Search results for "pharmaceutical"
showing 10 items of 3243 documents
Scalable (Enantioselective) Syntheses of Novel 3-Methylated Analogs of Pazinaclone, (S)-PD172938 and Related Biologically Relevant Isoindolinones
2022
Herein, we report the application of an efficient and practical K2CO3 promoted cascade reaction of 2-acetylbenzonitrile in the synthesis of novel 3-methylated analogs of Pazinaclone and PD172938, belonging to isoindolinones heterocyclic class bearing a tetrasubstituted stereocenter. Organocatalytic asymmetric synthesis of the key intermediate and its transformation into highly enantioenriched 3-methylated analog of (S)-PD172938 was also developed. These achievements can be of particular interest also for medicinal chemistry, since the methyl group is a very useful structural modification in the rational design of new and more effective bioactive compounds.
The Role Played by Ionic Liquids in Carbohydrates Conversion into 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural: A Recent Overview
2022
Obtaining industrially relevant products from abundant, cheap, renewable, and low-impacting sources such as lignocellulosic biomass, is a key step in reducing consumption of raw fossil materials and, consequently, the environmental footprint of such processes. In this regard, a molecule that is similar to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) plays a pivotal role, since it can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass and gives synthetic access to a broad range of industrially important products and polymers. Recently, ionic liquids (ILs) have emerged as suitable solvents for the conversion of biomass and carbohydrates into 5-HMF. Herein, we provide a bird’s-eye view on recent achievements about t…
Prenatal Exposure to Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Affects Hippocampus-Related Cognitive Functions in the Adolescent Rat Offspring: Focus on Specific Marke…
2023
Previous evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to THC (pTHC) derails the neurodevelopmental trajectories towards a vulnerable phenotype for impaired emotional regulation and limbic memory. Here we aimed to investigate pTHC effect on hippocampus-related cognitive functions and markers of neuroplasticity in adolescent male offspring. Wistar rats were exposed to THC (2 mg/kg) from gestational day 5 to 20 and tested for spatial memory, object recognition memory and reversal learning in the reinforce-motivated Can test and in the aversion-driven Barnes maze test; locomotor activity and exploration, anxiety-like behaviour, and response to natural reward were assessed in the open field, elevate…
Switching from Aromatase Inhibitors to Dual Targeting Flavonoid-Based Compounds for Breast Cancer Treatment
2023
Despite the significant outcomes attained by scientific research, breast cancer (BC) still represents the second leading cause of death in women. Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) BC accounts for the majority of diagnosed BCs, highlighting the disruption of estrogenic signalling as target for first-line treatment. This goal is presently pursued by inhibiting aromatase (AR) enzyme or by modulating Estrogen Receptor (ER) α. An appealing strategy for fighting BC and reducing side effects and resistance issues may lie in the design of multifunctional compounds able to simultaneously target AR and ER. In this paper, previously reported flavonoid-related potent AR inhibitors were suitably modified…
Experimental FTIR-MI and Theoretical Studies of Isocyanic Acid Aggregates
2023
Homoaggregates of isocyanic acid (HNCO) were studied using FTIR spectroscopy combined with a low-temperature matrix isolation technique and quantum chemical calculations. Computationally, the structures of the HNCO dimers and trimers were optimized at the MP2, B3LYPD3 and B2PLYPD3 levels of theory employing the 6-311++G(3df,3pd) basis set. Topological analysis of the electron density (AIM) was used to identify the type of non-covalent interactions in the studied aggregates. Five stable minima were located on the potential energy surface for (HNCO)2, and nine were located on the potential energy surface for (HNCO)3. The most stable dimer (D1) involves a weak, almost linear N-H⋯N hydrog…
An Updated Review on the Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Molecular Hybrids and Conjugates Bearing Imidazole Moiety
2020
The rapid growth of serious infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria, especially the nosocomial ESKAPE pathogens, has been acknowledged by Governments and scientists and is one of the world’s major health problems. Various strategies have been and are currently investigated and developed to reduce and/or delay the bacterial resistance. One of these strategies regards the design and development of antimicrobial hybrids and conjugates. This unprecedented critical review, in which our continuing interest in the synthesis and evaluation of the bioactivity of imidazole derivatives is testified, aims to summarise and comment on the results obtained from the end of the 1900s until Februa…
The effect of nanoparticle size and NLS density on nuclear targeting in cancer and normal cells; impaired nuclear import and aberrant nanoparticle in…
2017
The cell nucleus is an interesting target in many diseases with particular interest in cancer. Previously, nuclear targeted small and large chitosan nanoparticles (S-NPs≈25nm, and L-NPs≈150nm respectively), modified with low, intermediate and high densities of NLS (L-NLS, I-NLS and H-NLS) were developed and assessed in L929 fibroblasts. However, to evade apoptosis and stimulate tumor growth cancer cells are capable of manipulating the nuclear-cytoplasmic transport on many levels, making NPs that are capable of nuclear targeting in normal cells incapable of doing so in cancer. For such reason, here, the nuclear delivery efficiency of S-NPs and L-NPs was assessed as a function of their NLS de…
NG-monomethyl-L-arginine and NG-nitro-L-arginine inhibit endothelium-dependent relaxations in human isolated omental arteries.
1991
Abstract The L-arginine analogues NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA, 10−4 m) and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 10−4 m), which specifically inhibit the synthesis of nitric oxide from l-arginine, significantly reduced acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations in rings of human omental arteries. The inhibitory potency of l-NMMA and l-NAME was similar. Addition of l-NMMA or l-NAME to the organ bath did not induce any significant changes in the resting tension of the tissues. The effects of l-NMMA were reversed by l-arginine (3 × 10−4 m). The l-NMMA enantiomer, d-NMMA (10−4 m), did not influence either the basal tone of the preparation or the relaxing effects of acet…
Incorporation of dynamic boronate links and Ag nanoparticles into PVA hydrogels for pH-Regulated and prolonged release of methotrexate
2021
Abstract In this study, pH-responsive hydrogels based on PVA-boronate crosslinks were prepared via a simple route and used for controlled and targeted delivery of anticancer drug methotrexate. A double network (DN) hydrogel composed of didiol-boronate/PVA complex as the first network and PVA crystallites generated by a freeze-thaw process as the second one was developed. The swelling of PVA-boronate DN hydrogels demonstrated high sensitivity to multiple stimuli including the pH, temperature, and ionic strength of the media thanks to the dynamic boronate links in the first network. Moreover, unlike previously reported hydrogels based on the boronate linkages, the new DN hydrogels preserved t…
Iron Oxide/Hydroxide Nanoparticles with Negatively Charged Shells Show Increased Uptake in Caco-2 Cells
2012
The absorption of commonly used ferrous iron salts from intestinal segments at neutral to slightly alkaline pH is low, mainly because soluble ferrous iron is easily oxidized to poorly soluble ferric iron and because ferrous iron, but not ferric iron, is carried by the divalent metal transporter DMT-1. Moreover, ferrous iron frequently causes gastrointestinal side effects. Iron hydroxide nanoparticles with neutral and hydrophilic carbohydrate shells are alternatively used to ferrous salts. In these formulations gastrointestinal side effects are rare because hundreds of ferric iron atoms are safely packed in nanoscaled cores surrounded by the solubilizing shell; nevertheless, iron bioavailabi…