The molecular diversity scope of 4-hydroxycoumarin in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds via multicomponent reactions

Molecular Diversity - 4-Hydroxycoumarins are some of the most versatile heterocyclic scaffolds and are frequently applied in the synthesis of various organic compounds. 4-Hydroxycoumarin-based...     

Signal Amplification Technologies for the Detection of Nucleic Acids: from Cell-Free Analysis to Live-Cell Imaging

Due to their unique properties, such as programmability, ligand-binding capability, and flexibility, nucleic acids can serve as analytes and/or recognition elements for biosensing. To improve the sensitivity of nucleic acid-based biosensing and hence the detection of a few copies of target molecule, different modern amplification methodologies, namely target-and-signal-based amplification strategies, have already been developed. These recent signal amplification technologies, which are capable of amplifying the signal intensity without changing the targets’ copy number, have resulted in fast, reliable, and sensitive methods for nucleic acid detection. Working in cell-free settings, researchers have been able to optimize a variety of complex and quantitative methods suitable for deploying in live-cell conditions. In this study, a comprehensive review of the signal amplification technologies for the detection of nucleic acids is provided. We classify the signal amplification methodologies into enzymatic and non-enzymatic strategies with a primary focus on the methods that enable us to shift away from in vitro detecting to in vivo imaging. Finally, the future challenges and limitations of detection for cellular conditions are discussed.     

Magnetically separable and recyclable g-C<Subscript>3</Subscript>N<Subscript>4</Subscript> nanocomposite catalyzed one-pot synthesis of substituted imidazoles

A green, reliable synthetic method and highly efficient one-pot three-component synthesis of 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazoles from 1,2-diketones, aldehydes and ammonium acetate in the presence of recyclable magnetic graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite (Fe₃O₄@g-C₃N₄) has been developed. Various imidazole derivatives were obtained in moderate to excellent yields and high purity after recrystallization from ethanol. Interestingly, the low-cost Fe₃O₄@g-C₃N₄ a nontoxic and inexpensive catalyst showed excellent recyclability using an external magnet without loss of parent catalytic activity even after ten cycles and its provides new opportunities for the truly environmental friendliness methodology.     

Magnetic g-C3N4 nanocomposite-catalyzed environmentally benign aminolysis of epoxide

Research on Chemical Intermediates - A magnetic graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanocomposite was prepared and used as a novel magnetically retrievable nanocatalyst for efficient ring opening of...     

Generalized second derivative linear multistep methods for ordinary differential equations

Numerical Algorithms - This paper is devoted to investigate the modified extended second derivative backward differentiation formulae from second derivative general linear methods point of view....     

In Silico Evaluation of Iranian Medicinal Plant Phytoconstituents as Inhibitors against Main Protease and the Receptor-Binding Domain of SARS-CoV-2

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which initially appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Elderly individuals and those with comorbid conditions may be more vulnerable to this disease. Consequently, several research laboratories continue to focus on developing drugs to treat this infection because this disease has developed into a global pandemic with an extremely limited number of specific treatments available. Natural herbal remedies have long been used to treat illnesses in a variety of cultures. Modern medicine has achieved success due to the effectiveness of traditional medicines, which are derived from medicinal plants. The objective of this study was to determine whether components of natural origin from Iranian medicinal plants have an antiviral effect that can prevent humans from this coronavirus infection using the most reliable molecular docking method; in our case, we focused on the main protease (M^pro) and a receptor-binding domain (RBD). The results of molecular docking showed that among 169 molecules of natural origin from common Iranian medicinal plants, 20 molecules (chelidimerine, rutin, fumariline, catechin gallate, adlumidine, astragalin, somniferine, etc.) can be proposed as inhibitors against this coronavirus based on the binding free energy and type of interactions between these molecules and the studied proteins. Moreover, a molecular dynamics simulation study revealed that the chelidimerine–M^pro and somniferine–RBD complexes were stable for up to 50 ns below 0.5 nm. Our results provide valuable insights into this mechanism, which sheds light on future structure-based designs of high-potency inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2.     

Anchoring of Cu (II)-Schiff base complex on magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles: catalytic efficacy in one-pot synthesis of 5-substituted-1H-tetrazoles,antibacterial activity evaluation and immobilization of α-amylase

Magnetic mesoporous silica nanocomposite, Fe₃O₄@MCM-41, was prepared and functionalized with N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPS). Then Schiff base grafted nanoparticles were synthesized by the condensation of 5,5'-methylene bis (salicylaldehyde) and then benzhydrazide with Fe₃O₄@MCM-41-AEAPS. Finally, by adding Cu (CH₃COOH)₂.H₂O, the magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) functionalized with Cu (II) Schiff base complex were synthesized. The new organic–inorganic hybrid nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR, PXRD, AAS, BET, TGA, VSM, FE-SEM, HRTEM and EDX techniques. Then, the performance of this copper based magnetic nanocatalyst was investigated for the synthesis of 5-substituted 1H-tetrazole derivatives using one pot three-component reactions of various aldehydes, hydroxyl amine hydrochloride and sodium azide. The catalyst can be easily isolated from the reaction mixture by applying an external magnet and reused for at least 5 times without significant loss in catalytic activity. Also, the antibacterial activity of the streptomycin loaded magnetic nanoparticles against Gram-positive (S. aureus) and Gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria in the presence and absence of a magnetic field were studied. Results revealed that when these materials exposed to the magnetic field, bacteriostatic activity of nanocomposites was increased. Furthermore, the enzyme immobilization ability of the synthesized compounds was investigated and the results showed that these nanoparticles efficiently immobilized amylase enzyme.     

A novel operational vector for solving the general form of distributed order fractional differential equations in the time domain based on the second kind Chebyshev wavelets

Numerical Algorithms - The main aim of this research study is to present a new and efficient numerical method based on the second kind Chebyshev wavelets for solving the general form of distributed...     

Antioxidant activity assay based on the inhibition of oxidation and photobleaching of l-cysteine-capped CdTe quantum dots

Quantum dots (QDs) have recently been the focus of attention of many investigators for development of diagnostic tools in many research areas. In this work, we established a new QD-based assay to evaluate the antioxidant/polyphenolic activity. This assay is based on measurement of the inhibitory effect of the antioxidant/polyphenolic compounds on the UV-induced bleaching of CdTe QDs with l-cysteine capping. QDs exhibited excellent photostability without any UV exposure, while they bleached rapidly under UV irradiation. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under UV irradiation is probably the main cause of the photobleaching of QDs. By comparing the photostability of QDs in buffer solution in the absence and presence of sodium azide, as a known (1)O(2) quencher, the involvement of (1)O(2) in photobleaching of QDs was confirmed. The photobleaching effect induced by ROS could be reduced in the presence of antioxidant/polyphenolic compounds. We tested several antioxidant/polyphenolic compounds as well as known antioxidants such as trolox and 4 different types of tea. The results obtained by the QD-based assay revealed a very good correlation with the data acquired by Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of the mechanism and the solution for photobleaching of QDs under UV irradiation might be very meaningful in promoting their clinical applications.