Bilirubin Removal from Human Plasma with Albumin Immobilised Magnetic Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) Beads

Bioaffinity separation has a unique and powerful role as a support tool in the removal of toxic substances from human plasma. Magnetic beads have advantages as supports in comparison to conventional nonmagnetic beads because of low pressure drop, high mass transfer rates, and good fluid‐solid contact. In addition, they eliminate internal diffusion limitations. Human serum albumin (HSA) immobilised onto magnetic poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (mPHEMA) beads were investigated as an adsorbent for the selective bilirubin removal from human plasma. The mPHEMA beads were prepared by a modified suspension polymerisation. HSA was covalently coupled to the mPHEMA beads. Bilirubin adsorption was investigated from hyperbilirubinemic human plasma on the mPHEMA beads containing different amounts of immobilised HSA, (between 11–100 mg/g). The nonspecific bilirubin adsorption on the unmodified mPHEMA beads was 0.47 mg/g. Higher bilirubin adsorption capacities, up to 64.7 mg/g, were obtained with the HSA‐immobilised magnetic beads. Bilirubin adsorption increased with increasing temperature.

Effect of HSA loading on bilirubin adsorption.     

Bis(2‐aminopyridinium) maleate

Two cyclic eight‐membered hydrogen‐bonded rings exist in the title compound, 2C₅H₇N₂⁺·C₄H₂O₄²⁻, involving the 2‐amino­pyridinium and maleate ions. The dihedral angle between the two pyridinium rings hydrogen bonded to the maleate ion is 74.80 (4)°. The maleate anion lies on a twofold axis and is linked to the pyridinium cations by intermolecular N—H⃛O hydrogen bonds. The heterocycle is fully proton­ated, which enables amino–imino tautomerization.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Bioactivity of Novel Bicinnolines Having 1‐Piperazinyl Moieties

A number of novel bicinnolines containing piperazine moieties, 4a – o , were synthesized via polyphosphoric acid‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclization of the respective acyl amidrazone derivatives ( 3a – o ). On the other hand, the amidrazones ( 3a – o ) were prepared by reaction of N′,N″‐(biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyl)bis(2‐oxopropane hydrazonoyl chloride) ( 2 ) with the appropriate cyclic sec‐amines in the presence of trimethylamine in absolute ethanol. Structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by NMR and mass spectral data. The antitumor activity of compounds 4a – o was evaluated in vitro on human breast cancer MDA‐231 by a cell viability assay. Results revealed that compounds 4k , 4n , and 4o exhibit potential cytotoxic effects (>70%) on the cancer cells. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of compounds 4a – o was evaluated against three clinical microbial strains: Escherichia coli (Gram‐negative bacteria), Staphylococcus aureus (Gram‐positive bacteria), and Candida albicans (fungi/yeast). Results revealed that compounds 4e and 4k exhibit good activity against all three strains included in the study and that compound 4d displays excellent activity against S. aureus strain with a minimum inhibitory concentration value of 0.187 mg/mL.     

Synthesis of Terpenoid-Like Bischalcones from α- and β-Ionones and Their Biological Activities

Ionone-based terpenoid-like bischalcones (3a–h and 4a–h) were synthesized from the reaction of α- and/or β-ionones with aldehyde derivatives in excellent yields. The antibacterial activities of synthesized compounds were screened against human pathogenic micro-organisms by employing the disk-diffusion technique.     

Potassium–Tertiary Butoxide–Assisted Addition of Thioglicolic Acid to Chalcone Derivatives Under Solvent-Free Conditions

A series of chalcone derivatives containing thioglicolic acid (4a–j) was prepared by addition of thioglicolic acid to the chalcones (3a–j) in the presence of KOt-Bu under solvent-free conditions. The mechanistic pathway of the reaction can be explained by the Michael-type addition of thioglicolic acid to chalcone derivatives (3a–j).     

Impedance‐based viscoelastic flow cytometry

Elastic nature of the viscoelastic fluids induces lateral migration of particles into a single streamline and can be used by microfluidic based flow cytometry devices. In this study, we investigated focusing efficiency of polyethylene oxide based viscoelastic solutions at varying ionic concentration to demonstrate their use in impedimetric particle characterization systems. Rheological properties of the viscoelastic fluid and particle focusing performance are not affected by ionic concentration. We investigated the viscoelastic focusing dynamics using polystyrene (PS) beads and human red blood cells (RBCs) suspended in the viscoelastic fluid. Elasto‐inertial focusing of PS beads was achieved with the combination of inertial and viscoelastic effects. RBCs were aligned along the channel centerline in parachute shape which yielded consistent impedimetric signals. We compared our impedance‐based microfluidic flow cytometry results for RBCs and PS beads by analyzing particle transit time and peak amplitude at varying viscoelastic focusing conditions obtained at different flow rates. We showed that single orientation, single train focusing of nonspherical RBCs can be achieved with polyethylene oxide based viscoelastic solution that has been shown to be a good candidate as a carrier fluid for impedance cytometry.     

Synthesis,Characterization and Application of Cellulose Based Nano-Biocomposite Hydrogels

Nano-hydroxyapatite/cellulose-graft-polyacrylamide biocomposite hydrogels of different molar ratios were prepared to examine their potential application as a carrier for colon targeted drug delivery in vitro. The particle size of the synthesized nano-hydroxyapatite was found to be 122 nm. The swelling behavior of the composite hydrogels was observed in acidic and basic aqueous solution that simulated lower small intestine, colon and stomach fluids. The hydrogel could be applied in drug-delivery systems and acetylsalicylic acid was used as a model compound to test such a possibility. Finally, the synthesized biocomposite hydrogels with the 96.97% maximum encapsulation and 85.67% release efficiency in the basic medium were found to be a suitable candidate to carry and release of colon-targeted drugs.     

Preparation of Calix[4]arene Alkylamine Derivatives by Mannich Reaction and use as Phase-Transfer Catalysts for Esterification Reaction

In this study, 5,11,17,23-tetrakis[(N-ethylpiperazine)methyl]-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (3) and 5,11,17,23-tetrakis[(4-carboethoxy-N-piperidino) methyl]-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (4) were synthesized in one step according to the Mannich reaction by the treatment of calix[4]arene with a secondary amine (N-ethylpiperazine, ethyl-4-piperidincarboxylate) and formaldehyde. The calix[4]arene derivatives (3, 4) were characterized by a combination of FTIR, ¹H NMR and elemental analyses. The synthesized compounds were used in an esterification reaction as the phase transfer catalyst. The catalytic efficiency of the calix[4]arenes 3 and 4 was evaluated by carrying out the ester-forming reaction of alkali metal carboxylates (sodium butyrate or sodium caprylate) with p-nitrobenzyl bromide. It was observed that the ester-forming reaction of alkali metal carboxylates with p-nitrobenzyl bromide, using calix[4]arene-based catalyst 3 as a phase-transfer catalyst in dichloromethan, provided the best yields.     

Microwave-assisted catalytic oxidative desulfurization of gasoil fuel using synthesized CuO-ZnO nanocomposites

Recently,organosulfur removal from liquid petroleum fuels is very significant aspect of environment protecting and fuel cell requests.Therefore,improved approaches to remove sulfur are still essential.In the present work,a simple catalytic oxidative desulfurization(CODS)system for Iraqi gasoil fraction has been successfully developed using CuO-ZnO nanocomposites as catalysts,and H_2O_2 as oxidant under microwave irradiation.The main reaction parameters influencing sulfur conversion including microwave power,irradiation time,catalyst dosage and H_2O_2 to gasoil volume ratio have been investigated.The CuO-ZnO nanocomposites was synthesized with different weight ratios and characterized by XRD,FE-SEM,AFM and BET surface area methods.The results reveal that,high sulfur conversion(93%)has been achieved under suitable conditions of microwave CODS as follows:microwave power of 540 W,irradiation time of 15 min,catalyst dosage of 8 g/L(0.4 g),and H_2O_2:gasoil volume ratio of 0.3.The catalyst reusability shows that the synthesized catalyst can be reused five times without an important loss in its activity.     

Chemical Epigenetics: The Impact of Chemical and Chemical Biology Techniques on Bromodomain Target Validation

Epigenetics is currently the focus of intense research interest across a broad range of disciplines due to its importance in a multitude of biological processes and disease states. Epigenetic functions result partly from modification of the nucleobases in DNA and RNA, and/or post‐translational modifications of histone proteins. These modifications are dynamic, with cellular machinery identified to modulate and interpret the marks. Our focus is on bromodomains, which bind to acetylated lysine residues. Progress in the study of bromodomains, and the development of bromodomain ligands, has been rapid. These advances have been underpinned by many disciplines, but chemistry and chemical biology have undoubtedly played a significant role. Herein, we review the key chemistry and chemical biology approaches that have furthered our study of bromodomains, enabled the development of bromodomain ligands, and played a critical role in the validation of bromodomains as therapeutic targets.