Montmorillonite K10 Clay: An Efficient Catalyst for Hantzsch Synthesis of 1,4‐Dihydropyridine Derivatives

An efficient, solid‐catalyst‐mediated Hantzsch synthesis of 1,4‐dihydropyridines is described. This procedure has such advantages as short reaction time, high yields, and simple workup. The catalyst could be reused several times and keeps its initial activity in the subsequent reactions.     

Gas chromatographic determination of some phenolic compounds in fuels and engine oil after simultaneous derivatization and microextraction

In this study, a simultaneous derivatization/air‐assisted liquid–liquid microextraction method has been developed for sample preparation of some phenolic compounds in fuels and engine oil. Analytes are transferred by back liquid–liquid extraction into NaOH solution and then are derivatized with butyl chloroformate and extracted simultaneously into carbon tetrachloride. The extracted derivatized analytes are analyzed using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The effect of extracting solvent type, derivatization agent and extraction solvent volumes, ionic strength of the aqueous solution, number of extraction cycles, etc., on the extraction efficiency is investigated. The calibration graphs are linear in the range of 3–10 000 μg/L. Enhancement factors, enrichment factors, and extraction recoveries are in the ranges of 497 to 1471, 571 to 991, and 60 to 109%, respectively. Detection limits are obtained in the range of 0.8 to 2.0 μg/L. Relative standard deviations for the extraction of each selected phenols are in the ranges of 2–4% for intraday (n = 6) and 3–6% (n = 5) for interday precisions for 200 μg/L. This technique is successfully applied for the extraction, preconcentration, and determination of the selected phenols in gasoline, kerosene, gas oil, and engine oil.     

Characterization and High Level Expression of Acidic Endoglucanase in Pichia pastoris

Bioconversion of cellulosic material into glucose needs cellulase enzymes. One of the most important organisms that produces cellulases is Trichoderma reesei, whose cellulose enzymes are probably the most widely used in the industry. However, these enzymes are not stable enough at high pH and temperatures. The optimized synthetic endoglucanase II gene with Pichia pastoris codon preferences was secretary expressed in P. pastoris. Recombinant enzyme characterization showed maximum activity at pH 4.8 and temperature 75 °C, and it demonstrated increasing thermal stability in high temperature. The enzyme maintained its activity in a wide pH range from 3.5 to 6.5. The optimization of fermentation medium was carried out in shaking flasks. Recombinant protein expression at optimum conditions (pH 7, temperature 25 °C, and 1 % methanol induction) for 72 h demonstrated 2,358.8 U/ml endoglucanase activity units. To our knowledge, this is the highest acidic thermophilic endoglucanase activity that is reported in crude intracellular medium in P. pastoris. We conclude that P. pastoris is an appropriate host for high-level expression of optimized endoglucanase gene with improved thermal stability.     

Multiple Spectroscopic,Docking and Cytotoxic Study of a Synthesized 2,2′ Bipyridin Phenyl Isopentylglycin Pt(II) Nitrate Complex: Human Serum Albumin and Breast Cancer Cell Line of MDA-MB231 as Targets

In the present study, the biological activities of a new synthesized Pt(II)-complex, 2,2′ bipyridinphenyl isopentylglycin Pt(II) nitrate was investigated via its interaction with the most important blood carrier protein of human serum albumin (HSA), using fluorescence and Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic techniques and also molecular docking. Moreover, cytotoxicity activity of the complex was studied against breast cancer cell line of MDA MB231 using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The Pt(II)-complex has a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching mechanism. According fluorescence quenching data, the binding parameters of the interaction were calculated and showed that hydrophobic interaction has an important role. The molecular docking results in coherent with fluorescence measurements illustrated that Pt(II) complex can bind to HSA at one position that located in the hydrophobic cavity of groove between drug site I and II. Also, experimental data on driving force in binding site was confirmed whereas theoretical results demonstrated Pt(II) complexinteract to HSA by hydrophobic interaction. Far-UV-CD results showed that Pt(II)-complex induced an increasing in the content of α-helical structure of the protein and stabilized it. Also, MTT assay represented growth inhibitory effect of the complex toward the breast cancer cell line.     

Improving of Anticancer Activity and Solubility of Cisplatin by Methylglycine and Methyl Amine Ligands Against Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Line

Methylglycine, also known sarcosine, is dramatically used in drug molecules and its metal complexes can interact to DNA and also do cleavage. Hence, to study the influence of methylglycine ligand on biological behavior of metal complexes, two water-soluble platinum (II) complexes with the formula cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂(CH₃-gly)]NO₃ and cis-[Pt(NH₂-CH₃)₂(CH₃-gly)]NO₃ (where CH₃-gly is methylglycine) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods, molar conductivity measurements, and elemental analyzes. The anticancer activity of synthesized complexes was tested against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line of MCF7 using MTT assay and results showed excellent anticancer activity with Cc₅₀ values of 126 and 292 μM after 24 h incubation time, for both complexes of cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂(CH₃gly)]NO₃ and cis-[Pt(NH₂-CH₃)₂(CH₃gly)]NO₃, respectively. Also, the interaction between Pt(II) complexes with calf thymus DNA was extensively studied by means of absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence titration spectra displacement with ethidium bromide (EtBr), and circular dichroism studied in Tris-buffer. The obtained spectroscopic results revealed that two complexes can bind to highly polymerized calf thymus DNA cooperatively and denature at micromolar concentrations. The fluorescence data indicate that quenching effect for cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂(CH₃gly)]NO₃ (K_sv?=?9.48 mM^?1) was higher than that of cis-[Pt(NH₂-CH₃)₂(CH₃gly)]NO₃ (K_sv?= 1.98 mM^?1). These results were also confirmed by circular dichrosim spectra. Consequently, docking data showed that cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂(CH₃gly)]NO₃ with more interaction energy binds on DNA via groove binding which is more compatible with experimental results.

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Graphical Abstract ? Two anticancer Pt(II) complexes, cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂(CH₃gly)]NO₃ and cis-[Pt(NH_2?CH₃)₂(CH₃gly)]NO₃, have been synthesized and interacted with calf thymus DNA. Improving solubility of these compounds reduce side effects and increase anticancer activity against human breast cell line. Modes of binding have been studied by electronic absorption, fluorescence, and CD measurements. Results show that both Pt(II) complexes can interact to DNA via groove binding.

     

Wavelength comparison study for photocurrent and thickness in organic tandem solar cell with PF10TBT:PCBM by computational simulation

In this work, we have been investigating an organic tandem solar cells composed of PF10TBT:PCBM by using optical modeling and simulation method to investigate the correlation between thickness and photocurrent. Possible thickness pairs of tandem cell are provided when front layer and back layer absorb same amount of photons. In order to obtain the possible thickness pairs for different wavelengths, photocurrent has been simulated as function of back and front layer thickness. Energy dissipation in term of distance along cell and wavelengths were analyzed to interpret the optimal geometry of tandem cell. In order to find the appropriate materials for maximum efficiency, energy dissipation as function of optical constant (n) and wavelengths were simulated to derive the optimal condition.     

Efficient Synthesis of 3-Pyrrolin-2-one Derivatives in Aqueous Media

An efficient one-pot, three-component synthesis of 3-pyrrolin-2-ones in aqueous media at room temperature is reported. This reaction provides a green and catalyst-free method for generation of 3-pyrrolin-2-one derivatives in good yields.     

PVDF/PU blend membrane separator for lithium-ion batteries via non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS)

Membrane separator based on the polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is prepared via the non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method with water and ethanol as non-solvent and a mixture of dimethylformamide (DMF) and acetone as solvent. The effect of various acetone/DMF ratios and non-solvent material on the physical and electrochemical properties of the separator is studied by FE-SEM, tensile strength, electrochemical AC-impedance spectroscopy (EIS), thermal stability, and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The charge-discharge studies are carried out by fabricating a lithium foil/polymer electrolyte membrane/LiFePO4 cell. The results show that with the change of solvent and non-solvent, the structure and morphology of the separator change and its physical and electrochemical properties. The results indicate that the membrane sample with non-solvent ethanol, acetone/DMF: 80/20 (wt/wt), and PVDF/PU: 95/5 (wt/wt) shows high porosity (66.3%) and high ionic conductivity (1.34 mS/cm) as well as excellent thermal stability.

     

Green and highly efficient synthesis of pyranopyrazoles in choline chloride/urea deep eutectic solvent

A simple and efficient multicomponent protocol, using ammonium deep eutectic solvent as a dual catalyst and environmentally benign reaction medium, is developed for the synthesis of dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives. This operationally simple protocol does not involve tedious workup or purification, affording the target compounds in short reaction times and excellent yields and avoiding the use of environmentally hazardous solvents and catalysts.