Interactions of zinc(II) complexes with 5′-GMP and their cytotoxic activity

The mechanism of substitution from tetrahedral [ZnCl₂(en)] and square-pyramidal [ZnCl₂(terpy)] complexes (where en = 1,2-diaminoethane or ethylenediamine and terpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine) by guanosine-5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP) have been investigated by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The substitution reaction of [ZnCl₂(terpy)] complex is faster than the reaction of [ZnCl₂(en)], which was finished after 48?h. Information about the structures of the final products in solution were obtained from the DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) and experimental ¹H NMR data acquired during the course of the reaction. The cytotoxic activity of zinc(II) complexes was tested on human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231, human colon cancer cell line HCT-116 and normal human lung fibroblast cell line MRC-5. Both complexes reduced cell viabilities, while [ZnCl₂(terpy)] was significantly cytotoxic on MDA-MB-231 after 72?h, and HCT-116 after 24?h without dose dependence. The differences in reactivity toward 5′-GMP and cytotoxic activity of Zn(II) complexes may be attributed to the very stable square-pyramidal geometry of [ZnCl₂(terpy)] in solution, while weak ligand effect of the en compared to the terpy affected slow interaction of tetrahedral [ZnCl₂(en)] complex with the target bio-molecule.     

Hydrogenation/Regioselective C‐Acylation Reaction of Diethyl Coumarin‐3‐phosphonate With NaBH4/Acid Anhydrides: A New One‐Pot Tandem Reaction

The one‐pot tandem reaction of diethyl coumarin‐3‐phosphonate 1 with a mixture of sodium borohydride/acid anhydrides gives mainly the corresponding hydrogenation/acylation product of diethyl 3‐acyl‐2‐oxochroman‐3‐ylphosphonates 3a–d in good yields. Different experimental conditions have been examined to get the best yields of the reaction products. From this reaction the hydrogenation product of diethyl 2‐oxochroman‐3‐ylphosphonate, 2, as well as the products of the consecutive hydrogenation, diethyl 2‐hydroxychroman‐3‐ylphosphonate (4) and diethyl 3‐[2‐hydroxyphenyl]‐1‐hydroxy‐propan‐2‐ylphosphonate (5), have been isolated.     

New phytoactive polymers prepared by polycondensation

Some new poly(ether-ester)s (PEEs) and poly(ether-amide)s (PEAs) with polyether sequences linked by tartrate units have been synthesized. Derivatives bearing residues from the synthetic plant-growth regulator 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) as pendent groups and end-groups have been prepared by esterification of PEEs and PEAs with NAA. Polymers bearing residues from pyridine-2, 6-dicarboxylic acid (a herbicide) in the main chain have been prepared. The hydrolysis has been found to depend on the structure of the polymer carrier, on pH of the medium and on the ability of the polymers to form complexes with polyacids. The phytosanitary activity of the new polymers has been related to the particular features of their hydrolysis behaviour.     

Improved Effort and Cost Estimation Model Using Artificial Neural Networks and Taguchi Method with Different Activation Functions

Software estimation involves meeting a huge number of different requirements, such as resource allocation, cost estimation, effort estimation, time estimation, and the changing demands of software product customers. Numerous estimation models try to solve these problems. In our experiment, a clustering method of input values to mitigate the heterogeneous nature of selected projects was used. Additionally, homogeneity of the data was achieved with the fuzzification method, and we proposed two different activation functions inside a hidden layer, during the construction of artificial neural networks (ANNs). In this research, we present an experiment that uses two different architectures of ANNs, based on Taguchi’s orthogonal vector plans, to satisfy the set conditions, with additional methods and criteria for validation of the proposed model, in this approach. The aim of this paper is the comparative analysis of the obtained results of mean magnitude relative error (MMRE) values. At the same time, our goal is also to find a relatively simple architecture that minimizes the error value while covering a wide range of different software projects. For this purpose, six different datasets are divided into four chosen clusters. The obtained results show that the estimation of diverse projects by dividing them into clusters can contribute to an efficient, reliable, and accurate software product assessment. The contribution of this paper is in the discovered solution that enables the execution of a small number of iterations, which reduces the execution time and achieves the minimum error.     

Novel virtual screening protocol based on the combined use of molecular modeling and electron-ion interaction potential techniques to design HIV-1 integrase inhibitors

HIV-1 integrase (IN) is an essential enzyme for viral replication and represents an intriguing target for the development of new drugs. Although a large number of compounds have been reported to inhibit IN in biochemical assays, no drug active against this enzyme has been approved by the FDA so far. In this study, we report, for the first time, the use of the electron-ion interaction potential (EIIP) technique in combination with molecular modeling approaches for the identification of new IN inhibitors. An innovative virtual screening approach, based on the determination of both short- and long-range interactions between interacting molecules, was employed with the aim of identifying molecules able to inhibit the binding of IN to viral DNA. Moreover, results from a database screening on the commercial Asinex Gold Collection led to the selection of several compounds. One of them showed a significant inhibitory potency toward IN in the overall integration assay. Biological investigations also showed, in agreement with modeling studies, that these compounds prevent recognition of DNA by IN in a fluorescence fluctuation assay, probably by interacting with the DNA binding domain of IN.     

Multifunctional Hybrid Materials From Poly(3‐Hydroxybutyrate), TiO2 Nanoparticles,and Chitosan Oligomers by Combining Electrospinning/Electrospraying and Impregnation

Several types of fibrous material containing poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), nanosized TiO₂‐anatase (nanoTiO₂), and chitosan oligomers are prepared by combining the electrospinning, electrospraying, and impregnation techniques. Simultaneous electrospinning/electrospraying provides uniform distribution of electrosprayed nanoTiO₂ along the PHB fibers and throughout the mat. Hybrid materials of different design manifest excellent photocatalytic activity, even after repeated use. They exhibit high bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli. In addition, the fibrous scaffolds are compatible with human mesenchymal stem cells and provide a favorable environment for their development.

     

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(Oxyethylene)S with (2-Benzoxazolon-3-yl)Acetyl End-Groups. Complex Formation with Polycarboxylic Acids

Abstract

Chemical modification of poly(oxyethylene)s (MW from 600 Da to 3000 Da), leading to the obtaining of poly(oxyethylene)s with (2-benzoxazolon-3-yl)acetyl endgroups, is described. The corresponding diesters were synthesized in high yields-70—84% and degree of esterification-82—92% under mild conditions in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 4-dimethylaminopyridine as catalyst. The diesters were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and IR spectra, and SEC analysis. The relatively narrow molecular weight distribution was retained in the process of chemical modification. The complex formation between polyacrylic or polymeth-acrylic acids and (2-benzoxazolon-3-yl)acetyl derivatives of poly -(oxyethylene)s was studied in dilute aqueous solutions by potentio-metric titration and viscometry. The presence of (2-benzoxazolon-3-yl)acetyl end groups attached to the poly(oxyethylene)s chains results in a significant decrease of the critical poly(oxyethylene) chain length necessary for the formation of stable polymer-polymer complexes.