Competitive binding affinity of two lanthanum(III) macrocycle complexes toward DNA and bovine serum albumin in water

In the present study, two water-soluble lanthanum(III) hexaaza Schiff base complexes were synthesized and characterized and also theoretically investigated. The interactions of these complexes with DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied using different spectroscopic assessments and docking simulation analysis. The DNA docking studies suggested that these two complexes are able to interact with DNA through the minor groove, and also the binding affinity is in the order of La(L¹) > La(L²). Furthermore, the spectral titration was carried out and viscosity measurements were taken. In this regard, protein-binding studies revealed that these complexes quench the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA, and indicated that the possible binding site is located on the vicinity of Trp 213, which is further validated by docking simulation analysis. The in vitro anticancer activities of these complexes indicated that the La(L¹) complex is more effective than the other one and also exhibits a better interaction with DNA.     

Surface Pretreatments of AA5083 Aluminum Alloy with Enhanced Corrosion Protection for Cerium-Based Conversion Coatings Application: Combined Experimental and Computational Analysis

The effects of surface pretreatments on the cerium-based conversion coating applied on an AA5083 aluminum alloy were investigated using a combination of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), polarization testing, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Two steps of pretreatments containing acidic or alkaline solutions were applied to the surface to study the effects of surface pretreatments. Among the pretreated samples, the sample prepared by the pretreatment of the alkaline solution then acid washing presented higher corrosion protection (~3 orders of magnitude higher than the sample without pretreatment). This pretreatment provided a more active surface for the deposition of the cerium layer and provided a more suitable substrate for film formation, and made a more uniform film. The surface morphology of samples confirmed that the best surface coverage was presented by alkaline solution then acid washing pretreatment. The presence of cerium in the (EDS) analysis demonstrated that pretreatment with the alkaline solution then acid washing resulted in a higher deposition of the cerium layer on the aluminum surface. After selecting the best surface pretreatment, various deposition times of cerium baths were investigated. The best deposition time was achieved at 10 min, and after this critical time, a cracked film formed on the surface that could not be protective. The corrosion resistance of cerium-based conversion coatings obtained by electrochemical tests were used for training three computational techniques (artificial neural network (ANN), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and support vector machine regression (SVMR)) based on Pretreatment-1 (acidic or alkaline cleaning: pH (1)), Pretreatment-2 (acidic or alkaline cleaning: pH (2)), and deposition time in the cerium bath as an input. Various statistical criteria showed that the ANFIS model (R² = 0.99, MSE = 48.83, and MAE = 3.49) could forecast the corrosion behavior of a cerium-based conversion coating more accurately than other models. Finally, due to the robust performance of ANFIS in modeling, the effect of each parameter was studied.     

Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone-bromine complex: Mild and efficient polymeric reagent for bromination of activated aromatic compounds

Mild and efficient method for bromination of electron-rich aromatic compounds is described using polyvinylpolypyrrolidone-bromine complex（PVPP-Br₂）.The reaction proceeded smoothly with phenols and N,N-alkylated amines to afford the corresponding monobrominated product in good yields at ambient temperature.     

C–S Targeted Biodegradation of Dibenzothiophene by Stenotrophomonas sp. NISOC-04

Crude oil-contaminated soil samples were gathered across Khuzestan oilfields (National Iranian South Oil Company, NISOC) consequently experienced a screening procedure for isolating C-S targeted dibenzothiophene-biodegrading microorganisms with previously optimized techniques. Among the isolates, a bacterial strain was selected due to its capability of biodegrading dibenzothiophene in a C-S targeted manner in aqueous phases and medium mostly consisting of separately biphasic water-gasoline. The 16S rDNA of the isolate was amplified using eubacterial-specific primers and then sequenced. Based on sequence data analysis, the microorganism, designated NISOC-04, clustered most closely with the members of the genus Stenotrophomonas. Gas chromatography indicated that Stenotrophomonas sp. NISOC-04 utilizes 82% of starting 0.8 mM dibenzothiophene within a 48-h-long exponential growth phase. Growth curve analysis revealed the inability of Stenotrophomonas sp. NISOC-04 to utilize dibenzothiophene (DBT) as the exclusive carbon or carbon/sulfur source. Gibbs' assay showed no 2-hydroxy biphenyl accumulation, but HPLC confirmed the presence of 2-hydroxy biphenyl as the final product of DBT desulfurization. Under sulfur starvation, Stenotrophomonas sp. NISOC-04 produced a huge biomass with untraceable sulfur and utilized atmospheric insignificant sulfur levels.     

Wide linear range nanomaterial/ionophore-based electrode used for determination of lead in environmental and biological samples with differential pulse voltammetry

A new chemically modified carbon paste electrode is fabricated to determine lead ion concentration in its trace level in aqueous media with differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The best performance is obtained by the carbon paste electrode composition including 20% of dithiodibezoic acid (DDA), 80% of high purity graphite powder and 60?µL of colloidal gold nanoparticle (AuNP) solution. The proposed electrode has a wide linear calibration response from 1?×?10^?9 to 6?×?10^?5 M with a detection limit of 6.6?×?10^?10?M, at pH 3.5. Seven replicate determination of 5?×?10^?8?M of lead ion concentration gives a relative standard deviation of 3.33%. The modified sensor is applied to determine lead contents in some environmental and biological Samples with satisfactory results.     

Silver ion imprinted polymer nanobeads based on a aza-thioether crown containing a 1,10-phenanthroline subunit for solid phase extraction and for voltammetric and potentiometric silver sensors

A new nano-sized silver(I) ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) was prepared via precipitation copolymerization using ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, as a cross-linking agent in the presence of Ag⁺ and an aza-thioether crown containing a 1,10-phenanthroline subunit as a highly selective complexing agent. The imprint silver(I) ion was removed from the polymeric matrix using a 1.0 M HNO₃ solution. The resulting powder material was characterized using IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The SEM micrographs showed colloidal nanoparticles of about 52 nm and 75 nm in diameter and slightly irregular in shape for leached and unleached IIPs, respectively. The optimal pH for quantitative enrichment was 6.0 and maximum sorbent capacity of the prepared IIP for Ag⁺ was 18.08 μmol g⁻¹. The relative standard deviation and limit of detection (LOD = 3S_b/m) for flame atomic absorption spectrometric determination of silver(I) ion, after its selective extraction by the prepared IIP nanobeads, were evaluated as 2.42% and 2.2 × 10⁻⁸ M, respectively. The new Ag⁺-IIP was also applied as a suitable sensing element to the preparation of highly selective and sensitive voltammetric and potentiometric sensors for ultra trace detection of silver(I) ion in water samples, with limits of detection of 9.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 1.2 × 10⁻⁹ M, respectively.     

Direct Reductive Amination of Aldehydes and Ketones with 2,4-Ionene-Based Borohydride Exchange Resin as a Novel Polymer-Supported Reducing Agent

Direct reductive amination of aldehydes and ketones were accomplished efficiently using high-capacity, ionene-based, polymer-supported borohydride reagent in isopropyl alcohol at reflux under neutral conditions. The reagent is easily prepared by mixing aqueous solution of 2,4-ionene bromide with an alkaline solution of sodium borohydride at room temperature. The generality of reaction was established using both aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, ketones, and amines.     

Ionene supported peroxodisulfates: Polymeric reagents for the oxidative deprotection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">TMS</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">THP</Emphasis> ethers and oxidative cleavage of the C=N bond in water

Oxidative deprotection of trimethylsilyl and tetrahydropyranyl ethers, and deprotection of phenylhydrazones, semicarbazones, and oximes to their corresponding carbonyl compounds carried out in water at reflux condition using ionene supported peroxodisulfates is reported. The reagents are recyclable and products are obtained in excellent yield under environmentally benign conditions without overoxidation to carboxylic acid. Correspondence: Moslem Mansour Lakouraj, Department of Chemistry, Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran.     

Ion Exchange Resin Catalyzed Selective Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides Using Hydrogen Peroxide

Summary. An efficient method for the selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides under mild and environmentally safe conditions is achieved using hydrogen peroxide in the presence of Amberlyst 15 and Amberlite IR-400 at room temperature. This procedure can be applied for dialkyl and diaryl sulfides with a variety of functional groups. Functional groups such as hydroxyl, methoxy, amino, aldehyde, and olefinic double bonds remain intact.     

Comparison of photonic crystal narrow filters with metamaterials and dielectric defects

The photonic band-gap of the two kinds of 1D photonic crystal structure which is composed of the form of (AB) ^N1 C ^m (BA) ^N2 , one with a metamaterial defect layer (MDL) and the other one with a dielectric defect layer (DDL) are studied. Our results show that in both cases, where there is only one defect layer, m=1, no defect mode exists, but for two defect layers (m=2) there is a single defect mode which is centered in the middle of the band-gap. The width of the defect mode in DDL is narrower than that in MDL. For a number of defects of more than two (m>2) and even, in both of the MDL and DDL structures, there is only one defect mode. For m>2 and odd, the defect mode in the MDL vanishes, but for DDL there is two defect-mode symmetrically centered in the middle of the band-gap. The effects of the defect layers refractive index value, the periodicity number of the structures and the incident angle on the properties of the defect modes and the transmittance spectrum are discussed.