Lead sulfate nano- and microparticles in the acid plant blow-down generated at the sulfuric acid plant of the El Teniente mine, Chile.

The acid plant 'blow-down' (also called weak acid) produced at El Teniente mine in Chile was characterized. This liquid waste (tailing) is generated during the cooling and cleaning of the smelter gas prior to the production of sulfuric acid. The weak acid was composed of a liquid and a solid phase (suspended solids). The liquid phase of the sample analyzed in this study mainly contained Cu (562 mg L(-1)), SO4(2-) (32 800 mg L(-1)), Ca (1449 mg L(-1)), Fe (185 mg L(-1)), As (6 mg L(-1)), K (467 mg L(-1)) and Al (113 mg L(-1)). Additionally, the sample had a pH-value and total acidity of 0.45 and 2970 mg L(-1) as CaCO3, respectively. Hence, this waste was classified as extremely acidic and with a high metal content following the Ficklin diagram classification. Elemental analysis using atomic absorption, inductively coupled plasma, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy showed that the suspended solids were anglesite (PbSO4) nano- and microparticles ranging from 50 nm to 500 nm in diameter.

1,3-Dialkyl-substituted tetrahydropyrimido[1,2-f]purine-2,4-diones as multiple target drugs for the potential treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Adenosine receptors and monoamine oxidases are drug targets for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. In the present study we prepared a library of 55 mostly novel tetrahydropyrimido[2,1-f]purinediones with various substituents in the 1- and 3-position (1,3-dimethyl, 1,3-diethyl, 1,3-dipropyl, 1-methyl-3-propargyl) and broad variation in the 9-position. A synthetic strategy to obtain 3-propargyl-substituted tetrahydropyrimido[2,1-f]purinedione derivatives was developed. The new compounds were evaluated for their interaction with all four adenosine receptor subtypes and for their ability to inhibit monoamine oxidases (MAO). Introduction of mono- or di-chloro-substituted phenyl, benzyl or phenethyl residues at N9 of the 1,3-dimethyl series led to the discovery of a novel class of potent MAO-B inhibitors, the most potent compound being 9-(3,4-dichlorobenzyl)-1,3-dimethyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrimido[1,2-f]purine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (21g, IC(50) human MAO-B: 0.0629 µM), which displayed high selectivity versus the other investigated targets. Potent dually active A1/A2A adenosine receptor antagonists were identified, for example, 9-benzyl-1-methyl-3-propargyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrimido[1,2-f]purine-2,4(1H,3H)dione (19f, Ki, human receptors, A1: 0.249 µM, A2A: 0.253 µM). Several compounds showed triple-target inhibition, the best compound being 9-(2-methoxybenzyl)-1-methyl-3-(prop-2-ynyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro pyrimido [1,2-f]purine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (19g, Ki A1: 0.605 µM, Ki A2A: 0.417 µM, IC(50) MAO-B: 1.80 µM). Compounds inhibiting several different targets involved in neurodegeneration may exhibit additive or even synergistic effects in vivo.

The four cysteine residues in the second extracellular loop of the human adenosine A2B receptor: role in ligand binding and receptor function.

The adenosine A(2B) receptor is of considerable interest as a new drug target for the treatment of asthma, inflammatory diseases, pain, and cancer. In the present study we investigated the role of the cysteine residues in the extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) of the receptor, which is particularly cysteine-rich, by a combination of mutagenesis, molecular modeling, chemical and pharmacological experiments. Pretreatment of CHO cells recombinantly expressing the human A(2B) receptor with dithiothreitol led to a 74-fold increase in the EC(50) value of the agonist NECA in cyclic AMP accumulation. In the C78(3.25)S and the C171(45.50)S mutant high-affinity binding of the A(2B) antagonist radioligand [(3)H]PSB-603 was abolished and agonists were virtually inactive in cAMP assays. This indicates that the C3.25-C45.50 disulfide bond, which is highly conserved in GPCRs, is also important for binding and function of A(2B) receptors. In contrast, the C166(45.45)S and the C167(45.46)S mutant as well as the C166(45.45)S-C167(45.46)S double mutant behaved like the wild-type receptor, while in the C154(45.33)S mutant significant, although more subtle effects on cAMP accumulation were observed - decrease (BAY60-6583) or increase (NECA) - depending on the structure of the investigated agonist. In contrast to the X-ray structure of the closely related A(2A) receptor, which showed four disulfide bonds, the present data indicate that in the A(2B) receptor only the C3.25-C45.50 disulfide bond is essential for ligand binding and receptor activation. Thus, the cysteine residues in the ECL2 of the A(2B) receptor not involved in stabilization of the receptor structure may have other functions.

Hybrid materials of kaolinite clay with polypyrrole and polyaniline.

Composites of the alumino silicate mineral kaolinite, with the conducting polymers polypyrrole and polyaniline have been successfully synthesised. In doing so hybrid materials have been produced in which the high surface area of the mineral is retained, whilst also incorporating the desired chemical and physical properties of the polymer. Scanning electron microscopy shows polypyrrole coatings to comprise of individual polymer spheres, approximately 10 to 15 nm in diameter. The average size of the polymer spheres of polyaniline was observed to be approximately 5 nm in diameter. These spheres fuse together in a continuous sheet to coat the kaolinite platelets in their entirety. The reduction of silver ions to metallic silver nanoparticles onto the redox active surface of the polymers has also been successful, and thus imparts anti-microbial properties to the hybrid materials. This gives rise to further applications requiring the inhibition of microbial growth. The chemical and physical characterization of the hybrid materials has been undertaken through scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, electrical conductivity, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray diffraction, infra red spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and the testing of their anti-microbial activity.

Structure-activity relationships of adenine and deazaadenine derivatives as ligands for adenine receptors, a new purinergic receptor family.

Adenine derivatives bearing substituents in the 2-, N(6)-, 7-, 8-, and/or 9-position and a series of deazapurines were synthesized and investigated in [(3)H]adenine binding studies at the adenine receptor in rat brain cortical membrane preparations (rAde1R). Steep structure-activity relationships were observed. Substitution in the 8-position (amino, dimethylamino, piperidinyl, piperazinyl) or in the 9-position (2-morpholinoethyl) with basic residues or introduction of polar substituents at the 6-amino function (hydroxy, amino, acetyl) represented the best modifications. Functional evaluation of selected adenine derivatives in adenylate cyclase assays at 1321N1 astrocytoma cells stably expressing the rAde1R showed that all compounds investigated were agonists or partial agonists. A subset of compounds was additionally investigated in binding studies at human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells, which also express a high-affinity adenine binding site. Structure-affinity relationships at the human cell line were similar to those at the rAde1R, but not identical. In particular, N(6)-acetyladenine (25, K(i) rat: 2.85 microM; K(i) human: 0.515 microM) and 8-aminoadenine (33, K(i) rat: 6.51 microM; K(i) human: 0.0341 microM) were much more potent at the human as compared to the rat binding site. The new AdeR ligands may serve as lead structures and contribute to the elucidation of the functions of the adenine receptor family.

Nano-structured calcium silicate hydrate functionalised with iodine.

Nano-structured calcium silicate hydrate can physisorb or chemisorb iodine, making it interesting for medical or materials science applications, where a slow, controlled release of iodine is desired. It was found that iodine can be sorbed and released by applying the elemental halogen in solution, either as a gas or as a solid. At ambient temperatures the sorption and desorption process is quantitative and physical, meaning that the same amount of iodine is taken up and released. At temperatures above 32.5 degrees C (305.7K) iodine reacts with the calcium silicate hydrate forming a complex, which is stable above the sublimation temperature of iodine. The formation energy for the iodine calcium silicate hydrate complex was established to be 41.8+/-0.8kJmol(-1) by calorimetry and the nature of the complex was investigated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

1-alkyl-8-(piperazine-1-sulfonyl)phenylxanthines: development and characterization of adenosine A2B receptor antagonists and a new radioligand with subnanomolar affinity and subtype specificity.

A new series of 1-alkyl-8-(piperazine-1-sulfonyl)phenylxanthines was designed, synthesized, and characterized in radioligand binding and functional assays at A(2B) adenosine receptors. A(2B) antagonists with subnanomolar affinity and high selectivity were discovered. The most potent compounds were 1-ethyl-8-(4-(4-(4-trifluoromethylbenzyl)piperazine-1-sulfonyl)phenyl)xanthine (24, PSB-09120, K(i) (human A(2B)) = 0.157 nM) and 8-(4-(4-(4-chlorobenzyl)piperazine-1-sulfonyl)phenyl)-1-propylxanthine (17, PSB-0788, K(i) (human A(2B)) = 0.393 nM). Moreover, 8-(4-(4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperazine-1-sulfonyl)phenyl)-1-propylxanthine (35, PSB-603) was developed as an A(2B)-specific antagonist exhibiting a K(i) value of 0.553 nM at the human A(2B) receptor and virtually no affinity for the human and rat A(1) and A(2A) and the human A(3) receptors up to a concentration of 10 microM. A tritiated form of the compound was prepared as a new radioligand and characterized in kinetic, saturation, and competition studies. It was shown to be a useful pharmacological tool for the selective labeling of human as well as rodent A(2B) receptors (K(D) human A(2B) 0.403 nM, mouse A(2B) 0.351 nM).

Functionalised hybrid materials of conducting polymers with individual wool fibers.

Composites of natural protein materials, such as merino wool, with the conducting polymers polypyrrole (PPy) and polyaniline (PAn) have been successfully synthesised. In doing so, hybrid materials have been produced in which the mechanical strength and flexibility of the fibers is retained whilst also incorporating the desired chemical and electrical properties of the polymer. Scanning electron microscopy shows PPy coatings to comprise individual polymer spheres, approximately 100 to 150 nm in diameter. The average size of the polymer spheres of PAn was observed to be approximately 50 to 100 nm in diameter. These spheres fuse together in a continuous sheet to coat the fibers in their entirety. The reduction of silver ions to silver metal nanoparticles onto the redox active polymer surface has also been successful and thus imparts anti-microbial properties to the hybrid materials. This gives rise to further applications requiring the inhibition of microbial growth. The chemical and physical characterisation of such products has been undertaken through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), electrical conductivity, cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and the testing of their anti-microbial activity.

Immobilisation of fully sulfonated polyaniline on nanostructured calcium silicate.

Up to 7.4% (w/w) of the sulfonated polyaniline, poly(2-methoxyaniline-5-sulfonic acid) (PMAS) can be absorbed onto nanostructured calcium silicates. Spectroscopic and leaching studies on the novel PMAS-silicate nanocomposites obtained indicate that attachment of the PMAS occurs via electrostatic binding of PMAS sulfonate groups to Ca2+ sites on the silicates. The surface area and pore volume of the nanocomposites are comparable to those of pure silicate and increase the surface area of the PMAS polymer by several orders of magnitude. The PMAS emeraldine salt in the nanocomposites retains its chemical reactivity, being readily oxidised and reduced to its pernigraniline and leucoemeraldine forms, respectively. The conductivity of the composite is comparable to that of the pure PMAS, several orders of magnitude higher than that of dried nanostructured calcium silicate.