Journal of the Iranian Chemical Society最新文献

In this research, we have successfully synthesized the ZnO/MgO nanocomposite with two different concentrations, 1:1 and 1:2 ratios, via. a phytoextract mediated simple, efficient and inherent safe and cost-effective method. Both nanomaterials are characterized through XRD, FT-IR, SEM, EDAX, TEM, BET, XPS and UV–Visible studies. The catalytic efficiency of the prepared nanostructures was examined by the photocatalytic removal of crystal violet (CV) dye. The degradation potentials of ZnO/MgO nanocomposites 1:1 and 1:2 ratio were found to be 99.72 and 97.04%, respectively, within 75 min. of sunlight irradiation at pH 9 using 0.6 g/L catalyst for a 30-ppm dye solution. The excellent performance of 1:1 ratio photocatalysts was due to their good optical and textural properties compared to 1:2 ratio. The degradation reactions of CV dye follow first-order kinetics with rate constants of 0.07 and 0.05 min⁻¹ for 1:1 and 1:2 ratio, and both the photocatalysts show admirable recycling ability for four cycles of reactions. The 1:1 ratio nanocomposite expresses significantly greater free radical trapping capability than 1:2 ratio, with a maximum inhibition of 82%. Moreover, the anticancer potential of composite structures has been discovered using MTT assays.

Aristolochic acids (AAs) are known as nephrotoxins found in Aristolochia and Asarum. This paper aims to establish a novel method for the determination of aristolochic acid I (AA-I) and aristolochic acid II (AA-II) in Chinese herbal medicines through derivatization followed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS). The derivatization reaction was performed by adding 1 mL dimethyl sulfoxide, 10 mg K₂CO₃ and 10 μL methyl iodide (CH₃I) to the sample extracts and reacting in the dark at room temperature for 20 min. The derivatization method had many advantages including mild reaction condition, low cost, simple procedure and short derivatization time. The derivatives were determined by GC–MS/MS and the parameters of selective reaction monitoring (SRM) including quantitative ion pairs, fragmentation voltage and ionization energy were optimized in order to enhance the sensitivity. Method validation and application displayed excellent method performance. The linear correlation coefficients (r²) were 0.9997 and 0.9996, the detection limits were 2.5 ng/g and 3.0 ng/g, the relative standard deviations were 4.0% and 3.6%, and the relative recoveries were 94.62% and 93.55% for AA-I and AA-II, respectively. The results showed that the established method was simple, rapid and sensitive which expanded the application of GC–MS/MS in the detection of aristolochic acids in Chinese herbal medicines.

A magnetic Fe₃O₄/MoO₃/CuO nanocomposite (NC) has been prepared via a facile method and used to decompose Methylene Blue and Rhodamine B dyes. The morphology and optical properties of the magnetic NC were obtained by using DRS, XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, TEM, and VSM techniques. Based on the FE-SEM and TEM analysis, the spherical morphology of the Fe₃O₄/MoO₃/CuO NC was identified. Additionally, the band gap energy of the Fe₃O₄/MoO₃/CuO NC was determined, and the absorption wavelength extended into the visible region, as evidenced by the DRS results. Based on the DRS analysis, the bandgap value of Fe₃O₄/MoO₃/CuO NC was equal to 2.8 eV. The low-cost and high-reactive Fe₃O₄/MoO₃/CuO NC was applied for dye degradation as a photocatalyst under sunlight. At the end of the reaction, the NC was readily separated using an external magnetic field and recycled five times without a significant decrease in photocatalytic activity. The degradation percentages of the color solution in presence of Fe₃O₄/MoO₃/CuO NC were achieved to 96% and 91% for MB and RhB, respectively. Moreover, the reusability of the photocatalyst over 5 cycles showing no significant reduction in dye degradation efficiency, indicating its suitability as a photocatalyst for dye degradation. This research demonstrates the Fe₃O₄/MoO₃/CuO NC as a highly efficient and environmentally friendly photocatalytic for the treatment of dye.

Graphical abstract

In a present report, a new method is developed for the conversion of β-nitrostyrenes and β-methyl-β-nitrostyrenes to their related hydrazones via a retro-aza-Henry-type conversion. Ascorbic acid-modified graphene oxide was used as an inexpensive, biocompatible, and metal-free catalyst for this reaction which catalyzed the reaction including the C=C double-bond breaking. Via this reaction, 20 different nitroolefin derivatives were successfully converted to the related hydrazones using 3 equivalents of hydrazine hydrate, 3 mL ethanol as a solvent, and 0.01 g catalyst in 4 h at room temperatures. The obtained yields were excellent and it was between 85 and 100% using both electron-releasing and electron-withdrawing groups in different positions. Moreover, the existence of methyl group at the beta position of the β-nitrostyrenes has no negative effect on the reaction. The synthesized catalyst showed appropriate recoverability, with only a 15% reduction in its efficiency after four runs.

Graphical abstract

Casein (CN), the major milk protein, is a nanovehicle to deliver nutrients like calcium, phosphorus and protein. CN has been used in various forms like caseinates and reassembled micelles, to encapsulate bio-actives for their efficient delivery, although the inherent properties of CN like heat stability, functionality and digestibility are lost in these methods. Hence, present study focuses on utilization of native CN to nanoencapsulate model hydrophobic compound ‘Curcumin’ so as to protect it from degradation during processing and digestion, along with preserving the inherent properties of CN. The method is based on pH manipulation towards alkaline side assisted by solvent and mechanical stirring to facilitate opening of CN micelles to expose hydrophobic interior of micelles. This leads to hydrophobic interaction between the inner core and the curcumin which is also lipophilic in nature. It was then followed by bringing the pH to neutral sides, thereby subsequent closing to regain the original nanostructure of CN micelles with curcumin trapped inside it. The solution so prepared was dried to obtain powdered nanocapsules that have an Z-avg & zeta potential (230.00 ± 1.50 nm, − 20.40 ± 0.48 mV) similar to CN micelles in buffalo skim milk (229.00 ± 1.13 nm, − 20.20 ± 0.86 mV). Transmission electron microscopy images of CN micelles with and without encapsulation were not significantly different again restating the fact that native structure was restored. The characteristic absorbance peak of FTIR around 3508 cm^− 1, which corresponds to the –OH stretching vibration of curcumin, disappeared after encapsulation, due to its reduced stretching and bending, confirming the binding to hydrophobic core of micelles. The encapsulation efficiency of the nanocapsules developed was excellent: 98.65 ± 0.35% in the liquid sample and 99.12 ± 0.12% for the dried formulation. The in vitro digestion studies concluded that approximately 95% of compound released under intestinal conditions; hence, curcumin was released with good bioavailability. Therefore, the curcumin was not only prevented from degradation under environmental and digestibility conditions but also the native structure of micelles was preserved. These types of nanocapsules have the potential to be incorporated in various food products to design functional foods that will have bioactive properties of the encapsulated compound as well as enhanced protein content due to CN.

Graphical abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the adsorption capacities of the acidic dye Congo red (CR) and the basic dye malachite green (MG), which are hazardous to the environment and human health in aquatic environments, using chitosan derived from blue crab shells, which are considered waste materials. By first extracting chitin and then chitosan from blue crabs, the maximum adsorption capacities of these dyes in aquatic solutions were investigated. Parameters such as pH, contact time, initial concentration of MG/CR, and temperature were analyzed. Characterization of the adsorbent was performed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy. The FTIR findings showed that hydrogen bonds and C=O and N–H bending contributed to the adsorption of MG/CR. The equilibrium data were analyzed with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms, and kinetic models were applied. The highest maximum adsorption capacities were 68 mgg⁻¹ for CR at 25 °C and 140 mgg⁻¹ for MG at 45 °C. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that MG adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic, whereas CR adsorption was exothermic. These results show that MG dye has a higher adsorption capacity (140 mgg⁻¹) compared to CR (68 mgg⁻¹) using chitosan derived from blue crab shells.

Graphical abstract

A multi-metal colorimetric and fluorescent probe derived from 5-diethylamino salicylaldehyde and fluoresceinamine was synthesized, characterized and examined for metal ion sensing. In this probe, salicylaldehyde-derived Schiff base subunit provides an "O–N–N" coordination site for metal ion sensing, whereas fluoresceine is functioned as fluorogenic unit. The reported fluorescent probe showed fluorescence "turn-on" in response to metal ions in aqueous media with significant color changes from colorless to light green, yellow green and bright yellow upon binding with Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions, respectively. The synthesized probe simultaneously recognized these metal ions and distinguished by absorption and emission responses with detection limit of 0.25 nM for Cu²⁺, 7.76 nM for Ni²⁺ and 38.22 nM for Zn²⁺ in HEPES buffer-methanol (2:1, v/v) solvent mixture.

A hexagonal honeycomb-structured WO₃-loaded ZnO catalyst was synthesized using a solvothermal method and characterized through various techniques, including FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, UV-Vis, DRS, PL, XPS, and BET measurements. The work novelty for WO₃-loaded ZnO photocatalysts refers to the innovative aspects and new contributions to the field of photocatalysis that come from the combination of tungsten oxide (WO₃) with zinc oxide (ZnO). This composite material is being studied to enhance photocatalytic activity under various conditions, including UV, visible and solar light irradiation. Furthermore, it will increase enhanced photocatalytic efficiency, charge carrier separation, synergistic effect, tuning band gap and energy aligment, durability and stability, etc. The influence of tungsten concentration on the surface morphology, structure, and optical properties was thoroughly investigated. XRD analysis confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite structure, with crystallite size decreasing from 36.95 to 28.11 nm as the WO₃ loading increased. Surface morphology revealed irregularly shaped grains, including chain-like, hexagonal, and spherical nanoparticles with slight size variations. The introduction of tungsten notably altered the properties of ZnO nanoparticles, with the grain size playing a key role in these modifications. Additionally, the band gap decreased with 5 wt% WO₃ loading. Photoluminescence spectra showed an emission at 482 nm, corresponding to blue-green emission bands. Additionally, the synthesized WO₃/ZnO catalyst has also a wonderful photocatalytic performance in the degradation of three azo dyes: NBB, RR 120, and AR 27, when exposed to sunlight. Moreover, WO₃-loaded ZnO nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antibacterial effectiveness against E. coli, S. typhimurium, and P. mirabilis strains.

This study presents the single-step synthesis of a variety of 3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives 1–24 by reacting different phenacyl bromides with 2-aminopyridine in the presence of DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane) as a base. Compounds were characterized by spectroscopic techniques to confirm their structures. All synthetic derivatives were evaluated against important metabolic drug targets, including human carbonic anhydrase I and II, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase enzymes. Pertinent to mention that all the synthetic analogs revealed potent inhibitory strength with K_i values in the range of 104.36—439.41 nM against hCA-I and 119.46—472.35 nM against hCA-II in comparison with the standard acetazolamide K_i = 466.53 ± 41.22 nM (for hCA-I) and K_i = 481.18 ± 33.05 nM (for hCA-II). All compounds showed potent inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase enzyme with IC₅₀ value 247.50—784.32 nM, compared to the standard acarbose = 22,800 nM. In addition, compounds were also identified as potent inhibitors of α-amylase with an IC₅₀ value of 342.67–1011.53 nM compared to the standard acarbose = 10,000 nM. In silico studies of the potential compounds 8, 13, 15, 19, 20, and 21 against hCA-I, hCA-II, α-glycosidase, and α-amylase were performed to assess the enzyme–ligand interactions with the residues of the active-site target enzymes.