Characteristics and Antimicrobial Activities of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Obtained via Mixed-Mode Chemical/Biogenic Synthesis Using Spent Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Extracts.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) have many practical applications, ranging from environmental protection to biomedicine. IONPs are being investigated due to their high potential for antimicrobial activity and lack of toxicity to humans. However, the biological activity of IONPs is not uniform and depends on the synthesis conditions, which affect the shape, size and surface modification. The aim of this work is to synthesise IONPs using a mixed method, i.e., chemical co-precipitation combined with biogenic surface modification, using extracts from spent hops (Humulus lupulus L.) obtained as waste product from supercritical carbon dioxide hop extraction. Different extracts (water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 80% ethanol, acetone, water) were further evaluated for antioxidant activity based on the silver nanoparticle antioxidant capacity (SNPAC), total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The IONPs were characterised via UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Spent hop extracts showed a high number of flavonoid compounds. The efficiency of the solvents used for the extraction can be classified as follows: DMSO > 80% ethanol > acetone > water. FT-IR/ATR spectra revealed the involvement of flavonoids such as xanthohumol and/or isoxanthohumol, bitter acids (i.e., humulones, lupulones) and proteins in the surface modification of the IONPs. SEM images showed a granular, spherical structure of the IONPs with diameters ranging from 81.16 to 142.5 nm. Surface modification with extracts generally weakened the activity of the IONPs against the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts by half. Only the modification of IONPs with DMSO extract improved their antibacterial properties against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus) from a MIC value of 2.5-10 mg/mL to 0.313-1.25 mg/mL.

Application of HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS and New RP-HPLC-DAD System Utilizing the Chaotropic Effect for Determination of Nicotine and Its Major Metabolites Cotinine, and trans-3'-Hydroxycotinine in Human Plasma Samples.

The routine techniques currently applied for the determination of nicotine and its major metabolites, cotinine, and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine, in biological fluids, include spectrophotometric, immunoassays, and chromatographic techniques. The aim of this study was to develop, and compare two new chromatographic methods high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS), and RP-HPLC enriched with chaotropic additives, which would allow reliable confirmation of tobacco smoke exposure in toxicological and epidemiological studies. The concentrations of analytes were determined in human plasma as the sample matrix. The methods were compared in terms of the linearity, accuracy, repeatability, detection and quantification limits (LOD and LOQ), and recovery. The obtained validation parameters met the ICH requirements for both proposed procedures. However, the limits of detection (LOD) were much better for HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS (0.07 ng mL-1 for trans-3'-hydroxcotinine; 0.02 ng mL-1 for cotinine; 0.04 ng mL-1 for nicotine) in comparison to the RP-HPLC-DAD enriched with chaotropic additives (1.47 ng mL-1 for trans-3'-hydroxcotinine; 1.59 ng mL-1 for cotinine; 1.50 ng mL-1 for nicotine). The extraction efficiency (%) was concentration-dependent and ranged between 96.66% and 99.39% for RP-HPLC-DAD and 76.8% to 96.4% for HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. The usefulness of the elaborated analytical methods was checked on the example of the analysis of a blood sample taken from a tobacco smoker. The nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine contents in the smoker's plasma quantified by the RP-HPLC-DAD method differed from the values measured by the HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS. However, the relative errors of measurements were smaller than 10% (6.80%, 6.72%, 2.04% respectively).

Effect of Chronic Administration of 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-4-Hexyl-2,4 -Dihydro-3H-1,2,4-Triazole-3-Thione (TP-315)-A New Anticonvulsant Drug Candidate-On Living Organisms.

About 70 million people suffer from epilepsy-a chronic neurodegenerative disease. In most cases, the cause of the disease is unknown, but epilepsy can also develop as the result of a stroke, trauma to the brain, or the use of psychotropic substances. The treatment of epilepsy is mainly based on the administration of anticonvulsants, which the patient must most often use throughout their life. Despite significant progress in research on antiepileptic drugs, about 30% of patients still have drug-resistant epilepsy, which is insensitive to pharmacotherapy used so far. In our recent studies, we have shown that 4-alkyl-5-aryl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiones act on the voltage-gated sodium channels and exhibit anticonvulsant activity in an MES (maximal electroshock-induced seizure) and 6Hz test in mice. Previous studies have shown their beneficial toxic and pharmacological profile, but their effect on a living organism during chronic use is still unknown. In the presented study, on the basis of the previously conducted tests and the PAMPA (parallel artificial membrane permeability assay) BBB (blood-brain barrier) test, we selected one 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione derivative-TP-315-for further studies aimed at assessing the impact of its chronic use on a living organism. After long-term administration of TP-315 to Albino Swiss mice, its effect on the functional parameters of internal organs was assessed by performing biochemical, morphological, and histopathological examinations. It was also determined whether the tested compound inhibits selected isoforms of the CYP450 enzyme system. On the basis of the conducted tests, it was found that TP-315 does not show nephrotoxic nor hepatotoxic effects and does not cause changes in hematological parameters. In vitro tests showed that TP-315 did not inhibit CYP2B6, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, or CYP3A5 enzymes at the concentration found in the serum of mice subjected to long-term exposure to this compound.

Teicoplanin-Modified HPLC Column as a Source of Experimental Parameters for Prediction of the Anticonvulsant Activity of 1,2,4-Triazole-3-Thiones by the Regression Models.

The cell membrane is a complex system that consists of lipids, proteins, polysaccharides, and amphiphilic phospholipids. It plays an important role in ADME processes that are responsible for the final pharmaceutical effects of xenobiotics (bioavailability, activity). To study drug-membrane interaction at the molecular level, several high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) membrane model systems have been proposed which are mimicking mainly its lipid character. The aim of this work was to study interactions of new synthesized antiepileptic compounds of 4-alkyl-5-(3-chlorophenyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione derivatives with Chirobiotic column containing glycoprotein ligand attached to the silica matrix. The affinity of the analytes to immobilized glycoprotein ligand was examined chromatographically in reversed-phase mode. The thermodynamics of interactions between bioactive compounds and teicoplanin was studied in terms of the van't Hoff linear relationship ln k vs. 1/T in the range of 5-45 °C. Change in enthalpy (ΔH°), change in entropy (ΔS°) and change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) were estimated utilizing graphical extrapolation and interpolation methods. The density functional theory (DFT) approach and docking simulations were used to get the molecular interpretation and prove the obtained experimental results. Cross-correlations of chromatographic and thermodynamic parameters with non-empirical topological and quantum chemical indices suggest that the polarizability of analytes appears to be responsible for the interactions of the tested molecules with teicoplanin and, ultimately, their retention on the column. Experimental and theoretical parameters were subjected to statistical analysis using regression models. Partial least squares (PLS) regression model showed the usefulness of the experimentally measured parameter φ0 (MeOH) to discriminate between anticonvulsant active and inactive 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione derivatives. Obtained results point out the usefulness of interaction of potential anticonvulsants with glycoprotein class of compounds to anticipate their activity.

Thermodynamic study of new antiepileptic compounds by combining chromatography on the phosphatidylcholine biomimetic stationary phase and differential scanning calorimetry.

Liquid chromatography coupled to spectrophotometric detection of new antiepileptic compounds, 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione derivatives, on immobilized artificial membrane phosphatidylcholine is reported. The curves representing the relationship between ln k versus 1/T generated under isocratic conditions by the use of methanol and acetonitrile-containing eluent systems have been constructed in order to determine the thermodynamic parameters: the enthalpies, entropies and the relative free energies. The hydrocarbon chains of analytes significantly influenced the membrane behavior of the whole molecules. Excellent correlations of the theoretical lipophilicity with the experimental thermodynamic descriptors, have confirmed contribution of the hydrophobic interactions in the retention process. However, presence of sulfur or oxygen as heteroatoms at R1 substituents in the 1,2,4-triazole ring appears to be responsible for more pronounced selectivity of these compounds on the phosphatidylcholine stationary phase. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed the selective preferences of the phosphatidylcholine with respect to the compounds with either ether of sulfide moieties. Experimental and theoretical set-ups resulted in corresponding outcomes.

Determination of Tryptophan and Its Major Metabolites in Fluid from the Anterior Chamber of the Eye in Diabetic Patients with Cataract by Liquid Chromotography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

Tryptophan (TRP) is to an essential amino acid and its catabolites are significant to human health. By using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS), levels of three major components of kynurenic pathway namely tryptophan (TRP), kynurenic acid (KYNA) and kynurenine (KYN) in fluid from the anterior chamber of the eye were determined. The analysis was carried out on a Synergi 4 µ Fusion-RP column using gradient elution mode. For quantitative determination, l-tryptophan-amino-15N, 99 ATOM % 15N was used as an internal standard. The method was linear in the concentration range 4⁻2000 ng mL-1 for TRP, KYNA and KYN. The mean recoveries measured at four concentration levels for TRP, KYN and KYNA included the following ranges 94.3⁻96.1; 91.0⁻95.0; and 96.0⁻97.6%, respectively. The intra-day precision parameters were smaller than 4.4, 6.4 and 5% respectively. The developed method was applied to study the level of TRP, KYNA and KYN in eye fluid for the retrospective case series which included 28 patients suffering from cataracts and diabetes (n = 8). The experimental data was subjected to statistical analysis. The Mann-Whitney U-test revealed clear differences in the level of TRP catabolites and the ratios of TRP/KYN representing the activities of specific enzyme of kynurenine pathway in examined groups of patients. A level of probability p < 0.05 was used throughout a paper to denote statistically significant differences between the groups.

High-performance liquid chromatography thermodynamic study of new potential antiepileptic compounds on a cholesterol column using isocratic elution with methanol/water and acetonitrile/water eluent systems.

Basic thermodynamic functions responsible for retention of new 1,2,4-triazole derivatives exhibiting varied antiepileptic activity on cholesterol-based stationary phase were determined. Evaluation of the Gibbs energy change, the change in enthalpy and the change in entropy was based on the van't Hoff relationship representing lnk versus 1/T. A detailed discussion of the van't Hoff equation, exploring the influence of the phase ratio on deviations from linearity in a van't Hoff plot is presented. We show chromatographic evidence to the question of how a varied mobile phase composition may cause different thermodynamic phase ratios. The analysis of data from a differential scanning calorimetry excluded any phase transitions of either the individual solutes or cholesterol stationary phase suspended in the mobile phase components within the studied temperature range.

Comparison of mouse plasma and brain tissue homogenate sample pretreatment methods prior to high-performance liquid chromatography for a new 1,2,4-triazole derivative with anticonvulsant activity.

The focus of the study was to develop a bio-analytical assay for a 1,2,4-triazole derivative from plasma and brain tissue homogenate samples. The goal was to compare analytical techniques that facilitate high accuracy with simplified sample processing. In this study, commonly used standard protein precipitation and solid-phase extraction methods utilizing C18 and cartridges of Hybrid technology were compared in terms of their ability for sample pretreatment and removal of biological matrices before high-performance liquid chromatography quantification. Fast classical reversed-phase chromatography on a C18 column paired with selective sample preparation using Hybrid solid-phase extraction technology resulted in the most precise bio-analytical determination of the hydrophobic 1,2,4-triazole derivative in both biological samples studied. The obtained recovery values were above 95% with the coefficient of variation lower than 5%.

Ionic liquids as surfactants in micellar liquid chromatography.

This paper is devoted to application of ionic liquids as surfactants in LC of organic compounds, derivatives of 1,4-thiosemicarbazides. According to HPLC requirements the most advantageous conditions such as transparency for ultraviolet light, low CMC, additional inorganic salt additives, and appropriate organic solvent were established. The CMC was determined using conductivity measurements. Suitability of two different stationary phases: RP-C18 and cyanopropyl bonded phase was examined under micellar conditions. Chosen ionic liquid surfactant was compared to common traditional amphiphilic reagent - SDS. Elaborated on chromatographic micellar conditions were tested as a pilot technique for prediction of distribution coefficients of organic analytes in ionic liquid-based aqueous two-phase system.

Usefulness of chaotropic salt additive in RP-HPLC of organic nonionized compounds.

New synthesized 1,4-disubstituted thiosemicarbazide derivatives were analyzed in the RP system, modified with the addition of salts; chaotropic (sodium hexafluorophosphate - Na PF(6)), cosmotropic (sodium phosphate - NaH(2)PO(4)), and neutral (NaCl) on Zorbax XDB C18 column. The effect of the eluent composition on the analytes retention (k), system efficiency (N), peak symmetry (A(s)), and LOD values were all examined and compared to unmodified organic-aqueous mobile phase system. It was established that eluent modified with chaotropic salts addition was also the most advantageous according to other peak parameters such as the theoretical plates numbers and asymmetry factors. The lower LOD values were achieved in comparison to unmodified organic-aqueous eluent system. Compatibility of lipophilicity parameters calculated by the use of computer software with experimental ones measured by RP-HPLC was also the best for chaotropic modified mobile phase. To explain the observed phenomena, molecular modeling was performed for chosen representative compound in different environment representing examined mobile phase composition.

Synthesis, characterization and preliminary anticonvulsant evaluation of some 4-alkyl-1,2,4-triazoles.

Designed and synthesized 4-alkyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione derivatives showed significant anticonvulsant activity, determined in the maximal electroshock-induced seizure (MES) test. The chemical structure of all new compounds was confirmed by spectral methods ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, IR, MS). A sensitive and selective method was elaborated for the determination of the anticonvulsant compounds levels in mice brain tissue, based on HPLC with diode array detector (DAD). Chromatographic tests showed that lack of anticonvulsant effect of two derivatives (15, 16) with long alkyl chains at N-4 position of the 1,2,4-triazole ring was due to the inability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Analysis of new potential anticonvulsant compounds in mice brain tissue by SPE/HPLC/DAD.

This paper describes a novel reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with photo-diode array detection (DAD) method for the determination of three new derivatives of 4-alkyl-5-(3-chlorophenyl)-2,4-dihydro-3H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione with different antiepileptic activity in the brains of mice treated with the doses of 300mgkg(-1) of body weight. Samples were prepared by solid-phase extraction (SPE) method using BAKERBOND™ spe Octadecyl (C(18)) and analyzed by the use of an isocratic elution mode over an Zorbax Extend-C18 column (150mm×4.6mm I.D., 5-µm, Agilent Technologies). The mobile phase consisted of 80% methanol (for compound TP-315) and 85% acetonitrile (for compound TP-321) for 80% 2-propanol (for TP-323) at a flow rate of 1.0mLmin(-1) and 0.5mLmin(-1) in the last case. Gradient elution mode was also proposed for all examined analytes in mixture with common antiepileptic drugs: carbamazepine, phenobarbital and phenytoin in view of possible synergistic activity. Photodiode-array investigations of the peaks after degradation studies indicate the stability of the compounds under conditions proposed for sample preparation procedure. Linear coefficients of correlation (r(2)) were >0.995 for all analytes. The proposed strategy gives extraction yields higher than 95% with the intra- and inter-day relative standard deviation lower than 3% and 5%, respectively. This method was applied to the analysis of brain tissue of mice treated with investigated compounds. Obtained results enable to explain the differences in their pharmacological activity.