Volume 62, Issue 4

The square-wave voltammetric technique was used to explore the adsorption properties of the astemizole drug. The analytical methodology used was based on the adsorptive preconcentration of the drug on a hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE), followed by the electrochemical reduction process which yielded a well-defined cathodic peak at −1.184 V (vs. the Ag/AgCl electrode). To achieve high sensitivity, various experimental and instrumental variables were investigated such as the supporting electrolyte, pH, accumulation time and potential, drug concentration, scan rate, SW frequency, pulse amplitude, convection rate, and the working electrode area. Under the optimized conditions, the AdSV peak current was proportional over the analyte concentration range of 5 × 10−7 to 2.5 × 10−6 mol L−1 (r = 0.998) with the detection limit of 1.4 × 10−8 mol L−1 (6.4 ng mL−1). The precision of the proposed method in terms of RSD was 2.4 %, whereas the method accuracy was indicated by the mean recovery of 100.1 %. Possible interferences of several substances usually present in the pharmaceutical tablets and formulations were also evaluated. The applicability of this electroanalytic approach was illustrated by the determination of astemizole in tablets and biological fluids.

A highly sensitive and very simple spectrophotometric flow-injection analysis (FIA) method for the determination of iron(III) at low concentration levels is presented. The method is based on the measurement of absorbance intensity of the red complex at 410 nm formed by iron(III) and diphenylamine-4-sulfonic acid sodium salt (DPA-4-SA). It is a simple, highly sensitive, fast, and low cost alternative method using the color developing reagent DPA-4-SA in acetate buffer at pH 5.50 and the flow-rate of 1 mL min−1 with the sample throughput of 60 h−1. The method provided a linear determination range between 5 μg L−1 and 200 μg L−1 with the detection limit (3S) of 1 μg L−1 of iron(III) using the injection volume of 20 μL. FIA variables influencing the system performance were optimized. The amount of iron(III) and total iron in river and seawater samples was successfully determined. Repeatability of the measurements was satisfactory at the relative standard deviation of 3.5 % for 5 determinations of 10 μg L−1 iron(III). The accuracy of the method was evaluated using the standard addition method and checked by the analysis of the certified material Std Zn/Al/Cu 43 XZ3F.

In a hydrochloric acid medium, benzhexol hydrochloride, cyproheptadine hydrochloride, and maprotiline hydrochloride, can react with ammonium molybdate to form ion-association complexes by virtue of electrostatic attraction and hydrophobic interaction which result in a significant enhancement of the resonance light scattering intensity. The maximum scattering wavelengths were found at 364 nm, 364 nm, and 381 nm for benzhexol hydrochloride, cyproheptadine hydrochloride, and maprotiline hydrochloride systems, respectively. Spectral characteristics of the three systems, influencing factors, and optimum conditions were investigated. The reason of resonance light-scattering enhancement and the mechanism of interactions between the drugs and ammonium molybdate were also discussed. Based on the linear relationship between the enhanced intensity of resonance light scattering and the concentration of drugs, a highly sensitive method for the determination of the three drugs was developed, the detection limits being 0.0110 μmol L−1, 0.0038 μmol L−1, and 0.0155 μmol L−1 for benzhexol hydrochloride, cyproheptadine hydrochloride, and maprotiline hydrochloride, respectively. The method was successfully applied to the determination of the investigated drugs in pharmaceutical, serum, and urine samples.

Synthesis and spectral characteristics of [Fe(nia)3Cl3] and [Fe(nia)3(H2O)2](ClO4)3 are described. The effect of these compounds as well as of FeCl3·6H2O on photosynthetic electron transport in spinach chloroplasts was investigated using EPR spectroscopy. It was found that due to the interaction of these compounds with tyrosine radicals situated at the 161st position in D1 (TyrZ) and D2 (TyrD) proteins located at the donor side of photosystem (PS) II, electron transport between the photosynthetic centres PS II and PS I was interrupted. In addition, the treatment with [Fe(nia)3(H2O)2](ClO4)3 resulted in a release of Mn(II) from the oxygen evolving complex situated on the donor side of PS II. Moreover, the effect of the Fe(III) compounds studied on some production characteristics of hydroponically cultivated maize plants and on Fe accumulation in plant organs was investigated. In general, the production characteristic most inhibited by the presence of Fe(III) compounds was the leaf dry mass and [Fe(nia)3(H2O)2](ClO4)3 was found to be the most effective compound. The highest Fe amount was accumulated in the roots, and the leaves treated with Fe(III) compounds contained more Fe than the stems. The treatment with FeCl3·6H2O caused the most effective translocation of Fe into the shoots. Comparing the effect of nicotinamide complexes, [Fe(nia)3(H2O)2](ClO4)3 was found to facilitate the translocation of Fe into the shoots more effectively than [Fe(nia)3Cl3]. This could be connected with the different structure of these complexes. [Fe(nia)3(H2O)2](ClO4)3 has ionic structure and, in addition, coordinated H2O molecules can be easily substituted by other ligands.

This paper describes the results of the round robin experiment “Bead production technologies” carried out during the COST 840 action “Bioencapsulation Innovation and Technologies” within the 5th Framework Program of the European Community. In this round robin experiment, calcium alginate hydrogel beads with the diameter of (800 ± 100) μm were produced by the most common bead production technologies using 0.5–4 mass % sodium alginate solutions as starting material. Dynamic viscosity of the alginate solutions ranged from less than 50 mPa s up to more than 10000 mPa s. With the coaxial air-flow and electrostatic enhanced dropping technologies as well as with the JetCutter technology in the soft-landing mode, beads were produced from all alginate solutions, whereas the vibration technology was not capable to process the high-viscosity 3 % and 4 % alginate solutions. Spherical beads were generated by the electrostatic and the JetCutter technologies. Slightly deformed beads were obtained from high-viscosity alginate solutions using the coaxial airflow and from the 0.5 % and 2 % alginate solutions using the vibration technology. The rate of bead production using the JetCutter was about 10 times higher than with the vibration technology and more than 10000 times higher than with the coaxial air-flow and electrostatic technology.

A process for industrial production of fructooligosaccharides (FOS’s) based on the conversion of sucrose by immobilized fructosyltransferase (FTase) from the cells of Aureobasidium pullulans CCY 27-1-94 was developed. Particular process operations and conditions were designed employing results of laboratory and semi-pilot scale experiments. The process flowsheet comprised three sections: FTase production, which included fermentation, isolation and purification of the enzyme, FTase immobilization and FOS’s production where a product with a high content of FOS’s was prepared by the removal of glucose, fructose and unreacted sucrose from the reaction mixture using simulated moving-bed chromatography. Two alternative process flowsheets were proposed for the annual production of 10 000 t of FOS’s: one for a powdery product and the second one for syrup. The economic analysis provided the costs for the production of immobilized FTase and FOS’s using two different price estimates for sucrose.

Nanocrystalline titanium dioxide particles with anatase structure and high thermal stability have been synthesized using the basic sol-gel method. The particle size and morphology were refined under hydrothermal conditions in the presence of different concentrations of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) at 210°C and 230°C. XRD and TEM analysis showed that the TiO2 particles obtained were homogeneous and monodispersive at low contents of TMAH. All intense peaks, clearly observed in the XRD patterns, were assigned to the anatase phase and no rutile phase was observed. At high contents of TMAH, nanoscale small (10–30 nm) and larger (>100 nm) TiO2 particles were one-pot synthesized. The nanocrystalline TiO2 particles synthesized by this method have good thermal stability. With the sintering temperature of up to 650°C, all the XRD peaks maintained good agreement with the anatase reference data.

3,5-Bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole (H2La) and 4-[3,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]benzoic acid (H3Lb) have been prepared, and crystal structure of the intermediate 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1,3-benzoxazin-4-one has been determined. Temperature dependent 1H NMR spectroscopic measurements of H2La indicated dynamic behavior with the equilibrium between the two asymmetric tautomers. For H3Lb, pD-dependent 1H NMR spectroscopic measurements showed small but characteristic shifts in the range of 0 ≤ pD ≤ 1, indicative of a triazole nitrogen atom protonation; the corresponding pK a of 0.98 ± 0.04 was determined by spectrophotometric titrations. (H2O, 26°C, 1 M KCl/HCl). Formation of [FeIII(La)]+ (pH 2.5) and [FeIII(La)2]− (pH > 6) was verified by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Complex formation of H3Lb with Al3+ and VO2+ was investigated by 1H NMR spectroscopic titration and cyclic voltammetry, respectively. Single crystals of the phenoxo bridged [VVO(HLb)(EtO)]2·2EtOH were characterized by X-ray structural analysis.

A new vic-dioxime ligand, N,N′-bis(aminopyreneglyoxime) (LH2), and its copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II) metal complexes were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UVVIS and 1H and 13C NMR spectra (for the ligand). Mononuclear complexes were synthesized by a reaction of ligand (LH2) and salts of Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) in ethanol. The complexes have the metal-ligand ratio of 1: 2 and metals are coordinated by N,N′ atoms of vicinal dioximes. The ligand acts in a polydentate fashion bending through nitrogen atoms in the presence of a base, as do most vic-dioximes. Detection of a H-bonding in the Co(II), Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes by IR revealed the square-planar MN4 coordination of mononuclear complexes. Fluorescent properties of the ligand and its complexes arise from pyrene units conjugated with a vic-dioxime moiety. Fluorescence emission spectra of the ligand showed a drastic decrease in its fluorescence intensity upon metal binding. The electrochemical properties of the complexes were studied by the cyclic voltammetry technique. The nickel complex displayed an irreversible oxidation process while the copper complex exhibited a quasi-reversible oxidation and reduction processes based on the copper Cu(II)/Cu(III) and Cu(II)/Cu(I) couples, respectively.

Synthesis, characterization and application of diaminomaleonitrile (DAMN)-functionalized polystyrene grafts were studied. Dibenzoyle peroxide (BP) was used as an initiator. Optimum conditions for grafting were found to be c(DAMN) = 0.5 M, c(BP) = 0.016 M, θ = 85 °C and t = 4 h. Water uptake of the polystyrene graft membranes was found to increase with the increase of the grafting yield. The chemical structure, thermal characteristics and thermal stability of the obtained membranes were investigated by means of FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermal gravimetric analysis. Polystyrene graft membrane with the degree of grafting of up to 96 % was found to be useful for the pervaporation separation of phenol/water mixtures.

Polymeric complexes of ruthenium(II)-ruthenium(III) tetracarboxylato units linked by cyanato, thiocyanato, and selenocyanato ligands [Ru2{O2C(CH2)mCH3}4(L)]n (m = 0, 4–7; L = OCN−, SCN−, and SeCN−) were prepared and characterized based on the elemental analyses, IR, and diffuse reflectance spectra. Magnetic susceptibilities were measured at the temperature range of 4.5 K to 300 K, where the interdimer antiferromagnetic interactions were revealed. The strongest interaction was exhibited in case of m = 7 and L = OCN−. 1H-NMR spectra of [Ru{O2C(CH2)7CH3}4(SCN)]n in CD2Cl2 showed broad signals which can be ascribed to polymeric species, as the addition of tetrabutylammonium thiocyanate caused sharper signals due to the formation of [Ru2{O2C(CH2)7CH3}4(SCN)2]− adduct as the main species in the solution.

In the effort to generate cartilage tissues using mesenchymal stem cells, porous scaffolds with prescribed biomechanical properties were prepared. Scaffolds with interconnected pores were prepared via lyophilisation of frozen hydrogels made from collagen modified with chitosan nanofibres, hyaluronic acid, copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and itaconic acid (ITA), and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The modified collagen compositions were cross-linked using N-(3-dimethylamino propyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) combined with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) in water solution. Basic physicochemical and mechanical properties were measured and an attempt to relate these properties to the molecular and supermolecular structure of the modified collagen compositions was carried out. Scaffolds containing hydrophilic chitosan nanofibres showed the highest swelling ratio (SR = 20–25) of all the materials investigated, while collagen modified with an amphiphilic PLGA-PEG-PLGA copolymer or functionalised with ITA exhibited the lowest swelling ratio (SR = 5–8). The best resistance to hydrolytic degradation was obtained for hydroxyapatite containing scaffolds. On the other hand, the fastest degradation rate was observed for synthetic copolymer-containing scaffolds. The results showed that the addition of hydroxyapatite or hyaluronic acid to the collagen matrix increases the rigidity in comparison to the collagen-chitosan scaffold. Collagen scaffold modified with hyaluronic acid presented reduced deformation at break while the presence of hydroxypatatite enhanced the scaffold deformation under tensile loading. The tensile elastic modulus of chitosan nanofibre collagen scaffold was the lowest but closest to the articular cartilage; however, the strength and deformation to failure increased up to 200 %.

A novel bridging ligand, (3,5-dichloropyridin-4-yl)(pyridin-4-yl)methanol (I), and its cobalt(II) complex, [Co(I)2(NCS)2]n (II), were prepared. The structures of ligand I and complex II were determined by single crystal X-ray analysis. Magnetic susceptibility measurements were performed for cobalt (II) complex II. Compound I crystallised in orthorhombic space group Pbca with a = 7.6585(14) Å, b = 12.209(2) Å, c = 23.207(4) Å, V= 2170.0(7) Å3 and Z=8. Complex II crystallised in monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 13.223(8) Å, b = 16.959(10) Å, c = 13.948(8) Å, β = 115.395(10)°, V= 2826(3) Å3 and Z = 4. Each cobalt(II) ion is surrounded by two NCS− anions and four pyridyl moieties from two bridging ligands. Each bridging ligand connects two neighbouring Co(II) ions to form a 2-dimensional structure. Temperature dependence of the molar magnetic susceptibilities in the temperature range of 2–300 K revealed that magnetic interactions between the cobalt ions are weak.

(E)-3-{5-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furan-2-yl}propenoic acid (I) was prepared from 5-[3-(tri-fluoromethyl)phenyl]furan-2-carbaldehyde under the Doebner’s conditions. The obtained acid was converted to the corresponding azide II, which was cyclized by heating in diphenyl ether to 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-4,5-dihydrofuro[3,2-c]pyridin-4-one (III). This compound was aromatized with phosphorus oxychloride to chloroderivative IV which was reduced with H2NNH2-Pd/C to the title compound V. 2-[3-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furo[3,2-c]pyridin-5-oxide (VI) was synthesized by reaction of V with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid in dichloromethane. On treatment of VI with benzoyl chloride and potassium cyanide (Reissert-Henze reaction), corresponding 2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furo[3,2-c]pyridine-1-carbonitrile (VII) resulted. 5-Amino-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]furo[3,2-c]pyridin-5-ium-4-methylbenzene sulfonate (VIII) was prepared by direct N-amination of the title compound V with 1-[(aminooxy)sulfonyl]-4-methylbenzene in dichloromethane. Then, VIII was transformed to a non-isolated zwitterionic N-imid IX which afforded the corresponding furo[3,2-c]pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine carboxylic acid esters X, XI by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions with dimethyl but-2-ynedionate (DBD) or ethyl propiolate. The structures of all compounds were confirmed by their IR and NMR spectra.

Protolytic properties of (+)-(S)-2-(6-methoxynaphthalen-2-yl)propanoic acid (naproxen), 2-(3-benzoylphenyl)propionic acid (ketoprofen), 4-chloro-N-(2-furylmethyl)-5-sulfamoylanthranilic acid (furosemide), and N-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)anthranilic acid (mefenamic acid) in “oil-in-water” emulsions stabilized by surfactants were studied. The procedures for alkalimetric determination of naproxen, ketoprofen, furosemide, and mefenamic acid in emulsion media with indication of the equivalence point pH-metrically and with the use of indicators were proposed.

Ellagic acid (EA) was quantified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RPHPLC) coupled with photodiode array detection (DAD) in five fine-powdered plants collected from the semiarid region of Mexico. Samples analysed included Jatropha dioica branches (Dragon’s blood), Euphorbia antisyphyllitica branches (Candelilla), Turnera diffusa Willd leaves (Damiana), Flourensia cernua leaves (hojasén) and Punica granatum husk (pomegranate) at two maturity stages (“turning” or intermediate and maturated fruit, considered as positive controls). The results demonstrated high EA concentrations in all tested samples which are novel sources of this natural antioxidant. The method developed for the EA analysis is fast and it showed an excellent linearity range, repeatability, intra-and inter-day precision and accuracy with respect to the methods reported for the EA analysis.