Bifunctional Au-Sn-SiO catalysts promote the direct upgrading of glycerol to methyl lactate.

Valuable alkyl lactates can be obtained from (waste) glycerol, through a two-step process that entails (i) the oxidation of glycerol to dihydroxyacetone (DHA) catalyzed by support Au nanoparticles and (ii) a rearrangement of DHA with an alcohol effectively catalyzed by Sn-based heterogeneous catalysts. To solve selectivity and processing issues we propose to run the process as a cascade reaction, in one step, and with a single bifunctional catalyst. Tackling the challenge associated with the preparation of such bifunctional catalysts, here, an aerosol-assisted sol-gel route is exploited.

Editorial for the Special Issue "Molecular Biology in Targeted Radionuclide Therapy Radiopharmaceutical Design".

Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is gaining wide and rapid acceptance in clinical practice as it can deliver alpha or beta irradiation to a tumor-associated target which may be present in the tumor cell itself or in the microenvironment [...

Indium-Based Silica Materials: Sustainable Syntheses Combined with a Challenging Insertion in SiO Mesoporous Structures.

Optimized sustainable procedures in both acidic and basic conditions are considered to meet some of the current environmental challenges of the scientific community. In this paper, the successful syntheses of two classes of indium-based silica nanomaterials are reported. Both procedures were conceived to enhance the sustainability of the synthesis methods and promote their preparations at room temperature while avoiding the hydrothermal treatment under static conditions at 100 °C.

Imidazolium-Containing Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Materials for the Conversion of CO: Unveiling the Key Role of the Ionic Template.

A straightforward synthesis of a series of hybrid organic-inorganic materials (HOIMs) containing imidazolium moieties was achieved. The preparation of the imidazolium acetate precursor was performed in a single-step procedure using the Debus-Radziszewski reaction. The as-synthesized alkoxysilane was employed in combination with tetraethyl orthosilicate to generate an HOIM presenting a high specific surface area.

Novel Sol-Gel Synthesis of TiO Spherical Porous Nanoparticles Assemblies with Photocatalytic Activity.

For this study, the synthesis of TiO nanomaterials was performed via a novel sol-gel method employing titanium butoxide as a metal precursor, Pluronic F127 as a templating agent, toluene as a swelling agent, and acidic water or ethanol as the reaction solvents. The method was designed by tailoring certain reaction parameters, such as the sequence of toluene addition, magnetic stirring, the type of reaction solvent, and the calcination conditions. Analysis of the specific surface area and porosity was carried out via N physisorption, whereas the morphological features of the solids were investigated via transmission electron microscopy.

Aluminosilicate-Supported Catalysts for the Synthesis of Cyclic Carbonates by Reaction of CO with the Corresponding Epoxides.

Functionalized aluminosilicate materials were studied as catalysts for the conversion of different cyclic carbonates to the corresponding epoxides by the addition of CO. Aluminum was incorporated in the mesostructured SBA-15 silica network. Thereafter, functionalization with imidazolium chloride or magnesium oxide was performed on the Al_SBA-15 supports.

Photocatalytic Performance of Undoped and Al-Doped ZnO Nanoparticles in the Degradation of Rhodamine B under UV-Visible Light:The Role of Defects and Morphology.

Quasi-spherical undoped ZnO and Al-doped ZnO nanoparticles with different aluminum content, ranging from 0.5 to 5 at% of Al with respect to Zn, were synthesized. These nanoparticles were evaluated as photocatalysts in the photodegradation of the Rhodamine B (RhB) dye aqueous solution under UV-visible light irradiation.

A Narrative Review of Tc-Aprotinin in the Diagnosis of Cardiac Amyloidosis and a New Life for an Unfairly Abandoned Drug.

Several studies investigated the use of Tc-labelled Aprotinin as an amyloid seeker some years ago. In vitro tests showed high binding affinity for several types of amyloid fibrils accompanied by an excellent specificity. Initial human studies demonstrated good accuracy in detecting cardiac involvement.

Chemical and Physical Characterisation of Macroaggregated Human Serum Albumin: Strength and Specificity of Bonds with Tc and Ga.

Background: Macroaggregated human serum albumin (MAA) properties are widely used in nuclear medicine, labelled with Tc. The aim of this study is to improve the knowledge about the morphology, size, dimension and physical-chemical characteristics of MAA and their bond with Tc and Ga.

Methods: Commercial kits of MAA (Pulmocis) were used.

Functionalization of Mono- and Bimetallic MIL-100(Al,Fe) MOFs by Ethylenediamine: Postfunctionalization, Brønsted Acido-Basicity, and Unusual CO Sorption Behavior.

The metal sites of MIL-100(Fe), MIL-100(Fe,Al), and MIL-100(Al) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were decorated with ethylenediamine (EN). Interestingly, the Al-containing MOFs presented hierarchized porosity, and their structural integrity was maintained upon functionalization. Solution and solid-state NMR confirmed the grafting efficiency in the case of MIL-100(Al) and the presence of a free amine group.

A Study on the Stability of Carbon Nanoforms-Polyimidazolium Network Hybrids in the Conversion of CO into Cyclic Carbonates: Increase in Catalytic Activity after Reuse.

Three different carbon nanoforms (CNFs), single-walled and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs, MWCNTs) and carbon nanohorns (CNHs), have been used as supports for the direct polymerization of variable amounts of a bis-vinylimidazolium salt. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed that all CNFs act as templates on the growth of the polymeric network, which perfectly covers the nanocarbons forming a cylindrical (SWCNTs, MWCNTs) or spherical (CNHs) coating. The stability of these hybrid materials was investigated in the conversion of CO into cyclic carbonate under high temperature and CO pressure.

Chemical and Physical Characterisation of Human Serum Albumin Nanocolloids: Kinetics, Strength and Specificity of Bonds with Tc and Ga.

Nanoparticles of Human Serum Albumin (NC) labelled with Tc are widely used in Nuclear Medicine and represent the gold-standard for the intraoperative detection of the sentinel lymph node in many kinds of cancer, mainly breast cancer and melanoma. A significant amount of radionuclides can be incorporated into the HSA particle, due to the multiple binding sites, and HSA-based nanocolloid catabolism is a fast and easy process that results in innocuous degradation products. NCs labelled with different isotopes represent an interesting radiopharmaceutical for extending diagnostic accuracy and surgical outcome, but the knowledge of the chemical bond between NCs and isotopes has not been fully elucidated, including information on its strength and specificity.

Double-Decker Silsesquioxanes Self-Assembled in One-Dimensional Coordination Polymeric Nanofibers with Emission Properties.

The urgent needs for photoactive materials in industry drive fast evolution of synthetic procedures in many branches of chemistry, including the chemistry of silsesquioxanes. Here, we disclose an effective protocol for the synthesis of novel double-decker silsesquioxanes decorated with two (styrylethynylphenyl)terpyridine moieties (). The synthesis strategy involves a series of silylative and Sonogashira coupling reactions and is reported for the first time.

Lipid rafts as platforms for sphingosine 1-phosphate metabolism and signalling.

Spontaneous segregation of cholesterol and sphingolipids as a liquid-ordered phase leads to their clustering in selected membrane areas, the lipid rafts. These specialized membrane domains enriched in gangliosides, sphingomyelin, cholesterol and selected proteins involved in signal transduction, organize and determine the function of multiprotein complexes involved in several aspects of signal transduction, thus regulating cell homeostasis. Sphingosine 1-phosphate, an important biologically active mediator, is involved in several signal transduction processes regulating a plethora of cell functions and, not only several of its downstream effectors tend to localize in lipid rafts, some of the enzymes involved in its pathway, of receptors involved in its signalling and its transporters have been often found in these membrane microdomains.

Effects of Photons Irradiation on F-FET and F-DOPA Uptake by T98G Glioblastoma Cells.

The differential diagnosis between brain tumors recurrence and early neuroinflammation or late radionecrosis is still an unsolved problem. The new emerging magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and positron emission tomography diagnostic modalities still lack sufficient accuracy. In the last years, a great effort has been made to develop radiotracers able to detect specific altered metabolic pathways or tumor receptor markers.

Tc-Ga-ICG-Labelled Macroaggregates and Nanocolloids of Human Serum Albumin: Synthesis Procedures of a Trimodal Imaging Agent Using Commercial Kits.

Recent developments in sentinel lymph node (SLN) and radio occult lesion localization (ROLL) highlight the need for a multimodal contrast agent, providing better presurgical PET imaging and improved intraoperative mapping thanks to fluorescence detection. For this reason, we have studied a trimodal SLN/ROLL targeting agent (Tc-Ga-ICG) with commercially available kits of macroaggregated or nanocolloidal albumin (MA/NC-HSA). Ga PET imaging does provide better spatial resolution and makes it possible to predict signal intensity during surgery.

Tuneable Emission of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane Based Nanostructures that Self-Assemble in the Presence of Europium(III) Ions: Reversible trans-to-cis Isomerization.

Hybrid nanostructures with switchable and reversible "blue-red-green" emission were efficiently synthesized. These nanostructures comprise polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) that behave as a nanocage that can be functionalized with terpyridine-based organic ligands, which can be easily complexed with europium (III) ions. The complexes were characterized by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy and their stoichiometry was also confirmed by H NMR spectroscopy.

Efficient Conversion of Carbon Dioxide by Imidazolium-Based Cross-Linked Nanostructures Containing Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Building Blocks.

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) have been employed as molecular building blocks for the synthesis of imidazolium cross-linked networks, to be used as heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of carbon dioxide into cyclic carbonates. Two hybrid materials with different nucleophilic species (bromide and iodide) have been prepared and characterized by means of elemental analysis, C and Si solid-state NMR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and IR spectroscopy. The solids were tested as the sole catalyst under metal- and solvent-free reaction conditions showing full selectivity toward the formation of cyclic carbonates.

A Simple and Efficient Mechanochemical Route for the Synthesis of Salophen Ligands and of the Corresponding Zn, Ni, and Pd Complexes.

A number of salophen ligands and their Zn, Ni, and Pd complexes were synthesized by an efficient one-pot mechanosynthesis protocol. The reaction products were characterized by means of complementary solid-state techniques, i.e.

Effects of L-DOPA Pretreatment on the Kinetics, Migration and Carbon Ion Radiation Response of T98G Cells.

Background/aim: Glioblastoma is the most malignant and widespread brain tumor in adults, with a rapid clinical course. Recently, it has been hypothesized that L-DOPA plays a role in the diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of pretreatment with L-DOPA on the biological behavior of human T98G cells in vitro.

Evidence of Ga-DOTA-NT-20.3 Uptake in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma AsPC-1 Cell Line - in vitro Study.

Background: Neurotensin receptors are overexpressed in several cancer types including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Three NTR subtypes have been cloned: NTR-1, NTR-2 and NTR-3. The most expressed NTR-1 is not present in normal pancreatic tissue and has a low expression in chronic pancreatitis.

Bi-functional heterogeneous catalysts for carbon dioxide conversion: enhanced performances at low temperature.

Novel heterogeneous bi-functional catalysts bearing tin or zinc inserted as single sites within the silica architecture acting as acid centres and decorated with imidazolium moieties as the nucleophile source were successfully synthesized. The materials were extensively characterized various techniques including N physisorption, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and adsorption microcalorimetry. The solids were tested as catalysts for the conversion of carbon dioxide, selecting the synthesis of styrene carbonate as the target reaction.

Uptake of F-FET and F-FCH in Human Glioblastoma T98G Cell Line after Irradiation with Photons or Carbon Ions.

The differential diagnosis between recurrence of gliomas or brain metastases and this phenomenon is important in order to choose the best therapy and predict the prognosis but is still a big problem for physicians. The new emerging MRI, CT, and PET diagnostic modalities still lack sufficient accuracy. Radiolabeled choline and amino acids have been reported to show great tumor specificity.

Silsesquioxane-Terpyridine Nano Building Blocks for the Design of Three-Dimensional Polymeric Networks.

Novel polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) decorated with eight terpyridine moieties were synthesized in a one-pot procedure via Heck coupling reaction with the aim of investigating the possible formation of three-dimensional extended supramolecular organizations. The monosubstituted analogue was also prepared and used as a model compound. Both POSS-based nanostructures were extensively characterized via H, C, and Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopies and combustion chemical analysis.

Imidazolium-Functionalized Carbon Nanohorns for the Conversion of Carbon Dioxide: Unprecedented Increase of Catalytic Activity after Recycling.

Six new hybrid materials composed of carbon nanohorns (CNHs) and highly cross-linked imidazolium salts were easily synthesized using a one-step procedure based on the radical oligomerization of bis-vinylimidazolium salts (bVImiX) in the presence of pristine CNHs. The hybrid materials were characterized and employed as the sole catalysts for the conversion of carbon dioxide into cyclic carbonate by reaction with epoxides. The solids displayed excellent turnover number and productivity.