Modelling the aquatic toxicity of ionic liquids by means of VolSurf in silico descriptors

VolSurf+ in silico physicochemical descriptors for both the cationic and the anionic counterparts of ionic liquids (ILs) have been derived. These descriptors, suitable for molecular modelling of IL structures which, due to their amphiphilic nature, interact strongly with biological matrices, can be related to aquatic toxicity by means of a partial least squares statistical model. This model gives an insight into the relationships between structural physicochemical properties and aquatic toxicity as well as a satisfactory quantitative structure-property correlation, allowing prediction of aquatic toxicity scores of ILs.

Photoactivity of hierarchically nanostructured ZnO–PES fibre mats for water treatments

Brush-like ZnO nanorods shell grown by CBD onto electrospun PES fibres as photocatalytic membranes for water purification.

New pegylated polyaspartamide-based polyplexes as gene delivery vectors

Aims: To synthesize novel polyhydroxyethylaspartamide (PHEA) copolymers containing spermine (Spm) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) moieties in high yields, with the expectation that this material would show stealth properties and the ability to complex DNA by electrostatic interactions. Materials & methods: PHEA–PEG–Spm copolymer was prepared with a two-step reaction. Chemical, physicochemical and biological characterizations of PHEA–PEG–Spm copolymers and their obtained polyplexes with pDNA were performed. Results: The introduction of spermine in PHEA structure allows to obtain a copolymer bearing in the side chains polyamine moieties capable to interact with DNA. On the other hand, the introduction of PEG in polymeric structure increased the DNA condensing ability of PHEA–PEG–Spm copolymer in comparison with the derivatives without PEG (PHEA-Spm), and improved its characteristics of biocompatibility. Conclusions: PHEA–PEG–Spm copolymer shows excellent ability to complex and condense plasmidic DNA giving interpolyelectrolyte complexes to act as gene delivery systems. Moreover, PEGylation confers to the obtained interpolyelectrolyte complexes stealth properties.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of PHEA–oligoamine copolymers as potential gene delivery systems

Aims: To prepare new copolymers, useful for gene delivery, based on α, β-poly-(N-2-hydroxyethyl)-D, L-aspartamide (PHEA) as a polymeric backbone and bearing an oligoamine such as diethylenetriamine in the side chain. Moreover, in order to reduce solvent volume and make the reaction faster, microwave-assisted heating was used. Materials & methods: PHEA copolymers bearing different amounts of diethylenetriamine were prepared using bis(4-nitrophenyl) carbonate as a condensing agent with the use of microwaves. Chemical, physico–chemical and biological characterization of PHEA–diethylenetriamine copolymers and their complexes obtained with DNA were performed. Results: Copolymers showed good DNA complexing and condensing abilities depending on the oligoamine derivatization degree and good hemocompatibility. Moreover, plasmid DNA/copolymer polyplexes showed very good cytocompatibility on B16F10 and N2A cell lines. Conclusion: Results support the use of these copolymers as gene delivery systems in the future. Finally, the use of microwaves makes the proposed synthetic method advantageous as time and solvents are saved.