) makes it unsuitable to accommodate the intercalating anions with different molecular symmetries. To make the interlayer gallery suitable for the anions, the metal hydroxide layers of the nordstrandite translate, transforming nordstrandite to bayerite. The bayerite with site symmetries O_h and C₂ stabilizes the anions in the interlayer by hydrogen bonding. The transformation of nordstrandite to bayerite, when soaked in lithium salt solution is, therefore, a manifestation of the intercalating anions.     

Studies on particulate matter (PM10) and its precursors over urban environment of Reading, UK

The extent to which airborne particles penetrate into the human respiratory system is determined mainly by their size, with possible health effects. The research over the scientific evidence of the role of airborne particles in adverse health effects has been intensified in recent years. In the present study, seasonal variations of PM₁₀ and its relation with anthropogenic activities have been studied by using the data from UK National Air Quality Archive over Reading, UK. The diurnal variation of PM₁₀ shows a morning peak during 7:00-10:00 LT and an evening peak during 19:00-22:00 LT. The variation between 12:00 and 17:00 LT remains more or less steady for PM₁₀ with the minimum value of ∼16 μg m⁻³. PM₁₀ and black smoke (BS) concentrations during weekdays were found to be high compared to weekends. A reduction in the concentration of PM₁₀ has been found during the Christmas holidays compared to normal days during December. Seasonal variations of PM₁₀ showed high values during spring compared to other seasons. A linear relationship has been found between PM₁₀ and NO_x during March, July, November and December suggesting that most of the PM₁₀ is due to local traffic exhaust emissions. PM₁₀ and SO₂ concentrations showed positive correlation with the correlation coefficient of R²=0.65 over the study area. Seasonal variations of SO₂ and NO_x showed high concentrations during winter and low concentrations during spring. Fraction of BS in PM₁₀ has been found to be 50% during 2004 over the study area.     

Catalytic activity of nanocrystalline ZnM2O4 (M = Fe,Co) prepared via simple and facile synthesis of thermal decomposition of mixed metal complexes of Schiff bases generated from α-ketobutyric acid and diaminoguanidine

Metal complexes ([ML₂], where M = Fe, Co, or Zn; HL = 2-[(6-ethyl-5-oxo-4,5-dihydro-2H-[1,2,4]triazin-3-ylidene)-hydrazono]-butyric acid, C₉H₁₃N₅O₃) of a Schiff base derived from α-ketobutyric acid (α-KBA) and diaminoguanidine (Damgu) were synthesized and characterized using elemental, spectral, and thermal studies. The metal complexes exhibited similar decomposition behavior, with a highly exothermic final decomposition step resulting in the formation of metal oxides. Isomorphism among the complexes was revealed using a powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) technique. Solid solution precursors ([Zn_1/3M_2/3(L)₂], where M = Fe, Co) were synthesized and characterized using various physico-chemical techniques. A thermal decomposition technique was used to prepare spinel-type zinc cobaltite (ZnCo₂O₄) and zinc ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄) nanocrystalline particles with the synthesized single source precursors. Structural studies using PXRD ascertained the predominant crystal phase to be spinel. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) showed a mean nanoparticle size of 18 ± 2 nm. Magnetic measurements revealed a weak magnetic behavior in the synthesized spinels. In the aqueous phase, the spinels exhibited catalytic activity, reducing 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in the presence of NaBH₄ at room temperature. Additionally, the study demonstrated that the catalyst can be recovered and reused for five cycles with a more than 85% conversion efficiency.     

Facile synthesis of silver doped-copper oxide nano materials utilizing areca catechu (AC) leaf extract and their antidiabetic and anticancer studies

The present research highlights physical significance of green combination of metal oxide nanomaterials utilizing medicinal plant which has widely analyzed in different medical applications i.e., medicinal science, therapeutics. In this paper, we discussed environmentally benign approach for synthesizing silver doped copper oxide nanoparticles (Ag–CuO NPs) utilizing (ACLE). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were utilized to confirm the size, crystalline structure and surface morphology of the obtained nanomaterials. The monoclinic crystalline structure of the Ag–CuO NPs as produced was revealed by XRD patterns. Morphological analysis disclosed the nano-based spherical configuration of Ag–CuO NPs, as well as their morphology and elemental composition. The anti-diabetic effect of Ag–CuO NPs was further investigated utilizing a yeast cell model and amylase inhibition. Here, a decrease in intracellular glucose and a delay in carbohydrate digestion indicate promising antidiabetic action. Furthermore, the prepared nanomaterial showed anticancer potential against the MCF-7 cancer cell line, with an IC ₅₀ value of 11.21 g/ml.     

Design,synthesis, and antibacterial studies of potent pyrazolinyltriazoles

Research on Chemical Intermediates - A library of pyrazolinyltriazole hybrids (3a–l, 4a–l) was synthesized via azide–alkyne dipolar (Huisgen) cycloaddition of azidoacetyl...     

Sol-gel-coated oligomers as novel stationary phases for solid-phase microextraction

Amphiphilic and hydrophilic oligomers were synthesized and coated on fused silica capillaries using a sol-gel technique. Sol-gel-coated capillaries were evaluated for the solid-phase microextraction and preconcentration of a wide variety of non-polar and polar analytes. Both types of coatings were stable under high temperature (up to 280 degrees C). The extraction efficiency of the sol-gel coatings was evaluated for the extraction of both non-polar and polar analytes, including organochlorine pesticides, triazine herbicides, estrogens and alkylphenols (APs) and bisphenol-A (BPA). Compared with commercially available solid-phase microextraction (SPME) adsorbents such as poly(dimethylsiloxane)divenylbenzene and polyacrylate, the new materials showed comparable selectivity and sensitivity towards both non-polar and polar analytes. The new coatings gave good linearity and detection limits. For example with triazines, a detection limit of <0.005 microl l(-1), precision from 5.0 to 11.0% (n = 6) and linearity of the calibration plots (0.5 to 50 microl l(-1)) were obtained. The sol-gel coated SPME capillaries were used for the determination of triazine herbicides in reservoir water samples collected in Singapore.