Laccase mimetics as sensing elements for amperometric assay of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in urine.

Monitoring of the levels of 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) is of significant importance for diagnostics of carcinoid tumors. We propose simple catalytic electrochemical sensors for the determination of 5-HIAA in urine using laccase and its mimetics. Laccase-like nanozymes (LacNZs) were synthesized via a chemical reduction, and resulting PtMn and MnO nanoflowers (NFs) demonstrated laccase-like activity similar to the laccase from the Trametes zonata.

Improving the Selectivity of the C-C Coupled Product Electrosynthesis by Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer─An Enhanced Route from Phenol to Biphenol.

We developed a procedure for selective 2,4-dimethylphenol, , direct electro-oxidation to 3,3',5,5'-tetramethyl-2,2'-biphenol, , a C-C coupled product. For that, we used an electrode coated with a product-selective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The procedure is reasonably selective toward without requiring harmful additives or elevated temperatures.

Newly Discovered Components of Sex Pheromone.

The pine-tree lappet moth, is a harmful defoliator of pine forests in Europe and Asia and a potentially invasive species in North America. The lures for trapping males based on two known components of its sex pheromone appeared weakly attractive to male moths. Identification of all components of the sex pheromone might allow for the development of more effective lures.

Winter sources of PM pollution in Podkowa Leśna, a Central-European garden town (Mazovia, Poland).

The paper analyzes PM aerosol samples collected in Podkowa Leśna, a garden town in Mazovia, Central Poland, for 15 days in winter 2019. We determined the mass concentrations in the air of PM and PM-bound organic carbon, elemental carbon, levoglucosan, and nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PM ranged from 11 to 51 μg m (mean 31 μg m) and contained less than 32% organic carbon, 4% elemental carbon, 1% levoglucosan, and 0.

Detection of Fungi and Oomycetes by Volatiles Using E-Nose and SPME-GC/MS Platforms.

Fungi and oomycetes release volatiles into their environment which could be used for olfactory detection and identification of these organisms by electronic-nose (e-nose). The aim of this study was to survey volatile compound emission using an e-nose device and to identify released molecules through solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS) analysis to ultimately develop a detection system for fungi and fungi-like organisms. To this end, cultures of eight fungi (, , , , , , , ) and four oomycetes (, , , ) were tested with the e-nose system and investigated by means of SPME-GC/MS.

Analysis of cerium oxide and copper oxide nanoparticles bioaccessibility from radish using SP-ICP-MS.

Background: The transformation of nanoparticles (NPs) internalized in plant tissues is the human digestive system that can provide a better understanding of the impact of NPs on the human system. The presented methodology was developed to study the bioaccessibility of cerium oxide (CeO ) and copper oxide (CuO) NPs from radish after the in vitro simulation of gastrointestinal digestion using single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS).

Results: Radish plants were cultivated hydroponically in a growth medium containing: (i) CeO NPs and (ii) CuO NPs.

Identification of Flavonoids and Bufadienolides and Cytotoxic Effects of Kalanchoe daigremontiana Extracts on Human Cancer Cell Lines.

species are well-known medicinal plants used in traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory and analgesic remedies. Recently, it has been reported that plants have cytotoxic properties; however, data on traditional use of these plants in tumor treatment are extremely limited. is one of the most popular species cultivated in Europe, and it is used, among other things, as a remedy in treating skin injuries and wounds.

Uptake, translocation, size characterization and localization of cerium oxide nanoparticles in radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, the production and use of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO NPs) in different areas, especially in automotive industry, is rapidly increasing, causing their presence in the environment. Released CeO NPs can undergo different transformations and interact with the soil and hence with plants, providing a potential pathway for human exposure and leading to serious concerns about their impact on the ecosystem and human organism. This study investigates the uptake, bioaccumulation, possible translocation and localization of CeO NPs in a model plant (Raphanus sativus L.

Complexation of tropane alkaloids by cyclodextrins.

Complexes of atropine, homatropine, scopolamine, and ipratropium with cyclodextrins were investigated by NMR and capillary electrophoresis. It has been demonstrated that tropane alkaloids form complexes with β- and γ-cyclodextrins of 1:1 stoichiometry. NMR measurements indicate the formation of complexes where both aliphatic and aromatic parts of tropane alkaloids interact with β-cyclodextrin.

Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle Circulation in an Aquatic Ecosystem.

Nanotechnology is a dynamically developing field of scientific and industrial interest across the entire world, and the commercialization of nanoparticles (NPs) is rapidly expanding. Incorporation of nanotechnologies into a range of manufactured goods results in increasing concern regarding the subsequent release of engineered NPs into the environment. One of the biggest threats of using NPs is the transfer and magnification of these particles in the trophic chain.

Mycoextraction of radiolabeled cesium and strontium by Pleurotus eryngii mycelia in the presence of alumina nanoparticles: Sorption and accumulation studies.

Widespread use of products based on nanomaterials results in the release of nanoparticles into the environment. Nanoparticles can be taken up by organisms, but they can also coexist with other substances such as radionuclides, thus affecting their uptake or toxicity. In contrast, the sorption capacity of nanoparticles is exploited in water purification.

Accumulation of Platinum Nanoparticles by and Plants.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are commonly used, and concerns about their possible adverse effects are being voiced as well. However, little is known about the fates of NPs released to the environment. The aim of the study was to (i) evaluate the ability of and plants to take up platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) and translocate them to aboveground organs, (ii) compare the accumulation efficiency of different forms of platinum and (iii) identify the forms in which platinum is stored in plant tissues.

Toxic effect of silver and platinum nanoparticles toward the freshwater microalga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata.

The growing use of nanoparticles in a wide range of products has resulted in their release into the aquatic environment; therefore, an understanding of the toxic effects of nanoparticles on aquatic organisms is of permanent importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of silver and platinum nanoparticles toward the freshwater microalga, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Algal growth and photosynthetic pigments were determined to quantitate the effects of varying concentrations of Ag and Pt nanoparticles.

Enantioselective Extraction System Containing Binary Chiral Selectors and Chromatographic Enantioseparation Method for Determination of the Absolute Configuration of Enantiomers of Cyclopentolate.

The distribution coefficients and enantioseparation of cyclopentolate were studied in an extraction system containing d-tartaric acid ditertbutyl ester in organic phase and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) in aqueous phase. Various parameters involved in the enantioseparation such as the type and the concentration of chiral selectors, pH value and a wide range of organic solvents were investigated. The maximum enantioselectivity ( = 2.

Interactions with β-cyclodextrin as a way for encapsulation and separation of camphene and fenchene.

The separation of isomeric monoterpenes, camphene and fenchene by complexation with β-cyclodextrin is presented. Both of the monoterpenes form complexes with β-cyclodextrin (as shown by both gas chromatography and (1)H NMR) with similar stability constants nevertheless it is possible to separate them by re-crystallization. The crystal structure of β-cyclodextrin with fenchene was also studied by X-ray diffraction.

Effect of acetylsalicylic acid on the current-voltage characteristics of planar lipid membranes.

Monitoring of influence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on lipid bilayer conductance may contribute to better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying passage of ASA into cells. This paper presents effects of increasing sweeping potential on stability of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine planar bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) without or with cholesterol incubated in the presence of ASA. We demonstrated that current flow through bilayer membranes generated fluctuating pores in their structure.

Determination of diastereomerization barrier of some flavanones by high-performance liquid chromatography methods.

The rate constants and activation energy barriers DeltaG# of diastereomerization reaction of flavanones: naringin, narirutin, hesperidin and neohesperidin were determined. The stopped-flow HPLC (SFM-HPLC), dynamic HPLC (D-HPLC) and enantioselective HPLC combined with the classical kinetic method were applied for determination of these parameters. It was found that the rate constants of diastereomerization were about eight times higher for naringin and narirutin (1.

The phytochemical and genetic survey of common and dwarf juniper (Juniperus communis and Juniperus nana) identifies chemical races and close taxonomic identity of the species.

Juniperus communis L. (= J. communis var.

Thermodynamic studies of complexation and enantiorecognition processes of monoterpenoids by alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin in gas chromatography.

Gas-liquid chromatography was applied in thermodynamic investigations of processes of complexation and enantioseparation by alpha- and [-cyclodextrins of chiral monoterpenoids. The distribution constants, stability constants and thermodynamic parameters enthalpy, entropy and free energy of the complexation processes were determined. It has been found that enantioseparation of monoterpenes by alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins is the result of formation of 1:2 stoichiometric complexes.

Chiral recognition ability of alpha-cyclodextrin with regard to some monoterpenoids under gas-liquid chromatographic conditions.

Gas-liquid chromatography was applied to investigate the mechanism of alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) complexation processes with some chiral monoterpenoids differing from each other in chemical properties and structure. They were chosen from hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones of acyclic, monocyclic and bicyclic structure. The relationships between the retention factor, k, of a guest solute (G) and alpha-CD concentration were studied.

Separation of some chiral flavanones by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) was applied for enantioseparation of selected flavanones, including naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, naringenin, hesperetin, pinostrobin, isosakuranetin, eriodictyol, and homoeriodictyol. gamma-Cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) and sodium cholate (SCh) were used as chiral modifiers inducing enantioselectivity to the background electrolyte. From among many investigated selectors only these two appeared to possess the best enantioselective properties in respect to studied flavanones.

Antibacterial and antifungal activity of juniper berry oil and its selected components.

Juniper berry oil is stated to possess a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities and its monographs are included in some National Pharmacopoeias. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the oil was reported by some authors. In our study we estimated the antibacterial and antifungal activity of three different juniper berry oils and their main components.

Chiral recognition of terpenoids in some pharmaceuticals derived from natural sources.

Capillary gas chromatography was applied to explore the enantiomeric composition of some terpenoids in pharmaceuticals of natural origin. The drugs under investigation were produced in Germany (Rowachol, Rowatinex), Poland (Terpichol, Terpinex, Rub arom, Herbolen and Oleum Camphoratum), Slovenia (Uroterp, Mentoklar) and United Kingdom (Olbas oil, Vicks Vapo Rub). The model compounds tested were: menthone, isomenthone, menthol, fenchone, borneol and camphor.