Evaluation of potential cationic probes for the detection of proline and betaine

Osmoregulants are the substances that help plants to tolerate environmental extremes such as salinity and drought. Proline and betaine are two of the most commonly studied osmoregulants. An indirect UV CE method has been developed for simultaneous determination of these osmoregulants. A variety of reported probes and compounds were examined as potential probes for the indirect detection of proline and betaine. Mobility and UV‐absorption properties highlighted sulfanilamide as a potential probe for indirect analysis of proline and betaine. Using 5 mM sulfanilamide at pH 2.2 with UV detection at 254 nm, proline and betaine were separated in less than 15 min. The LODs for proline and betaine were 11.6 and 28.3 μM, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied to quantification of these two osmoregulants in spinach and beetroot samples.     

Injectable,Interconnected, High‐Porosity Macroporous Biocompatible Gelatin Scaffolds Made by Surfactant‐Free Emulsion Templating

High‐porosity interconnected, thermoresponsive macroporous hydrogels are prepared from oil‐in‐water high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) stabilized by gelatin‐graft‐poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide). PolyHIPEs are obtained by gelling HIPEs utilizing the thermoresponsiveness of the copolymer components. PolyHIPEs properties can be controlled by varying the aqueous phase composition, internal phase volume ratio, and gelation temperature. PolyHIPEs respond to temperature changes experienced during cell seeding, allowing fibroblasts to spread, proliferate, and penetrate into the scaffold. Encapsulated cells survive ejection of cell‐laden hydrogels through a hypodermic needle. This system provides a new strategy for the fabrication of safe injectable biocompatible tissue engineering scaffolds.

     

Spectroscopic investigations (FTIR,UV-VIS,NMR) and DFT calculations on the molecular structure of Nω-Nitro-L-arginine

The spectroscopic properties of N_ω-nitro-l-arginine were investigated by FT-IR, UV-VIS, and ¹H NMR spectra. Geometrical parameters and energies were calculated using the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP method with the 6-311G basis set. Geometrical optimization of the molecule has been performed, vibrational spectra have been calculated, and fundamental vibrations have been determined from the total energy distribution (TED) of the vibrational modes. The HOMO-LUMO analysis is carried out for various electric fields (0.0–0.025 A^?1). The HOMO-LUMO gap is decreased while increasing the electric field. The calculated quantum chemical parameters are calculated and correlated to the inhibition efficiency, A Mullliken population was also important for determining local reactivity by indicating reactive centers and identifying potential nucleophilic and electrophilic attack sites. Charge transfer occurs inside the compound based on the HOMO LUMO gap. Calculations of DFT were evaluated in their ability to predict inhibition efficiency.     

Investigating microcrystalline cellulose crystallinity using Raman spectroscopy

Cellulose - Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a semi-crystalline material with inherent variable crystallinity due to raw material source and variable manufacturing conditions. MCC crystallinity...     

Ni0.1Co0.9Fe2O4-based electrochemical sensor for the detection of paracetamol

A novel electrochemical sensor based on nickel-doped cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (Ni_0.1Co_0.9Fe₂O₄)-modified glassy carbon electrode (NCF/GCE) was presented for the sensitive detection of paracetamol. Experimental conditions such as pH, applied potentials and concentration were investigated using cyclic voltammetric and chronoamperometric techniques. The modified electrode exhibited excellent catalytic response towards the oxidation of paracetamol with good reproducibility. The overpotential for oxidation of paracetamol is decreased, and the current response enhanced significantly on the modified electrode in comparison with that of bare electrode. Linear calibration curve is obtained over the range 2 μM to 8,000 μM having a detection limit of 11 nM. The modified electrode facilitated the simultaneous detection of paracetamol, ascorbic acid, and dopamine with good reproducibility.     

Fabrication and characterization of TEOS-based silica aerogels prepared using rapid supercritical extraction

Silica aerogels were prepared using the precursor tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) via a rapid supercritical extraction (RSCE) method. Multiple consistent batches of monolithic TEOS-based aerogels were fabricated via an 8-h RSCE process. Fabricating TEOS-based aerogels with an RSCE method offers some distinct advantages. One advantage is the relative simplicity of the RSCE approach: liquid precursors are mixed and poured into a metal mold in a hydraulic hot-press, where gelation, aging and extraction of liquid from the pores occur. The precursor recipe employs TEOS, ethanol, water, oxalic acid to catalyze hydrolysis, and ammonia to catalyze the subsequent polycondensation reactions. Another advantage is that reaction of TEOS to form sol gels yields ethanol as a byproduct. A process that releases ethanol, rather than methanol (as in tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS)-based aerogels) may be more appealing for commercial applications, involving scale-up of the process. The significantly lower cost of TEOS, compared to TMOS, is a considerable advantage. The TEOS-based RSCE aerogels are mesoporous and optically translucent, have bulk densities of 0.099(±0.003) g/cm³ and surface areas of 460(±10) m²/g. Signals observed in infrared and Raman spectra of the aerogels are consistent with Si–O framework bonds. Using scanning electron microscopy imaging, the surface morphology of the aerogel samples was imaged at magnifications up to 150 kX.     

Nickel‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Dialkyl Ketones from the Coupling of N‐Alkyl Pyridinium Salts with Activated Carboxylic Acids

While ketones are among the most versatile functional groups, their synthesis remains reliant upon reactive and low‐abundance starting materials. In contrast, amide formation is the most‐used bond‐construction method in medicinal chemistry because the chemistry is reliable and draws upon large and diverse substrate pools. A new method for the synthesis of ketones is presented here that draws from the same substrates used for amide bond synthesis: amines and carboxylic acids. A nickel terpyridine catalyst couples N‐alkyl pyridinium salts with in situ formed carboxylic acid fluorides or 2‐pyridyl esters under reducing conditions (Mn metal). The reaction has a broad scope, as demonstrated by the synthesis of 35 different ketones bearing a wide variety of functional groups with an average yield of 60±16 %. This approach is capable of coupling diverse substrates, including pharmaceutical intermediates, to rapidly form complex ketones.     

β-secretase 1 inhibitory activity and AMP-activated protein kinase activation of Callyspongia samarensis extracts

Abstract

The methanolic extract of Callyspongia samarensis (MCS) significantly inhibited β-secretase 1 (IC₅₀ 99.82?µg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner and demonstrated a noncompetitive type of inhibition. Furthermore, it exhibited the highest AMPK activation (EC₅₀ 14.47?μg/mL) as compared with the standard, Aspirin (EC₅₀ >100?μg/mL). HPLC/ESI-MS analysis of MCS extract revealed 15 peaks, in which nine peaks demonstrated similar fragmentation pattern with the known compounds in literature and in database library: 5-aminopentanoic acid (1), 4-aminobutanoic acid (3), Luotonin A (4), (E)-3-(1H-imidazol-5-yl) prop-2-enoic acid (8), Galactosphingosine (10), D-sphingosine (11), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxyflavone (12), hydroxydihydrovolide (13), and 3,5-dibromo-4-methoxyphenylpyruvic acid (14); and 6 peaks are not identified (2, 5–7, 9, and 15). Acute oral toxicity test of MCS extract revealed that it is nontoxic, with an LD₅₀ of >2000?mg/kg. Assessment of BBB permeability of MCS extract showed that compound 15 was able to cross the BBB making it a suitable candidate for developing CNS drugs.     

Health-Promoting Properties of Medicinal Mushrooms and Their Bioactive Compounds for the COVID-19 Era—An Appraisal: Do the Pro-Health Claims Measure Up?

Many mushroom species are consumed as food, while significant numbers are also utilised medicinally. Mushrooms are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. A growing body of in vitro, in vivo, and human research has revealed their therapeutic potentials, which include such properties as anti-pathogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, gut microbiota enhancement, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 specificity. The uses of medicinal mushrooms (MMs) as extracts in nutraceuticals and other functional food and health products are burgeoning. COVID-19 presents an opportunity to consider how, and if, specific MM compounds might be utilised therapeutically to mitigate associated risk factors, reduce disease severity, and support recovery. As vaccines become a mainstay, MMs may have the potential as an adjunct therapy to enhance immunity. In the context of COVID-19, this review explores current research about MMs to identify the key properties claimed to confer health benefits. Considered also are barriers or limitations that may impact general recommendations on MMs as therapy. It is contended that the extraction method used to isolate bioactive compounds must be a primary consideration for efficacious targeting of physiological endpoints. Mushrooms commonly available for culinary use and obtainable as a dietary supplement for medicinal purposes are included in this review. Specific properties related to these mushrooms have been considered due to their potential protective and mediating effects on human exposure to the SARS CoV-2 virus and the ensuing COVID-19 disease processes.