Search

Regarding the development of new antineoplastic agents, with a view to assess the selective antitumoral potential which aims at causing irreversible damage to cancer cells while preserving the integrity of their healthy counterparts, it is essential to evaluate the cytotoxic effects in both healthy and malignant human cell lines. In this study, a complex with two Pd(II) centers linked by the biogenic polyamine spermine (Pd2Spm) was tested on healthy (PNT-2) and cancer (LNCaP and PC-3) prostate human cell lines, using cisplatin as a reference. To understand the mechanisms of action of both cisplatin and Pd2Spm at a molecular level, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman microspectroscopies were used. Principal component analysis was applied to the vibrational data, revealing the major metabolic changes caused by each drug, which were found to rely on DNA, lipids, and proteins, acting as biomarkers of drug impact. The main changes were observed between the B-DNA native conformation and either Z-DNA or A-DNA, with a higher effect on lipids having been detected in the presence of cisplatin as compared to Pd2Spm. In turn, the Pd-agent showed a more significant impact on proteins.

Pd(II)-compounds are presently regarded as promising anticancer drugs, as an alternative to Pt(II)-based drugs (e.g., cisplatin), which typically trigger severe side-effects and acquired resistance. Dinuclear Pd(II) complexes with biogenic polyamines such as spermine (Pd2Spm) have exhibited particularly beneficial cytotoxic properties, hence unveiling the importance of understanding their impact on organism metabolism. The present study reports the first nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics study to assess the in vivo impact of Pd2Spm on the metabolism of healthy mice, to identify metabolic markers with possible relation to biotoxicity/side-effects and their dynamics. The changes in the metabolic profiles of both aqueous and lipophilic extracts of mice kidney, liver, and breast tissues were evaluated, as a function of drug-exposure time, using cisplatin as a reference drug. A putative interpretation was advanced for the metabolic deviations specifically triggered by Pd2Spm, this compound generally inducing faster metabolic response and recovery to control levels for all organs tested, compared to cisplatin (except for kidney lipid metabolism). These results constitute encouraging preliminary metabolic data suggestive of potential lower negative effects of Pd2Spm administration. This research was developed within the scope of the CICECO—Aveiro Institute of Materials, with references UIDB/50011/2020 and UIDP/50011/2020, financed by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT/MEC) and when appropriate co-financed by European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. This work was also funded by the FCT through UIDB/00070/2020 (ALMBC and MPMM), PO-CI-01-0145-FEDER-0016786, and Centro-01-0145-FEDER-029956 (co-financed by COMPETE 2020, Portugal 2020 and European Community through FEDER). It also received financial support from PT national funds (FCT/MCTES, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior) through the project UIDB/50006/2020. We also acknowledge the Portuguese National NMR Network (PTNMR), supported by FCT funds as the NMR spectrometer used is part of PTNMR and partially supported by Infrastructure Project Nº 022161 (co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI and PORL, and the FCT through PIDDAC). M.V. thanks the FCT and the PhD Program in the department of Medicines and Pharmaceutical Innovation (i3DU) for their PhD grant PD/BD/135460/2017 and T.J.C. thanks FCT for their PhD grant SFRH/BD/145920/2019, both grants were funded by the European Social Fund of the European Union and national funds FCT/MCTES. published

The thermal degradation of β-carotene in air was investigated. The sample was heated at different temperatures (90, 100, 115, and 130 °C) for periods of up to 8 h to perform a complete kinetic study, the product analysis having been carried out via infrared spectroscopy in attenuated total reflectance mode coupled to density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The kinetics of this thermal degradation process was found to follow a first-order scheme, with rate coefficients varying from k

A vibrational and conformational analysis of the linear alkylpolyamine 1,3-diaminopropane (1,3-dap) is reported, using vibrational spectroscopy (Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS)) coupled to theoretical approaches at the Density Functional Theory (DFT) level. The quantum mechanical calculations were carried out using the mPW1PW functional and the 6-31G* basis set, for the isolated molecule, the condensed phase, and solutions in both water and carbon tetrachloride. The most stable geometries were calculated to be GGG′G and TG′GG′ for the gaseous phase and the CCl4 solution, and TTTT, TGTT and TTTG for the condensed phase and the aqueous solution. Since the relative populations obtained for the different 1,3-dap conformers were very similar, the corresponding experimental spectra reflect the presence of a mixture of species. The vibrational data obtained for 1,3-dap in its pure form – unprotonated, totally protonated (N-ionised) and N-deuterated – as well as for its aqueous and CCl4 solutions, were assigned in the light of the theoretical results presently obtained and experimental data previously gathered for similar compounds.

Complementary structural and dynamical information on drug-DNA interplay has been achieved at a molecular level, for Pt/Pd-drugs, allowing a better understanding of their pharmacodynamic profile which is crucial for the development of improved chemotherapeutic agents. The interaction of two cisplatin-like dinuclear Pt(ii) and Pd(ii) complexes with DNA was studied through a multidisciplinary experimental approach, using quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) techniques coupled with synchrotron-based extended X-ray absorption fine structure (SR-EXAFS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance (SR-FTIR-ATR). DNA extracted from drug-exposed human triple negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) was used, with a view to evaluate the effect of the unconventional antineoplastic agents on this low prognosis type of cancer. The drug impact on DNA's dynamical profile, via its hydration layer, was provided by QENS, a drug-triggered enhanced mobility having been revealed. Additionally, an onset of anharmonicity was detected for dehydrated DNA, at room temperature. Far- A nd mid-infrared measurements allowed the first simultaneous detection of the drugs and their primary pharmacological target, as well as the drug-prompted changes in DNA's conformation that mediate cytotoxicity. The local environment of the absorbing Pd(ii) and Pt(ii) centers in the drugs' adducts with adenine, guanine and glutathione was attained by EXAFS.

A complementary structural and dynamical information on drug-DNA interplay has been achieved at a molecular level, for Pt/Pd-drugs, allowing a better understanding of their pharmacodynamic profile. The interaction of two cisplatin-like dinuclear Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes with DNA was studied through a multidisciplinary experimental approach, using quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) techniques coupled to synchrotron-based extended X-ray absorption fine structure (SR-EXAFS) and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy-Attenuated Total Reflectance (SR-FTIR-ATR). The drug impact on DNA’s dynamical profile, via its hydration layer, was provided by QENS, a drug-triggered enhanced mobility having been revealed. Additionally, an onset of anharmonicity was detected for dehydrated DNA, at room temperature. Far- and mid-infrared measurements allowed the first simultaneous detection of the drugs and its primary pharmacological target, as well as the drug-prompted changes in DNA’s conformation that mediate cytotoxicity in DNA extracted from drug-exposed human triple negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), a low prognosis type of cancer. The local environment of the absorbing Pd(II) and Pt(II) centers in the drugs’ adducts with adenine, guanine and glutathione was attained by EXAFS.

The decaniobate ion, (Nb10 = [Nb10O28](6-)) being isoelectronic and isostructural with the decavanadate ion (V10 = [V10O28](6-)), but chemically and electrochemically more inert, has been useful in advancing the understanding of V10 toxicology and pharmacological activities. In the present study, the solution chemistry of Nb10 and V10 between pH 4 and 12 is studied by Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectra of V10 show that this vanadate species dominates up to pH 6.45 whereas it remains detectable until pH 8.59, which is an important range for biochemistry. Similarly, Nb10 is present between pH 5.49 and 9.90 and this species remains detectable in solution up to pH 10.80. V10 dissociates at most pH values into smaller tetrahedral vanadate oligomers such as V1 and V2, whereas Nb10 dissociates into Nb6 under mildly (10 > pH > 7.6) or highly alkaline conditions. Solutions of V10 and Nb10 are both kinetically stable under basic pH conditions for at least two weeks and at moderate temperature. The Raman method provides a means of establishing speciation in the difficult niobate system and these findings have important consequences for toxicology activities and pharmacological applications of vanadate and niobate polyoxometalates.

A metabolomics study of Pd

One of the biggest struggles of biological anthropology is to estimate the biological profile from burned human skeletal remains. Bioanthropological methods are seriously compromised due to bone he...

EXAFS and XANES experiments were used to assess decavanadate interplay with actin, in both the globular and polymerized forms, under different conditions of pH, temperature, ionic strength, and presence of ATP. This approach allowed us to simultaneously probe, for the first time, all vanadium species present in the system. It was established that decavanadate interacts with G-actin, triggering a protein conformational reorientation that induces oxidation of the cysteine core residues and oxidovanadium (VIV) formation. The local environment of vanadium’s absorbing center in the [decavanadate–protein] adducts was determined, a V–SCys coordination having been verified experimentally. The variations induced in decavanadate’s EXAFS profile by the presence of actin were found to be almost totally reversed by the addition of ATP, which constitutes a solid proof of decavanadate interaction with the protein at its ATP binding site. Additionally, a weak decavanadate interplay with F-actin was suggested to take plac...

A method for calibrating Raman intensities of diluted aqueous solutions, based on the integrated intensity of the OH stretching bands of liquid water as an external intensity standard, is described and used to obtain a difference spectrum that reveals intensity changes mainly due to the intermolecular interaction between two solutes. The method is applied to trimethyl-β-cyclodextrin in sodium decanoate aqueous solutions. The difference between the interaction spectra above and below the critical micellar concentration of sodium decanoate, in the CH stretching region between 2700 and 3100 cm−1, shows an intensity increase of the CH stretching bands for trimethyl-β-cyclodextrin above the critical micellar concentration of sodium decanoate, whereas β-cyclodextrin is relatively insensitive to the presence of decanoate ion micelles in aqueous solution.

A complete analysis of the transverse acoustic modes (TAMs) for the homologous series of alpha,omega-diamines (H2N(CH2)nNH2) (n = 2-10, n = 12) as well as for the biogenic polyamines spermidine and spermine was undertaken, by Raman and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectroscopies combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A complete assignment of the whole set of TAMs was carried out, for both the undeuterated and N-deuterated species. 1,2-Diaminoethane was found to display exceptional behavior, probably due to the formation of dimers in the solid state. An n-even/n-odd dependence of the low frequency INS pattern was observed for these polyamines. The very good accordance between their INS experimental TAMs and the ones previously reported for the corresponding n-alkanes suggest a close conformational similarity between these systems.

Ketoprofen (3-benzoyl-a-methylbenzeneacetic acid) is a widely used nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drug (NSAID), always administered in the form of drug-excipient physical mixtures (PMs). The occurrence of possible interactions between ketoprofen and two commonly used exci- pients—lactose (LAC) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)—was evaluated, through vibrational spec- troscopy techniques (both Raman and Inelastic Neutron Scattering (INS)). Spectral evidence of drug:excipient close contacts, which were enhanced by aging, was verified for the (1:1) (w:w) (keto- profen:PVP) and (ketoprofen:LAC) PMs, both by Raman and INS. These interactions were found to involve mainly the central carbonyl and the terminal methyl-carboxylic moieties of the ketoprofen molecule, this being reflected in particular vibrational modes, such as the methyl torsion, the out- of-plane COH bending, and the inter-ring C¼ ¼O stretching. # 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 82: 420-424, 2006 This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The ''Published Online'' date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com

Several phenolic acids-caffeic and gallic acid derivatives-were synthesized and screened for their potential antiproliferative and cytotoxic properties, in different human cancer cell lines: mammary gland and cervix adenocarcinomas and lymphoblastic leukemia. The selected phenols were structurally related, which allowed us to gather important information regarding the structure-activity relationships underlying the biological activity of such compounds. This is proposed to be due to a balance between the antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties of this kind of agent. Distinct effects were found for different cell lines, which points to a significant specificity of action of the drugs tested. It was verified, for the types of cancer investigated, that the trihydroxylated derivatives yielded better results than the dihydroxylated ones. Tests in noncancerous cells, human lung fibroblasts, were also undertaken, in view of determining the toxic side effects of the compounds studied.

Copper(II) mononuclear complexes with the polyazamacrocyclic ligands NOTA (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″triacetate), DOTA (1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclo-dodecane-N,N′,N″,N″′-tetraacetate), NOTP [1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-tris(methylenephosphonate)] and DOTP [1,4,7,10tetraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N‴-tetrakis(methylenephosphonate)] were characterised in aqueous solution by electronic absorption spectrophotometry and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. While two isomeric species were detected by EPR spectroscopy in frozen samples of the polycarboxylate complexes, only one complex form was found for the poly(methylenephosphonate) systems. The results obtained are in accordance with a six-coordinate pattern for the metal centre, yielding tetragonally distorted complexes in solution, in agreement with previously reported studies on CuII complexes, both in solution and in the solid state.

Molecular geometries, energies, dipole moments and atomic charges of several conformations of glycine (NH2CH2C(O)OH) and its oxygen-by-sulfur substituted analogues (NH2CH2C(O)SH, NH2CH2C(S)OH and NH2CH2C(S)SH) were determined by ab initio MO calculations at the MP2/6-31G** level, and vibrational frequencies, infrared and Raman intensities were evaluated within the harmonic approximation, at the HF/6-31G** level. Profiles for the potential energy and several geometric parameters as a function of the NC–C(X) (X = O, S) dihedral angle (C–C internal rotation) were obtained using the 3-21G(N*) basis set. Conformational and vibrational effects of oxygen-by-sulfur substitutions are discussed. In particular, the occurrence of intramolecular close contacts between the NH2CH2– and –C(X)YH (X, Y = O or S) moieties of the molecule is considered, for some of the most stable conformations of each analogue. As a general trend, the results clearly point to the stabilisation of the G/anti forms (:NCC 60°, NCCX 180°), highlighting the importance of the N:· · ·H(Y) and N:· · ·S(H) interactions, e.g. in conformers G/anti/s-trans for the thione form (X = S) and G/anti/s-cis for the thiol one (Y = S), respectively. Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to adjust the zidovudine (AZT) release from solid tablets to an ideal profile, by developing matrices comprising swellable polymers with nonswellable ones. Methods: Directly compressed matrices comprised different ratios of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose K15M and K100M, ethylcellulose, and methacrylic acid (Eudragit® RS PO and Eudragit® RL PO) were prepared. Technological characterization and evaluation of the in vitro release behavior were carried out. Cell density and viability following drug exposure were evaluated by the SRB method, for the Caco-2 line, while cell morphology was assessed upon Trypan blue staining. Results: A specific formulation containing 5% of each excipient − HPMC K15M, HPMC K100M, Eudragit® RS PO, and Eudragit® RL PO − was found to yield the best release profile. Application of the Korsmeyer–Peppas model to the dissolution profile evidenced that a non-Fickian (anomalous) transport is involved in the drug release. Regarding the influence of the tablets’ composition on the drug’s cytotoxic effect toward the Caco-2 cell line, a reduction of cell biomass (0–15%) was verified for the distinct AZT formulations tested, F19 having displayed the highest cytotoxicity, after 24 and 48 h of incubation. Additionally, a high reversibility of the AZT effect was observed. Conclusions: The results showed that the simultaneous application of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymers can modulate the drug release process, leading to an improved efficacy and patient compliance. All AZT formulations studied were found to be cytotoxic against Caco-2 cells, F19 being the most effective one. J.V.S. acknowledges PhD fellowship from the Programme Alβan, the European Union Programme of High Level Scholarships for Latin America (scholarship no. E06D100103BR).

A full conformational study of solid-state anhydrous adenine is reported, using vibrational spectroscopy techniques coupled to DFT calculations, for the isolated molecule and the solid. In both cases, the N9Hamino tautomer was found to be the predominant species, followed by the N7H-amino form. An excellent agreement was achieved between experiment and theory, both for wavenumbers and intensities (without the need for scaling). A complete spectral assignment was performed, since all vibrational spectroscopic techniques were available to this study – FTIR, Raman and INS – allowing us to detect and interpret even the lowest frequency vibrational bands, not previously accessed. The quantum mechanical calculations presently carried out represent the highest theoretical level applied so far to the study of nucleobases. The authors acknowledge financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology – PEst-OE/QUI/ UI0070/2011. The INS work was supported by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme through the Key Action: Strengthening the European Research Area, Research Infrastructures (Contract no: CP-CSA_INFRA-2008- 1.1.1 Number 226507-NMI3).

This study reports a combined experimental and theoretical study of the solid-state polymorphism of the anticancer agent cisplatin. A complete assignment was performed for the inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and Raman spectra collected simultaneously for cisplatin, at different temperatures, with a view to obtain reliable and definitive evidence of the relative thermal stability of its α and β polymorphic species. A marked temperature-dependent hysteresis was observed, as previously reported in the literature. Theoretical calculations were carried out at the density functional theory level, using a plane-wave basis set approach and pseudopotentials. A detailed comparison with the experimental Raman and INS data showed that the α polymorph is present at the lowest temperatures, whereas the β form occurs near room temperature. Furthermore, regions of coexistence of both forms are identified, which depend on the working mode (heating or cooling). These findings imply that Raman spectroscopy allows clear identification of the α and β polymorphs at a given temperature and can unambiguously discriminate between them. Elucidation of the polymorphic equilibrium of this widely used anticancer drug is paramount for its pharmaceutical preparation and storage conditions.

Electrochemical oxidation of the nickel(II) complex of the macrocyclic ligand 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetate (nota3–) in aqueous solution yields the nickel(III) complex, which undergoes fast base-promoted chemical decomposition. This decomposition process was studied by cyclic voltammetry, ESR and electronic spectroscopy, and gave first-order kinetics relative to the nickel(III) complex. This is compatible with intramolecular reduction of the metal centre by the ligand, followed by rapid decomposition of the radical species formed. The ligand fragmentation process was analysed by proton NMR spectroscopy of the electrolysed solution of the complex.

The present paper reports a conformational study of solid-state anhydrous guanine, using vibrational spectroscopy techniques—infrared, Raman, and inelastic neutron scattering—coupled to quantum mechanical methods at the DFT level, both for the isolated molecule and the condensed state. In both cases, the 7H-keto-amino tautomer was found to be the prevalent form, contrary to aqueous solutions and hydrated polycrystalline guanine, where the 9H-keto-amino tautomer is the most favoured species. This paper is a significant contribution for the existing spectroscopic characterization of this purine base, by unambiguously assigning its vibrational spectra.

A conformational analysis of the Pt(dap)Cl2complex (-diaminopropane) was performed by vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman, and INS), coupled to quantum mechanical methods within the density functional theory (DFT) and effective core potential (ECP) approaches. A complete spectral assignment of the system was achieved, due to the combined use of all available vibrational spectroscopic techniques. A good agreement was found between experimental and theoretical results, as well as with reported data for analogous complexes (e.g., cisplatin).

Recently we demonstrated that the decavanadate (V10) ion is a stronger Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor than other oxometalates, such as the isoelectronic and isostructural decaniobate ion, and the tungstate and molybdate monomer ions, and that it binds to this protein with a 1 : 1 stoichiometry. The V10 interaction is not affected by any of the protein conformations that occur during the process of calcium translocation (i.e. E1, E1P, E2 and E2P) (Fraqueza et al., J. Inorg. Biochem., 2012). In the present study, we further explore this subject, and we can now show that the decaniobate ion, [Nb10 = Nb10O28]6−, is a useful tool in deducing the interaction and the non-competitive Ca2+-ATPase inhibition by the decavanadate ion [V10 = V10O28]6−. Moreover, decavanadate and vanadate induce protein cysteine oxidation whereas no effects were detected for the decaniobate, tungstate or molybdate ions. The presence of the antioxidant quercetin prevents cysteine oxidation, but not ATPase inhibition, by vanadate or decavanadate. Definitive V(IV) EPR spectra were observed for decavanadate in the presence of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+- ATPase, indicating a vanadate reduction at some stage of the protein interaction. Raman spectroscopy clearly shows that the protein conformation changes that are induced by V10, Nb10 and vanadate are different from the ones induced by molybdate and tungstate monomer ions. Here, Mo and W cause changes similar to those by phosphate, yielding changes similar to the E1P protein conformation. The putative reduction of vanadium(V) to vanadium(IV) and the non-competitive binding of the V10 and Nb10 decametalates may explain the differences in the Raman spectra compared to those seen in the presence of molybdate or tungstate. Putting it all together, we suggest that the ability of V10 to inhibit the Ca2+- ATPase may be at least in part due to the process of vanadate reduction and associated protein cysteine oxidation. These results contribute to the understanding and application of these families of mono- and polyoxometalates as effective modulators of many biological processes, particularly those associated with calcium homeostasis. MA thanks CCMAR; LAEBC and MPMM thank QFM-UC for financial support. CAO is grateful for a QEII fellowship and Discovery Project grant (DP110105530) from the Australian Research Council. WHC acknowledges support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Science via grant DE-FG02-05ER15693, the National Science Foundation via EAR-0814242 and an NSF CCI grant through the Center for Sustainable Materials Chemistry, number CHE-1102637. Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP110105530; Center for Sustainable Materials Chemistry; Establishing the Kinetics of Aqueous Reactions at Fe(III) Molecules and Minerals

International audience; The well‐known platinum(II) chemotherapeutic drugs cisplatin [cis‐(NH3)2PtCl2] and carboplatin [Pt(NH3)2C6O4H6], as well as the analogous transplatin [trans‐(NH3)2PtCl2], were studied by inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectroscopy, coupled to quantum mechanical methods, and some ancillary work with X‐ray diffraction on powders. An assignment of the experimental spectra was carried out based on the calculated INS transition frequencies and intensities (at the DFT level), thereby achieving a good correspondence between the calculated and observed data. Unusually good‐quality INS spectra were obtained from about 250 mg, which is the smallest sample of a hydrogenous compound for which a successful INS interpretation has been reported. The knowledge of the local configuration of this kind of complexes is essential for an accurate understanding of their activity, which will pave the way for the rational design of novel third‐generation drugs comprising cisplatin‐ and carboplatin‐like moieties.

In the present study, (1)H HRMAS NMR spectroscopy was used to assess the changes in the intracellular metabolic profile of MG-63 human osteosarcoma (OS) cells induced by the chemotherapy agent cisplatin (CDDP) at different times of exposure. Multivariate analysis was applied to the cells spectra, enabling consistent variation patterns to be detected and drug-specific metabolic effects to be identified. Statistical recoupling of variables (SRV) analysis and spectral integration enabled the most relevant spectral changes to be evaluated, revealing significant time-dependent alterations in lipids, choline-containing compounds, some amino acids, polyalcohols, and nitrogenated bases. The metabolic relevance of these compounds in the response of MG-63 cells to CDDP treatment is discussed.

The extent to which humans and wildlife are exposed to the vast array of anthropogenic chemicals and their degradation products, along with related naturally occurring compounds, is nowadays an important issue. The study of the physical-chemical properties of the compounds and/or degradation products is an important subject because some of them are intrinsically related to its resistance to degradation and/or bioaccumulation. Accordingly, the study of the electrochemical behavior of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine and its main metabolite norfluoxetine was investigated. The identification of the oxidation processes was done via two fluoxetine analogues, 1-(benzyloxy)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzene and N-methyl-3-phenylpropan-1-amine hydrochloride. The oxidative processes occurring in fluoxetine are pH-dependent and were ascribed to the chemical moieties present in the molecule: the secondary amine group and the substituted aromatic nucleus. To perform an unequivocal ascription, the structural preferences of the drug and metabolite were also determined, by Raman spectroscopy coupled to quantum mechanical calculations (at the DFT level). The analytical data obtained in this work will allow the development of a rapid and unequivocal spectroscopic procedure suitable for fluoxetine identification, as well as to distinguish between the drug and its main metabolite.

The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of cell handling and storage on cell integrity and (1)H high resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) NMR spectra. Three different cell types have been considered (lung tumoral, amniocytes, and MG-63 osteosarcoma cells) in order for sample-dependent effects to be identified. Cell integrity of fresh cells and cells frozen in cryopreservative solution was approximately 70-80%, with the former showing higher membrane degradation, probably enzymatic, as indicated by increased phosphocholine (PC) and/or glycerophosphocholine (GPC). Unprotected freezing (either gradual or snap-freezing) was found to lyse cells completely, similar to mechanical cell lysis. Besides enhanced metabolites visibility, lysed cells showed a different lipid profile compared to intact cells, with increased choline, PC, and GPC and decreased phosphatidylcholine (PTC). Cell lysis has, therefore, a significant effect on cell lipid composition, making handling reproducibility an important issue in lipid analysis. Sample spinning was found to disrupt 5-25% of cells, depending on cell type, and HRMAS was shown to be preferable to solution-state NMR of suspensions or supernatant, giving enhanced information on lipids and comparable resolution for smaller metabolites. Relaxation- and diffusion-edited NMR experiments gave limited information on intact cells, compared to lysed cells. The (1)H HRMAS spectra of the three cell types are compared and discussed.

The conformational behaviour of several biologically relevant hydroxycinnamic systems – ferulic acid and its methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl esters – was studied by quantum mechanical calculations, at the DFT level. A full geometry optimisation was carried out, as well as a Fourier analysis of the main internal rotations within these molecules. The geometrical preferences of these compounds result from a balance between the stabilising resonance and hydrogen bonding effects and the destabilising non-bonding repulsions, the most stable conformers displaying an s-cis conformation and hydroxyl/methoxyl substituent groups coplanar to the aromatic ring. The results thus obtained allow a better understanding of the well recognised in vitro and in vivo antioxidant and growth-inhibiting properties of this type of phenolic systems.

Departamento de Qumica Orgaˆnica, Faculdade de Farma´cia, Universidade do Porto, 4050-047 Porto, PortugalReceived:January 16, 2008Accepted:March 14, 2008AbstractThe oxidative behavior of viloxazine was studied at a glassy carbon electrode in different buffer systems using cyclic,differential pulse and square-wave voltammetry. The oxidation process was shown to be diffusion-controlled andirreversible over the studied pH. The voltammetric study of the model compounds, 2-ethoxyanisole and morpholine,associated with quantum mechanical (DFT) calculations, allowed to elucidate the oxidation mechanism of viloxazine.An analytical method was developed for the quantification of viloxazine using an acetate pH 5 buffer solution as asupporting electrolyte. A linear response was obtained in the range 7 to 45 mM, with a detection limit of 0.8 mM.Validation parameters such as sensitivity, precision and accuracy were evaluated. The proposed method wassuccessfully applied to the determination of viloxazine in pharmaceutical formulations and in human serum. Theresults were statistically compared with those obtained through an established high-performance liquid chromatog-raphy technique, no significant differences having been found between the two methods.Keywords:Viloxazine, Square-wave voltammetry, Oxidation, DFT calculations, Pharmaceutics, Biological fluidsDOI:10.1002/elan.200804202

The cytotoxic activity of (PdCl2)2(spermine) against a human cancer cell line (HSC-3) was evaluated. The re- sults show an activity higher than that of the analogous Pt(II) chelate and, for 24 h incubations, identical to that of cis- platin. They also suggest a faster intracellular uptake and DNA binding relative to cisplatin.

A complete physicochemical characterisation of MDMA and its synthetic precursors MDA, 3,4-methylenedioxybenzaldehyde (piperonal) and 3,4-methylenedioxy-β-methyl-β-nitrostyrene was carried out through voltammetric assays and Raman spectroscopy combined with theoretical (DFT) calculations. The former provided important analytical redox data, concluding that the oxidative mechanism of the N-demethylation of MDMA involves the removal of an electron from the amino-nitrogen atom, leading to the formation of a primary amine and an aldehyde. The vibrational spectroscopic experiments enable to afford a rapid and reliable detection of this type of compounds, since they yield characteristic spectral patterns that lead to an unequivocal identification. Moreover, the rational synthesis of the drug of abuse 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or “ecstasy”) from one of its most relevant precursors 3,4-methylene-dioxyamphetamine (MDA), is reported. In addition, several approaches for the N-methylation of MDA, a limiting synthetic step, were attempted and the overall yields compared.

The drugs of abuse cocaine (C), heroin (H), and morphine (M) have been studied to enable understanding of the occurrence of cocaine–opioid interactions at a molecular level. Electrochemical, Raman, and NMR studies of the free drugs and their mixtures were used to study drug–drug interactions. The results were analyzed using data obtained from quantum-mechanical calculations. For the cocaine–morphine mixture (C–MH), formation of a binary complex was detected; this involved the 3-phenolic group and the heterocyclic oxygen of morphine and the carbonyl oxygen and the methyl protons of cocaine’s methyl ester group. NMR studies conducted simultaneously also revealed C–MH binding geometry consistent with theoretical predictions and with electrochemical and vibrational spectroscopy results. These results provide evidence for the occurrence of a cocaine–morphine interaction, both in the solid state and in solution, particularly for the hydrochloride form. A slight interaction, in solution, was also detected by NMR for the cocaine–heroin mixture. Figure "Schematic representation of the proposed model for cocaine:morphine salt interaction"

A multidisciplinary project was developed, combining the synthesis of a series of beta-nitrostyrene derivatives and the determination of their physicochemical parameters (redox potentials, partition coefficients), to the evaluation of the corresponding antibacterial activity. A complete conformational analysis was also performed, in order to get relevant structural information. Subsequently, a structure-property-activity (SPAR) approach was applied, through linear regression analysis, aiming at obtaining a putative correlation between the physicochemical parameters of the compounds investigated and their antibacterial activity (both against standard strains and clinical isolates). The beta-nitrostyrene compounds displayed a lower activity towards all the tested bacteria relative to the beta-methyl-beta-nitrostyrene analogues. This was observed particularly for the 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-beta-methyl-beta-nitrostyrene (IVb) against the Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium). The SPAR results revealed the existence of a clear correlation between the redox potentials and the antibacterial activity of the series of beta-nitrostyrene derivatives under study.

The present work aims at determining the structure–activity relationships (SAR’s) which rule the biological function of agmatine (4-(aminobutyl)guanidinium, AGM), a biogenic amine produced by decarboxylation of arginine. Its structural preferences, both as an isolated molecule and in aqueous solution (namely at physiological conditions) were ascertained, by vibrational (Raman) spectroscopy coupled to theoretical (density functional) calculations. An evaluation of mitochondrial functions (membrane potential (??), mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release) in rat liver mitochondria (RLM) was also carried out. The results thus obtained, coupled to the conformational analysis performed for the distinct polyamine protonation states, allowed to individualize the agmatine structures which interact with the mitochondrial site responsible for its transport and for the protection against mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) induction, as well as to gain information on the specific mechanisms involved.

The screening of natural flavonoids for their bioactivity as antioxidants is usually carried out by determinination of their profile as chain-breaking antioxidants, by the evaluation of their direct free radical-scavenging activity as hydrogen- or electron-donating compounds. Since this may not be the only mechanism underlying the antioxidant activity it is important to check the ability of these compounds to act as chelators of transition metal ions. Accordingly, in the present study the acidity constants of catechin and taxifolin, as well as the formation constants of the corresponding copper (II) complexes, were investigated by potentiometry and/or spectrophotometry. Moreover, a detailed quantitative examination of the coordination species formed is presented. In addition, the partition coefficients of both catechin and taxifolin in a biomimetic system (micelles) were determined, since these properties may also contribute to the antioxidant behavior of this type of compound. The log P values determined depend on the electrostatic interactions of the compounds with the differently charged micelles (the highest values were obtained for zwitterionic and cationic micelles). The prooxidant behavior of the compounds was assessed through the oxidation of 2'-deoxyguanosine, induced by a Fenton reaction, catalyzed by copper. The data obtained reveal that the flavonoids under study did not present prooxidant activity, in this particular system. The results obtained are evidence of a clear difference among the pKa, the complexation properties, and the lipophilicity of the flavonoids studied, which can partially explain their distinct antioxidant activity. The most stable geometries of the free compounds were determined by theoretical (ab initio) methods, in order to properly account for the electron correlation effects which occur in these systems, thus allowing a better interpretation of the experimental data.

The present work reports a vibrational spectroscopic study of several beta-methyl-beta-nitrostyrene derivatives, which are important intermediates in the synthesis of illicit amphetamine-like drugs, such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), p-methoxyamphetamine (PMA) and 4-methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA). A complete conformational analysis of 3,4-methylenedioxy-beta-methyl-beta-nitrostyrene (3,4-MD-MeNS), 4-methoxy-beta-methyl-beta-nitrostyrene (4-MeO-MeNS), 4-methylthio-beta-methyl-beta-nitrostyrene (4-MeS-MeNS), was carried out by Raman spectroscopy coupled to ab initio MO calculations--both complete geometry optimisation and harmonic frequency calculation. The Raman spectra show characteristic features of these precursors, which allow their ready differentiation and identification. It was verified that the conformational behaviour of these systems is mainly determined by the stabilising effect of pi-electron delocalisation.

Several polynuclear Pt(II) chelates with biogenic polyamines were synthesized and screened for their potential antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity in different human cancer cell lines. To gather information regarding the structure-activity relationships underlying their biological activity, the complexes studied were designed to differ in geometrical parameters such as the nature of the ligand and the number and chemical environment of the metal centers. Distinct effects were found for different cell lines and different structural characteristics of the complexes; chelates II, III, and IV displayed specificity toward the HeLa and HSC-3 epithelial-type cells, while V, VI, and VII were clearly more effective against the THP-1, MOLT-3, and CCRF-CEM leukemia cell lines. The toxicity of these Pt(II) complexes on noncancer cells was, in all cases, found to be reversed upon drug removal.

A structural study of [H 3 N(CH 2 ) 2 NH 3 )] 2+ .2Cl - , the smallest element of the homologous series of the α,ω-diamine dihydrochlorides, was carried out by means of Raman and FTIR spectroscopy coupled to ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations. As a primary concern, an adequate molecular model for the representation of these solid amine salts was chosen. Thus, several models, varying in the number and position of the counterions as well as in the number of diamine units, were considered. It was found that the best molecular system (i.e., that yielding the best compromise between accuracy and computational requirements) consists of one ethylenediamine cation surrounded by six chloride ions in an arrangement based on the crystal structure reported in the literature for [H 3 N(CH 2 ) 2 NH 3 )] 2+ .2Cl - . This conclusion will hopefully allow for a better understanding of the conformational preferences, in the solid state, of these biologically relevant linear polyamines.

The presence of C-H...O hydrogen bonds in liquid 4-fluorobenzaldehyde has been studied by a combination of theoretical and spectroscopic methods. Ab initio calculations yielded bond energies and preferred bonding geometries, and the calculated spectroscopic properties have been compared with the experimental results. The presence of C-H...O hydrogen bonds in the liquid phase is strongly supported by vibrational and NMR spectroscopic data. Particular attention is paid to the spectroscopic effects related to the predicted shortening of the C-H bond engaged in the C-H...O contact. The concentration-dependent intensity in the C-H stretching region is tentatively assigned to a blue-shift effect due to C-H...O hydrogen bonding.

A study of the biogenic polyamines spermidine and spermine, as well as of the diamines H2N(CH2)nNH2 (n = 2−10 and n = 12), was carried out by both inelastic neutron scattering (INS) and Raman spectroscopies, for both their undeuterated and N-deuterated forms. Ab initio density functional theory (DFT) methods were also used, to obtain the calculated vibrational spectra of those molecules. A thorough vibrational analysis was performed, leading to the assignment of the solid-state spectra, both Raman and INS, of the polyamines studied, comprising all their longitudinal acoustic modes (LAM's).

The presence of C-H...O hydrogen bonds in liquid 4-fluorobenzaldehyde has been studied by a combination of theoretical and spectroscopic methods. Ab initio calculations yielded bond energies and preferred bonding geometries, and the calculated spectroscopic properties have been compared with the experimental results. The presence of C-H...O hydrogen bonds in the liquid phase is strongly supported by vibrational and NMR spectroscopic data. Particular attention is paid to the spectroscopic effects related to the predicted shortening of the C-H bond engaged in the C-H...O contact. The concentration-dependent intensity in the C-H stretching region is tentatively assigned to a blue-shift effect due to C-H...O hydrogen bonding.

Carvedilol ({1-[carbazolyl-(4)-oxy]-3-[2-methoxyphenoxyethyl)amino]-propanol-(2)}) is a novel compound used in clinical practice for the treatment of congestive heart failure, mild to moderate hypertension, and myocardial infarction. Carvedilol was also shown to protect cardiac mitochondria from oxidative stress events. Because mitochondria are the main suppliers of ATP for cardiac muscle work, a study of the effects of carvedilol in mitochondrial bioenergetics is necessary to fully understand the basis of its protective role in myocardial energetics. In this work we show that carvedilol acts as an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, decreasing mitochondrial electric potential ([Delta][Psi]) by a weak protonophoretic mechanism. Theoretical studies were carried out to determine the relevance of conformation and proton affinity of the protonable amino side-chain group in the proton-shuttling activity across the inner mitochondrial membrane. BM910228, a hydroxylated metabolite of carvedilol, was also studied for comparison with the parent compound. Implications for the protective role of carvedilol in heart mitochondrial bioenergetics are discussed. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6WBK-45FCBHN-HJ/1/94ee73328ca2d6da35e34ab4061505b8

The conformational properties of the diamagnetic complexes formed by five triazatriacetic macrocyclic ligands with monovalent (alkaline) and divalent (alkaline-earth, Zn2+ and Cd2+) cations have been studied by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) in aqueous solution as a function of pH and temperature. These structurally related triazatriacetic ligands, 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid (NOTA), 1,4,7-triazacyclodecane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid (DETA), 1,4,8-triazacycloundecane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid (UNTA), 1,5,9-triazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid (DOTRA), and 9,10-benzylidene-1,4,7-triazacyclotridecane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid, (BUNTA) have triazamacrocyclic rings with different sizes and flexibilities, bearing three pendant acetate arms. In the case of the alkaline-earth, Zn2+ and Cd2+ cations, only one complex form (1:1) has been detected for all the ligands studied. In most cases the metal ion is coordinated to all the ligand ring nitrogens and to all or some of the carboxylate groups of the pendant arms, except when a poor fit of the cations into the macrocyclic hole occurs, such as for the Ba2+ complexes of DETA, UNTA and DOTRA and the Ca2+ and Sr2+ complexes of BUNTA. The resonance patterns of the ring proton resonances, determined by the long lifetime of the metal-nitrogen bonds, indicate that the six-membered rings formed upon chelation are conformationally rigid and the five-membered rings are conformationally flexible. The multiplicity of the acetate proton resonances shows that the metal-oxygen bonds are long-lived or short lived depending whether the acetates are bound to nitrogens involved in two ring bridges of equal or unequal sizes.

A variable-temperature, -pressure, and -ionic strength (1)H NMR study of the DOTA complexes of different trivalent cations (Sc, Y, La, Ce --> Lu) (DOTA = 1,4,7,10-tetraaza-1,4,7,10-tetrakis(carboxymethyl)cyclododecane) yielded data that are in contradiction with the hitherto used model of only two enantiomeric pairs of diastereoisomers that differ in the ligand conformations. A two-isomer equilibrium cannot explain the newly observed apparent reversal of the isomer ratio at the end of the series. As both conformers may lose their inner sphere water molecule, a coordination equilibrium may be superimposed on this conformational equilibrium, as shown by large positive reaction volumes for the isomerization of [Ln(DOTA)(H(2)O)(x)()](-) (Ln = Yb, Lu; x = 1, 0). The isomerization of [Nd(DOTA)(H(2)O)](-) and [Eu(DOTA)(H(2)O)](-) is purely conformational, as shown by near-zero reaction volumes. The measured isomerization enthalpies and entropies agree with this model. The shift of the isomerization equilibria by a variety of non-coordinative salts depends on the ligand conformation rather than the presence or absence of the inner sphere water molecule. This results from weak ion binding and water solvent stabilization of one ligand conformation, rather than the decrease of the activity of the bulk water in the solution, as shown by UV-vis measurements of the coordination number sensitive transition (5)F(0) --> (7)D(0) of Eu(III) as a function of ionic strength. Fluoride ions replace a water molecule in the inner coordination sphere, preferentially for one of the conformational isomers, as proven by (19)F-NMR shifts and the appearance of a third set of resonances corresponding to [Eu(DOTA)F](2)(-) in the (1)H-NMR spectrum of [Eu(DOTA)(H(2)O)](-).