Synthetic Biomimetic Polymethacrylates: Promising Platform for the Design of Anti-Cyanobacterial and Anti-Algal Agents.

Extensive, uncontrolled growth of algae and cyanobacteria is an environmental, public health, economic, and technical issue in managing natural and engineered water systems. Synthetic biomimetic polymers have been almost exclusively considered antimicrobial alternatives to conventional antibiotics to treat human bacterial infections. Very little is known about their applicability in an aquatic environment.

Author Correction: Anticancer polymers designed for killing dormant prostate cancer cells.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Use of Response Surface Methodology To Develop and Optimize the Composition of a Chitosan-Polyethyleneimine-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Membrane Coating To More Effectively Remove Cr(VI) and Cu(II) from Water.

Response surface methodology was successfully used to optimize the amounts of chitosan (CS), polyethyleneimine (PEI), graphene oxide (GO), and glutaraldehyde (GLA) to produce a multifunctional nanocomposite membrane coating able to remove positively and negatively charged heavy metals, such as Cr(VI) and Cu(II). Batch experiments with different concentrations of the four coating components (GO, CS, PEI, and GLA) on cellulose membranes were carried out with solutions containing 10 ppm Cr(VI) and Cu(II) ions. Reduced quadratic equations for the Cr(VI) and Cu(II) removal were obtained based on the observed results of the batch experiments.

Anticancer polymers designed for killing dormant prostate cancer cells.

The discovery of anticancer therapeutics effective in eliminating dormant cells is a significant challenge in cancer biology. Here, we describe new synthetic polymer-based anticancer agents that mimic the mode of action of anticancer peptides. These anticancer polymers developed here are designed to capture the cationic, amphiphilic traits of anticancer peptides.

A morphological, enzymatic and metabolic approach to elucidate apoptotic-like cell death in fungi exposed to h- and α-molybdenum trioxide nanoparticles.

The present study compares for the first time the effects of h-MoO3 and α-MoO3 against two fungal strains: Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. The h-MoO3 nanoparticles were more toxic to both fungi than α-MoO3. The toxic effects of h-MoO3 were more pronounced toward A.

Designing polymeric adhesives for antimicrobial materials: poly(ethylene imine) polymer, graphene, graphene oxide and molybdenum trioxide - a biomimetic approach.

The synthesis of biocompatible polymers for coating applications has gained significant attention in recent years due to the increasing spread of infectious diseases via contaminated surfaces. One strategy to combat this problem is to apply antimicrobial coatings to surfaces prone to microbial contamination. This study presents a series of biomimetic polymers that can be used as adhesives to immobilize known antimicrobial agents on the surfaces as coatings.

A Cationic Amphiphilic Random Copolymer with pH-Responsive Activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

In this report, we demonstrate the pH-dependent, in vitro antimicrobial activity of a cationic, amphiphilic random copolymer against clinical isolates of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The polymer was developed toward a long-term goal of potential utility in the treatment of skin infections. The proposed mechanism of action of the polymer is through selectively binding to bacterial membranes and subsequent disruption of the membrane structure/integrity, ultimately resulting in bacterial cell death.

Cationic Amphiphilic Polymers with Antimicrobial Activity for Oral Care Applications: Eradication of S. mutans Biofilm.

The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of cationic amphiphilic methacrylate polymers against cariogenic bacterium S. mutans were investigated. Cationic homopolymer PE and copolymer PE containing 31 mol % of ethyl methacrylate were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization.

Scope and limitations of auxiliary-assisted, palladium-catalyzed arylation and alkylation of sp2 and sp3 C-H bonds.

The scope of palladium-catalyzed, auxiliary-assisted direct arylation and alkylation of sp(2) and sp(3) C-H bonds of amine and carboxylic acid derivatives has been investigated. The method employs a palladium acetate catalyst, substrate, aryl, alkyl, benzyl, or allyl halide, and inorganic base in tert-amyl alcohol or water solvent at 100-140 °C. Aryl and alkyl iodides as well as benzyl and allyl bromides are competent reagents in this transformation.

Heterocycle synthesis via direct C-H/N-H coupling.

A method for five- and six-membered heterocycle formation by palladium-catalyzed C-H/N-H coupling is presented. The method employs a picolinamide directing group, PhI(OAc)(2) oxidant, and toluene solvent at 80-120 °C. Cyclization is effective for sp(2) as well as aliphatic and benzylic sp(3) C-H bonds.

Palladium-catalyzed indole, pyrrole, and furan arylation by aryl chlorides.

The palladium-catalyzed direct arylation of indoles, pyrroles, and furans by aryl chlorides has been demonstrated. The method employs a palladium acetate catalyst, 2-(dicyclohexylphosphino)-biphenyl ligand, and an inorganic base. Electron-rich and electron-poor aryl chlorides as well as chloropyridine coupling partners can be used, and arylated heterocycles are obtained in moderate to good yields.