Shifting surface plasmon resonance wavelength to the far-ultraviolet region with aluminum-based sensors.

A novel aluminum (Al)-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor operating in the far-ultraviolet (FUV, <200 nm) region has been developed. By utilizing a thinner Al film compared to previously reported deep-ultraviolet (DUV, <300 nm) SPR sensors, the SPR wavelength was effectively maintained within the FUV region across various liquids. In the presence of resonant molecules, the SPR wavelength shift was notably enhanced.

Carbon dioxide, global boiling, and climate carnage, from generation to assimilation, photocatalytic conversion to renewable fuels, and mechanism.

The increasing CO concentration in the atmosphere has substantial impacts on the global temperature. For energy sustainability and minimization of the effects of global warming, an approach to understand CO capturing and a carbon neutral culture is extremely essential in the present circumstances. The CO emission from vehicles and industries can be minimized using energy cost-effective techniques and can be converted more selectively into reusable fuels via thermochemical, electrochemical, photochemical, photocatalytic, electrocatalytic, biological and inorganic carbonate-based approaches.

Antimicrobial biodegradable packaging films from phosphorylated starch: A sustainable solution for plastic waste.

This study focused on developing biodegradable packaging films based on starch as an alternative to non-biodegradable such as petroleum-derived synthetic polymers. To improve its physicochemical properties, potato starch was chemically modified through phosphorylation. Starch phosphorylation was carried out using cyclic 1,3-propanediol phosphoryl chloride (CPPC), produced phosphorylated starch (PS), and analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

Named reaction in carbohydrate chemistry: A review.

Central to the synthetic organic chemist's armoury are the organic/inorganic reagents which are employed to effect a broad range of structural changes. Herein, we report a collection of 29 organic named reactions applicable in the carbohydrate chemistry, arranged in alphabetical order. In this contribution, we have displayed general schemes, examples and probable reaction mechanism for each chemical reaction.

Design, synthesis, and antiviral activity of fragmented-lapatinib aminoquinazoline analogs towards SARS-CoV-2 inhibition.

The severe impact of COVID-19 on global health and economies highlights the critical need for innovative treatments. Recently, lapatinib, a drug initially used for breast cancer, has been identified as a potential inhibitor of the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2, meriting further investigation. Utilizing rational design strategies and guided by MD simulations, we developed novel aminoquinazoline analogs based on fragmented lapatinib's structure.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of (E)-1-(4-(2-(1H-pyrazol-5-yl)vinyl)phenyl) derivatives as next generation selective RET inhibitors overcoming RET solvent front mutations (G810C/R).

RET is a well-recognized drug target for cancer treatment. Despite the promising efficacy of selective second-generation RET inhibitors Selpercatinib and Pralsetinib, the clinical benefits have been compromised due to the quickly developed resistance to these drugs. RET G810 mutations at the solvent front site have been identified as the major on-target mutations contributing to resistance against Selpercatinib and Pralsetinib.

A review on the role of nanocomposites for desulfurization of liquid transportation fuels.

Stringent sulfur removal regulations from transportation fuels from typical levels of 500 ppm to ultra-low levels of 10 ppm (BS-6 standard) present a critical challenge for the crude processing industry. This research thoroughly investigates emerging desulfurization technologies, with a focus on nanocomposite (NC) materials that exhibit exceptional sulfur removal efficiency. Advanced nanocomposite catalysts, such as (TBA)PWFe@TiO@PVA, have near-complete removal rates of 96-99% for complicated sulfur compounds like dibenzothiophene (DBT) and derivatives.

On the formation and stability mechanisms of diverse lipid-based nanostructures for drug delivery.

In the evolving landscape of nanotechnology and pharmaceuticals, lipid nanostructures have emerged as pivotal areas of research due to their unique ability to mimic biological membranes and encapsulate active molecules. These nanostructures offer promising avenues for drug delivery, vaccine development, and diagnostic applications. This comprehensive review explores the complex mechanisms underlying the formation and stability of various lipid nanostructures, including lipid liquid crystalline nanoparticles and solid lipid nanoparticles.

The role of weak interactions in evaluation of inhibitory potential of Indinavir as an HIV protease inhibitor and its comparison with innovative drug candidates.

Designing and employing enzyme inhibitors against viral enzymes is one of the innovative and efficient approaches to treating viral diseases. These inhibitors can disrupt the viral replication cycle by deactivating vital enzymes, thereby curbing the spread of viral infections by reducing their population. So far, inhibitors have been designed, validated, and introduced for these enzymes.

Small-molecule activator of SMUG1 enhances repair of pyrimidine lesions in DNA.

A potentially promising approach to targeted cancer prevention in genetically at-risk populations is the pharmacological upregulation of DNA repair pathways. SMUG1 is a base excision repair enzyme that ameliorates adverse genotoxic and mutagenic effects of hydrolytic and oxidative damage to pyrimidines. Here we describe the discovery and initial cellular activity of a small-molecule activator of SMUG1.

Rationally manipulating molecular planarity to improve molar absorptivity, NIR-II brightness, and photothermal effect for tumor phototheranostics.

The secondary near-infrared region (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) offers a noninvasive and light-controllable treatment option for deep-seated cancers. However, the development of NIR-II photothermal agents (NIR-II PTAs) that possess the desired properties of high molar absorption coefficient (ε), fluorescence quantum yield (QY), and photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) remain a challenge due to the contradiction between radiative and nonradiative processes. Herein, we propose a novel side-chain heteroatom substitution engineering strategy to simultaneously enhance ε, QY, and PCE by modifying the molecular planarity.

Mitigation of ischemia/reperfusion injury via selenium nanoparticles: Suppression of STAT1 to inhibit cardiomyocyte oxidative stress and inflammation.

Ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/RI) following myocardial infarction, a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality, is characterized by detrimental oxidative stress and inflammation. In response, we proposed an I/RI alleviation strategy using the intravenous injection of spherical selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) synthesized by a template method. Single-cell sequencing revealed these proposed SeNPs exhibited exceptional antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, disrupting the STAT1-ROS cycle, therefore preserving mitochondrial respiration and inhibiting caspase-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Novel Pyrrolidine-bearing quinoxaline inhibitors of DNA Gyrase, RNA polymerase and spike glycoprotein.

Anti-infective agents are a class of drugs used to prevent, treat, or control infections caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. They play a crucial role in modern medicine, helping to reduce the severity of infections and, in many cases, save lives. This study aims at the design and synthesis of hybrid compounds containing quinoxaline, pyrrolidine, and an azo bridge to combat antimicrobial resistance, and evaluating their antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral activities against various pathogenic strains.

Fragment-Based Drug Discovery: Small Fragments, Big Impact - Success Stories of Approved Oncology Therapeutics.

Fragment-Based Drug Discovery (FBDD) has revolutionized drug discovery by overcoming the challenges of traditional methods like combinatorial chemistry and high-throughput screening (HTS). Leveraging small, low-molecular-weight fragments, FBDD achieves higher hit rates, reduced screening costs, and faster development timelines for clinically relevant drug candidates. This review explores FBDD's core principles, innovative methodologies, and its success in targeting diverse protein classes, including previously "undruggable" targets.

Design, Synthesis, Biocompatibility, molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies of novel Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carbaldehyde derivatives targeting human IgM Fc Domains.

In this study, three novel derivatives of benzo[b]thiophene-2-carbaldehyde (BTAP1, BTAP2, and BTAP3) were successfully synthesized and comprehensively characterized using spectroscopic techniques including FTIR, UV-VIS, HNMR, and CNMR. Thermal analysis through TGA and DTA demonstrated remarkable thermal stability with a maximum threshold at 270 °C. Spectroscopic investigations revealed π → π* transitions in all compounds, attributed to the conjugated system comprising benzothiophene rings connected to bromophenyl/ aminophenyl/phenol rings via α, β-unsaturated ketone bridges.

Exploring wood-derived biochar potential for electrochemical sensing of fungicides mancozeb and maneb in environmental water samples.

The sustainable material, biochar (BC) from a hardwood source, was synthesized via pyrolysis process at 400 °C (BC400) and 700 °C (BC700) and used as a modifier during the electrochemical sensor design. The prepared BCs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and elemental analysis (CHNS). The development of rapid analytical techniques for detecting pesticides employing a low-cost carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with BC is a novel strategy to provide a sensitive response to water pollution.

CuSeO@f-CNFs: A superoxide nanozyme for the selective nanomolar determination of the key cardiovascular biomarker, Glutathione.

Nanocomposites that mimic the characteristics of enzymes, commonly as nanozymes, can function as an efficient sensing material with high selectivity towards the targeted biological macromolecule. These nanozymes overcome of the challenges that arise when using natural enzymes as sensing material. This study presents a novel nanozyme, Copper Selenite (CuSeO) nanoparticles mounted on f-CNF, to electrochemically determine a potential cardiovascular biomarker, Glutathione (GSH).

Long-term response mechanism of bacterial communities to chemical oxidation remediation in petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated groundwater.

The limited understanding of microbial response mechanism remains as a bottleneck to evaluate the long-term remediation effectiveness of in situ chemical oxidation in contaminated groundwater. In this study, we investigated long-term response of bacterial communities throughout five remediation stages of pre-oxidation, early-oxidation, late-oxidation, early-recovery and late-recovery. By analyzing bacterial biomass, taxa, diversity and metabolic functions, this work identified the consistently suppressed glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase pathway and the enrichment of naphthalene degradation pathways for secondary products, suggesting persistent oxidation stress and enhanced microbial utilization of lower-molecular weight carbon sources at the oxidation and early-recovery stages.

Formulation and biological evaluation of sodium alginate-based films blended with watercress oil: A Promising solution for combating foodborne pathogens and potential food packaging applications.

The main objective of this study is to prepare sodium alginate (SA)-based biofilms incorporated with watercress oil (WCO) as an antimicrobial material for sustainable food packaging. The physicochemical, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of the prepared bio-based films were investigated. The antioxidant activity showed a remarkable increase, with DPPH inhibition increasing from 13.

Experimental and computational analysis of lipophilicity and plasma protein binding properties of potent tacrine based cholinesterase inhibitors.

The lipophilicity of thirteen tacrine/piperidine-4-carboxamide derivatives was assessed using reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography (RP-TLC) with MeOH and acetonitrile (ACN) as organic modifiers. Among the parameters evaluated, the R and C values obtained using MeOH were identified as the most reliable for characterizing the lipophilicity of the investigated compounds. The observed differences in lipophilicity among the derivatives resulted from a delicate interplay of substituent effects (hydrophobicity, polarity, steric hindrance, and electronic effects), positional influence, and characteristics of the organic modifier.

Potential for application of direct thrombin inhibitors isolated from Euphorbia resinifera O.Berg latex in fibrin clot formation.

Direct thrombin inhibitors (designated as EuRL-DTIs) were partially purified from ethanol extracts of Euphorbia resinifera O.Berg latex. The obtained EuRL-DTIs comprised four major compounds: two isomers of phenolic compounds (CHO) and two amide compounds (tentatively identified as CHNO and CHNO), as identified by liquid chromatography and electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS), attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, and/or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.

miR378a-3p in serum extracellular vesicles is associated with pancreatic beta-cell mass in diabetic states.

The condition in which the insulin secretory ability of pancreatic β-cells decreases in diabetes is extremely important, but there are currently no biomarkers that reflect pancreatic β-cell failure. Therefore, we conducted a search for biomarkers, using pancreatic β-cell-specific 3-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) knockout mice, which develop severe hyperglycemia due to a decrease in pancreatic β-cell mass without insulin resistance. The analysis was performed in young mice when metabolic abnormalities were not yet apparent.

Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of prepared thymol@UIO-66 and thymol/ZnONPs@UIO-66 nanoparticles against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A synergistic approach.

This study introduces a novel approach to enhance the antibacterial properties of UIO-66 by incorporating both Thymol and ZnO nanoparticles within its framework which represents a significant advancement like exhibiting a synergistic antibacterial effect, providing a prolonged and controlled release, and mitigating cytotoxicity associated with the release of free ZnO nanoparticles by combining these two antimicrobial agents within a single, well-defined metal-organic framework. UIO-66 frameworks are investigated as carriers for the natural antimicrobial agent, Thymol, and ZnONPs offering a novel drug delivery system for antibacterial applications. Results demonstrated 132, 90, 184, and 223 nm sizes for UIO-66, ZnONPs, UIO-66 encapsulated Thymol, and UIO-66 encapsulated both Thymol and ZnONPs, respectively.

The surface termination of a Fe (III) spin crossover molecular salt.

From a comparison of the known molecular stoichiometry and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), it is evident that the Fe(III) spin crossover salt [Fe(qsal)2Ni(dmit)2], where qsal = N(8quinolyl)salicylaldimine, and dmit2- = 1,3-dithiol-2-thione-4,5-dithiolato has a preferential surface termination with the Ni(dmit)2 moiety. This preferential surface termination leads to a significant surface to bulk core level shift for the Ni 2p X-ray photoemission core level, not seen in the corresponding Fe 2p core level spectra. A similar surface to bulk core level shift is seen in Pd 3d in the related [Fe(qsal)2]2Pd(dmit)2, ], where qsal = N(8quinolyl)salicylaldimine, and dmit2- = 1,3-dithiol-2-thione-4,5-dithiolato.

Morphogenesis of Aragonite Biomineral Structures by the Nonclassical Colloidal Crystal Growth Mechanism Revisited on the Nanoscale: The Noah's Ark Shell (, L.) Case Study.

Characterization and formation of the biomineral aragonite structures of the Noah's Ark shell ( L.,1758) were studied from structural, morphogenetic, and biochemical points of view. Structural and morphological features were examined using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy, while thermal properties were determined by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses.