Solid-State Self-Assembly of a Linear Hexanuclear Copper(II) Oxamate Complex with Alternating Antiferro- and Ferromagnetic Coupling

In this work, we describe the synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties of the neutral hexacopper(II) complex of formula {[Cubpca)]2[Cu(dmopba)(H2O)]}2·4H2O (1), where Hbpca = bis(2-pyridylcarbonyl)-amide and dmopba = 4,5-dimethyl-1,2-phenylenebis(oxamato). Single crystals of 1 were obtained from the stoichiometric reaction (1:2 molar ratio) of the mononuclear copper(II) complexes (n-Bu4N)2[Cu(dmpba)] and [Cu(bpca)(H2O)2]NO3·2H2O through slow diffusion techniques in water as a solvent. The crystal structure of 1 shows that two neutral {[Cu(bpca)]2[Cu(dmopba)(H2O)]} trinuclear units are connected through double out-of-plane copper to outer carboxylate oxygen atoms resulting in a unique oxamate-bridged linear hexanuclear complex. Hydrogen bonds among adjacent entities involving the non-coordinated water molecules result in a supramolecular 3D network. Magnetic measurements on 1 show the occurrence of moderate antiferromagnetic intratrinuclear interactions between the copper(II) ions from the [Cu(bpca)]+ and [Cu(dmopba)(H2O)]2− fragments across the oxamate bridge and a weak intertrinuclear ferromagnetic interaction between the copper(II) ions that occurs between the two central [Cu(bpca)]+ fragments mediated by the carboxylate groups from the oxamate bridge [J = −31.96(2) cm−1 and J′ = +1.34(2) cm−1; H = J (S1·S2 + S2·S3 + S1′·S2′ + S2′·S3′) + J′ (S1·S1′)]

A clioquinol-containing Pluronic

A clioquinol (ICHQ)-containing Pluronic® F127 polymeric micelle system (ICHQ/Mic) was recently shown to be effective against Leishmania amazonensis infection in a murine model. In the present study, ICHQ/Mic was tested against L. infantum infection. BALB/c mice (n = 12 per group) were infected with L. infantum stationary promastigotes through subcutaneous injection and, 45 days after challenge, received saline or were treated via the subcutaneous route with empty micelles, ICHQ or ICHQ/Mic. In addition, animals were treated with miltefosine by the oral route, as a drug control. Half of the animals were euthanized 1 and 15 days after treatment, aiming to evaluate two endpoints after therapy, when parasitological and immunological parameters were investigated. Results showed that the treatment using miltefosine, ICHQ or ICHQ/Mic induced significantly higher anti-parasite IFN-γ, IL-12, GM-CSF, nitrite and IgG2a isotype antibody levels, which were associated with low IL-4 and IL-10 production. In addition, a higher frequency of IFN-γ and TNF-α-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells was found in these animals. The parasite load was evaluated in distinct organs, and results showed that the treatment using miltefosine, ICHQ or ICHQ/Mic induced significant reductions in organic parasitism in the treated and infected mice. A comparison between the treatments suggested that ICHQ/Mic was the most effective in inducing a highly polarized Th1-type response, as well as reducing the parasite load in significant levels in the treated and infected animals. Data obtained 15 days after treatment suggested maintenance of the immunological and parasitological responses. In conclusion, ICHQ/Mic could be considered in future studies for the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved