Ion solvation by channel carbonyls characterized by 17O solid-state NMR at 21 T

Recently available ultrahigh magnetic fields offer new opportunities for studies of quadrupole nuclei in biological solids because of the dramatic enhancement in sensitivity and resolution associated with the reduction of second-order quadrupole interactions. Here, we present a new approach for understanding the function and energetics of ion solvation in channels using solid-state 17O NMR spectroscopy of single-site 17O-labeled gramicidin A. The chemical shift and quadrupole coupling parameters obtained in powder samples of lyophilized material are similar to those shown in the literature for carbonyl oxygens. In lipid bilayers, it is found that the carbonyl 17O anisotropic chemical shift of Leu10, one of the three carbonyl oxygens contributing to the ion binding site in gramicidin A, is altered by 40 ppm when K+ ion binds to the channel, demonstrating a high sensitivity to such interactions. Moreover, considering the large breadth of the carbonyl 17O chemical shift (>500 ppm), the recording of anisotropic 17O chemical shifts in bilayers aligned with respect to magnetic field B0 offers high-quality structural restraints similar to 15N and 13C anisotropic chemical shifts.     

Keggin ion mediated synthesis of hydrophobized Pd nanoparticles for multifunctional catalysis

Development of simple and reliable protocols for the synthesis of organically soluble catalytically active metal nanoparticles is an important aspect of research in nanomaterials. We demonstrate herein the formation of Pd nanoparticles by reduction of aqueous Pd(NO(3))(2) by photoexcited Keggin ions (phosphotungstate anions). This results in the formation of Pd nanoparticles capped with with Keggin ions that render the particles negatively charged. The Keggin ion capped Pd nanoparticles may then be phase transferred into nonpolar organic solvents such as toluene by electrostatic complexation with cationic surfactants such as octadecylamine at the liquid-liquid interface. This results in a new class of catalyst wherein both the Pd core and Keggin ion shell may be used in a range of catalytic reactions leading to a truly multifunctional catalyst dispersible in organic solvents.     

An account of the strategies to enhance the water splitting efficiency of noble-metal-free electrocatalysts

The electrolysis of water for hydrogen generation has shown immense promise as an energy conversion technology for the green energy economy.Two concurrently occ...     

Lipase mediated separation of triterpene structural isomers, α- and β-amyrin

Pentacyclic triterpenoids α- and β-amyrin possess a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities. High structural similarity between these two structural isomers makes their chromatographic separation an ineffective and tedious choice. In this study, Candida rugosa lipase catalyzed separation protocol for the isolation of individual isomers has been developed. In the presence of vinyl acetate as the acyl donor, Candida rugosa lipase carried out acetylation of β-amyrin more efficiently as compared to α-amyrin leading to a kinetic separation. The conditions of transesterification reaction were optimized systematically, which was utilized to separate α- and β-amyrin from a mixture obtained from the latex of Plumeria obtusa.     

Evaluation of a novel nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite powder and a solid hydroxyapatite/Chitosan-Gelatin bioceramic for scaffold preparation used as a bone substitute material

Artificially fabricated hydroxyapatite (HAP) shows excellent biocompatibility with various kinds of cells and tissues which makes it an ideal candidate for a bone substitute material. In this study, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles have been prepared by using the wet chemical precipitation method using calcium nitrate tetra-hydrate [Ca(NO₃)₂.4H₂O] and di-ammonium hydrogen phosphate [(NH₄)₂ HPO₄] as precursors. The composite scaffolds have been prepared by a freeze-drying method with hydroxyapatite, chitosan, and gelatin which form a 3D network of interconnected pores. Glutaraldehyde solution has been used in the scaffolds to crosslink the amino groups (|NH₂) of gelatin with the aldehyde groups (|CHO) of chitosan. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) performed on different scaffolds indicates that the incorporation of a certain amount of hydroxyapatite has no influence on the chitosan/gelatin network and at the same time, the organic matrix does not affect the crystallinity of hydroxyapatite. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) images show the needle-like crystal structure of hydroxyapatite nanoparticle. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis shows an interconnected porous network in the scaffold where HAP nanoparticles are found to be dispersed in the biopolymer matrix. Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirms the presence of hydroxyl group (OH^-) , phosphate group (PO^3-₄) , carbonate group (CO^2-₃) , imine group (C=N), etc. TGA reveals the thermal stability of the scaffolds. The cytotoxicity of the scaffolds is examined qualitatively by VERO (animal cell) cell and quantitatively by MTTassay. The MTT-assay suggests keeping the weight percentage of glutaraldehyde solution lower than 0.2%. The result found from this study demonstrated that a proper bone replacing scaffold can be made up by controlling the amount of hydroxyapatite, gelatin, and chitosan which will be biocompatible, biodegradable, and biofriendly for any living organism.     

The Multifunctional Role of Herbal Products in the Management of Diabetes and Obesity: A Comprehensive Review

Obesity and diabetes are the most demanding health problems today, and their prevalence, as well as comorbidities, is on the rise all over the world. As time goes on, both are becoming big issues that have a big impact on people’s lives. Diabetes is a metabolic and endocrine illness set apart by hyperglycemia and glucose narrow-mindedness because of insulin opposition. Heftiness is a typical, complex, and developing overall wellbeing worry that has for quite some time been connected to significant medical issues in individuals, all things considered. Because of the wide variety and low adverse effects, herbal products are an important hotspot for drug development. Synthetic compounds are not structurally diverse and lack drug-likeness properties. Thus, it is basic to keep on exploring herbal products as possible wellsprings of novel drugs. We conducted this review of the literature by searching Scopus, Science Direct, Elsevier, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. From 1990 until October 2021, research reports, review articles, and original research articles in English are presented. It provides top to bottom data and an examination of plant-inferred compounds that might be utilized against heftiness or potentially hostile to diabetes treatments. Our expanded comprehension of the systems of activity of phytogenic compounds, as an extra examination, could prompt the advancement of remedial methodologies for metabolic diseases. In clinical trials, a huge number of these food kinds or restorative plants, as well as their bioactive compounds, have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of obesity.     

On Berezin Number Inequalities for Operator Matrices

In this article, we refine certain earlier existing bounds for Berezin number of operator matrices. We also prove some new Berezin number inequalities for general n × n operator matrices.Further, we establish several upper bounds for Berezin number and generalized Euclidean Berezin number for off-diagonal operator matrices. Finally, some interesting examples are discussed.     

NMR Reveals That a Highly Reactive Nonheme FeIV=O Complex Retains Its Six-Coordinate Geometry and S=1 State in Solution

The [Fe^IV(O)(Me₃NTB)]²⁺ (Me₃NTB=tris[(1-methyl-benzimidazol-2-yl)methyl]amine) complex 1 has been shown by Mössbauer spectroscopy to have an S=1 ground state at 4 K, but is proposed to become an S=2 trigonal-bipyramidal species at higher temperatures based on a DFT model to rationalize its very high C−H bond-cleavage reactivity. In this work, ¹H NMR spectroscopy was used to determine that 1 does not have C₃-symmetry in solution and is not an S=2 species. Our results show that 1 is unique among nonheme Fe^IV=O complexes in retaining its S=1 spin state and high reactivity at 193 K, providing evidence that S=1 Fe^IV=O complexes can be as reactive as their S=2 counterparts. This result emphasizes the need to identify factors besides the ground spin state of the Fe^IV=O center to rationalize nonheme oxoiron(IV) reactivity.     

“Dial-In” Emission from a Unique Flexible Material with Polarization Tuneable Spectral Intensity

The development of organic photoluminescent materials, which show promising roles as catalysts, sensors, organic light-emitting diodes, logic gates, etc., is a major demand and challenge for the global scientific community. In this context, a photoclick polymerization method is adopted for the growth of a unique photoluminescent three-dimensional (3D) polymer film, E, as a model system that shows emission tunability over the range 350–650 nm against the excitation range 295–425 nm. The DFT analysis of energy calculations and π-stacking supports the spectroscopic observations for the material exhibiting a broad range of emission owing to newly formed chromophoric units within the film. Full polarization spectroscopic Mueller matrix studies were employed to extract and quantify the molecular orientational order of both the ground (excitation) and excited (emission) state anisotropies through a set of newly defined parameters, namely the fluorescence diattenuation and fluorescence polarizance. The information contained in the recorded fluorescence Mueller matrix of the organic polymer material provided a useful way to control the spectral intensity of emission by using pre- and post-selection of polarization states. The observation was based on the assumption that the longer lifetime of the excited dipolar orientation is attributed to the compactness of the film.     

From Glucose to Polymers: A Continuous Chemoenzymatic Process

Efforts to synthesize degradable polymers from renewable resources are deterred by technical and economic challenges; especially, the conversion of natural building blocks into polymerizable monomers is inefficient, requiring multistep synthesis and chromatographic purification. Herein we report a chemoenzymatic process to address these challenges. An enzymatic reaction system was designed that allows for regioselective functional group transformation, efficiently converting glucose into a polymerizable monomer in quantitative yield, thus removing the need for chromatographic purification. With this key success, we further designed a continuous, three-step process, which enabled the synthesis of a sugar polymer, sugar poly(orthoester), directly from glucose in high yield (73 % from glucose). This work may provide a proof-of-concept in developing technically and economically viable approaches to address the many issues associated with current petroleum-based polymers.