Effects of pH and Surfactant Precipitation on Surface Tension and CMC Determination of Aqueous Sodium n-Alkyl Carboxylate Solutions

Aqueous solutions of sodium tetradecanoate (S14C) and sodium dodecanoate (S12C) were used to evaluate complicated precipitation phenomena and to monitor the effects of bulk pH adjustments on surface tension and critical micelle concentrations (CMC) determination from surface tension plots. Limited solubilities of pure sodium n-alkyl carboxylates in solution near the CMC have been reported previously many times. In this study, precipitation encountered with solutions prepared from vender-supplied S12C was eliminated through additional purification. As sodium alkyl carboxylates discussed in the literature are commonly used as received from the manufacture without additional purification, the wide range of reported CMC values as well as precipitation near the CMC for S12C are also likely due to impurities. However, complete solubility for S14C solution concentrations near the reported CMC values was not obtained through additional purification of purchased material. Hence, some CMC values reported in the literature for S14C should be reconsidered, as discontinuities in the slope of surface tension versus concentration plots are likely caused by the formation of a precipitate not micelle aggregation. In addition and in agreement with other studies, solution pH adjustments revealed a minimum surface tension for maximum solubility near the pK _a value for S14C.     

Novel Heterobimetallic Radiotheranostic: Preparation,Activity, and Biodistribution

A novel Ru^II(arene) theranostic complex is presented. It is based on a 1,4,7,10‐tetraazacyclododecane‐1,4,7,10‐tetraacetic acid macrocycle bearing a triarylphosphine and can be tracked in vivo by using the γ emission of ¹⁵³Sm atoms. Notably, the heteroditopic ligand can be selectively metalated with ruthenium at the phosphorus atom despite the presence of other functionalities that are prone to metal coordination. Subsequent labeling with radionuclides such as ¹⁵³Sm can then be performed easily. The resulting heterobimetallic complex exhibits favorable solubility and stability properties in biologically relevant media. It also shows in vitro cytotoxicity in line with that expected for this type of metallodrug, and is nontoxic to the organism as a whole. As a proof of concept, initial studies in healthy mice were performed to obtain information about the uptake, biodistribution, and excretion of the radiolabeled complex.     

In Vitro Antiprotozoal Activity of Abietane Diterpenoids Isolated from Plectranthus barbatus Andr.

Chromatographic separation of the n-hexane extract of the aerial part of Plectranthus barbatus led to the isolation of five abietane-type diterpenes: dehydroabietane (1); 5,6-didehydro-7-hydroxy-taxodone (2); taxodione (3); 20-deoxocarnosol (4) and 6α,11,12,-trihydroxy-7β,20-epoxy-8,11,13-abietatriene (5). The structures were determined using spectroscopic methods including one- and two-dimensional NMR methods. Compounds (1)–(3) and (5) are isolated here for the first time from the genus Plectranthus. The isolated abietane-type diterpenes tested in vitro for their antiprotozoal activity against erythrocytic schizonts of Plasmodium falciparum, intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi and free trypomastigotes of T. brucei. Cytotoxicity was determined against fibroblast cell line MRC-5. Compound (2) 5,6-didehydro-7-hydroxy-taxodone showed remarkable activity with acceptable selectivity against P. falciparum (IC₅₀ 9.2 μM, SI 10.4) and T. brucei (IC₅₀ 1.9 μM, SI 50.5). Compounds (3)–(5) exhibited non-specific antiprotozoal activity due to high cytotoxicity. Compound (1) dehydroabietane showed no antiprotozoal potential.     

REVIEWS AND THINGS CRYPTOLOGIC

The most popular microcomputers have serious security weaknesses. Their password protection gives no protection at all against anyone skilled in the art of systems programming. The system described relies upon file encryption. It is implemented entirely in software and affords moderate security without incurring high over-head or memory residence costs.