Interactions between CdTe quantum dots and DNA revealed by capillary electrophoresis with laser‐induced fluorescence detection

Quantum dots (QDs) are one of the most promising nanomaterials, due to their size‐dependent characteristics as well as easily controllable size during the synthesis process. They are promising label material and their interaction with biomolecules is of great interest for science. In this study, CdTe QDs were synthesized under optimal conditions for 2 nm size. Characterization and verification of QDs synthesis procedure were done by fluorimetric method and with CE. Afterwards, QDs interaction with chicken genomic DNA and 500 bpDNA fragment was observed employing CE‐LIF and gel electrophoresis. Performed interaction relies on possible matching between size of QDs and major groove of the DNA, which is approximately 2.1 nm.     

Highly Sensitive “Off/On” EPR Probes to Monitor Enzymatic Activity

The assessment of unregulated level of enzyme activity is a crucial parameter for early diagnoses in a wide range of pathologies. In this study, we propose the use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) as an easy method to probe carboxylesterase (CE) enzymatic activity in vitro. For this application, were synthesized two amphiphilic, nitroxide containing esters, namely Tempo-C12 (T-C12) and Tempo-2-C12 (T-2-C12). They exhibit low solubility in water and form stable micelles in which the radicals are EPR almost silent, but the hydrolysis of the ester bond yields narrows and intense EPR signals. The intensity of the EPR signals is proportional to the enzymatic activity. CEs1, CEs2 and esterase from porcine liver (PLE) were investigated. The obtained results show that T-C12 and T-2-C12-containing systems display a much higher selectivity toward the CEs2, with a Limit of Detection of the same order of those ones obtained with optical methods.     

Thermo-physical properties measurements of hygroscopic and reactive material (zeolite 13X) for open adsorptive heat storage operation

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The determination of the thermo-physical properties (density, specific heat capacity, and thermal conductivity) of hygroscopic and reactive solid...     

Volatiles and Antifungal-Antibacterial-Antiviral Activity of South African Salvia spp. Essential Oils Cultivated in Uniform Conditions

Spontaneous emissions of S. dentata Aiton and S. scabra Thunb., as well as the essential oil (EO) composition of the cited species, together with S. aurea L., were investigated. The chemical profile of the first two species is reported here for the first time. Moreover, in vitro tests were performed to evaluate the antifungal activity of these EOs on Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Fusarium solani. Secondly, the EO antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus pseudointermedius was examined, and their antiviral efficacy against the H1N1 influenza virus was assessed. Leaf volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as the EOs obtained from the arial part of Salvia scabra, were characterized by a high percentage of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (97.8% and 76.6%, respectively), mostly represented by an equal amount of germacrene D (32.8% and 32.7%, respectively). Both leaf and flower spontaneous emissions of S. dentata, as well as the EO composition, showed a prevalence of monoterpenes divided into a more or less equal amount of hydrocarbon and oxygenated compounds. Interestingly, its EO had a non-negligible percentage of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (29.5%). S. aurea EO, on the contrary, was rich in sesquiterpenes, both hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds (41.5% and 33.5%, respectively). S. dentata EO showed good efficacy (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC): 0.5%) against M. canis. The tested EOs were not active against E. coli and S. aureus, whereas a low inhibition of S. dentata EO was observed on S. pseudointermedius (MIC = 10%). Once again, S. dentata EO showed a very good H1N1 inhibition; contrariwise, S. aurea EO was completely inactive against this virus. The low quantity of S. scabra EO made it impossible to test its biological activity. S. dentata EO exhibited interesting new perspectives for medicinal and industrial uses.     

Inherently Chiral Macrocyclic Oligothiophenes: Easily Accessible Electrosensitive Cavities with Outstanding Enantioselection Performances

Linear conjugated oligothiophenes of variable length and different substitution pattern are ubiquitous in technologically advanced optoelectronic devices, though limitations in application derive from insolubility, scarce processability and chain‐end effects. This study describes an easy access to chiral cyclic oligothiophenes constituted by 12 and 18 fully conjugated thiophene units. Chemical oxidation of an “inherently chiral” sexithiophene monomer, synthesized in two steps from commercially available materials, induces the formation of an elliptical dimer and a triangular trimer endowed with electrosensitive cavities of different tunable sizes. Combination of chirality with electroactivity makes these molecules unique in the current oligothiophenes literature. These macrocycles, which are stable and soluble in most organic solvents, show outstanding chiroptical properties, high circularly polarized luminescence effects and an exceptional enantiorecognition ability.     

Need for database extension for reliable identification of bacteria from extreme environments using MALDI TOF mass spectrometry

The ability of MALDI TOF MS (matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry) to identify cultivable microflora from two waste disposal sites from non-ferrous metal industry was analysed. Despite the harsh conditions (extreme pH values and heavy metal content in red mud disposal site from aluminium production or high heavy metal content in nickel sludge), relatively high numbers of bacteria were recovered. In both environments, the bacterial community was dominated by Gram-positive bacteria, especially by actinobacteria. High-quality MALDI TOF mass spectra were obtained but most of the bacteria isolates could be not identified using MALDI Biotyper software. The overall identification rate was lower than 20 %; in two of the environments tested identification rates were lower than 10 %. As a dominant bacterial species, Microbacterium spp. in drainage water from an aluminium red mud disposal site near ?iar nad Hronom, Bacillus spp. in red mud samples from the same site, and Arthrobacter spp. from nickel smelter sludge near Sereï were identified by a combination of the Biolog system and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. As the primary focus of the MALDI TOF MS-based methodology is directed towards medically important bacteria, reference database spectra expansion and refinement are needed to improve the ability of MALDI TOF MS to identify environmental bacteria, especially those from extreme environments.     

The Multifunctional Role of Herbal Products in the Management of Diabetes and Obesity: A Comprehensive Review

Obesity and diabetes are the most demanding health problems today, and their prevalence, as well as comorbidities, is on the rise all over the world. As time goes on, both are becoming big issues that have a big impact on people’s lives. Diabetes is a metabolic and endocrine illness set apart by hyperglycemia and glucose narrow-mindedness because of insulin opposition. Heftiness is a typical, complex, and developing overall wellbeing worry that has for quite some time been connected to significant medical issues in individuals, all things considered. Because of the wide variety and low adverse effects, herbal products are an important hotspot for drug development. Synthetic compounds are not structurally diverse and lack drug-likeness properties. Thus, it is basic to keep on exploring herbal products as possible wellsprings of novel drugs. We conducted this review of the literature by searching Scopus, Science Direct, Elsevier, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. From 1990 until October 2021, research reports, review articles, and original research articles in English are presented. It provides top to bottom data and an examination of plant-inferred compounds that might be utilized against heftiness or potentially hostile to diabetes treatments. Our expanded comprehension of the systems of activity of phytogenic compounds, as an extra examination, could prompt the advancement of remedial methodologies for metabolic diseases. In clinical trials, a huge number of these food kinds or restorative plants, as well as their bioactive compounds, have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of obesity.     

Biotechnological Innovations from Ocean: Transpiring Role of Marine Drugs in Management of Chronic Disorders

Marine drugs are abundant in number, comprise of a diverse range of structures with corresponding mechanisms of action, and hold promise for the discovery of new and better treatment approaches for the management of several chronic diseases. There are huge reserves of natural marine biological compounds, as 70 percent of the Earth is covered with oceans, indicating a diversity of chemical entities on the planet. The marine ecosystems are a rich source of bioactive products and have been explored for lead drug molecules that have proven to be novel therapeutic targets. Over the last 70 years, many structurally diverse drug products and their secondary metabolites have been isolated from marine sources. The drugs obtained from marine sources have displayed an exceptional potential in the management of a wide array of diseases, ranging from acute to chronic conditions. A beneficial role of marine drugs in human health has been recently proposed. The current review highlights various marine drugs and their compounds and role in the management of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disorders, which has led to the development of new drug treatment approaches.