Targeting non-structural proteins and 3CLpro in SARS-CoV-2 virus using phytochemicals from medicinal plants - In-silico approach

In the present study, the main protease 3CL^pro and non-structural protein (NSP-12 with co-factors 7 and 8) trimer complex are used to study the protein-drug interactions with the phytochemicals from Ocimum Sanctum, Tinospora Cordifolia, Glycyrrhiza Glabra, and Azadirachta Indica. Which can give insight to be used as potent antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2. Twenty phytochemicals, five from each plant species, known for their wide range of biological activities were chosen from the literature. The in-silico study was carried out using virtual screening tools and the top five, which showed the least binding energies, were selected. Molecular docking tools revealed that gedunin and epoxy azadiradione proved to be excellent inhibitors for 3CL^pro and so did Tinosporide for non-structural-protein complex. Further, the best-hit phytochemicals with respect to structure similarities with FDA drugs and investigatory drugs, were considered for comparative study. Molecular docking was done to check the drug-protein interactions and to check the inhibitory responses of these drugs against the viral protein. The analyses showed that the phytochemicals had similar responses on the protein complex but with exceptionally higher inhibitory responses hence which may be taken for further clinical study.     

A Low‐Temperature Molecular Precursor Approach to Copper‐Based Nano‐Sized Digenite Mineral for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

In the urge of designing noble metal‐free and sustainable electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER), herein, a mineral Digenite Cu₉S₅ has been prepared from a molecular copper(I) precursor, [{(PyHS)₂Cu^I(PyHS)}₂](OTf)₂ ( 1 ), and utilized as an anode material in electrocatalytic OER for the first time. A hot injection of 1 yielded a pure phase and highly crystalline Cu₉S₅, which was then electrophoretically deposited (EPD) on a highly conducting nickel foam (NF) substrate. When assessed as an electrode for OER, the Cu₉S₅/NF displayed an overpotential of merely 298±3 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm^?2 in alkaline media. The overpotential recorded here supersedes the value obtained for the best reported Cu‐based as well as the benchmark precious‐metal‐based RuO₂ and IrO₂ electrocatalysts. In addition, the choronoamperometric OER indicated the superior stability of Cu₉S₅/NF, rendering its suitability as the sustainable anode material for practical feasibility. The excellent catalytic activity of Cu₉S₅ can be attributed to the formation of a crystalline CuO overlayer on the conductive Cu₉S₅ that behaves as active species to facilitate OER. This study delivers a distinct molecular precursor approach to produce highly active copper‐based catalysts that could be used as an efficient and durable OER electro(pre)catalysts relying on non‐precious metals.     

Adsorption of water on JSC‐1A (simulated moon dust samples)—a surface science study

JSC‐1a (a simulated lunar dust sample) supported on a silica wafer (SiO₂/Si(111)) has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x‐ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The adsorption kinetics of water has been studied primarily by thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) and in addition by collecting isothermal adsorption transients. Blind experiments on the silica support have been performed as well. JSC‐1a consists mostly of aluminosilicate glass and other minerals containing Fe, Na, Ca, and Mg, as characterized in detail in prior studies, for example, at NASA. The particle sizes span the range from a few micrometers up to 100 µm. At small exposures, H₂O TDS is characterized by broad (100–450) K structures; at large exposures, distinct TDS peaks emerge, which are assigned to amorphous solid water (ASW) (145 K) and crystalline ice (CI) (165 K). Water dissociates on JSC‐1a at small exposures but not on the bare silica support. Coadsorption TDS data (alkane–water mixtures) indicate that rather porous condensed ice layers form at large exposures, with the mineral particles acting most likely as nucleation sites. At thermal impact energies, the initial adsorption probability amounts to 0.92 ± 0.05. It is evident that the drop‐and‐dry technique, developed in studies about nanoparticles/tubes, can be extended to obtain samples for surface science studies based on powders consisting of particles with rather large diameters. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of nanoclay and barium sulfate nanoparticles on the thermal and morphological properties of polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposites

The thermal, morphological and optical studies of BaSO₄ and MMT (nanoclay) embedded in PVDF were investigated. Nanocomposites samples of PVDF–BaSO₄–MMT were prepared by varying the loadings (1–4 mass%) in case of BaSO₄ and MMT nanomaterials, respectively. Polyvinylidene fluoride–barium sulfate-montmorillonite (PVDF–BaSO₄–MMT) nanocomposites were prepared by solvent-mixing technique. Nanoparticles were synthesized by in situ deposition technique with the help of nonionic polymeric surfactant, and the particle size of nanoparticles was recognized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis which confirms that the particle has diameter of 80–90 nm. As prepared, nanocomposites films (thickness, 25 μm) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared microscopy (FTIR), SEM and electron diffraction spectroscopy (EDS). FTIR shows that all the chemical constituents were present in the nanocomposites, whereas SEM analysis suggested that the nanofillers dispersed well in polymer matrix and EDS showed the elemental composition of nanocomposite samples. Thermal properties of nanocomposites were studied by using TG/DTA/DTG. TG/DTA studies showed decomposition temperature of pure PVDF is 473.5 °C. The decomposition temperature (T _d) of nanocomposites was increased by 93 °C in case of nanocomposites with addition of both BaSO₄ and MMT nanomaterials. The difference in the thermal degradation temperature was found to be 1.2% higher in case of addition of BaSO₄ nanoparticle as compared to nanoclay. The obtained transparent nanocomposite films were characterized by using UV–Vis spectrophotometer which shows that transparencies of nanocomposites are maintained in visible region, the intensity of absorption band in UV region is increased with the addition of BaSO₄ nanoparticles, while in case of addition of nanoclay the UV region does not show drastic changes. Addition of both nanoparticle and nanoclay shows higher absorption in comparison with the individual samples. But further, doubling the amount of nanoparticle and nanoclay shows decrease in UV absorption. Overall, the results of thermal studies show that the incorporation of BaSO₄ and MMT could significantly improve the thermal properties of nanocomposites.     

Mechanistic investigations of ruthenium(III) catalyzed oxidation of pentoxifylline by copper(III) periodate complex in aqueous alkaline medium

Abstract  

The kinetics of the oxidation of ruthenium(III)-catalyzed oxidation of pentoxifylline (PTX) by diperiodatocuprate(III) (DPC) in aqueous alkaline medium at a constant ionic strength of 0.30 mol dm⁻³ was studied spectrophotometrically. The reaction between PTX and DPC in alkaline medium in the presence of Ru(III) exhibits 1:2 stoichiometry (PTX:DPC). The reaction was of first order in DPC, less than the unit order in [PTX] and [OH⁻] and negative fractional order in [IO₄ ⁻]. The order in [Ru(III)] was unity. Intervention of free radicals was observed in the reaction. The main products were identified by TLC and spectral studies including LC-MS. The oxidation reaction in alkaline medium has been shown to proceed via a Ru(III)-PTX complex, which reacts with monoperiodatocuprate(III) to decompose in a rate determining step followed by a fast step to give the products. The reaction constants involved in different steps of the mechanism were calculated. The activation parameters with respect to the slow step of the mechanism were computed and discussed, and thermodynamic quantities were also determined. The active species of catalyst and oxidant have been identified.     

Phonon Dispersion in Polyadenylic Acid

A study of the normal modes of vibration and their dispersion in polyadenylic acid based on the Urey–Bradley force field is reported. It gives a better interpretation of FTIR spectra as compared with the valence force field. Characteristic features of dispersion curves such as regions of high density‐of‐states, repulsion, and character mixing of dispersive modes are discussed. Predictive valuzes of heat capacity as a function of temperature are reported.     

Phonon Dispersion in Polypyrrole

A study of the normal modes of vibration and their dispersion in polypyrrole (PPY) based on the Urey-Bradley force field is reported. It gives a fuller interpretation of previously reported FTIR spectra. Characterstic features of dispersion curves, such as regions of high density-of-states, repulsion, and character mixing of dispersive modes, are discussed. Predictive values of heat capacity as a function of temperature are reported.     

Synthesis,Separation and Crystal Structures of <Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis> Isomers of 3-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)Acrylic Acid

Abstract Synthesis, separation and X-ray crystal structures of E and Z isomers of 3-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acrylic acid are reported. Separation of E and Z isomers from a 1:1 mixture has been carried out by selective acidification of their sodium salts carefully controlling the pH of the solution. The structures of E and Z isomers were confirmed by determining crystal structures of these isomers using single crystal X-ray diffraction. The E isomer crystallizes in the P2₁/c space group with a = 11.493(2) ?, b = 5.5456(11) ?, c = 24.900(5) ?, α = 90°, β = 92.36(3)°, γ = 90°, Z = 4. The Z isomer crystallizes in the P2₁/c space group with a = 10.192(2) ?, b = 12.893(3) ?, c = 13.948(3) ?, α = 90°, β = 92.18(3)°, γ = 90°, Z = 4. Details of the synthesis and structural characterization and X-ray crystal structure determination of the title compounds are presented. Index Abstract Synthesis, Separation and Crystal Structures of E and Z Isomers of 3-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)Acrylic Acid Balachandra Chenna, Bidhan A. Shinkre, Shweta Patel, Samuel B. Owens Jr., Gary M. Gray, Sadanandan E. Velu* Separation of E and Z isomers of 3-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)acrylic acid from a 1:1 mixture has been carried out by selective acidification of their sodium salts and the structures of the individual isomers have been determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction.      

Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐Coated MWCNTs Tethered to Conducting Substrates: Facile Electrochemistry and Enhanced Coloring Efficiency

Composite films of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)‐coated over functionalized multiwalled coiled and linear carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been fabricated by a simple oxidative electropolymerization route. The nanotubular morphology of the polymer–CNT composite is responsible for the lower charge transfer impedance, lower internal resistance, and superior capacitive response in comparison to that shown by the control PEDOT film doped by trifluoromethanesulfonate ions. This facile electrochemistry exhibited by the PEDOT–CNT composite film ensues in a remarkably high coloration efficiency of 367 cm² · C⁻¹ at 550 nm, hitherto unrealized for PEDOT; thus demonstrating the huge potential the PEDOT–CNT composite film has as cathode for the entire spectrum of electrochromic devices.