https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/906 Tue, 27 Oct 2026 03:14:32 GMT 2026-10-27T03:14:32Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150482 Title: Avenues for cocrystallisation of pharmaceuticals using solid state methods Authors: Ellul, Jake; Vella-Zarb, Liana Abstract: Crystal engineering principles may be applied to a variety of materials with the goal of optimising their physical properties without chemical alterations. This is especially useful when considering active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Cocrystallisation of APIs is carried out using coformers which are found on the generally regarded as safe (GRAS) list. The large variety of materials that are found on this list gives a lot of potential for cocrystal synthesis, however coformer selection is not a trivial process and simple trial and error can result in a large volume of physical experimentation. Computational methods may be used to tackle this issue and narrow down a list of coformers which are suitable for cocrystal formation with different API molecules. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/150482 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149893 Title: Synchronous bladder and prostate cancer specimens obtained from radical cystoprostatectomy : a single‑center retrospective analysis Authors: Baio, Raffaele; Molisso, Giovanni; Caruana, Christian; Di Mauro, Umberto; Intilla, Olivier; Pane, Umberto; D'Angelo, Costantino; Campitelli, Antonio; Pentimalli, Francesca; Sanseverino, Roberto Abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyze incidence, histopathological features and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing radical cystoprostatectomy (RCP) for bladder cancer, in which incidental prostate cancer (PCa) was found. How these types of cancer impacted the patients' management and whether prostate‑sparing cystectomy could be an option for these patients was determined. The current study retrospectively analyzed the data of a cohort of patients from ‘Umberto I’ Hospital of Nocera Inferiore who underwent RCP for bladder transitional cell carcinoma. Patients with a preoperative diagnosis or clinical suspicion of PCa were excluded. Patients affected by incidental PCa in the RCP specimens were identified, and then their demographic, histopathological and clinical outcome data were collected. Overall, it was revealed that of the 303 patients undergoing RCP for bladder cancer, 69 (22.7%) had incidental PCa, with a median age of 71.6 (age range, 54‑89 years). In total, 23 (33.33%) of the 69 patients with incidental PCa were considered to have clinically significant prostate disease. In conclusion, it was relatively common to identify incidental PCa in RCP specimens but no preoperative predictive factors were identified that were able to determine ‘non‑aggressive’ PCa status. Therefore, the present results demonstrate the need for a careful and complete prostate removal during RCP. Nevertheless, since organ‑sparing surgeries are widely performed in young population, due to the impossibility of predicting aggressive prostate cancer, these patients require close monitoring through lifelong PSA surveillance, particularly focusing on the possible relapse of PCa after RCP. Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149893 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149273 Title: Spectrophotometric studies of a fluorescent naphthalenediimide PET and ICT pH indicator and DNA intercalator Authors: Johnson, Alex D.; Valentino, Mario; Hunter, Gary J.; Magri, David C. Abstract: Three naphthalenedimides (NDIs) were studied by UV-visible absorbance, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy in aqueous methanolic solution as DNA intercalators. Distinct solution colours are observed for the compounds under room lighting and upon irradiation with 365 nm UV light. The tetra-substituted dimethylaminoethylene NDI is designed as a fluorescent pH indicator with a ‘fluorophore–spacer–receptor’ construct based on a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) mechanism. This NDI derivative exhibits a significant change in the ellipticity with calf-thymus DNA. Fluorescence DNA titrations further revealed strong binding towards DNA, resulting in pronounced emission quenching. Incubation of MCF-7 cells reveals localisation of the fluorescent probe in the nucleus, specifically in the nucleoli. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149273 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149272 Title: Alkylpiperazino-1,8-Naphthalimide fluorescent probes for exploring micellar membrane nanospaces Authors: Bazalieieva, Yelyzaveta; Magri, David C. Abstract: Two 4-piperazine-1,8-naphthalimides were designed as fluorescent probes for exploring the local polarity and proton concentration at the interface of micelles. Designed with an 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳₁-𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦-𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘳-𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘳-𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘳₂ layout, the hydrophobicity of the pH probes was tuned by substitution of the anchor modules with different alkyl chains (methyl, butyl and octyl) to facilitate the micellar penetration depth. Fluorescence switching ‘on’ in methanol/water media upon protonation of the piperazine receptor is driven by a competition between solvent polarity and photoinduced charge transfer. The solvatochromic properties were investigated to enhance visual naked-eye communication. The fluorescent probes were tasked with reporting on the local polarity and proton content within sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) and Triton X-100 micelles. The dimethyl-substituted probe reported on the environment about the micelle/bulk water interface. The more hydrophobic octyl-butyl-substituted probe explored deeper into the micelles. Insight was gained into the local polarity and proton gradients inside micelles, as corroborated by emission wavelength, fluorescence quantum yield and Δp𝘒ₐ values. The findings are discussed in the context of the benzofurazan polarity–Δp𝘒ₐ maps reported by Uchiyama and de Silva. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/149272 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z