Structure, physicochemical and biological properties of new complex salt of aqua-(nitrilotriacetato-N,O,O',O")-oxidovanadium(IV) anion with 1,10-phenanthrolinium cation.

The crystal structure of new 1,10-phenathrolin-1-ium aqua-(nitrilotriacetato-N,O,O',O")-oxidovanadium(IV) semihydrate of molecular formula (phenH)[VO(NTA)(H2O)]∙1/2H2O was determined. This is the first example of structurally characterized compound that comprises a distinctly separated, monomeric [VO(NTA)(H2O)](-) coordination entity. The crystallographic measurements have subsequently been complemented by the IR spectroscopic characterization and thermal analysis. Furthermore, the electrochemical (cyclic voltammetry) as well as spectrophotometric (UV-vis) studies revealed that the compound is capable of scavenging the superoxide free radicals (O2(-)) as well as stable organic radicals i.e. 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulfonic acid) cation radical (ABTS(+)) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), but its reactivity towards radicals is lower than that of VOSO4. Finally, biological properties of the complex in the range of 1-100 µM were investigated in relation to its cytoprotective activity against the oxidative damage generated exogenously by using hydrogen peroxide in the hippocampal neuronal HT22 cell line (the MTT and LDH tests). It has been established that in contrast to VOSO4 the title compound protects the HT22 from the oxidative damage. The paper presents a new perspective for oxidovanadium(IV) complexes as candidates for novel, low-molecular mass cytoprotective agents.

Zinc(II) complexation by some biologically relevant pH buffers.

The isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) technique supported by potentiometric titration data was used to study the interaction of zinc ions with pH buffer substances, namely 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (Mes), piperazine-N,N'-bis(2-ethanesulfonic acid) (Pipes), and dimethylarsenic acid (Caco). The displacement ITC titration method with nitrilotriacetic acid as a strong, competitive ligand was applied to determine conditional-independent thermodynamic parameters for the binding of Zn(II) to Mes, Pipes, and Caco. Furthermore, the relationship between the proposed coordination mode of the buffers and the binding enthalpy has been discussed.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of quinine in rat biological fluids.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection for the determination of quinine in rat biological fluids is described. Due to its selectivity and sensitivity, the proposed method can be used in the case of such rat biological fluids as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and perilymph for which the accessible volumes are limited to 100 microl and 10 microl, respectively. Consequently, the assay method has been applied to the measurements of quinine concentration in rat plasma, CSF and perilymph samples.