Impact of Anions on the Partition Constant, Self-Diffusion, Thermal Stability, and Toxicity of Dicationic Ionic Liquids

How 1,n-Bis(3-alkylimidazolium-1-yl) Alkane Interacts with the Phospholipid Membrane and Impacts the Toxicity of Dicationic Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids based on doubly charged cations, often termed dicationic ionic liquids (DILs), offer robust physicochemical properties and low toxicity than conventional monocationic ionic liquids. In this design-based study, we used solid-state NMR spectroscopy to provide the interaction mechanism of two DILs, 1,n-bis(3-alkylimidazolium-1-yl) alkane dibromide ([C_2n(C_7-nIM)₂]²⁺·2Br^-, n = 1, 6), with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1'-rac-glycerol) (POPG) phospholipid membranes, to explain the low toxicity of DILs toward HeLa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell lines. Dications with a short linker and long terminal chains cause substantial perturbation to the bilayer structure, making them more membrane permeabilizing, as shown by fluorescence-based dye leakage assays. The structural perturbation is even higher than [C₁₂(MIM)]⁺ monocations, which carry a single 12-carbon long chain and exhibit a much higher membrane affinity, permeability, and cytotoxicity. These structural details are a crucial contribution to the design strategies aimed at harnessing the biological activity of ionic liquids.

Mefenoxam and pyraclostrobin: toxicity and in vitro inhibitory activity against Pythium insidiosum

The objective of this study to verify in vitro susceptibility of Pythium insidiosum against the agricultural fungicides mefenoxam and pyraclostrobin and evaluate toxicity of both compounds. Twenty-one P. insidiosum isolates were tested against mefenoxam and pyraclostrobin using the broth microdilution method. Minimum inhibitory and oomicidal concentrations for both compounds were established. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed on P. insidiosum hyphae treated with the sublethal concentration of each fungicide. The toxicity of the compounds was evaluated in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans model. The concentration to inhibit 100% of P. insidiosum growth ranged from 0.625 to 10 μg ml^-1 for mefenoxam and from 0.019 to 5 μg ml^-1 for pyraclostrobin. The SEM analysis revealed changes on the surface of the hyphae treated with the fungicides, suggesting possible damage caused by these compounds. There was no evidence of toxicity in vivo models. Mefenoxam and pyraclostrobin did not show toxicity at the doses evaluated and have inhibitory effects on the pathogenic oomycete P. insidiosum. However, further evaluations of their pharmacokinetics and toxicity in different animal species and possible pharmacological interactions are necessary to infer a possible use in the clinical management of pythiosis.

Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for studies on quinolinic acid-induced NMDAR-dependent glutamatergic disorders

Quinolinic acid (QUIN) is an agonist of the neurotransmitter glutamate (Glu) capable of binding to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) increasing glutamatergic signaling. QUIN is known for being an endogenous neurotoxin, able to induce neurodegeneration. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the mechanism by which QUIN induces behavioral and metabolic toxicity has not been fully elucidated. The effects of QUIN on behavioral and metabolic parameters in nmr-1 and nmr-2 NMDA receptors in transgenic and wild-type (WT) worms were performed to decipher the pathway by which QUIN exerts its toxicity. QUIN increased locomotion parameters such as wavelength and movement amplitude medium, as well as speed and displacement, without modifying the number of body bends in an NMDAR-dependent-manner. QUIN increased the response time to the chemical stimulant 1-octanol, which is modulated by glutamatergic neurotransmission in the ASH neuron. Brood size increased after exposure to QUIN, dependent upon nmr-2/NMDA-receptor, with no change in lifespan. Oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the flow of coupled and unbound electrons to ATP production were reduced by QUIN in wild-type animals, but did not alter citrate synthase activity, altering the functionality but the mitochondrial viability. Notably, QUIN modified fine locomotor and chemosensory behavioral parameters, as well as metabolic parameters, analogous to previously reported effects in mammals. Our results indicate that QUIN can be used as a neurotoxin to elicit glutamatergic dysfunction in C. elegans in a way analogous to other animal models.

Antimicrobial and Toxicity Evaluation of Imidazolium-Based Dicationic Ionic Liquids with Dicarboxylate Anions

Imidazolium-based dicationic ILs (DILs) presenting antimicrobial activity and relatively low toxicity are highly desirable and are envisioned for use in live tissue to prevent bacterial or fungal infections. In this context, we present here DILs with dicarboxylate anions [C_n(MIM)₂[C_n(MIM)₂][CO₂-(CH₂)_mCO₂], in which n = 4, 6, 8, and 10, and m = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The results showed that DILs with an alkyl chain spacer of ten carbons were active against yeasts and the bacterial strains tested. However, most of the DILs were cytotoxic and toxic at 1 mM. By contrast, DILs with alkyl chains possessing less than ten carbons were active against some specific Candidas and bacteria (mainly S. aureus), and they showed moderate cytotoxicity. The best activity against Gram-positive bacteria was observed for [C₄(MIM)₂][Pim] toward MRSA. For the DILs described herein, their level of toxicity against C. elegans was lower than that of most of the mono- and dicationic IL analogs with other anions. Our results showed that the presence of carboxylate anions reduces the toxicity of DILs compared to DILs containing halide anions, which is particularly significant to the means of designing biologically active compounds in antimicrobial formulations.

Systematic Synthesis and Properties Evaluation of Dicationic Ionic Liquids, and a Glance Into a Potential New Field

Dicationic ionic liquids (DILs), a subset of the ionic liquid (IL) family, have attracted growing interest in recent years, and the range of applications within which they are investigated is constantly expanding. However, data which allows structure to property correlation of a DIL is still limited, and thus selecting an appropriate salt to address a specific challenge can be problematic. In comparison to traditional ILs, DILs physico-chemical properties can be tuned by changing the length and type of spacer which connects the cationic heads as well as the type of cation. This in turn could give rise to symmetrical or asymmetrical DILs. In this work, a systematic study of a homogeneous class of 12 dibromide DILs and 12 di-carboxylate salts has been performed. The latter class of DILs were also compared to mono cation derivatives. The different traditional exchange methods to prepare carboxylate DILs have been evaluated and an insight into the drawbacks encountered is also presented. Prepared DILs were characterized (NMR, TGA, DSC) allowing the influence of the structure on their thermal stability to be understood. Most DILs were obtained as solid salts after careful drying. For some of these compounds, a new possible application was studied, namely their use as hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA) of deep eutectic mixtures, showing again some significant structural related effects.