An Abbreviated Synthesis of 7,12-Dimethylbenz[ a ]anthracene and Benzo[ c ]chrysene Metabolites Using the Suzuki Reaction

Efficient syntheses of important metabolites of 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a ]anthracene (DMBA) and benzo[ c ]chrysene (B[ c ]C), via Suzuki coupling reaction are described. This approach provides an excellent method for the preparation of 3-methoxy-DMBA 5 , 10-methoxy-B[ c ]C 14 and 2-methoxy B[ c ]C 20 , and hence for the corresponding dihydrodiols 6 , 15 , and 21 . Following a similar Suzuki reaction, DMBA-6(5 H )-one 8 was also synthesized in high yield.     

A theoretical model of concurrent longitudinal and circumferential superdrawing of hollow polyethylene terephthalate fibers

In a superdrawing process, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) filament is elongated without developing much orientation and crystallization. Exploiting this phenomenon may bring about lower cost, more flexible and faster response in synthetic fiber production. The concurrent longitudinal and circumferential superdrawing phenomenon of PET hollow fibers is explained using the viscoelastic behavior of a thick walled cylinder under an internal pressure and an axial load in a continuous process. The model defines the stress–strain‐displacement relationship of hollow fibers. The fiber undergoes instantaneous radial superdrawing (increase in thickness) in the process zone followed by concurrent circumferential (increase in void) and longitudinal (increase in length) superdrawing. Based on material viscoelastic properties and processing conditions, the model predicts the threadline tension, internal pressure, and final fiber geometries. Excellent agreement of the model with experimental results is observed over a range of processing conditions. The model is developed from a process engineering viewpoint to enable the analysis of the impact of process parameters during superdrawing on fiber properties. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:1773–1779, 2010. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Multiscale modelling of the corrosion of metals under atmospheric corrosion

This paper describes a multiscale (from global to micron) model for the prediction of atmospheric corrosion. The model has a modular structure, in which the higher scales set the boundary conditions for the lower scales, and the lower scales alter some of the constants in the upper scales. The model has primarily been designed for Australian conditions and so focuses on corrosion by marine aerosols. The upper level modules look at aerosol production by oceans and surf beaches, salt transport and deposition, and cleaning events such as rain and wind, to provide an estimate of salt retention on surfaces. Separate modules that define surface temperature, surface relative humidity, and wetting and drying of deposited hygroscopic salts, enable the prediction of the (three-hourly) ‘state’ of a surface, where ‘state’ is defined as dry, wet from rain or wet from the wetting of hygroscopic salts. The state model is combined with a damage model to estimate the progression of damage with time. Currently, damage models are either probabilistic (define the occurrence, growth or death of pits as probability functions) or empirical (define a single relationship between mass loss in a given state on the basis of measured data) in nature, but new experimental and modelling research is being undertaken to develop first-principle models of corrosion under established oxide films.     

Marine Spongia collagens: Protein characterization and evaluation of hydrogel films

Fibrous proteins such as collagens are important raw materials for the production of new bio-based or biomimetic materials. A rich source of collagen is found in the extracellular skeletal matrix of marine or sea sponges, an anatomically simple animal species. This abundant source of collagens was explored for its potential to create a hydrogel suitable as a biomaterial for drug delivery and tissue engineering. Collagen proteins were extracted from the skeletons of hard and soft species of sponges from the Spongia genus. The protein profile, amino acid composition, and partial sequences of the extracted proteins were determined, and the protein extracts were fabricated with chitosan and organic cross-linkers to create hydrogel films. The amino acid compositions and sequences of Spongia collagens are similar to collagens obtained from other species. Spongia collagens are hydrophilic and mechanically fragile. Blending these with chitosan and the organic crosslinkers, genipin and glyceraldehyde, formed blended films with improved mechanical performance and structural integrity and improved stress–strain and water swelling characteristics. These material properties show the potential of the films to be used as hydrogel biomaterials in medical applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47996.     

Potent HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors Containing Carboxylic and Boronic Acids: Effect on Enzyme Inhibition and Antiviral Activity and Protein-Ligand X-ray Structural Studies

We report the synthesis and biological evaluation of phenylcarboxylic acid and phenylboronic acid containing HIV-1 protease inhibitors and their functional effect on enzyme inhibition and antiviral activity in MT-2 cell lines. Inhibitors bearing bis-THF ligand as P2 ligand and phenylcarboxylic acids and carboxamide as the P2′ ligands, showed very potent HIV-1 protease inhibitory activity. However, carboxylic acid containing inhibitors showed very poor antiviral activity relative to carboxamide-derived inhibitors which showed good antiviral IC₅₀ value. Boronic acid derived inhibitor with bis-THF as the P2 ligand showed very potent enzyme inhibitory activity, but it showed lower antiviral activity than darunavir in the same assay. Boronic acid containing inhibitor with a P2-Crn-THF ligand also showed potent enzyme K_i but significantly decreased antiviral activity. We have evaluated antiviral activity against a panel of highly drug-resistant HIV-1 variants. One of the inhibitors maintained good antiviral activity against HIV_DRV^R_P20 and HIV_DRV^R_P30 viruses. We have determined high resolution X-ray structures of two synthetic inhibitors bound to HIV-1 protease and obtained molecular insight into the ligand-binding site interactions.