Synthesis and protein degradation capacity of photoactivated enediynes

[structure: see text] The viability of proteins as targets of thermally and photoactivated enediynes has been confirmed at the molecular level. Model studies using a labeled substrate confirmed the efficacy of atom transfer from diyl radicals produced from enediynes to form captodatively stabilized carbon centered aminoacyl radicals, which then undergo either fragmentation or dimerization. To exploit this finding, a family of enediynes was developed using an intramolecular coupling strategy. Derivatives were prepared and used to target specific proteins, showing good correlation between affinity and photoinduced protein degrading activity. The findings have potential applications in the design of artificial chemical proteases and add to our understanding of the mechanism of action of the clinically important enediyne antitumor antibiotics.     

Application of affinity capillary electrophoresis for the determination of binding and thermodynamic constants of enediynes with bovine serum albumin

The binding constants and thermodynamic properties of a series of novel enediyne compounds with bovine serum albumin (BSA) were determined. The enediynes were synthesized, characterized, and then studied by affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE) methods to derive these recognition parameters. Change in electrophoretic mobility of BSA as a function of enediyne concentration was determined at 25 degrees C providing binding constants of 1.76 x 10(5), 1.14 x 10(5), and 0.68 x 10(5) M(-1) for enediynephenylalanine carboxylic acid, enediynephenylalanine methyl ester, and enediyne carboxylic acid, respectively. The binding constant for the enediynephenylalanine carboxylic acid was in good agreement with that obtained using conventional methodology. Binding constants for the interaction of enediynes with BSA decreased with an increase in temperature. Van't Hoff plots showed a direct correlation between intensity of the binding constant and the sign and magnitude of various thermodynamic parameters (DeltaG, DeltaS, and/or DeltaH).     

Enhancing the Photo and Biomedical Activity of ZnO by Incorporation with Zinc Silicate Nanocomposites

Highly active and non-toxic ZnO incorporated with zinc silicate (zinc silicate/ZnO) nanocomposites are synthesized via a simple and low-cost hydrothermal method followed by heat treatment. Different molar ratios from Si to Zn [1:20], [1:10], [1:8] and [1:6] are used to prepare different zinc silicate/ZnO nano composite materials which are assigned to ZS1, ZS2, ZS3 and ZS4 samples, respectively. The effect of calcination times and temperatures have been investigated on the crystallographic and morphological properties of the synthesized nano composite materials. The XRD analysis show that at very low molar ratios, zincite (ZnO) is the most predominant phase. However, at higher molar ratios, there are two phases coexist; hemimorphite (Zn₄Si₄O₇) and zincite. The TEM images show a uniform nanoplate-like shaped morphology from ZnO with well dispersed Zn₂SiO₄ nanoparticles. The S_BET is remarkably increased from 18.14 to 176.5 m².g⁻¹ by calcination up to 400 °C and then decreased to 72.2 m². g⁻¹ by further increasing in the calcinations temp up to 1,000 °C. The bio and photocatalytic activities of the composite nanomaterials have been investigated. Compared with the pure ZnO, the nano composites have been demonstrated as better photocatalysts for the degradation of Levafex golden yellow (LGY) dye as a model of organic dye pollutant under simulated sunlight irradiation. Moreover, the nano composites were evidenced to possess better and non-toxic antitumor activity towards hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with (IC₅₀ = 11.2 μg.ml⁻¹ and LD₅₀ ˃ 50 mg. Kg⁻¹).     

Capillary isoelectric focusing and affinity capillary electrophoresis approaches for the determination of binding constants for antibodies to the prion protein

For the development of specific immunological assays, the binding of a specific antibody (Ab) to the target antigen (Ag) has to be relatively strong. In this study, we have utilized affinity capillary electrophoresis (ACE), a form of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) to determine the binding constant (Kb) of specific Abs against bovine serum albumin (BSA) and the healthy prion protein (PrPc), in buffer solutions at fixed pHs, approximating in vivo conditions. We have also utilized capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) to determine the complexity and recognition of the various isoforms of PrPc Abs towards their Ag, PrPc. Only ACE and CZE have been used to derive Kb values. The selected Abs for the prion protein can recognize both healthy and diseased states of the protein and are commercially available. The Kb values of PrPc Abs appear to be as strong as the anti-BSA (Ab to BSA) and other reported Kb values for proteins of similar size to PrPc. This appears to be one of the few reports on Kb values for any PrPc Abs, and their applications for in vitro immunoassays (e.g., enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs)). Such assays are being used to detect the infectious agent, PrPres, in brain and related matter/tissues.     

Innovative biotemplates for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles with versatile morphologies

Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology - ZnO nanoparticles with different morphologies were prepared via the biotemplate method. The microstructure of synthesized nanoparticles was found to...     

Sol-gel TiO2 decorated on eggshell nanocrystal as engineered adsorbents for removal of acid dye

Calcined eggshell (CES) food residue was modified by depositing sol-gel titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles with narrow size distribution onto it through in situ precipitation and a novel hybrid nano biosorbent, namely TiO₂-CES, was obtained. The deposition was characterized and the TiO₂-CES nano network was used for efficient adsorption of single azo class anionic dye acid red nylon 57 (AN57) from aqueous solutions and the adsorption was pH dependent. Lower pH favored the sorption at the tested different pHs of 1.0–8.0. The calcination temperature had a cogent influence on the adsorption process. The sorption process reached equilibrium within 40?min, and the mathematical models were positively verified and could be described by a pseudo-second-order pattern, while equilibrium was described with Langmuir-type equation. In addition, the reusability study has proven that 0.5?M HNO₃ was efficient enough to desorb AN57 from the hybrid nano sorbent. All results validated that TiO₂-CES is Eco-Friendly adsorbent material practical treatment of dyes contaminated water.     

N-halamines from rice straw

The cellulosic part of rice straw was modified to develop N-halamine derivatives for disinfection. The process involved cross-linking of the cellulosic material with amino/amide/imide containing compounds; cyclic and acyclic. The structures of the prepared materials were identified using FTIR and solid state ¹³CNMR. The modified materials were halogenated to form N-halamines and the antimicrobial activity of each evaluated against examples of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) using a variety of methods; agar plate, blended agar, stirred flask and in columns. One of the N-halamines achieved a 9 log reduction against both E. coli and S. aureus in 4 h. In addition, no S. aureus growth was recorded on agar plates blended with 0.5 g of this same material.