Removal efficiency of Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ by waste brewery biomass : pH and cation association effects

In this work two distinct (flocculent and non-flocculent) yeast wastes from Portuguese breweries were used for the selective removal of Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous solutions. One of the goals was to establish both the pH profiles for the removal of each metal ion (1.0 mM) and the effect on the biomass biosorption capacity of pH adjustment during the process. The effect of the presence of multiple metal ions, in the 0.1-1.0 mM range, on metal removal efficiency was also studied. The results showed that, in the absence of pH adjustment, the optimum initial pH for the removal of three cations was in the 4.5-5.5 range for both types of biomass. However, a gradual pH increase was observed during the removal process, up to a final equilibrium value of 7.0-8.0. Regarding the biomass efficiency for metal removal in multi-cation systems, it was verified that only Cu2+ was significantly affected by the presence of the other metals in solution and only when the non-flocculent yeast biomass was used as biosorbent. Cd2+ was only slightly affected by the presence of both Cu2+ and Pb2+, and Pb2+ removal was not affected by the presence of any or both of the interferent metals for the two biosorbents used in this work. The highest and lowest metal removal yields were obtained for Pb2+ and Cu2+, respectively.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Praxis XXI 2/2.1/Bio/3 7/94

Biomethane production from phytoremediation derived maize biomass via anaerobic digestion

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The potential of phytoremediation derived maize biomass for the production of biomethane via anaerobic digestion

Maize is an energetic plant with ability for heavy metals removal from contaminated soil. The growth and ability for heavy metals removal by this energetic culture was tested using an industrialised soil contaminated with zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) vs. an agricultural soil. Plants biomass production and metal accumulation was monitored and resulting biomass (roots, stems and cobs) was used for biogas production in several biomethane assays (BMP) in a factorial design with different inoculum to substrate ratios being tested. The biogas produced during the anaerobic digestion was monitored until stable production and its composition was analysed through gas-chromatography. It was possible to observe that maximum methane production seems to be proportional to the amount of anaerobically degradable substrate and is quickly obtained (ca. 8 days after incubation). It was also noticeable that the metals present in the industrial soil were not damaging to the anaerobic biodegradation of the biomass. The production of biomethane from metal contaminated soils’ phytoremediation derived maize biomass appears thus as a possibility to counterpart biogas production in an increasingly demanding status of renewable energy requirementsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Recent Advances in Sustainable Organocatalysis

The recent advances on green and sustainable organocatalysis are revised in this chapter. An important focus on one of the 12 principles of green chemistry, organocatalysis pursues to reduce energy consumption as well as to optimize the use of different resources, targeting to become a sustainable strategy in organic chemical transformations. In last decades, several experimental methodologies have been performed to make organocatalysis an even greener and sustainable alternative to stoichiometric approaches as well as non-catalytic conditions by the use of benign and friendlier reaction media. In this line, several approaches using water as preferential solvent, alternative solvents such as ionic liquids including chiral ones, deep eutectic solvents, polyethylene glycol (PEG), supercritical fluids and organic carbonates or solvent-free methodologies have been reported. In this chapter, we mainly focus on the recent remarkable advancements in organocatalysis using green and sustainable protocols

Conformational insights and vibrational study of a promising anticancer agent: the role of the ligand in Pd(ii)–amine complexes

This study reports the first complete vibrational analysis of a dinuclear polyamine-based compound displaying antitumour properties.</p

Synchrotron nano-FTIR spectroscopy for probing anticancer drugs at subcellular scale

The cellular response to cisplatin was assessed in human osteosarcoma cells, using synchrotron-based (SR) Fourier Transform InfraRed nanospectroscopy (nano-FTIR) at the MIRIAM beamline B22 of Diamond Light Source (UK). This label-free mapping method delivered simultaneous morphological and biochemical information on a subcellular level (i.e. 100 s nanometer or better). Based on specific spectral biomarkers, the main biochemical constituents affected by the drug were identified at distinct locations within the cell´s inner body. Cisplatin was shown to have a noteworthy effect on proteins, mostly within the cytoplasm. A clear drug impact on cellular lipids was also observed. Within current literature on s-SNOM, this nanospectroscopy work represents a first successful application in life sciences providing full fingerprint nano-FTIR spectra across intact human cancer cells

Biological activity and cellular uptake of [Ru(eta(5)-C5H5)(PPh3)(Me(2)bpy)][CF3SO3] complex

Anticancer activity of the new [Ru(eta(5)-C5H5)(PPh3)(Me(2)bpy)][CF3SO3] (Me(2)bpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine) complex was evaluated in vitro against several human cancer cell lines, namely A2780, A2780CisR, HT29, MCF7, MDAMB231 and PC3. Remarkably, the IC50 values, placed in the nanomolar and sub-micromolar range, largely exceeded the activity of cisplatin. Binding to human serum albumin, either HSA (human serum albumin) or HSA(faf) (fatty acid-free human serum albumin) does not affect the complex activity. Fluorescence studies revealed that the present ruthenium complex strongly quench the intrinsic fluorescence of albumin. Cell death by the [Ru(eta(5)-C5H5)(PPh3)(Me(2)bpy)][CF3SO3] complex was reduced in the presence of endocytosis modulators and at low temperature, suggesting an energy-dependent mechanism consistent with endocytosis. On the whole, the biological activity evaluated herein suggests that the complex could be a promising anticancer agent. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Multi-organ NMR metabolomics to assess in vivo overall metabolic impact of cisplatin in mice

This work describes, to our knowledge, the first NMR metabolomics analysis of mice kidney, liver, and breast tissue in response to cisplatin exposure, in search of early metabolic signatures of cisplatin biotoxicity. Balb/c mice were exposed to a single 3.5 mg/kg dose of cisplatin and then euthanized; organs (kidney, liver, breast tissue) were collected at 1, 12, and 48 h. Polar tissue extracts were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy, and the resulting spectra were studied by multivariate and univariate analyses. The results enabled the identification of the most significant deviant metabolite levels at each time point, and for each tissue type, and showed that the largest metabolic impact occurs for kidney, as early as 1 h post-injection. Kidney tissue showed a marked depletion in several amino acids, comprised in an overall 13-metabolites signature. The highest number of changes in all tissues was noted at 12 h, although many of those recovered to control levels at 48 h, with the exception of some persistently deviant tissue-specific metabolites, thus enabling the identification of relatively longer-term effects of cDDP. This work reports, for the first time, early (1-48 h) concomitant effects of cDDP in kidney, liver, and breast tissue metabolism, thus contributing to the understanding of multi-organ cDDP biotoxicity.publishe

Proteolytic systems and AMP-activated protein kinase are critical targets of acute myeloid leukemia therapeutic approaches

The therapeutic strategies against acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have hardly been modified over four decades. Although resulting in a favorable outcome in young patients, older individuals, the most affected population, do not respond adequately to therapy. Intriguingly, the mechanisms responsible for AML cells chemoresistance/ susceptibility are still elusive. Mounting evidence has shed light on the relevance of proteolytic systems (autophagy and ubiquitin-proteasome system, UPS), as well as the AMPK pathway, in AML biology and treatment, but their exact role is still controversial. Herein, two AML cell lines (HL-60 and KG-1) were exposed to conventional chemotherapeutic agents (cytarabine and/or doxorubicin) to assess the relevance of autophagy and UPS on AML cells’ response to antileukemia drugs. Our results clearly showed that the antileukemia agents target both proteolytic systems and the AMPK pathway. Doxorubicin enhanced UPS activity while drugs’ combination blocked autophagy specifically on HL-60 cells. In contrast, KG-1 cells responded in a more subtle manner to the drugs tested consistent with the higher UPS activity of these cells. In addition, the data demonstrates that autophagy may play a protective role depending on AML subtype. Specific modulators of autophagy and UPS are, therefore, promising targets for combining with standard therapeutic interventions in some AML subtypes.We would like to acknowledge Dr. Agostinho Carvalho and Dr. Manuel Guerreiro (Hospital da Arrabida, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal) for the critical review and discussion of the manuscript and for the work support. This work was supported by FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (PTDC/BIA-MIC/114116/2009). A.F., O.P. and B.S.M. have fellowships from FCT (SFRH/BD/51991/2012, SFRH/BD/52292/2013, and SFRH/BPD/90533/2012, respectively). M.M.A. was supported by CCDR-N (QREN) in the scope of the project "Integration of cutting-edge health science research and ground-breaking technologies for the development of new clinically useful therapies, tissue regeneration strategies, advanced prophylactic measures and diagnosis methods - (N-01-01-01-24-01-07) - RL5" (UMINHO/BI/245/2013)