Microplasma-assisted synthesis of CuO nanostructures for catalytic degradation of organic dyes under solar irradiation

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this research work, CuO nanostructures were synthesized using atmospheric pressure microplasma (AMP) electrochemical process. The synthesized CuO...     

Review on asymmetric synthetic methodologies for chiral isoquinuclidines; 2008 to date

Isoquinuclidines constitute the central structural nucleus of numerous biologically active natural products, for example, iboga alkaloids such as ibogamine and catharanthine as well as non-indole-containing alkaloids such as the dioscorine and the cannivonines. Furthermore, in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry, the isoquinuclidine core is commonly employed as a rigid azabicyclic scaffold, thus providing significant precursors in the synthesis of numerous valuable alkaloids. Summarizing well-organized approaches to access the chiral isoquinuclidine structural centerpiece signifies a significant endeavor not only for developing biologically active natural products but also enhancing biological researches that can lead to possible drug discovery. Over time, the values and methodologies for the asymmetric synthesis of chiral isoquinuclidines are increasing; hence to advance asymmetric synthesis, this review combines and discusses the pros and cons of each synthesis techniques from 2008. This review should be helpful for promoting further developments of asymmetric synthetic methodologies and for medicinal chemistry.     

Synergistic anticancer effects achieved by co-delivery of TRAIL and paclitaxel using cationic polymeric micelles

Cationic micellar nanoparticles self‐assembled from a biodegradable amphiphilic copolymer have been used to deliver human TRAIL and paclitaxel simultaneously. Polyplexes formed between paclitaxel‐loaded nanoparticles and TRAIL are stable with a size of ≈180 nm and a zeta potential at ≈75 mV. Anticancer effects and apoptotic pathway mechanisms of this drug‐and‐protein co‐delivery system are investigated in various human breast cancer cell lines with different TRAIL sensitivity. The co‐delivery nanoparticulate system induces synergistic anti‐cancer activities with limited toxicity in non‐cancerous cells. An advantage of this co‐delivery is a significantly higher anti‐cancer effect as compared to free drug and protein formulations.

     

Investigations on Anticancer Potentials by DNA Binding and Cytotoxicity Studies for Newly Synthesized and Characterized Imidazolidine and Thiazolidine-Based Isatin Derivatives

Imidazolidine and thiazolidine-based isatin derivatives (IST-01–04) were synthesized, characterized, and tested for their interactions with ds-DNA. Theoretical and experimental findings showed good compatibility and indicated compound–DNA binding by mixed mode of interactions. The evaluated binding parameters, i.e., binding constant (K_b), free energy change (ΔG), and binding site sizes (n), inferred comparatively greater and more spontaneous binding interactions of IST-02 and then IST-04 with the DNA, among all compounds tested under physiological pH and temperature (7.4, 37 °C). The cytotoxic activity of all compounds was assessed against HeLa (cervical carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast carcinoma), and HuH-7 (liver carcinoma), as well as normal HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) cell lines. Among all compounds, IST-02 and 04 were found to be cytotoxic against HuH-7 cell lines with percentage cell toxicity of 75% and 66%, respectively, at 500 ng/µL dosage. Moreover, HEK-293 cells exhibit tolerance to the increasing drug concentration, suggesting these two compounds are less cytotoxic against normal cell lines compared to cancer cell lines. Hence, both DNA binding and cytotoxicity studies proved imidazolidine (IST-02) and thiazolidine (IST-04)-based isatin derivatives as potent anticancer drug candidates among which imidazolidine (IST-02) is comparatively the more promising.     

Biogenic Synthesis of Ag Nanoparticles of 18.27 nm by Zanthozylum armatum and Determination of Biological Potentials

Nanotechnology has become a dire need of the current era and the green synthesis of nanoparticles offers several advantages over other methods. Nanobiotechnology is an emerging field that contributes to many domains of human life, such as the formulation of nanoscale drug systems or nanomedicine for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Medicinal plants are the main sources of lead compounds, drug candidates and drugs. This work reports the green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the aqueous bark extract of Zanthozylum armatum, which was confirmed by a UV absorption at 457 nm. XRD analysis revealed an average size of 18.27 nm and SEM showed the particles’ spherical shape, with few irregularly shaped particles due to the aggregation of the AgNPs. FT-IR revealed the critical functional groups of phytochemicals which acted as reducing and stabilizing agents. The bark extract showed rich flavonoids (333 mg RE/g) and phenolic contents (82 mg GAE/g), which were plausibly responsible for its high antioxidant potency (IC₅₀ = 14.61 µg/mL). Extract-loaded AgNPs exhibited the highest but equal inhibition against E. coli and P. aeruginosa (Z.I. 11.0 mm), whereas methanolic bark extract inhibited to a lesser extent, but equally to both pathogens (Z.I. 6.0 mm). The aqueous bark extract inhibited P. aeruginosa (Z.I. 9.0 mm) and (Z.I. 6.0 mm) E. coli. These findings—especially the biosynthesis of spherical AgNPs of 18.27 nm—provide promise for further investigation and for the development of commercializable biomedical products.     

Characterization of Surfactant-Diblock Copolymer Interactions and Its Thermodynamic Studies

The interaction of nonionic diblock copolymer poly(ethylene oxide butylene oxide) (E₆₂B₂₂) with a cationic surfactant cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) were studied using surface tension, conductivity, and dynamic laser light scattering techniques. Surface tension measurements were used to determine critical micelle concentration and thereby its free energy of adsorption (ΔG_ads), free energy of micellization (ΔG_m), surface excess concentration (Γ), and minimum area per molecule (A). Conductivity measurements were used to determine critical micelle concentration (CMC) critical aggregation concentration (CAC) at different temperatures, enthalpy of micellization (ΔH_m), free energy of micellization and entropy of micellization (ΔS_m). Changes in physicochemical properties of the micellized block copolymer were studied by using dynamic laser light scattering. The effect of surfactant on the size and properties of block copolymer has also been discussed.     

Optimal thermal performance of magneto-nanofluid flow in expanding/contracting channel

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - In a thermodynamical system, loss of energy takes the center of attention. According to laws of thermodynamics, energy of the system remains conserve,...     

Recent resurgence toward the oxidation of heteroatoms using dimethyldioxirane as an exquisite oxidant

This review covers the literature from 2005 to till date. Oxidation chemistry is a dynamic field of organic synthesis as it keeps evolving with the passage of time. There is a recent surge in that area to switch over from inorganic oxidants to organic oxidants. The oxidation of heteroatom is an intriguing task for the synthetic chemists, as it requires mild oxidant with no harmful side products. Dimethyldioxirane serves as a super-effective oxidant as it shows high functional group tolerance and possess acetone as byproducts which is also eco-friendly. This review summarizes the heteroatom oxidation of sulfur, nitrogen, iodine, selenium, phosphorous, and platinum atoms using DMDO as an oxidant.     

Novel N-(benzo[d]oxazol-2-yl)alkanamides; synthesis and carbonic anhydrase II inhibition studies

Carbonic anhydrase (CA II) inhibitors are very important therapeutic targets in drug design for treatment of neuropathic pain and in eradication of glaucoma, cancer, epilepsy, ulcer and obesity. In this study, some two2-substituted benzoxazoles ( 3a-j ) were developed as a new family of carbonic anhydrase II inhibitors by employing acyl thiourea chemistry via a simple and expedient protocol and evaluated for CA II inhibitor activity and radical scavenging ability. Compounds 3f and 3j were found to be the most potent inhibitors, with IC₅₀ values of 0.00564 and 0.00596 μM, respectively which are several times better than that of the standard, acetazolamide (IC₅₀ value 0.997 ± 0.0586 μM). Docking experiments were carried out against the carbonic anhydrase II crystal structure to better rationalize the inhibitory activities of these new structures. Moreover, the results of a DPPH radical scavenging assay showed that the antioxidant profile of compound 3i is superior to those of other derivatives. The results have revealed that derivatives 3f and 3j behave as CA-II inhibitors significantly better than standard and 3i has good anti-oxidation potential.     

C–H Arylation using acyl thiourea ligands: Applications in the synthesis of 3,6-diaryl-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles

Synthesis of a series of new 3,6-diaryl-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b] [1,3,4]thiadiazoles(5a–o) was achieved by phophine free, C–H arylative cross-coupling of 6-aryl-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazoles(4a–o)with suitably substituted iodoanilines using 1-(2-naphthoyl)-3-(4-bromophenyl)thiourea as a ligand.The requisite triazolothiadiazoles(4a–o) were obtained by the condensation of 4-amino-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol(3) with suitably substituted aromatic acids in the presence of phosphoryl chloride.