Background: Acridine and thiourea derivatives are important compounds in medicinal chemistry due to their diverse biological properties including anticancer and antimicrobial effects. However, literature reveals some side effects associated with use of acridines. It is suggested that hybrid molecules may reduce the side effects and enhance the beneficial properties due to synergistic activity. The objectives of the present study are to synthesize and evaluate the anticancer and antimicrobial properties of new hybrids of acridine thiosemicarbazides derivatives. Results: The structures of the synthesized compounds 4a–4e were elucidated by MS and NMR spectra. In antimicrobial assay, Compound 4c exhibited potent antimicrobial activity compared to the other four compounds. In anticancer studies, we observed that compounds 4a, 4b, 4d and 4e exhibited high cytotoxicity against the MT-4 cell line, with IC50 values of 18.42 ± 1.18, 15.73 ± 0.90, 10.96 ± 0.62 and 11.63 ± 0.11 μM, respectively. The evaluation of anticancer effects, and the associated mechanism reveals that, the anticancer activities may be related to Topo I inhibitory activity, apoptosis and cell-cycle. Molecular docking studies revealed that the presence of planar naphtho-fused rings and a flexible thiourea group together, could improve DNA-intercalation and inhibition of DNA-Topo I activity. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that the rational design of target derivatives as novel antimicrobial or antitumor leads is feasible.

Polyols are being used in a wide range of industrial applications including surfactants and precursors for grafted polymers. The characterization of polyols is of significance in correlating compositions and structures with their properties. We illustrate two real world examples where traditional analytical methods including GPC and NMR failed to reveal compositional differences, but the combination of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF), electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS), and MS/MS can produce compositional information required for problem solving. The first example involves failure analysis of four ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (EO/PO) copolymer products. The results from the mass spectrometry analysis unequivocally demonstrate that one of the samples has a small variation in copolymer composition, leading to its abnormal activity. The second example is in the area of deformulation of complex polyol mixtures. Two samples displaying similar properties and activities were found to be two different polyol blends. One of the samples is a more cost-effective product. These examples demonstrate that MALDI, ESI MS, and MS/MS should be seriously considered as an integrated component of an overall polyol characterization program in product failure analysis and deformulation.

UV-Vis absorption spectra of tannic acid were gained at pH 1.0∼9.0. Due to the pH value dependence of complex, the stoichiometry of tannic acid with iron ions was tested in buffer solution by the mole ratio method. The result suggests that the complex ratio of tannic acid to Fe(III) is 1 : 1 and to Fe(II) 3 : 1 in the carbonate buffer solution, and the complex ratio of iron-tannic complexes is 1 : 1 at pH 2.2. Due to the different color changes of tannic acid with iron ions in the coordination reactions, a tannic acid test paper was designed. The concentrations of Fe(III) more than 5.000 × 10−6 mol/L and the concentrations of Fe(II) more than 1.000 × 10−5 mol/L in aqueous solution can be detected by this test paper.

Strain compensation in a Zn doped MAPbBr3 single crystal under light illumination gives rise to improved photostability in terms of temperature and time to the benefit of photodetector.