Microstructural and Potential Dependence Studies of Urease-Immobilized Gold Nanoparticles–Polypyrrole Composite Film for Urea Detection

Gold nanoparticle–polypyrrole nanocomposite film was electrochemically deposited in a single-step polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA)-capped gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) on the surface of an indium tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass plate. The carboxyl functional groups surrounding the GNPs within the polymer matrix were utilized for the immobilization of urease enzyme through carbodiimide coupling reaction for the construction of a Urs/GNP(MPA)–PPy/ITO-glass bioelectrode for urea detection in Tris–HCl buffer. The resulting bioelectrode film was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), contact angle measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and electrochemical techniques. The potentiometric response of the bioelectrode made of polymer nanocomposite films of two different thicknesses prepared at 100 and 250 mC cm^?2 charge densities, respectively, was studied towards the urea concentration in Tris–HCl buffer (pH 7.4). The thin polymer nanocomposite film-based bioelectrode prepared at 100 mC cm^?2 charge density exhibited a comparatively good potentiometric response than a thick 250 mC cm^?2 charge density film with a linear range of urea detection from 0.01 to 10 mM with a sensitivity of 29.7 mV per decade.     

Development and validation of an RP-HPLC method for the estimation of adenosine and related purines in brain tissues of rats

A new, rapid and sensitive RP-HPLC method with UV spectrophotometric detection was developed and validated for the concomitant estimation of adenosine and related purines in rat brain tissue preparations. The HPLC system consisted of C-18 column with UV-photodiode-array detection ranging from 210 to 400 nm, facilitating the online confirmation of peak purity. The column temperature was maintained at 30 degrees C and the injection volume was 20 muL. Elution with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of water/methanol/acetonitrile (88:5:7 by volume) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min yielded sharp, utmost-resolved peaks of adenosine (Ade), inosine (Ino), hypoxanthine (Hypoxan) and adenine (Adn) within 10 min. The method was validated with respect to the linearity, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, selectivity and stability. The method was also employed to estimate the naturally occurring purines in discrete regions of rat brain. A new protocol developed for tissue preparation utilizing H(2)SO(4) and Tris buffer gave well-resolved peaks and high component recoveries (>96%) which eliminated the need of an internal standard. The results show that the method for the determination of Ade, Ino, Hypoxan and Adn by RP-HPLC described here has good linearity, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, selectivity and is simple and rapid to perform.     

Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of 1,3,5-polyols by means of iterative asymmetric epoxidation: their application to the total synthesis of polyrhacitide A

We have developed a pragmatic route to the stereogenic skipped 1,3,5-polyols. The strategic transformation includes an organocatalytic enantioselective asymmetric epoxidation, which is either syn- or anti-selective as genesis of chirality and successive S_N2 opening reaction by an appropriate functionalized nucleophile, followed by hydroboration/oxidation to generate stereoisomers in good yield. The critical intermediate generated en route to this process is employed in the total synthesis of polyrhacitide A.     

Urea/Thiourea as Ammonia Surrogate: A Catalyst-Free Synthesis of 2-Substituted 2,3-Dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones/Quinazoline-4(3H)-ones

Urea/thiourea have been identified as an effective ammonia surrogate in the construction of quinazolin-4(3H)-one ring. This strategy afforded a simple and catalyst-free synthesis of 2-substituted 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones and quinazolin-4(3H)-ones via the reaction of isatoic anhydride and aryl aldehydes in the presence of urea or thiourea in ethanol. The reaction proceeded well to afford the quinazolin-4(3H)-one or its dihydro derivative, depending on the nature of carbonyl compounds employed.