Safe disposal of cytotoxic waste: an evaluation of an air-tight system.

A 3-month evaluation was undertaken at the Kent Oncology Centre's chemotherapy day unit (CDU) to trial an air-tight sealing disposal system for cytotoxic waste management. Research has identified the potential risk to staff who handle waste products that are hazardous to health. Staff safety was a driving force behind a trial of a new way of working.

Stereoselective synthesis of protected l- and d-dideoxysugars and analogues Prins cyclisations.

A approach for the rapid construction of orthogonally protected l- and d-deoxysugars and analogues is described. A novel and robust silicon-acetal undergoes Prins cyclisations with a series of homoallylic alcohols in high yield and excellent stereocontrol. Modified Tamao-Fleming oxidation of the resulting silyltetrahydropyrans gives direct access to deoxyglycoside analogues and the approach was showcased in the synthesis of protected l-oliose, a component of the anticancer agent aclacinomycin A.

Reactions of copper macrocycles with antioxidants and HOCl: potential for biological redox sensing.

A series of simple copper N(2)S(2) macrocycles were examined for their potential as biological redox sensors, following previous characterization of their redox potentials and crystal structures. The divalent species were reduced by glutathione or ascorbate at a biologically relevant pH in aqueous buffer. A less efficient reduction was also achieved by vitamin E in DMSO.

1,4-Dimethyl-piperazin-1-ium 3-hy-droxy-2-naphtho-ate.

The reaction of 1,4-dimethyl-piperazine and 3-hy-droxy-2-naphthoic acid gives the title 1:1 salt, C(6)H(15)N(2) (+)·C(11)H(7)O(3) (-), with a singly protonated piperazinium cation. In the crystal, a single N-H⋯O hydrogen bond links the cations and anions into discrete pairs and the aromatic anions stack along the crystallographic a-axis direction. This results in layers of cations and anions alternating along the crystallographic c-axis direction.

Cisplatin-tethered gold nanoparticles that exhibit enhanced reproducibility, drug loading, and stability: a step closer to pharmaceutical approval?

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) can be used as delivery vehicles for platinum anticancer drugs, improving their targeting and uptake into cells. Here, we examine the appropriateness of different-sized AuNPs as components of platinum-based drug-delivery systems, investigating their controlled synthesis, reproducibility, consistency of drug loading, and stability. The active component of cisplatin was tethered to 25, 55, and 90 nm AuNPs, with the nanoparticles being almost spherical in nature and demonstrating good batch-to-batch reproducibility (24.

The status of platinum anticancer drugs in the clinic and in clinical trials.

Since its approval in 1979 cisplatin has become an important component in chemotherapy regimes for the treatment of ovarian, testicular, lung and bladder cancers, as well as lymphomas, myelomas and melanoma. Unfortunately its continued use is greatly limited by severe dose limiting side effects and intrinsic or acquired drug resistance. Over the last 30 years, 23 other platinum-based drugs have entered clinical trials with only two (carboplatin and oxaliplatin) of these gaining international marketing approval, and another three (nedaplatin, lobaplatin and heptaplatin) gaining approval in individual nations.