Development of isoxazoline-containing peptidomimetics as dual αvβ3 and α5β1 integrin ligands

Isoxazoline-containing peptidomimetics, designed to be effective α(v)β(3) and α(5)β(1) integrin ligands, were synthesized through an original procedure involving N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)hydroxyamine conjugate addition to alkylidene acetoacetates, followed by intramolecular hemiketalization. To mimic the RGD recognition sequence, basic and acidic terminal appendages were introduced, and the final products were tested in cell adhesion inhibition assays. All the synthesized compounds proved to be excellent ligands for both integrin receptors, and a strong influence on intracellular signaling and phosphorylation pathways was demonstrated by evaluation of fibronectin-induced phosphorylation of ERK. The molecular basis of the observed inhibitory activity was suggested on the results of docking experiments.     

Discovery of benzamide analogues as a novel class of 5-HT₃ receptor agonists

A 5-HT? receptor agonist based on a benzamide scaffold was identified in a screening of a small commercial compound library, and an elaborate SAR study originating from this hit was performed. The design, synthesis, and functional characterisation of benzamide analogues at the 5-HT?A receptor yielded substantial information concerning the analogues as 5-HT? receptor agonists. However, the potencies of the derived analogues were not significantly improved over that of the initial hit. The benzamide scaffold constitutes a novel type of 5-HT? receptor agonist, as it does not possess a positively charged functionality, which is essential for the binding of all orthosteric ligands to the receptor. Preliminary investigations suggest that the compounds may exert their effects on 5-HT? receptors by binding to an allosteric site in the receptor complex.     

Stability of fatty acyl-coenzyme a thioester ligands of hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α

Although long-chain fatty acyl-coenzyme A (LCFA-CoA) thioesters are specific high-affinity ligands for hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α (HNF-4α) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα), X-ray crystals of the respective purified recombinant ligand-binding domains (LBD) do not contain LCFA-CoA, but instead exhibit bound LCFA or have lost all ligands during the purification process, respectively. As shown herein: (i) The acyl chain composition of LCFA bound to recombinant HNF-4α reflected that of the bacterial LCFA-CoA pool, rather than the bacterial LCFA pool. (ii) Bacteria used to produce the respective HNF-4α and PPARα contained nearly 100-fold less LCFA-CoA than LCFA. (iii) Under conditions used to crystallize LBD (at least 3 wk at room temperature in aqueous buffer), 16∶1-CoA was very unstable in buffer alone. (iv) In the presence of the respective nuclear receptor (i.e., HNF-4α and PPARα), LBD 70–75% of 16∶1-CoA was degraded after 1 d at room temperature in the crystallization buffer, whereas as much as 94–97% of 16∶1-CoA was degraded by 3 wk. (v) Cytoplasmic LCFA-CoA binding proteins such as acyl-CoA binding protein, sterol carrier protein-2, and liver-FA binding protein slowed the process of 16∶1-CoA degradation proportional to their respective affinities for this ligand. Taken together, these data for the first time indicated that the absence of LCFA-CoA in the crystallized HNF-4α and PPARα was due to the paucity of LCFA-CoA in bacteria as well as to the instability of LCFA-CoA in aqueous buffers and the conditions used for LBD crystallization. Furthermore, instead of protecting bound LCFA-CoA from autohydrolysis like several cytoplasmic LCFA-CoA binding proteins, these nuclear receptors facilitated LCFA-CoA degradation.     

Discovery of 4-benzylamino-substituted α-carbolines as a novel class of receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Within the last decade, interest in the development of new anticancer drugs increased mainly from emerging resistance against established drugs, which were found to be limited by the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenomenon. Several anticancer targets have been investigated for the development of structurally new drugs which were thought to be unaffected by the MDR phenomenon. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) make up one interesting group of anticancer targets. The overexpression and mutation of RTKs lead to an ongoing stimulus of cell growth and cancer progression. Early approaches to selective inhibition of single RTKs were generally disappointing in clinical studies, due in part to occurring resistance. Therefore, a new strategy involves the identification of multi‐kinase inhibitors to slow the development of potential resistance. Moreover, the expected side effects of the first nonselective inhibitors were less dramatic than had been expected. We have discovered novel 4‐benzylamino‐α‐carbolines as a new class of RTK inhibitors. Docking studies suggest a binding mode to the addressed target structures of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and to the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Selectivity profiling against a panel of kinases and antiproliferative studies have highlighted one inhibitor, active in the nanomolar range, as a highly interesting candidate for further clinical studies.     

Platinum/3,3´-thiodipropionic acid nanoparticles as recyclable catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of trans-cinnamaldehyde

Platinum nanoparticles as spherical aggregates were prepared by the reduction of a Pt(II) salt with hydrazine using 3,3´-thiodipropionic acid as a protective agent, and characterized by IR, XRF, XRD, and SEM where agglomerates have been visualized. The average crystallite size was 6 nm. For the first time such nanoparticles were evaluated as catalysts in the hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes. Hydrogenation of trans-cinnamaldehyde yielded cinnamyl alcohol with a selectivity of up to 83% at complete substrate conversion. At 30 °C, the catalyst could be recycled and reused for three runs with only slight losses in activity and selectivity.     

The kinetic analysis of optimization and selective transportation of Cu(Ⅱ) ions with TNOA as carrier by MDLM system

This study covers the transportation of Cu(Ⅱ) ions by multi-dropped liquid membrane(MDLM) system and tri-noctylamine(TNOA) as carrier in kerosene. Batch experiments are held to obtain optimum conditions for the transportation of Cu(Ⅱ) ions such as volume of donor, organic, and acceptor phase 100 ml, p H of donor phase9.00, temperature 298.15 K, concentration of H_2SO_4 in acceptor phase 1.00 mol·L~(-1), concentration of TNOA in organic phase 5.00 × 10~(-3)mol·L~(-1)and rate of peristaltic pump 50 ml·min~(-1). Optimum circumstances of this extraction are as follows: p H of donor phase is 9.00, concentration of TNOA is 5.00 × 10~(-3)mol·L~(-1),1.00 mol·L~(-1)H_2SO_4 as acceptor phase, and flux rate is 50 ml·min~(-1). Cu(Ⅱ) ion transportation is consecutive first order irreversible reaction. Activation energy is found as 5.22 kcal·mol-1(21.82 k J·mol~(-1), this process is called as diffusion controlled system. Selective transportation of Cu(Ⅱ) ions with alkaline, alkaline earth, and different heavy metal ions at optimum conditions of single Cu(Ⅱ) extraction was conducted. According to the selective transportation Cu(Ⅱ) ions with alkaline and alkaline earth metal ions, Na~+, K~+, and Ba~(2+)ions are not detected in the acceptor phase, but 12.00% of Ca~(2+)ions is transported from donor phase to acceptor phase. At the end of the simultaneous extraction of Zn(Ⅱ), Fe(ⅡI), and Mo(VI) with Cu(Ⅱ) ions, 2.20% of Mo(VI), 0.80% of Fe(Ⅲ) and 3.60% of Zn(Ⅱ) are detected in the acceptor phase.     

Size-controlled Pd nanoparticles supported on α-Al2O3 as heterogeneous catalyst for selective hydrogenation of acetylene

Size-controlled Pd nanoparticles （PdNPs） were synthesized in aqueous solution, using sodium car-boxymethyl cellulose as the stabilizer. Size-controlled PdNPs were supported onα-Al2O3 by the incipient wetness impregnation method. The PdNPs onα-Al2O3 support were in a narrow particle size distribution in the range of 1-6 nm. A series of PdNPs/α-Al2O3 catalysts were used for the selective hydrogenation of acetylene in ethylene-rich stream. The results show that PdNPs/α-Al2O3 catalyst with 0.03%（by mass） Pd loading is a very effective and sta-ble catalyst. With promoter Ag added, ethylene selectivity is increased from 41.0%to 63.8%at 100 ＆#176;C. Comparing with conventional Pd-Ag/α-Al2O3 catalyst, PdNPs-Ag/α-Al2O3 catalyst has better catalytic performance in acety-lene hydrogenation and shows good prospects for industrial application.     

A ¹⁸F-labeled fluorobutyl-substituted spirocyclic piperidine derivative as a selective radioligand for PET Imaging of sigma₁ receptors

In this study, we synthesized and evaluated a new spirocyclic piperidine derivative 3 , containing a 4‐fluorobutyl side chain, as a PET radioligand for neuroimaging of σ₁ receptors. In vitro, compound 3 displayed high affinity for σ₁ receptors (K_i=1.2 nM ) as well as high selectivity. [¹⁸F] 3 radiosynthesis was performed from the corresponding tosylate precursor, with high radiochemical yield (45–51 %), purity (>98 %), and specific activity (>201 GBq μmol^?1). Metabolic stability of [¹⁸F] 3 in the brain of CD‐1 mice was verified, and no penetration of peripheral radiometabolites into the cerebral tissue was observed. Results of ex vivo autoradiography revealed that the distribution of [¹⁸F] 3 in the brain corresponded to regions with high σ₁ receptor density. The highest region‐specific total‐to‐nonspecific ratio was determined in the facial nucleus (4.00). Biodistribution studies indicated rapid and high levels in brain uptake of [¹⁸F] 3 (2.2 % ID per gram at 5 min p.i.). Pre‐administration of haloperidol significantly inhibited [¹⁸F] 3 uptake into the brain and σ₁ receptor‐expressing organs, further confirming in vivo target specificity.     

Synthesis, evaluation, and mechanism of N,N,N-trimethyl-D-glucosamine-(1→4)-chitooligosaccharides as selective inhibitors of glycosyl hydrolase family 20 β-N-acetyl-D-hexosaminidases

GH20 β-N-acetyl-D-hexosaminidases are enzymes involved in many vital processes. Inhibitors that specifically target GH20 enzymes in pests are of agricultural and economic importance. Structural comparison has revealed that the bacterial chitindegrading β-N-acetyl-D-hexosaminidases each have an extra +1 subsite in the active site; this structural difference could be exploited for the development of selective inhibitors. N,N,Ntrimethyl-D-glucosamine (TMG)-chitotriomycin, which contains three GlcNAc residues, is a natural selective inhibitor against bacterial and insect β-N-acetyl-D-hexosaminidases. However, our structural alignment analysis indicated that the two GlcNAc residues at the reducing end might be unnecessary. To prove this hypothesis, we designed and synthesized a series of TMG-chitotriomycin analogues containing one to four GlcNAc units. Inhibitory kinetics and molecular docking showed that TMG-(GlcNAc)(2), is as active as TMG-chitotriomycin [TMG-(GlcNAc)(3)]. The selective inhibition mechanism of TMG-chitotriomycin was also explained.     

Ag–Cu–BTC prepared by postsynthetic exchange as effective catalyst for selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde

A mixed-node MOF catalyst Ag–Cu–BTC was prepared by postsynthetic exchange (PSE) method. It is believed that PSE method can realize isomorphous replacement of Ag ion to framework Cu ion in Cu–BTC successfully. The catalytic performance of Ag–Cu–BTC was investigated via selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde by molecular oxygen in the absence of solvent and initiator. This catalyst exhibits good catalytic performance: on the premise of keeping highly selective catalysis of Cu–BTC for toluene oxidizing to benzaldehyde, the introduction of Ag (Ag content is 2.76 wt.%) can promote toluene conversion from 6.5% to 12.7%.     

Development of a high-performance polysulfone hybrid ultrafiltration membrane using hydrophilic polymer-functionalized mesoporous SBA − 15 as filler

A novel polysulfone hybrid ultrafiltration membrane was developed by blending hydrophilic poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate] [P(PEGMA)] grafted mesoporous SBA-15 [SBA-g-P(PEGMA)] as filler. The hydrophilic SBA-g-P(PEGMA) fillers were synthesized via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization. The effects of the SBA-g-P(PEGMA) fillers on the prepared hybrid membranes were systematically investigated. Compared with pristine SBA-15 fillers, SBA-g-P(PEGMA) fillers contributed to higher hydrophilicity and a more developed pore structure in the hybrid membranes. Specifically, SBA-15 grafted with a moderate P(PEGMA) molecular weight could better preserve the valid open-ended filler pore structure in the membrane matrix, thus facilitating membrane permeability. The pure water flux of the as-prepared polysulfone (PSF)/SBA-g-P(PEGMA) membrane was three times that of the PSF/SBA-15 membrane (271.7 L m⁻² h⁻¹ vs. 88.2 L m⁻² h⁻¹) with similar membrane selectivity. Moreover, the PSF/SBA-g-P(PEGMA) membranes showed improved antifouling property. This work paves the way for developing high-performance hybrid membranes by blending of hydrophilic polymer-functionalized mesoporous fillers in the future. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47353.     

An erbium–organic framework as an adsorbent for the fast and selective adsorption of methylene blue from aqueous solutions

The applicability of erbium–metal–organic framework (Er-MOF) in the adsorption and removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution has been studied. Er-MOF was synthesized by hydrothermal method and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction. The high thermal stability, water stability and accessible nano-sized aperture for the Er-MOF could endow it with a very high potential in adsorption of dye pollutant. The adsorption isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic investigations confirm that the adsorption behavior is based on Langmuir isotherm with an exothermic mechanism and enthalpy-driven process. The speed adsorption process (30 min), low cost, high efficiency, big surface area, selectivity and very high and rapid reusability are the main advantages of the proposed compound as a sorbent.     

High-affinity, selective σ ligands of the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,4'-silaspiro[naphthalene-1,4'-piperidine] type: syntheses, structures, and pharmacological properties

The 1'-organyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrospiro[naphthalene-1,4'-piperidine] derivatives 1?a-4?a [for which organyl=benzyl (1?a), 4-methoxybenzyl (2?a), 2-phenylethyl (3?a), or 3-methylbut-2-enyl (4?a)] are high-affinity, selective σ? ligands. The corresponding sila-analogues 1?b-4?b (replacement of the carbon spirocenter with a silicon atom) were synthesized in multistep syntheses, starting from dichlorodivinylsilane, and were isolated as the hydrochlorides 1?b?HCl-4?b?HCl. Compounds 1?a?HCl-4?a?HCl and 1?b?HCl-4?b?HCl were structurally characterized by NMR spectroscopy (1H, 13C, 2?Si) in solution, and the C/Si analogues 3?a?HCl and 3?b?HCl were studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These structural investigations were complemented by computational studies. The σ? and σ? receptor affinities of the C/Si pairs 1?a/1?b-4?a/4?b were studied with radioligand binding assays. The σ? receptor affinity of the silicon compounds 1?b-4?b is slightly higher than that of the corresponding carbon analogues 1?a-4?a. Because affinity for the σ? receptor is decreased by the C/Si exchange, the σ?/σ? selectivity of the silicon compounds is considerably improved, indicating that the C→Si switch strategy is a powerful tool for modulating both pharmacological potency and selectivity.     

Preparation and ionic conduction of CaZr1−xScxO3−α ceramics

A series of CaZr_1−xSc_xO_3−α (x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) perovskite oxide ceramics were successfully fabricated at 1400 °C for 10 h and then further sintered at 1650 °C for 10 h via a solid-state reaction sintering process. Conductivities of the ceramics were measured under the atmosphere that contains 1% H₂/Ar and 5.63 kPa H₂O/Ar by the electrochemical impedance spectra technique. It was found that the conductivities of CaZr_1−xSc_xO_3−α (x=0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15) ceramics increased with the increase of the measuring temperature, and the conductivity achieved its maximum value of 2.03×10⁻⁵–6.5×10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ when the doping amount of Sc (x) was 0.10. Additionally, element doping can increase the conductivities and decrease the conductivity activation energies of CaZr_1−xSc_xO_3−α ceramics. The results of transport number measurement indicated that the CaZr_0.9Sc_0.1O_3−α is almost a pure protonic conductor at 500–750 °C, while it is a mixed protonic-oxygen ionic-electronic conductor at 750–1300 °C.     

Insight into the Structural Determinants of Imidazole Scaffold-Based Derivatives as TNF-α Release Inhibitors by in Silico Explorations

Presently, 151 widely-diverse pyridinylimidazole-based compounds that show inhibitory activities at the TNF-α release were investigated. By using the distance comparison technique (DISCOtech), comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA), and comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA) methods, the pharmacophore models and the three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships (3D-QSAR) of the compounds were explored. The proposed pharmacophore model, including two hydrophobic sites, two aromatic centers, two H-bond donor atoms, two H-bond acceptor atoms, and two H-bond donor sites characterizes the necessary structural features of TNF-α release inhibitors. Both the resultant CoMFA and CoMSIA models exhibited satisfactory predictability (with Q² (cross-validated correlation coefficient) = 0.557, R²_ncv (non-cross-validated correlation coefficient) = 0.740, R²_pre (predicted correlation coefficient) = 0.749 and Q² = 0.598, R²_ncv = 0.767, R²_pre = 0.860, respectively). Good consistency was observed between the 3D-QSAR models and the pharmacophore model that the hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonds play crucial roles in the mechanism of actions. The corresponding contour maps generated by these models provide more diverse information about the key intermolecular interactions of inhibitors with the surrounding environment. All these models have extended the understanding of imidazole-based compounds in the structure-activity relationship, and are useful for rational design and screening of novel 2-thioimidazole-based TNF-α release inhibitors.     

Development of real-time state estimators for reaction–separation processes: A continuous flash fermentation as a study case

The development of reliable on-line state estimators applicable to reaction–separation processes is addressed in this work. Artificial Neural Network-based software sensors (ANN-SS) are proposed to allow on-line measurement of key variables, with an estimation algorithm that uses secondary variables as inputs. A continuous laboratory-scale flash fermentation for bioethanol production is considered as a case study. The process consists of three interconnected units: fermentor, filter (tangential microfiltration for cell recycling) and vacuum flash vessel (for the continuous separation of ethanol from the broth). The concentrations of ethanol in the fermentor and of ethanol condensed from the flash are successfully monitored on-line using ANN-SS. The proposed model contributes to improve the understanding of the complex relationships between process variables in the reaction and separation units, which is of major importance to allow the operation of the ethanol production process near its optimum performance.