Fabrication of Redox‐Mediator Supported Potentiometric Nitrate Biosensor with Nitrate Reductase

Fabrication of a more superior nitrate potentiometric biosensor than previously achieved with NaR and NADH has been accomplished by co‐entrapment of redox mediators and NaR into polypyrrole (PPy) film during galvanostatic polymerization of pyrrole. The replacement of NADH with redox mediators such as thionin acetate (ThAc), safranin (Saf), and azure A (AzA) gave more sensitive potentiometric responses, better minimum detectable concentration, linear concentration range and response time for nitrate than possible with NADH. The co‐entrapment of ThAc, Saf, AzA and methyl viologen (MV) with NaR into PPy films also improved the Nernstian behavior of the electrode process beyond the capability of the PPy‐NaR‐NADH biosensor. Substantial reduction in volume and quantity of cofactor/mediator and, hence cost, was achieved by the replacement of NADH with a redox mediator. Only 50 μM of AzA was required to form a PPy‐NaR‐AzA biosensor which gave the most sensitive potentiometric response for nitrate, achieving a minimum detectable concentration of 10 μM, a linear concentration range of 50–5000 μM and a response time of 2–4 s.     

Electrochemical conversions of alkyl alkylidenecyanoacetates into 3-substituted dialkyl 1,2-dicyanocyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylates

Electrolysis of alkyl alkylidenecyanoacetates in an undivided cell in the presence of alkali metal halides as mediators afforded 3-substituted dialkyl 1,2-dicyanocyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylates in 50–85% yields. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1546–1549, August, 1999.     

Stereoselective electrochemical transformation of 4-substituted cyclohexanones into cis-5-substituted 2,2-dimethoxycyclohexanols

Electrolysis of 4-substituted cyclohexanones in methanol in the presence of sodium halides as mediators in an undivided cell results in the stereoselective formation of cis-5-substituted 2,2-dimethoxycyclohexanols in 70—80% yields.     

Fe-Anderson型多金属氧酸盐和苯磺酸基低共熔溶剂仿生体系的构建及其柴油绿色氧化脱硫

在过去的几十年里,人们越来越关注环境污染问题.柴油中的硫化物燃烧后可转化为SOx,对环境造成严重污染.因此,为了满足严格的国家标准要求,生产硫化物含量极低的燃料油是一个巨大挑战.氧化脱硫(ODS)体系是用于深度脱硫的加氢脱硫(HDS)体系的替代或补充,包括硫化物的氧化和氧化产物的分离.它是处理芳香硫化合物及其衍生物最有效的方法之一,引起了人们的极大关注.在我们之前的工作中报道了Co聚阴离子催化剂和对甲苯磺酸基低共熔剂(DESs)通过仿生方法将柴油中的硫化物氧化为相应的硫化物.尽管已经取得了很大的进展, DESs仿生体系仍然有很大的发展空间.例如,多金属氧酸盐(POMs)在生物模拟体系中的作用没有得到明确阐述.更困难的是构建DES的物理化学性质与仿生体系氧化脱硫效率之间的关系.因此,解决上述问题是催化氧化脱硫(AODS)仿生过程中最关键的挑战之一,迫切需要进一步研究.本文采用仿生方法研究了一种新型高效的AODS体系,该体系能显著提高ODS的效率.采用重结晶法制备了安德森型催化剂Na3Fe(OH)6Mo6O18,并将其应用于柴油AODS体系.通过分析紫外-可见光谱(UV-Vis)、红外光谱(FT-IR)以及气质联用光谱(GC-MS),我们推测了通过多步电子转移AODS体系的仿生机理.首先, POM和氧气形成过氧聚阴离子,然后与苯磺酸形成苯基过氧磺酸.由于过氧磺酸盐对富电子的硫原子具有很高的选择性,所以它优先攻击硫原子.因此,二苯并噻吩被氧化成二苯并噻吩砜.还原后的苯磺酸和POM被氧气氧化,形成新的催化循环.这些结果表明,耦合氧化还原体系和ETMs通过低能量途径将电子从苯磺酸基DES转移到氧化剂,从而促进了反应过程.最终,二苯并噻吩易被氧化为二苯并噻吩砜.DES的物理性质表明,在60℃时, n(PEG2000)/n(BSA)=2.5体系中DES粘度最大,推测可能是氢键较强所致.此外,PEG2000/2.5BSA体系脱硫效果也是最好的.这一结果表明,脱硫体系的活性与氢键的强度有关.将该仿生策略应用于模型柴油的AODS中,在60 min内二苯并噻吩脱除率达到95%,表现出前所未有的性能,并且该仿生体系也可以成功应用于真实柴油的氧化脱硫.该催化剂可重复使用五次,且反应活性无明显降低,表明该催化体系具有商业应用潜力.     

Photoelectro-Enzymatic Glucose Reusable Biosensor by Using Dithienylethene Mediators

In the development of colorimetric biosensors, the use of electrochromic mediators has been accepted and widely used during decades. The main drawback of these types of enzymatic substrates is the difficult recovery of the initial redox state of the molecule, which can be done electrochemically or by antioxidants addition, complicating the initially simple structure of the biosensor. those strategies are rarely followed Actually, being the disposable biosensor configuration the most extended for this detection mechanisms. Alternatively, we propose the first reported use of a diacid dithienylethene 1,2-bis(5-carboxy-2-methylthien-3-yl)cyclopentene (DTE) photoelectrochromic compound as a substrate of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The photoisomerization between the open (DTEo) and closed (DTEc) forms of the molecule and the respective shift in the redox potential allowed the light-induced enzymatic detection of glucose in the glucose oxidase [(GOx)]–HRP cascade system. This fast and easy control over the enzymatic substrate availability by light pulses permits a gradually consumption and the light-regeneration of the biosensor for a number of cycles. We consider the presented results transcendent in the development of reusable and light-controlled photonic biosensing systems.     

Copper Complexes as Alternative Redox Mediators in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Thirty years ago, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) emerged as a method for harnessing the sun’s energy and converting it into electricity. Since then, a lot of work has been dedicated to improving their global photovoltaic efficiency and their eco-sustainability. Recently, various articles showed the great potential of copper complexes as a convenient and cheap alternative to the traditional ruthenium dyes. In addition, copper complexes demonstrate that they can act as redox mediators for DSSCs, thus being an answer to the problems related to the I₃⁻/I⁻ redox couple. The aim of this review is to report on the most recent impact made by copper complexes as alternative redox mediators. The coverage, mainly from 2016 up to now, is not exhaustive, but allows us to understand the great role played by copper complexes in the design of eco-sustainable DSSCs.     

微生物电化学系统电子中介体

电化学活性微生物与电极之间的胞外电子传递在微生物电化学系统(microbial electrochemical systems,MESs)产能、生物修复等功能的实现中起着关键作用.目前,研究者对微生物胞外电子传递机理了解有限,限制了MESs的应用.相比于需要微生物功能蛋白与电极接触才能发生的直接电子传递,间接电子传递可通过具有可逆氧化还原活性的电子中介体(electron transfer mediators,ETMs)实现电子的传递,从而有效提高微生物胞外电子传递效率.在间接电子转移过程中,ETMs起着中间电子受体和中间电子供体的作用,即被还原后可将电子传递给最终电子受体并被重新还原;理论上每个ETMs分子可以循环数千次,因此ETMs对特定环境下终端氧化物(如铁离子)的循环有着极其显著的作用.本文系统总结了MESs中ETMs及间接电子传递机制近年来的研究进展,并且在此基础上探讨了ETMs在MESs中的研究趋势,以期推动MESs在生物修复、能源生产方面的实际应用.     

Anticonvulsive Effects of Chondroitin Sulfate on Pilocarpine and Pentylenetetrazole Induced Epileptogenesis in Mice

Chondroitin sulfate is a proteoglycan component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that supports neuronal and non-neuronal cell activity, provides a negative domain to the extracellular matrix, regulates the intracellular positive ion concentration, and maintains the hypersynchronous epileptiform activity. Therefore, the present study hypothesized an antiepileptic potential of chondroitin sulfate (CS) in pentylenetetrazole-induced kindled epilepsy and pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus in mice. Levels of various oxidative stress markers and inflammatory mediators were estimated in the brain tissue homogenate of mice, and histopathological changes were evaluated. Treatment with valproate (110 mg/kg; i.p.) as a standard drug and chondroitin sulfate (100 & 200 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (p < 0.01) and dose-dependently prevented the severity of kindled and spontaneous recurrent seizures in mice. Additionally, chondroitin sulfate showed its antioxidant potential by restoring the various biochemical levels and anti-inflammatory properties by reducing NF-kB levels and pro-inflammatory mediators like TNF-alpha, IL-1β, and IL-6, indicating the neuroprotective effect as well as the suppressed levels of caspase-3, which indicated a neuroprotective treatment strategy in epilepsy. The proteoglycan chondroitin sulfate restores the normal physiology and configuration of the neuronal tissue. Further, the molecular docking of chondroitin sulfate at the active pockets of TNF-alpha, IL-1β, and IL-6 showed excellent interactions with critical amino acid residues. In conclusion, the present work provides preclinical evidence of chondroitin sulfate as a new therapeutic approach in attenuating and preventing seizures with a better understanding of the mechanism of alteration in ECM changes influencing abnormal neuronal activities.     

5-Dodecanolide,a Compound Isolated from Pig Lard,Presents Powerful Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Background: Pork lard (PL) is traditionally used as an anti-inflammatory agent. We propose to demonstrate the anti-inflammatory properties of PL, and elucidate which compounds could be responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects. Methods: The anti-inflammatory effects of PL were tested in a rat model of zymosan-induced hind paw inflammation. Further, the hydroalcoholic extract from PL was obtained, the composition analyzed, and the anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and isolated components assayed using immune cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results: Applying the ointment on the inflamed rat feet reduced the foot diameter, foot weight, and activities of antioxidant enzymes and inflammatory markers of circulating neutrophils. The main components of the hydroalcoholic extract were 5-dodecanolide, oleamide, hexadecanoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, hexadecanamide, and resolvin D1. Conclusions: PL reduces the immune response in an animal model stimulated with zymosan. Hydroalcoholic PL extract and its components (5-Dodecanolide, Oleamide, and Resolvin D1) exerted an anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-stimulated neutrophils and peripheral mononuclear cells reducing the capability to produce TNFα, as well as the activities of antioxidant and pro-inflammatory enzymes. These effects are attributable to 5-dodecanolide, although the effects of this compound alone do not reach the magnitude of the anti-inflammatory effects observed by the complete hydroalcoholic extract.     

Inflammation,It’s Regulation and Antiphlogistic Effect of the Cyanogenic Glycoside Amygdalin

The inflammatory reaction accompanies in part or in full any disease process in the vascularized metazoan. This complicated reaction is controlled by regulatory mechanisms, some of which produce unpleasant symptomatic manifestations of inflammation. Therefore, there has been an effort to develop selective drugs aimed at removing pain, fever, or swelling. Gradually, however, serious adverse side effects of such inhibitors became apparent. Scientific research has therefore continued to explore new possibilities, including naturally available substances. Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside present, e.g., in bitter almonds. This glycoside has already sparked many discussions among scientists, especially about its anticancer potential and related toxic cyanides. However, toxicity at different doses made it generally unacceptable. Although amygdalin given at the correct oral dose may not lead to poisoning, it has not yet been accurately quantified, as its action is often affected by different intestinal microbial consortia. Its pharmacological activities have been studied, but its effects on the body’s inflammatory response are lacking. This review discusses the chemical structure, toxicity, and current knowledge of the molecular mechanism of amygdalin activity on immune functions, including the anti-inflammatory effect, but also discusses inflammation as such, its mediators with diverse functions, which are usually targeted by drugs.