One-Pot Synthesis of Benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-ones Using a Hybrid Catalyst Supported on Magnetic Nanoparticles in Green Solvents

The conversion of soluble polyoxometalate into insoluble polyoxometalate is considered to be one of the major challenges in synthetic organic chemistry. Here, polyoxometalate was bonded to the salt part of an organic branch immobilized on the silica-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticle and characterized using various techniques. The fabricated complex was used as a heterogeneous catalyst in a novel one-pot reaction for synthesis of benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-ones using aromatic amines, dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD), derivatives of benzaldehyde and 2-aminobenzimidazole in water/ethanol as a green solvent. 21 derivatives of benzo[4,5]imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-2-one were synthesized by this method and fully characterized. The high stability of the catalyst showed that it can be reused for 6 times without decreasing in activity. The combination of new synthetic method, new ferromagnetic heterogeneous nano-catalyst, green solvent and simple separation method were presented in this work.     

Graphene quantum dot–based electrochemical biosensing for early cancer detection

Electrochemical biosensing systems coupled with graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have demonstrated suitability for cancer diagnostic strategies, particularly to identify the changes facilitating the early phases of tumorigenesis as well as to detect ultralow concentrations of biomarkers that distinguish between normal and malignant cells. GQDs, known as a novel class of zero-dimensional semiconductor nanocrystals, are tiny graphene particles arranged in a honeycomb structure with a size range of 1–50 nm. The size of these GQDs is comparable with the size of biomolecules, thereby providing an ideal platform to study biomolecules such as proteins, cells, and viruses. GQDs are a superior platform for specific and sensitive recognition of cancer biomarkers; they are highly synergistic with electrochemical sensors. This review will shed light on the recent advancements made in the field of GQD-based electrochemical sensors for early cancer detection, with the aim of highlighting the prospects for further development in cancer diagnostics.     

Induction of Apoptosis and Regulation of MicroRNA Expression by (2E,6E)-2,6-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-cyclohexanone (BHMC) Treatment on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

(2E,6E)-2,6-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-cyclohexanone (BHMC) is a synthetic curcumin analogue, which has been reported to possess anti-tumor, anti-metastatic, and anti-invasion properties on estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. However, the cytotoxic effects of BHMC on ER positive breast cancer cells were not widely reported. This study was aimed to investigate the cytotoxic potential of BHMC on MCF-7 cells using cell viability, cell cycle, and apoptotic assays. Besides, microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) were performed to identify the list of miRNAs and genes, which could be dysregulated following BHMC treatment. The current study discovered that BHMC exhibits selective cytotoxic effects on ER positive MCF-7 cells as compared to ER negative MDA-MB-231 cells and normal breast cells, MCF-10A. BHMC was shown to promote G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Microarray and qPCR analysis demonstrated that BHMC treatment would upregulate several miRNAs like miR-3195 and miR-30a-3p and downregulate miRNAs such as miR-6813-5p and miR-6132 in MCF-7 cells. Besides, BHMC administration was also found to downregulate few tumor-promoting genes like VEGF and SNAIL in MCF-7. In conclusion, BHMC induced apoptosis in the MCF-7 cells by altering the expressions of apoptotic-regulating miRNAs and associated genes.     

Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of Some Novel Dihyrobenzo[h]pyrano[3,2‐c]chromene Derivatives

Three‐component reaction of 4‐hydroxy‐2H‐benzo[h]chromen‐2‐one, aromatic aldehydes, and malononitrile in the presence of 1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) in ethanol at room temperature affords good yields of novel dihyrobenzo[h]pyrano[3,2‐c]chromene derivatives. The synthesized compounds examined by MTT assays for cytotoxic activity in two human cancer cell lines (MOLT‐4, HL‐60). Most of the evaluated compounds showed low inhibitory activity against tumor cell line at micromolar concentrations.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of Cu2O/ZnO Nanoparticles at Present of Folic Acid to Improve UV‐Protective Effect of Cotton Fabrics

In this study, the effect of using folic acid on the in situ synthesis process of nanostructures has been investigated. Folic acid, as a biotemplate for synthesis of Cu₂O/ZnO, was used to improve the reducing and stabilizing the ability of cotton fabric and avoid agglomeration of the particles. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that using folic acid caused the formation of particles with smaller sizes on the cotton fabric and X‐ray diffraction confirmed the same crystalline pattern of nanoparticles in comparison with the previous synthesis process. The effect of using this biotemplate on different properties of treated fabrics including UV‐protection effect, hydrophilicity, crease recovery angle, softness, thickness and mechanical properties has been evaluated. The folic acid had a great influence on UV‐protection effect, in synthesis procedure, decreasing the droplet absorption time, bending length and improving the wrinkle resistance and mechanical properties. Interestingly, the higher tensile strength of the treated cotton fabrics proved the incorporation of nanoparticles into the cotton fibers. An in situ, green and rapid method can be provided by using folic acid for the synthesis of the nanostructures with controlled size.     

Synthesis of Novel Dibenzylbutyrolactones as Dimethylmatairesinol Analogues

In this work, (R)‐4‐(3,4‐dimethoxybenzyl)dihydrofuran‐2(3H)‐one was prepared though an efficient and novel method starting from (S)‐5‐((benzyloxy)methyl)dihydrofuran‐2(3H)‐one. Then, it was utilized as a versatile starting material for the synthesis of novel dimethylmatairesinol analogues; dibenzylbutyrolactone derivatives, via the reaction of the later compound and various aromatic aldehydes.     

Coradiant sets and $$\varepsilon $$-efficiency in multiobjective optimization

In multi-parametric programming an optimization problem is solved as a function of certain parameters, where the parameters are commonly considered to be bounded and continuous. In this paper, we use the case of strictly convex multi-parametric quadratic programming (mp-QP) problems with affine constraints to investigate problems where these conditions are not met. Based on the combinatorial solution approach for mp-QP problems featuring bounded and continuous parameters, we show that (i) for unbounded parameters, it is possible to obtain the multi-parametric solution if there exists one realization of the parameters for which the optimization problem can be solved and (ii) for binary parameters, we present the equivalent mixed-integer formulations for the application of the combinatorial algorithm. These advances are combined into a new, generalized version of the combinatorial algorithm for mp-QP problems, which enables the solution of problems featuring both unbounded and binary parameters. This novel approach is applied to mixed-integer bilevel optimization problems and the parametric solution of the dual of a convex problem.     

Solubility and thermodynamic properties of acetaminophen in 1-hexyl-4-methylpyridinium bromide and water mixtures

The solubility data of acetaminophen in binary mixtures of 1-hexyl-4-methylpyridinium bromide and water were obtained over the temperature range from 293.15 to 313.15 K by using the gravimetric method under atmospheric pressure. Using the experimentally measured solubility values, the thermodynamic properties of dissolution, mixing and transfer processes were evaluated. The measured solubilities were correlated by the modified Wilson and the electrolyte non-random two liquid (E-NRTL) models.     

One-pot three component isocyanide-based reaction: Synthesis of novel tetracyclic fused furo[2′,3′:4,5]pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole

A rapid, efficient and benign protocol has been developed for the construction of potentially biologically active furo[2′,3′:4,5]pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole derivatives as major products along with (3E)-3-[(alkylamino)methylene]-2H-pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazole-2,4(3H)-dione derivatives as minor products using a one-pot, multi-component reaction of isocyanides, aromatic aldehydes and 2-hydroxy-4H-pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]benzothiazol-4-one. The significant features of this protocol are the readily available and low-cost starting materials, short reaction time, mild reaction conditions, high yield of products and avoidance of toxic solvents and catalysts. Structures of compounds 4b and 5a were confirmed from single crystal X-ray studies.     

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer for the efficient and selective preconcentration of diazinon before its determination by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A molecularly imprinted polymer was selectively applied for solid‐phase extraction and diazinon residues enrichment before high‐performance liquid chromatography. Diazinon was thermally copolymerized with Fe₃O₄@polyethyleneglycol nanoparticles, methacrylic acid (functional monomer), 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (co‐monomer), and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (cross‐linking monomer) in the presence of acetonitrile (porogen) and 2,2‐azobisisobutyronitrile (initiator). Then, the imprinted diazinon was reproducibly eluted with methanol/acetic acid (9:1, v/v). The sorbent particles were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The comprehensive study of variables through experimental design showed that the maximum performance was achieved under these conditions: pH 7, 10 mL sample volume, 15 mg sorbent, 10 min vortex time, 5 min ultrasonic time, 200 μL methanol/acetic acid (9:1, v/v) as eluent, and 5 min desorption time. Under optimized conditions, the molecularly imprinted polymer solid‐phase extraction method demonstrated a linear range (0.02–5 g/mL), a correlation coefficient of 0.997, and 0.005 g/mL detection limit.