On the Tunability of Toxicity for Viologen‐Derivatives as Anolyte for Neutral Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries

On the Tunability of Toxicity for Viologen-Derivatives as Anolyte for Neutral Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries

Viologen toxicity: The long-established toxicity of the herbicide methyl-viologen raises concern for deployment of viologen-derivatives as anolyte for neutral aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFB) at large scale. Here we show that non-toxic viologen derivatives can be molecularly engineered, holding great promise as safe anolytes for AORFB.


Abstract

Viologen-derivatives are the most widely used redox organic molecules for neutral pH negative electrolyte of redox flow batteries. However, the long-established toxicity of the herbicide methyl-viologen raises concern for deployment of viologen-derivatives at large scale in flow batteries. Herein, we demonstrate the radically different cytotoxicity and toxicology of a series of viologen-derivatives in in vitro assays using model organisms representative of human and environmental exposure, namely human lung carcinoma epithelial cell line (A549) and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results show that safe viologen derivatives can be molecularly engineered, representing a promising family of negolyte materials for neutral redox flow batteries.

Nutraceutical Activity of Anthocyanins from the Edible Berries of Rhamnus pompana

Nutraceutical Activity of Anthocyanins from the Edible Berries of Rhamnus pompana

Front Cover. The berries of Rhamnus pompana are a traditionally consumed by people of the northeastern highlands of Puebla-Mexico as a result of Nahuatl inheritance. These fruits contained five anthocyanins with the capacity to reduce the levels of plasma glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides in mice. Same compounds were able to decrease the specific activity of key enzymes including human ornithine decarboxylase and avoided polyamine accumulation in DLD-1 cancer cells, as reported by Y. Pechaeco-Hernández et al. in their research article at 10.1002/cbdv.202301034.


Application of Biological Nanopore Sequencing Technology in the Detection of Microorganisms

Application of Biological Nanopore Sequencing Technology in the Detection of Microorganisms†


Comprehensive Summary

Environmental pollution and the spread of pathogenic microorganisms pose a significant threat to the health of humans and the planet. Thus, understanding and detecting microorganisms is crucial for maintaining a healthy living environment. Nanopore sequencing is a single-molecule detection method developed in the 1990s that has revolutionized various research fields. It offers several advantages over traditional sequencing methods, including low cost, label-free, time-saving detection speed, long sequencing reading, real-time monitoring, convenient carrying, and other significant advantages. In this review, we summarize the technical principles and characteristics of nanopore sequencing and discuss its applications in amplicon sequencing, metagenome sequencing, and whole-genome sequencing of environmental microorganisms, as well as its in situ application under some special circumstances. We also analyze the advantages and challenges of nanopore sequencing in microbiology research. Overall, nanopore sequencing has the potential to greatly enhance the detection and understanding of microorganisms in environmental research, but further developments are needed to overcome the current challenges.

Structure, interaction with biomolecules, and cytotoxicity of copper (II) complexes chelating some Schiff base ligands

Structure, interaction with biomolecules, and cytotoxicity of copper (II) complexes chelating some Schiff base ligands

The interactions of Cu (II) complexes with Schiff bases as ligands and DNA (ct-DNA/Salmon Sperm DNA) were investigated using electronic absorption, spectroscopic fluorescence method, and viscosity measurements and investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Cytotoxicity analyses were performed on human colorectal carcinoma HCT-166 and healthy lung fibroblast MRC-5.


Cancer remains one of the most common diseases worldwide in terms of deaths and claims many lives every day. Transition metal complexes are candidates in the development of anticancer drugs, with cisplatin being used in chemotherapy worldwide. Copper, an endogenous metal, is known for its pronounced redox potential and nucleophilicity, especially when bound to biological molecules. Cu (II) complexes were synthesized containing ethane-1,2-diamine as amine moiety and pentane-2,4-dione and/or 1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione, pentane-2,4-dione and/or 1,1,1-trifluoropentane-2,4-dione or 1,1,1-trifluoropentane-2,4-dione and/or 1-phenylbutane-1,3-dione as β-diketone moiety. Standard methods were used to confirm the structure of complexes 1–6. X-ray crystal structure analysis characterized complex 1 containing the ligand ethane-1,2-diamine and pentane-2,4-dione. The interactions of complexes 16 with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) were followed by electronic absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy methods and by viscosity measurements. In contrast, interaction with Salmon Sperm DNA was investigated using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The results indicate a moderate affinity of complexes 1–6 for binding to DNA. Gel electrophoresis also shows that the studied complexes have a concentration-dependent interaction with DNA. Spectroscopic fluorescence techniques were used to monitor the affinity of the complexes for bovine serum albumin (BSA). Complexes 16 showed satisfactory binding ability for BSA. Cytotoxicity analyses were performed on the human colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 and healthy lung fibroblast MRC-5 cell lines, showing that complex 5 exhibited selectivity between cancer and normal cells, which is critical for drug development.

Cationic conjugated oligomers for efficient and rapid antibacterial photodynamic therapy via both Type I and Type II pathways

Comprehensive Summary

Recently, photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted wide attention due to its less susceptibility to drug resistance, broad-spectrum biocidal activity and biosafety in normal tissues. However, the traditional photosensitizers (PSs) face the disadvantage of poor therapeutic efficacy due to the requirement of an aerobic environment to generate 1O2 through Type ІI pathway. Herein, we designed and synthesized a novel cationic conjugated oligomer OPV and studied its antibacterial photodynamic activity against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive bacteria methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Importantly, the OPV can rapidly produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) through double pathways, Type I and II mechanism under white light irradiation, and efficiently kill E. coli and MRSA at a nanomolar level. The dual type photosensitizing capability makes OPV promising for enhanced PDT to treat pathogens and tumors in complex environments.

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Palladium(II)‐Catalyzed Markovnikov Hydroalkynylation of Unactivated Terminal Alkenes

Main observation and conclusion

In this study, we communicate a Pd(II)-catalyzed Markovnikov hydroalkynylation of unactivated terminal alkenes, which provides an efficient method to access branched alkynes in good yields and excellent regioselectivity, where IBX was used as alkynyl reagent and hydrosilane as reducing reagent. After the initial alkene insertion into alkynyl-Pd(II) species, the generated alkyl-Pd(II) was reduced by hydrosilane to give the hydroalkynylation product efficiently. Notably, a pyridine-oxazoline (Pyox) plays a key role in the reactivity and selectivity.

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Synthesis, spectroscopic, molecular docking, theoretical calculations, DNA‐binding, and anticancer activity studies of gold (III), platinum (II), palladium (II), and ruthenium (III) complexes with Girard‐T reagent

Synthesis, spectroscopic, molecular docking, theoretical calculations, DNA-binding, and anticancer activity studies of gold (III), platinum (II), palladium (II), and ruthenium (III) complexes with Girard-T reagent

Preparation of metal complexes of Girard-T hydrazones Geometry optimization, thermal degradation, and biological Studies of investigated compounds 3D molecular docking interaction of GT.O ligand towards the inhibitor to MCF-7 through a ππ stacking between aromatic ring and PHE856


This article details the synthesis of new Girard-T reagent ligands. Condensation of 2-hydroxyacetophenone or 2-acetyl-thiophene with Girard-T reagent results in new hydrazone ligands. The interaction of these Girard-T hydrazones with transition metal chlorides, like Au (III), Ru (III), Pd (II), and Pt (II), produces different complexes. Elements and spectrum analyses (IR, UV–Vis, EI-mass, and 1H NMR) were used to characterize the isolated solid complexes, as well as conductimetric and magneto-chemical studies. Metal complexes can have different geometrical configurations, including square planar and octahedral coordination. The DMOL3 method, which is a part of the Material Studio package, was also utilized for structure optimization. Horowitz–Metzger and Coats–Redfern methods were utilized to calculate the various thermodynamic and kinetic parameters. The ligands and the complexes of their metal were evaluated for anticancer activity against carcinoma cervix (Prostate) and the mammary gland female breast (MCF-7) cell line having cancer, with promising results. Among these compounds, the Ru (III) and Pt (II) complexes' anticancer activity against (MCF-7) cell lines, comparable with that of 5-fluorouracil were carried out and their interactions were performed by molecular docking simulations against MCF-7 (PDB ID: 3W2S) receptor.