Papain Loaded Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Nanoparticles<Emphasis Type="Italic">: In-silico and</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">In-Vitro</Emphasis> Studies

Papain is a protease enzyme with therapeutic properties that are very valuable for medical applications. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is an ideal polymeric carrier for controlled drug delivery systems due to its low biodegradability and its high biocompatibility. In this study, the three-dimensional structure and action mechanism of papain were investigated by in vitro and in silico experiments using molecular dynamics (MD) and molecular docking methods to elucidate biological functions. The results showed that the size of papain-loaded PCL nanoparticles (NPs) and the polydispersity index (PDI) of the NPs were 242.9 nm and 0.074, respectively. The encapsulation efficiency and loading efficiency were 80.4 and 27.2%, respectively. Human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293) were used for determining the cytotoxicity of papain-loaded PCL and PCL nanoparticles. The in vitro cell culture showed that nanoparticles are not toxic at low concentrations, while toxicity slightly increases at high concentrations. In silico studies, which were carried out with MD simulations and ADME analysis showed that the strong hydrogen bonds between the ligand and the papain provide stability and indicate the regions in which the interactions occur.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activities of Some 1-[(N,N-Disubstitutedthiocarbamoylthio)acetyl]-3,5-diaryl-2-pyrazolines

The increasing clinical importance of drug-resistant fungal and bacterial pathogens has lent additional urgency to microbiological research and new antimicrobial compound development. For this purpose, new pyrazoline derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antimicrobial activity.

Some 1-[(N, N-disubstitutedthiocarbamoylthio)acetyl]-3,5-diaryl-2-pyrazolines derivatives were synthesized by reacting 1-(chloroacetyl)-3,5-diaryl-2-pyrazolines with appropriate potassium salts of secondary amine dithiocarbamic acids. The chemical structures of the compounds were elucidated by IR, ¹ H-NMR, and FAB⁺-MS spectral data. Their antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (B-767), Escherichia coli (B-3704), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Proteus vulgaris (NRLL B-123), and Candida albicans (NRRL-27077) were investigated. The results showed that some of the compounds have notable activity against S. aureus and C. albicans.     

Development of a macro-scale model from a meso-scale model for cell culture population dynamics

In this paper, we present a novel macro-scale analytical model that allows the prediction of how the population size will change in a cell culture starting from an arbitrary initial value. General biological knowledge and some empirical observations are used to design an agent-based discrete-time model at the meso-scale, which then serves as a simulation environment and provides the necessary insights for the development of the continuous-time, differential equation-based, compact macro-scale model. This model can be parameter-tuned and employed for predicting how the population size changes. The paper gives a procedure for the estimation of parameter values of the macro-scale model via some simple tests to be conducted on the cell culture at hand. The performance of the macro-scale model is validated via simulation results that show how well the macro-scale model captures the population dynamics as obtained from the meso-scale model, while the biological plausibility of the meso-scale model is taken for granted.     

Synthesis,characterization, antioxidant properties and DFT calculation of some new pyrimidine derivatives

Abstract

In this study, 5-benzoyl-4-(4-(methylthio)phenyl)-6-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-thioxo (1), oxo (2) and imino (3) pyrimidine derivatives were prepared via Multicomponent Cyclocondensation Reactions (MCRs). The compounds thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-3(5H)-one (4) and thiazin-4(6H)-one (5) were obtained via the reaction of compound 1 with bromoacetic acid and 3-bromopropionic acid, respectively. Structures were determined by using FT-IR, ¹H/¹³C NMR and elemental analyses. Also the compounds 4 and 5 were analyzed by X-ray single crystal analysis. All compounds were investigated as corrosion inhibitors using density functional theory (DFT) at the level of B3LYP/6-31G (d, p). According to the calculations, the compound 3 appears to be a good inhibitor for corrosion. On the other hand, total antioxidant properties were measured in vitro by DPPH^?, ABTS^?+ test, hemolysis of phenylhydrazine erythrocytes and metal chelating effect. The results were compared with standard antioxidants such as trolox and α-tocopherol. These data revealed that compounds 1, 2 and 5 are more active with respect to 3 and 4 in scavenging the radicals.     

Creative and algorithmic mathematical reasoning: effects of transfer-appropriate processing and effortful struggle

Two separate studies, Jonsson et al. (J. Math Behav. 2014;36: 20–32) and Karlsson Wirebring et al. (Trends Neurosci Educ. 2015;4(1–2):6–14), showed that learning mathematics using creative mathematical reasoning and constructing their own solution methods can be more efficient than if students use algorithmic reasoning and are given the solution procedures. It was argued that effortful struggle was the key that explained this difference. It was also argued that the results could not be explained by the effects of transfer-appropriate processing, although this was not empirically investigated. This study evaluated the hypotheses of transfer-appropriate processing and effortful struggle in relation to the specific characteristics associated with algorithmic reasoning task and creative mathematical reasoning task. In a between-subjects design, upper-secondary students were matched according to their working memory capacity.

The main finding was that the superior performance associated with practicing creative mathematical reasoning was mainly supported by effortful struggle, however, there was also an effect of transfer-appropriate processing. It is argued that students need to struggle with important mathematics that in turn facilitates the construction of knowledge. It is further argued that the way we construct mathematical tasks have consequences for how much effort students allocate to their task-solving attempt.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel N-, S-, O-Substituted P-Chloranil Derivatives

A series of novel N-, S-, and O-substituted p-chloranil derivatives were synthesized from the reactions of p-chloranil (1) and related nucleophiles in sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) solution of acetonitrile or in chloroform with Et₃N. The structures of novel compounds were characterized by using microanalysis, Fourier transform–infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectrometry.     

Dielectrophoretic characterization and separation of monocytes and macrophages using 3D carbon‐electrodes

Monocyte heterogeneity and its prevalence are revealed as indicator of several human diseases ranking from cardiovascular diseases to rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney diseases, autoimmune multiple sclerosis, and stroke injuries. When monocytes and macrophages are characterized and isolated with preserved genetic, phenotypic and functional properties, they can be used as label‐free biomarkers for precise diagnostics and treatment of various diseases. Here, the dielectrophoretic responses of the monocytes and macrophages were examined. We present 3D carbon‐electrode dielectrophoresis (carbon‐DEP) as a separation tool for U937 monocytes and U937 monocyte‐differentiated macrophages. The carbon‐electrodes advanced the usability and throughput of DEP separation, presented wider electrochemical stability. Using the 3D carbon‐DEP chip, we first identified the selective positive and negative DEP responses and specific crossover frequencies of monocytes and macrophages as their signatures for separation. The crossover frequency of monocytes and macrophages was 17 and 30 kHz, respectively. Next, we separated monocyte and macrophage subpopulations using their specific dielectrophoretic responses. Afterward, we used a fluorescence‐activated cell sorter to confirm our results. Finally, we enriched 70% of monocyte cells from the mixed cell population, in other words, concentration of monocyte cells to macrophage cells was five times increased, using the 30‐kHz, 10‐Vpp electric field and 1 μL/min flow rate.     

The Quantitative Detection of Phenylephrine in Pharmaceutical Preparations and Spiked Human Urine by Voltammetry

A voltammetric method was used for the quantitative detection of phenylephrine in pharmaceutical preparations and spiked human urine. The electrochemical measurements were carried out in various buffer solutions in the pH range from 0.51 to 12.00 on ultra-trace graphite electrode (UTGE) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) techniques. The dependence of pH on the oxidation peak current and peak potential was investigated. Britton–Robinson buffer (pH 8.02) was selected for analytical purposes. The peak was established to be diffusion controlled nature of electrode. A linear calibration curve for DPV analysis was constructed in the phenylephrine concentration range from 8 × 10^–6 to 1 × 10^–4 M. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) were obtained as 2.07 × 10^–7 M and 6.91 × 10^–6 M respectively. The repeatability, accuracy and precision of the developed technique were checked in spiked urine and pharmaceutical preparations.     

Comparative studies on conventional and microwave synthesis of some benzimidazole, benzothiazole and indole derivatives and testing on inhibition of hyaluronidase

We have synthesized twelve 2-substituted benzimidazole, benzothiazole and indole derivatives using on both microwave irradiation and conventional heating methods. The microwave method was observed to be more beneficial as it provides an increase of yield from 3% to 113% and a 95 to 98 % reduction in time. All compounds were tested by a stains-all assay at pH 7 and by a Morgan-Elson assay at pH 3.5 for hyaluronidase inhibitory activity at a concentration of 100 microM. The most potent compound was 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-phenylindole (12) with an IC(50) value of 107 microM at both pH 7 and 3.5.     

Polarographic Determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) with Selective Removal of Se(IV) Using Ionic Poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-dimethylacrylamide-co-allylthiourea)

Hydrogels based on N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAAm), allylthiourea (ATU), and maleic acid (MA) were synthesized by free-radical cross-linking copolymerization in water with N,N-methylene-bis(acrylamide) (BAAm) as the cross-linker, ammonium persulfate (APS) as the initiator, and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylenediamine (TEMED) as the activator. Since Se(IV) is the most serious interfering element in the electroanalytical (polarographic or voltammetric) determination of lead and cadmium, a new method for their correct determination after selective separation of the interfering ion (selenite) was developed by using poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide-co-allylthiourea) [P(DMAAm-co-ATU)] hydrogels containing reducing pedant groups like allylthiourea. The proposed method showed good reproducibility and accuracy with relative standard deviations of 8.5 and 3.4% and relative errors of ?6.0 and ?5.4% for the determination of 5.0 × 10^?5 M Pb(II) and Cd(II), respectively, next to 3.0 × 10^?5 M Se(IV).