Magnetic Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites for Surface‐Enhanced Resonance Raman Spectroscopic Determination and Degradation of Toxic Anilines and Phenols

Mesoporous M‐TiO₂ NCs, functionalized by PATP, can capture toxic anilines and phenols by azo coupling. Loading these nanodevices with Ag NPs offers the possibility for a sensitive quantitative determination of target compounds by SERRS spectroscopy, which allows multiplex detection because of the specific vibrational fingerprints. Sensitivity and selectivity can be further enhanced by concentrating the hybrid particles by an external magnet and compound‐specific binding (anilines versus phenols). The bound toxic compounds can be degraded by TiO₂‐assisted photocatalysis after removal of the loaded hybrid particles from the sample solution with an external magnet. The degradation process can be enhanced in the presence of plasmonic Ag nanostructures.     

Chemical Probing of the Human Sirtuin 5 Active Site Reveals Its Substrate Acyl Specificity and Peptide‐Based Inhibitors

Sirtuins are NAD⁺‐dependent deacetylases acting as sensors in metabolic pathways and stress response. In mammals there are seven isoforms. The mitochondrial sirtuin 5 is a weak deacetylase but a very efficient demalonylase and desuccinylase; however, its substrate acyl specificity has not been systematically analyzed. Herein, we investigated a carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 derived peptide substrate and modified the lysine side chain systematically to determine the acyl specificity of Sirt5. From that point we designed six potent peptide‐based inhibitors that interact with the NAD⁺ binding pocket. To characterize the interaction details causing the different substrate and inhibition properties we report several X‐ray crystal structures of Sirt5 complexed with these peptides. Our results reveal the Sirt5 acyl selectivity and its molecular basis and enable the design of inhibitors for Sirt5.     

Synthesis and characterization of palladium(II) complexes [PdX2(p-diben)] (X = Cl,Br, I,N3, or NCO; p-diben = N,N′-bis(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine): crystal structure of [Pd(N3)2(p-diben)]

Five new complexes of general formula [PdX₂(p-diben)], where p-diben = N,N′-bis(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine) (1) and X = Cl (2), Br (3), I (4), N₃ (5), or CNO (6), were synthesized and characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. The crystal structure of compound (5) was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complexes 2–6 were characterized as N,N-chelated products. The crystal structure confirmed this formulation for [Pd(N₃)₂(p-diben)], besides showing the isomerism inversion of one of the C=N bonds, caused by Pd(II) coordination.     

Silica–gelatin hybrids for tissue regeneration: inter-relationships between the process variables

Owing to their diverse range of highly tailorable material properties, inorganic/organic hybrids have the potential to meet the needs of biodegradable porous scaffolds across a range of tissue engineering applications. One such hybrid platform, the silica–gelatin sol–gel system, was examined and developed in this study. These hybrid scaffolds exhibit covalently linked interpenetrating networks of organic and inorganic components, which allows for independent control over their mechanical and degradation properties. A combination of the sol–gel foaming process and freeze drying was used to create an interconnected pore network. The synthesis and processing of the scaffolds has many variables that affect their structure and properties. The focus of this study was to develop a matrix tool that shows the inter-relationship between process variables by correlating the key hybrid material properties with the synthesis parameters that govern them. This was achieved by investigating the effect of the organic (gelatin) molecular weight and collating previously reported data. Control of molecular weight of the polymer is as an avenue that allows the modification of hybrid material properties without changing the surface chemistry of the material, which is a factor that governs the cell and tissue interaction with the scaffold. This presents a significant step forward in understanding the complete potential of the silica–gelatin hybrid system as a medical device.     

One-Pot Cooperation of Single-Atom Rh and Ru Solid Catalysts for a Selective Tandem Olefin Isomerization-Hydrosilylation Process

Realizing the full potential of oxide-supported single-atom metal catalysts (SACs) is key to successfully bridge the gap between the fields of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. Here we show that the one-pot combination of Ru₁/CeO₂ and Rh₁/CeO₂ SACs enables a highly selective olefin isomerization-hydrosilylation tandem process, hitherto restricted to molecular catalysts in solution. Individually, monoatomic Ru and Rh sites show a remarkable reaction specificity for olefin double-bond migration and anti-Markovnikov α-olefin hydrosilylation, respectively. First-principles DFT calculations ascribe such selectivity to differences in the binding strength of the olefin substrate to the monoatomic metal centers. The single-pot cooperation of the two SACs allows the production of terminal organosilane compounds with high regio-selectivity (>95 %) even from industrially-relevant complex mixtures of terminal and internal olefins, alongside a straightforward catalyst recycling and reuse. These results demonstrate the significance of oxide-supported single-atom metal catalysts in tandem catalytic reactions, which are central for the intensification of chemical processes.     

Eu(O2C-C≡C-CO2): An EuII Containing Anhydrous Coordination Polymer with High Stability and Negative Thermal Expansion

Anhydrous Eu^II–acetylenedicarboxylate (EuADC; ADC²⁻ = ⁻O₂C-C≡C-CO₂⁻) was synthesized by reaction of EuBr₂ with K₂ADC or H₂ADC in degassed water under oxygen-free conditions. EuADC crystallizes in the SrADC type structure (I4₁/amd, Z=4) forming a 3D coordination polymer with a diamond-like arrangement of Eu²⁺ nodes (msw topology including the connecting ADC²⁻ linkers). Deep orange coloured EuADC is stable in air and starts decomposing upon heating in an argon atmosphere only at 440 °C. Measurements of the magnetic susceptibilities (μ_eff=7.76 μ_B) and ¹⁵¹Eu Mössbauer spectra (δ=−13.25 mm s⁻¹ at 78 K) confirm the existence of Eu²⁺ cations. Diffuse reflectance spectra indicate a direct optical band gap of E_g=2.64 eV (470 nm), which is in accordance with the orange colour of the material. Surprisingly, EuADC does not show any photoluminescence under irradiation with UV light of different wavelengths. Similar to SrADC, EuADC exhibits a negative thermal volume expansion below room temperature with a volume expansion coefficient α_V=−9.4(12)×10⁻⁶ K⁻¹.     

Superior Antibacterial Activity of Integral Lemon Pectin Extracted via Hydrodynamic Cavitation

Pectin extracted via hydrodynamic cavitation in water only from waste lemon peel and further isolated via freeze drying displays significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram positive pathogen which easily contaminates food. The antibacterial effect of the new IntegroPectin is largely superior to that of commercial citrus pectin, opening the way to advanced applications of a new bioproduct now obtainable in large amounts and at low cost from citrus juice industry's waste.     

Two Cu(I) complexes based on semicarbazone ligand: synthesis,crystal structure,Hirshfeld surface and anticancer activity evaluation against human cell lines

Structural Chemistry - Two novel Cu(I) complexes with the 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-phenyl semicarbazone (HL) ligand, [CuCl (HL)(PPh3)]∙CH3CN (1) and [CuBr (HL)(PPh3)] (2), were investigated by...     

Laquinimod Modulates Human Astrocyte Function and Dampens Astrocyte-Induced Neurotoxicity during Inflammation

Astrocytes greatly participate to inflammatory and neurotoxic reactions occurring in neurodegenerative diseases and are valuable pharmacological targets to support neuroprotection. Here we used human astrocytes generated from reprogrammed fibroblasts as a cellular model to study the effect of the compound Laquinimod and its active metabolite de-Laquinimod on astrocyte functions and the astrocyte–neuron interaction. We show that human iAstrocytes expressed the receptor for the inflammatory mediator IL1 and responded to it via nuclear translocation of NFκB, an event that did not occur if cells were treated with Laquinimod, indicating a direct anti-inflammatory activity of the drug on the human astrocyte. Similarly, while exposure to IL1 downregulated glial glutamate transporters GLAST and GLT1, treatment with Laquinimod supported maintenance of physiological levels of these proteins despite the inflammatory milieu. Laquinimod also induced nuclear translocation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), suggesting that drug action was mediated by activation of the AHR pathway. However, the drug was effective despite AHR inhibition via CH223191, indicating that AHR signaling in the astrocyte is dispensable for drug responses. Finally, in vitro experiments with rat spinal neurons showed that laquinimod did not exert neuroprotection directly on the neuron but dampened astrocyte-induced neurodegeneration. Our findings indicate that fibroblast-derived human astrocytes represent a suitable model to study astrocyte–neuron crosstalk and demonstrate indirect, partial neuroprotective efficacy for laquinimod.