Imprinted silica nanoparticles coated with N‐propylsilylmorpholine‐4‐carboxamide for the determination of m‐cresol in synthetic and real samples

m‐Cresol‐imprinted silica nanoparticles coated with N‐propylsilylmorpholine‐4‐carboxamide have been developed that contain specific pockets for the selective uptake of m‐cresol. Silica nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol–gel process followed by functionalization of their surface with N‐propylsilylmorpholine‐4‐carboxamide. The formation of m‐cresol‐imprinted silica nanoparticles was confirmed by UV‐Vis spectrophotometry, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Electron microscopic studies revealed the formation of monodispersed imprinted silica nanoparticles with spherical shape and an average size of 83 nm. The developed nanoparticles were filled in a syringe and used for the extraction of m‐cresol from aqueous samples followed by quantification using high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. Various adsorption experiments showed that developed m‐cresol‐imprinted silica nanoparticles exhibited a high adsorption capacity and selectivity and offered a fast kinetics for rebinding m‐cresol. The chromatographic quantification was achieved using mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/water (70:30 v/v) at an isocratic flow rate of 1.0 mL/min using a reversed‐phase C₁₈ column and detection at λ_max = 275 nm. The limits of detection and quantification were 1.86 and 22.32 ng/mL, respectively, for the developed method. The percent recoveries ranged from 96.66–103.33% in the spiked samples. This combination of this nanotechnique with molecular imprinting was proved as a reliable, sensitive and selective method for determining the target from synthetic and real samples.     

Alum as an efficient catalyst for the multicomponent synthesis of functionalized piperidines

An effective approach to the synthesis of functionalized piperidines via a one-pot multicomponent reaction of aniline, β-ketoester and aldehyde in the presence of alum as an efficient catalyst has been reported. The present procedure offers advantages such as simple workup, short reaction time and offers rapid access to a variety of functionalized piperidines.     

A combined treatment of hydration and dynamical effects for the modeling of host–guest binding thermodynamics: the SAMPL5 blinded challenge

As part of the SAMPL5 blinded experiment, we computed the absolute binding free energies of 22 host–guest complexes employing a novel approach based on the BEDAM single-decoupling alchemical free energy protocol with parallel replica exchange conformational sampling and the AGBNP2 implicit solvation model specifically customized to treat the effect of water displacement as modeled by the Hydration Site Analysis method with explicit solvation. Initial predictions were affected by the lack of treatment of ionic charge screening, which is very significant for these highly charged hosts, and resulted in poor relative ranking of negatively versus positively charged guests. Binding free energies obtained with Debye–Hückel treatment of salt effects were in good agreement with experimental measurements. Water displacement effects contributed favorably and very significantly to the observed binding affinities; without it, the modeling predictions would have grossly underestimated binding. The work validates the implicit/explicit solvation approach employed here and it shows that comprehensive physical models can be effective at predicting binding affinities of molecular complexes requiring accurate treatment of conformational dynamics and hydration.     

First report of isolation of maleamic acid from natural source Polygonatum cirrhifolium—A potential chemical marker for identification

Polygonatum cirrhifolium (Meda) plant is being used in number of rejuvenating Ayurvedic formulations. Ever rising demands, lack of natural sources, and insufficient quantity, to meet the requirements of market, the raw material has led toward the use of official substitutes recommended by the Department of AYUSH that has further encouraged manufacturers for adulteration of formulations by other substandard/spurious raw drugs. Literature reveals that more than 60% Ayurvedic parameters as well as pharmacological actions of Ashtawarga plants do not match with their substitutes leading to reduced efficacy of the drugs along with loss of faith for use of herbal drugs. Consumers are forced to pay for the material which has never been used for high-cost claimed formulation. The situation is being exploited by manufacturers because regulatory authorities lack the tools (marker compound) needed for identification of authentic plant. Methanolic extract of rhizomes of plant was subjected to column chromatography. Isolated compound has been characterized as (Z)-4-amino-4-oxobut-2-enoic acid (maleamic acid/maleamate/maleic monoamide/maleic acid monoamide) by chemical test, melting point, IR/NMR/mass/UV spectral analysis. It is the first report in Polygonatum genus and can be used as a marker for identification of the plant in market formulations.     

1,8‐Naphthalimide: A Potent DNA Intercalator and Target for Cancer Therapy

The poor pharmacokinetics, side effects and particularly the rapid emergence of drug resistance compromise the efficiency of clinically used anticancer drugs. Therefore, the discovery of novel and effective drugs is still an extremely primary mission. Naphthalimide family is one of the highly active anticancer drug based upon effective intercalator with DNA. In this article, we review the discovery and development of 1,8‐naphthalimide moiety, and, especially, pay much attention to the structural modifications and structure activity relationships. The review demonstrates how modulation of the moiety affecting naphthalimide compound for DNA binding that is achieved to afford a profile of antitumor activity. The DNA binding of imide and ring substitution at naphthalimide, bisnaphthalimide, naphthalimide‐metal complexes is achieved by molecular recognition through intercalation mode. Thus, this synthetic/natural small molecule can act as a drug when activation or inhibition of DNA function, is required to cure or control the cancer disease. The present study is a review of the advances in 1,8‐naphthalimide‐related research, with a focus on how such derivatives are intercalated into DNA for their anticancer activities.     

Genetic diversity in the human major histocompatibility complex: lessons for vaccination approaches to HIV infection

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) harbours genes that have a primary function of regulating immune responsiveness. Our data on the distribution patterns of molecular subtypes of HLA class I and II extended haplotypes in India suggest that: (1) Asian Indians have extreme diversity in the MHC region, with several novel and unique alleles and disease-associated MHC haplotypes (e.g. the autoimmune-favouring A26-B8-DR3 haplotype); (2) there have been selective environmental and microbial pressures in India that directed either the generation of novel alleles through founder effect or the expansion of other alleles due to geophysical or socio-economic barriers, and (3) Asian Indians have a unique repertoire of peptide-presenting molecules to deal with pathogen-derived autoreactive antigens. This level of polymorphism concentrated within the MHC presents a formidable obstacle to the development of peptide-based vaccines, e.g. for AIDS. Further, studies conducted by us and others have provided a genetic basis for the possible predisposition and fast progression of HIV infections in the Indian population. Since there is selective predominance of different HLA alleles and haplotypes in different populations, a dedicated global screening effort is required to develop MHC-based vaccines against infectious diseases.     

Fluorogenic ratiometric dipodal optode containing imine-amide linkages: Exploiting subtle thorium (IV) ion sensing

The (13E,19E)-N1′,N3′-bis[4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzylidene]malonohydrazide (L) has been developed for the detection of Th⁴⁺ ions using dual channel signalling system. The UV–vis absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopic data revealed the formation of L–Th⁴⁺ complex in 1:1 equilibrium. The density functional theory (DFT) also confirms the optimum binding cavity for the recognition of metal ion. The binding constant computed from different mathematical models for an assembly of L–Th⁴⁺. The detection limit of L for Th⁴⁺ recognition is to a concentration down to 0.1 μM (0.023 μg g⁻¹). The present sensing system is also successfully applied for the detection of Th⁴⁺ ion present in soil near nuclear atomic plants.     

Expedient Protocols for the Installation of 1,5‐Benzoazepino‐Based Privileged Templates on the 2‐Position of 1,4‐Benzodiazepine Through a Phenoxyl Spacer

An efficient novel strategy for the hetero‐annulation of 2‐chloro‐1,4‐benzodiazepine ring, substituted on its 5‐position with a carboxamido group ( 5 ), has been developed to allow the incorporation of 1,5‐benzodiazepine, 1,5‐benzothiazepine, and 1,5‐benzoxazepine ( 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ) rings through their dimethylaminomethylene ketone intermediate ( 7 ).