G-Hemin-loaded 2D nanosheets for combined and targeted chemo-photodynamic cancer therapy.

Synergetic combination therapy is emerging as one of the most promising approaches for cancer treatment. Among the various therapeutic approaches, PDT has received particular attention due to its non-invasive nature. However, the therapeutic performance of PDT is severely affected by tumour hypoxia.

The hematopoietic stem cell expansion niche in fetal liver: Current state of the art and the way forward.

Hematopoietic development goes through a number of embryonic sites that host hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells with function required at specific developmental stages. Among embryonic sites, the fetal liver (FL) hosts definitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) capable of engrafting adult hematopoietic system and supports their rapid expansion. Hence, this site provides an excellent model to understand the cellular and molecular components of the machinery involved in HSC-proliferative events, leading to their overall expansion.

Bimetallic DNAsome Decorated with G-DNA as a Nanozyme for Targeted and Enhanced Chemo/Chemodynamic Cancer Therapy.

Cancer is indisputably one of the major threats to mankind, and hence the design of new approaches for the improvement of existing therapeutic strategies is always wanted. Herein, the design of a tumor microenvironment-responsive, DNA-based chemodynamic therapy (CDT) nanoagent with dual Fenton reaction centers for targeted cancer therapy is reported. Self-assembly of DNA amphiphile containing copper complex as the hydrophobic Fenton reaction center results in the formation of CDT-active DNAsome with Cu-based Fenton catalytic site as the hydrophobic core and hydrophilic ssDNA protrude on the surface.

Multifunctional siRNA/ferrocene/cyclodextrin nanoparticles for enhanced chemodynamic cancer therapy.

The therapeutic outcome of chemodynamic therapy (CDT) is greatly hindered by the presence of oxidative damage repair proteins (MTH1) inside cancer cells. These oxidative damage repair proteins detoxify the action of radicals generated by Fenton or Fenton-like reactions. Hence, it is extremely important to develop a simple strategy for the downregulation of MTH1 protein inside cancer cells along with the delivery of metal ions into cancer cells.

Quest for Active Species in Al/B-Catalyzed CO Hydrosilylation.

We demonstrate the catalytic role of aluminum and boron centers in aluminum borohydride [(2-MeCHCH)(CH)Al(μ-H)B(CH)] () during carbon dioxide (CO) hydrosilylation. Preliminary investigations into CO reduction using [(2-MeNCHCH)(H)Al(μ-H)] () and [PhC][B(3,5-CHCl)] () in the presence of EtSiH and PhSiH resulted in CH(OSiR) and CHOSiR, which serve as formaldehyde and methanol surrogates, respectively. In pursuit of identifying the active catalytic species, three compounds, B(3,5-CHCl) (), [(2-MeNCHCH)(3,5-CHCl)Al(μ-H)B(3,5-CHCl)] (), and [(2-MeNCHCH)Al(THF)][B(3,5-CHCl)] (), were isolated.

F NMR ON/OFF nanoparticles: a universal approach for the specific detection of DNA-binding cancer biomarkers.

A supramolecular approach for the design of assembly-disassembly-driven F ON/OFF nanoparticles, triggered by specific molecular recognition, for the detection of DNA binding cancer biomarkers is reported. The key to our design strategy is the characteristic F NMR signal of the probe, which completely vanishes in the aggregated state due to the shortening of relaxation. However, molecular recognition of DNA by the cancer biomarkers through specific molecular recognition results in the disassembly of the nanoparticles, which causes the restoration of the characteristic F signal of the probe.

Ketone-derived 2,3-dihydroquinazolinones in -heteroarene C-H alkylation C-C bond scission under oxidative metal catalysis.

A silver-catalysed oxidative sp C-H alkylation of -heteroarenes with ketone-derived 2,3-dihydroquinazolinones at room temperature is developed. The combination of a metal catalyst and perdisulfate oxidant promotes the rarely explored thermal activation of pre-aromatic 2,3-dihydroquinazolinone to generate an alkyl radical, supported by mechanistic studies. In addition to the broad scope, good functionality tolerance, late stage functionalization of APIs, and synthesis of a novel Papaverine analogue, the utilization of an -heteroarene C-H bond and ketone as a non-trivial alkyl radical source represents the salient feature of this method.

Phage-tail-like bacteriocins as a biomedical platform to counter anti-microbial resistant pathogens.

Phage Tail Like bacteriocins (PTLBs) has been an area of interest in the last couple of years owing to their varied application against multi-drug resistant (MDR), anti-microbial resistant (AMR) pathogens and their evolutionary link with the dsDNA virus and bacteriophages. PTLBs are defective phages derived from Myoviridae and Siphoviridae phages, PTLBs are distinguished into R-type (Rigid type) characterized by a non-flexible contractile nanotube resembling Myoviridae phage contractile tails, and F-type (Flexible type) with a flexible non-contractile rod-like structure similar to Siphoviridae phages. In this review, we have discussed the structural association, mechanism, and characterization of PTLBs.

Blue-emissive two-component supergelator with aggregation-induced enhanced emission.

Two-component organogels offer several advantages over one-component gels, but their design is highly challenging. Hence, it is extremely important to design new approaches for the crafting of two-component organogels with interesting optical and mechanical properties. Herein, we report the design of a new class of two-component supergelators obtained from the assembly between acid functionalized tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based dendrons and alkylated melamine.

Are ion channels potential therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease (PD) is primarily associated with the progressive neurodegeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra region of the brain. The resulting motor symptoms are managed with the help of dopamine replacement therapies. However, these therapeutics do not prevent the neurodegeneration underlying the disease and therefore lose their effectiveness in managing disease symptoms over time.

Galactose Grafted Two-Dimensional Nanosheets as a Scaffold for the In Situ Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles: A Potential Catalyst for the Reduction of Nitroaromatics.

Two major hurdles in NP-based catalysis are the aggregation of the NPs and their recycling. Immobilization of NPs onto a 2D support is the most promising strategy to overcome these difficulties. Herein, amphiphilicity-driven self-assembly of galactose-hexaphenylbenzene-based amphiphiles into galactose-decorated 2D nanosheet is reported.

Boosting Self-interaction of Molecular Vibrations under Ultrastrong Coupling Condition.

In this letter, we investigated the modification of the oscillator strength of an asymmetric stretching band of CS by strong coupling to an infrared cavity photon. This is achieved by placing liquid CS in a Fabry-Perot resonator and tuning the cavity mode position to match the molecular vibrational transition. Ultrastrong coupling leads to an increase in the effective oscillator strength of the asymmetric stretching band of CS.

Understanding and exploiting uniparental genome elimination in plants: insights from Arabidopsis thaliana.

Uniparental genome elimination (UGE) refers to the preferential exclusion of one set of the parental chromosome complement during embryogenesis following successful fertilization, giving rise to uniparental haploid progeny. This artificially induced phenomenon was documented as one of the consequences of distant (wide) hybridization in plants. Ten decades since its discovery, attempts to unravel the molecular mechanism behind this process remained elusive due to a lack of genetic tools and genomic resources in the species exhibiting UGE.

Biotin-decorated NIR-absorbing nanosheets for targeted photodynamic cancer therapy.

Targeted photodynamic therapy (PDT) is one of the promising approaches for the selective killing of cancerous cells without affecting the normal cells, and hence designing new strategies for targeted PDT is extremely important. Herein we report the design and synthesis of a new class of nanosheets derived from the self-assembly of the iodo-BODIPY-biotin conjugate as a photosensitizer for targeted PDT applications. The nanosheet exhibits a high extinction coefficient in the NIR region, high singlet oxygen efficiency, no toxicity in the dark and cell targeting ligands (biotin) on the surface, which are necessary features required for an ideal photosensitizer.

Natural epialleles of Arabidopsis SUPERMAN display superwoman phenotypes.

Epimutations are heritable changes in gene function due to loss or gain of DNA cytosine methylation or chromatin modifications without changes in the DNA sequence. Only a few natural epimutations displaying discernible phenotypes are documented in plants. Here, we report natural epimutations in the cadastral gene, SUPERMAN(SUP), showing striking phenotypes despite normal transcription, discovered in a natural tetraploid, and subsequently in eleven diploid Arabidopsis genetic accessions.

DNA-π Amphiphiles: A Unique Building Block for the Crafting of DNA-Decorated Unilamellar Nanostructures.

The unparalleled ability of DNA to recognize its complementary strand through Watson and Crick base pairing is one of the most reliable molecular recognition events found in natural systems. This highly specific sequence information encoded in DNA enables it to be a versatile building block for bottom-up self-assembly. Hence, the decoration of functional nanostructures with information-rich DNA is extremely important as this allows the integration of other functional molecules onto the surface of the nanostructures through DNA hybridization in a highly predictable manner.

Phototheranostic DNA micelles from the self-assembly of DNA-BODIPY amphiphiles for the thermal ablation of cancer cells.

Design of phototheranostic agents in a single step approach is one of the challenges in cancer therapy. Herein, a one-step strategy based on amphiphilicity-driven self-assembly of DNA-BODIPY amphiphiles for the design of a new class of micelles, which offer all three phototheranostic functions, is reported. These include (i) strong emission at NIR (φf = 30%) for imaging, (ii) high photothermal conversion (η = 52%) for PTT and (iii) an ssDNA-based shell for the integration of cell targeting moieties.

Efficient Capturing of Polycyclic Aromatic Micropollutants From Water Using Physically Crosslinked DNA Nanoparticles.

Design and synthesis of physically (non-covalently) cross-linked nanoparticles through host-guest interaction between β-CD and adamantane is reported. Specific molecular recognition between β-CD functionalized branched DNA nanostructures (host) and a star-shaped adamantyl-terminated 8-arm poly(ethylene glycol) polymer (guest) is explored for the design of the nanoparticles. The most remarkable structural features of DNA nanoparticles include their excellent biocompatibility and the possibility of various non-covalent interactions with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic molecules.

Self-Assembly of an Aptamer-Decorated, DNA-Protein Hybrid Nanogel: A Biocompatible Nanocarrier for Targeted Cancer Therapy.

Nanocarrier-based chemotherapy is one of the most efficient approaches for the treatment of cancer, and hence, the design of new nanocarriers is very important. Herein, the design of a new class of physically cross-linked nanoparticles (nanogel) solely made of biomolecules including DNA, protein, and biotin as a nanocarrier for the targeted cancer therapy is reported. A specific molecular recognition interaction between biotin and streptavidin is explored for the cross-linking of a DNA nanostructure for the crafting of a nanogel.

DNA-Decorated, Helically Twisted Nanoribbons: A Scaffold for the Fabrication of One-Dimensional, Chiral, Plasmonic Nanostructures.

Crafting of chiral plasmonic nanostructures is extremely important and challenging. DNA-directed organization of nanoparticle on a chiral template is the most appealing strategy for this purpose. Herein, we report a supramolecular approach for the design of DNA-decorated, helically twisted nanoribbons through the amphiphilicity-driven self-assembly of a new class of amphiphiles derived from DNA and hexaphenylbenzene (HPB).

The B-box bridge between light and hormones in plants.

Plant development is meticulously modulated by interactions between the surrounding environment and the endogenous phytohormones. Light, as an external signal coordinates with the extensive networks of hormones inside the plant to execute its effects on growth and development. Several proteins in plants have been identified for their crucial roles in mediating light regulated development.

DNA-Decorated Two-Dimensional Crystalline Nanosheets.

Design and synthesis of high aspect ratio 2D nanosheets with surface having ultradense array of information-rich molecule such as DNA is extremely challenging. Herein, we report a universal strategy based on amphiphilicity-driven self-assembly for the crafting of high aspect ratio, 2D sheets that are densely surface-decorated with DNA. Microscopy and X-ray analyses have shown that the sheets are crystalline.

Genome Elimination by Tailswap CenH3: In Vivo Haploid Production in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Artificial production of haploids is one of the important sought-after goals of plant breeding and crop improvement programs. Conventionally, haploid plants are generated by in vitro (tissue) culture of haploid plant gametophytes, pollen (male), and embryo sac (female). Here, we describe a facile, nontissue culture-based in vivo method of haploid production through seeds in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana.