The power of the virtual client – using problem-based learning as a tool for integration in a pharmaceutical sciences laboratory course

This paper describes the design of a new practical class in pharmaceutical chemistry, which creatively guides the students through the subject area of physical and analytical sciences with the help of a ‘virtual client’. The design focuses on the active integration of knowledge and professional skills in an area which has been seen to be typically least popular with the students. The course is designed for a duration of 20 teaching weeks, categorized into four 5-week blocks, where the same set of learning outcomes are repeatedly approached from different angles. Students are provided with feedback and feed-forward points after each 5-week block. Evaluation of the design has shown that the students actively learn to integrate knowledge and positively engage with the practical and their ‘virtual client’. Engagement parameters, such as peer observations and marks, grades, and attendance are all very encouraging compared to traditional practical classes

Teaching large and diverse classes: a practice-based approach

Often we are asked to welcome more and more students into our lectures, seminars and other teaching units. This can be a real challenge, especially with the increasing diversity of our student body. As a group of academics, we decided to proactively approach this topic by conducting research into our students' feelings and anxieties while being taught in large classes. The aim was to introduce best practice and teaching excellence amongst academics, which we approached by producing an easily accessible education toolkit informed by our research findings. This problem is not exclusive to Reading or indeed to the UK; this is a topic discussed in higher education around the world. Attendance rates in lectures drop as students vote with their feet. Attainment drops as students disengage with the teaching. As we cannot ignore these facts it is important to pro-actively address them, identify the causes, and adjust our teaching to mitigate the risks.Oft werden Lehrende gebeten, immer mehr Studierende in Vorlesungen, Seminaren und anderen Lehreinheiten aufzunehmen. Dies kann eine echte Herausforderung sein, insbesondere mit der zunehmenden Vielfalt der Studierendenschaft. Eine Gruppe von Akademiker:innen um die Autorin hat beschlossen, dieses Thema proaktiv anzugehen, indem sie die Gefühle und Ängste der Studierenden während des Unterrichts in großen Veranstaltungen erforschen. Ihr Ziel war die Einführung von Best Practices und exzellenter Lehre, was sie durch die Erstellung eines leicht zugänglichen Bildungs-Toolkits, das auf ihren Forschungsergebnissen basiert, in Angriff nahmen. Dieses Problem gibt es nicht nur in Reading oder Großbritannien; es ist ein Thema, das in der Hochschulbildung auf der ganzen Welt diskutiert wird. Die Anwesenheitsrate in den Vorlesungen sinkt, da die Studierenden "mit den Füßen abstimmen". Der Lernerfolg sinkt, weil die Studierenden sich von der Lehre distanzieren. Da diese Tatsachen nicht ignoriert werden können, ist es wichtig, sie proaktiv anzugehen, die Ursachen zu identifizieren und die Lehre anzupassen, um die Risiken zu mindern

Titanocene anticancer complexes and their binding mode of action to human serum albumin: a computational study

Due to the pivotal role played by human serum albumin (HSA) in the transport and cytotoxicity of titanocene complexes, a docking study has been performed on a selected set of titanocene complexes to aid in the current understanding of the potential mode of action of these titanocenes upon binding HSA. Analysis of the docking results has revealed potential binding at the known drug binding sites in HSA and has provided some explanation for the specificity and subsequent cytotoxicity of these titanocenes. Additionally, a new alternative binding site for these titanocenes has been postulated

Analysis of three epoetin alpha products by LC and LC-MS indicates differences in glycosylation critical quality attributes, including sialic acid content

Erythropoietin (EPO) is one of the main therapeutics used to treat anaemic patients, greatly improving their quality of life. In this study, biosimilars Binocrit and a development product, called here CIGB-EPO, were compared to the originator product, Eprex. All three are epoetin alpha products, reputed to have similar glycosylation profiles. The quality, safety and efficacy of this biotherapeutic depend on the following glycosylation critical quality attributes (GCQAs): sialylation, N-glycolyl-neuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) content, branching, N-acetyl-lactosamine (LacNAc) extensions and O-acetylation pattern. Reverse-phase ultra high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-UHPLC) analysis of acid-released, 1,2-diamino-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene (DMB) labelled sialic acid derivatives and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) in combination with mass spectrometry (HILIC-UHPLC-MS) of procainamide (PROC) labelled N-glycans were the analytical tools used. An automated method for enzymatic release and PROC labelling was applied for the first time to the erythropoiesis stimulating agent (ESA) products, which facilitated novel, in-depth characterisation, and allowed identification of precise structural features including the location of O-acetyl groups on sialic acid (SA) moie-ties. Samples were digested by a sialate-O-acetylesterase (NanS) to confirm the presence of O-acetyl groups. It was found that Eprex contained the greatest relative abundance of O-acetylated derivatives, Binocrit expressed the least Neu5Gc, and CIGB-EPO showed the greatest variety of high-mannose-phosphate structures. The sialylation and LacNAc extension patterns of the three ESAs were similar, with a maximum of four N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) moieties detected per glycan. Such differences in SA derivatisation, particularly O-acetylation, could have consequences for the quality and safety of a biotherapeutic, as well as its efficacy

Ruthenium-conjugated chrysin analogues modulate platelet activity, thrombus formation and haemostasis with enhanced efficacy

The constant increase in cardiovascular disease rate coupled with significant drawbacks of existing therapies emphasise the necessity to improve therapeutic strategies. Natural flavonoids exert innumerable pharmacological effects in humans. Here, we demonstrate the effects of chrysin, a natural flavonoid found largely in honey and passionflower on the modulation of platelet function, haemostasis and thrombosis. Chrysin displayed significant inhibitory effects on isolated platelets, however, its activity was substantially reduced under physiological conditions. In order to increase the efficacy of chrysin, a sulfur derivative (thio-chrysin), and ruthenium-complexes (Ru-chrysin and Ru-thio-chrysin) were synthesised and their effects on the modulation of platelet function were evaluated. Indeed, Ru-thio-chrysin displayed a 4-fold greater inhibition of platelet function and thrombus formation in vitro than chrysin under physiologically relevant conditions such as in platelet-rich plasma and whole blood. Notably, Ru-thio-chrysin exhibited similar efficacy to chrysin in the modulation of haemostasis in mice. Increased bioavailability and cell permeability of Ru-thio-chrysin compared to chrysin were found to be the basis for its enhanced activity. Together, these results demonstrate that Ru-thio-coupled natural compounds such as chrysin may serve as promising templates for the development of novel anti-thrombotic agents

Crystal structures and reactivity of lithiumorganyls in a chiral environment: Chiral alpha-substituted lithiumorganyls with the heteroelements sulphur, silicon and nitrogen as well as (-)-sparteine-adducts often used lithiumalkyl-reagents

Die vorliegende Arbeit liefert einen Beitrag zur Synthese alpha-heteroatomstabilisierter Lithiumorganyle (Heteroatom = Schwefel, Silicium, Stickstoff), sowie Struktur/Reaktivtätsstudien auf der Basis von strukturellen Charakterisierungen. Dabei standen verschiedene Methoden zur räumlichen Verknüpfung der alpha-heteroatomstabilisierten Lithiumorganyle mit einer definierten stereochemischen Information im Mittelpunkt der Forschungsarbeit. Die Arbeit gliedert sich in die folgenden drei Bereiche: Studien zu Struktur, Reaktivität und stereochemischen Aspekten von alpha-(Phenylthio)benzyllithium; 2-silylsubstituierte N-Methylpyrrolidine: Stereochemische Studien zur Darstellung und Reaktivität; Festkörperstrukturen wichtiger (–)-Spartein-koordinierter Deprotonierungsreagenzien auf der Basis einfacher Lithiumorganyle. Den ersten Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit bildeten Studien zu Struktur, Reaktivität und stereochemischen Aspekten von alpha-(Phenylthio)benzyllithium. Am Beispiel von alpha-(Phenylthio)benzyllithium sollte die intermolekulare Einführung einer stereochemischen Information durch ein chirales Auxiliar [(–)-Spartein] genauer studiert werden. Aufbauend auf Studien von T. Toru und Mitarbeitern, die gezeigt hatten, dass gerade (–)-Spartein bei der asymmetrischen Deprotonierung von Benzylphenylsulfid keine befriedigende asymmetrische Induktion bewirkt, wurde eine Erklärung für diese mangelnde Stereoselektivität gesucht. Dabei erhoffte man sich, durch Kenntnisse der Festkörperstruktur Rückschlüsse auf die Reaktivität ziehen zu können und Ansatzpunkte für eine Verbesserung der Stereoselektivität zu finden. Um ein genaueres Verständnis für diese Metallierungsreaktion entwickeln zu können, wurden zunächst Studien zur Deprotonierung von Benzylphenylsulfid sowohl in Anwesenheit verschiedener koordinierender achiraler Zusätze [THF, TMEDA, PMDTA], des chiralen Zusatzes (–)-Spartein als auch ohne koordinierendes Solvens durchgeführt. Dabei erhielt man Hinweise auf Prozesse, welche die Stereoselektivität beeinflussen, wie z. B. eine durch Tageslicht induzierte Ablösung des Metallkomplexfragmentes vom „carbanionischen“ Zentrum oder eine auf Carbenbildung basierende Zersetzungsreaktion des primär gebildeten Lithiumalkyls. Den zweiten Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit bildeten stereochemische Studien zur Darstellung und Reaktivität von 2-silylsubstituierten N-Methylpyrrolidinen. Im Mittelpunkt standen Studien zur Übertragung der Stereoinformation von einem bestehenden auf das neu generierte (lithiierte) Stereozentrum innerhalb eines „starren Systems“, das durch intramolekulare Koordination des Lithiumzentrums gebildet wurde. Dabei konnten u. a. ein interessanter Zugang zu enantiomerenreinen N-Methyl-2-silylsubstituierten Pyrrolidinen und zu enantiomerenangereicherten 2-silylsubstituierten Pyrrolidinen, die am Stickstoffzentrum funktionalisiert werden können, gezeigt werden. Weiterhin erhielt man in anschließenden Studien zur Metallierung dieser N-Methyl-2-silylsubstituierten Pyrrolidine einen Einblick in den stereochemischen Verlauf dieser Reaktion und die strukturbestimmenden Faktoren. Den dritten Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit bildete die strukturelle Charakterisierung wichtiger (–)-Spartein-koordinierter Deprotonierungsreagenzien auf der Basis einfacher Lithiumorganyle im Festkörper. Die Kombinationen aus (–)-Spartein und verschiedenen Alkyllithiumbasen gelten als die entscheidenden Reagenzien zum Aufbau „optisch aktiver Carbanionen“. Die Reaktivität von Lithiumorganylen steht oft in einem engen Zusammenhang mit der Struktur, so dass versucht wurde, durch Interpretation der Festkörperstrukturen eine Erklärung für die unterschiedlichen Reaktivitäten der verschiedenen (–)-Spartein-koordinierten Alkyl- und Aryllithiumbasen zu finden. Dabei zeigte eine vergleichende Untersuchung der Festkörperstrukturen von (–)-Spartein-koordinierten Organolithiumverbindungen einen klaren Zusammenhang zwischen dem sterischen Anspruch der Alkyl- bzw. Aryllithiumbase und dem Aggregationsgrad. Je größer der sterische Anspruch der Alkyllithiumbase ist, desto kleiner ist der Aggregationsgrad, wobei gerade Monomere als die reaktive Spezies in Deprotonierungsreaktion postuliert werden. Eine gezielte Abnahme des Aggregationsgrades kann also durch eine Erhöhung des sterischen Anspruches der Organolithiumbase erreicht werden, so dass durch den Einsatz der sterisch anspruchsvollen Alkyllithiumbase tert-Butyllithium sogar die erste monomere Festkörperstruktur einer Butyllithiumverbindung erhalten werden konnte. Aber auch weitere (–)-Spartein-koordinierte Alkyl- und Aryllithiumbasen besitzen im Festkörper interessante und z. T., für einfache Lithiumalkyle unbekannte, Strukturmotive, so dass Rückschlüsse auf die Reaktivitäten gezogen werden konnten. Diese Studien zu Festkörperstrukturen (–)-Spartein-koordinierter Deprotonierungsreagenzien wurden durch quantenchemische Studien unterstützt.This work presents new synthetic routes leading to alpha-heteroatom stabilized organolithiums (heteroatom = sulphur, silicon, nitrogen) and examines structure and reactivity on the basis of solid-state structures. The main topic was the combination of alpha-heteroatom stabilized organolithiums with a definite stereochemical information. The thesis consists of three parts: Studies on the structure, reactivity and stereochemistry of alpha-lithiobenzyl phenyl sulfide; 2-silylated N-methylpyrrolidines: stereochemical studies concerning synthesis and reactivity; Crystal structures of important (–)-sparteine-coordinated alkyllithium bases. The first part of this work were studies on structure, reactivity and stereochemical aspects of alpha-lithiobenzyl phenyl sulfide. alpha-Lithiated benzyl phenyl sulfide has been investigated for the possibility of intermolecular introduction of stereochemical information by a chiral auxiliary such as (–)-sparteine. However, studies of T. Toru and coworkers showed that the presence of (–)-sparteine does not lead to substantial asymmetric induction in the lithiation of benzyl phenyl sulfide. Knowledge of the crystal structures can help to find an explanation for this lack of stereoselectivity and suggest ways of improving it. To develop a better understanding of the steps involved in the metalation reaction, the lithiation of benzyl phenyl sulfide was performed in the presence of several achiral coordinating substances [THF, TMEDA, PMDETA], the chiral auxiliary (–)-sparteine and without a coordinating solvent. Thereby we got interesting hints for processes affecting the stereoselectivity, e. g. a photoinduced dissolution process of the metal fragment from the “carbanionic” centre or a decomposition reaction, based on carbene formation, of the initially formed lithiumalkyl. The second part of this work were stereochemical studies concerning synthesis and reactivity of 2-silylated N-methylpyrrolidines. Most attention was directed towards the transfer of stereochemical information from the existing to a newly generated stereogenic centre, under the conditions of intramolecular coordination of the lithium centre. Thereby an interesting way to enantiomerically pure N-methyl-2-silyl substituted pyrrolidines and to enantioenriched 2-silyl substituted pyrrolidines, which can be functionalized at the nitrogen centre, has been shown. Further on it was possible in metalation studies to get important insights in the stereochemical pathway and in structure-determining factors. The third part of this work was the determination of crystal structures of important (–)-sparteine coordinated alkyl- and aryllithium bases. Adducts between (–)-sparteine and “simple” lithiumorganyls are the vital reagents for the synthesis of “chiral carbanions“. The reactivity of organolithium compounds is often related to the structure, such that it can be possible to find an explanation for differing reacitivities by studying the crystal structures. A comparative analysis of the crystal structures of (–)-sparteine-coordinated “simple” organolithium compounds in the solid state displays a clear correlation of the steric influence of the alkyl and aryllithium base with the aggregation level. The bigger the steric influence the smaller the aggregation level becomes, whereas monomers have been postulated as the reactive species in deprotonation reactions. A selective decrease of the aggregation level can be achieved by using bulky organolithium compounds. The first monomeric molecular structure in the solid state was obtained by using the sterically demanding alkyllithium base tert-butyllithium. But also other (–)-sparteine coordinated alkyl- and arlyllithiumbases form very interesting and sometimes unknown structural motifs in the solid state, so it was possible to draw important conclusions to the reacitivity. These studies on (–)-sparteine coordinated deprotonation reagents in the solid state were underlined by quantenchemical calculations

Bioorganometallic fulvene-derived titanocene anti-cancer drugs

A review. 6-Substituted fulvenes are interesting and easily accessible starting materials for the synthesis of novel substituted titanocenes via reductive dimerization, carbolithiation or hydridolithiation reactions, which are followed by a transmetallation reaction with titanium tetrachloride in the latter two cases. Depending on the substitution pattern, these titanocenes prove to be bioorganometallic anticancer drugs, which have significant potential against advanced or metastatic renal-cell cancer. Patients bearing these stages of kidney cancer have a poor prognosis so far and therefore real progress in the area of metal-based anticancer drugs may come from this simple and effective synthetic approach. This tutorial review provides an insight into the synthesis of fulvene-derived titanocenes and their activity in preclin. expts

Silyl-Modified Analogues of 2-Tritylpyrrolidine: Synthesis and Applications in Asymmetric Organocatalysis

Silicon-based organocatalysts: In an effort to study the effects of substituting carbon by silicon within the catalyst backbone, we developed an efficient synthesis of (S)-2-triphenylsilylpyrrolidine [(S)-2]. The evaluation of (S)-2 against its carbon analogue (S)-1 in two organocatalytic reactions is complemented by computational studies

Proliferative and anti-proliferative effects of titanium- and iron-based metallocene anti-cancer drugs

In previous work we have found that Cp2TiCl2 and its corresponding deriv. of tamoxifen, Titanocene tamoxifen, show an unexpected proliferative effect on hormone dependent breast cancer cells MCF-7. In order to check if this behavior is a general trend for titanocene derivs. we have tested two other titanocene derivs., Titanocene Y and Titanocene K, on this cell line. Interestingly, these two titanocene complexes behave in a totally different manner. Titanocene K is highly proliferative on MCF-7 cells even at low concns. (0.5 .mu.M), thus behave almost similarly to Cp2TiCl2. This proliferative effect is also obsd. in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). In contrast, Titanocene Y alone has almost no effect on MCF-7 at a concn. of 10 .mu.M, but exhibits a significant dose dependent cytotoxic effect of up to 50% when incubated with BSA (20-50 .mu.g/mL). This confirms the crucial role played by the binding to serum proteins in the expression of the in vivo, cytotoxicity of the titanocene complexes. From the hydridolithiation reaction of 6-p-anisylfulvene with LiBEt3H followed by transmetallation with iron dichloride [bis-[(p-methoxy-benzyl)cyclopentadienyl]iron(II)] (Ferrocene Y) was synthesized. This complex, which was characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, contains the robust ferrocenyl unit instead of Ti assocd. with easily leaving groups such as chlorine and shows only a modest cytotoxicity against MCF-7 or MDA-MB-231 cells