A family of chiral metal-organic frameworks

Chiral metal–organic frameworks with a three‐dimensional network structure and wide‐open pores (>30 Å) were obtained by using chiral trifunctional linkers and multinuclear zinc clusters. The linkers, H₃ChirBTB‐n, consist of a 4,4′,4′′‐benzene‐1,3,5‐triyltribenzoate (BTB) backbone decorated with chiral oxazolidinone substituents. The size and polarity of these substituents determines the network topology formed under solvothermal synthesis conditions. The resulting chiral MOFs adsorb even large molecules from solution. Moreover, they are highly active Lewis acid catalysts in the Mukaiyama aldol reaction. Due to their chiral functionalization, they show significant levels of enantioselectivity, thereby proving the validity of the modular design concept employed.     

Cannabidiol Improves Antioxidant Capacity and Reduces Inflammation in the Lungs of Rats with Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a plant-derived compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is still an incurable disease. CBD has been suggested to ameliorate monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH, including reduction in right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP), a vasorelaxant effect on pulmonary arteries and a decrease in the white blood cell count. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of chronic administration of CBD (10 mg/kg daily for 21 days) on the parameters of oxidative stress and inflammation in the lungs of rats with MCT-induced PH. In MCT-induced PH, we found a decrease in total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and glutathione level (GSH), an increase in inflammatory parameters, e.g., tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and cluster of differentiation 68 (CD68), and the overexpression of cannabinoid receptors type 1 and 2 (CB₁-Rs, CB₂-Rs). Administration of CBD increased TAC and GSH concentrations, glutathione reductase (GSR) activity, and decreased CB₁-Rs expression and levels of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL -1β, NF-κB, MCP-1 and CD68. In conclusion, CBD has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in MCT-induced PH. CBD may act as an adjuvant therapy for PH, but further detailed preclinical and clinical studies are recommended to confirm our promising results.     

Decontamination of Polymeric Surgical Sutures Covered with Bacterial Biofilms Using Nonthermal Plasma

Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing - The objective of the study was to investigate the bactericidal effectiveness of atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasma (NTP) on biofilms of Staphylococcus...     

A detailed experimental and computational study of Cd complexes with pyridyl-based thiazolyl hydrazones

Interest in Cd complexes has been growing in recent years. Cd complexes are considered a potential solution in the search for novel antibiotics that can fight antimicrobial resistance. In addition, Cd complexes draw attention to material chemistry. The main objective of this work was to prepare the first Cd(II) complexes with anionic forms of pyridine-based thiazolyl hydrazone (THs) ligands HLS² [(E)-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(2-[pyridine-2-ylmethylene]hydrazinyl)thiazole] and HLS³ [(E)-2-(2-[pyridine-2-ylmethylene]hydrazinyl)-4-(p-tolyl)thiazole] and perform their structural and spectroscopic characterization, as well as stability in solution and upon heating. Studies related to their biological activities and possible electrochromic applications are also being conducted. Complexes [Cd(HLS²)₂] ( 1 ) and [Cd(HLS³)₂] ( 2 ) have been characterized by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction and computational analysis of intermolecular interactions responsible for their solid-state structures was performed. Thermal stability of 1 and 2 in the solid-state was analyzed by TGA/MS, where as their solution stability was determined by the spectrophotometric titration method. Electrochemical and in situ UV–Vis spectroelectrochemical analyses of 1 and 2 were carried out to determine redox mechanisms and the influence of the substituents and electrolytes on their redox responses. The antioxidant capacity of both complexes was tested in antioxidant assays, while their antimicrobial activity was tested against five Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria, as well as against three fungi. The obtained results indicate their potent antioxidant capacity. The antimicrobial activity of investigated compounds on almost all tested bacterial strains was stronger than that of the standard antibiotic erythromycin. The results of docking studies indicate that the minor groove DNA is the possible biological target of 1 and 2 .     

Understanding MOF Flexibility: An Analysis Focused on Pillared Layer MOFs as a Model System

Flexible porous frameworks are at the forefront of materials research. A unique feature is their ability to open and close their pores in an adaptive manner induced by chemical and physical stimuli. Such enzyme-like selective recognition offers a wide range of functions ranging from gas storage and separation to sensing, actuation, mechanical energy storage and catalysis. However, the factors affecting switchability are poorly understood. In particular, the role of building blocks, as well as secondary factors (crystal size, defects, cooperativity) and the role of host–guest interactions, profit from systematic investigations of an idealized model by advanced analytical techniques and simulations. The review describes an integrated approach targeting the deliberate design of pillared layer metal–organic frameworks as idealized model materials for the analysis of critical factors affecting framework dynamics and summarizes the resulting progress in their understanding and application.     

The possibilities of voltammetry in the study reactivity of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in natural waters

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - This paper describes the application of a methodology, which primarily involves low-cost voltammetry, to rapidly track the reactivity (i.e. surfactant...     

Electrostimulated shift of the precipitation temperature of aqueous polyzwitterionic solutions

The precipitation temperature (T_pr) value of aqueous poly(dimethylamino-ethoxyacryloyl-propylsulphonate) (PDMAPS) solutions decreases with the rise of electric field intensity both in the absence and in the presence of a low molecular salt. This electrostimulated T_pr shift is explained qualitatively by means of the model taking into account both the dominating intermacromolecular dipole-dipole interaction and the dipole cluster formation.