Layered Double Hydroxides as A Drug Delivery Vehicle for S-Allyl-Mercapto-Cysteine (SAMC)

The intercalations of anionic molecules and drugs in layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have been intensively investigated in recent years. Due to their properties, such as versatility in chemical composition, good biocompatibility, high density and protection of loaded drugs, LDHs seem very promising nanosized systems for drug delivery. In this work, we report the intercalation of S-allyl-mercapto-cysteine (SAMC), which is a component of garlic that is well-known for its anti-tumor properties, inside ZnAl-LDH (hereafter LDH) nanostructured crystals. In order to investigate the efficacy of the intercalation and drug delivery of SAMC, the intercalated compounds were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The increase in the interlayer distance of LDH from 8.9 Å, typical of the nitrate phase, to 13.9 Å indicated the intercalation of SAMC, which was also confirmed using FT-IR spectra. Indeed, compared to that of the pristine LDH precursor, the spectrum of LDH-SAMC was richly structured in the fingerprint region below 1300 cm−1, whose peaks corresponded to those of the functional groups in the SAMC molecular anion. The LDH-SAMC empirical formula, obtained from UV-Vis spectrophotometry and thermogravimetric analysis, was [Zn0.67Al0.33(OH)2]SAMC0.15(NO3)0.18·0.6H2O. The morphology of the sample was investigated using SEM: LDH-SAMC exhibited a more irregular size and shape of the flake-like crystals in comparison with the pristine LDH, with a reduction in the average crystallite size from 3 µm to about 2 µm. In vitro drug release studies were performed in a phosphate buffer solution at pH 7.2 and 37 °C and were analyzed using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The SAMC release from LDH-SAMC was initially characterized by a burst effect in the first four hours, during which, 32% of the SAMC is released. Subsequently, the release percentage increased at a slower rate until 42% after 48 h; then it stabilized at 43% and remained constant for the remaining period of the investigation. The LDH-SAMC complex that was developed in this study showed the improved efficacy of the action of SAMC in reducing the invasive capacity of a human hepatoma cell line.

Unusual Spin Exchanges Mediated by the Molecular Anion P2S64−: Theoretical Analyses of the Magnetic Ground States, Magnetic Anisotropy and Spin Exchanges of MPS3 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni)

We examined the magnetic ground states, the preferred spin orientations and the spin exchanges of four layered phases MPS3 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) by first principles density functional theory plus onsite repulsion (DFT + U) calculations. The magnetic ground states predicted for MPS3 by DFT + U calculations using their optimized crystal structures are in agreement with experiment for M = Mn, Co and Ni, but not for FePS3. DFT + U calculations including spin-orbit coupling correctly predict the observed spin orientations for FePS3, CoPS3 and NiPS3, but not for MnPS3. Further analyses suggest that the ||z spin direction observed for the Mn2+ ions of MnPS3 is caused by the magnetic dipole–dipole interaction in its magnetic ground state. Noting that the spin exchanges are determined by the ligand p-orbital tails of magnetic orbitals, we formulated qualitative rules governing spin exchanges as the guidelines for discussing and estimating the spin exchanges of magnetic solids. Use of these rules allowed us to recognize several unusual exchanges of MPS3, which are mediated by the symmetry-adapted group orbitals of P2S64− and exhibit unusual features unknown from other types of spin exchanges.

First steps towards a stable neon compound: observation and bonding analysis of [B12(CN)11Ne]−

A neon containing molecular anion is observed and analyzed.

Reactions in the Radiosensitizer Misonidazole Induced by Low-Energy (0–10 eV) Electrons

Misonidazole (MISO) was considered as radiosensitizer for the treatment of hypoxic tumors. A prerequisite for entering a hypoxic cell is reduction of the drug, which may occur in the early physical-chemical stage of radiation damage. Here we study electron attachment to MISO and find that it very effectively captures low energy electrons to form the non-decomposed molecular anion. This associative attachment (AA) process is exclusively operative within a very narrow resonance right at threshold (zero electron energy). In addition, a variety of negatively charged fragments are observed in the electron energy range 0–10 eV arising from dissociative electron attachment (DEA) processes. The observed DEA reactions include single bond cleavages (formation of NO2−), multiple bond cleavages (excision of CN−) as well as complex reactions associated with rearrangement in the transitory anion and formation of new molecules (loss of a neutral H2O unit). While any of these AA and DEA processes represent a reduction of the MISO molecule, the radicals formed in the course of the DEA reactions may play an important role in the action of MISO as radiosensitizer inside the hypoxic cell. The present results may thus reveal details of the molecular description of the action of MISO in hypoxic cells.

Investigation of rotational state-changing collisions of C2N− ions with helium

The cross sections for rotational inelastic collisions between atoms and a molecular anion can be very large, if the anion has a dipole moment. This makes molecular anions very efficient in cooling atomic gases. We address rotational inelastic collisions of Helium atoms with the molecular anion C2N–. Here we present preliminary calculations of the potential energy surface.

Treatment of BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediments by application of flocculants

Many steel-works discharge the sediments from BOF gas cleaning systems sludge pans into the waste accumulators without dewatering, therefore implementation of facilities of their treatment is an extraordinarily actual task. Besides the BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediments are attributed to a substance rich or relatively rich by iron, which can be utilized in metallurgical production after dewatering. Application of synthetic organic flocculants for sediments conditioning is one of most effective methods of dewatering equipment operation intensification. Results of experiment tests on the treatment of real BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediment by a high-molecular organic flocculants namely Servey FL9, Nalco 71661 and Nalco 8172 PULV. It was shown, that Nalco 8172 PULV is most effective reagent for the sediment conditioning. The effective doze of high-molecular anion flocculant for treatment of BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediment before the gravitational thickening and further mechanical dewatering is 0.15 g of active substance per1 kg of dry sediment substance. Technological parameters of dewatering equipment determined when using high-molecular anion flocculant for intensification of the treatment process of BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediment: the specific load for thickeners by dry sediment substance is 300–400 kg/(h·m2), the specific load for disc vacuum-filter by dry sediment substance is 60–70 kg/(h·m2). Content of suspended particles in bright water from thickeners and filtrate from vacuum-filter is less than 100 mg/dm3.

Dissociation of methyl formate (HCOOCH3) molecules upon low-energy electron attachment

Context. The methyl formate molecule (HCOOCH3) is considered to be a key molecule in astrochemistry. The abundance of this molecule in space depends on the stability upon irradiation with particles like low-energy electrons. Aims. We have investigated the decomposition of the molecule upon electron capture in the electron energy range from about 0 eV up to 15 eV. All experimentally obtained fragmentation channels of the molecular anion were investigated by quantum chemical calculations. Methods. A high resolution electron monochromator coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometer was used for the present laboratory experiment. Quantum chemical calculations of the electron affinities of the generated fragments, the thermodynamic thresholds and the activation barriers for the associated reaction channels were carried out to complement the experimental studies. Results. Electron attachment is shown to be a purely dissociative process for this molecule and proceeds within two electron energy regions of about 1 eV to 4 eV and from 5 eV to 14 eV. In our experiment five anionic fragments with m/z (and possible stoichiometric structure) 59 (C2H3O2−), 58 (C2H2O2−), 45 (CHO2−) 31 (CH3O−), and 29 (CHO−) were detected. The most abundant anion fragments that are formed through dissociative electron attachment to methyl formate are the complementary anions CH3O− and CHO−, associated with the same single bond cleavage and different survival probability. Conclusions. The low-energy electron induced dissociation of methyl formate differs from its isomers acetic acid and glycolaldehyde, which leads to possible chemical selectivity in the chemical evolution.