pH-sensitive phthalocyanine-loaded polymeric nanoparticles as a novel treatment strategy for breast cancer.

Novel pH-sensitive polymeric photosensitizer carriers from the phthalocyanine (Pc) group were investigated as potential photodynamic therapy drugs for the treatment of breast cancer. Their high antiproliferative activity was confirmed by photocytotoxicity studies, which indicated their high efficacy and specificity toward the SK-BR-3 cell line. Importantly, the Pcs encapsulated in the polymeric nanoparticle (NP) carrier exhibited a much better penetration into the acidic environment of tumor cells than their free form.

Tunability of triplet excited states and photophysical behaviour of bis-cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes with imidazo[4,5-][1,10]phenanthroline.

This is a comprehensive study of the photophysical behaviour of heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes with imidazo[4,5-][1,10]phenanthroline (imphen) as an ancillary ligand, represented by the general formula [Ir(N∩C)(imphen)]PF. As cyclometalating ligands, 2-phenylpyridine (Hppy), 2-phenylquinoline (Hpquin), 2-phenylbenzothiazole (Hpbztz), and 2-(2-pyridyl)benzothiophene (pybzthH) were used. The impact of structural modifications of cyclometalating ligands was widely explored by a combination of steady-state and time-resolved optical techniques accompanied by theoretical calculations.

Iron Metabolism in Aminolevulinic Acid-Photodynamic Therapy with Iron Chelators from the Thiosemicarbazone Group.

Iron plays a crucial role in various metabolic processes. However, the impact of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in combination with iron chelators on iron metabolism and the efficacy of ALA-photodynamic therapy (PDT) remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to examine the effect of thiosemicarbazone derivatives during ALA treatment on specific genes related to iron metabolism, with a particular emphasis on mitochondrial iron metabolism genes.

A Study of the Micellar Formation of -Alkyl Betaine Ethyl Ester Chlorides Based on the Physicochemical Properties of Their Aqueous Solutions.

In this study, a series of four surface-active compounds--alkyl betaine ethyl ester chlorides, CBetCCl-were synthesized and characterized in aqueous solutions. As with other alkyl betaines, these amphiphiles can be practically used, for example, as co-surfactants and/or solubility enhancers acting according to hydrotropic or micellar mechanisms, depending on the alkyl chain length in the amine. We focused on the representatives of the medium alkyl chain length (C-C) to find the dependence between the alkyl chain length in -alkyl betaine ethyl ester chlorides and the surface, volumetric, acoustic, and viscometric properties of their solutions.

Functionalization of the NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Surface through Innovative Hydroxyapatite/Ag-TiO Hybrid Coatings.

The objective of this research was to develop a surface modification for the NiTi shape memory alloy, thereby enabling its long-term application in implant medicine. This was achieved through the creation of innovative multifunctional hybrid layers comprising a nanometric molecular system of silver-rutile (Ag-TiO), known for its antibacterial properties, in conjunction with bioactive submicro- and nanosized hydroxyapatite (HAp). The multifunctional, continuous, crack-free coatings were produced using the electrophoretic deposition method (EPD) at 20 V/1 min.

Further Insights into the Impact of Ligand-Localized Excited States on the Photophysics of Phenanthroline-Based Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes.

The present work shows the pivotal role of N-donor substituents attached to 1,10-phenanthroline at the 4,7-positions in perturbation of ground- and excited-state properties of -[ReCl(CO)(Rphen)]. Excited-state processes occurring upon photoexcitation in the designed systems were thoroughly explored with a wide range of steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques, including transient absorption, as well as experimental results were complemented by theoretical studies based on the density functional theory (DFT). It was demonstrated that the attachment of six-membered heterocyclic amines (piperidine─ppr, morpholine─mor, and thiomorpholine─tmor) is a very effective tool for extending absorptivity and excited-state lifetimes of resulting -[ReCl(CO)(Rphen)] due to the contribution of the excited state localized on the phenanthroline-based ligand.

Microwave Irradiation vs. Structural, Physicochemical, and Biological Features of Porous Environmentally Active Silver-Silica Nanocomposites.

Heavy metals and other organic pollutants burden the environment, and their removal or neutralization is still inadequate. The great potential for development in this area includes porous, spherical silica nanostructures with a well-developed active surface and open porosity. In this context, we modified the surface of silica spheres using a microwave field (variable power and exposure time) to increase the metal uptake potential and build stable bioactive AgO/AgCO heterojunctions.