Luiz Henrique Keng Queiroz Júnior

Structural insights into Cn-AMP1, a short disulfide-free multifunctional peptide from green coconut water.

Multifunctional and promiscuous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can be used as an efficient strategy to control pathogens. However, little is known about the structural properties of plant promiscuous AMPs without disulfide bonds. CD and NMR were used to elucidate the structure of the promiscuous peptide Cn‐AMP1, a disulfide‐free peptide isolated from green coconut water. Data here reported shows that peptide structure is transitory and could be different according to the micro‐environment. In this regard, Cn‐AMP1 showed a random coil in a water environment and an α‐helical structure in the presence of SDS‐d25 micelles. Moreover, deuterium exchange experiments showed that Gly4, Arg5 and Met9 residues are less accessible to solvent, suggesting that flexibility and cationic charges seem to be essential for Cn‐AMP1 multiple activities.

OPTIMIZATION AND PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATION OF ULTRAFAST 2D NMR EXPERIMENTS

Ultrafast 2D NMR is a powerful methodology that allows recording of a 2D NMR spectrum in a fraction of second. However, due to the numerous non-conventional parameters involved in this methodology its implementation is no trivial task. Here, an optimized experimental protocol is carefully described to ensure efficient implementation of ultrafast NMR. The ultrafast spectra resulting from this implementation are presented based on the example of two widely used 2D NMR experiments, COSY and HSQC, obtained in 0.2 s and 41 s, respectively.

Lower rim dimerization of a calixarene through the encapsulation of sodium ions

Here we report the tail-to-tail dimerization of tetra(carboxymethoxy)calix[4]arene in both solution and solid state phases using ESI-orbitrap UHRMS, 1H-NMR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Three sodium ions are encapsulated into the dimeric structure which is also stabilized by hydrogen bonds between carboxyl moieties undergoing partial deprotonation.

Probing the competition between acetate and 2,2′-bipyridine ligands to bind to d-block group 12 metals

Herein, we were interested in probing the competition between 2,2′-bipyridine (2,2′-bipy) and acetate ligands in binding to Zn2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+. We have obtained eight new supramolecular architectures through tuning the proportion of these two ligands. On doubling the acetate availability compared to 2,2′-bipy, complexes with either Zn2+, Cd2+ or Hg2+ were formed with one 2,2′-bipy and two acetate ligands coordinated to the metal center. One water molecule is also coordinated to Zn2+ and Cd2+ in these two complexes, which are reported here for the first time. One 2,2′-bipy is still coordinated to the three metal ions with an acetate excess of 10-times, but another trinuclear Zn2+ complex is formed with two 2,2′-bipy and six acetate ligands (1 : 3 2,2′-bipy : acetate stoichiometry). Upon setting an equimolar ratio of the ligands, the complex [Zn(CH3CO2)(2,2′-bipy)2]+ is formed, while two 2,2′-bipy and two acetate ligands are coordinated to Cd2+, giving rise to a [Cd(CH3CO2)2(2,2′bipy)2] complex. On doubling the 2,2′-bipy availability compared to acetate, the former does not coordinate to Zn2+ and Cd2+, as observed in the acetate salt form of [Zn(2,2′-bipy)3]2+ and in [Cd(2,2′-bipy)3]2+. This last Cd2+ complex did not crystallize, revealing its unfavorable crystallization as an acetate salt form. However, under this last ligand ratio, the persistence of at least one coordinated acetate was observed in the Hg2+ complex with 2 : 1 2,2′-bipy : acetate stoichiometry. Furthermore, there is a cocrystallized 2,2′-bipy in the acetate salt form of [Hg(CH3CO2)(2,2′-bipy)2]+, which is not able to win the competition with acetate for the third coordination site to Hg2+. Even if the 2,2′-bipy amount is 10-times higher than that of acetate in the reaction batch, one acetate remains coordinated to Hg2+. Our crystal form of [Zn(CH3CO2)(2,2′-bipy)2]+ is strongly photoluminescent, with highly efficient emission centered at 356 nm (external and internal quantum yields of 14.2(1)% and 41.3(1)%), whose optical efficiency was rationalized on the basis of time-dependent DFT calculations.

A Novel Polymer-Lipid Hybrid Nanoparticle For The Improvement Of Topotecan Hydrochloride Physicochemical Properties

BACKGROUND Topotecan (TPT) is a water-soluble derivate of camptothecin, which undergoes ring-opening hydrolysis in neutral solutions, leading to stability loss and poor cellular uptake. Lipid nanoencapsulation can improve TPT stability, and polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles (PLN) are interesting alternatives to improve TPT nanoencapsulation. OBJECTIVE This study seeks to prepare complexes between the cationic TPT and the negatively charged dextran sulfate (DS) with a view of improving drug loading, chemical stability and release control. METHODS The optimum ionic molar ratio in DS-TPT complexation was determined, and the selected complex was characterized by FTIR and solid-state 13C NMR. TPT solubility in the free and complexed forms was also assayed. TPT-PLN was then obtained via a microemulsion technique, and particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading and drug recovery were determined. Additionally, the TPT stability and in vitro release were determined from PLN and compared with free TPT, TPT-DS complex and TPT encapsulated in nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) of similar composition. RESULTS TPT-DS complexation was confirmed by FTIR and NMR. TPT solubility in the complex was drastically decreased when compared to free TPT. TPT-PLN had high encapsulation efficiency (97%) and drug loading capacity (5.5%). Additionally, TPT-PLN showed a mean diameter, polidispersivity index e zeta potential of 140 nm, 0.2 and -22 mV, respectively. The TPT chemical stability and release from PLN were observed to be superior when compared to NLC. CONCLUSION PLN has shown to be a more effective nanosystem for TPT nanoencapsulation because TPT loading, stability and release were superior when compared to TPT-NLC.