Inhibition of LPS-induced no production in RAW264.7 cell lines: synthesis and molecular modeling of α-ketophosphonates of febuxostat

In an effort to develop novel anti-inflammatory agents, we synthesized phosphorylated derivatives of febuxostat using various phosphates/phosphonites by Michaelis-Arbuzov reaction. Their inhibitory activity on nitric oxide (NO) production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cytotoxicity were evaluated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated macrophages RAW264.7 assay, flow-cytometry analysis and MTT method respectively. Some of these compounds showed potent inhibition of NO and ROS production without obvious cytotoxicity. Furthermore, docking simulations were performed to positional compounds 3g, 3h, 3i and 3j into the COX-2 active site to determine the probable binding model. Physicochemical parameters revealed that most of the compounds possessed drug-like properties.     

Graphene and graphene oxide as effective adsorbents toward anionic and cationic dyes

In the present study, exfoliated graphene oxide (EGO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) have been used for the adsorption of various charged dyes such as methylene blue, methyl violet, rhodamine B, and orange G from aqueous solutions. EGO consists of single layer of graphite decorated with oxygen containing functional groups such as carboxyl, epoxy, ketone, and hydroxyl groups in its basal and edge planes. Consequently, the large negative charge density available in aqueous solutions helps in the effective adsorption of cationic dyes on EGO while the adsorption is negligible for anionic dyes. On the other hand, rGO that has high surface area does not possess as high a negative charge and is found to be very good adsorbent for anionic dyes. The adsorption process is followed using UV-Visible spectroscopy, while the material before and after adsorption has been characterized using physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Various isotherms have been used to fit the data, and kinetic parameters were evaluated. Raman and FT-IR spectroscopic data yield information on the interactions of dyes with the adsorbent.     

Additive-free Aqueous Dispersions of Two-Dimensional Materials with Glial Cell Compatibility and Enzymatic Degradability

Water-dispersible two-dimensional (2D) materials are desirable for diverse applications. Aqueous dispersions make processing safer and greener and enable evaluation of these materials on biological and environmental fronts. To evaluate the effects of 2D materials with biological systems, obtaining dispersions without additives is critical and has been a challenge. Herein, a method was developed for obtaining additive-free aqueous dispersions of 2D materials like transition metal dichalcogenides and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). The nanosheet dispersions were investigated through spectroscopic and microscopic methods, along with the role of size on stability. The aqueous media enabled investigations on cytocompatibility and enzymatic degradation of molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂) and h-BN. Cytocompatibility with mixed glial cells was observed up to concentrations of 100 μg mL⁻¹, suggesting their plausible usage in bioelectronics. Besides, biodegradation using human myeloperoxidase (hMPO) mediated catalysis was investigated through Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy. The findings suggested that additive-free 2H-MoS₂ and h-BN were degradable by hMPO, with 2H-phase exhibiting better resistance to degradation than the 1T-phase, while h-BN exhibited slower degradation. The findings pave a path for incorporating 2D materials in the burgeoning field of transient bioelectronics.     

An Improved Process for the Enantioselective Synthesis of HCV NS5A Inhibitor Elbasvir (MK-8742) Chiral Amine Intermediate

Russian Journal of General Chemistry - Large-scale enantioselective synthesis of the chiral amine unit of HCV NS5A inhibitor Elbasvir has been accomplished in six steps, with 55% overall yield. The...     

Photoelastic investigation of interfacial fracture between orthotropic and isotropic materials

Static and dynamic fracture of interfaces between orthotropic and isotropic materials were studied using photoelasticity. In this study, a bi-material specimen made of PSM-1^® and Scotchply^® 1002, a unidirectional glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite, was used. Two fiber orientations, fibers parallel to the interface (α=0°) and fibers perpendicular to the interface (α=90°) were considered. Center crack bi-material specimens having different crack lengths were loaded quasi-statically and the full-field isochromatics were recorded using a digital camera. The complex stress intensity factor corresponding to each crack length was calculated from the isochromatics and the values were compared to that obtained from boundary collocation method. Dynamic interfacial fracture was studied with an edge crack bi-material geometry for the two different fiber orientations. The isochromatics around the propagating crack were recorded using a digital high-speed camera. The fracture parameters such as crack speed, complex stress intensity factor and energy release rate were extracted from the isochromatics using the asymptotic stress field equations. The complex stress intensity factor obtained from the static experiments was in close agreement with that calculated using the boundary collocation method. The results also indicated that the fiber orientation with respect to the interface influences the fracture parameters for stationary and propagating cracks.     

Multiple hydrogen bonding induced self-assembly: transformation from nanofibrils to nanosphere with aromatic oligoamide incorporated polyethylene glycol

Aromatic oligoamides bearing six potential hydrogen-bonding sites were designed and synthesized. Functionalized with two polyethylene glycol (M_w?=?2000), this aromatic oligoamide could self-assemble via hydrogen bonds to form nanofibrils in nonpolar solvents as a result of aggregation. The resulting aggregates were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Upon adding another aromatic oligoamide containing complementary hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, transformation from nanofibrils to nanosphere was observed due to formation of hydrogen-bonded duplex. The nanospherical micelle was corroborated by SEM, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and AFM tests. The results achieved here demonstrate an alternative route to effect supramolecular structures via multiple hydrogen bonding-induced self-assembly process.     

Estimation of trans-resveratrol in herbal extracts and dosage forms by high-performance thin-layer chromatography

A simple, sensitive and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC) method of analysis of trans-resveratrol in Polygonum cuspidatum root extracts and in dosage forms was developed and validated. The separation was carried out on a TLC aluminium plates precoated with silica gel 60F-254 as the stationary phase, eluted with chloroform-ethylacetate-formic acid (2.5 : 1 : 0.1) as mobile phase. Densitometric analysis of trans-resveratrol was carried out in the absorbance mode at 313 nm. This system was found to give compact spot for trans-resveratrol (Rf value of 0.40+/-0.03). A good linear regression relationship between peak areas and the concentrations was obtained over the range of 0.5-3.0 microg/spot with correlation coefficient 0.9989. The limit of detection and quantification was found to be 9 and 27 ng/spot. The method was validated for precision and recovery. The spike recoveries were within 99.85 to 100.70%. The RSD values of the precision in the range 0.37-1.84%. The proposed developed HPTLC method can be applied for identification and quantitative determination of trans-resveratrol in herbal extracts and dosage forms.     

Optical absorption and photoluminescence properties of Er3+ doped mixed alkali borate glasses

An investigations of the optical absorption and fluorescence spectra of 0.2 mol% Er2O3 in mixed alkali borate glasses of the type 67.8B2O3 x xLi2O(32-x)Na2O, 67.8B2O3 x xLi2O(32-x)K2O and 67.8B2O3 x xNa2O(32-x)K2O (where x = 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24) are presented. The glasses were obtained by quenching melts consisting of H3BO3, Li2CO3, Na2CO3, K2CO3 and Er2O3 (950-1100 degrees C, 1.5-2 h) between two brass plates. Spectroscopic parameters like Racah (E1, E2 and E3), spin-orbit (xi(4f)) and configuration interaction (alpha) parameters are deduced as function of x. Using Judd-Ofelt theory, Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters (omega2, omega4 and omega6) are obtained. Radiative and non-radiative transition rates (A(T) and W(MPR)), radiative lifetimes (tauR), branching ratios (beta) and integrated absorption cross-sections (sigma) have been computed for certain excited states of Er3+ in these mixed alkali borate glasses. Emission spectra have been studied for all the three Er3+ doped mixed alkali borate glasses. The present paper throws light on the trends observed in the intensity parameters, radiative lifetimes, branching ratios and emission cross-sections as a function of x in these borate glasses, keeping in view the effect of mixed alkalies in borate glasses.     

Two new flavonoids from Andrographis rothii

Two new flavonoids, 5, 7, 2', 5'-tetramethoxyflavanone (1) and 5-hydroxy-7, 2'-dimethoxyflavone (2), together with two known flavones, skullcapflavone I (3) and echioidin (4) were isolated from the whole plant of Andrographis rothii. The structures of the new compounds were established by extensive one- and two-dimensional (1D- and 2D-) NMR spectral studies.     

Highly stereoselective prins cyclization of silylmethyl-substituted cyclopropyl carbinols to 2,4,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans

The homoallyl cation formed from a cyclopropyl carbinol that was vicinally substituted by a silylmethyl function underwent smooth Prins cyclization with aldehydes and ketones to form 2,4,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans with very high stereoselectivity.