Molecular docking approach on the molecular interactions involving beta-lactoglobulin (βLG)-4-Dicyanomethylene2,6-Dimethyl-4-Hpyran (DDP) dye in the presence of an antibiotic,norfloxacin

Molecular docking (MD) techniques were employed in the determination of binding stability of Beta-lactoglobulin (βLG) with 4-Dicyanomethylene2,6-Dimethyl-4-Hpyran (DDP) dye in the presence of quinolone-based antibiotic, norfloxacin (NOR). βLG acts as the host and drug/dye is employed as the guest molecule. The energetics and molecular interaction parameters of βLG-DDP were found to be stable than βLG-NOR. DDP resides in three distinguishably different binding sites of βLG, however the binding energies does not differ considerably. Interestingly, the energetics of βLG-NOR conformers differs significantly and reveals the existence of two distinguishable conformers. NOR acts as a hydrogen-bonding (HB) acceptor and the amino acid (AA) residues of βLG as the donor. The extent of HB interactions predominates over hydrophobic interactions in βLG-NOR than βLG-DDP complex. MD studies authenticates no direct binding of dye-drug inside the domains of βLG, when docked simultaneously. On the contrary, docking of dye to βLG-NOR complex enhances the binding stability. Several molecular interactions govern the stability of the complex and play a major role on the binding affinity of the host-guest complex in the presence of two competitive ligands. MD techniques authenticate that DDP/NOR is bound to several AA residues through conventional and non-conventional HB interactions accompanied with hydrophobic, pi-pi, pi-alkyl and van der Waals forces of interactions. Further, MD methods is employed as an efficient tool and a non-evasive technique in establishing the stability of 1:1complex of drug/dye with βLG in the present study.     

Performance of asymmetric supercapacitor using CoCr-layered double hydroxide and reduced graphene-oxide

Cobalt chromium-layered double hydroxides (CoCr-LDHs) were electrodeposited on to carbon paper by potentiostatic method from the respective cobalt and chromium ion sources. The electrodeposited CoCr-LDHs were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transferred infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) and x-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental mapping. The XRD and IR data confirmed that the deposits were CoCr-LDH with carbonate and nitrate ions in the basal space. The SEM observations confirmed that the CoCr-LDH surface had distinct morphology consisting of aggregate size of about 100 nm. For the first time, the supercapacitor characteristics of the CoCr-LDHs were assessed in three-electrode configuration in 1 M KOH or two-electrode (asymmetric capacitor device with reduced graphene-oxide (RGO)). It turned out that the asymmetric capacitor consisted of the CoCr-LDH and the RGO exhibited higher energy density with excellent power density. The higher energy density and power density of the asymmetric capacitor device is believed to be due to the unique LDH morphology in addition to the Faradaic and non-Faradaic contributions. It was demonstrated that the two asymmetric capacitor devices connected in series could light an LED bulb.

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Aptamer-based impedimetric determination of the human blood clotting factor IX in serum using an interdigitated electrode modified with a ZnO nanolayer

This article describes a sensitive impedimetric method for the determination of human blood coagulation factor IX protein (FIX) which is present in extremely low concentration in serum. An interdigitated electrode (IDE) whose surface was layered with zinc oxide was modified with two kinds of probes. One is an antibody, the other an aptamer against FIX. A comparative study between anti-FIX aptamer and anti-FIX antibody showed the aptamer to possess higher affinity for FIX. A sandwich aptamer assay was worked out by using the FIX-binding aptamer on the surface of the IDE. It has a detection limit as low as 10 pM which makes it 4 to 30-fold more sensitive than any other method reported for FIX. Moreover, to practice detection in clinical samples, FIX was detected from the human blood serum by spiking. In our perception, the sensitivity of the ZnO-modified IDE presented here makes it a promising tool for sensing clinically relevant analytes that are present in very low (sub-pM) concentrations.

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The first aza Diels-Alder reaction involving an alpha,beta-unsaturated hydrazone as the dienophile: stereoselective synthesis of C-4 functionalized 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines containing a quaternary stereocenter

The reaction between aromatic imines and methacrolein dimethylhydrazone in the presence of 10% indium trichloride affords in good to excellent yields biologically and synthetically relevant 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines bearing a hydrazone function at C-4 in a one-pot process that involves the formation of two C-C bonds and the stereoselective generation of two stereocenters, one of them quaternary, and this constitutes the first example of an alpha,beta-unsaturated dimethylhydrazone behaving as a dienophile in a hetero Diels-Alder reaction and the first vinylogous aza-Povarov reaction.     

Synthesis, stereochemistry, and antimicrobial activity of 2,6-diaryl-3-(arylthio)piperidin-4-ones

A series of novel 2,6-diaryl-3-(arylthio)piperidin-4-ones have been synthesized by reaction of arylthioacetones, substituted aromatic aldehydes, and methylamine/ammonium acetate and their structures elucidated by (1)H, (13)C, and 2D NMR (H, H-COSY, C, H-COSY, HMBC, and NOESY) spectroscopy. The NMR data reveal that all these piperidones exist in chair conformation with the 2,6-diaryl groups equatorially oriented, while the arylthio group prefers to be in either an equatorial or axial orientation depending on whether the substituent in the 2,6-diaryl rings is present in 4- or 2-position, respectively. In the case of NH-2,6-diaryl-3-(arylthio)piperidin-4-ones with o-substituted 2,6-diaryl groups, the arylthio group prefers the axial orientation presumably in a bid to minimize the steric and/or electronic repulsion. The arylthiopiperidin-4-ones exhibit significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, and Escherichia coli and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger.     

Solvatochromic Studies of Fluorescent Azo Dyes: Kamlet-Taft (π*, α and β) and Catalan (Spp, SA and SB) Solvent Scales Approach

A new metal ion-responsive azo-based fluorescent probes have been synthesized and characterized by NMR spectral techniques. Steady-state fluorometric study has been used to analyze the spectroscopic and photophysical characteristics of dye derivatives in various solvents. The fluorescence properties of these dyes are strongly solvent dependent, the wavelength of maximum fluorescence emission shifts to the red. The Kamlet-Taft and Catalan’s solvent scales were found to be the most suitable for describing the solvatochromic shifts of the absorption and fluorescence emission. The hydroxy substituted azo dye formed complexes with several metal ions (Co²⁺, Hg²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺) and fluorescence quenching with metal ions reveal that it can be used as a new fluorescence sensor to detect the Cu²⁺ ion.     

Heteroaryl‐substuted semicarbazones: Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of N‐(3‐methylpyridin‐2‐yl)‐substituted semicarbazones

A series of substituted N‐(3‐methylpyridin‐2‐yl) semicarbazones was designed and synthesized to meet the structural requirements essential for anticonvulsant activity. The structures of all the synthesized compounds were confirmed by means of spectral and elemental analysis. All the compounds were evaluated for their anticonvulsant activity by maximal electroshock seizures (MES) test, subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) screen, subcutaneous strychnine (scSTY) pattern test and subcutaneous picrotoxin (scPIC) seizure threshold test along with the behavioral, and neurotoxicity evaluation. A number of N‐(3‐methylpyridin‐2‐yl) semicarbazone derivatives exhibited significant protection after intraperitoneal administration at the dose of 100 and 300 mg/kg. Compound N¹‐(3‐methylpyridin‐2‐yl)‐N⁴‐(isatin) semicarbazone ( 19 ) emerged as the most active analogue of the series, being more effective in most of the test models than ethosuximide and sodium valporate.