A combined theoretical and experimental study to improve the thermal stability of recombinant D-lactate dehydrogenase immobilized on a novel superparamagnetic Fe3O4NPs@metal–organic framework

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and pyruvate to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) and D-lactate in the final step of anaerobic glycolysis. This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases. Humans possess two isoforms of LDH enzyme: NAD-dependent L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH) and NAD-dependent D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH). D-LDH is released during tissue damage, and is a sign of diseases such as kidney stones, heart failure, and some types of cancers and appendicitis. Accordingly, the design and construction of biosensors for the determination of lactate levels are important. The thermal sensitivity of D-LDH and low protein production in the host bacteria limit the use of this protein in certain applications. To solve these problems, two solutions were used in this study. First, the codon-optimized 1008 bp D-LDH gene fused with a histidine tag was cloned at the NcoI/XhoI sites and expressed in E. coli BL21. Second, a new metal–organic framework (Fe₃O₄NPs@Ni-MOF) was synthesized and used for immobilization and stabilization of D-LDH. Fe₃O₄NPs@Ni-MOF core-shell nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. In comparison with the free enzyme, the immobilized enzyme presented better stability at high temperatures. The immobilization of the enzyme could be useful because most reactions happen at high temperatures in industry. To examine the effect of Fe₃O₄NPs@Ni-MOF on the adsorption and conformation of D-LDH at the atomistic level, a molecular dynamics simulation was carried out. Our study showed that the interaction between Fe₃O₄NPs@Ni-MOF and D-LDH involved van der Waals interactions, hydrophobic interaction energies, cation–π interaction between the Ni ions of the MOF with the enzyme residues and also, the hydrogen bond interactions between enzyme and heteroatoms in the MOF. Root mean square fluctuation and secondary structure analysis showed that Fe₃O₄NPs@Ni-MOF protected the conformation of the enzyme.     

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Mg‐Doped ZnO NPs and ZnO/rGO Nanocomposites

A systematic experimental and theoretical study of the origin of the enhanced photocatalytic performance of Mg‐doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and Mg‐doped ZnO/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites has been performed. In addition to Mg, Cd was chosen as a doping material for the bandgap engineering of ZnO NPs, and its effects were compared with that of Mg in the photocatalytic performance of ZnO nanostructures. The experimental results revealed that Mg, as a doping material, recognizably ameliorates the photocatalytic performance of ZnO NPs and ZnO/graphene nanocomposites. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the Mg‐doped and Cd‐doped ZnO NPs had the same size. The optical properties of the samples indicated that Cd narrowed the bandgap, whereas Mg widened the bandgap of the ZnO NPs and the oxygen vacancy concentration was similar for both samples. Based on the experimental results, the narrowing of the bandgap, the particle size, and the oxygen vacancy did not enhance the photocatalytic performance. However, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and Barret–Joyner–Halenda (BJH) models showed that Mg caused increased textural properties of the samples, whereas rGO played an opposite role. A theoretical study, conducted by using DFT methods, showed that the improvement in the photocatalytic performance of Mg‐doped ZnO NPs was due to a higher electron transfer from the Mg‐doped ZnO NPs to the dye molecules compared with pristine ZnO and Cd‐doped ZnO NPs. Moreover, according to the experimental results, along with Mg, graphene also played an important role in the photocatalytic performance of ZnO.     

Determination of organophosphorus pesticides by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry using a large‐volume injection technique after magnetic extraction

A fast and efficient method was developed for the extraction and determination of organophosphorus pesticides in water samples. Organophosphorus pesticides were extracted by solid‐phase extraction using magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and determined by gas chromatography with ion‐trap mass spectrometry. Parameters affecting the extraction were investigated. Under optimum conditions of the method, 10 mg magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes were added into 10 mL sample. After 2 min, adsorbent particles settled at the bottom of test tube with a magnet. After removing aqueous supernatant, the analytes were desorbed with acetonitrile. Then, 70 μL of acetonitrile phase was injected into the gas chromatography and mass spectrometry system that had an ion‐trap analyzer. To achieve high sensitivity, the large‐volume‐injection technique was used with a programmed temperature vaporization inlet, and the ion‐trap mass spectrometer was operated in single ion storage mode. Under the best conditions, the enrichment factors and extraction recoveries were in the range of 113–124 and 74–103%, respectively. The limits of detection were between 3 and 15 ng/L, and the relative standard deviations were < 10%. This method was successfully used for the determination of organophosphorus pesticides in dam water, lagoon water, and river water samples with good reproducibility and recovery.     

Comparison of the performance of pyridine-functionalized nanoporous silica particles for the extraction of gold(III) from natural samples

We have developed a technique for the solid-phase extraction of gold using various kinds of pyridine-functionalized nanoporous silica prior to its determination in various samples using FAAS. The effects of solution pH, sample and eluent flow rate, sample volume and of potentially interfering ions are compared. The limits of detections vary from 28 to 53?pg?mL^?1. The accuracy and precision are between 99.8% and 98.3?% and 0.7 to 1.6?% (RSD), respectively. The method was successfully applied to several standard reference materials.

Ligand-mediated formation of Cu/metal oxide hybrid nanocrystals with tunable number of interfaces

Combining domains of different chemical nature within the same hybrid material through the formation of heterojunctions provides the opportunity to exploit the properties of each individual component within the same nano-object; furthermore, new synergistic properties will often arise as a result of unique interface interactions. However, synthetic strategies enabling precise control over the final architecture of multicomponent objects still remain scarce for certain classes of materials. Herein, we report on the formation of Cu/MO_x (M = Ce, Zn and Zr) hybrid nanocrystals with a tunable number of interfaces between the two domains. We demonstrate that the organic ligands employed during the synthesis play a key role in regulating the final configuration. Finally, we show that the synthesized nanocrystals serve as materials platforms to investigate the impact of the Cu/metal oxide interfaces in applications by focusing on the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction as one representative example.

We report on the formation of Cu/metal oxide hybrid nanocrystals with a tunable number of interfaces between the two domains. We demonstrate that the organic ligands employed during the synthesis play a key role in regulating the final configuration.     

KF/Al2O3‐Mediated N‐Alkylation of Amines and Nitrogen Heterocycles and S‐Alkylation of Thiols

KF/Al₂O₃ efficiently catalyzes N‐alkylation of heterocyclic, primary, and secondary amines and S‐alkylation of thiols with a variety of alkyl halides. The N‐alkylation and S‐alkylation adducts were produced in good to excellent yields and in short times.     

Copper-free Sonogashira coupling reactions catalyzed by a water-soluble Pd-salen complex under aerobic conditions

The water-soluble Pd-salen complex, palladium(II) N,N′-bis{[5-(triphenylphosphonium)methyl]salicylidene}-1,2-ethanediamine chloride, is a highly active catalyst for the copper-free Sonogashira coupling of aryl iodides with terminal alkynes in water under aerobic conditions.