A Novel Biosensor for Evaluation of Apoptotic or Necrotic Effects of Nitrogen Dioxide during Acute Pancreatitis in Rat

The direct and accurate estimation of nitric dioxide levels is an extremely laborious and technically demanding procedure in the molecular diagnostics of inflammatory processes. The aim of this work is to demonstrate that a stop-flow technique utilizing a specific spectroscopic biosensor can be used for detection of nanomolar quantities of NO2 in biological milieu. The use of novel compound cis-[Cr(C2O4)(AaraNH2)(OH2)2]+ increases NO2 estimation accuracy by slowing down the rate of NO2 uptake. In this study, an animal model of pancreatitis, where nitrosative stress is induced by either 3g/kg bw or 1.5 g/kg bw dose of l-arginine, was used. Biochemical parameters and morphological characteristics of acute pancreatitis were monitored, specifically assessing pancreatic acinar cell death mode, NO2 generation and cellular glutathione level. The severity of the process correlated positively with NO2 levels in pancreatic acinar cell cytosol samples, and negatively with cellular glutathione levels

Application of coordination compounds of platinum, palladium and cobalt in medicine. Part 1

The complex compounds containing metal ions are a group of compounds widely used in medicine. More and more metals are also being used to create cancer drugs or to help with other very serious diseases. Anticancer drugs are a particular use of complex compounds. Many thousands of platinum(II) compounds have been synthesized in cancer therapy, but only six of them have found use in the treatment of cancer. The most popular and the most commonly used compound is cisplatin, it has become the basis for the treatment of bladder, cervical, head, esophagus and many cancers occurring in children. The mechanism of action of platinum(II) and platinum(IV) compounds against cancer cells is to inhibit DNA replication, then RNA transcription and stop the G2 phase of the cell cycle and lead to programmed cell death or apoptosis. Coordination compounds containing more than one metal ion in their composition open new possibilities in the fight against cancer. Pt-DNA connections created by compounds containing at least two metal atoms are different from those formed by cisplatin. The basic dinuclear structure allows for great flexibility in forming DNA-DNA or DNA-protein bonds. The cobalt(III) complexes began to be used to image areas of hypoxia in cancer cells. It is believed, that cobalt(III) complexes undergo bioreduction, which leads to the release of the labile cobalt(II) complex and one or more bioactive ligands. Studies on nitro-Co(III) complexes containing acetylacetone and a nitrogen mustard ligand have shown that it is a particularly effective anti-cancer drug. Due to the fact that many people have cancer new effective anti-cancer drugs with low toxicity and no side effects are still being sought

Application of coordination compounds of ruthenium, gold, vanadium, chromium, bismuth, technetium in medicine. Part 2

In this review, the most important complex compounds of ruthenium, gold, vanadium, chromium, bismuth, technetium were selected, and then their most important applications were described in medicine. Ruthenium has been identified as a metal with potential medical use, useful in cancer chemotherapy. The possibility of using its chemical behavior by developing complexes activated for cytotoxic activity through a mechanism of reduction in tumor tissue was discovered. Among the new anti-cancer drugs based on complex compounds, gold compounds have gained a lot of interest. This is due to their strong inhibitory effect on the growth of cancer cells and the observation that many compounds inhibit the enzyme thioredoxin reductase. This enzyme is important for the proliferation of cancerous tissues, and its inhibition is associated with the release of anti-mitochondrial effects. Clinical tests have shown that vanadium compounds can be used as anti-diabetic drugs with low toxicity. However, the therapeutic concentration range is very narrow, just a few micromoles of the compound are enough to cause apoptosis, necrosis and inflammation of healthy cells. Chromium improves the glucose system in people with hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Vanadium compounds mainly used to create potential drugs are inorganic compounds such as vanadates(V), vanadyl cation(IV), vanadium oxide(V) and a number of compounds containing organic ligands. Among the metal complexes, chromium(III) picolinate has successfully become a nutrient used to prevent high blood sugar levels. One of the most commonly used bismuth(III) compounds is bismuth subsalicylate. It is one of the few bismuth compounds regularly used to treat various gastrointestinal complaints, including duodenal ulcers. 99mTc injected into the body, depending on its chemical form and molecular structure, concentrates in the examined organ and emits a quantum that allows imaging of the organ through flat scintigraphic or emission processes. The role of complex compounds in medical imaging is largely based on the creation of radiopharmaceuticals for early detection of diseases and cancer radiotherapy. Radiopharmaceuticals are radionuclide-containing drugs and are routinely used in nuclear medicine to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases

Structure and physicochemical properties of coordination polymers and MOF materials based on cadmium(II) and zinc(II)

In 1964, J.C. Bailat Jr. was one of the first scientists who use coordination polymers in his research. He established the rules of structure and the composition of compounds containing metal ions and organic ligands connected by coordination bonds to form layered or chain structures. He compared inorganic compounds belonging to polymeric species with organic polymers. The term Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF) was first used in the publication by О. M. Yaghia. Crystalline, microporous structures contain rigid organic ligands (used interchangeably: organic building blocks) that bind metal ions. This is called reticular synthesis. MOF surface area values usually range from 1000 to 10000 m2/g-1, thus exceeding the area values of traditional porous materials such as zeolites and carbons. Metal Organic Frameworks create porous three-dimensional structures, unlike coordination polymers. Inorganic minerals from the aluminosilicate group are used in the widespread heterogeneous catalysis and processes such as: adsorption and ion exchange, while compared to Metal Organic Frameworks, shows a lower potential than zeolites, moreover, the design of structures is less precise and rational due to the lack of shape, size and control functionalization of pores. To date, MOF are the most diverse and most numerous class of porous materials. All aspects have made them ideal structures for storing fuels such as hydrogen and methane. They are perfect for catalytic reactions and are good materials for capturing pollutants, e.g. CO2. The number of publications on coordination polymers (CP), Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF) or a group of hybrid compounds (organic-inorganic) increased tenfold at the turn of 2005, which proves the growing interest in this field by scientists around the world. MOF diversity in terms of structure, size, geometry, functionality and flexibility of MOF has led to the study of over 20,000 different MOF’s over the past decade. The search for new materials consists of combining molecular building blocks with the desired physicochemical properties. To produce a solid, porous material that can be used in the construction of a "molecular scaffold", rigid organic moieties, which are described in the literature as rods, must be combined with multi-core, inelastic inorganic clusters that act as joints (also called SBU secondary building units). By design, multi-core cluster nodes are able to impart thermodynamic stability through strong covalent bonds and mechanical stability due to coordination bonds that can stabilize the position of metals in the molecule. This property contrasts with those of the unstable single coordination polymers. The size and most importantly the chemical environment of the resulting voids are determined by the length and functions of the organic unit. Therefore, adjusting the appropriate properties of the material is made by appropriate selection of the starting materials. The isoretical method made it possible to use MOF structures with large pores (98 Á and low densities (0.13 g/cm3). This method involves changing the size and nature of Metal Organic Frameworks without changing the topology of their substrate. Thanks to this, it was possible to include large molecules such as vitamins (e.g. B12) or proteins (e.g. green fluorescence protein) into their structure and use the pores as reaction vessels. The thermal and chemical stability of many MOFs has made them amenable to functionalization by post-synthetic covalent organic complexes with metals. These properties make it possible to significantly improve gas storage in MOF structures and have led to their extensive research into the catalysis of organic reactions, activation of small molecules such as hydrogen, methane and water, gas separation, biomedical imaging and conductivity. Currently, methods of producing nanocrystals and MOF super crystals for their incorporation into specialized devices are being developed. Crystalline structures of MOF’s are formed by creating strong bonds between inorganic and organic units. Careful selection of MOF components produces crystals of giant porosity, high thermal and chemical stability. These features allow the interior of the MOF to be chemically altered to separate and store gases. The uniqueness of MOF materials is that they are the only solids to modify and increase the particle size without changing the substrate topology

Complex compounds based on Gd(III), W(IV), Mn(II), Eu(III) and 99mTc used in medical diagnostics

Recently, hospitals have undergone major changes. Minimally invasive surgery is becoming more common, and numerous innovations are emerging, such as interventional radiology (IVR) and hybrid surgery. In order to keep pace with changes in this extremely dynamic field, scientist keep working on the development of imaging technology and the improvement of image display devices and new compounds acting as contrast agent (CA). In medicine, metals are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Inorganic elements are increasingly used as contrast agents in medical imaging due to their unique physicochemical properties. In this review, we would like to focus on the latest literature reports that contain information on Gd(III), W(IV), Mn(II), Eu(III) and 99mTc used in medical diagnostics

Physicochemical, biological and application properties of isocyanides. Part 2., Medical and materials science applications

Isocyanides are compounds with a triple bond between a nitrogen atom and a carbon atom. Thanks to this structure, there is an electron lone pair on the carbon atom, which allows these compounds to participate in many reactions in organic chemistry. Due to their properties and the number of reactions in which they can participate, this group has been applied in medicine. Both natural and synthetic isocyanides have antifungal, antibacterial, antimalarial, antiviral and anticancer properties. The reactions involving them allow for a much simpler and faster synthesis of many pharmaceuticals. In addition, these compounds have application properties, making it possible to obtain polymers. Despite the polymerization of these compounds raising many objections, many polymeric materials based on isocyanides have found applications both in science and in everyday life

Shape-memory polymers and their preparation

SMP (shape-memory polymers) is an innovative class of programmable materials responsive to various stimuli. They are attracting increasing attention regarding possible new inventions, industrial use, and overall polymer research. After a brief introduction, this article examines the conventional shape-memory effect, methods of fabrication of shape memory polymers, and molecular and structural requirements for SMP to function. The shape memory behavior of such polymers is thoroughly presented, with the focus being on the thermo- and photo-induced SME. The uses in biomedical and industrial areas are also discussed