Biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) have received considerable attention because of their possible use in the development of strategies for the topical delivery of oils and therapeutic drugs, particularly when drug penetration in dermis is desired. Zein is a prolamine and is a promising material for the design of drug delivery systems. In this study, NPs were prepared with zein and were used to encapsulate and release terpinen-4-ol, which is a therapeutic agent for the treatment of melanoma. The results show that the zein NPs are promising nanostructured systems for the prolonged delivery of T4OL with potential applications in anti-melanoma therapy.

O composto 4-(4-nitrobenzilidenoamino)fenol foi utilizado em duas estratégias que permitem uma detecção altamente seletiva de F- e CN-. Primeiramente, observou-se que o composto em acetonitrila age como um quimiossensor cromogênico devido ao fato de que ânions básicos levam ao seu desprotonamento (solução incolor), resultando numa solução colorida contendo fenolato. A detecção seletiva de CN- sobre F- foi obtida adicionando-se 1,4% de água ao sistema: a água solvata preferencialmente o F-, enquanto o CN- fica relativamente livre para desprotonar o composto fenólico. Outra estratégia envolveu um ensaio de competição do fenolato e do analito pelo calix[4]pirrol em acetonitrila, um receptor altamente seletivo para F-. O fenolato e o calix[4]pirrol formam um complexo por ligação de hidrogênio, com mudança na cor do meio. Dentre diversos ânions, somente o F- foi capaz de restaurar a cor original correspondendo ao fenolato, pelo fato do ânion deslocá-lo do sítio de complexação.

4-(4-Nitrobenzylideneamine)phenol was used in two strategies allowing the highly selective detection of F- and CN-. Firstly, the compound in acetonitrile acts as a chromogenic chemosensor based on the idea that more basic anions cause its deprotonation (colorless solution), generating a colored solution containing phenolate. The discrimination of CN- over F- was obtained by adding 1.4% water to acetonitrile: water preferentially solvates F-, leaving the CN- free to deprotonate the compound. Another strategy involved an assay comprised of the competition between phenolate dye and the analyte for calix[4]pyrrole in acetonitrile, a receptor highly selective for F-. Phenolate and calix[4]pyrrole form a hydrogen-bonded complex, which changes the color of the medium. On the addition of various anions, only F- was able to restore the original color corresponding to phenolate in solution due to the fact that the anion dislodges phenolate from the complexation site.