Coumarin-based D–π–A dyes for efficient DSSCs: DFT and TD-DFT study of the π-spacers influence on photovoltaic properties

Research on Chemical Intermediates - A series of D–π–A architectures dyes with Coumarin-based derivatives as difluorenylaminocoumarin (DF) and diphenylaminocoumarin (DP) have been...     

Ultrasound-Assisted Dispersive Microsolid-Phase Extraction for Preconcentration of Trace Cobalt and Nickel in Environmental Samples Prior to their Determination by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Journal of Applied Spectroscopy - A new, green, simple, and validated ultrasound-assisted dispersive microsolid-phase extraction method applying unprecedented adsorbent-modified multiwalled carbon...     

Divalent manganese,cobalt, copper and cadmium complexes of (Z)‐N‐benzoyl‐N′‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)carbamimidothioic acid: Preparation,characterization, computational and biological studies

In this work, (Z)‐N‐benzoyl‐N′‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)carbamimidothioic acid and its Mn(II), Co(II), Cu(II) and Cd(II) complexes were introduced for the first time. This carbonyl thiourea ligand was prepared by the reaction of 1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐amine with benzoyl isothiocyanate. The structural elucidation of these compounds was performed using elemental analysis and spectral and magnetic measurements. Octahedral structures of all complexes, except Cd(II) complex with a tetrahedral geometry, were confirmed by applying DFT structural optimization. The thermal decomposition behaviour of metal complexes of carbonyl thiourea ligand is discussed. The calculation of kinetic parameters for prepared complexes (E_a, A, ΔH*, ΔS* and ΔG*) of all thermal degradation stages has been evaluated using two comparable approaches. Antimicrobial and ABTS‐antioxidant studies indicated potent activity of Cd(II) complex compared with the other investigated compounds. The cytotoxic activity of the prepared compounds was investigated in vitro. The results indicated potent activity of Mn(II) complex against both HePG2 (liver carcinoma) and MCF‐7 (breast carcinoma) cancer cells.     

Green Synthesis of new Trizole Based Heterocyclic Amino Acids Ligands and their Transition Metal Complexes. Characterization,Kinetics, Antimicrobial and Docking Studies

Two novel amino acids imine ligands (H₂L₁ and H₂L₂) have been synthesized using green condensation reaction from 2‐[3‐Amino‐5‐(2‐hydroxy‐phenyl)‐5‐methyl‐1,5‐dihydro‐[1, 2, 4]triazol‐4‐yl]‐3‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐propionic acid with benzaldehyde/p‐flouro benzaldehyde (1:1 molar ratio) in the presence of lemon juice as a natural acidic catalyst in aqueous medium. Their transition metal complexes have been prepared in a molar ratio (1:1). Characterization of the ligands and complexes using elemental analysis, spectroscopic studies, ¹HNMR, ¹³CNMR, and thermal analysis has been reported. E*, ΔH*, ΔS* and ΔG* thermodynamic parameters, were calculated to throw more light on the nature of changes accompanying the thermal decomposition process of these complexes. The molar conductance measurement of metal complexes showed nonelectrolyte behavior. The metal complexes of the two ligands have tetrahedral geometry with a general molecular structure [M(H₂L)X_n], where [(M = Mn (II), Co (II), Cu (II) and Zn (II), X = Cl, n = 2]; M = VO (II), X = SO₄, n = 1] for H₂L₁. [M = Co (II), Cu (II), Zn (II)] for H₂L₂. Antibacterial activity of the complexes against (Bacillis subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli), also antifungal activity against (Aspergillus niger, Candida Glabarta, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) have been screened. The results showed that all complexes have antimicrobial activity higher than free ligands. Molecular docking studies results showed that, all the synthesized compounds having minimum binding energy and have good affinity toward the active pocket, thus, they may be considered as good inhibitor of targeting PDB code: 1SC7 (Human DNA Topo‐isomerase I).     

The Significance of Mobilization and Immobilization of Specific Radionuclides for Optimum Bioleaching Conditions Using Aspergillus lentulus

Physics of Particles and Nuclei Letters - Gamma spectrometry is applied for measurement of natural radioactivity by Hyper-pure germanium (HPGe) systems during the application of bioleaching optimum...     

Role of anti-inflammatory interventions in high-fat-diet-induced obesity

Lipotoxicity is defined as deposition of excess fat associated with an inflammatory response. Metabolomic analysis of fatty acids (FAs) can be a marker of silent inflammation. ω3-Enriched diet, celecoxib, and safranal may have a protective anti-inflammatory role. In this work, total FAs extracted from red blood cells and arachidonic acid-to-eicosapentaenoic acid (AA-to-EPA) ratios were assessed using GC–MS assay in single-ion monitoring mode. The study was conducted on 64 male rats divided into eight groups: I, controls; II, rats received high-fat diet (HFD), III, rats received ω-6-enriched HFD; IV, rats received ω-3-enriched HFD; V, rats received celecoxib with HFD; VI, rats received safranal with HFD; VII and VIII, rats received celecoxib and safranal with ω-3 HFD, respectively. GC–MS Gas chromatography Mass spectrometry was performed for analysis of fatty acid methyl ester. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to analyze serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) concentrations. A statistically significant decrease of AA-to-EPA ratio was observed in group VII when compared with the groups receiving HFDs. This group also showed the lowest serum IL-6 level and highest TGF-β1 level. In conclusion, ω3-enriched diet along with drugs (e.g. celecoxib) and herbal medications (e.g. safranal) may have an anti-inflammatory effect in lipotoxicity. GC–MS with single-ion monitoring is valid for the analysis of FAs.     

Electrochemical Monitoring of Methotrexate Anticancer Drug in Human Blood Serum by Using in situ Solvothermal Synthesized Fe3O4/ITO Electrode

Here, we reported on a one‐step fabrication of magnetite Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles/indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode based on the direct growing of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on the ITO surface by using a solvothermal process. The modified electrode was used as electrochemical methotrexate (MTX) biosensor with high sensitivity based on cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry techniques. The results demonstrated a linear relationship between the MTX concentration and its oxidation current peak over a wide range from 10^?5 to 10^?14 mole/L with a limit of detection of 0.4×10^?15 M based on the square wave voltammetry (SWV) technique. In addition, Fe₃O₄/ITO electrode showed a good capability for measuring very low concentrations of MTX drug dissolved in human serum solution. Also, Fe₃O₄/ITO electrode was used for detecting MTX in blood serum samples collected from patients after their treatment with MTX. The prepared electrode showed the higher sensitivity that higher than the Viva‐E instrument, which opens the door for developing a cheap, simple and higher sensitive MTX sensor.     

Development of nanomaterial chemosensors for toxic metal ions sensing

Heavy metal ions are harmful to aquatic life and humans owing to their high toxicity and non‐biodegradability, so their removal from wastewater is an important task. Therefore, this work focuses on designing suitable, simple and economical nanosensors to detect and remove these metal ions with high selectivity and sensitivity. Based on this idea, different types of mesoporous materials such as hexagonal SBA‐15, cubic SBA‐16 and spherical MCM‐41, their chloro‐functionalized derivatives, as well as 4‐(4‐nitro‐phenylazo)‐naphthalen‐1‐ol (NPAN) azo dye have been synthesized, with the aim of designing some optical nanosensors for metal ions sensing applications. The mentioned azo dye has been anchored into the chloro‐functionalized mesoporous materials. The designed nanosensors were characterized using scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as Fourier transform infrared and UV–visible spectral analysis, nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms, low‐angle X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses. Their optical sensing to various toxic metal ions such as Cd (II), Hg (II), Mn (II), Fe (II), Zn (II) and Pb (II) at different values of pH (1.1, 4.9, 7 and 12) was investigated. The optimization of experimental conditions, including the effect of pH and metal ion concentration, was examined. The experimental results showed that the solution pH had a major impact on metal ion detection. The optical nanosensors respond well to the tested metal ions, as reflected by the enhancement in both absorption and emission spectra upon adding different concentrations of the metal salts and were fully reversible on adding ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid or citric acid to the formed complexes. High values of the binding constants for the designed nanosensors were observed at pHs 7 and 12, confirming the strong chelation of different metals to the nanosensor at these pHs. Also, high binding constants and sensitivity were observed for NPAN‐MCM‐41 as a nanosensor to detect the different metal ions. From the obtained results, we succeeded in transforming the harmful azo dye into an environmentally friendly form via designing of the optical nanosensors used to detect toxic metal ions in wastewater with high sensitivity.     

Magnetohydrodynamic natural convection of hybrid nanofluid in a porous enclosure: numerical analysis of the entropy generation

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The effect on the entropy production and MHD convection of the hybrid nanofluid Al2O3–Cu/water (water with Cu and Al2O3 nanoparticles) in a...