Sensor to Electronics Applications of Graphene Oxide through AZO Grafting.

Graphene is a two-dimensional (2D) material with a single atomic crystal structure of carbon that has the potential to create next-generation devices for photonic, optoelectronic, thermoelectric, sensing, wearable electronics, etc., owing to its excellent electron mobility, large surface-to-volume ratio, adjustable optics, and high mechanical strength. In contrast, owing to their light-induced conformations, fast response, photochemical stability, and surface-relief structures, azobenzene (AZO) polymers have been used as temperature sensors and photo-switchable molecules and are recognized as excellent candidates for a new generation of light-controllable molecular electronics. They can withstand trans-cis isomerization by conducting light irradiation or heating but have poor photon lifetime and energy density and are prone to agglomeration even at mild doping levels, reducing their optical sensitivity. Graphene derivatives, including graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), are an excellent platform that, combined with AZO-based polymers, could generate a new type of hybrid structure with interesting properties of ordered molecules. AZO derivatives may modify the energy density, optical responsiveness, and photon storage capacity, potentially preventing aggregation and strengthening the AZO complexes. They are potential candidates for sensors, photocatalysts, photodetectors, photocurrent switching, and other optical applications. This review aimed to provide an overview of the recent progress in graphene-related 2D materials (Gr2MS) and AZO polymer AZO-GO/RGO hybrid structures and their synthesis and applications. The review concludes with remarks based on the findings of this study.

Bone tissue engineering potentials of 3D printed magnesium-hydroxyapatite in polylactic acid composite scaffolds.

The primary role of bone tissue engineering is to reconcile the damaged bones and facilitate the speedy recovery of the injured bones. However, some of the investigated metallic implants suffer from stress-shielding, palpability, biocompatibility, etc. Consequently, the biodegradable scaffolds fabricated from polymers have gathered much attention from researchers and thus helped the tissue engineering sector by providing many alternative materials whose functionality is similar to that of natural bones. Herein, we present the fabrication and testing of a novel composite, magnesium (Mg)-doped hydroxyapatite (HAp) glazed onto polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds where polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) used as a binder. For the composite formation, Creality Ender-3 pro High Precision 3D Printer with Shape tool 3D Technology on an FSD machine operated by Catia design software was employed. The composite has been characterized for the crystallinity (XRD), surface functionality (FTIR), morphology (FESEM), biocompatibility (hemolytic and protein absorption), and mechanical properties (stress-strain and maximum compressive strength). The powder XRD analysis confirmed the semicrystalline nature and intact structure of HAp even after doping with Mg, while FTIR studies for the successful formation of Mg-HAp/PVA@PLA composite. The FESEM provided analysis indicated for the 3D porous architecture and well-defined morphology to efficiently transport the nutrients, and the biocompatibility studies are supporting that the composite for blood compatible with the surface being suitable enough for the protein absorption. Finally, the composite's antibacterial activity (against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and the test of mechanical properties supported for the enhanced inhibition of active growth of microorganisms and maximum compressive strength, respectively. Based on the research outcomes of biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, and mechanical resistance, the fabricated Mg-HAp/PVA@PLA composite suits well as a promising biomaterial platform for orthopedic applications by functioning towards the open reduction internal fixation of bone fractures and internal repairs.

Azo-Dyes-Grafted Oligosaccharides-From Synthesis to Applications.

Azobenzenes are photochromic molecules that possess a large range of applications. Their syntheses are usually simple and fast, and their purifications can be easy to perform. Oligosaccharide is also a wide family of biopolymer constituted of linear chain of saccharides. It can be extracted from biomass, as for cellulose, being the principal constituent of plant cell wall, or it can be enzymatically produced as for cyclodextrins, having properties not far from cellulose. Combining these two materials families can afford interesting applications such as controlled drug-release systems, photochromic liquid crystals, photoresponsive films or even fluorescent indicators. This review will compile the different syntheses of azo-dyes-grafted oligosaccharides, and will show their various applications.

Sesamol-based terpenoids as promising bio-sourced crop protection compounds against the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici.

BACKGROUND: Research into environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional plant protection products, to promote sustainable agriculture and healthy food, is strongly encouraged. RESULTS: In this context, 20 naturally occurring terpenoids and phenolic compounds were selected and evaluated in vitro as crop protection compounds against Zymoseptoria tritici, the causal agent of Septoria tritici blotch of wheat. After selection of the most active compounds, some hemisynthetic modifications were conducted to modify their lipophilicity. These modifications led to the discovery of sesamol esters as promising antifungal agents, with IC50 around 10 µg/mL and a total absence of cytotoxicity against human cells. CONCLUSION: These sesamol-based derivatives should be selected for further evaluations in planta to validate their use as wheat crop protection agents. Moreover, the importance of a balanced hydrophily/lipophilicity ratio should be further studied. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Micellar catalysis using a photochromic surfactant: application to the Pd-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost reaction in water.

The first example of a Pd-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost reaction, applied in a photochromic micellar media under conventional heating and microwave irradiation, is reported. The surfactant activity and recycling ability were investigated and compared with those of a few commercially available surfactants. The synthetic photochromic surfactant proved to be efficient, recyclable, and versatile for Pd-catalyzed coupling reactions.

Synthesis and characterization of a new photoinduced switchable ß-cyclodextrin dimer.

This paper reports an efficient preparation of bridged bis-ß-CD AZO-CDim 1 bearing azobenzene as a linker and exhibiting high solubility in water. The photoisomerization properties were studied by UV-vis and HPLC and supported by ab initio calculations. The cis/trans ratio of AZO-CDim 1 is 7:93 without irradiation and 37:63 after 120 min of irradiation at 365 nm; the reaction is reversible after irradiation at 254 nm. The photoinduced, switchable binding behavior of AZO-CDim 1 was evaluated by ITC, NMR and molecular modeling in the presence of a ditopic adamantyl guest. The results indicate that AZO-CDim 1 can form two different inclusion complexes with an adamantyl dimer depending on its photoinduced isomers. Both cavities of cis-AZO-CDim 1 are complexed simultaneously by two adamantyl units of the guest forming a 1:1 complex while trans-AZO-CDim 1 seems to lead to the formation of supramolecular polymers with an n:n stoichiometry.

A cyclodextrin dimer as a supramolecular reaction platform for aqueous organometallic catalysis.

A reaction platform based on a cyclodextrin dimer, which is able to simultaneously include a substrate in one cavity and an organometallic catalyst into the other, proved to be highly efficient for aqueous hydroformylation reaction of higher olefins.

Synthesis and evaluation of a photochromic surfactant for organic reactions in aqueous media.

A novel photochromic azobenzene-based surfactant was described for organic chemistry in water. The molecule 4-butylazobenzyl-4'-triazologlucuronic acid sodium salt thus synthesized can be isomerized from its trans to its cis form reversibly in solution by simple light irradiation. That property allowed the recyclability of a model acetylation reaction performed in the surfactant media, compared to the well-known, commercially available sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant media.

Impact of cyclodextrins on the behavior of amphiphilic ligands in aqueous organometallic catalysis.

In this study, we showed that the addition of randomly modified ß-cyclodextrin (RAME-ß-CD) in aqueous medium could have a beneficial impact on the catalytic performances of phosphane-based aggregates in the Pd-catalyzed cleavage of allyl carbonates (Tsuji-Trost reaction). The RAME-ß-CD/phosphane supramolecular interactions helped explain the catalytic results. The presence of RAME-ß-CD in the aqueous compartment improved the phosphane-based aggregate dynamics. The exchanges between the hydrophobic substrate-containing aggregate core and the catalyst-containing aqueous phase were then greatly favored, resulting in an increase in the catalytic performances.