Thermal decomposition study on mixed ligand thymine complexes of divalent nickel(II) with dianions of some dicarboxylic acids

Thermal decomposition of mixed ligand thymine (2,4-dihydroxy-5-methylpyrimidine) complexes of divalent Ni(II) with aspartate, glutamate and ADA (N-2-acetamido)iminodiacetate dianions was monitored by TG, DTG and DTA analysis in static atmosphere of air. The decomposition course and steps of complexes [Ni(C₅H₆N₂O₂)(C₄H₅NO₄)²⁻(H₂O)₂]·H₂O, [Ni(C₅H₆N₂O₂)(C₅H₇NO₄)²⁻(H₂O)₂]·H₂O and [Ni(C₅H₆N₂O₂)(C₆H₈N₂O₅)²⁻(H₂O)₂]·1.5H₂O were analyzed. The final decomposition products are found to be the corresponding metal oxides. The kinetic parameters namely, activation energy (E*), enthalpy (ΔH*), entropy (ΔS*) and free energy change of decomposition (ΔG*) are calculated from the TG curves using Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger equations. The stability order found for these complexes follows the trend aspartate > ADA > glutamate.     

Preparation and characterization of (Pebax 1657 + silica nanoparticle)/PVC mixed matrix composite membrane for CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/N<Subscript>2</Subscript> separation

In this work, the films of poly(ether-block-amide) (Pebax 1657) and hydrophilic/hydrophobic silica nanoparticles (0–10 wt%) were coated on a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) ultrafiltration membrane to form new mixed matrix composite membranes (MMCMs) for CO₂/N₂ separation. The membranes were characterized by SEM, FTIR, DSC and XRD. Successful formation of a non-porous defect-free dense top layer with ~4 μm of thickness and also uniform dispersion of silica nanoparticles up to 8 wt% loading in Pebax matrix were confirmed by SEM images. The gas permeation results showed an increase in the permeance of all gases and an increase in ideal CO₂/N₂ selectivity with the increase in silica nanoparticle contents. Comparison between the incorporation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic silica nanoparticle into Pebax matrix revealed that the great enhancement of CO₂ solubility is the key factor for the performance improvement of Pebax + silica nanoparticle membranes. The best separation performance of the hydrophilic silica nanoparticle-incorporated Pebax/PVC membrane for pure gases (at 1 bar and 25 °C) was obtained with a CO₂ permeability of 124 barrer and an ideal CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 76, i.e., 63 and 35% higher than those of neat Pebax membrane, respectively. The corresponding values for hydrophobic silica nanoparticle-incorporated Pebax/PVC membrane were 107 barrer for CO₂ permeability and 61 for ideal CO₂/N₂ selectivity. Also the performances of MMCMs improved upon pressure increase (1–10 bar) owing to the shift in plasticizing effect of CO₂ towards the higher pressures. In addition, an increase in permeabilities with a decrease in ideal selectivity was observed upon temperature increase (25–50 °C) due to the intensification of chain mobility.     

The effect of 2.1 T static magnetic field on astrocyte viability and morphology

The viability and a number of morphological properties of in situ astrocytes of rat spinal cord cultures including changes in surface area and migration of both cell body and nucleus were investigated at magnetic field intensities comparable to those currently used for magnetic resonance imaging. Viability of rat spinal astrocytes was studied after up to 72 hours of 2.1T static magnetic field exposure. Surface areas and two-dimensional centroids of both soma and nucleus after 2 hours of magnetic field exposure were determined and compared with those of the same cells before magnetic field exposure. Cell membrane ruffling was quantified using fractal analysis.     

Synthesis and Characterisation of Bismuth(III) Aminoarenesulfonate Complexes and Their Powerful Bactericidal Activity against Helicobacter pylori

The synthesis and characterisation of nine new tris‐substituted bismuth(III) aminoarenesulfonates of the general formula [Bi(O₃S‐R^N)₃] (R^N=o‐aminophenyl 1 , m‐aminophenyl 2 , 6‐amino‐3‐methoxyphenyl 3 , p‐aminophenyl 4 , 2‐pyridyl 5 , o‐aminonaphthyl 6 , 5‐aminonaphthyl 7 , 4‐amino‐3‐hydroxynaphthyl 8 and 5‐isoquinolinyl 9 ) is described. Two synthetic strategies, using Ag₂O and [Bi(OtBu)₃], were explored and compared. The possibility to access heteroleptic bismuth(III) complexes with the new silver(I) metathesis reaction is demonstrated with the synthesis of the heteroleptic bismuth(III) aminoarenesulfonate complexes [PhBi(O₃S‐P2)₂(dmso)] 10 , [Ph₂Bi(O₃S‐P2)]_∞ 11 and [PhBi(O₃S‐P2)₂]_∞ 12 , of which the solid state structures 10 and 12 are presented (2P‐SO₃^?=2‐pyridinesulfonate). These complexes offer remarkable in‐vitro activity against three standard laboratory strains of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) as demonstrated by their exceptionally low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.049 μg mL^?1 for the strains 251 and B128, which places most MIC values in the nano‐molar region. These results demonstrate the importance of the amino functionality in addition to the sulfonate group on the bactericidal properties against H. pylori.     

New polypyrrole–carbon nanotubes–silicon dioxide solid‐phase microextraction fiber for the preconcentration and determination of benzene,toluene, ethylbenzene,and o‐xylene using gas liquid chromatography

For the first time, a polypyrrole–carbon nanotubes–silicon dioxide composite film coated on a steel wire was prepared by an electrochemical method. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that this composite film was even and porous. The prepared fiber was used as an absorbent for the headspace solid‐phase microextraction of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o‐xylene, followed by gas chromatographic analysis. This method presented an excellent performance, which was much better than that of a polypyrrole–carbon nanotube fiber. It was found that under the optimized conditions, the linear ranges were 0.01–200 ng/mL with correlation coefficients >0.9953, the detection limits were 0.005–0.020 ng/mL, the relative standard deviations were 3.9–6.4% for five successive measurements with a single fiber, and the reproducibility was 5.5–8.5% (n = 3). Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to real water samples, and the relative recoveries obtained for the spiked water samples were from 91.0 to 106.7%.     

Carnosine to Combat Novel Coronavirus (nCoV): Molecular Docking and Modeling to Cocrystallized Host Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Viral Spike Protein

Aims: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays an important role in the entry of coronaviruses into host cells. The current paper described how carnosine, a naturally occurring supplement, can be an effective drug candidate for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the basis of molecular docking and modeling to host ACE2 cocrystallized with nCoV spike protein. Methods: First, the starting point was ACE2 inhibitors and their structure–activity relationship (SAR). Next, chemical similarity (or diversity) and PubMed searches made it possible to repurpose and assess approved or experimental drugs for COVID-19. Parallel, at all stages, the authors performed bioactivity scoring to assess potential repurposed inhibitors at ACE2. Finally, investigators performed molecular docking and modeling of the identified drug candidate to host ACE2 with nCoV spike protein. Results: Carnosine emerged as the best-known drug candidate to match ACE2 inhibitor structure. Preliminary docking was more optimal to ACE2 than the known typical angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) inhibitor (enalapril) and quite comparable to known or presumed ACE2 inhibitors. Viral spike protein elements binding to ACE2 were retained in the best carnosine pose in SwissDock at 1.75 Angstroms. Out of the three main areas of attachment expected to the protein–protein structure, carnosine bound with higher affinity to two compared to the known ACE2 active site. LibDock score was 92.40 for site 3, 90.88 for site 1, and inside the active site 85.49. Conclusion: Carnosine has promising inhibitory interactions with host ACE2 and nCoV spike protein and hence could offer a potential mitigating effect against the current COVID-19 pandemic.     

Two new zinc(II) and mercury(II) complexes based on N,N′‐(cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylidene)bis(4‐fluorobenzohydrazide): synthesis,crystal structures and antibacterial activities

Reaction of N,N′‐(cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylidene)bis(4‐fluorobenzohydrazide), C₂₀H₁₈F₂N₄O₂, ( L^F ), with zinc chloride and mercury(II) chloride produced different types and shapes of neutral coordination complexes, namely, dichlorido[N,N′‐(cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylidene)bis(4‐fluorobenzohydrazide)‐κ²N,O]zinc(II), [ZnCl₂(C₂₀H₁₈F₂N₄O₂)], ( 1 ), and dichlorido[N,N′‐(cyclohexane‐1,2‐diylidene)bis(4‐fluorobenzohydrazide)‐κ⁴O,N,N′,O′]mercury(II), [HgCl₂(C₂₀H₁₈F₂N₄O₂)], ( 2 ). The organic ligand and its metal complexes are characterized using various techniques: IR, UV–Vis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, in addition to powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), single‐crystal X‐ray crystallography and microelemental analysis. Depending upon the data from these analyses and measurements, a typical tetrahedral geometry was confirmed for zinc complex ( 1 ), in which the Zn^II atom is located outside the bis(benzhydrazone) core. The Hg^II atom in ( 2 ) is found within the core and has a common octahedral structure. The in vitro antibacterial activities of the prepared compounds were evaluated against two different bacterial strains, i.e. gram positive Bacillus subtilis and gram negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The prepared compounds exhibited differentiated growth‐inhibitory activities against these two bacterial strains based on the difference in their lipophilic nature and structural features.