Synthesis and biological evaluation of some 1,3-benzoxazol-2(3H)-one hybrid molecules as potential antioxidant and urease inhibitors

A new series of 1,3-benzoxazol-2(3H)-one hybrid compounds, including coumarin, isatin 1,3,4-triazole and 1,3,4-thiadiazole moieties, were synthesized and biologically evaluated for their antioxidant capacities and anti-urease properties. The synthesized benzoxazole-coumarin ( 6a–e ) and benzoxazole-isatin ( 10a–c ) hybrids showed remarkable urease inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ (μM), ranging from 0.0306 ± 0.0030 to 0.0402 ± 0.0030, while IC₅₀ of standard thiourea is 0.5027 ± 0.0293. The synthesized benzoxazole-triazole ( 8a–c ) and benzoxazole-thiadiazole ( 9a–c ) hybrids showed similar urease inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ (μM), ranging from 0.3861 ± 0.0379 to 0.5126 ± 0.0345. The antioxidant activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated for their antioxidant activities, such as reducing power and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt) radical scavenging. The results of ABTS radical scavenging activities of some of the synthesized molecules showed higher activities than standard Trolox, SC₅₀ (μM) = 213.04 ± 18.12. One benzoxazole-coumarin ( 6f ), two benzoxazole-isothiocyanate ( 7b, 7c ), and two benzoxazole-triazole ( 8b, 8c ) derivatives showed higher activities (SC₅₀ (μM) values, 82.07 ± 10.34, 120.19 ± 7.30, 104.58 ± 10.55, 153.26 ± 7.14, and 144.82 ± 10.68, respectively) than standard Trolox, (SC₅₀ (μM) = 213.04 ± 18.12).     

Matrix-dependent cooperativity in spin crossover Fe(pyrazine)Pt(CN)4 nanoparticles

Anisotropic nanoparticles of the Fe(pyrazine)Pt(CN)(4) network were prepared embedded in various matrices that revealed to have a dramatic effect on the cooperative spin crossover phenomena. By a judicious choice of the nature of the matrix and the control of interparticle distances, a hysteresis of 15 K was achieved close to room temperature for such nano-objects.     

Amine-modified maleic anhydride containing terpolymers for the adsorption of uranyl ion in aqueous solutions

Maleic anhydride–styrene–methyl methacrylate (MA–S–MM) terpolymer was prepared. It was modified by ethylenediamine (EDA) and diethylenetriamine (DETA) in order to get cross-linked polymers bearing carboxyl and amine groups. Modified polymers used as an adsorbent for the removal of UO₂ ²⁺ from water. The characterizations of structures of all the polymers were performed by Fourier transform infrared. The adsorptive features of adsorbents were then investigated for UO₂ ²⁺ in view of dependency on ion concentration, pH, temperature and kinetics. Experimentally obtained isotherms were evaluated with reference to Langmuir, Freundlich and Dubinin–Radushkevich models. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity for UO₂ ²⁺ was found to be 1.59 and 2.43 mol kg^?1 for EDA–MA–S–MM and DETA–MA–S–MM, respectively. It can be said that the new modified polymers prepared in our laboratory have been suggested as new adsorbents for uranyl ions.     

Harnessing the Liquid‐Phase Exfoliation of Graphene Using Aliphatic Compounds: A Supramolecular Approach

The technological exploitation of the extraordinary properties of graphene relies on the ability to achieve full control over the production of a high‐quality material and its processing by up‐scalable approaches in order to fabricate large‐area films with single‐layer or a few atomic‐layer thickness, which might be integrated in working devices. A simple method is reported for producing homogenous dispersions of unfunctionalized and non‐oxidized graphene nanosheets in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) by using simple molecular modules, which act as dispersion‐stabilizing compounds during the liquid‐phase exfoliation (LPE) process, leading to an increase in the concentration of graphene in dispersions. The LPE‐processed graphene dispersion was shown to be a conductive ink. This approach opens up new avenues for the technological applications of this graphene ink as low‐cost electrodes and conducting nanocomposite for electronics.     

3D analysis of the morphology and spatial distribution of nitrogen in nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes by energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy tomography

We present here the application of the energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM) in the tomographic mode to determine the precise 3D distribution of nitrogen within nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs). Several tilt series of energy-filtered images were acquired on the K ionization edges of carbon and nitrogen on a multiwalled N-CNT containing a high amount of nitrogen. Two tilt series of carbon and nitrogen 2D maps were then calculated from the corresponding energy-filtered images by using a proper extraction procedure of the chemical signals. Applying iterative reconstruction algorithms provided two spatially correlated C and N elemental-selective volumes, which were then simultaneously analyzed with the shape-sensitive reconstruction deduced from Zero-Loss recordings. With respect to the previous findings, crucial information obtained by analyzing the 3D chemical maps was that, among the two different kind of arches formed in these nanotubes (transversal or rounded ones depending on their morphology), the transversal arches contain more nitrogen than do the round ones. In addition, a detailed analysis of the shape-sensitive volume allowed the observation of an unexpected change in morphology along the tube axis: close to the round arches (with less N), the tube is roughly cylindrical, whereas near the transversal ones (with more N), its shape changes to a prism. This relatively new technique is very powerful in the material science because it combines the ability of the classical electron tomography to solve 3D structures and the chemical selectivity of the EFTEM imaging.     

Synthesis, radiolabeling and in vivo biodistribution of diethylstilbestrol phosphate derivative (DES-P)

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a well known, nonsteroidal estrogen with high affinity for the estrogen receptor (ER). Today DES is used to treat breast and prostate cancers. A phosphate derivative of DES [Diethylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES-P)] which is specific to tumor cells consisting alkaline phosphatase enzyme was synthesized and labeled with ^99mTc using tin chloride as reducing agent. In vivo biological activity of ^99mTc labeled diethylstilbestrol phosphate compound (^99mTc-DES-P) was examined by biodistribution studies on Wistar Albino rats. Statistical evaluation was performed using SPSS 13 program. The percentage (%) radiolabeling yield of ^99mTc-DES-P and quality control studies were done by Thin Layer Radio Chromatography (TLRC). Results showed that, ^99mTc-DES-P may be proposed as an imaging agent for ER enriched tumors such as uterus and prostate and their metastases in bones.