Effects of vanadyl complexes with acetylacetonate derivatives on non-tumor and tumor cell lines

Vanadium has a good therapeutic potential, as several biological effects, but few side effects, have been demonstrated. Evidence suggests that vanadium compounds could represent a new class of non-platinum, metal antitumor agents. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the antiproliferative activities of fluorescent vanadyl complexes with acetylacetonate derivates bearing asymmetric substitutions on the β-dicarbonyl moiety on different cell lines. The effects of fluorescent vanadyl complexes on proliferation and cell cycle modulation in different cell lines were detected by ATP content using the CellTiter-Glo Luminescent Assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Western blotting was performed to assess the modulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and relevant proteins. Confocal microscopy revealed that complexes were mainly localized in the cytoplasm, with a diffuse distribution, as in podocyte or a more aggregate conformation, as in the other cell lines. The effects of complexes on cell cycle were studied by cytofluorimetry and Western blot analysis, suggesting that the inhibition of proliferation could be correlated with a block in the G2/M phase of cell cycle and an increase in cdc2 phosphorylation. Complexes modulated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation in a cell-dependent manner, but MAPK modulation can only partly explain the antiproliferative activity of these complexes. All together our results demonstrate that antiproliferative effects mediated by these compounds are cell type-dependent and involve the cdc2 and MAPKs pathway

Autoluminescent Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs): Self-Photoemission of a Highly Stable Thorium MOF

A novel thorium(IV) metal-organic framework (MOF), Th(2,6-naphtalenedicarboxylate)2, has been synthesized via solvothermal reaction of thorium nitrate and 2,6-naphtalendicarboxilyc acid. This compound shows a new structural arrangement with an interesting topology and an excellent thermal resistance, as the framework is stable in air up to 450 \ub0C. Most notably, this MOF, combining the radioactivity of its metal center and the scintillation property of the ligand, has been proven capable of spontaneous photon emission

Nanoparticles Based on Fructose and Alkaly-Earth Halogenides with Second Harmonic Generation properties for applications as bio-sensors and for Radiotherapy

In recent years, some Metal Organic Frameworks with Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) properties, based on fructose and alkali-earth alogenides, were investigated to understand the effect of cation size and anion polarizability on crucial quantities correlated to the non-linear optical (NLO) response, such as hyperpolarizability and optical susceptibility [1,2]. The compounds studied are interesting for biomedicine applications, as they combine high biocompatibility, due to their non-toxic components, and significant SH emission, that can permit exploitation for in vitro bio-imaging. Right now, a possible application in radiotherapy is under investigation. To these purposes we synthetized nanoparticles of some MOFs, based on fructose and SrX2 salts (X=Cl, I). The compounds were characterized by single-crystal and powder XRD, IR and RAMAN spectroscopy and the second-order susceptibility were estimated from theoretical calculations, both in vacuo and in the solid state. Furthermore, we attempted to assess the reduction of the SH intensity for small quantities of nano-crystals, in order to ascertain the possibility of applications in biological systems. The nanoparticles were encapsulated in a phospholipidic shell and preliminary activity studies on target cells are in progress. [1] D. Marabello, P. Antoniotti, P. Benzi, C. Canepa, E. Diana, L. Operti, L. Mortati, M. P. Sassi J. Mater. Sci., 2015, 50 (12), 4330- 4341 [2] D. Marabello, P. Antoniotti, P. Benzi, C. Canepa, L. Mortati, M. P. Sassi Acta Cryst. B, accepte

Exploring the multi-level processes of legitimacy in transnational social enterprises

Transnational entrepreneurship has emerged as a form of migrants' participation in the social, economic, and political lives of both their countries of origin and of residence. Leveraging increasing evidence about migrants' involvment in transnational social enterprises, we examine the multi-level processes through which organizational legitimacy is molded by transnational entrepreneurs to reflect country-level institutional settings, and how organizational-level legitimacy affects entrepreneurs' social status. We longitudinally examine the multi-level processes of legitimation in a transnational social enterprise operated by Ghanaian migrants across Italy and Ghana. We analyze secondary and ethnographic data for two years, observing how transnational social enterprises harvest moral and pragmatic legitimacy from the institutional contexts in which they operate. We study how entrepreneurs construe their social status through pragmatic legitimacy obtained from their transnational ventures, and their institutional environments inspired by micro- and meso legitimacy reconfigurations. We discuss theoretical implications for social and transnational entrepreneurship and practical contributions for policy-making