Preparation and characterization of a novel DABCO-based ionic liquid supported on Fe3O4@TiO2 nanoparticles and investigation of its catalytic activity in the synthesis of quinazolinones

In this study, quinazolinone derivatives have been synthesized via a suitable and efficient procedure by one-potmulti-component reactions of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole or 2-aminobenzimidazole, dimedone and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of Fe₃O₄@TiO₂-IL as nanocatalyst under solvent-free condition. The products were prepared in good to excellent yields using Fe₃O₄@TiO₂-IL magnetic nanocatalyst. The Fe₃O₄@TiO₂ magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared using beet juice extract and functionalized with IL based on DABCO. Moreover, the core-shell structured magnetic Fe₃O₄@TiO₂-IL has been characterized by different techniques such as ¹H-NMR, FT-IR, VSM, XRD, SEM, TGA, TEM and EDX. To the best of our knowledge, the prepared ionic liquid displayed a good protective and activator agent for magnetic nanocatalyst.     

Protein-Mediated Suppression of Rolling Circle Amplification for Biosensing with an Aptamer-Containing DNA Primer

We report a method to detect proteins via suppression of rolling circle amplification (RCA) by using an appropriate aptamer as the linear primer (denoted as an aptaprimer) to initiate RCA. In the absence of a protein target, the aptaprimer is free to initiate RCA, which can produce long DNA products that are detected via binding of a fluorescent intercalating dye. Introduction of a target causes the primer region within the aptamer to become unavailable for binding to the circular template, inhibiting RCA. Using SYBR Gold or QuantiFluor dyes as fluorescent probes to bind to the RCA reaction product, it is possible to produce a generic protein-modulated RCA assay system that does not require fluorophore- or biotin-modified DNA species, substantially reducing complexity and cost of reagents. Based on this modulation of RCA, we demonstrate the ability to produce both solution and paper-based assays for rapid and quantitative detection of proteins including platelet derived growth factor and thrombin.     

Multiple functions of microfluidic platforms: Characterization and applications in tissue engineering and diagnosis of cancer

Microfluidic system, or lab-on-a-chip, has grown explosively. This system has been used in research for the first time and then entered in the clinical section. Due to economic reasons, this technique has been used for screening of laboratory and clinical indices. The microfluidic system solves some difficulties accompanied by clinical and biological applications. In this review, the interpretation and analysis of some recent developments in microfluidic systems in biomedical applications with more emphasis on tissue engineering and cancer will be discussed. Moreover, we try to discuss the features and functions of microfluidic systems.     

Zwitterionic amino acids as precursors for nonmetal cation pentaborate salts

Nonmetal cation (NMC) pentaborate structures were synthesized using the amino acid molecules as cations precursors. Chemical composition analysis, infrared spectroscopy, mass analysis, boron nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA/DTA) methods were used for structural characterization. The hydrogen storage efficiency of molecules was also determined experimentally. The recorded infrared spectra support the structural similarities of the molecules. Stretchings of pentaborate rings and characteristic peaks of amino acids were detected in infrared spectra. When the thermal analysis curves were recorded, it was found that the structures showed similar decomposition steps. Due to the result of thermal decay, glassy boron oxide (B₂O₃) formation was observed as the final decomposition products of all molecules. Peaks associated with boric acid, triborate, and pentaborate were observed in the ¹¹B spectra of these salts. Powder X-ray diffraction spectroscopy supports the presence of BO₃ and BO₄⁻ groups regarding the presence of pentaborate rings. It also indicates the high crystallinity of the structures. The molecular cavities detected by brunauer–emmett–teller analysis were found to be 3.586, 1.922, 1.673, and 1.923 g/cm³. Low-molecular cavities can be attributed to the high hydrogen-bonding capacity of the structures. The hydrogen capture efficiency of the pentaborate salts was found to be in the range of 0.039-0.     

Theoretical study of molecular interactions of sulfur ylide with HSX (X = F, Cl, and Br) molecules

The molecular interactions between sulfur ylide (SY) and HSX molecules (X = F, Cl and Br) were investigated using the MP2 method with the 6-311++G (2d, 2p) basis set. The SY (CH₂=SH₂) have two reactive sites: CH₂ (denoted as C-interaction) and SH₂ (S-interaction) that both could interact with three atoms of HSX molecules. The results show that S···C, X···C, and H···C interactions (C-interactions) is preference over the X···S, H···S, and H···X interactions. Quantum theories of atoms in molecules and natural bond orbitals methods have been applied to analyze the intermolecular interactions. Good correlations have been found between the interaction energies, the second-order perturbation energies E⁽²⁾, and the charge transfer qCT in the studied systems.     

The effects of reactive organoclay on the thermal, mechanical, and microstructural properties of polymer/layered silicate nanocomposites based on chiral poly(amide-imide)s

Considering the importance of the nanocomposites, the present work focuses on some new hybrid materials prepared by introducing reactive organoclay (OC) into the chiral poly(amide-imide) (PAI) matrix. At first, Cloisite Na⁺ was modified with protonated l-isoleucine amino acid. Then, PAI containing phenylalanine was synthesized via solution polycondensation of chiral diacid chloride with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone and was characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ¹H NMR techniques. At last, PAI/OC nanocomposite films containing 2, 5, 10, and 15 % of OC were prepared via solution intercalation method. The effect of OC dispersion and the interaction between OC and polymer chains on the properties of nanocomposites were investigated using FTIR, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, tensile testing of thin films, and thermogravimetry analysis techniques. The thermal stability of hybrids such as the decomposition temperature and mass residue at 800 °C was improved. Mechanical data indicated improvement in the tensile strength of the nanocomposites with OC loading up to 10 wt%. The transparency of the hybrid films was investigated by means of UV–Vis spectra.     

Identification and functional characterization of a novel α-conotoxin (EIIA) from Conus ermineus

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are one of the most important families in the ligand-gated ion channel superfamily due to their involvement in primordial brain functions and in several neurodegenerative pathologies. The discovery of new ligands which can bind with high affinity and selectivity to nAChR subtypes is of prime interest in order to study these receptors and to potentially discover new drugs for treating various pathologies. Predatory cone snails of the genus Conus hunt their prey using venoms containing a large number of small, highly structured peptides called conotoxins. Conotoxins are classified in different structural families and target a large panel of receptors and ion channels. Interestingly, nAChRs represent the only subgroup for which Conus has developed seven distinct families of conotoxins. Conus venoms have thus received much attention as they could represent a potential source of selective ligands of nAChR subtypes. We describe the mass spectrometric-based approaches which led to the discovery of a novel α-conotoxin targeting muscular nAChR from the venom of Conus ermineus. The presence of several posttranslational modifications complicated the N-terminal sequencing. To discriminate between the different possible sequences, analogs with variable N-terminus were synthesized and fragmented by MS/MS. Understanding the fragmentation pathways in the low m/z range appeared crucial to determine the right sequence. The biological activity of this novel α-conotoxin (α-EIIA) that belongs to the unusual α4/4 subfamily was determined by binding experiments. The results revealed not only its selectivity for the muscular nAChR, but also a clear discrimination between the two binding sites described for this receptor.     

Spectral Investigations of Preferential Solvation and Solute–Solvent Interactions of Free Base and Protonated 5,10,15,20-Tetrakis(4-trimethyl-ammonio-phenyl)-porphine Tetratosylate in Aqueous Organic Mixed Solvents

The solvatochromic properties of the free base and the protonated 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-trimethyl-ammonio-phenyl)-porphine tetratosylate (TTMAPP) were studied in pure water, methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and their corresponding aqueous mixtures. The correlation of the empirical solvent polarity scale (E _T) values of TTMAPP with composition of the solvents were analyzed by the solvent exchange model of Bosch and Roses to clarify the preferential solvation of the probe dyes in the binary mixed solvents. The solvation shell composition effects in preferential solvation of the solute dyes were investigated in terms of both solvent–solvent and solute–solvent interactions and also the local mole fraction of each solvent composition was calculated in the cybotactic region of the probe. The effective mole fraction variation may provide significant physicochemical insights in the microscopic and molecular level of interactions between TTMAPP species and the solvent components and, therefore, can be used to interpret the solvent effect on kinetics and thermodynamics of TTMAPP.     

Determination of Hg(II) in Environmental Water Samples Using DLLME Method Prior to GC-FID

Mercury exists in two forms in environment, inorganic salts and organic compounds. Determination of mercury is very important, due to its health effects. In the present research, diphenylation of mercury using phenylboronic acid as a derivatization reagent was used for the determination of Hg(II) in real water samples. A simple, rapid and cheap method named dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was used for the extraction of analyte under the following conditions: extraction solvent 16 μL of carbon tetrachloride, disperser solvent 1 mL of ethanol and sample volume 5 mL. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factor for diphenylmercury was 931 and the limit of detection calculated on the basis of five replicates was 0.004 μg mL^?1. The repeatability of the method expresses as relative standard deviation was 5.1 (n = 6). The linear range was between 0.01 and 10 μg mL^?1. The performance of the proposed technique was evaluated for the determination of mercury in different environmental water samples.