Controlled Electrodeposition of Au‐Copper Oxide Nanocomposite on a Renewable Carbon Ceramic Electrode for Sensitive Determination of NADH in Serum Samples

In this study, a sensitive nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) biosensor based on Au‐Copper oxide nanocomposite modified carbon ceramic electrode (Au?CuO/CCE) was introduced. The developed NADH biosensor was prepared by controlled electrodeposition of copper and Au nanoparticles on the surface of a renewable CCE and was turned to Au?CuO/CCE by cycling the potential in alkaline media. The prepared electrode was carefully characterized with scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. According to scan rate study, surface coverage (Γ) of the fabricated Au?CuO/CCE was calculated to be 1.54×10^?8 mol cm^?2 which was 3 time more than CuO/CCE. The fabricated electrode is well stable which could be reliably utilized for the determination of NADH with amperometry technique over the concentration range of 1–29 μM with sensitivity and detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.1025 μA μM^?1 and 0.09 μM respectively. The prepared biosensor was used for NADH determination in serum samples with fast response time and satisfactory analytical results.     

Synthesis of Benzoxazoles Catalyzed by MCM-41, a Green and Reusable Catalyst

Benzoxazoles can be rapidly and efficiently synthesized from acyl chloride with 2-aminophenols in one simple step, which provided a practical and efficient method for high-throughput synthesis of this important class of heterocyclic compounds.     

Prussian Blue Nanoparticles Self Assembling on Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide Modified GC Electrode for Sensitive Hydrogen Peroxide Detection

A facile, fast, and convenient route was suggested for the fabrication of Prussian blue nano particles (PBNPs) assembled on reduced graphene oxide (RGO) modified glassy carbon electrode (PBNPs|RGO|GCE). RGO was electrodeposited on the surface of GCE and the prepared RGO|GCE was immersed into a ferric‐hexacyanoferrate(III) solution and PBNPs were assembled on the RGO|GCE for a certain period of time. The PBNPs film thickness can be easily controlled by adjusting the assembling duration. The developed PBNPs|RGO|GCE was successfully used for determining hydrogen peroxide, with a linear response over the concentration range 0.5‐400 μM, a good accuracy and precision, detection limit 0.44 μM, and sensitivity 1168 mA M^?1 cm^?2.     

Reductive Dehalogenation of Arylhalides and Alkylhalides with Zinc in THF Saturated Aqueous Ammonium Chloride

A low‐cost and highly effective zinc/THF‐saturated aqueous ammonium chloride has been developed for dehalogenation of arylhalides and alkylhalides in aqueous systems.     

The One‐Pot Synthesis of 2,4,5‐Triaryl‐Imidazoles Using Heteropolyacids as Heterogeneous and Recyclable Catalysts

2,4,5‐triaryl imidazoles were obtained in high yields with excellent purity from the condensation of benzaldehydes, NH₄OAc and 1,2‐diketone in the presence of a catalytic amount of various heteropolyacids (HPAs).     

Synthesis,Enzyme Inhibition,and Molecular Docking Studies of Hydrazones from Dichlorophenylacetic Acids

A series of hydrazones 5a–i were synthesized by the condensation of hydrazides derived from dichlorophenylacetic acids with different aromatic aldehydes and ketones. Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic data and elemental analysis. Hydrazones 5a–i were evaluated for α‐glucosidase and urease inhibition activities. Five compounds exhibited potent α‐glucosidase inhibitory potential with IC₅₀ values 8.5 ± 0.3, 22.2 ± 0.78, 32.9 ± 1.5, 34 ± 2.4, and 170.6 ± 7.5 μM, respectively, which are many times better than that of the standard inhibitor acarbose (IC₅₀ = 840 ± 1.73 μM). Furthermore, molecular docking study was performed to explore the binding mode in the active sites of α‐glucosidase and urease enzymes.     

Chemical and electrochemical grafting of polyaniline onto poly(vinyl chloride): synthesis,characterization, and materials properties

We have designed and developed a new strategy for the chemical and electrochemical graft copolymerization of aniline onto poly(vinyl chloride). For this purpose, first phenylamine groups were incorporated into poly(vinyl chloride) via a nucleophilic substitution reaction in the presence of a solvent composed of 4‐aminophenol, potassium carbonate, and dry N,N‐dimethylformamide at room temperature, in order to avoid cross‐linking. The macromonomer obtained was used in chemical and electrochemical oxidation copolymerization with aniline monomer to yield a poly(vinyl chloride)‐g‐polyaniline (PVC‐g‐PANI) graft copolymer. The chemical structures of samples as representatives were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. The electroactivity behaviors of the synthesized samples were verified under cyclic voltammetric conditions. The electrical conductivity and electroactivity measurements showed that the PVC‐g‐PANI graft copolymer has lower electrical conductivity as well as electroactivity than those of the pure PANI. However, the lower electrical conductivity and electroactivity levels in this material can be improved at the price of solubility and processability. Moreover, the thermal behavior and chemical composition of the synthesized graft copolymer were investigated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A stoichiometric imprinted chelating resin for selective recognition of copper(II) ions in aqueous media

This work reports the preparation of a new copper(II) ion-imprinted polymer (IIP) material, using 5,6;14,15-dibenzo-1,4-dioxa-8,12-diazacyclopentadecane-5,14-diene (DBDA15C4) and 2-vinylpyridine (VP) as a non-vinylated chelating agent and a functional vinyl monomer, respectively. The Cu²⁺ ion can form stable complexes with DBDA15C4 and VP. The stoichiometries of Cu²⁺-DBDA15C4 and ternary Cu²⁺-DBDA15C4-VP complexes were elucidated using conductometric and spectrophotometric methods, and found to be Cu²⁺(DBDA15C4), Cu²⁺(DBDA15C4)₂ and Cu²⁺(DBDA15C4)(VP)₂. The results obtained from solution studies were also supported by ab initio theoretical calculations. The resulting ternary complex Cu²⁺(DBDA15C4)(VP)₂ was copolymerized with ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate, as a cross-linking monomer, via bulk polymerization method. The imprinted copper ion was removed from the polymeric matrix by 0.1 M HNO₃. The Cu²⁺-imprinted polymer particles were characterized by IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Optimum pH range for rebinding of Cu²⁺ on the IIP and equilibrium binding time were 7.0-7.5 and 45 min, respectively. Sorbent capacity and enrichment factor for Cu²⁺ were obtained as 75.3 ± 1.9 μmol g⁻¹ and 100, respectively. In selectivity study, it was found that imprinting results in increased affinity of the material toward Cu²⁺ ion over other competitor metal ions with the same charge and close ionic radius. The prepared IIPs were repeatedly used and regenerated for five times without a significant decrease in polymer binding affinities.     

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using root extract of Duchesnea indica and assessment of its biological activities

Treatment of microbial infections and inflammatory conditions have many challenges in terms of efficacy and safety issues. Novel approaches such as nanoparticles based drug delivery system have shown promising results to solve some of these problems. The aim of this study was to exploit the efficacy of the synthesized silver nanoparticles. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized using root extract (aqueous) of Duchesnea indica. They were characterized using different techniques such as, ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrophotometry, transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and zetasizer. The UV–Vis spectra gave a characteristic peak at 423 nm; XRD confirmed its crystalline structure; FTIR confirmed the involvement of phytochemicals in their capping and reduction; TEM images confirmed their spherical shape with average width of 20.49 nm and average area of 319.25 nm². Various biological activities were performed on these NPs, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and muscle relaxant, which showed significant results as follow. Among bacterial strains, Salmonella typhi (MIC: 0.01 mg/ml) and Escherichia coli (MIC: 0.01 mg/ml), while among that of fungal Microsporum canis (MIC: 0.53 mg/ml) and Alternaria alternata (MIC: 0.51 mg/ml) were most susceptible. The AgNPs showed maximum anti-inflammatory activity (46.15 and 56.85%) at 20 mg/kg after 3 and 5 h of drug administration, comparable to that of standard. In-vivo model exhibited concentration dependent inhibition of both COX-2 and 5-LOX enzymes. Similarly, it exhibited maximum analgesic activity (54.24%) at 20 mg/kg dose after 60 min. of pain induction. Furthermore, they depicted maximum muscle relaxation (P < 0.01) after 60 and 90 min of drug administration. Above results suggest that these AgNPs can be studied further for the development of more effective and safe formulations.