A new chromanone acid from the stem bark of Calophyllum teysmannii

A new chromanone acid, namely caloteysmannic acid (1), along with three known compounds, calolongic acid (2), isocalolongic acid (3) and stigmasterol (4) were isolated from the stem bark of Calophyllum teysmannii. All these compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic and antioxidant activities in the MTT and DPPH assays, respectively. The structure of compound 1 was determined by means of spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR experiments as well as HR-EIMS spectrometry. The stereochemical assignment of compound 1 was done based on the NMR results and X-ray crystallographic analysis. The preliminary assay results revealed that all the test compounds displayed potent inhibitory activity against HeLa cancer cell line, in particular with compound 1 which exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity comparable to the positive control used, cisplatin. However, no significant antioxidant activity was observed for all the test compounds in the DPPH radical scavenging capacity assay.     

Free energies and entropies of transfer from water to methanol of cations complexed by 18-crown-6

Free energies and entropies of transfer from water to methanol have been obtained for [M⁺18C6] complexes, where M⁺ = Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, and Ag⁺. The variation of ΔG_t° and ΔS_t° with the central metal cation is smaller than with the [M⁺222] complexes and it is concluded that 18-crown-6 shields the metal cation from the solvent more effectively than crystal structure determinations would suggest.     

Detection and classification of host–guest interactions using β-cyclodextrin-decorated carbon nanotube-based chemiresistors

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a chemiresistor setup have been widely explored in bio/chemical sensing. Detection of certain molecules with environmental and health related importance such as 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid, diclofenac sodium, and curcumin using electrochemical methods/unfunctionalized CNTs suffer from lack of response, high limit of detection (LOD) and poor selectivity. The key to overcome these issues is to decorate CNTs with host (receptor) molecules like β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) that interact with guest (target) molecules by host–guest complex formation. To improve guest recognition, and consequently, the sensor performance, effective immobilization of β-CD on the CNT surface using a non-covalent bridging molecule such as 3, 4, 9, 10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (PTCA) is required. Furthermore, the selectivity can be assessed using the conductance correlation patterns of different host–guest systems in conjunction with a pattern classification tool. Our results indicate that PTCA linked β-CD-decorated CNT chemiresistors showed a good linear detection range (∼100 pM–100 nM), sensitivity (∼3 × 10⁻³–9 × 10⁻² nM⁻¹) and LOD (∼62 pM–101 nM), compared to devices without PTCA, in the detection of the guest molecules. The distinction in correlation patterns of different host–guest systems was corroborated by pattern classification yielding a classification accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of ∼91.83%, ∼90.13%, and ∼85.39%, respectively.     

Polyplexes and lipoplexes for mammalian gene delivery: from traditional to microarray screening

Gene therapy requires the development of non-toxic and highly efficient delivery systems for DNA and RNAi. Polycations, especially dendrimers, have shown enormous potential as gene transfer vehicles, displaying minimal toxicity with a broad range of cell lines. In this paper, a total of 13 dendrimers, up to G3.0, were constructed from AB(3) type isocyanate monomers using solid phase methodology and evaluated for transfection activity. Among the library of compounds prepared, a G3.0 dendrimer displayed comparable activity to Superfect. Gel retardation assays demonstrated that all of the compounds completely bound plasmid DNA, indicating the efficient formation of complexes between DNA and the dendrimers. A "transfection microarray" approach was developed for screening these compounds as well as a panel of lipoplexes (complexes of DNA with cationic lipids) and polyplexes (complexes of DNA with synthetic polycationic polymers), in 3D solution like micro-assay). Five cationic lipids with a cholesterol tail showed stronger or comparable transfection activity relative to Effectene. The new, micro-array screening method was rapid and miniaturized, offering the potential of high throughput screening of large libraries of transfection candidates, with thousands of library members per array, and the ability to rapidly screen a broad range of cell types.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structures of Cu,Ag, and Pd Dinitramide Salts

The literature known, but not fully characterized, silver dinitramide transfer reagents AgN(NO₂)₂ ( 1 ), [Ag(NCCH₃)][N(NO₂)₂] ( 2 ), and [Ag(py)₂][N(NO₂)₂] ( 3 ) have been investigated by ¹⁰⁹Ag, ¹⁴N NMR and vibrational spectroscopy (IR, Raman). In addition, the poorly understood [Cu(NH₃)₄][N(NO₂)₂)]₂ ( 4 ) and [Pd(NH₃)₄][N(NO₂)₂]₂, ( 5 ) have also been prepared and characterized by ¹⁴N NMR and vibrational spectroscopy (IR, Raman). The structures of 2 — 5 have also been determined by X‐ray diffraction.     

Biohydrogen Production from Mushroom Cultivation Waste by Anaerobic Solid‐state Fermentation

Mushroom cultivation waste (MCW) is a polypropylene bag stuffed with wood flour and nutrients for growing mushroom, which is a feasible feedstock for anaerobic biohydrogen production owing to its abundant availability, high organic and nutrient content. This study optimized the seed inoculum from various waste sludges (sewage sludge, cow dung and pig slurry), nutrient addition and operation conditions (moisture content and MCW powder particle size) for maximal biohydrogen production by solid‐state fermentation (SSF). SSF batch test was operated at a MCW 3 g total volatile solid (TVS)/L, temperature 55 °C and rotation speed of 15 rpm with a vertical rotative shaker. The peak hydrogen production performance of hydrogen production rate (HPR) 9.50 mol H₂/kg‐d and hydrogen yield (HY) 0.29 mmol H₂/g TVS) are obtained using sewage sludge 2 seed inoculum, nutrients addition, moisture content 70 % and particle size of 1.190～0.590 mm. The results show that the MCW has the potential for hydrogen production by anaerobic mixed microflora using solid‐state fermentation. The bioenergy of 1842 kWh while using SSF to conver MCW to produce biohydrogen and it could reduce CO₂ emission of 114–178 kg per year comparing using fossil fuel such as coal, fuel oil and natural gas.     

Review of Nephelium lappaceum and Nephelium ramboutan-ake: A High Potential Supplement

Nephelium lappaceum (N. lappaceum) and Nephelium ramboutan-ake (N. ramboutan-ake) are tropical fruits that gain popularity worldwide due to their tastiness. Currently, their potential to be used as pharmaceutical agents is underestimated. Chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and aging have high incidence rates in the modern world. Furthermore, pharmaceutical agents targeting pathogenic microorganisms have been hampered by the growing of antimicrobial resistance threats. The idea of food therapy leads to extensive nutraceuticals research on the potential of exotic fruits such as N. lappaceum and N. ramboutan-ake to act as supplements. Phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds that present in the fruit act as potent antioxidants that contribute to the protective effects against diseases induced by oxidative stress. Fruit residuals such as the peel and seeds hold greater nutraceutical potential than the edible part. This review highlights the antioxidant and biological activities (anti-neoplastic, anti-microbial, hypoglycemic actions and anti-aging), and chemical contents of different parts of N. lappaceum and N. ramboutan-ake. These fruits contain a diverse and important chemical profile that can alleviate or cure diseases.