Spectroscopic and photochemical evaluation of stereochemically biased 3'-substituted spiropyran photoswitches.

Three series of spiropyran photoswitches with an auxiliary chiral centre at position 3' of the indoline unit were synthesized. Using one example, a novel methodology for synthesis of an optically active spiropyran photoswitch with a defined chirality at position 3' is demonstrated. Furthermore, a new acid-mediated strategy for spiropyran purification affording moderate to excellent yields (up to 96%) is reported herein.

Dicobalt(ii) helices kill colon cancer cells enantiomer-specific mechanisms; DNA damage or microtubule disruption.

Highly diastereoselective self-assembly reactions give both enantiomers (Λ and Δ) of anti-parallel triple-stranded bimetallic Co(ii) and Co(iii) cationic helices, without the need for resolution; the first such reaction for Co. The complexes are water soluble and stable, even in the case of Co(ii). Studies in a range of cancer and healthy cell lines indicate high activity and selectivity, and substantial differences between enantiomers.

Interaction of dinuclear Co(III) cylinders with higher-order DNA structures.

Alternative DNA structures play critical roles in fundamental biological processes linked to human diseases. Thus, targeting and stabilizing these structures by specific ligands could affect the progression of cancer and other diseases. Here, we describe, using methods of molecular biophysics, the interactions of two oxidatively locked [CoL] cylinders, rac-2 and meso-1, with diverse alternative DNA structures, such as junctions, G quadruplexes, and bulges.

Development and validation of TreatHSP-QoL: a patient-reported outcome measure for health-related quality of life in hereditary spastic paraplegia.

Background: Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a rare neurodegenerative disease that lacks specific and validated patient-centered outcome measures (PCOMs). We aimed to develop and validate a health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire specific to HSP ("TreatHSP-QoL") that could be used as a PCOM.

Results: The pilot-items of the TreatHSP-QoL (45 five-level Likert scale items, with values per item between 0 and 4) were developed based on a qualitative data analysis of 54 semi-structured interviews, conducted in person with 36 HSP patients and 18 caregivers.