Effects of 2′,4′-Dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′,5′-dimethylchalcone from Syzygium nervosum Seeds on Antiproliferative,DNA Damage,Cell Cycle Arrest,and Apoptosis in Human Cervical Cancer Cell Lines

2′,4′-Dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′,5′-dimethylchalcone (DMC), a natural product derived from Syzygium nervosum A. Cunn. ex DC., was investigated for its inhibitory activities against various cancer cell lines. In this work, we investigated the effects of DMC and available anticervical cancer drugs (5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and doxorubicin) on three human cervical cancer cell lines (C-33A, HeLa, and SiHa). DMC displayed antiproliferative cervical cancer activity in C-33A, HeLa, and SiHa cells, with IC₅₀ values of 15.76 ± 1.49, 10.05 ± 0.22, and 18.31 ± 3.10 µM, respectively. DMC presented higher antiproliferative cancer activity in HeLa cells; therefore, we further investigated DMC-induced apoptosis in this cell line, including DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis assays. As a potential anticancer agent, DMC treatment increased DNA damage in cancer cells, observed through fluorescence inverted microscopy and a comet assay. The cell cycle assay showed an increased number of cells in the G₀/G₁ phase following DMC treatment. Furthermore, DMC treatment-induced apoptosis cell death was approximately three- to four-fold higher compared to the untreated group. Here, DMC represented a compound-induced apoptosis for cell death in the HeLa cervical cancer cell line. Our findings suggest that DMC, a phytochemical agent, is a potential candidate for antiproliferative cervical cancer drug development.     

Carbon-supported manganese for heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate for the decomposition of phenol in aqueous solutions

Phenolic substances are harmful to humans and other living things, even at low concentrations. Therefore, phenol must be removed from water with the proper process. One of the most effective processes for degrading phenol is heterogeneous catalytic oxidation. Three carbon materials as supports were used to prepare manganese-oxide based catalyst (2.5% MnOx/ACP and 2.5% MnOx/ACN), and graphene oxide (2.5% MnOx/GO). These catalysts were tested for the degradation of phenol in aqueous solution using peroxymonosulfate as a source of sulfate radical. The physio-chemical catalysts were characterised by several characterisation techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction, N₂-sorption (BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with Dispersive Energy X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). In comparison to other catalysts, heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate was more effectively done by 2.5% MnOx/ACP, resulting in a higher production rate of sulfate radicals. In the presence of a catalyst at 0.2 g and 1 g peroxymonosulfate in 500 mL solution at 25 °C, 90% total organic carbon (TOC) removal and phenol decomposition of 100% was achieved in 90 min with phenol concentration of 75 mg/L. First-order kinetics were followed by phenol decomposition with the energy of activation on 2.5% MnOx/ACP of 15.0 kJ/mol.     

SAXS Analysis of Shell Formation During Nanocapsule Synthesis via Inverse Miniemulsion Periphery RAFT Polymerization

Currently available methods for synthesis of polymeric nanocapsules only offer limited control over the shell thickness, even though it is an important parameter for various applications. Furthermore, suitable methods to critically measure this parameter in a facile way are still nonexistent. Here, lab‐scale small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) is utilized to in situ measure the evolution of shell thickness during nanocapsule synthesis via inverse miniemulsion periphery reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization (IMEPP). The measured shell thickness is consistent with estimates from the commonly used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique. Moreover, the individual thicknesses of two concentric shells comprising different polymeric materials (the outer shell formed via IMEPP chain extension of the inner shell) can be determined, thus further demonstrating the versatility of this approach.