Degradation of 2,6-dicholorophenol by Trichoderma longibraciatum Isolated from an industrial Soil Sample in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

2,6-Dichlorophenol (2,6-DCP) is an aromatic compound with industrial importance in making insecticides, herbicides, and other organic compounds. However, it poses serious health and ecological problems. Microbial degradation of 2,6-DCP has been widely applied due to its effectiveness and eco-friendly characteristics. In this study, Trichoderma longibraciatum was isolated from an industrial soil sample in Dammam, Saudi Arabia using the enrichment method of mineral salt's medium (MSM) amended with 2,6-DCP. Morphological and molecular identification (using the internal transcribed spacer rRNA gene sequencing) of the 2,6-DCP tolerating fungal isolate were charactraized. The fungal isolate has demonstrated a tolerance to 2,6-DCP up to 300 mg/L. Mycelial growth and fungal sporulation were reduced with increasing 2,6-DCP concentrations up to 96 h incubation period. However, after 168 h incubation period, the fungal isolate recorded maximum growth at all the tested 2,6-DCP concentrations up to 150 mg/L. Carboxy methyl cellulase production by tested fungus was decreased by increasing 2,6-DCP concentration up to 75 mg/L. The biodegradation pattern of 2,6-DCP in GM liquid medium using GC-mass analysis as well as the degradation pathway was presented. This study provides a promising fungal isolate that could be used in the bioremediation process for chlorinated phenols in soil.

Synthesis of an Activatable Tetra-Substituted Nickel Phthalocyanines-4(3H)-quinazolinone Conjugate and Its Antibacterial Activity.

The aim of this study was to synthesize a series of nickel(II)phthalocyanines (NiPcs) bearing four 4(3H)-quinazolinone ring system units, (qz)4NiPcs 4a-d. The electronic factors in the 4(3H)-quinazolinone moiety that attached to the NiPc skeleton had a magnificent effect on the antibacterial activity of the newly synthesized (qz)4NiPcs 4a-d against Escherichia coli. The minimum MICs and MBCs value were recorded for compounds 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d, respectively. The results indicated that the studied (qz)4NiPcs 4a-d units possessed a broad spectrum of activity against Escherichia coli. Their antibacterial activities were found in the order of 4d > 4c > 4b > 4a against Escherichia coli, and the strongest antibacterial activity was achieved with compound 4d.

Improved photodynamic efficacy of thiophenyl sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine loaded in lipid nano-carriers for hepatocellular carcinoma cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to modify the structural activity of zinc(II)phthalocyanine by combining it with thiophenyl groups then loaded in lipid nano-carriers and evaluate its parameters required for the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer. METHODS: Tetra (4-Thiophenyl) sulfonated phthalocyaninatozinc(II) (PhS·SO3Na)4ZnPc 5 was synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic methods as a test compound. Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were treated with the synthesized (PhS·SO3Na)4ZnPc 5 derivative loaded in lipid nano carriers to understand the effect of combined compound on liver cancer cells. Furthermore, HepG2 cells were irradiated by visible red light at 60 mW/cm2 for 20 min. The phototoxicity of (PhS·SO3Na)4ZnPc 5 after being formulated in both (L) and transfersomes (T) was investigated. RESULTS: Overall, the results indicate that combination of thiophenyl groups substitution, in particular in the structure of sulfonated zinc phthalocyanine is able to improve the photodynamic properties of ZnPc, and (PhS·SO3Na)4ZnPc 5 loaded in lipid nano-carriers can be a promising combined PDT treatment strategy for Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. CONCLUSIONS: The new formulation ZnPc-lipid nano-carriers will be beneficial in the upcoming clinical trials and would enhance the inhibition of tumor growth.

Investigations on the antitumor activity of classical trifluoro-substituted zinc phthalocyanines derivatives.

Hay synthesis of a novel series of symmetrically tetra-substituted thiophenyl zinc(II)phthalocyanines (RS)4ZnPcs 4a-c was reported. Their novel 4-thiophenyl-phthalonitriles precursors 3(a-c) were synthesized from their substituted thiophenols 2(a-c). They were screened for their in-vitro antitumor activity on Human lung adenocarcinoma (A549), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma in comparison with healthy normal cells (human fibroblast cells). Preliminary study of the structure-activity relationship showed that electronic factors in the trifluoromethyl moiety that attached to the ZnPc skeleton had a magnificent effect on the antitumor activity of the newly synthesized (RS)4ZnPcs 4a-c. More interestingly, the ZnPc 4c showed promising anticancer activity against the tested human cancer cell lines. The detailed synthesis, characterization and biological screening data were reported.