PEGylation of Terminal Ligands as a Route to Decrease the Toxicity of Radiocontrast Re-Clusters.

The development of novel radiocontrast agents, mainly used for the visualization of blood vessels, is still an emerging task due to the variety of side effects of conventional X-ray contrast media. Recently, we have shown that octahedral chalcogenide rhenium clusters with phosphine ligands-NaH[{ReQ}(P(CHCOO))] (Q = S, Se)-can be considered as promising X-ray contrast agents if their relatively high toxicity related to the high charge of the complexes can be overcome. To address this issue, we propose one of the most widely used methods for tuning the properties of proteins and peptides-PEGylation (PEG is polyethylene glycol).

Multifunctional Oxidized Dextran as a Matrix for Stabilization of Octahedral Molybdenum and Tungsten Iodide Clusters in Aqueous Media.

Due to their high abundance, polymeric character, and chemical tunability, polysaccharides are perfect candidates for the stabilization of photoactive nanoscale objects, which are of great interest in modern science but can be unstable in aqueous media. In this work, we have demonstrated the relevance of oxidized dextran polysaccharide, obtained via a simple reaction with HO, towards the stabilization of photoactive octahedral molybdenum and tungsten iodide cluster complexes [MI}(DMSO)](NO) in aqueous and culture media. The cluster-containing materials were obtained by co-precipitation of the starting reagents in DMSO solution.

Biodegradable Nanohybrid Materials as Candidates for Self-Sanitizing Filters Aimed at Protection from SARS-CoV-2 in Public Areas.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised the problem of efficient, low-cost materials enabling the effective protection of people from viruses transmitted through the air or via surfaces. Nanofibers can be a great candidate for efficient air filtration due to their structure, although they cannot protect from viruses. In this work, we prepared a wide range of nanofibrous biodegradable samples containing Ag (up to 0.

In Vivo Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for Spontaneous Tumors in Large Animals: Case Series.

(1) Background: accelerator-based neutron sources are a new frontier for BNCT but many technical issues remain. We aimed to study such issues and results in larger-animal BNCT (cats and dogs) with naturally occurring, malignant tumors in different locations as an intermediate step in translating current research into clinical practice. (2) Methods: 10 pet cats and dogs with incurable, malignant tumors that had no treatment alternatives were included in this study.

Electrospun Biodegradable Nanofibers Coated Homogenously by Cu Magnetron Sputtering Exhibit Fast Ion Release. Computational and Experimental Study.

Copper-coated nanofibrous materials are desirable for catalysis, electrochemistry, sensing, and biomedical use. The preparation of copper or copper-coated nanofibers can be pretty challenging, requiring many chemical steps that we eliminated in our robust approach, where for the first time, Cu was deposited by magnetron sputtering onto temperature-sensitive polymer nanofibers. For the first time, the large-scale modeling of PCL films irradiation by molecular dynamics simulation was performed and allowed to predict the ions penetration depth and tune the deposition conditions.

Dose-Dependent Suppression of Human Glioblastoma Xenograft Growth by Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy with Simultaneous Use of Two Boron-Containing Compounds.

(1) Background: Developments in accelerator-based neutron sources moved boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) to the next phase, where new neutron radiation parameters had to be studied for the treatment of cancers, including brain tumors. We aimed to further improve accelerator-BNCT efficacy by optimizing dosimetry control, beam parameters, and combinations of boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium borocaptate (BSH) administration in U87MG xenograft-bearing immunodeficient mice with two different tumor locations. (2) Methods: The study included two sets of experiments.

Noble Metals for Modern Implant Materials: MOCVD of Film Structures and Cytotoxical, Antibacterial, and Histological Studies.

This work is aimed at developing the modification of the surface of medical implants with film materials based on noble metals in order to improve their biological characteristics. Gas-phase transportation methods were proposed to obtain such materials. To determine the effect of the material of the bottom layer of heterometallic structures, Ir, Pt, and PtIr coatings with a thickness of 1.

The role of gold nanoparticles' aspect ratio in plasmon-enhanced luminescence and the singlet oxygen generation rate of Mo clusters.

Here we present a study on the effect of the aspect ratio (AR) of gold nanoparticles on the emission intensity and singlet oxygen production rate of hexamolybdenum cluster-doped silica particles. It was shown that these parameters can be enhanced gradually up to 6.7- and 13-fold with the AR.

Biodistribution of B in Glioma Orthotopic Xenograft Mouse Model after Injection of L-para-Boronophenylalanine and Sodium Borocaptate.

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is based on the ability of the boron-10 (B) isotope to capture epithermal neutrons, as a result of which the isotope becomes unstable and decays into kinetically active elements that destroy cells where the nuclear reaction has occurred. The boron-carrying compounds-L-para-boronophenylalanine (BPA) and sodium mercaptoundecahydro-closo-dodecaborate (BSH)-have low toxicity and, today, are the only representatives of such compounds approved for clinical trials. For the effectiveness and safety of BNCT, a low boron content in normal tissues and substantially higher content in tumor tissue are required.

Synergetic Effect of Mo Clusters and Gold Nanoparticles on the Photophysical Properties of Both Components.

Photodynamic and photothermal therapies (PDT, and PTT, respectively) are promising candidates for multimodal anticancer therapies (i.e., combinations of therapies), since their action is based on mechanisms that generally cannot be resisted by cancer cells, that is, generation of highly oxidizing oxygen species and high temperature, respectively.

Single-domain antibody C7b for address delivery of nanoparticles to HER2-positive cancers.

Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) demonstrate great potential as immunotherapy agents for the treatment of diseases such as cancer as well as tagging for the targeted delivery of multicomponent therapeutic or diagnostic systems. Nevertheless, the large physical size, poor stability of mAbs and abnormal allergic reactions still remain the main issues affecting their generalised use. Single-domain antibodies (sdAb) are seen as the next generation of antibody derived therapeutics and diagnostics.

Photoinduced Deposition of Platinum from (BuN)[Pt(NO)] for a Low Pt-Loading Pt/TiO Hydrogen Photogeneration Catalyst.

An efficient method for the deposition of ionic platinum species PtO onto a TiO surface was developed on the basis of light-induced activation of the [Pt(NO)] anion. The deposited PtO species with an effective Pt oxidation state between +4 and +2 have an oxygen-made environment and include single ion centers {PtO} and polyatomic ensembles {PtO} connected to a TiO surface with Pt-O-Ti bonds. The resulting PtO/TiO materials were tested as photocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from a water ethanol mixture and have shown uniquely high activity with the rate of H evolution achieving 11 mol h per gram of Pt, which is the highest result for such materials reported to date.

Hexamolybdenum Clusters Supported on Exfoliated h-BN Nanosheets for Photocatalytic Water Purification.

Nowadays, the development of new effective photocatalytic materials for the purification of real wastewaters and model systems containing organic molecules constitutes an important challenge. Here we present a preparation strategy for composite materials based on hexamolybdenum cluster complexes and exfoliated hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets. Cluster deposition on the nanosheet surface was achieved by impregnation of the matrix by a (BuN)[{MoI}(NO)]/acetone solution.

From Specific γ-CD/[Nb Cl (H O) ] Recognition to Biological Activity Tuning.

Specific molecular recognition of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) by the cationic hexanuclear niobium [Nb Cl (H O) ] cluster complex in aqueous solutions results in a 1:1 supramolecular assembly {[Nb Cl (H O) ]@γ-CD} . NMR spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and ESI-MS were used to study the interaction between the inorganic cluster and the organic macrocycle. Such molecular association affects the biological activity of [Nb Cl (H O) ] , decreasing its cytotoxicity despite enhanced cellular uptake.

Residue coevolution reveals functionally important intramolecular interactions in formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase.

In protein evolution, functionally important intramolecular interactions, such as polar bridges or hydrophobic interfaces, tend to be conserved. We have analyzed coevolution of physicochemical properties in pairs of amino acid residues in the formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg) protein family, identified three conserved polar bridges (Arg54-Glu131, Gln234-Arg244, and Tyr170-Ser208 in the E. coli protein) located in known functional regions of the protein, and analyzed their roles by site-directed mutagenesis.

Analysis of high-purity germanium dioxide by ETV-ICP-AES with preliminary concentration of trace elements.

The paper presents a combined technique of germanium dioxide analysis by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) with preconcentration of trace elements by distilling off matrix and electrothermal (ETV) introduction of the trace elements concentrate into the ICP. Evaluation of metrological characteristics of the developed technique of high-purity germanium dioxide analysis was performed. The limits of detection (LODs) for 25 trace elements ranged from 0.

Selenate as a novel ligand for keplerate chemistry. New {W72Mo60} keplerates with selenates inside the cavity.

The synthesis and characterization of three novel keplerate-type compounds containing the {W72Mo60} mixed-metal core are reported. Complexes (NH4)72[{W6O21(H2O)6}12{Mo2O4(SeO4)}30]·150H2O·6(NH4)2SeO4 (1a) and (NH4)25(NH2Me2)47[{W6O21(H2O)6}12{Mo2O4(SeO4)}30]·130H2O·3(NH4)2SeO4 (1b) were prepared by ligand substitution from the acetate anionic complex [{W6O21(H2O)5(CH3COO)0.5}12{Mo2O4(CH3COO)}30](48-) and selenate.