Retention of lysozyme activity by physical immobilization in nanocellulose aerogels and antibacterial effects

Aerogels prepared from aqueous dispersions of anionic and cationic cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were investigated as solid supports for enzymes and silver nanoparticles and to elicit a sustained antibacterial effect. The imparted stabilization in dry conditions was studied with aerogels that were cast after mixing the enzymes with CNFs followed by dehydration (freeze-drying). The activity of lysozyme immobilized in the given CNF system was analyzed upon storage in liquid and air media. In contrast with aqueous solutions of free, unbound enzyme, which lost activity after the first day, the enzyme immobilized physically in unmodified and cationic CNF presented better stability (activity for a longer time). However, the enzyme activity was reduced in the case of anionic CNF, which was prepared by TEMPO-mediated oxidation (TO-CNF). Both humidity and temperature reduced the stability of the enzyme immobilized in the respective CNF aerogel. The antibacterial activity of CNF aerogels carrying lysozyme was also tested against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The results were compared with those obtained from CNF systems loaded with silver nanoparticles (AgNP) after in situ synthesis via UV reduction. Storage in cold or dry conditions preserved the activity and antibacterial performance of enzyme-loaded CNF aerogels. As expected, the lysozyme-containing aerogels showed lower inhibition than the AgNP-containing aerogel. In this latter case, the antibacterial activity depended on the concentration and size of the nanoparticles. Compared to unmodified CNF and TO-CNF, the aerogels prepared with cationic CNF, loaded with either lysozyme or AgNPs, showed remarkably better antibacterial activity. Similar experiments were conducted with horseradish peroxidase, which confirmed, to different degrees, the observations derived from the lysozyme systems. Overall, the results indicate that non-toxic and biodegradable CNF is a suitable support for bio-active materials and is effective in protecting and retaining enzymatic and antibacterial activities.     

One-pot Synthesis of 3-Aminoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines Catalyzed by Heteropolyacids

Condensation of aldehydes, isonitriles and 2‐aminopyridines in the presence of H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ affords different derivatives of 3‐aminoimidazo[1,2‐a]pyridine in good to excellent yields.     

A mild and efficient palladium–triethylsilane system for reduction of olefins and carbon–carbon double bond isomerization

The versatility of palladium(II) acetate and palladium on activated charcoal catalysts with triethylsilane has been investigated in the hydrogenation and the isomerization of carbon–carbon double bond of 1‐alkenes. The reduction of 1‐alkenes was carried out in the presence of triethylsilane, ethanol and a catalytic amount of palladium(II) acetate or palladium on activated charcoal, at room temperature. This facile and efficient method affords high yields for hydrogenation of unsaturated alkenes to the corresponding alkanes. Then the carbon–carbon double bond isomerization of 1‐alkenes was tested using the same catalysts in the absence of solvent. The system palladium(II) acetate‐triethylsilane was found to be more effective compared with palladium on an activated charcoal–triethylsilane system at room temperature, while comparable results were obtained at 50 °C for both catalysts. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A microextraction procedure based on a task‐specific ionic liquid for the separation and preconcentration of lead ions from red lipstick and pine leaves

First, the extraction and preconcentration of ultratrace amounts of lead(II) ions was performed using microliter volumes of a task‐specific ionic liquid. The remarkable properties of ionic liquids were added to the advantages of microextraction procedure. The ionic liquid used was trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate, which formed a lead thiolate complex due to the chelating effect of the ortho‐positioned carboxylate relative to thiol functionality. So, trioctylmethylammonium thiosalicylate played the roles of both chelating agent and extraction solvent simultaneously. Hence, there is no need to use a ligand. The main parameters affecting the efficiency of the method were investigated and optimized. Under optimized conditions, this approach showed a linear range of 2.0–24.0 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.0010 ng/mL. The proposed method was applied to the extraction and preconcentration of lead from red lipstick and pine leaves samples prior to electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopic determination.     

An Eco‐friendly Three Component Manifold for the Synthesis of α‐Aminophosphonates under Catalyst and Solvent‐free Conditions,X‐ray Characterization and Their Evaluation as Anticancer Agents

A series of α‐aminophosphonates were synthesized through one‐pot condensation of aryl aldehydes, aryl amines and diethyl phosphite in the absence of any catalyst and organic solvents. All the synthesized α‐aminophosphonates were characterized by spectral and elemental analysis and in the case of compound 4j by X‐ray crystallography. Some of these new α‐aminophosphonate derivatives were found to have cytotoxic activity on the cancer cell line DU145 in vitro by the MTT method.