Conjugation of pectin biopolymer with Au-nanoparticles as a drug delivery system: Experimental and DFT studies

In the present study, pectin-coated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were used as a candidate for curcumin drug delivery. The effect of the size of synthesized GNPs was examined, as an important factor on the yield of drug delivery. For this purpose, three different sizes of GNPs were first synthesized using a chemical method. The synthesized nanoparticles were then coated with pectin biopolymer. Finally, curcumin drug was loaded in a pectin@GNPs complex. Various methods such as UV–vis spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized GNPs and pectin@GNPs. The encapsulation efficiency and the release percentage of the drug were calculated for two different pH values. Further, an antibacterial study was conducted. The results revealed that 100 nm GNPs had the highest encapsulation efficiency. An investigation of the release rate of curcumin drug at 37°C for 48 h indicated that the amount of drug released was higher in acidic pH than at pH 7.4 with a slow release rate. The electronic structure and the adsorption properties of pectin–GNPs complex were examined using the density functional theory method.     

Modified couple stress theory for three-dimensional elasticity in curvilinear coordinate system: application to micro torus panels

Meccanica - This research considers size effects in the linear three-dimensional elasticity analysis of micro-tori. The fundamental relations (displacement form) are derived for isotropic toroidal...     

ZnS nanoparticles immobilized on graphitic carbon nitride as a recyclable and environmentally friendly catalyst for synthesis of 3-cinnamoyl coumarins

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Zinc oxide nanoparticles immobilized on a graphitic carbon nitride (ZnS NPs/g-C3N4) nanocomposite were applied as an organometallic recyclable catalyst in the...     

Design,synthesis, in vivo and in vitro studies of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H-carbazole derivatives,highly selective and potent butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors

Molecular Diversity - Inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) might be a useful therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A new series of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-9H-carbazole derivatives...     

A first principle study of band structure of III-nitride compounds

The band structure of both phases, zinc-blende and wurtzite, of aluminum nitride, indium nitride and gallium nitride has been studied using computational methods. The study has been done using first principle full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method, within the framework of density functional theory (DFT). For the exchange correlation potential, generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and an alternative form of GGA proposed by Engel and Vosko (GGA-EV) have been used. Results obtained for band structure of these compounds have been compared with experimental results as well as other first principle computations. Our results show a significant improvement over other theoretical work and are closer to the experimental data.     

Syntheses of 4 and 5-alkylsulfonylimidazoles

A series of isomeric 4 and 5-alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinylimidazoles 9,10 were prepared by two general methods. Chlorosulfonation of imidazole afforded 4(5)-chlorosulfonylimidazoles 2, 4, 5 . The chlorosulfonyl derivatives were reduced, alkylated and oxidized to give 9 and 10 . In the second method 2, 4, 5 were converted to sodium sulfinate 8 and reacted with alkyl halides to afford the title compound 9 .     

Synthesis and evaluation of antiproliferative activity of substituted N-(9-oxo-9H-xanthen-4-yl)benzenesulfonamides

Several novel N-(9-oxo-9H-xanthen-4-yl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives were prepared as potential antiproliferative agents. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of the synthesized compounds was investigated against a panel of tumor cell lines including breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, T-47D) and neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-MC) using MTT colorimetric assay. Etoposide, a well-known anticancer drug, was used as a positive standard drug. Among synthesized compounds, 4-methoxy-N-(9-oxo-9H-xanthen-4-yl)benzenesulfonamide (5i) showed the highest antiproliferative activity against MDA-MB-231, T-47D, and SK-N-MC cells. Furthermore, pentafluoro derivatives 5a and 6a exhibited higher antiproliferative activity than doxorubicin against human leukemia cell line (CCRF-CEM) and breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-468) cells. Structure–activity relationship studies revealed that xanthone benzenesulfonamide hybrid compounds can be used for the development of new lead anticancer agents.