Special session in honor of Antonio Carlos Massabni

The present issue of International Journal of Advances in Medical Biotechnology (IJAMB) introduces a set of five papers elaborated by Prof. Antonio Carlos Massabni and students that have attended a graduate course nominated Seminars of Integration from the Postgraduate Program in Biotechnology of the University of Araraquara (UNIARA), Araraquara, Brazil. The authors have focused on the impact of Industry 4.0 technologies on Biotechnology as well as the chance for future professionals and the work relations in this context. In other papers, the importance of biotechnology in the development of vaccines, antibiotics, hormones and scaffolds for regenerative medicine are discussed. This issue is dedicated in honor of Prof. Massabni for his commitment with teaching, research and administrative duties

Spectroscopic characterization of schiff base-copper complexes immobilized in smectite clays

Herein, the immobilization of some Schiff base-copper(II) complexes in smectite clays is described as a strategy for the heterogenization of homogeneous catalysts. The obtained materials were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, mostly UV/Vis, EPR, XANES and luminescence spectroscopy. SWy-2 and synthetic Laponite clays were used for the immobilization of two different complexes that have previously shown catalytic activity in the dismutation of superoxide radicals, and disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide. The obtained results indicated the occurrence of an intriguing intramolecular redox process involving copper and the imine ligand at the surface of the clays. These studies are supported by computational calculations

Gestão de Componentes em Dinâmico

A crescente evolução das tecnologias de informação e comunicação, aliadas ao desenvolvimento industrial, proporcionou um aumento de competitividade entre as indústrias, originando uma subida do nível da relação qualidade preço. Esta premissa causou uma maior preocupação com a procura contínua pela melhoria dos processos, de forma a aumentar as actividades de valor acrescentado, eliminando todo o tipo de desperdícios. Nesta conjuntura, a Grohe Portugal Componentes Sanitários, Lda propôs uma melhoria no âmbito da gestão de stocks de componentes existentes em dinâmico. Esta acção de melhoria passa pela definição e implementação de um método de gestão destes componentes, acompanhado por um conjunto de regras de identificação de actividades e respectivos intervenientes, por forma a optimizar os meios existentes e evitar a ocorrência de falhas de componentes nas linhas. Trata-se de um método baseado no cálculo das necessidades das linhas, que através da procura média semanal e constituição dos produtos finais define um nível de prioridade entre os componentes, identificando quais os mais requisitados pelas linhas e possibilitando a gestão do dinâmico. Na contínua tentativa de combater possíveis falhas, desenvolveu-se um sistema de gestão do tipo Kanban com a capacidade de gerir o produto semi-acabado para consumo interno. Foram, ainda, criadas melhorias que permitem um acréscimo de eficiência na gestão dos componentes em estante dinâmica, diminuindo o capital imobilizado investido em stocks, levando a um rearranjo de layouts, proporcionando melhores condições de trabalho e optimizando percursos e recursos. Descreve-se detalhadamente o processo de (i) actualização, definição e implementação do método de gestão de componentes em dinâmico, acompanhado pelo respectivo conjunto de regras, (ii) a implementação de um sistema do tipo Kanban orientado às reais preocupações da empresa, (iii) a redefinição de layouts em conformidade com a actualização dos dinâmicos e (iv) a identificação e execução de um conjunto de melhorias. Todas estas actividades acompanhadas pelo impacto financeiro na organização. Por fim, efectua-se o balanço deste projecto e sugerem-se oportunidades de melhoria.The growing evolution of information and communication technologies, allied to the industrial development, provided an increase of competitive edge between the industries, originating a rise in the level of quality price relationship. This premise caused a bigger concern with the continuous search for processes improvement, in order to increase the activities of added value, eliminating all kind of waste. In this conjuncture, Grohe Portugal Componentes Sanitários, Lda proposed na improvement in the scope of stocks management of existing components in dynamic shelfs. This action of improvement goes by the definition and implementation of a management method of these components, accompanied by a set of rules of activity identification and respective stakeholders, in such a way to optimize the existing means and avoid the shortage of the components in the production lines. It is a method based in the calculation of the lines needs, that through the weekly average search and final products constitution defines a priority level between components, identifying which is the most required by the lines and allowing the dynamics management. In the continuous attempt to counter possible failures, it was developed a management system of Kanban type with the capacity of managing the semi-finished product for internal consumption. There were, still, created improvements that allow an increase of efficiency in the management of components in a dynamic shelf, decreasing the immobilized capital invested in stocks, leading to a rearrangement of layouts, providing better working conditions and optimizing pathways and resources. It is described in detail the process of (i) update, definition and implementation of the management method of dynamic shelfs components, accompanied by the respective set of rules, (ii) the implementation of a Kanban type system guided to the real concerns of the company, (iii) the redefinition of layouts in conformity with the dynamics update and (iv) the identification and execution of a set of improvements. All of these activities are accompanied by the financial impact on the organization. Lastly, the balance of this project is done and are suggested some opportunities to improve it

Theoretical studies of Mefenamic Acid Polymorphs: Solid-state 13C carbon-NMR and vibrational (IR and Raman) Spectroscopies.

The two polymorphs of mefenamic acid (MEF) or 2-[(2,3-(dimethyphenyl)amino] benzoic acid polymorphs (known as I and II forms) were studies in the framkework of density functional theory (DFT). The DFT calculations were performed using the Gaussian03 package and these results were compared with experimental data of solid-state 13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), vibrational Raman and infrared spectroscopies.CAPESCNPqFAPES

Industrial scale isolation, structural and spectroscopic characterization of epiisopiloturine from Pilocarpus microphyllus stapf leaves: a promising alkaloid against schistosomiasis

This paper presents an industrial scale process for extraction, purification, and isolation of epiisopiloturine (EPI) (2(3H)- Furanone,dihydro-3-(hydroxyphenylmethyl)-4-[(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)methyl]-, [3S-[3a(R*),4b]]), which is an alkaloid from jaborandi leaves (Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf). Additionally for the first time a set of structural and spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize this alkaloid. EPI has shown schistomicidal activity against adults and young forms, as well as the reduction of the egg laying adult worms and low toxicity to mammalian cells (in vitro). At first, the extraction of EPI was done with toluene and methylene chloride to obtain a solution that was alkalinized with ammonium carbonate. The remaining solution was treated in sequence by acidification, filtration and alkalinization. These industrial procedures are necessary in order to remove impurities and subsequent application of the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The HPLC was employed also to remove other alkaloids, to obtain EPI purity higher than 98%. The viability of the method was confirmed through HPLC and electrospray mass spectrometry, that yielded a pseudo molecular ion of m/z equal to 287.1 Da. EPI structure was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) in deuterated methanol/chloroform solution, vibrational spectroscopy and mass coupled thermal analyses. EPI molecule presents a parallel alignment of the benzene and the methyl imidazol ring separated by an interplanar spacing of 3.758 Å indicating a π-π bond interaction. The imidazole alkaloid melts at 225°C and decomposes above 230°C under air. EPI structure was used in theoretical Density Functional Theory calculations, considering the single crystal XRD data in order to simulate the NMR, infrared and Raman spectra of the molecule, and performs the signals attribution

SARS-CoV-2 introductions and early dynamics of the epidemic in Portugal

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal was rapidly implemented by the National Institute of Health in the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, in collaboration with more than 50 laboratories distributed nationwide. Methods By applying recent phylodynamic models that allow integration of individual-based travel history, we reconstructed and characterized the spatio-temporal dynamics of SARSCoV-2 introductions and early dissemination in Portugal. Results We detected at least 277 independent SARS-CoV-2 introductions, mostly from European countries (namely the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland), which were consistent with the countries with the highest connectivity with Portugal. Although most introductions were estimated to have occurred during early March 2020, it is likely that SARS-CoV-2 was silently circulating in Portugal throughout February, before the first cases were confirmed. Conclusions Here we conclude that the earlier implementation of measures could have minimized the number of introductions and subsequent virus expansion in Portugal. This study lays the foundation for genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, and highlights the need for systematic and geographically-representative genomic surveillance.We gratefully acknowledge to Sara Hill and Nuno Faria (University of Oxford) and Joshua Quick and Nick Loman (University of Birmingham) for kindly providing us with the initial sets of Artic Network primers for NGS; Rafael Mamede (MRamirez team, IMM, Lisbon) for developing and sharing a bioinformatics script for sequence curation (https://github.com/rfm-targa/BioinfUtils); Philippe Lemey (KU Leuven) for providing guidance on the implementation of the phylodynamic models; Joshua L. Cherry (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health) for providing guidance with the subsampling strategies; and all authors, originating and submitting laboratories who have contributed genome data on GISAID (https://www.gisaid.org/) on which part of this research is based. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. This study is co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica (234_596874175) on behalf of the Research 4 COVID-19 call. Some infrastructural resources used in this study come from the GenomePT project (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022184), supported by COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), Algarve Portugal Regional Operational Programme (CRESC Algarve2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sustainability from intercalation compounds

International audienc

Evaluation of the Structural Integrity of Layered Double Hydroxides and Mesoporous Silica During the Preparation of Heterostructures

International audienceHeterostructures constructed with mesoporous silica and layered double hydroxides are interesting for catalytic and drug delivery applications. Different arrangements between these phases are possible. In this study, we prepared heterostructures by embedding layered double hydroxides phases [M4Al2(OH)12](CO3) (M = Mg2+ or Zn2+) within the MCM41 mesoporous silica type phase. According to our results, the most critical step of this preparation is the removal of the organic template used to create the mesopores in the silica phase, which can be done by calcination or extraction with solvent, normally a mixture of ethanol and a mineral acid. The results reported in this study demonstrate that both can cause structural changes in the components of the heterostructure at different extensions. Calcination promoted the collapse of the layered hydroxide phases. Attempts made for their reconstruction through rehydration, which is a quite known process, were not completely effective and also dependent on the chemical composition of the layered phase. The complete template removal with preservation of the layered phases was possible using the extraction method but by replacing the mineral acid with NH4Cl. However, some discrete structural changes were identified possibly due to a partial lixiviation of Al3+ from the double hydroxide layers

New insights into two ciprofloxacin-intercalated arrangements for layered double hydroxide carrier materials

International audienceThis paper describes the intercalation of ciprofloxacin (CIP), a bactericidal antibiotic, into the interlayer space of layered double hydroxides (LDHs). To counter the problem of bacterial resistance and also to improve the properties of the CIP drug, the drug carrier approach promises significant benefits. Through the tight control over the synthesis parameters, particularly the amounts of CIP with respect to aluminum ions, two different LDH-CIP-intercalated structures were obtained with significantly different interlayer distances, namely, 21 and 32 Å. The samples were fully characterized in terms of composition, structure, and morphology. Interestingly, the structure with the largest interlayer distance incorporated both CIP anions and Al(CIP)3 complex, exhibiting the possibility to increase the CIP drug loading beyond the anionic-exchange capacity of the LDH carrier. In vitro release in a simulated intestinal fluid (phosphate-buffered solution at pH 7.5) confirmed that LDH was a potentially efficient carrier to deliver CIP in a sustained manner via the anion- exchange mechanism. Different release rates were observed depending on the intercalated structure, which were also influenced by the morphological characteristics