Structure, cytotoxicity, and DNA-cleavage properties of the complex [Cu(II)(pbt)Br2

The reactions of the ligand 2-(2-pyridyl)benzthiazole (pbt) with CuBr 2 and ZnCl 2 in acetonitrile produce the complexes [Cu(pbt)Br 2] ( 1) and [Zn(pbt)Cl 2] ( 3), respectively. When complex 1 is dissolved in DMF, complex 2 is obtained as light-green crystals. The reaction of pbt with CuBr 2 in DMF also yields the complex [Cu(pbt)Br 2(dmf)] ( 2) (dmf = dimethylformamide). Complexes 1- 3 were characterized by X-ray crystallography. Complexes 1 and 3 have distorted tetrahedral coordination environments, and complex 2 is constituted of two slightly different copper centers, both exhibiting distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometries. Complexes 1 and 2 cleave phiX174 phage DNA, both in the presence and the absence of reductant. The free ligand pbt does not show any DNA-cleaving abilities. The poor solubility of complex 3 makes it not applicable for biological tests. The occurrence of DNA breaks in the presence of various radical scavengers suggests that no diffusible radicals are involved in the DNA cleavage by complex 1, as none of the scavengers inhibit the cleavage reaction. The DNA-cleavage products are not religated with the enzyme T4 DNA ligase, which is an additional proof that the cleavage is nonhydrolytic. Most probably the cleaving reaction involves reactive oxygen species, which could not be trapped, leading to an oxidative mechanism. An easy oxidation of Cu (II)(pbt)Br 2 to Cu (III) in DMF and the reduction of the same to Cu (I), under similar electrochemical conditions may lead to the in situ activation of molecular oxygen, resulting in the formation of metal solvated nondiffusible radicals able to prompt the oxidative cleavage of DNA. Complex 1 and the pure ligand exhibit remarkable cytotoxic effects against the cancer cell lines L1210 and A2780 and also against the corresponding cisplatin-resistant mutants of these cell lines.     

Intensity distribution in the bands of the B1 → X1Σ+ system of PbO

Relative intensities of a few bands of the B1→X¹Σ⁺ system of PbO have been measured by the technique of heterochromatic photographic photometry. The Franck-Condon factors andr-centroids have been computed by the more reliable numerical integration procedure, using a suitable potential. The effective vibrational temperature of the source is found to be 3836 K.     

Metal-free,base catalyzed oxidative amination and denitration reaction: Regioselective synthesis of 3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines

A metal-free, regioselective strategy for the synthesis of 3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines from β-nitrostyrenes and 2-aminopyridines using triethylamine as the catalyst and H₂O₂ (30% aq.) as the oxidant is reported. The use of an inexpensive base and facile reaction conditions make this strategy a practical alternative for the synthesis of 3-arylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridines.     

Amperometric determination of As(III) and Cd(II) using a platinum electrode modified with acetylcholinesterase,ruthenium(II)-tris(bipyridine) and graphene oxide

The authors describe an amperometric biosensor for the determination As(III) and Cd(II) based on the inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholineesterase (AChE). A platinum electrode was modified with ruthenium(II)-tris(bipyridyl), graphene oxide and AChE and then showed redox peaks at 0.06 and 0.2 V vs Ag/AgCl in the presence of acetylthiocholine chloride (ATChCl). Amperometry unveiled a steady-state turnover rate with the release of thiocholine. In the presence of arsenic(III) and cadmium(II), AChE showed an inhibitive response at 0.214 and 0.233 V vs Ag/AgCl, respectively. The electrode exhibits a detection limit and linear range of 0.03 μM and 0.05–0.8 μM for As(III) and 0.07 μM and 0.02–0.7 μM for Cd(II), respectively. Type of inhibition and inhibition constants induced by As(III) and Cd(II) on the catalytic sites of AChE were determined from Dixon and Lineweaver-Burk plots. The modified electrode was applied to the determination of As³⁺ and Cd²⁺ in river, tap and waste water, and the results proved that the method is sensitive and can be an alternative to chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques.

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Graphical abstract Schematic presentation of Pt/Ru(II)-tris(bipy)-GO/AChE electrode in absence and presence of metal ions (As³⁺/Cd²⁺).

     

Bioinspired Water-soluble Polymers with Grafted Polyamine Chains: Synthesis and Complexation with Oligonucleotides

The siliceous frustules of diatom algae contain complex proteins known as silaffins, which consist of a peptide chain with grafted polyamine chains. These polyamines contain twenty or more nitrogen atoms with trimethylene groups between the nitrogens. We synthesized a set of polymers containing grafted long-chain polyamine fragments by using acryloyl chloride(ACh) polymers and activated acrylic acid copolymers as the starting materials. The new polymers contained 0.05 mol%-3.2 mol% of polyamine chains, which corresponded to 0.06-3.56 mmol·g~(-1) amine groups. The new amine-containing polymers formed complexes with short(19-21-mer)deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) and ribonucleic acid(RNA) strands, and these complexes penetrated into model yeast cells and A549 lung cancer cell. This study demonstrates the potential of these species based on long-chain polyamines to serve as novel gene delivery systems.     

Selective enrichment of U(VI), Th(IV) and La(III) from high acidic streams using a new chelating ion-exchange polymeric matrix

An off-line extraction chromatographic technique has been developed using Amberlite XAD-16 (AXAD-16)-N,N-dihexylcarbamoylmethyl phosphonic acid, as the stationary phase for the extraction of uranium, thorium and lanthanum from nuclear spent fuels as well as from geological and natural water resources. The chemical modifications of the polymeric matrix were monitored using FT-IR spectroscopy, CHNPS elemental analysis and also by thermo gravimetric analysis for water regain measurements. Various physio-chemical parameters influencing the quantitative metal ion extraction by the resin phase were optimized by both static and dynamic methods. The developed resin matrix showed good distribution ratio values under wide concentrations of acidity and pH conditions. Moreover, the sequential separation of analytes is also possible at sample pH 6.5. Also, the polymeric matrix showed superior metal sorption capacities and rapid metal exchange kinetics with a high sample flow rate value of 26 cm³ min⁻¹ for all the three analytes. Thus, reducing the time of analyte extraction from large number of samples anticipated in nuclear waste management programs. The quantitative metal ion recovery of >99.8% was effected with 0.5 M (NH₄)₂CO₃ solution. The method was highly sensitive with lower limits of detections to be 10, 20 and 15 ng cm⁻³ for U(VI), Th(IV) and La(III), respectively, with a better pre-concentration values of 333 for U(VI) and Th(IV) and 400 for La(III), respectively paving way for its applicability in pre-concentrating trace analytes from large sample volumes. The analytical data were within 4.2% R.S.D. reflecting the reproducibility and reliability of the developed method.     

Expanding Horizons of Metal Oxide-based Chemical and Electrochemical Sensors

Metal-oxide (MOx) are widely used in electrical/electrochemical sensors owing to their quick-response ability, High surface-to-volume ratio, matching lateral-dimensions with surface-charge zone and modifiable with dopants significantly enhances their sensing performance. Typically, MOx-based sensors are used in gaseous-analytes for monitoring environmental-pollutants and gas-leakage. Tuning the properties of nanostructured-metal-oxides advanced their applications beyond environmental-monitoring. This review focuses on the emerging-dimensions of MOx-based sensors in hazard-surveillance and risk-investigation like in deployment to detect fire-hazards, chemical-warfare agents, oil-spills and explosives. Recent advances of using MOx-based sensors as electronic-tongue and electronic-nose for non-invasive health monitoring and MOx-based sensor mobile robots for remote surveillance is also discussed.     

Facile synthesis and magnetic properties of manganese doped ZnS nanorods

The synthesis of both Mn(II) doped and undoped ZnS nanorods were carried out using a simple soft-chemical route using mercaptoethanol as capping agent. Their morphological, structural and magnetic properties are presented. The crystal structures of the as obtained products were investigated through X-ray diffraction study reveals the formation of hexagonal wurtzite structure. The growth of the nanorods is achieved by careful control over the precursor addition, temperature and time duration. The nanorods are single crystalline and the diameter of the rods was found to vary in the range of 20-50 nm. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements at room temperature show paramagnetic behavior for the doped nanorods.     

Synthesis of 2-aminobenzophenone-based Schiff base Pd(II) complexes: Investigation on crystal structure,biological behavior of DNA/protein-binding,molecular docking,and in vitro anticancer activities

Two new monobasic bidentate ligands and their Pd(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. The structures of the complexes were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The bimolecular binding of the ligands and complexes has been carried out and described. Interestingly, both the bidentate chelating ligands replaced all the triphenyl arsine and chloride ions from the metal precursor in the formation of new complexes and were found to be approximately square planar. The interaction of the ligands and the complexes with calf thymus DNA and bovine serum albumin was studied by electronic and emission spectroscopy techniques, which suggested an intercalation mode of binding. It is well-known that the viscosity of a DNA solution increases if any compound added binds to it through intercalation because this process lengthens the DNA helix due to the increased separation of the DNA base pairs when the compound slides in between, whereas a partial, nonclassical intercalation could bend (or kink) the DNA helix, which leads to a reduction in length and thereby reducing its viscosity. By contrast, there will be no change in the viscosity when the compounds bind with DNA grooves or by partial intercalation, which was further confirmed by viscosity measurements and molecular docking studies. It has been found that the compounds cleaved supercoiled DNA into nicked DNA without any external agent. The in vitro cytotoxicity studies of the ligands and complexes against human lung (A549) and breast (MCF7) cancer cell lines showed significant activity for both species.     

Effect of iron scrap additives in stearic acid as PCM for thermal energy storage system

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The thermal energy storage (TES) system is used to store the heat energy for longer periods and retrieve the heat energy as and when required....