A chemical method for the convenient surface functionalisation of polymers

A method for the application of carbenes as reactive intermediates for surface modification of polymeric substrates has been developed; the efficacy of the process has been demonstrated by irreversible dyeing of polystyrene, polythene, nylon, silica, and controlled pore glass, and to a limited extent, polytetrafluoroethylene.     

Synthetic applications of aryl radical building blocks for cyclisation onto azoles

2-(2-Bromophenyl)ethyl groups have been used as building blocks in radical cyclisation reactions onto azoles to synthesise tri- and tetra-cyclic heterocycles. 2-(2-Bromophenyl)ethyl methanesulfonate was used to alkylate azoles (imidazoles, pyrroles, indoles and pyrazoles) for the synthesis of the radical precursors. Cyclisations of the intermediate aryl radicals yield new 6-membered rings attached to the azoles. The aryl radicals undergo intramolecular homolytic aromatic substitution onto the azole rings. Tributylgermanium hydride has been used with success to replace the toxic and troublesome tributyltin hydride. Initial studies show that the protocol can be used on solid phase resins. The molecular and crystal structures of methyl 5,6-dihydroimidazo[5,1-a]iso-quinoline-1-carboxylate and methyl 5,6-dihydroimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline-3-carboxylate were determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Towards the development of multisensor for drugs of abuse based on molecular imprinted polymers

The synthetic receptors for cocaine, deoxyephedrine, methadone and morphine were computationally designed and produced using molecular imprinting. The structure and energy of the molecular complexes were analysed by computational techniques. The possible structures of the binding sites in the synthetic receptors have been compared with those of corresponding natural receptors. The composition of imprinted polymers was optimised to allow adequate performance under the same experimental conditions. All selected molecular imprinting polymers (MIPs) demonstrated stronger affinity in comparison with corresponding blank polymers resulting in imprinted factors (I) equal to 1.2 (cocaine), 2.5 (deoxyephedrine), 3.5 (methadone) and 3 (morphine) which suggested that the specific binding site for each molecule was successfully created. The polymers studied possessed good selectivity and affinity towards their templates and could be recommended for the integration with sensor devices. From a practical point of view, especially for multisensor requirements, the synthetic receptors based on imprinted polymers could be superior to natural receptors due to their stability, robustness and compatibility with automation processes required for sensor fabrication.     

Musa sp. Leaves Extract Ameliorates the Hepato-Renal Toxicities Induced by Cadmium in Mice

Heavy metals intoxication causes several health problems that necessitate finding new protective and therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Musa sp. leaves extract (MLE) on hepato-renal toxicities induced by cadmium (Cd) in male mice. The phytochemical screening, metal chelating activity (MCA), and the median lethal dose (LD₅₀) of MLE were determined. Fifty CD-1 male mice were used and intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with MLE (1000 to 5000 mg/kg b.wt) for MLE LD₅₀ determination. Another 50 mice were used for evaluating the effect of MLE on Cd toxicity. Blood samples were collected for hematological, liver, and kidney functions assessments. Liver tissue homogenates were used for determination of oxidant/antioxidant parameters. Liver and kidney tissues were harvested for histopathological and molecular investigations. MLE showed potent in vitro antioxidant activities. The MCA and LD₅₀ of the MLE were 75 µg/mL and 3000 mg/kg b.wt, respectively. MLE showed beneficial therapeutic activity against hepato-renal toxicities in Cd-intoxicated mice, evidenced by improving the hematological, biochemical, histopathological, and molecular alterations.     

An overview of heterogeneous photocatalysis for the degradation of organic compounds: A special emphasis on photocorrosion and reusability

Heterogeneous photocatalysis has been extensively investigated for the degradation of organic pollutants from wastewater. The remarkable advantages of the heterogeneous photocatalysis process depend upon its ability to produce reactive oxygen species under visible/UV/solar light irradiation. However, the long-term stability and reuse potential of these catalysts are of great concern these days, yet understudied. This review aims to systematically present a state of the art understanding of such catalysts' reuse potential. Various important surface characteristics of the photocatalysts for improving the photostability and activity of the catalyst are discussed. Besides, the synergistic effect of different surface modified materials, composite materials and their surface characteristics for their enhanced activity are also covered. Finally, a discussion on various regeneration processes used for such catalysts is also presented, identifying some vital research needs in this field.     

Solid-phase extraction and spectrophotometric determination of mercury with 6-mercaptopurine in environmental samples

A highly selective, sensitive and rapid method for the determination of trace amounts of inorganic mercury based on the reaction of Hg (II) with 6-mercaptopurine and the solid phase extraction of the complex on C18 membrane disks was developed. The 6-mercaptopurine selectively reacts with Hg (II) to form a complex in the pH range of 5-8. This complex was preconcentrated by solid phase extraction with C18 disks. An enrichment factor of 100 was achieved. The molar absorptivity of the complex is 0.26 x 10(-6) L. mol(-1) cm(-1) measured at 315 nm. The Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 0.002-0.048 microg mL(-1). The relative standard deviation for eleven-replicated measurement of 0.04 microg mL(-1) is 1.5 %. The detection limit is 0.001 microg mL(-1) in the water samples. The advantage of the method is that the determination of Hg (II) is free from interference of almost all the cations and anions found in environment and wastewater samples. The determination of Hg (II) in water samples of different origins and marine sediment were carried out by the present method and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Also the method's accuracy was investigated by using SRM 2709. The obtained results by the present procedure were in good agreement with those of the CVAAS and certified value, so that the applicability of the proposed method was confirmed for the real samples.     

A hydrophilic cyclodextrin duplex forming supramolecular assemblies by physical cross-linking of a biopolymer

New beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) dimeric species have been synthesised in which the two CD moieties are connected by one or two hydrophilic oligo(ethylene oxide) spacers. Their complexation with sodium adamantylacetate (free adamantane) and adamantane-grafted chitosan (AD-chitosan) was then studied by different complementary techniques and compared with their hydrophobic counterparts that contain an octamethylene spacer. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments have demonstrated that the use of hydrophilic spacers between the two CDs instead of aliphatic chains makes almost all of the CD cavities available for the inclusion of free adamantane. Investigation of the interaction of the CDs with AD-chitosan by viscosity measurements strongly suggests that the molecular conformation of the CD dimeric species plays a crucial role in their cross-linking with the biopolymer. The derivative doubly linked with hydrophilic arms, also called a duplex, has been shown to be a more efficient cross-linking agent than its singly bridged counterpart, referred to as a dimer. Hence, only 0.5 molar equivalents of the hydrophilic duplex with respect to adamantane was required to obtain the maximum viscosity, whereas in the case of the duplex with aliphatic spacers, the maximum viscosity was achieved with a [duplex]/[AD] ratio of about 1.7 (corresponding to a [CD]/[AD] ratio of 2.5), but with a higher value. To clarify the relationships between the molecular architecture and complexation properties, computational studies were also performed that clearly confirmed the importance of double bridging.     

The biologically important surfactin lipopeptide induces nanoripples in supported lipid bilayers

Under specific conditions, lipid membranes form ripple phases with intriguing nanoscale undulations. Here, we show using in situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) that the biologically important surfactin lipopeptide induces nanoripples of 30 nm periodicity in dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayers at 25 degrees (i.e. well below the pretransition temperature of DPPC). Whereas most undulations formed the classical straight orientation with characteristic angle changes of 120 degrees , some of them also displayed unusual circular orientations. Strikingly, ripple structures were formed at 15% surfactin but were rarely or never observed at 5 and 30% surfactin, emphasizing the important role played by the surfactin concentration. Theoretical simulations corroborated the AFM data by revealing the formation of stable surfactin/lipid assemblies with positive curvature.