Orally-active anticancer small molecules targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint are actively searched. Phenyl-pyrazolone derivatives with a high affinity for PD-L1 have been designed and characterized. In addition, the phenyl-pyrazolone unit acts as a scavenger of oxygen free radicals, providing antioxidant effects. The mechanism is known for the drug edaravone (1) which is also an aldehyde-reactive molecule. The present study reports the synthesis and functional characterization of new molecules (2-5) with an improved anti-PD-L1 activity. The leading fluorinated molecule 5 emerges as a potent checkpoint inhibitor, avidly binding to PD-L1, inducing its dimerization, blocking PD-1/PD-L1 signaling mediated by phosphatase SHP-2 and reactivating the proliferation of CTLL-2 cells in the presence of PD-L1. In parallel, the compound maintains a significant antioxidant activity, characterized using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-based free radical scavenging assays with the probes DPPH and DMPO. The aldehyde reactivity of the molecules was investigated using 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), which is a major lipid peroxidation product. The formation of drug-HNE adducts, monitored by high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), was clearly identified and compared for each compound. The study leads to the selection of compound 5 and the dichlorophenyl-pyrazolone unit as a scaffold for the design of small molecule PD-L1 inhibitors endowed with antioxidant properties.

Gloves represent an essential feature for hand protection because it is a requirement in the professional framework to comply with both hand hygiene standards and the principles of good laboratory practice. Despite their wide use, there is a knowledge gap regarding their composition, including phthalates. The purpose of the present study was to develop two orthogonal methods, GC-MS and HPLC-DAD, for the screening of plasticizers in gloves. Performances of these two methods were compared in terms of ease of use, number of analyzed plasticizers, and sample preparation. The two methods were validated and applied for the identification and quantification of plasticizers in ten gloves made with different materials (vinyl, nitrile, latex, and neoprene). Results revealed the presence of three main ones: DEHP, DEHT, and DINP. Additionally, the contents of plasticizers were extremely variable, depending on the glove material. As expected, the results point out a predominant use of plasticizers in vinyl gloves with an amount that should be of concern. While DEHP is classified as a toxic substance for reproduction 1B, it was, however, quantified in the ten different glove samples studied. This study provides new data regarding the plasticizers' content in protective gloves, which could be useful for risk assessment.