Methyl substituent effect on one‐dimensional copper(II) coordination polymers containing biologically active ligands: Synthesis,characterization, DNA interactions and cytotoxicities

Three novel water‐soluble copper(II) complexes – {[Cu(phen)(trp)]ClO₄·3H₂O}_n ( 1 ), {[Cu(4‐mphen)(trp)]ClO₄·3H₂O}_n ( 2 ) and [[Cu(dmphen)(trp)(MeOH)][Cu(dmphen)(trp)(NO₃)]]NO₃ ( 3 ) (phen: 1,10‐phenanthroline; 4‐mphen: 4‐methyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline; dmphen: 4,7‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline; trp: l ‐tryptophan) – have been synthesized and characterized using various techniques. Complexes 1 and 2 are isostructural, and exist as one‐dimensional coordination polymers. Complex 3 consists of two discrete copper(II) complexes containing [Cu(trp)(dmphen)(MeOH)]⁺, [Cu(trp)(dmphen)(NO₃)] and one nitrate anion. The binding interaction of the complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT‐DNA) was investigated using thermal denaturation, electronic absorption and emission spectroscopic methods, revealing that the complexes could interact with CT‐DNA via a moderate intercalation mode. The binding activity of the complexes to CT‐DNA follows the order: 3  >  2 > 1 . The pUC19 DNA cleavage activity of the complexes was investigated in the absence and presence of external agents using the agarose gel electrophoresis method. Especially, in the presence of H₂O₂ as an activator, the pUC19 DNA cleavage abilities of the complexes are clearly enhanced at low concentration. Addition of hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylsulfoxide shows a marked inhibition of the pUC19 DNA cleavage activity of the complexes. In vitro cytotoxic effect of the complexes was examined on human tumor cell lines (Caco‐2, A549 and MCF‐7) and healthy cells (BEAS‐2B). The potent cytotoxic effect of complex 3 , with IC₅₀ values of 1.04, 1.16 and 1.72 μM, respectively, is greater relative to clinically used cisplatin (IC₅₀ = 22.70, 31.1 and 22.2 μM) against the Caco‐2, A549 and MCF‐7 cell lines.     

Effect of d-psicose substitution on gelatin based soft candies: A TD-NMR study

Confectionary gels are considered as composite gel systems composed of high amount of sugar and gelling agent such as gelatin or starch. d -Psicose is classified as a type of rare sugar, which is a C-3 epimer of fructose and has 70% of the sweetness of sucrose with a caloric value of 0.39 kcal/g. Utilization of d -psicose in food products is gaining particular interest due to its low caloric value. In this study, gelatin-based soft candies were formulated, and the effect of d -psicose substitution was explored on the quality of the products. For characterization of the soft candies, moisture content, water activity, color, hardness, and glass transition temperature of samples were investigated. X-ray diffraction analysis was also performed to explain the crystallization tendency of jelly candies. Results showed that, the softest sample with the highest moisture content and the smallest crystallization tendency was the sample that included the highest amount of d -psicose. Time domain (TD) NMR relaxometry experiments were also conducted on gel samples, and three distinct proton populations were observed in the relaxation spectrum for all formulations. Spin–lattice relaxation times obtained through monoexponential fitting (T₁) were also obtained to explain some quality parameters.     

Amido‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones as Iron(III) Ligands

The synthesis and physicochemical properties of a range of 2‐ and 6‐amido‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones are described. All the amido‐substituted 3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐ones have lower pK_a values than 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐hydroxypyridin‐4‐one (deferiprone). This is due to the inductive effect of the amido group. Furthermore, the pK_a values of the 3‐hydroxy group in 1‐nonsubstituted pyridinones are dramatically lower than those of the corresponding 1‐alkyl analogues, indicating that a strong hydrogen bond exists between the 2‐amido function and the 3‐oxygen anion, which stabilises the anion. As a result of the decreased competition with protons, the pFe³⁺ values of this group of molecules are higher than that of deferiprone. The distribution coefficients of these molecules are also increased despite the lack of a hydrophobic 1‐alkyl substituent and this is ascribed to the intramolecular hydrogen bond. X‐ray diffraction studies confirm the existence of the intramolecular hydrogen bond.     

Iterated Peiffer Pairings in the Moore Complex of a Simplicial Group

We introduce a pairing structure within the Moore complex NG of a simplicial group G and use it to investigate generators for NG _n D _n where D _n is the subgroup generated by degenerate elements. This is applied to the study of algebraic models for homotopy types.     

Trapping of benzene oxide-oxepin and methyl-substituted derivatives with 4-phenyl- and 4-pentafluorophenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione

4-Phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione and its pentafluoro analogue are efficient reagents for trapping arene oxides, e.g. benzene oxide-oxepin, affording crystalline adducts that can be quantitatively analysed by HPLC and MS techniques.     

AlGaN-based high-performance metal–semiconductor–metal photodetectors

Design, structure growth, fabrication, and characterization of high performance AlGaN-based metal–semiconductor–metal (MSM) photodetectors (PD) are reported. By incorporating AlN nucleation and buffer layers, the leakage current density of GaN MSM PD was reduced to 1.96 × 10⁻¹⁰ A/cm² at a 50 V bias, which is four orders of magnitude lower compared to control devices. A 229 nm cut-off wavelength, a peak responsivity of 0.53 A/W at 222 nm, and seven orders of magnitude visible rejection was obtained from Al_0.75Ga_0.25N MSM PD. Two-color monolithic AlGaN MSM PD with excellent dark current characteristics were demonstrated, where both detectors reject the other detector spectral band with more than three orders of magnitude. High-speed measurements of Al_0.38Ga_0.62N MSM PD resulted in fast responses with greater than gigahertz bandwidths, where the fastest devices had a 3-dB bandwidth of 5.4 GHz.     

Quantum Contagion: A Quantum-Like Approach for the Analysis of Social Contagion Dynamics with Heterogeneous Adoption Thresholds

Modeling the information of social contagion processes has recently attracted a substantial amount of interest from researchers due to its wide applicability in network science, multi-agent-systems, information science, and marketing. Unlike in biological spreading, the existence of a reinforcement effect in social contagion necessitates considering the complexity of individuals in the systems. Although many studies acknowledged the heterogeneity of the individuals in their adoption of information, there are no studies that take into account the individuals’ uncertainty during their adoption decision-making. This resulted in less than optimal modeling of social contagion dynamics in the existence of phase transition in the final adoption size versus transmission probability. We employed the Inverse Born Problem (IBP) to represent probabilistic entities as complex probability amplitudes in edge-based compartmental theory, and demonstrated that our novel approach performs better in the prediction of social contagion dynamics through extensive simulations on random regular networks.     

Synthesis of quercetin-encapsulated alginate beads with their antioxidant and release kinetic studies

Abstract

In this present study, different forms of quercetin encapsulated beads were synthesized, namely ionic cross-linked gel beads and cryogel beads. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectra of the beads were used to characterize and prove quercetin encapsulation in alginate beads. Swelling and drying profiles were studied. Besides, release kinetics of quercetin molecules from gel beads and cryogels were carefully investigated in two different solvent/media; dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and Roswell Park Memorial Institute Medium (RPMI-1640). Based upon the release kinetic studies, it is found that quercetin release from alginate cryogel beads fits the first-order release model in DMSO and it depends on the concentration of quercetin in the beads. The release of quercetin from alginate gel beads was described by the Higuchi release model, which highlights the release of quercetin molecules through the pores of the matrix. In RPMI-1640, the release of quercetin from both forms of alginate beads fits zero-order release model and it indicates a constant release of quercetin per unit time. Finally, the radical scavenging activity of the quercetin quantities was tested by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test, and successful results were obtained compared to reference material.     

Chemical constituents and biological activities of Dianthus elegans var. elegans

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Dianthus elegans var. elegans afforded two previously undescribed saponins, named dianosides M-N (1–2), together with four oleanane-type triterpenoid glycosides (3–6). Their structures were elucidated as 3-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-16α-hydroxyolean-12-ene-23α, 28β-dioic acid (1) and 3-O-α-L-arabinofuranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-D-glucopyranosyl 16α-hydroxyolean-12-ene-23α-oic acid, 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glycosyl ester (2) by chemical and extensive spectroscopic methods including IR, 1D, 2D NMR and HRESIMS. Both of the saponins were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against HEK-293, A-549 and HeLa human cancer cells using the MTT method. All compounds showed no substantial cytotoxic activity against tested cell lines. However, dianosides M-N and the n-butanol fraction exhibited considerable haemolysis in human erythrocyte cells. The immunomodulatory properties of dianosides M-N were also evaluated in activated whole blood cells by PMA plus ionomycin. Dianosides M-N increased IL-1β concentration significantly whereas the n-butanol fraction slightly augmented IL-1β secretion. All compounds did not change IL-2 and IFN-γ levels considerably.