The Chemistry of Redox‐Flow Batteries

The development of various redox‐flow batteries for the storage of fluctuating renewable energy has intensified in recent years because of their peculiar ability to be scaled separately in terms of energy and power, and therefore potentially to reduce the costs of energy storage. This has resulted in a considerable increase in the number of publications on redox‐flow batteries. This was a motivation to present a comprehensive and critical overview of the features of this type of batteries, focusing mainly on the chemistry of electrolytes and introducing a thorough systematic classification to reveal their potential for future development.     

Synthesis and properties of new biotin compounds containing hexyltriethylene glycol chain

The synthesis of a new halogenide containing hexyltriethylene glycol chain functionalized with biotin is reported. The general possibility of this linker to use as the building block for biotinylated compounds syntheses is demonstrated. Two biotinylated esters with different properties for useful surface modification and as fluorescence probes for proteins marking were synthesized. The properties of mentioned compounds were investigated by using surface plazmon resonance ellypsometry and fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Complex formation reactions of two sterically hindered platinum(II) complexes with some N-bonding ligands

The kinetics of the complex formation reactions of two [(TL ^tBu)PtCl]⁺ and [Pt(tpdm)Cl]⁺ complexes (TL ^tBu = 2,6-bis[(1,3-di-tert-butylimidazolin-2-imino)methyl]pyridine and tpdm = terpyridinedimethane) with N-donor ligands, l-histidine (L-His), inosine (Ino), inosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-IMP) and guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP), were studied. All reactions were studied under pseudo-first-order conditions as a function of nucleophile concentration and temperature in aqueous 0.1 M NaClO₄ solution in the presence of 10 mM NaCl using variable-temperature Uv–Vis spectrophotometry. The order of reactivity of the studied ligands is L-His > Ino > 5′-GMP > 5′-IMP. This order of reactivity is in relation to their electronic properties and structures. The mechanism of the substitution reactions is associative in nature as supported by the negative entropy of activation.     

Design,synthesis, and characterization of fullerene–peptide–steroid covalent hybrids

The present study reports the synthesis, spectral characterization, self-assembly properties, and preliminary in vitro study of antioxidant capacity of two triple covalent hybrids consisting of fullerene C₆₀, peptide, and steroidal moiety. Previously synthesized fulleropyrrolidinic acid and pregnenolone were connected by peptide linker using a multistep DCC/DMAP and/or EDC/HOBT esterification/amidation procedure. The hybrids were characterized by comparative analysis of spectroscopic data obtained from FTIR, UV–vis, HRMS, and extensive NMR experiments (¹H, ¹³C, COSY, HSQC, and HMBC). The self-assembling properties and morphology of triads samples prepared by drop-drying method were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Preliminary in vitro antioxidant activity was studied by Ferrous ion Oxidation-Xylenol orange (FOX) method.     

Discrete Hf18 Metal-oxo Cluster as a Heterogeneous Nanozyme for Site-Specific Proteolysis

The selective hydrolysis of proteins by non-enzymatic catalysis is difficult to achieve, yet it is crucial for applications in biotechnology and proteomics. Herein, we report that discrete hafnium metal-oxo cluster [Hf₁₈O₁₀(OH)₂₆(SO₄)₁₃⋅(H₂O)₃₃] ( Hf₁₈ ), which is centred by the same hexamer motif found in many MOFs, acts as a heterogeneous catalyst for the efficient hydrolysis of horse heart myoglobin (HHM) in low buffer concentrations. Among 154 amino acids present in the sequence of HHM, strictly selective cleavage at only 6 solvent accessible aspartate residues was observed. Mechanistic experiments suggest that the hydrolytic activity is likely derived from the actuation of Hf^IV Lewis acidic sites and the Brønsted acidic surface of Hf₁₈ . X-ray scattering and ESI-MS revealed that Hf₁₈ is completely insoluble in these conditions, confirming the HHM hydrolysis is caused by a heterogeneous reaction of the solid Hf₁₈ cluster, and not from smaller, soluble Hf species that could leach into solution.     

Versatile post-functionalisation strategy for the formation of modular organic–inorganic polyoxometalate hybrids

Hybrid structures incorporating different organic and inorganic constituents are emerging as a very promising class of materials since they synergistically combine the complementary and diverse properties of the individual components. Hybrid materials based on polyoxometalate clusters (POMs) are particularly interesting due to their versatile catalytic, redox, electronic, and magnetic properties, yet the controlled incorporation of different clusters into a hybrid structure is challenging and has been scarcely reported. Herein we propose a novel and general strategy for combining multiple types of metal-oxo clusters in a single hybrid molecule. Two novel hybrid POM structures (HPOMs) bis-functionalised with dipentaerythritol (R–POM₁–R; R = (OCH₂)₃CCH₂OCH₂C(CH₂OH)) were synthesised as building-blocks for the formation of heterometallic hybrid triads (POM₂–R–POM₁–R–POM₂). Such a modular approach resulted in the formation of four novel heterometallic hybrids combing the Lindqvist {V₆}, Anderson–Evans {XMo₆} (X = Cr or Al) and trisubstituted Wells–Dawson {P₂V₃W₁₅} POM structures. Their formation was confirmed by multinuclear Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), infrared (IR) and UV-Vis spectroscopy, as well as Mass Spectrometry, Diffusion Ordered Spectroscopy (DOSY) and elemental analysis. The thermal stability of the hybrids was also examined by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), which showed that the HPOM triads exhibit higher thermal stability than comparable hybrid structures containing only one type of POM. The one-pot synthesis of these novel compounds was achieved in high yields in aqueous and organic media under simple reflux conditions, without the need of any additives, and could be translated to create other hybrid materials based on a variety of metal-oxo cluster building-blocks.

A versatile modular approach has been developed for incorporating different metal-oxo nanoclusters with characteristic structures into a single hybrid molecule by covalently linking them with polyol ligands.     

The Influence of Different Bleaching Protocols on Dentinal Enzymatic Activity: An In Vitro Study

This study aimed to investigate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in human dentin using in-situ and gelatin zymography, after at-home and in-office bleaching, related to their clinical exposure times. Dentin specimens (n = 5) were treated with 35% hydrogen peroxide (50 min per session/4 sessions), 10% carbamide peroxide (180 min/21 sessions), or no treatment. All were subjected to in-situ zymography. Dentin slices were, subsequently, obtained, covered with fluorescein-conjugated gelatin, and examined with confocal laser-scanning microscopy. The fluorescence intensity was quantified and statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (α = 0.05). Furthermore, gelatin zymography was performed on protein extracts obtained from dentin powder (N = 8 teeth), treated with hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, with different exposure times (10/50 min for hydrogen peroxide; 252/1260 min for carbamide peroxide). The results of the in-situ zymography showed no statistical differences between the bleached specimens and the control group, with a medium level of gelatinolytic activity expressed in the dentin tubules. The results of gelatin zymography showed an increased expression of pro-MMP-9 in carbamide peroxide groups. The expression of pro-MMP-2 decreased in all the experimental groups. The bleaching treatments performed on the enamel of sound teeth do not influence dentinal enzymatic activity. However, when unprotected dentin tissue is bleached, matrix metalloproteinases are more expressed, particularly when carbamide peroxide is used, proportional to the exposure time.