Microencapsulation of herbicide MCPA with native β-cyclodextrin and its methyl and hydroxypropyl derivatives : an experimental and theoretical investigation

When a pesticide is released into the environment, most of it is lost before it reaches its target. An effective way to reduce environmental losses of pesticides is by using controlled release technology. Microencapsulation becomes a promising technique for the production of controlled release agricultural formulations. In this work, the microencapsulation of chlorophenoxy herbicide MCPA with native β-cyclodextrin and its methyl and hydroxypropyl derivatives was investigated. The phase solubility study showed that both native and β-CD derivatives increased the water solubility of the herbicide and inclusion complexes are formed in a stoichiometric ratio of 1:1. The stability constants describing the extent of formation of the complexes have been determined by phase solubility studies. 1H NMR experiments were also accomplished for the prepared solid systems and the data gathered confirm the formation of the inclusion complexes. 1H NMR data obtained for the MCPA/CDs complexes disclosed noticeable proton shift displacements for OCH2 group and H6 aromatic proton of MCPA provided clear evidence of inclusion complexation process, suggesting that the phenyl moiety of the herbicide was included in the hydrophobic cavity of CDs. Free energy molecular mechanics calculations confirm all these findings. The gathered results can be regarded as an essential step to the development of controlled release agricultural formulations containing herbicide MCPA.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Crystal structures of five 6-mercaptopurine derivatives

The crystal structures of five 6-mercaptopurine derivatives, viz. 2-[(9-acetyl-9H-purin-6-yl)sulfan-yl]-1-(3-meth-oxy-phen-yl)ethan-1-one (1), C16H14N4O3S, 2-[(9-acetyl-9H-purin-6-yl)sulfan-yl]-1-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)ethan-1-one (2), C16H14N4O3S, 2-[(9-acetyl-9H-purin-6-yl)sulfan-yl]-1-(4-chloro-phen-yl)ethan-1-one (3), C15H11ClN4O2S, 2-[(9-acetyl-9H-purin-6-yl)sulfan-yl]-1-(4-bromo-phen-yl)ethan-1-one (4), C15H11BrN4O2S, and 1-(3-meth-oxy-phen-yl)-2-[(9H-purin-6-yl)sulfan-yl]ethan-1-one (5), C14H12N4O2S. Compounds (2), (3) and (4) are isomorphous and accordingly their mol-ecular and supra-molecular structures are similar. An analysis of the dihedral angles between the purine and exocyclic phenyl rings show that the mol-ecules of (1) and (5) are essentially planar but that in the case of the three isomorphous compounds (2), (3) and (4), these rings are twisted by a dihedral angle of approximately 38°. With the exception of (1) all mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds in their crystals. There is π-π stacking in all compounds. A Cambridge Structural Database search revealed the existence of 11 deposited compounds containing the 1-phenyl-2-sulfanyl-ethanone scaffold; of these, only eight have a cyclic ring as substituent, the majority of these being heterocycles.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Human Poisoning from Marine Toxins: Unknowns for Optimal Consumer Protection

Marine biotoxins are produced by aquatic microorganisms and accumulate in shellfish or finfish following the food web. These toxins usually reach human consumers by ingestion of contaminated seafood, although other exposure routes like inhalation or contact have also been reported and may cause serious illness. This review shows the current data regarding the symptoms of acute intoxication for several toxin classes, including paralytic toxins, amnesic toxins, ciguatoxins, brevetoxins, tetrodotoxins, diarrheic toxins, azaspiracids and palytoxins. The information available about chronic toxicity and relative potency of different analogs within a toxin class are also reported. The gaps of toxicological knowledge that should be studied to improve human health protection are discussed. In general, gathering of epidemiological data in humans, chronic toxicity studies and exploring relative potency by oral administration are critical to minimize human health risks related to these toxin classes in the near future.Support from the following FEDER cofunded-grants. From Conselleria de Cultura, Educacion e Ordenación Universitaria Xunta de Galicia, 2017 GRC GI-1682 (ED431C 2017/01). From CDTI and Technological Funds, supported by Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, AGL2014-58210-R, AGL2016-78728-R (AEI/FEDER, UE), ISCIII/PI16/01830 and RTC-2016-5507-2, ITC-20161072. From European Union POCTEP 0161-Nanoeaters -1-E-1, Interreg AlertoxNet EAPA-317-2016, and H2020 778069-EMERTOX

Host-guest complexes of phenoxy alkyl acid herbicides and cyclodextrins. MCPA and β-cyclodextrin

The chlorophenoxy herbicideMCPA(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid), widely used for the control of broad-leafweeds primarily in cereal and grass seed crops, still remains one of the most often used herbicides in Portugal. As the formation of inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins can improve its solubility properties, the interaction between the herbicide MCPA and β-cyclodextrin was investigated. The stability constants describing the extent of formation of the complexes have been determined by phase-solubility studies. Different analytical techniques [ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR)] were employed for a thorough investigation of the structural characteristics of the obtained complexes, which exhibited distinct features and properties from both “guest” and “host” molecules. FTIR and 1H NMR data obtained for the MCPA/β-CD complexes gave information about the interaction between MCPA and the nonpolar cyclodextrin cavity. The dramatic change observed in band frequency and proton displacements of OCH2 group and H6 aromatic proton confirmed the inclusion of MCPA in β-CD. The formation of an inclusion complex between MCPA and β-CD increased the aqueous solubility of this herbicide which could be a particularly advantageous property for some specific applications, namely to improve commercial formulation and for environmental protection.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of sitagliptin on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Data are lacking on the long-term effect on cardiovascular events of adding sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, to usual care in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind study, we assigned 14,671 patients to add either sitagliptin or placebo to their existing therapy. Open-label use of antihyperglycemic therapy was encouraged as required, aimed at reaching individually appropriate glycemic targets in all patients. To determine whether sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo, we used a relative risk of 1.3 as the marginal upper boundary. The primary cardiovascular outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.0 years, there was a small difference in glycated hemoglobin levels (least-squares mean difference for sitagliptin vs. placebo, -0.29 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.32 to -0.27). Overall, the primary outcome occurred in 839 patients in the sitagliptin group (11.4%; 4.06 per 100 person-years) and 851 patients in the placebo group (11.6%; 4.17 per 100 person-years). Sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo for the primary composite cardiovascular outcome (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.09; P<0.001). Rates of hospitalization for heart failure did not differ between the two groups (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.20; P = 0.98). There were no significant between-group differences in rates of acute pancreatitis (P = 0.07) or pancreatic cancer (P = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, adding sitagliptin to usual care did not appear to increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, hospitalization for heart failure, or other adverse events