Spectrophotometric Determination of Benzalkonium Bromide in Pharmaceutical Samples with Alizarin Green

A direct, extraction‐free spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of benzalkonium bromide (BAK). The method is based on the formation of mixed dye–surfactant aggregates between alizarin green (AG) and BAK in alkaline medium by measuring the decrease in absorbance of AG at 460 and 700 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range 3–40 μg mL^?1 with good precision and accuracy. The limits of detection were 0.4 μg mL^?1 at 460 nm and 0.3 μg mL^?1 at 700 nm, which reduced to 0.2 μg mL^?1 by combining the absorbance at the two wavelengths. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of BAK in disinfectant solution and eye drops. The analytical results of the real samples were in good agreement with those of an HPLC method.     

C2 Arylated Benzo[b]thiophene Derivatives as Staphylococcus aureus NorA Efflux Pump Inhibitors

An innovative and straightforward synthesis of second‐generation 2‐arylbenzo[b]thiophenes as structural analogues of INF55 and the first generation of our laboratory‐made molecules was developed. The synthesis of C2‐arylated benzo[b]thiophene derivatives was achieved through a method involving direct arylation, followed by simple structural modifications. Among the 34 compounds tested, two of them were potent NorA pump inhibitors, which led to a 16‐fold decrease in the ciprofloxacin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the SA‐1199B strain at concentrations of 0.25 and 0.5 μg mL^?1 (1 and 1.5 μm , respectively). This is a promising result relative to that obtained for reserpine (MIC=20 μg mL^?1), a reference compound amongst NorA pump inhibitors. These molecules thus represent promising candidates to be used in combination with ciprofloxacin against fluoroquinolone‐resistant strains.     

Isoprenoid Biosynthesis Inhibitors Targeting Bacterial Cell Growth

We synthesized potential inhibitors of farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS), undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase (UPPS), or undecaprenyl diphosphate phosphatase (UPPP), and tested them in bacterial cell growth and enzyme inhibition assays. The most active compounds were found to be bisphosphonates with electron‐withdrawing aryl‐alkyl side chains which inhibited the growth of Gram‐negative bacteria (Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) at ～1–4 μg mL^?1 levels. They were found to be potent inhibitors of FPPS; cell growth was partially “rescued” by the addition of farnesol or overexpression of FPPS, and there was synergistic activity with known isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway inhibitors. Lipophilic hydroxyalkyl phosphonic acids inhibited UPPS and UPPP at micromolar levels; they were active (～2–6 μg mL^?1) against Gram‐positive but not Gram‐negative organisms, and again exhibited synergistic activity with cell wall biosynthesis inhibitors, but only indifferent effects with other inhibitors. The results are of interest because they describe novel inhibitors of FPPS, UPPS, and UPPP with cell growth inhibitory activities as low as ～1–2 μg mL^?1.     

高效液相色谱法测定重组人干扰素α1b滴眼液中苯扎氯铵的含量

目的采用高效液相色谱法(high performance liquid chromatography,HPLC)测定重组人干扰素α1b(recombi-nant human interferonα1b,rhIFNα1b)滴眼液中苯扎氯铵(benzalkonium chloride)的含量。方法采用HPLC法测定rhIFNα1b滴眼液中苯扎氯铵含量,色谱条件:流动相:乙腈:5 mmol/L醋酸铵[含1%三乙胺,用冰醋酸调节pH值至(5.0±0.2)]体积比为65∶35;流速:1.0 ml/min;检测波长:262 nm;进样量20μl;柱温:室温。对该方法进行验证,并应用该方法检测3批rhIFNα1b滴眼液中苯扎氯铵的含量。结果该方法检测苯扎氯铵专属性和系统适应性良好;最低检测限和定量限分别为0.53μg/ml和1.48μg/ml;苯扎氯铵在10～50μg/ml浓度范围内,标准曲线的线性关系良好,R2=0.999 1;连续6次进样,峰面积的RSD=1.78%;苯扎氯铵理论浓度为22、24、26μg/ml的加样回收率平均为97.90%,RSD=0.96%。3批rhIFNα1b滴眼液中苯扎氯铵的相对含量分别为19.27、19.89和19.76μg/ml,分别为标示量的96.34%、94.46%和98.80%。结论 HPLC法简便、灵敏、准确,可用于测定rhIFNα1b滴眼液中苯扎氯铵的含量。     

Improving Cell‐Free Protein Synthesis through Genome Engineering of Escherichia coli Lacking Release Factor 1

Site‐specific incorporation of non‐standard amino acids (NSAAs) into proteins opens the way to novel biological insights and applications in biotechnology. Here, we describe the development of a high yielding cell‐free protein synthesis (CFPS) platform for NSAA incorporation from crude extracts of genomically recoded Escherichia coli lacking release factor 1. We used genome engineering to construct synthetic organisms that, upon cell lysis, lead to improved extract performance. We targeted five potential negative effectors to be disabled: the nuclease genes rna, rnb, csdA, mazF, and endA. Using our most productive extract from strain MCJ.559 (csdA^? endA^?), we synthesized 550±40 μg mL^?1 of modified superfolder green fluorescent protein containing p‐acetyl‐L ‐phenylalanine. This yield was increased to ～1300 μg mL^?1 when using a semicontinuous method. Our work has implications for using whole genome editing for CFPS strain development, expanding the chemistry of biological systems, and cell‐free synthetic biology.     

Salimyxins and Enhygrolides: Antibiotic,Sponge‐Related Metabolites from the Obligate Marine Myxobacterium Enhygromyxa salina

Unlike their terrestrial counterparts, marine myxobacteria are hardly investigated for their secondary metabolites. This study describes three new compounds ( 1 – 3 ), named salimyxins and enhygrolides, obtained from the obligate marine myxobacterium Enhygromyxa salina. These are the first natural products obtained from Enhygromyxa species. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including NMR and CD spectroscopy. Enhygrolides are closely related to the nostoclides, which were initially isolated from a cyanobacterium of the genus Nostoc. The salimyxins, representing structurally most unusual degraded sterols, are close to identical to demethylincisterol from the sponge Homaxinella sp. Salimyxin B and enhygrolide A inhibit the growth of the Gram‐positive bacterium Arthrobacter cristallopoietes (MIC salimyxin B, 8 μg mL^?1; enhygrolide A, 4 μg mL^?1).     

Production and Quantitative Analysis of Trehalose Lipid Biosurfactants Using High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography

Trehalose lipids (THL) are glycolipid biosurfactants having a wide range of biomedical and environmental applications. Low yield, high purification cost, and the absence of a valid analytical method hinders their application. Hence, in the present study a simple, rapid, and reliable isocratic high‐performance liquid chromatography (LC) method was developed for the identification and quantification of trehalose lipid biosurfactants from Rhodococcus erythropolis. THL having a minimum surface tension of 24 mN m^?1 and a critical micellar concentration of 25 mg L^?1 were produced using hexadecane as a substrate. A standard was developed from the crude THL mixture using thin‐layer chromatography and column chromatography and its structure was confirmed using infrared spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and ¹H NMR. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for quantitation was developed using a C18 column with water/acetonitrile (80:20) as the mobile phase at a 1 mL min^?1 flow rate and UV detection at 208 nm. This method was validated according to International Conference on Harmonization guidelines for linearity, precision, accuracy, robustness, LOD, and LOQ. This method was found to be linear over the range 10‐50 μg m L^?1 (r² =0.99801), precise, accurate, and robust. This method can detect minimum 3.2 μg mL^?1 and quantify minimum 9.2 μg mL^?1 of THL. Standards were developed from R. erythropolis, broth and purified standard trehalose 6,6′‐dimycolate from Mycobacterium bovis, having the same retention time of 2.0 min. The yield was calculated from the calibration curve and was found to be 25 g L^?1.     

Synthetic Arabinomannan Heptasaccharide Glycolipids Inhibit Biofilm Growth and Augment Isoniazid Effects in Mycobacterium smegmatis

Biofilm formation, involving attachment to an adherent surface, is a critical survival strategy of mycobacterial colonies in hostile environmental conditions. Here we report the synthesis of heptasaccharide glycolipids based on mannopyranoside units anchored on to a branched arabinofuranoside core. Two types of glycolipids—2,3‐branched and 2,5‐branched—were synthesized and evaluated for their efficacies in inhibiting biofilm growth by the non‐pathogenic mycobacterium variant Mycobacterium smegmatis. Biofilm formation was inhibited at a minimum biofilm growth inhibition concentration (MBIC) of 100 μg mL^?1 in the case of the 2,5‐branched heptasaccharide glycolipid. Further, we were able to ascertain that a combination of the drug isoniazid with the branched heptasaccharide glycolipid (50 μg mL^?1) potentiates the drug, making it three times more effective, with an improved MBIC of 30 μg mL^?1. These studies establish that synthetic glycolipids not only act as inhibitors of biofilm growth, but also provide a synergistic effect when combined with significantly lowered concentrations of isoniazid to disrupt the biofilm structures of the mycobacteria.     

In silico Optimization of a Fragment‐Based Hit Yields Biologically Active,High‐Efficiency Inhibitors for Glutamate Racemase

A novel lead compound for inhibition of the antibacterial drug target, glutamate racemase (GR), was optimized for both ligand efficiency and lipophilic efficiency. A previously developed hybrid molecular dynamics–docking and scoring scheme, FERM‐SMD, was used to predict relative potencies of potential derivatives prior to chemical synthesis. This scheme was successful in distinguishing between high‐ and low‐affinity binders with minimal experimental structural information, saving time and resources in the process. In vitro potency was increased approximately fourfold against GR from the model organism, B. subtilis. Lead derivatives show two‐ to fourfold increased antimicrobial potency over the parent scaffold. In addition, specificity toward B. subtilis over E. coli and S. aureus depends on the substituent added to the parent scaffold. Finally, insight was gained into the capacity for these compounds to reach the target enzyme in vivo using a bacterial cell wall lysis assay. The outcome of this study is a novel small‐molecule inhibitor of GR with the following characteristics: K_i=2.5 μM , LE=0.45 kcal mol^?1 atom^?1, LiPE=6.0, MIC₅₀=260 μg mL^?1 against B. subtilis, EC_{50, lysis}=520 μg mL^?1 against B. subtilis.     

Novel Aeruginosin‐865 from Nostoc sp. as a Potent Anti‐inflammatory Agent

Aeruginosin‐865 (Aer‐865), isolated from terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. Luke?ová 30/93, is the first aeruginosin‐type peptide containing both a fatty acid and a carbohydrate moiety, and is the first aeruginosin to be found in the genus Nostoc. Mass spectrometry, chemical and spectroscopic analysis as well as one‐ and two‐dimensional NMR and chiral HPLC analysis of Marfey derivatives were applied to determine the peptidic sequence: D ‐Hpla, D ‐Leu, 5‐OH‐Choi, Agma, with hexanoic and mannopyranosyl uronic acid moieties linked to Choi. We used an AlphaLISA assay to measure the levels of proinflammatory mediators IL‐8 and ICAM‐1 in hTNF‐α‐stimulated HLMVECs. Aer‐865 showed significant reduction of both: with EC₅₀ values of (3.5±1.5) μg mL^?1 ((4.0±1.7) μM ) and (50.0±13.4) μg mL^?1 ((57.8±15.5) μM ), respectively. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that the anti‐inflammatory effect of Aer‐865 was directly associated with inhibition of NF‐κB translocation to the nucleus. Moreover, Aer‐865 did not show any cytotoxic effect.     

Structural Optimization of Berberine as a Synergist to Restore Antifungal Activity of Fluconazole against Drug‐Resistant Candida albicans

We have conducted systematic structural modification, deconstruction, and reconstruction of the berberine core with the aim of lowering its cytotoxicity, investigating its pharmacophore, and ultimately, seeking novel synergistic agents to restore the effectiveness of fluconazole against fluconazole‐resistant Candida albicans. A structure–activity relationship study of 95 analogues led us to identify the novel scaffold of N‐(2‐(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)ethyl)‐2‐(substituted phenyl)acetamides 7 a – l , which exhibited remarkable levels of in vitro synergistic antifungal activity. Compound 7 d (N‐(2‐(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)ethyl)‐2‐(2‐fluorophenyl)acetamide) significantly decreased the MIC₈₀ values of fluconazole from 128.0 μg mL^?1 to 0.5 μg mL^?1 against fluconazole‐resistant C. albicans and exhibited much lower levels of cytotoxicity than berberine toward human umbilical vein endothelial cells.     

New Antimicrobial Hexapeptides: Synthesis,Antimicrobial Activities,Cytotoxicity, and Mechanistic Studies

Synthetic antimicrobial peptides have recently emerged as promising candidates against drug‐resistant pathogens. We identified a novel hexapeptide, Orn‐D ‐Trp‐D ‐Phe‐Ile‐D ‐Phe‐His(1‐Bzl)‐NH₂, which exhibits broad‐spectrum antifungal and antibacterial activity. A lead optimization was undertaken by conducting a full amino acid scan with various proteinogenic and non‐proteinogenic amino acids depending on the hydrophobic or positive‐charge character of residues at various positions along the sequence. The hexapeptide was also cyclized to study the correlation between the linear and cyclic structures and their respective antimicrobial activities. The synthesized peptides were found to be active against the fungus Candida albicans and Gram‐positive bacteria such as methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, as well as the Gram‐negative bacterium Escherichia coli; MIC values for the most potent structures were in the range of 1–5 μg mL^?1 (IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.02–2 μg mL^?1). Most of the synthesized peptides showed no cytotoxic effects in an MTT assay up to the highest test concentration of 200 μg mL^?1. A tryptophan fluorescence quenching study was performed in the presence of negatively charged and zwitterionic model membranes, mimicking bacterial and mammalian membranes, respectively. The results of the fluorescence study demonstrate that the tested peptides are selective toward bacterial over mammalian cells; this is associated with a preferential interaction between the peptides and the negatively charged phospholipids of bacterial cells.     

Novel 1,4‐Substituted‐1,2,3‐Triazoles as Antitubercular Agents

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a pressing unmet medical need, particularly with the emergence of multidrug‐resistant and extensively drug‐resistant tuberculosis. Here, a series of 1,4‐substituted‐1,2,3‐triazoles have been synthesized and evaluated as potential antitubercular agents. These compounds were assembled via click chemistry in high crude purity and in moderate to high yield. Of the compounds tested, 12 compounds showed promising antitubercular activity with six possessing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values <10 μg mL^?1, and total selectivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) growth inhibition. A second set of 21 compounds bearing variations on ring C were synthesized and evaluated. This second library gave an additional six compounds displaying MIC values ≤10 μg mL^?1 and total selectivity for Mtb growth inhibition. These compounds serve as an excellent starting point for further development of antitubercular therapies.     

A Consistent Dataset of Kinetic Solubilities for Early‐Phase Drug Discovery

Herein, we describe a new dataset of kinetic aqueous solubilities determined by nephelometry for 711 druglike compounds. The solubilities are reported in twelve classes ranging from <2 μg mL^?1 to >250 μg mL^?1. The measurements were designed to provide the appropriate data for applications in the early phases of drug discovery. Three class classification models (insoluble, moderately soluble, soluble) were built using the random forest algorithm and their performance for this dataset was analyzed.     

Synthesis,characterization, and application of a new chelating resin functionalized with dithiooxamide

Chloromethylated polystyrene‐divinylbenzene has been functionalized with dithiooxamide. The resulting chelating resin (DTOA) has been characterized by elemental analyses, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and metal ion sorption capacities. It has been used for the preconcentration and separation of Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) prior to their determination by FAAS. Parameters such as the amount of the resin, effect of pH, equilibration rate, sorption and desorption of metal ions, and effect of diverse ions have been studied. The maximum sorption capacities found are 0.97, 0.12, 0.08, and 0.12 mmol g^?1 for Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) at pH 6.0, 5.5, 1.0, and 5.5, respectively. The preconcentration factors are 100, 100, 50, and 50 for Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II), respectively. Recoveries of the metal ions were 96 ± 5, 97 ± 6, 96 ± 5, and 96 ± 5 at 95% confidence level, whereas the limits of detection are 2.0, 1.3, 2.5, and 25.0 μg L^?1 for Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II), respectively. The calibration curves were linear up to 12 μg mL^?1 (R² = 1.000), 2 μg mL^?1 (R² = 0.998), 2 μg ml^?1 (R² = 1.000), and 5 μg mL^?1 (R² = 0.979) for Cu(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II), respectively. The reliability of the method has been tested by analyzing certified samples. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2281–2285, 2007     

Synthesis,Surface Activity and Aggregation Properties of Glucosamide‐Based Polysiloxanes

Three glucosamide‐based polysiloxanes (GAPS) surfactants were prepared by amidation of gluconolactone with amino functional polysiloxanes synthesized by polymerization. GAPS were characterized by FT‐IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. Surface activity and aggregation behavior in aqueous solution were studied by surface tension measurements, dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy. GAPS can reduce the surface tension of water to 24 mN m^?1 at concentration levels of 10^?4 g mL^?1 and self‐assemble in water at room temperature to form spherical micelles with average diameters ranging from 30 to 1000 nm. The micelle diameter increases with increasing degree of polymerization.     

Recovery of uranium by tannin immobilized on agarose

Tannin, which is a ubiquitous and inexpensive material, was immobilized on agarose gel to produce an excellent adsorbent for uranium recovery from seawater. Optimal conditions for the immobilization of tannin on agarose gel by both the epichlorohydrin and cyanuric chloride coupling procedures were examined in detail. The resulting immobilized tannin has a highly selective ability to adsorb uranium and applicability in both column and batch systems. This adsorbent can recover uranium from natural seawater with high efficiency. The maximum adsorption capacities were 1850 μg uranium g^?1 adsorbent for the tannin immobilized on agarose gel by the epichlorohydrin coupling procedure and 1062 μg g^?1 adsorbent for that produced by the cyanuric chloride coupling procedure.     

Design of a probe based on poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐vinylferrocene)‐coated Pt electrode for electrochemical detection of PTEN gene in PCR amplified samples from prostate tissues

In this study, a new probe based on immobilization of amino linked oligonucleotide (NH₂‐linked DNA) on poly(glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐vinylferrocene)‐coated Pt electrode was fabricated for the electrochemical detection of PTEN gene from human prostate tissues. The experimental parameters such as DNA immobilization time, DNA concentration, and target concentration were optimized. The selectivity of the NH₂‐linked DNA probe was assessed with mismatch (MM) and noncomplementary (NC) sequences. The applicability of the NH₂‐linked DNA probe to the PCR amplified samples correspond to PTEN gene from prostate tissues was evaluated. The immobilization of DNA on the copolymer was confirmed by FTIR, AFM, CV and DPV analysis. The PCR products were also identified by using agarose gel electrophoresis. The prepared probe indicated a linear range (10–100 μg mL^?1) with a detection limit (4.7 μg mL^?1) and a good selectivity of the NH₂‐linked DNA probe toward target DNA sequence. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40638.     

Antibacterial Activities of Five Cationic Gemini Surfactants with Ethylene Glycol Bisacetyl Spacers

A series of cationic gemini surfactants containing two dimethylalkylammonium chains linked by ethylene glycol bisacetyl spacers were synthesized [G_m‐AnA‐m, G = gemini surfactant, m = 12 (–C₁₂H₂₅), 14 (–C₁₄H₂₉), or 16 (–C₁₆H₃₃), A = acetyl, and n = 2, 3, or 4 is the number of ethylene glycol units in the spacers]. Because of the inductive effect of the oxygen atom in the spacer, acylation can take place using chloroacetyl chloride instead of bromoacetyl bromide which helps to limit the use of environmentally harmful reagents. Critical micelle concentrations were determined using conductivity measurements. The antibacterial activities of the surfactants against Gram‐positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and Gram‐negative bacterium Escherichia coli were evaluated from the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bacterial concentration, a time–kill study, and the inhibitory zone. Increasing the length of the spacer did not result in an obvious change of antibacterial activity. However, increasing the length of the alkyl chain apparently increased the antibacterial activity against S. aureus but decreased the antibacterial activity against E. coli. The G_{12‐A2A‐12} surfactant had the lowest CMC of 1.26 mmol L^?1 and exhibited the best antibacterial activity with a MIC of 32 μg mL^?1 toward S. aureus and 64 μg mL^?1 toward E. coli in the presence of 10⁵ CFU of bacteria. This work indicated that these cationic gemini surfactants have potential applications as antibacterial agents and emulsifiers.     

Production of Lipase from Geotrichum candidum Using Corn Steep Liquor in Different Bioreactors

The production of an extracellular lipase using corn steep liquor (CSL) as the nitrogen source in the cultivation of Geotrichum candidum NRRLY‐552 was evaluated. The optimized conditions in shake flasks were CSL, 8.0 % w/v, soybean oil, 0.6 % w/v, pH 7.0, 30 °C, 250 rpm, and 48 h, resulting in a maximum lipase productivity of 0.438 U mL^?1 h^?1(U = the amount of enzyme required to liberate 1 μmol of fatty acid per minute). Scale‐up was evaluated with airlift and stirred tank reactors; the best conditions, respectively, were 1 vvm(volume of gas per volume of medium per minute) of aeration which resulted in 0.535 U mL^?1 h^?1 (32 h) and 1 vvm and 300 rpm resulting in 0.563 U mL^?1 h^?1 (16 h). To facilitate downstream processes, lipase production was also evaluated using CSL previously clarified with activated charcoal resulting in 0.275 U mL^?1 h^?1 (24 h) using 12 % (w/v) of clarified CSL in shake flasks. The obtained results showed that CSL leads to similar productivity compared to peptone using the same microorganism under similar conditions. In addition the cost of fermentation medium using CSL is much lower because it is a very inexpensive by‐product from corn processing.