A microfluidic channel flow cell for electrochemical ESR

The design, fabrication, and characterization of microfluidic channel flow devices for in situ simultaneous hydrodynamic electrochemical ESR is reported. The microelectrochemical reactors consist of gold film electrodes situated within rectangular ducts of height 350 microm and widths in the range 500-2000 microm. The small dimensions of the channels result in minimal dielectric loss when centralized within a cylindrical TE011 resonant cavity, leading to a high level of sensitivity. This is demonstrated by using the one-electron oxidation of N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD) in acetonitrile as a model system, wherein the ESR spectra obtained for the corresponding stable radical cation are of a high signal-to-noise ratio. Signal intensity is measured as a function of flow rate for this system, and the behavior is validated by means of 3-dimensional numerical modeling of the hydrodynamic flow profile.     

Design of a Gd‐DOTA‐Phthalocyanine Conjugate Combining MRI Contrast Imaging and Photosensitization Properties as a Potential Molecular Theranostic

The design and synthesis of a phthalocyanine – Gd‐DOTA conjugate is presented to open the way to novel molecular theranostics, combining the properties of MRI contrast imaging with photodynamic therapy. The rational design of the conjugate integrates isomeric purity of the phthalocyanine core substitution, suitable biocompatibility with the use of polyoxo water‐solubilizing substituents, and a convergent synthetic strategy ended by the use of click chemistry to graft the Gd‐DOTA moiety to the phthalocyanine. Photophysical and photochemical properties, contrast imaging experiments and preliminary in vitro investigations proved that such a combination is relevant and lead to a new type of potential theranostic agent.     

Effect of graphene nanoplatelets as nanofiller in plasticized poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites

Plasticized PLA-based nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending of the matrix with 5 mass% of epoxidized palm oils (EPO) and different amount of graphene nanoplatelets (xGnP). Plasticized PLA (p-PLA) reinforced with 0.3 mass% xGnP resulted in an increase of up to 26.5 and 60.6 % in the tensile strength and elongation at break of the nanocomposites, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were performed to study the thermal behavior of the prepared nanocomposites. p-PLA reinforced with xGnP shows that increasing the xGnP content triggers a substantial increase in thermal stability. Crystallinity of the nanocomposites as well as cold crystallization and melting temperature did not show any significant changes upon addition of xGnP. However, there is a significant decrease of glass transition temperature up to 0.3 mass% of xGnP incorporation.     

Nucleophilic Reactivity of Ethers Against Terminal Epoxides in the Presence of BF3: A Mechanistic Study

In the presence of BF₃, a series of symmetrical and unsymmetrical ethers reacted with epichlorohydrin and 2‐[(benzyloxy)methyl]oxirane, two terminal epoxides, to afford 1‐alkoxy‐3‐chloropropan‐2‐ol and 1‐alkoxy‐3‐(benzyloxy)propan‐2‐ol. The cleavage of unsymmetrical ethers occurred via an S_N2 or S_N1 mechanism. Secondary epoxides did not give similar ring‐opening products.     

Fluorescent Arylphosphonic Acids: Synergic Interactions between Bone and the Fluorescent Core

Herein, we report the third generation of fluorescent probes (arylphosphonic acids) to target calcifications, particularly hydroxyapatite (HAP). In this study, we use highly conjugated porphyrin-based arylphosphonic acids and their diesters, namely 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[m-(diethoxyphosphoryl)phenyl]porphyrin ( m -H₈TPPA-OEt₈ ) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis [m-phenylphosphonic acid]porphyrin ( m -H₈TPPA ), in comparison with their positional isomers 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[p-(diisopropoxyphosphoryl)phenyl]porphyrin ( p -H₈TPPA-iPr₈ ) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis [p-phenylphosphonic acid]porphyrin ( p -H₈TPPA ), which have phosphonic acid units bonded to sp² carbon atoms of the fluorescent core. The conjugation of the fluorescent core is thus extended to the (HAP) through sp²-bonded −PO₃H₂ units, which generates increased fluorescence upon HAP binding. The resulting fluorescent probes are highly sensitive towards the HAP in rat bone sections. The designed probes are readily taken up by cells. Due to the lower reported toxicity of ( p -H₈TPPA ), these probes could find applications in monitoring bone resorption or adsorption, or imaging vascular or soft tissue calcifications for breast cancer diagnosis etc.     

Synthesis of palm oil-based fatty methylhydrazide

Fatty methylydrazides (FMHs) have been successfully synthesized from palm oil. Glycerol was produced as a by-product. The synthesis was carried out by reflux palm oil with methylhydrazine in hexane. FMHs have been characterized using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The results showed that a 6:1 molar ratio of palm oil to methylhydrazine, a round 78 % maximum conversion of palm oil into FMHs and a 10 h reaction time are the optimum reaction conditions.     

Cu (II) tyrosinate complexes containing methyl substituted phenanthrolines: Synthesis,X‐ray crystal structures,biomolecular interactions,antioxidant activity,ROS generation and cytotoxicity

In this paper, three new copper (II) complexes, [Cu(4‐mphen)(tyr)(H₂O)]ClO₄ (1) , [Cu(5‐mphen)(tyr)(H₂O)]ClO₄·1.5H₂O (2) and [Cu (tmphen)(tyr)(NO₃)]0.5H₂O (3) (4‐mphen: 4‐methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, 5‐mphen: 5‐methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline, tmphen: 3,4,7,8‐tetramethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline and tyr: L‐tyrosine), were synthesized and characterized using elemental analyses, FT‐IR, ESI‐MS, cyclic voltammetry and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. It was found that the complexes adopt a distorted five‐coordinate square pyramidal geometry. The interaction of the three complexes with calf thymus DNA was also investigated using UV–visible absorption spectra, ethidium bromide and Hoechst 33258 displacement assay and thermal denaturation. The DNA cleavage activity of the complexes, monitored using gel electrophoresis, showed significant damage of the pUC19 plasmid DNA. Binding activity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) reveals that these complexes can strongly quench the fluorescence of BSA through a static quenching mechanism. The results suggested that interaction of the complexes with DNA occurred through a partial intercalation into the minor grooves of DNA. In addition, interaction of the complexes with bovine serum albumin quenched the fluorescence emission of the tryptophan residues of the protein binding constants and thermodynamic parameters were obtained from the fluorescence quenching experiments at different temperatures. Free radical scavenging activities of the complexes were determined by various in vitro assays such as 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl free radicals (DPPH˙) and H₂O₂ scavenging methods. In addition, the cytotoxicity of these complexes in vitro on tumor cell lines (Caco‐2 and MCF‐7) was examined by XTT and showed better antitumor effect on the tested cells. ROS (reactive oxygen species) and comet experiments are consistent with each other and these complexes lead to DNA damage via the production of ROS. The effect of the hydrophobic properties of the synthesized complexes on DNA and BSA binding activities were discussed.     

Methyl substituent effect on one‐dimensional copper(II) coordination polymers containing biologically active ligands: Synthesis,characterization, DNA interactions and cytotoxicities

Three novel water‐soluble copper(II) complexes – {[Cu(phen)(trp)]ClO₄·3H₂O}_n ( 1 ), {[Cu(4‐mphen)(trp)]ClO₄·3H₂O}_n ( 2 ) and [[Cu(dmphen)(trp)(MeOH)][Cu(dmphen)(trp)(NO₃)]]NO₃ ( 3 ) (phen: 1,10‐phenanthroline; 4‐mphen: 4‐methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline; dmphen: 4,7‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline; trp: l ‐tryptophan) – have been synthesized and characterized using various techniques. Complexes 1 and 2 are isostructural, and exist as one‐dimensional coordination polymers. Complex 3 consists of two discrete copper(II) complexes containing [Cu(trp)(dmphen)(MeOH)]⁺, [Cu(trp)(dmphen)(NO₃)] and one nitrate anion. The binding interaction of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) was investigated using thermal denaturation, electronic absorption and emission spectroscopic methods, revealing that the complexes could interact with CT‐DNA via a moderate intercalation mode. The binding activity of the complexes to CT‐DNA follows the order: 3  >  2 > 1 . The pUC19 DNA cleavage activity of the complexes was investigated in the absence and presence of external agents using the agarose gel electrophoresis method. Especially, in the presence of H₂O₂ as an activator, the pUC19 DNA cleavage abilities of the complexes are clearly enhanced at low concentration. Addition of hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylsulfoxide shows a marked inhibition of the pUC19 DNA cleavage activity of the complexes. In vitro cytotoxic effect of the complexes was examined on human tumor cell lines (Caco‐2, A549 and MCF‐7) and healthy cells (BEAS‐2B). The potent cytotoxic effect of complex 3 , with IC₅₀ values of 1.04, 1.16 and 1.72 μM, respectively, is greater relative to clinically used cisplatin (IC₅₀ = 22.70, 31.1 and 22.2 μM) against the Caco‐2, A549 and MCF‐7 cell lines.     

Structural, morphology and electrical properties of layered copper selenide thin film

Thin films of copper selenide (CuSe) were physically deposited layer-by-layer up to 5 layers using thermal evaporation technique onto a glass substrate. Various film properties, including the thickness, structure, morphology, surface roughness, average grain size and electrical conductivity are studied and discussed. These properties are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ellipsometer and 4 point probe at room temperature. The dependence of electrical conductivity, surface roughness, and average grain size on number of layers deposited is discussed.      

Investigation of Solvent Effects on Photophysical Properties of New Aminophthalimide Derivatives-Based on Methanesulfonate

Novel aminophthalimide derivatives were synthesized starting from (3aR,7aS)-2-(2-hydroxypropyl)-3a,4,7,7a–tetrahydro-1H-isoindole-1,3(2H)-dione (9) , and solvent effects on the photo-physical properties of these newly synthesized aminophthalimide derivatives (compounds 14 and 15) were investigated using UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements. Both absorption and fluorescence spectra exhibited bathochromic shift with the increased polarity of the solvents for both molecules. Solute-solvent interactions were analyzed using the Lippert-Mataga and Bakhshiev polarity functions, and Kamlet-Taft and Catalan multiple linear regression approaches. The results revealed that these two molecules experienced specific interactions. Furthermore, photo-physical parameters were calculated for both molecules in all of the solvents, such as the fluorescence quantum yield, fluorescence lifetime, radiative (k_r) and non-radiative (k_nr) rate constant values. It was observed that the fluorescence quantum yield values decreased linearly with increasing solvent polarity. This study proved the new dyes including isopropyl methanesulfonate group displayed different behavior from previous studies of aminophthalimide derivatives in water. It was recommended that these new dyes having interesting properties by changing solvent can be used various applications such as environmentally sensitive fluorescent probes, labels in biology, laser industry.