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The use of two triazine-derived pincer ligands led to the obtaining of a heterometallic compound and of an unexpected 3D coordination polymer (CP). Therefore, by reacting 2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine (tptz) with Zn(NO3)2 and K[Ag(CN)2], the cyanido-bridged [Ag(CN)(m-CN)]2[Zn(tptz)(H2O)] (1) trinuclear complex was formed. Compound 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombic polar space group Aea2 and the crystal packing involves argentophilic interactions. When 2,4,6-Tris(2-pyrimidyl)-1,3,5-triazine (TPymT) was used as a ligand, along with the same precursors as for 1, a 3D CP was assembled, [Ag6(CN)6(TPymT)2] (2). The formation of 2 was favored, most likely, by the dicyanoargentate(I) ion dissociation and its interesting topology is due to the bridging cyanide ligands and argentophilic interactions. The fluorescence of both compounds was studied and compared to the emission features of their ligands. For the two coordination compounds, ligand-centered fluorescence data are discussed.

Type 2 diabetes became an alarming global health issue since the existing drugs do not prevent its progression. Herein, we aimed to synthesize and characterize a family of oxidovanadium(V) complexes with Schiff base ligands derived from L-/D-valine (val) and salicylaldehyde (sal) or o-vanillin (van) as insulin-mimetic agents and to assess their potential anti-diabetic properties. Two new oxidovanadium(V) complexes, [VVO(R-salval)(H2O)(μ2-O)VVO(R-salval)] and [VVO(R-vanval)(CH3OH)2(μ2-O)], and their S-enantiomers were synthesized and characterized. The compounds exhibit optical activity as shown by crystallographic and spectroscopic data. The stability, the capacity to bind bovine serum albumin (BSA), the cytotoxicity against human hepatoma cell line, as well as the potential anti-diabetic activity of the four compounds are investigated. The synthesized compounds are stable for up to three hours in physiological conditions and exhibit a high capacity of binding to BSA. Furthermore, the synthesized compounds display cytocompatibility at biologically relevant concentrations, exert anti-diabetic potential and insulin-mimetic activities by inhibiting the α-amylase and protein tyrosine phosphatase activity, and a long-term increase of insulin receptor phosphorylation compared to the insulin hormone. Thus, the in vitro anti-diabetic potential and insulin-mimetic properties of the newly synthesized oxidovanadium(V) compounds, correlated with their cytocompatibility, make them promising candidates for further investigation as anti-diabetic drugs.

Quality and food safety represent a major stake and growing societal challenge in the world. Bacterial contamination of food and water resources is an element that pushes scientists to develop new means for the rapid and efficient detection and identification of these pathogens. Conventional detection tools are often bulky, laborious, expensive to buy, and, above all, require an analysis time of a few hours to several days. The interest in developing new, simple, rapid, and nonlaborious bacteriological diagnostic methods is therefore increasingly important for scientists, industry, and regulatory bodies. In this study, antibiotic-functionalized metallic nanoparticles were used to isolate and identify the foodborne bacterial strains Bacillus cereus and Shigella flexneri. With this aim, a new diagnostic tool for the rapid detection of foodborne pathogenic bacteria, gold nanoparticle-based centri-chronoamperometry, has been developed. Vancomycin was first stabilized at the surface of gold nanoparticles and then incubated with the bacteria B. cereus or S. flexneri to form the AuNP@vancomycin/bacteria complex. This complex was separated by centrifugation, then treated with hydrochloric acid and placed at the surface of a carbon microelectrode. The gold nanoparticles of the formed complex catalyzed the hydrogen reduction reaction, and the generated current was used as an analytical signal. Our results show the possibility of the simple and rapid detection of the S. flexneri and B. cereus strains at very low numbers of 3 cells/mL and 12 cells/mL, respectively. On the other hand, vancomycin-capped magnetic beads were easily synthesized and then used to separate the bacteria from the culture medium. The results show that vancomycin at the surface of these metallic nanoparticles is able to interact with the bacteria membrane and then used to separate the bacteria and to purify an inoculated medium.

A wide variety of metal-based compounds have been obtained and studied for their antitumor activity since the intensely used cytostatic drugs (e.g., cisplatin) failed to accomplish their expected pharmacological properties. Thus, we aimed to develop a new vanadium-based drug and assess its antitumor properties using the human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line. The compound was synthesized from vanadyl sulfate, DL-valine, and o-vanillin and was spectrally and structurally characterized (UV-Vis, IR, CD, and single-crystal/powder-XRD). Compound stability in biological media, cell uptake, and the interaction with albumin were assessed. The mechanisms of its antitumor activity were determined compared to cisplatin by performing cytotoxicity, oxidative and mitochondrial status, DNA fragmentation, β-Tubulin synthesis investigation, and cell cycle studies. Herein, we developed a macrocyclic tetranuclear oxidovanadium(V) compound, [(VVO)(L)(CH3O)]4, having coordinated four Schiff base (H2L) ligands, 3-methoxysalicylidenvaline. We showed that [(VVO)(L)(CH3O)]4: (i) has pH-dependent stability in biological media, (ii) binds to albumin in a dose-dependent manner, (iii) is taken up by cells in a time-dependent way, (iv) has a higher capacity to induce cell death compared to cisplatin (IC50 = 6 μM vs. 10 μM), by altering the oxidative and mitochondrial status in HepG2 cells. Unlike cisplatin, which blocks the cell cycle in the S-phase, the new vanadium-based compound arrests it in S and G2/M-phase, whereas no differences in the induction of DNA fragmentation and reduction of β-Tubulin synthesis between the two were determined. Thus, the [(VVO)(L)(CH3O)]4 antitumor mechanism involved corroboration between the generation of oxidative species, mitochondrial dysfunction, degradation of DNA, cell cycle arrest in the S and G2/M-phase, and β-Tubulin synthesis reduction. Our studies demonstrate the potent antitumor activity of [(VVO)(L)(CH3O)]4 and propose it as an attractive candidate for anticancer therapy.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have a high potential for biological applications as they can be used as carriers for the controlled release of bioactive factors. Here we focused on poly(ethylenimine) (PEI)-coated iron oxide hybrid NPs obtained by hydrothermal synthesis in high pressure conditions and evaluated their behavior in culture medium in the presence or absence of cells, as well as their ability to incorporate antitumor drug cisplatin. Our results showed that the hydrothermal conditions used for Fe-PEI NPs synthesis allowed the incorporation of cisplatin, which even increased its anti-tumor effects. Furthermore, the commonly occurring phenomenon of NPs aggregation in culture medium was exploited for further entrapment of other active molecules, such as the fluorescent dye DiI and valinomycin. The molecules bound to NPs during synthesis or during aggregation process were delivered inside various cells after in vitro and in vivo direct contact between cells and NPs and their biological activity was preserved, thus supporting the therapeutic value of Fe-PEI NPs as drug delivery tools.

Cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of nanostructured hydroxyapatite (nanoHAp) are dependent on its physical parameters. Therefore, an understanding of both surface chemistry and morphology of nanoHAp is needed in order to be able to anticipate its in vivo behavior. The aim of this paper is to characterize an engineered nanoHAp in terms of physico-chemical properties, biocompatibility, and its capability to reconstitute the orbital wall fractures in rabbits. NanoHAp was synthesized using a high pressure hydrothermal method and characterized by physico-chemical, structural, morphological, and optical techniques. X-ray diffraction revealed HAp crystallites of 21 nm, while Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed spherical shapes of HAp powder. Mean particle size of HAp measured by DLS technique was 146.3 nm. Biocompatibility was estimated by the effect of HAp powder on the adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in culture. The results showed that cell proliferation on powder-coated slides was between 73.4% and 98.3% of control cells (cells grown in normal culture conditions). Computed tomography analysis of the preformed nanoHAp implanted in orbital wall fractures, performed at one and two months postoperative, demonstrated the integration of the implants in the bones. In conclusion, our engineered nanoHAp is stable, biocompatible, and may be safely considered for reconstruction of orbital wall fractures.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a unique microbial biopolymer with a huge number of significant applications in the biomedical field, including bone tissue engineering. The present study proposes to obtain and characterize BC hybrid composites with calcium phosphate as biocompatible and bioactive membranes for bone tissue engineering. BC precursor membranes were obtained in static culture fermentation, and after purification, were oxidized to obtain 2,3-dialdehyde bacterial cellulose (DABC). Calcium phosphate-BC oxidized membranes were produced by successive immersion in precursor solutions under ultrasonic irradiation. The samples were characterized for their physicochemical properties using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GI-XRD), solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS 13C NMR), and complex thermal analysis. In vitro cell studies were also performed to evaluate the influence of modified morphological characteristics on cell adhesion and proliferation. The results showed an increase in porosity and biodegradability for DABC hybrid composites compared with BC. In vitro cell studies have revealed that both hybrid composites favor cell adhesion to the surface. The new BC and DABC hybrid composites with calcium phosphate could be considered promising materials for bone tissue regeneration.

The present paper aims to identify some of the weaknesses in the IT area that have contributed to the current financial crisis. At the same time, the crisis impact over the IT&C industry is analysed. Some case studies are introduced: credit risk evaluation software applications with low performance are one of the main causes for the collapse in the loan market, while investments in software applications for virtual campuses have the potential to contribute to the recovery as they reduce costs. Therefore, the IT&C is presented from two opposite perspectives: a factor that contributed to the on-going economic turmoil and an important tool in the recovery process. In the economic recovery plan designed by the European Union, an important place is dedicated to the investments in IT&C networks, in the Research & Development area or in the development of the global commerce as companies can make profit from every opportunity that appears on the market. Under these circumstances, the authors design a set of performance metrics that are meant to quantify the efficiency of software applications. The concluion is that the existence of performant information systems with high quality metrics and user-friendly interfaces undoubtly leads to an improvement in the economic pressure factors that characterize the crisis. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Recent studies in the field of iron oxide–dendrimer hybrids showed an increased potential of these materials to be used in diagnosis, monitoring, targeting, and therapy of cancer. The aim of this paper is to investigate the nature of interactions between iron oxide nanoparticles and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers using computational and experimental techniques, namely molecular dynamics (MD) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Hybrid nanostructures based on iron oxide and PAMAM dendrimers were prepared in one-step synthesis route, using hydrothermal method at high pressure (40–100 atm). The interaction between dendrimers and iron oxide nanoparticles was predicted at specific temperature, pH, and pressure conditions. The same conditions were applied for hydrothermal synthesis. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of magnetite (MAG) through hydrothermal reaction at 100 atm, starting only from iron (III) chloride. A possible explanation could be the variation of the fugacity value of oxygen under high-pressure conditions, which leads to diffusion-controlled reaction and to transformation of haematite into MAG. EPR parameter, namely linewidth, was exploited to evaluate the type of interactions from iron oxide–PAMAM hybrids, due to its dependence on spin–spin relaxation time and spin–lattice interactions. As a conclusion, MD indicated the existence of electrostatic interactions between PAMAM and iron oxide. In accordance with in silico results, EPR analysis suggested that MAG is not entrapped in PAMAM structure and the interactions between organic and inorganic components take place at dendrimer’s surface. A good agreement between MD simulations and experimental results was observed.

The article aims to highlight the measures adopted in the financial-banking system in the context of the European integration, according to risk analysis perspectives. The first part provides details on the vulnerability sources in terms of banking risks and their approach from various perspectives. Subsequently, based on the identified risks, a series of measures are proposed to limit them within the banking system. In terms of the work hypotheses, they are confirmed, thus increasing the harmonization level of theories throughout the European Union. Research was based on methods such as analysis, synthesis and induction, used to select the opinion of specialists in the field on the studied matter, and deduction, through the cross-section method, thus following the evolution and measures adopted in time. Following the analysis, a need was noticed for the implementation of an efficient banking risk management system, together with drafting additional regulations, so that the banking system is better prepared to handle new challenges generated by the crisis. The term afferent to the accession and integration in the European Union implied a stage requiring a radical change of the Romanian banking system, considering issues such as Romania’s economic development, leading to an increase of the banking mediation process.