Synthesis,anticancer activity,toxicity evaluation and molecular docking studies of novel phenylaminopyrimidine—(thio)urea hybrids as potential kinase inhibitors

Thirty-two novel urea/thiourea compounds as potential kinase inhibitor were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activity on breast (MCF7), colon (HCT116) and liver (Huh7) cancer cell lines. Compounds 10, 19 and 30 possessing anticancer activity with IC₅₀ values of 0.9, 0.8 and 1.6 μM respectively on Huh7 cells were selected for further studies. These hit compounds were tested against liver carcinoma panel. Real time cell electronic sensing assay was used to evaluate the effects of the compounds 10, 19 and 30 on the growth pattern of liver cancer cells. Apoptotic cell death and cell cycle analysis upon treatment of liver carcinoma cells with hit compounds were determined. A significant apoptotic cell death was detected upon treatment of Huh7 and Mahlavu cells with compound 30 after 48 h of treatment. Additionally, compound 10 caused cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Mutagenicity of hit compounds was evaluated. Assertively, these compounds were not found to be mutagenic on Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. To understand the binding modes of the synthesized compounds, molecular docking studies were performed using the crystal data of VEGFR and Src-kinase enzymes in correlation with anticancer activities.     

Synthesis,computational quantum chemical study,in silico ADMET and molecular docking analysis,in vitro biological evaluation of a novel sulfur heterocyclic thiophene derivative containing 1,2,3-triazole and pyridine moieties as a potential human topoisomerase IIα inhibiting anticancer agent

Computational quantum chemical study and biological evaluation of a synthesized novel sulfur heterocyclic thiophene derivative containing 1,2,3-triazole and pyridine moieties namely BTPT [2-(1-benzyl-5-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-6-methoxy-4-(thiophen-2-yl) pyridine] was presented in this study. The crystal structure was determined by SCXRD method. For the title compound BTPT, spectroscopic characterization like ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR, UV–vis were carried out theoretically by computational DFT method and compared with experimental data. Druglikeness parameters of BTPT were found through in silico pharmacological ADMET properties estimation. The molecular docking investigation was performed with human topoisomerase IIα (PDB ID:1ZXM) targeting ATP binding site. In vitro cytotoxicity activity of BTPT/doxorubicin were examined by MTT assay procedure against three human cancer cell lines A549, PC-3, MDAMB-231 with IC50 values of 0.68/0.70, 1.03/0.77 and 0.88/0.98 μM, respectively. Our title compound BTPT reveals notable cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell (MDAMB-231), moderate activity with human lung cancer cell (A-549) and less inhibition with human prostate cancer cell (PC-3) compared to familiar cancer medicine doxorubicin. From the results, BTPT could be observed as a potential candidate for novel anticancer drug development process.     

CuFe2O4 magnetic heterogeneous nanocatalyst: Low power sonochemical-coprecipitation preparation and applications in synthesis of 4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile scaffolds

The paper presents the synthesis and catalytic activity of CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles. The CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles have been prepared by sonochemical route under low power ultrasonic irradiation (UI) and using silent stirring at room temperature only (ST) along with co-precipitation method, without using any additive/capping agent. The synthesized magnetic nanoparticles were successfully used and compared for the synthesis of 4H-chromene-3-carbonitrile derivatives. The CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles obtained by sonochemical route exhibit higher catalytic activity because of small size (0.5–5 nm), high surface area (214.55 m²/g), high thermal stability up to 700 °C, recyclability and reusability due to its magnetic characteristics than CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles obtained by room temperature silent stirring. The synthesized CuFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were characterized by FT-IR, SEM–EDX, HR-TEM, XRD, TGA/DTA/DTG, BET, VSM techniques. The present method is of great interest due to its salient features such as environmentally compatible, efficient, short reaction time, chemoselectivity, high yield, cheap, moisture insensitive, green and recyclable catalyst which make it sustainable protocol.     

Dynamic Variation of Excitonic Coupling in Excited Bilayer Graphene Quantum Dots?

The intermolecular interaction determines the photophysical properties of the organic aggregates, which are critical to the performance of organic photovoltaics. Here, excitonic coupling, an important intermolecular interaction in organic aggregates, between the π-stacking graphene quantum dots is studied by using transient absorption spectroscopy. We find that the spectral evolution of the ground state bleach arises from the dynamic variation of the excitonic coupling in the excited π-stacks. According to the spectral simulations, we demonstrate that the kinetics of the vibronic peak can be exploited as a probe to measure the dynamics of excitonic coupling in the excited π-stacks.     

Ratiometric fluorescence transduction by hybridization after isothermal amplification for determination of zeptomole quantities of oligonucleotide biomarkers with a paper-based platform and camera-based detection

Paper is a promising platform for the development of decentralized diagnostic assays owing to the low cost and ease of use of paper-based analytical devices (PADs). It can be challenging to detect on PADs very low concentrations of nucleic acid biomarkers of lengths as used in clinical assays. Herein we report the use of thermophilic helicase-dependent amplification (tHDA) in combination with a paper-based platform for fluorescence detection of probe-target hybridization. Paper substrates were patterned using wax printing. The cellulosic fibers were chemically derivatized with imidazole groups for the assembly of the transduction interface that consisted of immobilized quantum dot (QD)–probe oligonucleotide conjugates. Green-emitting QDs (gQDs) served as donors with Cy3 as the acceptor dye in a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based transduction method. After probe-target hybridization, a further hybridization event with a reporter sequence brought the Cy3 acceptor dye in close proximity to the surface of immobilized gQDs, triggering a FRET sensitized emission that served as an analytical signal. Ratiometric detection was evaluated using both an epifluorescence microscope and a low-cost iPad camera as detectors. Addition of the tHDA method for target amplification to produce sequences of ∼100 base length allowed for the detection of zmol quantities of nucleic acid targets using the two detection platforms. The ratiometric QD-FRET transduction method not only offered improved assay precision, but also lowered the limit of detection of the assay when compared with the non-ratiometric QD-FRET transduction method. The selectivity of the hybridization assays was demonstrated by the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism.     

Interaction parameters and (solid + liquid) equilibria calculation for KCl–H2O–HCl–C2H5OH,K2SO4–H2O–H2SO4 and K2SO4–H2O–C2H5OH mixed solvent-electrolyte systems

This work deals with the prediction and experimental measurements of the (solid + liquid) equilibrium (SLE) in acid medium for industrial purposes. Specific systems including KCl–ethanol–water–HCl and K₂SO₄–water–H₂SO₄ were analyzed. At first, a critical discussion of SLE calculations was given, based on the well-known UNIQUAC extended and LIQUAC models. Two new proposals were derived, considering the explicit necessity of a new reference state for SLE calculations for the studied (solvents + acid) mixtures. The solubility of KCl in water–ethanol–HCl mixed solvents was measured in the temperature range of 300.15 to 315.15 K using an analytical gravimetric method. These results combined with some other experimental data reported in the open literature let us to propose a set of parameters for the new models. They included the interaction parameters between ethanol and the H⁺ ion. The prediction capability of the new models, for calculations in acid medium, was illustrated. Experimentally, it was observed that the (K₂SO₄ + water + H₂SO₄) system presented the unusual behavior of increasing K₂SO₄ solubility with an increase in the sulfuric acid concentration. This was accurately predicted by the newly proposed models.     

Detonation development in hydrogen/air mixtures inside a closed chamber: role of a cold wall

Detonation development from a hot spot has been extensively studied, where ignition occurs earlier than that in the surrounding mixtures. It has also been reported that a cool spot can induce detonation for large hydrocarbon fuels with Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) behavior, since ignition could happen earlier at lower temperatures. In this work we find that even for hydrogen/air mixtures without NTC behaviors, a cold wall can still initiate and promote detonation. End-wall reflection of the pressure wave and wall heat loss introduce an exothermic center outside the boundary layer, and then autoignitive reaction fronts on both sides may evolve into detonation waves. The right branch can be further strengthened by appropriate temperature gradient near the cold wall, and exhibits different dynamics at various initial conditions. The small excitation time and the large diffusivity of hydrogen provide the possibility for detonation development within the limited space between the autoignition kernel and the cold wall. Moreover, detonation may also develop near the flame front, which may or may not co-exist with detonation waves from the cold wall. Correspondingly, wall heat flux evolution exhibits different responses to detailed dynamic structures. Finally, we propose a regime diagram describing different combustion modes including normal flame, autoignition, and detonation from the wall and/or the reaction front. The boundary of normal flame regime qualitatively agrees with the prediction by the Livengood-Wu Integral method, while the detonation development from both the end wall and the reaction front observes Zel'dovich mechanism. Compared to hydrocarbons, hydrogen is resistant to knock onset but it is more prone to superknock development. The latter mode becomes more destructive in the presence of wall heat loss. This study isolates and identifies the role of wall heat loss on a potential mechanism for superknock development in hydrogen-fueled spark-ignition engines.     

Fluorine-containing pharmaceuticals approved by the FDA in 2020: Synthesis and biological activity

Thirteen new fluorine-containing drugs, which have been granted approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020, are profiled in this review. Therapeutic areas of these new fluorinated pharmaceuticals include medicines and diagnostic agents for Cushing's disease, neurofibromatosis, migraine, Alzheimer's disease, myelodysplastic syndromes, hereditary angioedema attacks, and various cancers. Molecules of these approved drugs feature aromatic fluorine (Ar-F) (11 compounds), aromatic Ar-CF₃ (1), aliphatic CHF (1) and CF₂ (1) groups. For each compound, we provide a spectrum of biological activity, medicinal chemistry discovery, and synthetic approaches.     

Viscoelastic behaviour of silica filled natural rubber composites – Correlation of shear with elongational testing

Dynamic mechanical behaviour of natural rubber-silica composites was studied by a frequency sweep method at different temperatures (40 °C,70 °C and 100 °C) using a dynamic mechanical analyzer and a rotorless rheometer, RPA, in an attempt to establish a correlation between the two. The composites with silica content up to 40 phr were studied. It was found that the dependence of dynamic modulus on the frequency as obtained from both the instruments followed a similar trend. This suggests that the dynamic mechanical properties of rubber compounds can be determined even during curing. A correlation could be arrived at between the two sets of data, making it possible to predict one set knowing the other. The impact of silane coupling agent, bis (3-triethoxysilylpropyl tetrasulphide), TESPT, on viscoelasticity was also investigated. The mechanical properties were improved in the presence of TESPT. Additionally, an increase in thermal stability was also observed in the presence of TESPT. Scanning electron micrographs showed the better filler dispersion in the case of silane-coupled silica composites.     

The pρT behaviour of the lactate family

The densities of methyl lactate, ethyl lactate and butyl lactate have been measured using a high-pressure, high-temperature vibrating tube densimeter system over a temperature range from T = (283.15 to 338.15) K and a pressure range from p = (0.1 to 60.0) MPa. The experimental densities have been satisfactorily correlated with temperature and pressure using the TRIDEN equation. Finally, from the experimental densities, properties such as isobaric expansibility and isothermal compressibility have been calculated.