Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenjie Zhang, Huihao Wu, Qiuzhe Ping, Ruolan Wen, Yue Jin
Summary: This study aimed to enrich anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) in the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process. Red mud-based carriers were positively charged with FeCl3 and microbial promoters for faster AnAOB enrichment. The experimental results showed significantly increased nitrogen removal rates compared to commercially available carriers. Electrostatic attraction played a leading role in loading AnAOB, and an increase in surface roughness and specific area of the carriers, as well as the presence of certain ions, were necessary for AnAOB growth. The leaching of Cr(VI) promoted the nitrogen removal effect of AnAOB.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qingxin Zhang, Haitao Lei, Hongbo Guo, Yabo Wang, Yimei Gao, Wei Zhang, Rui Cao
Summary: This study investigates the effects of positively charged substituents on the hydrogen evolution reaction and finds that this effect can improve the activity and selectivity of the CO2 reduction reaction. This provides insights for the design of HER catalysts and has important implications for the design of catalysts for CO2RR.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
V. Ya Martens
Summary: This study investigates the conditions for a positively charged electron beam and examines two types of axially symmetric beams. Experimental results suggest that the accumulation of ions in the second type of beam is three times greater than in the first type, as evidenced by measurements of the radial potential distribution in the drift tube.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Baochao Fan, Jun Gu, Bin Deng, Weilu Guo, Shuaifeng Zhang, Li Li, Bin Li
Summary: This article introduces a new subunit vaccine design strategy that can serve as an antigen carrier and adjuvant to induce high-level immune responses, with the potential to be a safe vaccine nanocarrier.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Meraj H. Khan, Jan Joseph Melenhorst
Summary: This study reveals that the positively charged patches on the surface of CAR antigen-binding domain regulate CAR tonic signaling, offering a direction for further optimization of CAR.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Haoran Zhou, Jung-Min Ji, Hwan Kyu Kim
Summary: Two porphyrin-based sensitizers, SGT-028 and SGT-029, were designed and synthesized via acceptor engineering for application in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Despite similar absorption range and energy band gap to the reference dye SGT-021, SGT-029 achieved a higher power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 10.5% compared to SGT-028 with 9.1%, but was inferior to the benchmark porphyrin sensitizer SGT-021 (12.7%).
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Gergely Kali, Soheil Haddadzadegan, Flavia Laffleur, Andreas Bernkop-Schnuerch
Summary: Oral delivery is a beneficial route for drug administration, but the short gastrointestinal residence time limits the systemic uptake of poorly absorbed drugs. In this study, we synthesized per-thiolated B-cyclodextrin (CD) as a mucoadhesive drug carrier to prolong the GI residence time. The thiolation of CD increased its mucoadhesive properties on intestinal mucosa. In vivo studies showed significantly higher quantities of per-thiolated B-CD compared to unmodified B-CD in different parts of the rat gastrointestinal tract.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Zuobing Xiao, Yaqi Zhang, Yunwei Niu, Qinfei Ke, Xingran Kou
Summary: Cyclodextrins are natural cyclic compounds that are edible and biocompatible, capable of encapsulating essential oils, flavors, and other substances to improve their solubility and stability. The development of CD/volatile compound nanosystems is crucial in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xin Zhu, Boyu Wang, Wan Xiong, Shuyao Zhou, Kai Qu, Jing-Tao Lu, Hongliang Chen, Chuancheng Jia, Xuefeng Guo
Summary: This study focuses on the significance of intermolecular charge transport in electronics and biochemical systems. By designing supramolecular dimer structures, the effects of charge state and energy level on charge transport under nanoconfinement are investigated. It is found that thermally-induced vibrations enhance incoherent tunneling in positively charged systems and the transition between coherent and incoherent tunneling is associated with specific molecular vibration modes.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongliang Chen, Vitor Brasiliense, Jingshan Mo, Long Zhang, Yang Jiao, Zhu Chen, Leighton O. Jones, Gen He, Qing-Hui Guo, Xiao-Yang Chen, Bo Song, George C. Schatz, J. Fraser Stoddart
Summary: This study introduces a new electrostatic anchoring strategy that forms robust gold-molecule-gold structures and demonstrates electron injection-induced redox switching in single-molecule junctions. These mechanisms could lay the foundation for a new class of redox-activated single-molecule switches.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aleksandra Kotynia, Aleksandra Marciniak, Wojciech Kamysz, Damian Neubauer, Edward Krzyzak
Summary: In this project, the interaction between positively charged oligopeptides and crucial blood plasma proteins was studied using experimental characterization and molecular docking studies. The peptides investigated are rich in NH2 groups of amino acid side chains and have therapeutic properties. The binding interactions with blood plasma components, such as albumin, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and gamma-globulin fraction, were investigated under pseudo-physiological conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ouassef Nahi, Alexander Broad, Alexander N. Kulak, Helen M. Freeman, Shuheng Zhang, Thomas D. Turner, Lucien Roach, Robert Darkins, Ian J. Ford, Fiona C. Meldrum
Summary: Incorporating cationic additives within inorganic single crystals offers a unique strategy for creating nanocomposites with tailored properties. This approach allows for the successful incorporation of various guest components within the crystals, resulting in nanocomposites with new functional properties. Cationic additives outperform their acidic counterparts in terms of colloidal stability and affinity for crystal surfaces, making them highly effective in a wider range of crystal systems.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Melissa Marques Goncalves, Daniela Florencio Maluf, Roberto Pontarolo, Cyro Ketzer Saul, Eyad Almouazen, Yves Chevalier
Summary: The nanoprecipitation of hydrogel nanoparticles by complex coacervation was studied using the chitosan-polyphosphate pair of polyelectrolytes at pH 4. Different polyphosphates with varying molar masses and electrical charges were investigated as alternatives to tripolyphosphate. By inverting the order of mixing, negatively charged nanoparticles with diameters of 100-200 nm could be precipitated. This charge inversion allowed for more efficient encapsulation of positively charged proteins, such as bovine serum albumin.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiawei Lin, Liang Chen, Jielai Yang, Xingchen Li, Juan Wang, Yuan Zhu, Xiangyang Xu, Wenguo Cui
Summary: This study presents a functional hydrogel microsphere designed for efficient drug delivery to joints. The microspheres exhibit targeting properties, cartilage penetration, and cellular phagocytosis, addressing the challenges of drug delivery in damaged tissues. The microspheres can be adsorbed onto the cartilage surface and release drugs over an extended period of time, effectively improving drug delivery efficiency and delaying the development of osteoarthritis.
Article
Polymer Science
Mengmeng Zhang, Min Ren, Yuping Zhang, Zaiyan Hou, Simeng Liu, Lianbin Zhang, Jiangping Xu, Jintao Zhu
Summary: This report proposes a method to regulate the shape and structure of block copolymer microparticles by using core-crosslinked nanoparticles and a cationic surfactant. By manipulating the electrostatic repulsive interactions, the microparticles undergo a shape transformation from striped Janus ellipsoids to onion-like microspheres. This work provides a simple strategy to control the morphology of block copolymers by manipulating the electrostatic interaction.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Martin Lamac, David Dunlop, Kamil Lang, Pavel Kubat
Summary: This study found that cationic zirconium and hafnium metallocenes can serve as efficient singlet oxygen photosensitizers, showing high production rates of O-2((1)Delta(g)). On the other hand, neutral zirconium complexes and some cationic titanium derivatives exhibited lower efficiency in generating O-2((1)Delta(g)).
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kaplan Kirakci, Daniel Buzek, Petra Peer, Vojtech Liska, Jiri Mosinger, Ivana Krizova, Matous Kloda, Sona Ondrusova, Kamil Lang, Jan Demel
Summary: The study introduced a polymeric nanostructured membrane that released elemental iodine to combat pathogenic bacteria and viruses. The membrane exhibited strong antibacterial and antiviral properties, showcasing a potential avenue for the development of MOF-based materials for biological applications.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Arijit Jana, Madhuri Jash, Wakeel Ahmed Dar, Jayoti Roy, Papri Chakraborty, Ganesan Paramasivam, Sergei Lebedkin, Kaplan Kirakci, Sujan Manna, Sudhadevi Antharjanam, Jan Machacek, Monika Kucerakova, Sundargopal Ghosh, Kamil Lang, Manfred M. Kappes, Tomas Base, Thalappil Pradeep
Summary: This study presents a new class of thermally stable tetranuclear copper nanoclusters (Cu-4@oCBT, Cu-4@mCBT and Cu-4@ICBT) with tunable solid-state luminescence. They exhibit bright phosphorescence in their crystalline forms. Cu-4@oCBT and Cu-4@mCBT are green emitting, while Cu-4@ICBT is orange emitting. DFT calculations reveal the nature of their electronic transitions. Cu-4@oCBT and Cu-4@mCBT are thermally stable up to 400 degrees C, while Cu-4@ICBT is structurally flattened.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Zoran M. Markovic, Milica D. Budimir, Martin Danko, Dusan D. Milivojevic, Pavel Kubat, Danica Z. Zmejkoski, Vladimir B. Pavlovic, Marija M. Mojsin, Milena J. Stevanovic, Biljana M. Todorovic Markovic
Summary: In this study, carbon quantum dots were prepared from o-phenylenediamine dissolved in toluene by a solvothermal route, and then encapsulated into polyurethane films by a swelling-encapsulation-shrink method. The precursor was found to have a significant influence on the structural, chemical, and optical properties. Antibacterial and cytotoxicity tests showed low antibacterial potential and dark cytotoxicity, while cellular uptake experiments confirmed the potential use of these dots as bioimaging probes.
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Kaplan Kirakci, Michael A. Shestopalov, Kamil Lang
Summary: Over the past decades, the luminescent octahedral molybdenum, tungsten, and rhenium cluster complexes with the general formula [{M6Li8}La6]n have gained significant attention for their potential applications in photofunctional materials design. These complexes exhibit red phosphorescence with high quantum yields, sensitivity to oxygen, and production of singlet oxygen, O2(1Dg). The wide range of ligands allows for precise tuning of their physico-chemical, photophysical, and biological properties for various applications such as photodynamic therapy and photoinactivation of bacteria.
COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Joanna E. Olszowka, Pavel Kubat, Jiri Dedecek, Edyta Tabor
Summary: Our luminescence studies demonstrate that the four cooperating aluminum atoms located at neighboring six-membered rings in the ferrierite framework can be easily distinguished. The presence of neighboring cobalt ions stabilized by the second ring effectively quenches luminescent zinc ions accommodated by one aluminum pair of the 6-MR ring. This quenching, occurring through energy transfer, enables estimation of the critical radius of zinc-cobalt interactions, providing direct evidence of the arrangement of the four aluminum atoms in the ferrierite framework.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Marie Kodedova, Vojtech Liska, Jiri Mosinger, Hana Sychrova
Summary: In this study, sulfonated polystyrene nanoparticles encapsulating a tetraphenylporphyrin photosensitizer were found to exhibit strong antifungal effects. Activation of the photosensitizer by visible light generated singlet oxygen, enhancing its antifungal action. Additionally, the presence of potassium iodide further potentiated the antifungal activity by producing I2/I3-. The nanoparticles showed no dark toxicity and demonstrated a broad spectrum of antifungal photodynamic effects.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Bela Urban, David Dunlop, Robert Gyepes, Pavel Kubat, Kamil Lang, Michal Horacek, Jiri Pinkas, Ludmila Simkova, Martin Lamac
Summary: Neutral zirconocene complexes were synthesized and converted to their cationic counterparts by chloride abstraction. The cationic complexes exhibited enhanced luminescence properties. The structures of the complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, their electrochemistry was investigated by cyclic voltammetry, and their photophysical properties were studied with quantum-chemical calculations.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Regis Guegan, Xiaoxue Cheng, Xiang Huang, Zuzana Nemeckova, Michaela Kubanova, Jaroslav Zelenka, Tomas Ruml, Fabien Grasset, Yoshiyuki Sugahara, Kamil Lang, Kaplan Kirakci
Summary: The photoinactivation of pathogenic bacteria using materials generating reactive oxygen species upon exposure to visible light can overcome the challenge of multidrug-resistant microbial pathogens. A nanocomposite material consisting of graphene oxide sheets adorned with nanoaggregates of octahedral molybdenum cluster complexes has been developed. The electrostatic interaction and close cohesion between the components in aqueous medium contributed to the potent antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus upon illumination with blue light. The photoinduced electron transfer from the nanoaggregates to the graphene oxide sheets triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species, making graphene oxide and light-harvesting octahedral molybdenum cluster complexes promising for effective antibacterial strategies.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Evgeniya D. Novikova, Ekaterina V. Pronina, Yuri A. Vorotnikov, Lyubov S. Adamenko, Alexander Y. Alekseev, Aleksander M. Shestopalov, Alphiya R. Tsygankova, Tatiana Ya. Gusel 'nikova, Pavel Kubat, Kaplan Kirakci, Kamil Lang, Michael A. Shestopalov
Summary: In this study, textile materials composed of cotton fabrics and octahedral molybdenum cluster complex were prepared, showing photo-activated antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. The fabrics exhibited high stability with negligible washing out during laundering and produced singlet oxygen upon light irradiation, resulting in persistent antipathogenic activity against various microorganisms, including COVID-19 and influenza B viruses.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Regis Guegan, Xiaoxue Cheng, Xiang Huang, Zuzana Nemeckova, Michaela Kubanova, Jaroslav Zelenka, Tomas Ruml, Fabien Grasset, Yoshiyuki Sugahara, Kamil Lang, Kaplan Kirakci
Summary: The emergence of multidrug-resistant microbial pathogens poses a significant threat to effective antibiotic therapy. Photoinactivation using materials generating reactive oxygen species upon exposure to visible light can overcome this challenge by targeting vital components of living cells, reducing the likelihood of resistance development.
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Alexis Verger, Gilles Dollo, Nolwenn Brandhonneur, Sophie Martinais, Stephane Cordier, Kamil Lang, Maria Amela-Cortes, Kaplan Kirakci
Summary: Efficient intracellular uptake of the photosensitizer is necessary for photodynamic applications. In this study, PEGylated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles loaded with an octahedral molybdenum cluster complex were prepared. The encapsulated complexes maintained their photocytotoxic activity and exhibited high colloidal stability, making them potential agents for photodynamic therapy.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kaplan Kirakci, Robert Pola, Marina Rodrigues Tavares, Michal Pechar, Tomas Pribyl, Ivana Krizova, Jaroslav Zelenka, Tomas Ruml, Tomas Etrych, Kamil Lang
Summary: This study successfully conjugated octahedral molybdenum clusters with organic polymers, resulting in a highly stable nanosized conjugate. The conjugate demonstrated the ability to photosensitize the production of singlet oxygen without being toxic to cells. It also showed potential as a radiosensitizer upon X-ray irradiation. This research provides a promising therapeutic tool for photo/radiodynamic applications.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Faiza Diaba, Gisela Trenchs
Summary: The first violet light-mediated synthesis of gamma- and delta-lactams from N-alkenyl trichloroacetamides is reported in this paper. The reactions are conducted in tetrahydrofuran or 2-methyltetrahydrofuran as the sole solvent without catalysts or additives, under non-anhydrous conditions in an air atmosphere where the solvent serves as the radical initiator.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Feroze Hussain, Sajjad Ahmed, Ashiq Hussain Padder, Qazi Naveed Ahmed
Summary: This study reports a novel and efficient one-pot synthesis method for mixed phosphorotrithioates, which does not require supplementary additives and shows broad applicability.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Hyunjin Oh, Ikyon Kim
Summary: A new 1,2,4-triazole-pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine hybrid system, 6-acylpyrrolo[1,2-a][1,2,4]triazolo[5,1-c]pyrazine, was synthesized using a catalyst-free method. This method involved sequential exposure of pyrrole-2-carbonitrile-derived substrates to DMF-DMA and acyl hydrazide, resulting in the formation of acylated pyrazine and 1,2,4-triazole rings, enabling the installation of various substituents at specific positions on the core skeleton.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Ming Yan, Si-fan Wang, Yong-po Zhang, Jin-zhong Zhao, Zhuo Tang, Guang-xun Li
Summary: Here we developed an efficient photocatalytic approach for the convenient preparation of sulfinamides. The reaction allows for the gram-scale preparation of sulfinamides and the one-pot synthesis of various sulfonyl amides.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Farzaneh Bandehali-Naeini, Zahra Tanbakouchian, Noushin Farajinia-Lehi, Nicolas Mayer, Morteza Shiri, Martin Breugst
Summary: Two tandem catalytic systems were developed for the synthesis of novel 3,4-disubstituted maleimides using the same Ugi adducts. Different maleimide structures can be synthesized using either Pd or Cu catalysis.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Tanya Raghava, Anjan Chattopadhyay, Subhadeep Banerjee, Nivedita Sarkar
Summary: Amine substitution of two ortho fluorine atoms of tetrafluoroterephthalonitrile through SNAr chemistry is easily achievable. But further fluorine substitution is only possible under forcing conditions, yielding valuable fluorophores for bioimaging.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Review
Chemistry, Organic
Anju Chadha, Santosh Kumar Padhi, Selvaraj Stella, Sowmyalakshmi Venkataraman, Thangavelu Saravanan
Summary: Alcohol dehydrogenases are enzymes that use cofactors for oxidation or reduction reactions of alcohols or carbonyl compounds. They are utilized in green chemistry and have applications in the production of pharmaceuticals. Recombinant enzymes have solved the challenge of producing purified enzymes in large quantities. Engineered alcohol dehydrogenases have been used in asymmetric synthesis in industry. Various methods have been established for regenerating expensive cofactors to make the enzymatic process more efficient and economically viable.
ORGANIC & BIOMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY
(2024)
