Determination of acetamiprid partial-intercalative binding to DNA by use of spectroscopic, chemometrics, and molecular docking techniques

Acetamiprid (ACT) is an insecticide widely used for controlling a variety of insect pests. The binding mode associated with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) upon interaction with ACT was determined using spectroscopic, chemometrics, and molecular docking techniques to clarify the interaction mechanism at the molecular level. Fluorescence titration suggested that the fluorescence quenching of ACT by ctDNA is a static procedure. The binding constants between ACT and ctDNA at different temperatures were calculated to be of the order 10³?10⁴ L mol^?1. The positive values of enthalpy and entropy change suggested that the binding process is primarily driven by hydrophobic interactions. Multivariate curve resolution?alternating least squares (MCR?ALS), a chemometrics approach, was used to resolve the expanded UV–visible spectral data matrix. The concentration profiles and the spectra for the three reaction components (ACT, ctDNA, and ACT?ctDNA complex) of the system, which formed a highly overlapping composite response, were then successfully obtained and used to evaluate the progress of ACT interacting with ctDNA. The results of the single-stranded ctDNA and iodide quenching experiments, ctDNA-melting investigations, and viscosity measurements indicated that ACT binds to ctDNA by means of a partial intercalation. Molecular docking studies showed that the specific binding site is mainly located between the ACT and G–C base pairs of ctDNA. This docking prediction was confirmed by use of Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectral analysis. Results from circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy revealed that ACT induced a conformational change from the B–ctDNA form to the A–ctDNA form.

Oxidation of Aliphatic α,β-Unsaturated Aldimines to Amides Specifically by Oxone with AlCl3

α,β-Unsaturated aldimines were specifically oxidized to amides with Oxone in the presence of AlCl₃ as a Lewis acid in CH₂Cl₂. No migration of aryl group occurred in the rearrangement reaction.     

Efficient One-Pot Synthesis of Tetrahydrobenzo[c]xanthene-1,11-dione Derivatives Under Microwave Irradiation

An efficient one-pot condensation of 4-hydroxylcoumarin, aromatic aldehydes, and 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione has been achieved with molecular iodine as a catalyst via conventional heating and microwave irradiation techniques, and thus a variety of new tetrahydrobenzo[c]xanthene-1,11-dione derivatives were prepared in good yields.     

Study on the “Tin-Ene” reaction of α-bromoacetophenone and metallic tin with aldehydes

β-hydroxy ketones were obtained in good yields by the “tin-ene” reactions of α-bromoacetophenone and metallic tin with aldehydes.     

Microstructure,Tribological Behavior,and Corrosion-Resistant Performance of Bonded MoS2 Solid Lubricating Film Filled with Nano-LaF3

The anti-friction and wear-resistant performances of bonded MoS₂ solid lubricating films filled with nano-LaF₃ filler were investigated under in drying wear conditions, the corrosion-resistant performances of bonded lubricating films was evaluated according to ASTM-B117, and the characteristics of the bonded lubricating films were examined by TEM and elemental x-ray map. The wear-resistant performance of the bonded lubricating films filled with nano-LaF₃ filler increases with increasing content of nano-LaF₃ filler within a content range between 0 and 5 wt%, whereas the bonded lubricating films filled with 0.5–1 wt% micro-LaF₃ filler exhibit the better wear-resistant performances. The incorporation of both nano-LaF₃ and micro-LaF₃ filler leads the increase of the coefficient of friction of the bonded lubricating films. The LaF₃ filler can improve the corrosion-resistant performance of the bonded MoS₂ solid lubricating films, whereas the incorporation of nano-LaF₃ filler is more effective to improve the corrosion-resistant performance of the bonded lubricating films than micro-LaF₃ filler. The improvement in the wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant performances of the bonded lubricating films by the incorporation of the nano-LaF₃ filler is attributed to the strengthened interfacial bonding among the nano-LaF₃ and the MoS₂ lubricant and the polymeric matrix. However, a too high mass fraction of the nano-LaF₃ filler in the bonded lubricating films will increase surface and interface defects, and lead the worsening of corrosion-resistant performance of the bonded lubricating films.     

Surface-Modified Sb2S3 Nanoparticles and Their Tribological Behaviors in Liquid Paraffin

Sb₂S₃ nanoparticles surface-modified with S-tetradecyl N, N-dihydroxyethyl dithiocarbamate (C₁₄DTC-Sb₂S₃) have been synthesized via extraction of Sb₂S₃ colloidal particles from ethylene glycol into toluene in the presence of C₁₄DTC. The obtained products were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR), and their tribological behaviors as an additive in liquid paraffin were investigated using a four-ball tribometer. The results show that C₁₄DTC-Sb₂S₃ nanoparticles can significantly improve the friction reduction, anti-wear, and load-carrying properties of base oils. The preliminary lubrication mechanism was discussed based on the SEM and XPS investigation of the rubbed surfaces.     

Surface Performance and Cytocompatibility Evaluation of Acrylic Acid-Mediated Carboxymethyl Chitosan Coating on Poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene)

To improve the biocompatibility of poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-hexafluoropropylene) (FEP) film, a technique based on Ar plasma pretreatment and UV-induced grafting polymerization was used to immobilize carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) on the FEP film surfaces. Initially Ar plasma was used to treat FEP film. Then, plasma treated FEP film was modified via UV-induced grafting polymerization with hydrophilic acrylic acid (AAc) monomer. The following immobilization of CMCS on the FEP-pAAc surface was carried out via an amidation reaction. The change of chemical composition and surface morphology of FEP film were characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results of water contact angles measurement showed that the hydrophilicity of the surface has improved significantly after surface modification. Furthermore, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and cell morphology analysis confirmed that mouse fibroblasts (L929 cells) attachment and proliferation were improved remarkably on the modified FEP surface. These results suggest that CMCS were successfully employed to surface engineering FEP film, and enhanced its cell biocompatibility. The approach presented here may be exploited for surface modification of biomaterials.     

Isolation and Characterization of Urethanase from Penicillium variabile and Its Application to Reduce Ethyl Carbamate Contamination in Chinese Rice Wine

A strain with urethanase activity was isolated from mouse gastrointestine. By combination of morphological characterization of the colony, hyphae, and spore and the sequence analysis of its rDNA ITS, the strain was determined as Penicillium variabile and named as P. variabile JN-A525. The enzymatic properties of urethanase from P. variabile JN-A525 were further studied. The optimum temperature and pH value of urethanase are of 50 °C and 6.0, respectively. The enzyme maintains stability when the temperature is below 50 °C and the pH is in the range of 7.0–10.0. The enzyme also exhibits ethanol tolerance. It can remove ethyl carbamate from Chinese rice wine without the change of flavor substances in the wine.     

Terbinafine hydrochloride intercalated in montmorillonite: synthesis and characterization

The novel antifungal hybrid of terbinafine hydrochloride (TER-HCl)/montmorillonite was synthesized by the intercalation method under mechanical stirring. Intercalation of TER-HCl in the MMT galleries was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra, elemental analysis (EA). and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results from IR, TGA, and EA showed a difference in chemical composition of the MMT and the TER-HCl/MMT. XRD analysis showed that the basal spacing of montmorillonite significantly expanded from 1.53 to 2.79 nm. TER-HCl was successfully intercalated into the interlayer of MMT, and 28 % of TER-HCl was released after 48 h in 0.9 % (w/v) NaCl aqueous solution (pH 7) at 37 ± 0.5 °C. The antifungal activity of the hybrid against Candida albicans was evaluated using the inhibitory zone method and the minimum inhibitory concentration. The TER-HCl/MMT strongly inhibited C. albicans. These results show that TER-HCl/MMT can be useful in biomedical applications.