Nazlina Ibrahim

Poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) adduct for attaining multifunctional cellulosic fabrics.

Aqueous polymerization of partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA) along with polyethylene glycol (PEG-600) at AA/PEG-600 mass ratio 3/1 using ammonium persulfate as initiator under proper conditions results in formation of PAA/PEG-600 adduct. The structure of the adduct was confirmed by FT-IR spectra. The potential applications of the prepared adduct in: sizing, durable hand building of cotton cellulose, as well as in functional finishing of cellulose containing fabrics, i.e. cotton, viscose and cotton/polyester, with Ag- or TiO2-nanoparticles were investigated. The modified substrates using the prepared adduct showed a remarkable improvement in their sizing, hand building and/or functional properties, i.e. antibacterial, anti-UV, and self cleaning, in addition to durability to wash. TEM images of the prepared nano-particles, SEM images of the untreated and treated substrates, as well as EDX spectra to analyze the surface elemental compositions were examined. The tentative mechanisms were also suggested.

Synthesis, antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of new fused pyrazolo (1,5-a)pyrimidine and pyrazolo(5,1-c)(1,2,4)triazine derivatives from new 5-aminopyrazoles

New 5-aminopyrazoles 2a-c were prepared in high yields from the reaction of known α,α-dicyanoketene-N,S-acetals 1a-c with hydrazine hydrate under reflux in ethanol. These compounds were utilized as intermediates to synthesize pyrazolo[1,5-a]-pyrimidines 3a-c, 4a-d, 5a-c, and 6a-c, as well as pyrazolo[5,1-c][1,2,4]triazines 7a-c and 8a-c, by the reaction of 2-[bis(methylthio)methylene]malononitrile, α,α-dicyanoketene-N,S-acetals 1a-b, acetylacetone, acetoacetanilide as well as acetylacetone, and malononitrile, respectively. Furthermore, cyclization of 2a-c with pentan-2,5-dione yielded the corresponding 5-pyrrolylpyrazoles 9a-c. Moreover, fusion of 2a-c with acetic anhydride resulted in the corresponding 1-acetyl-1H-pyrazoles 10a-c. The antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity against Vero cells of several selected compounds are also reported.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles with antibacterial activity using the lichen Parmotrema praesorediosum

Development of a green chemistry process for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles has become a focus of interest. This would offer numerous benefits, including ecofriendliness and compatibility for biomedical applications. Here we report the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from the reduction of silver nitrate and an aqueous extract of the lichen Parmotrema praesorediosum as a reductant as well as a stabilizer. The physical appearance of these silver nanoparticles was characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The results show that silver nanoparticles synthesized using P. praesorediosum have an average particle size of 19 nm with a cubic structure. The antibacterial activity of the synthesized silver nanoparticles was tested against eight micro-organisms using the disk diffusion method. The results reveal that silver nanoparticles synthesized using P. praesorediosum have potential antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

Functional finishes of stretch cotton fabrics.

Functionalized cotton cellulose/spandex woven fabrics with different structures namely plain (1/1), twill (2/2) and satin were produced. Factors affecting the imparted functional properties such as weave structure and constituents of the finishing formulations including ether or ester cross-linker and catalyst type, silicone-micro-emulsion, water/oil repellent, Ag-NP(,)s and TiO2-NP(,)s were studied. The treated fabrics were found to have easy care property together with one or more of the imparted functional properties such as soft-handle, water/oil repellence, antibacterial, UV-protection and self cleaning. The effectiveness of the imparted properties is not seriously affected even after 10 washing cycles. Surface modifications as well as the composition of certain samples were confirmed by SEM images and EDX spectra. Mode of interactions was also suggested.

Acuminatol and Other Antioxidative Resveratrol Oligomers from the Stem Bark of Shorea acuminata

A new resveratrol dimer, acuminatol (1), was isolated along with five known compounds from the acetone extract of the stem bark of Shorea acuminata. Their structures and stereochemistry were determined by spectroscopic methods, which included the extensive use of 2D NMR techniques. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity (RSA) and the β-carotene-linoleic acid (BCLA) assays, and compared with those of the standards of ascorbic acid (AscA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). All compounds tested exhibited good to moderate antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay (IC50s 0.84 to 10.06 mM) and displayed strong inhibition of β-carotene oxidation (IC50s 0.10 to 0.22 mM). The isolated compounds were evaluated on the Vero cell line and were found to be non-cytotoxic with LC50 values between 161 to 830 µM.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of induced acyclovir-resistant clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus type 1

Eleven strains of acyclovir (ACV)-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were generated from HSV-1 clinical isolates by exposure to ACV. Genotype of the thymidine kinase (TK) and DNA polymerase (pol) genes from these mutants were further analyzed. Genotypic analysis revealed four non-synonymous mutations in TK gene associated with gene polymorphism and two to three non-synonymous mutations in DNA pol gene. Seven and six strains contained at least one resistance-associated mutation at TK and DNA pol gene, respectively. Resistance-associated mutations within the TK gene consisted of 64% of non-synonymous frameshift mutations within the homopolymer region of Gs and Cs, and 36% of non-synonymous nucleotide substitutions of the conserved gene region (C336Y, R51W and R222H), nucleotide that produced stop codon (L288Stop) and two amino acid substitutions outside the conserved region (E39G & L208F). There were 10 non-synonymous amino acid substitutions located outside the conserved region with the unclear significance to confer resistance observed. Resistance-associated mutations in DNA pol gene include insertion of G at the homopolymer region of Gs (794-797) and amino acid substitutions inside (V621S) or outside (H1228D) the conserved region. In silico analysis of the mutated TK (C336Y, R51W and L208F), and DNA pol (V621S and H1228D) suggested structural changes that might alter the stability of these proteins. However, there were several mutations with unclear significance to confer ACV-resistance identified, especially mutations outside the conserved region.

Synthesis, Characterization, X-ray Structure and Biological Activities of C-5-Bromo-2-hydroxyphenylcalix[4]-2-methyl resorcinarene

C-5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenylcalix[4]-2-methylresorcinarene (I) was synthesized by cyclocondensation of 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 2-methylresorcinol in the presence of concentrated HCl. Compound I was characterized by infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data. X-ray analysis showed that this compound crystallized in a triclinic system with space group of Pī, a = 15.9592(16)Å, b = 16.9417(17)Å, c = 17.0974(17)Å, α = 68.656(3)°, β = 85.689(3)°, γ = 81.631(3)°, Z = 2 and V = 4258.6(7)Å3. The molecule adopts a chair (C2h) conformation. The thermal properties and antioxidant activity were also investigated. It was strongly antiviral against HSV-1 and weakly antibacterial against Gram-positive bacteria. Cytotoxicity testing on Vero cells showed that it is non-toxic, with a CC50 of more than 0.4 mg/mL.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Poly(Acrylamide)/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Polyblends

ABSTRACT Free radical polymerization of acrylamide (Aam) in the presence of aqueous solution of three commercial grades of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), namely, Vinarol FV (containing very few acetyl groups), Mowiol 4-80 (low viscosity-partially hydrolyzed), and Vinarol STH (medium viscosity-partially hydrolyzed), using ammonium persulfate (AP) initiator resulted in three corresponding PVOH/Aam polyblends. Optimum polymerization conditions were PVOH and AP concentrations, 10% and 0.05 mol/L, respectively; Aam concentration, 50% based on the weight of PVOH; polymerization temperature and time, 70°C and 20 min, respectively; rate of stirring, 200 rpm, at which the three polyblends were prepared at very high polymerization extent ranging from 98.2 to 99.9%. Rheological properties of 10% aqueous solutions of the polyblends at 80°C were studied. The extent of film resolubility of PVOHs and their polyblends follows the descending order: Mowiol®4-80/Aam > Mowiol®4-80 > Vinarol®STH/Aam > Vinarol®STH > Vinarol®FV/Aam > Vinarol®FV. Sizing of gauzy cotton fabric with the polyblends and PVOHs showed that (1) their tensile strength follows the order: Vinarol®STH/Aam > Vinarol®STH > Mowiol®4-80/Aam > Mowiol®4-80 > Vinarol®FV/Aam > Vinarol®FV > Unsized and (2) their desizability follows the order: Mowiol®4-80/Aam > Mowiol®4-80 > Vinarol®STH/Aam > Vinarol®STH > Vinarol®FV/Aam > Vinarol®FV.

High-level expression of bovine rotavirus VP4 protein in Escherichia coli using a hepatitis B core antigen vector

Six regions of the VP4 protein of bovine rotavirus strain UKtc were expressed using hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) as a carrier. Following induction by IPTG, the six fusion proteins, AHBcAg through FHBcAg, were expressed in Escherichia coli to a level of 20–37% of total cellular protein. Soluble fusion proteins in a particulate form were partially purified with yields ranging from 0.5–6.4 mg l−1 of culture.

Transcriptome analysis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in response to stigmasterol and lupeol

OBJECTIVES Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen with multiple antibiotic resistance that causes morbidity and mortality worldwide. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) MRSA with increased resistance to currently available antibiotics has challenged the world to develop new therapeutic agents. Stigmasterol and lupeol, from the plant Phyllanthus columnaris, exhibit antibacterial activities against MRSA. The aim of this study was to utilise next-generation sequencing (NGS) to provide further insight into the novel transcriptional response of MRSA exposed to stigmasterol and lupeol. METHODS Time-kill analysis of one MRSA reference strain (ATCC 43300) and three clinical isolates (WM3, BM1 and KJ7) for both compounds was first performed to provide the bacteriostatic/bactericidal profile. Then, MRSA ATCC 43300 strain treated with both compounds was interrogated by NGS. RESULTS Both stigmasterol and lupeol possessed bacteriostatic properties against all MRSA tested; however, lupeol exhibited both bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties within the same minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values against BM1 (12.5mg/mL). Transcriptome profiling of MRSA ATCC 43300 revealed significant modulation of gene expression with multiple desirable targets by both compounds, which caused a reduction in the translation processes leading to inhibition of protein synthesis and prevention of bacterial growth. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the potential of both stigmasterol and lupeol as new promising anti-MRSA agents.