Synthesis of 1-aminoimidazo[5,1-a]isoquinolinium salts based on multicomponent reactions of isocyanides

A novel pseudo-four-component condensation yielding 1-aminoimidazo[5,1- a]isoquinolinium salts from isocyanides, isoquinoline, and sulfonic or bromic acids is described. The method offers several advantages including high yields of products and an easy experimental workup procedure.     

Design and synthesis of new 2-substituted-5-[2-(2-halobenzyloxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazoles as anticonvulsant agents

A new series of 2-substituted-5-[2-(2-halobenzyloxy)phenyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazoles was designed and synthesized as anticonvulsant agents. Electroshock and pentylenetetrazole-induced lethal convulsion tests showed that the introduction of an amino group at position 2 of 1,3,4-oxadiazole ring and a fluoro substituent at ortho position of benzyloxy moiety had the best anticonvulsant activity. Our results showed that this effect is mediated through benzodiazepine receptors mechanism.     

Synthesis of a novel class of 3‐(2′‐benzothiazolyl)‐2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones under solvent‐free and catalyst‐free conditions

A solvent‐ and catalyst‐free one‐pot three‐component condensation reaction approach was developed for the synthesis of a new class of 3‐(2′‐benzothiazolyl)‐2,3‐dihydroquinazolin‐4(1H)‐ones in relatively good yields.     

Bioinspired synthesis,characterization and antifungal activity of enzyme-mediated gold nanoparticles using a fungal oxidoreductase

The development of efficient cell-free systems of nanoparticle synthesis using microbial enzymes is a growing field of biological and green chemistry for the supportable improvement in nano-biotechnology. In the present study, we established a cell-free system for producing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a fungal oxidoreductase named sulfite oxidoreductase purified to homogeneity from Fusarium oxysporum. The enzyme was purified by ultrafiltration followed by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-50 gel, and its molecular weight was determined by gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-300 gel. The purified enzyme had a molecular weight of 346 kDa. It was composed of three subunits of 176, 94 and 76 kDa. Purified enzyme was successfully used for production of gold nanoparticles in a cell-free system. Synthesized gold nanoparticles showed the highest absorbance at 520 nm wavelength as shown by UV–visible spectroscopy. They were spherical in shape with an average size of 20 nm as determined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Assessment of the antifungal properties of synthesized nanoparticles by disk diffusion method indicated a potent growth inhibitory activity against all tested human pathogenic yeasts and molds by inhibition zones ranged from 10 to 18 mm. Taken together, our enzymatically established method of nanoparticle synthesis using a purified sulfite oxidoreductase of F. oxysporum can be considered as an efficient tool for generating harmless bioactive gold nanoparticles with potential applications in biology, medicine and industry.     

A novel isocyanide-based three-component reaction: synthesis of highly substituted 1,6-dihydropyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile derivatives

A novel multi-component synthesis of highly substituted 1,6-dihydropyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile derivatives starting from simple and readily available inputs is described. Thus, simply stirring an ethanol solution of 2,3-diaminomaleonitrile, a ketone, and an isocyanide in the presence of a catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid provided highly substituted 1,6-dihydropyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile derivatives in good to excellent yields at ambient temperature.     

From Oncogenic Signaling Pathways to Single-Cell Sequencing of Immune Cells: Changing the Landscape of Cancer Immunotherapy

Over the past decade, there have been remarkable advances in understanding the signaling pathways involved in cancer development. It is well-established that cancer is caused by the dysregulation of cellular pathways involved in proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, cell metabolism, migration, cell polarity, and differentiation. Besides, growing evidence indicates that extracellular matrix signaling, cell surface proteoglycans, and angiogenesis can contribute to cancer development. Given the genetic instability and vast intra-tumoral heterogeneity revealed by the single-cell sequencing of tumoral cells, the current approaches cannot eliminate the mutating cancer cells. Besides, the polyclonal expansion of tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes in response to tumoral neoantigens cannot elicit anti-tumoral immune responses due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, the data from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells can provide valuable insights regarding the expression of inhibitory immune checkpoints/related signaling factors in immune cells, which can be used to select immune checkpoint inhibitors and adjust their dosage. Indeed, the integration of the data obtained from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells with immune checkpoint inhibitors can increase the response rate of immune checkpoint inhibitors, decrease the immune-related adverse events, and facilitate tumoral cell elimination. This study aims to review key pathways involved in tumor development and shed light on single-cell sequencing. It also intends to address the shortcomings of immune checkpoint inhibitors, i.e., their varied response rates among cancer patients and increased risk of autoimmunity development, via applying the data from the single-cell sequencing of immune cells.     

Application of micellar enhanced ultrafiltration (MEUF) for arsenic (v) removal from aqueous solutions and process optimization

In this study, the removal of arsenic was evaluated using micellar-enhanced ultrafiltration process. Response surface methodology and Box-Behnken matrix methods were also applied to design the experiments and determine the optimum conditions. Therefore, the main operational parameters including pH (4–10), initial concentration of arsenic (20–80?µg/L), and concentration of Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) (1–3?mM) were investigated. The results of analysis of variance revealed a good agreement between experimental data and the built model with the determination coefficient (R²) of 0.99. Accordingly, the removal efficiency obtained was about 94.8% at the optimal condition (pH?=?6.73, the initial concentration of arsenic?=?29.44?µg/L, and CTAB concentration of 2.83?mM).     

Synthesis,characterization and extraction properties of calix[4]crown with amine units and study of its complexes with Cu(II)

In this work, we have focused on the synthesis of p-tert-butyl calix[4]crown with amine units (H ₃ L) as a class of selective receptors for metal ions. The macrocyclic ligand (H ₃ L) with N₂O₇ donors was synthesized via condensation between 1,3-diaminocalix[4]arene and 2-[3-(2-formylphenoxy)-2-hydroxypropoxy] benzaldehyde, followed by reduction of the Schiff base product in situ with sodium borohydride, then it was characterized by FT-IR, ¹H NMR and X-ray crystallography. Two Cu(II) complexes were prepared from the reaction of H ₃ L with Cu(II) salts (CuX₂, X = ClO₄ ^? and Cl^?). FT-IR, UV–Vis, elemental analysis, molar conductivity and cyclic voltammetry techniques were used for study and characterization of these complexes. On the basis of liquid–liquid extraction experiments, ligand H ₃ L indicated good affinity toward Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺.     

Matrices based on meso antibacterial framework

In this paper, the synthesis of three types of porous materials (PMs) (porous Fe₃O₄, MIL-101 metal-organic framework (MOF), and MCM-41 mesoporous silica) by hydrothermal method was performed. The incorporation of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was carried out after the synthesis reaction of supports in MCM-41 and MIL-101 MOF. Ag core@ porous Fe₃O₄ core–shell system was prepared via a one-pot hydrothermal method. Ag-MIL-101 was obtained using Urtica dioica leaf extract as the green solvent and reducing agent. The antibacterial activity of Ag-PM nanocomposites (NCs) was investigated on both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The size of the silver NPs was determined to be 12 and 30 nm in MCM-41 and MIL-101 MOF, respectively. The diameter of Ag core in Ag@Fe₃O₄ shell was ~135 nm. The antibacterial activity of Ag-PMs was in the order Ag-MCM-41 > Ag-MIL-101 > Ag core@Fe₃O₄ shell. The loading percent of Ag NPs in MCM-41 (84%) was more than that in MIL-101 (53%) and Fe₃O₄ (31%). The release of Ag⁺ ions from Ag-MCM-41, Ag-MIL-101, and Ag@Fe₃O₄ NCs was 46, 2, and 1 ppm, respectively. The release of the Ag⁺ ions and, consequently, the antibacterial activity of NCs depend on the uniform distribution, particles size, and the absence of aggregation of Ag NPs in PMs.