Polyion-sensitive membrane-based electrodes for heparin-binding foldamer analysis

Polymer membrane-based electrodes sensitive to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) have been used to examine the binding between several preparations of LMWH and heparin-binding foldamers, which have recently been developed as potential inhibitors of the anticoagulant activity of LMWHs. It was found that the structure of the heparin-binding foldamer affects the equilibrium binding constant, K(eq), determined by analysis of the titration curves of the foldamers with LMWHs monitored with these electrodes, and further, the strength of binding depends on the specific LMWH preparation. Additionally, polymer membrane-based electrodes utilizing dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate as the ion-exchanger were developed to measure the heparin-binding foldamers directly in whole blood, and the response was found to depend on the lipophilicity and charge density of the foldamer.     

Diamond nanorods from nanocrystalline diamond films

Diamond nanorods (DNRs) have been prepared by hydrogen plasma post-treatment of nanocrystalline diamond films in radio-frequency (RF) plasma-assisted hot-filament chemical vapor deposition. Single-crystal diamond nanorods with diameters of 3–5 nm and with lengths up to 200 nm grow under hydrogen plasma irradiation of nanocrystalline diamond thin film on the Si substrate at high temperatures. The DNRs growth occurs from graphite clusters. The graphite clusters arises from the etching of diamond carbon atoms and from the non-diamond phase present in the parent film. The graphite clusters recrystallized to form nanocrystalline diamonds which further grow for diamond nanorods. The negative applied bias and surface stresses are suggested to support one-dimensional growth. The growth direction of diamond nanorods is perpendicular to the (1 1 1) crystallographic planes of diamond. The studies address the structure and growth mechanism of diamond nanorods.     

Isolation and In Silico Prediction of Potential Drug-like Compounds with a New Dimeric Prenylated Quinolone Alkaloid from Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Roxb.) Root Extracts Targeted against SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro)

A new dimeric prenylated quinolone alkaloid, named 2,11-didemethoxy-vepridimerine A, was isolated from the root bark of Zanthoxylum rhetsa, together with twelve known compounds. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic investigations (NMR and Mass). The interaction of the isolated compounds with the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (Mpro) was evaluated using molecular docking followed by MD simulations. The result suggests that 2,11-didemethoxy-vepridimerine A, the new compound, has the highest negative binding affinity against the Mpro with a free energy of binding of −8.5 Kcal/mol, indicating interaction with the Mpro. This interaction was further validated by 100 ns MD simulation. This implies that the isolated new compound, which can be employed as a lead compound for an Mpro-targeting drug discovery program, may be able to block the action of Mpro.     

Novel asymmetric heterobimetallic complexes of transition metals and the kinetics of oxygen binding to a cobalt(II) complex

A series of asymmetric heterobimetallic complexes of the type [LMLSn]Cl and [LMLSn]Cl₂, where L = ethylene diamine, M = Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II and Cu^II, M = Cr^III and Fe^III and L = 1-tryptophan and 1-valine, have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, u.v.–vis., i.r., e.p.r., n.m.r., cyclic voltammetry and conductivity measurements. The Co^III analogue of these complexes was characterized by two dimensional n.m.r. COSY data. The kinetics of oxygen binding with the complex [C₁₅H₂₃N₄O₂SnCo]Cl has also been studied. The kinetic data proves that Co^II of a coordinated molecule participates in the rate-determining step of the dioxygen binding process. The plots of the pseudo-first-order rate k _obs versus [O₂] are linear passing through an intercept. The electrochemical behaviour of [C₁₅H₂₃N₄O₂SnCo]²⁺ and [C₁₅H₂₃N₄O₂SnCu]⁺ was monitored by cyclic voltammetry. Comparison of the electrochemical properties of [Co^IIISn^IV]²⁺ and [Cu^IISn^IV]⁺ reveal that, in both the species, one electron transfer reaction takes place. For the [Co^IIISn^IV]²⁺ species E ⁰ = 0.272 and –1.1 V and for the [Cu^IISn^IV]⁺ species E ⁰ = 0.078 and –0.300 V values were obtained, respectively.     

Highly regioselective synthesis of chiral diamines via a Buchwald–Hartwig amination from camphoric acid and their application in the Henry reaction

In this work the synthesis of new asymmetric diamine ligands from camphoric acid is described. The new diamines can be directly prepared in a regioselective arylation of the less hindered primary amine group of (+)‐cis‐1,2,2‐trimethylcyclopentane‐1,3‐diamine via a Buchwald–Hartwig amination in high yields. The resulting diamines incorporate a secondary and primary amine group and were successfully applied as ligands in a copper‐catalyzed Henry reaction. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Organic-inorganic composite cation-exchanger: poly-o-toluidine Zr(IV) phosphate-based ion-selective membrane electrode for the potentiometric determination of mercury

A new heterogeneous precipitate of an organic-inorganic composite cation-exchanger poly-o-toluidine Zr(IV) phosphate was utilized for the preparation of a Hg(II) ion-sensitive membrane electrode for the determination of Hg(II) ions in real aqueous as well as in real samples. The electrode showed good potentiometric response characteristics, and displayed a linear log[Hg(2+)] versus EMF response over a wide concentration range of 1 x 10(-1) - 1 x 10(-6) M with a Nernstian slope of 30 mV per decade change in concentration with a detection limit of 1 x 10(-6). The membrane electrode showed a very fast response time of 5 s and could be operated well in the pH range 2 - 8. The selectivity coefficients were determined by the mixed-solution method, and revealed that the electrode was selective in the presence of interfering cations; however most of these did not show significant interference in the concentration range of 1 x 10(-1) - 1 x 10(-4) M. The lifetime of the membrane electrode was observed to be 120 days. The analytical utility of this electrode was established by employing it as an indicator electrode in the potentiometric titrations of Hg(2+) ions from a synthetic mixture as well as drain water.     

Correction to: An efficient protocol for the synthesis of highly sensitive indole imines utilizing green chemistry: optimization of reaction conditions

Molecular Diversity - In the original publication, one of the co-authors name Sana Jamshaid was missed out. The correct authors’ group is updated in this correction.     

Impact of Internal Heat Source on Mixed Convective Transverse Transport of Viscoplastic Material under Viscosity Variation

This communication addresses the impact of heat source/sink along with mixed convection on oblique flow of Casson fluid having variable viscosity. Similarity analysis has been utilized to model governing equations, which are simplified to set of nonlinear differential equations. Computational procedure of shooting algorithm along with 4 th order Range-Kutta-Fehlberg scheme is opted to attain the velocity and temperature distributions. Impact of imperative parameters on Casson fluid flow, temperature, significant physical quantities such as skin friction, local heat flux and streamlines are displayed via graphs.     

Chemical and biotechnological developments in organotin cancer chemotherapy

This review provides a substantial knowledge on the action mode of organotins in cancer chemotherapy. The coordinating ability of organotin compounds towards DNA and cancer cells is discussed. Most of the organotins tested are DNA-targeted and mitotic, the action mode occurring via a gene-mediated pathway. These potential anti-cancer drugs are actually being studied widely, and whilst they are efficacious and perhaps curative against a select number of neoplasias, suffer from a variety of deficiencies, notably severe systemic toxicity and a tendency to elicit drug resistance.     

Optimization of the numerical treatment of the Darcy–Forchheimer flow of Ree–Eyring fluid with chemical reaction by using artificial neural networks

In this study, Darcy Forchheimer flow paradigm, which is a useful paradigm in fields such as petroleum engineering where high flow velocity effects are common, has been analyzed with artificial intelligence approach. In this context, first of all, Darcy–Forchheimer flow of Ree–Eyring fluid along a permeable stretching surface with convective boundary conditions has been examined and heat and mass transfer mechanisms have been investigated by including the effect of chemical process, heat generation/absorption, and activation energy. Cattaneo–Christov heat flux model has been used to analyze heat transfer properties. Within the scope of optimizing Darcy–Forchheimer flow of Ree–Eyring fluid; three different artificial neural network models have been developed to predict Nusselt number, Sherwood number, and skin friction coefficient values. The developed artificial neural network model has been able to predict Nusselt number, Sherwood number, and skin friction coefficient values with high accuracy. The findings obtained as a result of the study showed that artificial neural networks are an ideal tool that can be used to model Darcy–Forchheimer Ree–Eyring fluid flow towards a permeable stretch layer with activation energy and a convective boundary condition.