Green Synthesis of CeO2 Nanoparticles from the Abelmoschus esculentus Extract: Evaluation of Antioxidant,Anticancer, Antibacterial,and Wound-Healing Activities

Metal oxide nanoparticles synthesized by the biological method represent the most recent research in nanotechnology. This study reports the rapid and ecofriendly approach for the synthesis of CeO₂ nanoparticles mediated using the Abelmoschus esculentus extract. The medicinal plant extract acts as both a reducing and stabilizing agent. The characterization of CeO₂ NPs was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The in vitro cytotoxicity of green synthesized CeO₂ was assessed against cervical cancerous cells (HeLa). The exposure of CeO₂ to HeLa cells at 10–125 µg/mL caused a loss in cellular viability against cervical cancerous cells in a dose-dependent manner. The antibacterial activity of the CeO₂ was assessed against S. aureus and K. pneumonia. A significant improvement in wound-healing progression was observed when cerium oxide nanoparticles were incorporated into the chitosan hydrogel membrane as a wound dressing.     

Crystal and molecular structure of triphenylarsine

Triphenylarsine crystallizes in the triclinic space groupP¯1 (No. 2),a=11.200(2),b=15.263(7),c=17.871(6) Å,=84.63(5),=80.21(5), =86.41(6)°,Z=8, with four molecules in the asymmetric unit. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined in the initial stages by full-matrix least squares and finally by block-diagonal least-squares methods toR=0.055 for 3537 reflections. The dimensions and the conformations of the four independent molecules are almost identical. The molecules do not exhibitC _3v symmetry.     

Crystal and molecular structure of 5-benzylidene-3-acetyl-2,4-oxolandione

The title compound crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupP2₁/n (No. 14),a=14.923(2),b=4.165(2),c=18.097(2) Å,=106.40(1)°,Z=4. The structure was solved by direct methods, and refined by full-matrix least squares toR=0.048 for 1313 observed reflections. Inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bonding is observed, the latter resulting in the formation of dimers.     

Effect of orientation of lateral methyl substituent on the thermal behaviour of the mesophase in binary systems of 4-substituted phenyl 4ʹ-(4”-alkoxy phenylazo) benzoates

Several binary systems made from two laterally substituted azo/ester isomers, namely 2?- (and 3?-) methyl-4-substituted phenyl 4?-(4?-alkoxyphenylazo) benzoates, where the length of the terminal alkoxy group = 8 and 16 carbons, while the other terminal substituent, X, varies between CH₃O, CH₃, H, Br and CN groups, were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and phases identified by polarised light microscope (PLM). For the sake of comparison, two another binary systems made from 2?- (or 3?-) methyl-4-substituted phenyl 4?-(4?-alkoxyphenylazo) benzoates (n = 8 and X = CH₃) each was mixed with its laterally neat analogue and similarly investigated. Results were discussed on the basis of constructed phase diagrams whereby various mesomorphic properties were observed dependent on X, n, and position of the lateral methyl group. In most of the cases, the mixtures exhibited eutectic compositions, while linear or nearly linear nematic and smectic A-composition temperature dependence were observed.     

Synthesis of nano-sized zeolite-Y functionalized with 5-amino-3-thiomethyl 1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile for effective Fe(III)-chelating strategy

Zeolite crystals having faujasite-type (FAU) topology in the nanometer range were first synthesized from amorphous rice husk ash at a low temperature of 363 K under autogenous pressure. Following this, surface functionalization of the produced zeolite with 5-amino-3-thiomethyl 1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile (pyrazole; Py) was carried out by two different methods, namely liquefied-period adsorption of Py (Py/Y_im) and a flexible ligand method (Py/Y_ss). The latter provides a larger amount of Py formed into as-made zeolite-Y. The sorption of Fe(III) onto Py/NaY afforded large meso–macroporosity introduced by the aggregation–assembly between Fe(III)Py complexes and NaY zeolite, which was typically evidenced for Fe(III)Py/Y_ss. The materials were characterized by XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis (TGA) and porous structure by N₂ adsorption–desorption at 77 K. The XRD evaluation showed that the zeolite structure was managed right after adding Fe(III) to Py/Y, although a change in intensity of the zeolite reflections on complex formation was noticed. The FT-IR spectrum of Fe(III)Py/Y_ss exhibited two bands at 3594 and 3542 cm^?1 assigned to bridging hydroxyl groups associated with a Brönsted site, which did not exist in the spectra of Fe(III)Py/Y_im and Fe(III)-exchanged as-made NaY zeolite. This effect was ascribed to the induced greater electronegativity of the ligand towards Fe(III) species in dissociation of water molecules, producing acidic protons that are potential Brönsted acid sites. It was also evident that the Fe(III) adsorption capacity on Py/Y_ss is greater than on as-made NaY zeolite and Py/Y_im, owing most likely to the increasing concentration of the incorporating Py ligand which leads to an increase in the number of binding sites. The Fe(III) adsorption onto Py/Y_ss was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Density functional theory (B3LYP/6-311G*) was performed to understanding the interaction mode of the ligand and complex with zeolite. The QSPR was calculated depending on the optimization geometries, frontier molecular orbitals, thermodynamic parameters, and global chemical reactivates, which were discussed for the studied compounds. The HOMOs, LUMOs and molecular electrostatic potentials were plotted to elucidate the interaction manner of the tested compounds with the zeolite. The nonlinear optical properties were elucidated via 1st and 2nd hyper-polarizabilities. The auto-degradation behavior was predicted for the complex, based on the ionization optional and bond dissociation enthalpy. The interactions between P_y and Fe(III)P_y with the zeolite surface have been described with molecular dynamics using a Monte Carlo simulation.     

An unexpected acid mediated rearrangement of monoethylene ketal of 2-methyl-2-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)cyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diones to chromane

We herein report a serendipitously observed acid mediated rearrangement of monoethylene ketal of 2-methyl-2-(3-methylbut-2-en-1-yl)cyclohex-4-ene-1,3-diones to Dihydrobenzopyran and demonstrated the application of this methodology in the construction of core carbon scaffolds of dimethoxyajacareubin, cariphenone-A and crotamadine.     

Extractive Desulfurization of Liquid Fuel using Modified Pyrollidinium and Phosphonium Based Ionic Liquid Solvents

In the pursuit of better solvents for use in the extractive desulfurization (EDS) of liquid fuel, the pyrollidinium and phosphonium based ionic liquids (ILs) have been improved by combining them with selected molecular compound modifiers. The modifiers, which are imidazole, poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG 200) and sulfolane were selected to induce previously nonexistent mechanisms in the presence of refractory sulfur compounds. The addition of PEG 200 and sulfolane were observed to have a more positive impact on the performance of the ILs than the addition of imidazole under the same conditions. This provides further support for the idea that π–π interaction may not be the predominant interactions for the ILs that are the highly effective in EDS. Using the sulfolane modified tetrabutylphosphonium methanesulfonate [P₄₄₄₄][MeSO₃], up to 81% dibenzothiophene (DBT) removal was recorded at a temperature of 30 °C and solvent-to-mass ratio of 1:1 and after a 30 min mixing time.     

Nanocomposites of polyaniline functionalized graphene oxide: synthesis and application as a novel platform for removal of Cd(II), Eu(III), Th(IV) and U(VI) in water

The characterization of the nanocomposites (PANI@GO) by SEM, TEM, Raman and FT-IR indicated that the GO has been functionalized via PANI successfully. PANI@GO as a novel platform for the removal of Cd(II), Eu(III), Th(IV) and U(VI) from aqueous solutions, the uptake process was a spontaneous endothermic process, and is strongly dependent of pH but independent of ionic strength. The adsorption kinetic and isotherm were fitted well the Pseudo-second-order equation and Langmuir model. PANI@GO were recycled and re-used without significant loss of adsorption capacity, and real samples were also treated which showed that had little interference with the performance of it.     

Small Ubiquitin-Like Modifier Protein 3 Enhances the Solubilization of Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis>

Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) fusion technology is widely used in the production of heterologous proteins from prokaryotic system to aid in protein solubilization and refolding. Due to an extensive clinical application of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP2) in bone augmentation, total RNA was isolated from human gingival tissue and mature gene was amplified through RT-PCR, cloned (pET21a), sequence analyzed, and submitted to GenBank (Accession no. KF250425). To obtain soluble expression, SUMO3 was tagged at the N-terminus of hBMP2 gene (pET21a/SUMO3-hBMP2), transferred in BL21 codon+, and ~?40% soluble expression was obtained on induction with IPTG. The dimerized hBMP2 was confirmed with Western blot, native PAGE analysis, and purified by fast protein liquid chromatography with 0.5 M NaCl elution. The cleavage of SUMO3 tag from hBMP2 converted it to an insoluble form. Computational 3D structural analysis of the SUMO3-hBMP2 was performed and optimized by molecular dynamic simulation. Protein-protein interaction of SUMO3-hBMP2 with BMP2 receptor was carried out using HADDOCK and inferred stable interaction. The alkaline phosphatase assay of SUMO3-hBMP2 on C2C12 cells showed maximum 200-ng/ml dose-dependent activity. We conclude that SUMO3-tagged hBMP2 is more suited for generation of soluble form of the protein and addition of SUMO3 tag does not affect the functional activity of hBMP2.     

Thermally Twistable,Photobendable, Elastically Deformable,and Self‐Healable Soft Crystals

The first example of a smart crystalline material, the 2:1 cocrystal of probenecid and 4,4′‐azopyridine, which responds reversibly to multiple external stimuli (heat, UV light, and mechanical pressure) by twisting, bending, and elastic deformation without fracture is reported. This material is also able to self‐heal on heating and cooling, thereby overcoming the main setbacks of molecular crystals for future applications as crystal actuators. The photo‐ and thermomechanical effects and self‐healing capabilities of the material are rooted in reversible trans–cis isomerization of the azopyridine unit and crystal‐to‐crystal phase transition. Fairly isotropic intermolecular interactions and interlocked crisscrossed molecular packing secure high elasticity of the crystals.