Zika Virus NS1 Protein Detection Using Gold Nanoparticle-Assisted Dynamic Light Scattering.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a global health threat due to its rapid spread and severe health implications, including congenital abnormalities and neurological complications. Differentiating ZIKV from other arboviruses such as dengue virus (DENV) is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment. This study presents the development of a biosensor for detecting the ZIKV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with monoclonal antibodies employing dynamic light scattering (DLS). The biosensor named ZINS1-mAb-AuNP exhibited specific binding to the ZIKV NS1 protein, demonstrating high colloidal stability indicated by a hydrodynamic diameter (DH) of 140 nm, detectable via DLS. In the absence of the protein, the high ionic strength medium caused particle aggregation. This detection method showed good sensitivity and specificity, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.96 µg mL-1, and avoided cross-reactivity with DENV2 NS1 and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. The ZINS1-mAb-AuNP biosensor represents a promising tool for the early and accurate detection of ZIKV, facilitating diagnostic and treatment capabilities for arboviral infections.

Copper(II) complexes of a furan-containing aroylhydrazonic ligand: syntheses, structural studies, solution chemistry and interaction with HSA.

Copper(II) complexes have become a potential alternative to the use of platinum drugs in cancer therapy due to their multi-target mode of action. In this context, we report the syntheses of new mononuclear and dinuclear coordination compounds of this element, 1 and 2, derived from the ligand 5-methylsalicylaldehyde 2-furoyl hydrazone (H2L). All three compounds were structurally and spectroscopically characterized, both in the solid state and in solution. In 1, Cu is coordinated by three donor-atoms from the hydrazonic ligand and one chloride ion. H2L is deprotonated at the phenol oxygen. The dinuclear complex 2 is, on the other hand, a dimeric form of 1 in which the chloride ions of a pair of mononuclear units are lost and phenoxo bridges take their places, double-connecting the metal centres and resulting in a single species with the ligand fully deprotonated. The compounds were fairly stable in aqueous medium at room temperature. An experimental-theoretical combined approach demonstrated that all of them are able to bind human serum albumin (HSA), although at different sites and with diverse stoichiometries and affinities (as concluded by the calculated binding energies). In view of this, and due to the well-known antiproliferative activity of hydrazone-containing copper complexes, we consider the compounds presented in here promising, and believe that they deserve more profound studies regarding the assessment of their potential against tumour cell lines.

Effects of the aldehyde-derived ring substituent on the properties of two new bioinspired trimethoxybenzoylhydrazones: methyl vs nitro groups.

N-Acylhydrazones are a versatile class of organic compounds with a diversity of potential applications. In this study, two new structure-related 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl-containing N-acylhydrazones were synthesized and fully characterized, both in solution and in the solid state. The compounds differ with respect to the carbonyl precursors, i.e., 3-substituted salicylaldehydes with either a methyl or a nitro group. Single crystals of both compounds were isolated from the respective mother liquors and, in both cases, XRD confirmed the obtention of the (E)-isomer, in an anti-conformation. Computational calculations (gas and water phases) were performed in order to confirm some of the structural and vibrational aspects of the compounds. An important intramolecular H bond involving the phenolic hydroxy group and the azomethine nitrogen was identified in the solid state and seems to be maintained in solution. Moreover, the presence of the electron-withdrawing nitro substituent makes this interaction stronger. However, the contact should probably not subsist for the nitro compound under physiological conditions since the presence of this substituent significantly affects the pKa of the phenol: an apparent value of 5.68 ± 0.02 was obtained. This also impacts the basicity of the azomethine nitrogen and, as a consequence, increases the hydrazone's susceptibility to hydrolysis. Nevertheless, both compounds are stable at physiological-like conditions, especially the methyl-derived one, which qualifies them for further toxicological and activity studies, such as those involving trivalent metal ions sequestering in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.

Diastereoselectivity Switch During Alkene Reductions: Diastereodivergent Syntheses of Molecular Fossils via MHAT or Homogeneous Catalytic Hydrogenation Reactions.

Sixteen geosterane derivatives were synthesized in up to 57 % overall yields in four steps harnessing the olefin cross-metathesis (OCM) and Metal hydride H atom transfer (MHAT) or homogeneous hydrogenation reactions as key steps. Drawing on this strategy, the diastereomeric ratio (d. r.) reached up to 24 : 1 for the thermodynamic isomer and 7 : 1 for the other isomer in the hydrogenation step. In a geological sample from northeast Brazil, we confirmed the putative structures previously assumed as methyl 2-(3α-5αH-cholestan) acetate, methyl 2-(3ß-5αH-cholestan)acetate, and methyl 6-(3ß-5αH-cholestan)hexanoate, as well three new molecular fossils of approximately 120 million years old. We also proved the migration marking ability of those carboxylic acids derived from forerunner geosteranes during an oil migration event, which suggests their aptitudes as molecular odometers. Our approach demonstrated swiftness and effectiveness in preparing a molecular library of geological biomarkers would also be appropriate to generate stereochemical diversity in molecular libraries for medicinal chemistry and natural product anticipation.

Regioselection Switch in Nucleophilic Addition to Isoquinolinequinones: Mechanism and Origin of the Regioselectivity in the Total Synthesis of Ellipticine.

Ellipticine was synthesized in six steps and 20% global yield starting from the readily available 2,5-dimethoxy isoquinoline. Unprecedented regioselective control of the nucleophilic attack on the isoquinoline-5,8-dione is first described. Investigation of the possible pathways of this transformation through density functional theory calculations reveals unexpected N-oxide assistance in cascade tautomerizations, which was crucial for directing the nucleophilic attack and hastening the overall process. Using this strategy, we prepared the aniline-isoquinolinedione adduct and submitted it to an intramolecular double C-H cross-coupling activation to furnish ellipticinequinone, which gave ellipticine after a MeLi addition/BH3 reduction sequence.

Synthesis of 3-aryl-4-(N-aryl)aminocoumarins via photoredox arylation and the evaluation of their biological activity.

A new series of 3-aryl-4-(N-aryl)aminocoumarins was synthesized in two steps starting from the natural product 4-hydroxycoumarin using the photoredox catalysis for the key step. These conditions reactions allowed to make CC bonds is up to 95% yields in mild conditions, easy operation, in an environmentally benign way, and are compatible with several patterns of substitution. The biological activity of the new compounds was tested in vitro against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and CCD-1072Sk cancer cell lines, as soon as to promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis. Compounds 17d, 17s and 17x showed activity against promastigote forms (IC50 = 5.96 ± 3.210, 9.05 ± 2.855 and 5.65 ± 2.078 µM respectively), and compound 17x presented the best activity against L. amazonensis amastigote intracellular form (IC50 = 9.6 ± 1.148 µM), no BALB/c peritoneal macrophage cytotoxicity at assayed concentrations (CC50 > 600 µM), and high selectivity to parasites over the mammalian cells (Selectivity Index > 62.2). There was no expressive activity for the cancer cell lines. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was employed for structural elucidation of compounds 17a and 17s. In silico analyses of physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological properties suggest that compound 17x is a potential candidate for anti-leishmaniasis drugs.