Mathematical Modelling of Glyphosate Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Based Microsensor with Multiple Phenomena

The massive and careless use of glyphosate (GLY) in agricultural production raises many questions regarding environmental pollution and health risks, it is then important to develop simple methods to detect it. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is an effective analytical tool for characterizing properties at the electrode/electrolyte interface. It is useful as an analytical procedure, but it can also help in the interpretation of the involved fundamental electrochemical and electronic processes. In this study, the impedance data obtained experimentally for a microsensor based on molecularly imprinted chitosan graft on 4-aminophenylacetic acid for the detection of glyphosate was analyzed using an exact mathematical model based on physical theories. The procedure for modeling experimental responses is well explained. The analysis of the observed impedance response leads to estimations of the microscopic parameters linked to the faradic and capacitive current. The interaction of glyphosate molecules with the imprinted sites of the CS-MIPs film is observed in the high frequency range. The relative variation of the charge transfer resistance is proportional to the log of the concentration of glyphosate. The capacitance decreases as the concentration of glyphosate increases, which is explained by the discharging of the charged imprinted sites when the glyphosate molecule interacts with the imprinted sites through electrostatic interactions. The phenomenon of adsorption of the ions in the CMA film is observed in the low frequency range, this phenomenon being balanced by the electrostatic interaction of glyphosate with the imprinted sites in the CS-MIPs film.     

Electrochemical Capacitive K+ EMIS Chemical Sensor Based on the Dibromoaza[7]helicene as an Ionophore for Potassium Ions Detection

A K⁺‐sensitive capacitive electrolyte‐membrane‐insulator‐semiconductor (EMIS) based on a novel dibromoaza[7]helicene ionophore has been developed. An ion‐sensitive membrane based on polyvinylchloride (PVC) doped with the ionophore was deposited on the Si₃N₄/SiO₂/Si‐p/Cu‐Al transducer. The properties of the K⁺‐EMIS chemical sensor were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). All the developed devices upon being tested have shown good sensitivity and linearity responses within the range 10^?6 M to 10^?1 M of potassium activity, with good selectivity over a wide variety of other cations (Na⁺, Li⁺, Cu²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺). To our knowledge, this is the first time that a capacitive field‐effect sensor has been fabricated using helicene as a carrier for K⁺‐detection, combined with the structure: Si₃N₄/SiO₂/Si‐p/Cu‐Al as a transducer.     

A Convenient Synthesis of Some New 1,3,4‐Thiadiazoles,Thiazoles, Pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines,Pyrazolo[5,1‐c]triazine,and Thieno[3,2‐d]pyrimidines Containing 5‐Bromobenzofuran Moiety

1,3,4‐Thiadiazoles, pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines, pyrazolo[5,1‐c]triazine, and thieno[3,2‐d]pyrimidines were synthesized from 1‐(5‐bromobenzofuran‐2‐yl)ethanone. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were elucidated by elemental analysis, spectral data, chemical transformation, and alternative synthesis route whenever possible.     

Useful Precursors for Synthesis of Some New Azolo[3,4‐d]pyridiazines,Azolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines,Azolo[5,1‐c]triazines,Pyrazoles, and Benzo[b][l,4]diazepine

Pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyridazines, isoxazolo[3,4‐d]pyridazines, azolo[1,5‐a]pyrimidines, azolo[5,1‐c]triazines, pyrazoles, and benzo[b][l,4]diazepine were synthesized from the appropriate hydrazonoyl halides, hydroximoyl halides, heterocyclic amines, diazotized heterocyclic amines, arenediazonium chlorides, and o‐phenylenediamines with appropriate of sodium 3‐(5‐bromobenzofuran‐2‐yl)‐3‐oxoprop‐1‐en‐1‐olate or 1‐(5‐bromobenzofuran‐2‐yl)‐3‐(dimethylamino)prop‐2‐en‐1‐one. The newly synthesized compounds were elucidated by elemental analyses, spectral data, and alternative synthesis whenever possible.     

Reactions with hydrazidoyl halides. IV. Synthesis of thiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazoles,imidazo[2,1-6]thiazoles and pyrazolo[4,3-b]thiazines

Hydrazidoyl halides were condensed with 2-mercaptobenzimidazole yielding 4a-c and 7a,b which were cyclized to the corresponding 2-arylhydrazonothiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazol-3-ones 5a,b and 3-substituted 2-arylazo thiazolo[3,2-a]benzimidazoles 8a,b respectively. Imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles were obtained by the reaction of hydrazidoyl halides with 2-mercapto-4,5-dihydroimidazole. Also, hydrazidoyl halides 6a,b were reacted with 3-amino-4-mercapto-5-phenylpyrazole to give pyrazolo[4,3-b]thiazines 15a,b . The structures of the products were assigned on the basis of their elemental analysis and spectral data.     

Tailoring of carboxyl‐decorated magnetic latex particles using seeded emulsion polymerization

In this research, submicron and carboxyl‐functionalized magnetic latex particles were elaborated by using seeded emulsion polymerization technique in presence of oil‐in‐water (o/w) magnetic emulsion as seed. The polymerization conditions were optimized in order to get well‐defined latex particles with magnetic core and polymer shell bearing carboxylic (–COOH) functionality. Starting from (o/w) magnetic emulsion as seed, synthesis process was performed by copolymerization of styrene (St) monomer with the cross‐linker divinylbenzene (DVB) in presence of 4,4′‐azobis(4‐cyanopentanoic acid) (ACPA) as a carboxyl‐bearing initiator. The prepared magnetic latex particles were first characterized in terms of particle size, chemical composition, morphology, magnetic properties, magnetic content, and colloidal stability using various techniques, e.g. particle size analyzer using dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique, Fourier transform infrared, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, thermogravimetric analysis, and zeta potential measurements as a function of pH of the dispersion media, respectively. The prepared magnetic latex particles were then used as second seed for further functionalization with methacrylic acid (MAA) in order to enhance carboxylic groups on the magnetic particle's surface. The results showed that final magnetic latex particles possessed spherical morphology with core‐shell structure and enriched carboxylic acid functionality. More importantly, they exhibited superparamagnetism with high magnetic content (58.42 wt%) and high colloidal stability, which considered as the main requirements for their application in the biomedical diagnostic domains. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Identification of Potential SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease and Spike Protein Inhibitors from the Genus Aloe: An In Silico Study for Drug Development

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) disease is a global rapidly spreading virus showing very high rates of complications and mortality. Till now, there is no effective specific treatment for the disease. Aloe is a rich source of isolated phytoconstituents that have an enormous range of biological activities. Since there are no available experimental techniques to examine these compounds for antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2, we employed an in silico approach involving molecular docking, dynamics simulation, and binding free energy calculation using SARS-CoV-2 essential proteins as main protease and spike protein to identify lead compounds from Aloe that may help in novel drug discovery. Results retrieved from docking and molecular dynamics simulation suggested a number of promising inhibitors from Aloe. Root mean square deviation (RMSD) and root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) calculations indicated that compounds 132, 134, and 159 were the best scoring compounds against main protease, while compounds 115, 120, and 131 were the best scoring ones against spike glycoprotein. Compounds 120 and 131 were able to achieve significant stability and binding free energies during molecular dynamics simulation. In addition, the highest scoring compounds were investigated for their pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeness. The Aloe compounds are promising active phytoconstituents for drug development for SARS-CoV-2.     

Polymethylmethacrylate derivatives Eudragit E100 and L100: Interactions and complexation with surfactants

Precipitation or coprecipitation of polyelectrolytes has been largely investigated. However, the precipitation of polyelectrolytes via addition of charged and non‐charged surfactants has not been systematically studied and reported. Consequently, the aim of this work is to investigate the effect of different surfactants (anionic, cationic, non‐charged and zwitterionic) on the precipitation of cationic and anionic polymethylmethacrylate polymers (Eudragit). The surfactants effect has been investigated as a function of their concentration. Special attention has been dedicated to the CMC range and to the colloidal characterization of the formed dispersions. Moreover, the effect of salt (NaCl) and pH was also addressed. It is pointed out that non‐ionic and zwitterionic surfactants do not interact with charged Eudragit E100 and L100. For oppositely charged Eudragit E100/SDS and Eudragit L100/CTAB, precipitation occurs, and the obtained dispersions have been characterized in terms of particle size distribution and zeta potential. It was established that the binding of SDS molecules to Eudragit E100 polymer chains is made through the negative charges of the surfactant heads under the CMC value whereas binding of CTAB to Eudragit L100 chains is made at a CTAB concentration 5 times above its CMC. For Eudragit E100/SDS system, a more acidic medium induces aggregation. A same result was observed for the Eudragit L100/CTAB at a more basic pH. Moreover, it was observed that increasing salt concentration (higher than 100 mM) led to aggregation as generally observed for polycations/anionic surfactant systems.     

A one step synthesis of thiadiazolo[2,3-b]quinazoline derivatives

Diazotized anthranilic acid and its methyl ester react with substituted phenacyl thiocyanates 3 to give in both cases the corresponding thiadiazolo[2,3-b]quinazolines 7a-e . A mechanism is proposed and it is substantiated by alternate synthesis of 7a from the hydrazidoyl chlorides 9a,b and potassium thiocyanate.     

Electrochemical Affinity Sensors Using Field Effect Transducer Devices for Chemical Analysis

The review presents advances and main challenges of the affinity sensors based on field- effect transistors published during the last five years. The different nanomaterial-based field-effect transistors are classified according to the nature of the nanomaterials, beginning by silicon, the “gold-standard” semiconductor, the gallium nitride semiconductor, the organic semiconductors, the silicon nanowires, the inorganic nanomaterials, the carbon nanotubes and the graphene. Due to its exceptional electrical properties, the main works are devoted to graphene. The obtained analytical performances for the detection of biomarkers, of DNA sequences and of miRNA are listed. The relation between the operational conditions - nature of the nanomaterials, procedure of preparation, choice of the receptor molecule, method of immobilization – and the analytical performance are discussed. The perspective of industrialization of these affinity sensors based on field-effect transistors is discussed.