Cancer treatment represents one of the main scientific study targets today, mainly due to the pronounced side effects arising from chemotherapy. This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and anticancer activity of ten compounds from the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction. Ethylene glycol diacrylate was used as a double Michael acceptor in reactions with isatin derivatives to give homodimers of 3-hydroxyindolin-2-one core, recognized in the literature for its extensive pharmacological profile. The use of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2,2,2]octane (DABCO) as a catalyst and room temperature were the optimal conditions for the study reaction. The isolated yields were up to 63%, with most reaction times inferior to 24 h, some as fast as 15 min. The anticancer potential of the synthesized dimers was evaluated in vitro against three cancer strains, resulting in average inhibitory concentrations up to 0.72 µM. It was also found that the best performing homodimers are more active than their monomeric counterparts. Considering the promising selectivity indices observed, the preliminary results obtained here act as a basis for broader tests regarding the effectiveness of homodimeric adducts against cancer cells.

We describe a synthetic route consisting of five steps from aniline to obtain liquid crystal compounds derived from nitroazobenzene. Syntheses were performed during the second half of the semester in organic chemistry laboratory classes. Students characterized the liquid crystal phase by the standard melting point techniques, differential scanning calorimetry and polarized optical microscopy. These experiments allow undergraduate students to explore fundamentally important reactions in Organic Chemistry, as well as modern concepts in Chemistry such as self-assembly and self-organization, nanostructured materials and molecular electronics.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar macro e microscopicamente a evolução do autotransplante de diferentes fragmentos de baço no omento maior, após oito semanas de observação. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 20 ratos Wistar, machos e adultos, submetidos a esplenectomia total e distribuídos em dois grupos. O grupo I - dez animais com implante de fragmento com 25% do peso do baço no omento e o grupo II - dez animais com implante de fragmento com 30% do peso do baço no omento. Foram observados macro e microscopicamente a evolução dos implantes. RESULTADOS: Foi observada no fragmento transplantado aderência aos tecidos adjacentes e vascularização preservada. Os grupos I e II apresentaram polpa branca e vascularização preservada, polpa branca com formação folicular e tecido linfóide preservado, e a polpa vermelha com aspecto cordonal. O grupo II apresentou polpa branca mais desorganizada e polpa vermelha hemorrágica. Os macrófagos ativos foram observados nos grupos I e II. CONCLUSÃO: O autotransplante esplênico do grupo I mostrou melhor regeneração.

PURPOSE: To evaluate macro and microscopically the evolution of autotransplants of fragments of spleen different fragments in the greater omentum, after eight weeks of observation. METHODS: Twenty rats Wistar were used, males and adults, submitted to total splenectomy and divided in two groups. The group I - ten animals with implant of spleen fragment (25% weight of spleen) in the omentum; and group II - ten animals with implant of spleen fragment (30% weight of spleen) in the omentum. It was analyzed macro and microscopically the evolution of the implant. RESULTS: It was observed adherences to the adjacent tissues and vascularization in all of the fragments transplanted. The group I and II presented white pulp with follicular formations and lymphoid tissue preserved, and the red pulp in cordon aspect. The group II presented white pulp more disorganized and red pulp hemorrhagic. The active macrophages were observed in the group I and II. CONCLUSION: The splenic autotransplantation of the group I showed better regeneration.