Silibinin and Naringenin against Bisphenol A-Induced Neurotoxicity in Zebrafish Model—Potential Flavonoid Molecules for New Drug Design,Development, and Therapy for Neurological Disorders

Bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known xenoestrogen, is commonly utilised in the production of polycarbonate plastics. Based on the existing evidence, BPA is known to induce neurotoxicity and behavioural issues. Flavonoids such as silibinin and naringenin have been shown to have biological activity against a variety of illnesses. The current research evaluates the neuropharmacological effects of silibinin and naringenin in a zebrafish model against neurotoxicity and oxidative stress caused by Bisphenol A. In this study, a novel tank diving test (NTDT) and light–dark preference test (LDPT) were used in neurobehavioural investigations. The experimental protocol was planned to last 21 days. The neuroprotective effects of silibinin (10 μM) and naringenin (10 μM) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) induced by BPA (17.52 μM) were investigated. In the brine shrimp lethality assay, the 50% fatal concentrations (LC₅₀) were 34.10 μg/mL (silibinin) and 91.33 μg/mL (naringenin) compared to the standard potassium dichromate (13.15 μg/mL). The acute toxicity investigation found no mortality or visible abnormalities in the silibinin- and naringenin-treated groups (LC₅₀ > 100 mg/L). The altered scototaxis behaviour in LDPT caused by BPA was reversed by co-supplementation with silibinin and naringenin, as shown by decreases in the number of transitions to the light zone and the duration spent in the light zone. Our findings point to BPA’s neurotoxic potential in causing altered scototaxis and bottom-dwelling behaviour in zebrafish, as well as the usage of silibinin and naringenin as potential neuroprotectants.     

Utilizing Reversible Interactions in Polymeric Nanoparticles To Generate Hollow Metal–Organic Nanoparticles

The use of reversible linkers in polymers has been of interest mainly for biomedical applications. Herein, we present a novel strategy to utilize reversible interactions in polymeric nanoparticles to generate hollow metal–organic nanoparticles (MOPs). These hollow MOPs are synthesized from self‐assembled polymeric nanoparticles using a simple metal–comonomer exchange process in a single step. The control over the size of the polymer precursor particles translates into a straightforward opportunity for controlling MOP sizes. The shell thickness of the MOPs could be easily tuned by the concentration of metal ions in solution. The underlying mechanism for the formation of these hollow MOPs has been proposed. Evidence for the generality of the method is provided by its application to a variety of metal ions with different coordination geometries.     

Controlling Liquid Crystal Configuration and Phase Using Multiple Molecular Triggers

Liquid crystals are able to transform a local molecular interaction into a macroscopic change of state, making them a valuable “smart” material. Here, we investigate a novel polymeric amphiphile as a candidate for molecular triggering of liquid crystal droplets in aqueous background. Using microscopy equipped with crossed polarizers and optical tweezers, we find that the monomeric amphiphile is able to trigger both a fast phase change and then a subsequent transition from nematic to isotropic. We next include sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a standard surfactant, with the novel amphiphilic molecules to test phase transitioning when both were present. As seen previously, we find that the activity of SDS at the surface can result in configuration changes with hysteresis. We find that the presence of the polymeric amphiphile reverses the hysteresis previously observed during such transitions. This work demonstrates a variety of phase and configuration changes of liquid crystals that can be controlled by multiple exogenous chemical triggers.     

Amphiphilic homopolymer as a reaction medium in water: product selectivity within polymeric nanopockets

A styrene-based water-soluble polymer has been explored for its use as a host for lipophilic substrates in aqueous medium. Unimolecular reactions, namely, photo-Fries rearrangement of naphthyl esters, alpha-cleavage reaction of 1-phenyl-3-p-tolyl-propan-2-one, and Norrish type I and type II reactions of benzoin alkyl ethers were examined. We find that the hydrophobic domains generated by the polymer not only restrict the mobility of the radicals but also modestly incarcerate the substrate, intermediates, and products during the time scale of the reactions. Comparative studies of the same photoreactions in micelles formed from small molecule surfactants and an amphiphilic diblock copolymer demonstrate that the styrene-based water-soluble polymer aggregates in aqueous medium offer better selectivity.     

Direct organocatalytic asymmetric aldol reactions of alpha-amino aldehydes: expedient syntheses of highly enantiomerically enriched anti-beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acids

[reaction: see text] A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of highly enantiomerically enriched beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acid derivatives has been developed. Direct asymmetric aldol reactions of a glycine aldehyde (aminoacetaldehyde) derivative have been performed under organocatalysis using l-proline or (S)-5-pyrrolidine-2-yl-1H-tetrazole. The reactions afforded anti-beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino aldehydes in good yield with high diastereoselectivity (dr up to >100:1) and high enantioselectivity (up to >99.5% ee), which were easily transformed into beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acid derivatives.     

Energy and electron transfer in bifunctional non-conjugated dendrimers

Nonconjugated dendrimers, which are capable of funneling energy from the periphery to the core followed by a charge-transfer process from the core to the periphery, have been synthesized. The energy and electron donors involve a diarylaminopyrene unit and are incorporated at the periphery of these dendrimers. The energy and electron acceptor is at the core of the dendrimer, which involves a chromophore based on a benzthiadiazole moiety. The backbone of the dendrimers is benzyl ether based. A direct electron-transfer quenching of the excited state of the periphery or a sequential energy transfer-electron-transfer pathway are the two limiting mechanisms of the observed photophysical properties. We find that the latter mechanism is prevalent in these dendrimers. The energy transfer occurs on a picosecond time scale, while the charge-transfer process occurs on a nanosecond time scale. The lifetime of the charge separated species was found to be in the range of microseconds. Energy transfer efficiencies ranging from 80% to 90% were determined using both steady-state and time-resolved measurements, while charge-transfer efficiencies ranging from 70% to 80% were deduced from fluorescence quenching of the core chromophore. The dependence of the energy and charge-transfer processes on dendrimer generation is analyzed in terms of the backfolding of the flexible benzyl ether backbone, which leads to a weaker dependence of the energy and charge-transfer efficiencies on dendrimer size than would be expected for a rigid system.     

Dendrimers with both polar and apolar nanocontainer characteristics

Amphiphilic dendrimers with a custom-designed biaryl repeat unit have been synthesized. These dendrimers afford hydrophobic nanocontainers in polar solvents and hydrophilic nanocontainers in apolar solvents. These container properties were investigated using dye incorporation studies. The aggregation states of these dendrimers are also reported using DLS studies.     

Synthesis of nonconjugated dendrons with a redox gradient

Macromolecules with built-in redox gradients are of much interest due to their potential in a variety of optoelectronic and energy-harvesting applications. In this paper, the design and synthesis of nonconjugated dendrons with redox gradients to guide the charge flow from the core to the periphery is described. The dendrons reported here are based on benzyl ether connectivities. The repeat units of the dendrons are based on triarylamines, and the periphery units of the dendrons are based on N,N,N',N'-tetraarylbenzidine units. The presence of a redox gradient after incorporation of these charge-transporting units into the dendrons is supported by cyclic voltammetric studies.     

EI and IKE spectra of some aldosyl disaccharide peracetates

The electron ionisation and ion kinetic energy spectra of some aldosyl disaccharide peracetates are discussed. The diagnostic value of the data in differentiating between the various types of glycosidic linkages is emphasised.     

Systematic behavior of electro-optic chromophore photostability

The wavelength dependence of the one-photon absorption-induced photodegradation rate has been measured from the visible to the near IR for a variety of electro-optic chromophore-doped polymers. Systematic behavior is identified. The lifetime of the electro-optic activity is found to increase exponentially over 4-6 orders of magnitude for wavelengths ranging from peak of absorption, typically in the visible, to ~1000 nm. Many popular chromophores developed for electro-optics over the past 10 years are compared.