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Cu(II) complexes with asymmetrical and symmetrical porphyrinic ligands were synthesized with superior yields using microwave irradiation. The paper presents the synthesis of 5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)-21,23-Cu(II)-porphine in comparison to its symmetrical complex 5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis-(4-carboxymethylphenyl)-21,23-Cu(II) porphine. The two compounds were characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis and EPR spectroscopy, which fully confirmed the structures. The spectral molecular absorption properties of the porphyrinic complexes were studied in organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, iso-propanol, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide and methylene chloride), and the influence of the solvent polarity on the absorbance maxima is described. In order to establish their future potential in biomedical applications preliminary toxicological studies consisting of viability and proliferation of standard tumor cell lines OPEN ACCESSMolecules 2010, 15 3732 (MCF7 and B16) testing was performed. The obtained results indicate a low toxicity for both compounds and further recommends them for testing in light activation protocols.

We designed three unsymmetrical meso-tetrasubstituted phenyl porphyrins for further development as theranostic agents for cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT): 5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (P2.2), Zn(II)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (Zn(II)2.2) and Cu(II)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-10,15,20-tris-(4-acetoxy-3-methoxyphenyl)porphyrin (Cu(II)2.2). The porphyrinic compounds were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV-Vis, EPR and NMR. The compounds had a good solubility in polar/nonpolar media. P2.2 and, to a lesser extent, Zn(II)2.2 were fluorescent, albeit with low fluoresence quantum yields. P2.2 and Zn(II)2.2 exhibited PDT-acceptable values of singlet oxygen generation. A “dark” cytotoxicity study was performed using cells that are relevant for the tumor niche (HT-29 colon carcinoma cells and L929 fibroblasts) and for blood (peripheral mononuclear cells). Cellular uptake of fluorescent compounds, cell viability/proliferation and death were evaluated. P2.2 was highlighted as a promising theranostic agent for PDT in solid tumors considering that P2.2 generated PDT-acceptable singlet oxygen yields, accumulated into tumor cells and less in blood cells, exhibited good fluorescence within cells for imagistic detection, and had no significant cytotoxicity in vitro against tumor and normal cells. Complexing of P2.2 with Zn(II) or Cu(II) altered several of its PDT-relevant properties. These are consistent arguments for further developing P2.2 in animal models of solid tumors for in vivo PDT.

Phenolic compounds are plants’ bioactive metabolites that have been studied for their ability to confer extensive benefits to human health. As currently there is an increased interest in natural compounds identification and characterization, new analytical methods based on advanced technologies have been developed. This paper summarizes current advances in the state of the art for polyphenols identification and quantification. Analytical techniques ranging from high-pressure liquid chromatography to hyphenated spectrometric methods are discussed. The topic of high-resolution mass spectrometry, from targeted quantification to untargeted comprehensive chemical profiling, is particularly addressed. Structure elucidation is one of the important steps for natural products research. Mass spectral data handling approaches, including acquisition mode selection, accurate mass measurements, elemental composition, mass spectral library search algorithms and structure confirmation through mass fragmentation pathways, are discussed.

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Alkylation of the 5-{4-[(4-bromophenyl)sulfonyl]phenyl}-4-(3/4-methylphenyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiones 3a,b with various alkylation agents, i.e., ethyl bromide, phenacyl bromide and ethyl chloroacetate, afforded the S-substituted 1,2,4-triazoles 4-6a,b. The structures of these new compounds were elucidated by elemental analysis and IR, UV, 1 H-NMR, 13 C--NMR and MS spectroscopy. The newly synthesized products were tested for their antibacterial effects.

A wide range of hybrid biomaterials has been designed in order to sustain bioremediation processes by associating sol-gel SiO2 matrices with various biologically active compounds (enzymes, antibodies). SiO2 is a widespread, chemically stable and non-toxic material; thus, the immobilization of enzymes on silica may lead to improving the efficiency of biocatalysts in terms of endurance and economic costs. Our present work explores the potential of different hybrid morphologies, based on hollow tubes and solid spheres of amorphous SiO2, for enzyme immobilization and the development of competitive biocatalysts. The synthesis protocol and structural characterization of spherical and tubular SiO2 obtained by the sol gel method were fully investigated in connection with the subsequent immobilization of lipase from Rhizopus orizae. The immobilization is conducted at pH 6, lower than the isoelectric point of lipase and higher than the isoelectric point of silica, which is meant to sustain the physical interactions of the enzyme with the SiO2 matrix. The morphological, textural and surface properties of spherical and tubular SiO2 were investigated by SEM, nitrogen sorption, and electrokinetic potential measurements, while the formation and characterization of hybrid organic-inorganic complexes were studied by UV-VIS, FTIR-ATR and fluorescence spectroscopy. The highest degree of enzyme immobilization (as depicted from total organic carbon) was achieved for tubular morphology and the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl acetate was used as an enzymatic model reaction conducted in the presence of hybrid lipase–SiO2 complex.

A series of four Zn(II) complexes with asymmetrical porphyrinic ligands were synthesized: [5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl-21H,23H-porphinato]Zn(II) (Zn(II)TPPOH P ), [5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl-21H,23H--porphinato]Zn(II) (Zn(II)TPPOH M ), [5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-10,15,20-triphenyl--21H,23H-Zn(II)-porphinato]Zn(II) (Zn(II)TPPOH O ) and the well-known (5,10,15,20--tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphinato]Zn(II) (Zn(II)TPP) as reference, in a 1:1 mole ratio. In all cases, the free-base porphyrin served as a tetradentate ligand through the four pyrrole nitrogen atoms. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, which fully confirmed the structure of the complexes. UV-Vis showed that the spectral absorption of the four complexes was blue-shifted by at least 50 nm compared to that of the free ligands. Also important structural data were obtained from several different NMR experiments (including 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMBC and HMQC). Influences of external substituents on the porphyrin ring were observed.