Isoflavonoids from Astragalus membranaceus Hairy Roots

Chemistry of Natural Compounds -     

Identification of phytocompounds from Houttuynia cordata Thunb. as potential inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 replication proteins through GC–MS/LC–MS characterization,molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a massive viral disease outbreak of international concerns. The present study is mainly intended to identify the bioactive phytocompounds from traditional antiviral herb Houttuynia cordata Thunb. as potential inhibitors for three main replication proteins of SARS-CoV-2, namely Main protease (Mpro), Papain-Like protease (PLpro) and ADP ribose phosphatase (ADRP) which control the replication process. A total of 177 phytocompounds were characterized from H. cordata using GC–MS/LC–MS and they were docked against three SARS-CoV-2 proteins (receptors), namely Mpro, PLpro and ADRP using Epic, LigPrep and Glide module of Schrödinger suite 2020-3. During docking studies, phytocompounds (ligand) 6-Hydroxyondansetron (A104) have demonstrated strong binding affinity toward receptors Mpro (PDB ID 6LU7) and PLpro (PDB ID 7JRN) with G-score of???7.274 and???5.672, respectively, while Quercitrin (A166) also showed strong binding affinity toward ADRP (PDB ID 6W02) with G-score -6.788. Molecular Dynamics Simulation (MDS) performed using Desmond module of Schrödinger suite 2020–3 has demonstrated better stability in the ligand–receptor complexes A104-6LU7 and A166-6W02 within 100 ns than the A104-7JRN complex. The ADME-Tox study performed using SwissADMEserver for pharmacokinetics of the selected phytocompounds 6-Hydroxyondansetron (A104) and Quercitrin (A166) demonstrated that 6-Hydroxyondansetron passes all the required drug discovery rules which can potentially inhibit Mpro and PLpro of SARS-CoV-2 without causing toxicity while Quercitrin demonstrated less drug-like properties but also demonstrated as potential inhibitor for ADRP. Present findings confer opportunities for 6-Hydroxyondansetron and Quercitrin to be developed as new therapeutic drug against COVID-19.

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大尺寸电阻加热式碳化硅晶体生长热场设计与优化

大尺寸低缺陷碳化硅(SiC)单晶体是功率器件和射频(RF)器件的重要基础材料,物理气相传输(physical vapor transport, PVT)法是目前生长大尺寸SiC单晶体的主要方法。获得大尺寸高品质晶体的核心是通过调节组分、温度、压力实现气相组分在晶体生长界面均匀定向结晶,同时尽可能减小晶体的热应力。本文对电阻加热式8英寸(1英寸=2.54 cm)碳化硅大尺寸晶体生长系统展开热场设计研究。首先建立描述碳化硅原料受热分解热质输运及其多孔结构演变、系统热输运的物理和数学模型,进而使用数值模拟方法研究加热器位置、加热器功率和辐射孔径对温度分布的影响及其规律,并优化热场结构。数值模拟结果显示,通过优化散热孔形状、保温棉的结构等设计参数,电阻加热式大尺寸晶体生长系统在晶锭厚度变化、多孔介质原料消耗的情况下均能达到较低的晶体横向温度梯度和较高的纵向温度梯度。     

Direct visualization of the nanoscopic three‐phase structure and stiffness of NBR/PVC blends by AFM nanomechanical mapping

The PeakForce Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping based on atomic force microscope (AFM) is employed to first visualize and then quantify the elastic properties of a model nitrile rubber/poly(vinyl chloride) (NBR/PVC) blend at the nanoscale. This method allows us to consistently observe the changes in mechanical properties of each phase in polymer blends. Beyond measuring and discriminating elastic modulus and adhesion forces of each phase, we tune the AFM tips and the peak force parameters in order to reliably image samples. In view of viscoelastic difference in each phase, a three‐phase coexistence of an unmixed NBR phase, the mixed phase, and PVC microcrystallites is directly visualized in NBR/PVC blends. The nanomechanical investigation is also capable of recognizing the crosslinked rubber phase in cured rubber. The contribution of the mixed phase was quantified and it was found that the mechanical properties of blends are mainly determined by the homogeneity and stiffness of the mixed phase. This study furthers our understanding the structure–mechanical property relationship of thermoplastic elastomers, which is important for their potential design and applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 662–669     

氨基功能化磁性CoFe2O4/氧化石墨烯去除电镀废水中Cr(Ⅵ)的研究

使用改良的hummers法制备出的氧化石墨烯为载体,采用共沉淀法制备出磁性CoFe2O4/氧化石墨烯(MGO),再使用三乙烯四胺(TETA)对磁性CoFe2O4/氧化石墨烯进行氨基功能化,制备出氨基功能化磁性CoFe2O4/氧化石墨烯吸附剂.采用X-射线衍射仪(XRD)、傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FT-IR)和扫描电子显微镜(SEM)对TETA-MGO的物相、化学组成和微观形貌进行表征,以TETA-MGO作为吸附剂去除电镀废水中Cr(Ⅵ),探讨吸附性能和吸附机理,分析TETA-MGO在外加磁场下的液固分离和再生吸附性能.结果表明纳米级立方尖晶石相磁性CoFe2O4均匀生长于氧化石墨烯的表面和片层之间,TETA通过C-N键与磁性氧化石墨烯(MGO)相连,氨基功能化成功,活性吸附位点增点.室温下,pH =2时吸附效果最佳,吸附120 min时达到吸附平衡,平衡吸附量约为48.66 mg·g-1,TETA-MGO对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附动力学和吸附热力学可分别使用拟二级动力学模型和Langmuir等温吸附模型描述,吸附过程主要属于化学吸附控制的单分子层吸附,使用外加磁场可以对TETA-MGO实现简单的固液分离,TETA-MGO经过6次再生吸附后,对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附量仅下降19.67;,说明具有良好的循环再生吸附能力.     

Multi-Interactions in Ionic Liquids for Natural Product Extraction

Natural products with a variety of pharmacological effects are important sources for commercial drugs, and it is very crucial to develop effective techniques to selectively extract and isolate bioactive natural components from the plants against the background of sustainable development. Ionic liquids (ILs) are a kind of designable material with unique physicochemical properties, including good thermal stability, negligible vapor pressure, good solvation ability, etc. ILs have already been used in pharmaceuticals for extraction, purification, drug delivery, etc. It has been reported that multi-interactions, like hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, play important roles in the extraction of bioactive components from the plants. In this review, recent progress in the understanding of scientific essence of hydrogen bonding, the special interaction, in ILs was summarized. The extraction of various natural products, one important area in pharmaceutical, by conventional and functional ILs as well as the specific roles of multi-interactions in this process were also reviewed. Moreover, problems existing in bioactive compound extraction by ILs and the future developing trends of this area are given, which might be helpful for scientists, especially beginners, in this field.     

Theoretical Design of Biodegradable Phthalic Acid Ester Derivatives in Marine and Freshwater Environments

The biodegradability of phtalic acid esters in marine and freshwater environments was characterized by their binding free energy with corresponding degrading enzymes. According to comprehensive biodegradation effects weights, the binding free energy values were converted into dimensionless efficacy coefficient using ratio normalization method. Then, considering comprehensive dual biodegradation effects value and the structural parameters of PAEs in both marine and freshwater environments, a 3D-QSAR pharmacophore model was constructed, five PAE derivatives (DBP−COOH, DBP−CHO, DBP−OH, DINP−NH₂, and DINP−NO₂) were screened out based on their environmental friendliness, functionality and stability. The prediction of biodegradation effects on five PAE derivatives by biodegradation models in marine and freshwater environment increased by 15.90 %, 15.84 %, 27.21 %, 12.33 %, and 8.32 %, and 21.57 %, 15.21 %, 20.99 %, 15.10 %, and 9.74 %, respectively. By simulating the photodegradation path of the PAE derivative molecular, it was found that DBP−OH can generate ^.OH and provides free radicals for the photodegradation of microplastics in the environment.     

3D‐morphology reconstruction of nanoscale phase‐separation in polymer memory blends

In many organic electronic devices functionality is achieved by blending two or more materials, typically polymers or molecules, with distinctly different optical or electrical properties in a single film. The local scale morphology of such blends is vital for the device performance. Here, a simple approach to study the full 3D morphology of phase‐separated blends, taking advantage of the possibility to selectively dissolve the different components is introduced. This method is applied in combination with AFM to investigate a blend of a semiconducting and ferroelectric polymer typically used as active layer in organic ferroelectric resistive switches. It is found that the blend consists of a ferroelectric matrix with three types of embedded semiconductor domains and a thin wetting layer at the bottom electrode. Statistical analysis of the obtained images excludes the presence of a fourth type of domains. The criteria for the applicability of the presented technique are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1231–1237     

GZO/Al复合背电极对非晶硅太阳能电池的影响

随着能源紧缺与环境污染问题的日益严重,太阳能的开发利用越来越受到重视,其中非晶硅薄膜太阳能电池由于其制备工艺简单、价格低廉等优点被广泛地研究.为了使非晶硅薄膜太阳能电池得到更好地利用,提高其转换效率和稳定性显得尤为重要.引入复合背电极是提高非晶硅太阳能电池性能的有效手段,其中对GZO/Al复合背电极的研究还未见报道.在该工作中,利用磁控溅射法在非晶硅电池上制备了GZO/Al复合背电极,研究了复合背电极的制备条件及其对非晶硅太阳能电池性能的影响.结果显示,当GZO层的溅射功率为90 W、Al层的溅射功率为90 W时,具有复合背电极的太阳能电池表现出较好的光电转换性能,其短路电流(ISC)、开路电压(VOC)、填充因子(FF)和电池的光电转换效率(η)分别为8.92 mA、1.55 V、54.48;和7.53;.相较于单层Al背电极的太阳能电池,其光电转换效率大幅提高了47.6;(相对效率).