Rayees Ahmad Shiekh

Biogenic silver nanoparticles using Rhinacanthus nasutus leaf extract: synthesis, spectral analysis, and antimicrobial studies

Nanotechnology is gaining momentum due to its ability to transform metals into nanoparticles. The synthesis, characterization, and applications of biologically synthesized nanomaterials have become an important branch of nanotechnology. Plant extracts are a cost-effective, ecologically friendly, and efficient alternative for the large-scale synthesis of nanoparticles. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNps) were synthesized using Rhinacanthus nasutus leaf extract. After exposing the silver ions to the leaf extract, the rapid reduction of silver ions led to the formation of AgNps in solution. The synthesis was confirmed by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the AgNps synthesized using R. nasutus leaf extract was investigated against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus using a disc diffusion method. The AgNps showed potential activity against all of the bacterial strains and fungal colonies, indicating that R. nasutus has the potential to be used in the development of value-added products in the biomedical and nanotechnology-based industries.

New generation Amberlite XAD resin for the removal of metal ions: A review.

The direct determination of toxic metal ions, in environmental samples, is difficult because of the latters presence in trace concentration in association with complex matrices, thereby leading to insufficient sensitivity and selectivity of the methods used. The simultaneous removal of the matrix and preconcentration of the metal ions, through solid phase extraction, serves as the promising solution. The mechanism involved in solid phase extraction (SPE) depends on the nature of the sorbent and analyte. Thus, SPE is carried out by means of adsorption, ion exchange, chelation, ion pair formation, and so forth. As polymeric supports, the commercially available Amberlite resins have been found very promising for designing chelating matrices due to its good physical and chemical properties such as porosity, high surface area, durability and purity. This review presents an overview of the various works done on the modification of Amberlite XAD resins with the objective of making it an efficient sorbent. The methods of modifications which are generally based on simple impregnation, sorption as chelates and chemical bonding have been discussed. The reported results, including the preconcentration limit, the detection limit, sorption capacity, preconcentration factors etc., have been reproduced.

Recent advances in iron complexes as potential anticancer agents

The revelation of the anticancer properties of cisplatin has inspired research into metal complexes for the treatment of cancer. Several second and third generation cisplatin analogues were developed with claims of good anticancer properties and reduced side effects. However, the persistence of some side effects and the resistance of cancer cells have tempted scientists to explore new metal complexes as anticancer drugs. Therefore, the approach of rational drug design has been extended to the development of non-platinum anticancer drugs, and a large number of such complexes have been developed. Iron complexes are of interest to inorganic medicinal chemists for the development of anticancer agents. The anticancer potency of iron complexes was first reported in ferrocenium picrate and ferrocenium trichloroacetate salts, and was attributed to their ability to form reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative DNA damage. This review discusses the advances in iron complexes as anticancer agents. The aspects of the photocytotoxicity, redox activity and multinuclearity of anticancer iron complexes are discussed, in addition to discussing ferrocenyl derivatives and salen complexes. The legacy of nanotechnology and synergism in harnessing the potential of iron complexes is highlighted. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives of iron complexes as anticancer agents are outlined.

Imidazole clubbed 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives as potential antifungal agents.

A series of compounds in which 2-(4-ethyl-2-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole was clubbed with substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazole was synthesized and subjected to antifungal activity evaluation. In vitro assays indicated that several clubbed derivatives had excellent antifungal activity against different strains of laboratory and clinically isolated Candida species. Structural Activity Relationship (SAR) studies revealed that the presence and position of substituents on the phenyl ring of the 1,3,4-oxadiazole unit, guides the antifungal potential of the compounds, where compound 4b, 4c and 4g were found to be active against all the tested fungal strains. Impairment of ergosterol biosynthesis upon the concomitant treatment of 4b, 4c and 4g, revealed the possible mechanisms of antifungal action of these compounds. Inhibitors snugly fitting the active site of the target enzyme, as revealed by molecular docking studies, may well explain their excellent inhibitory activity.

Green Ultrasound versus Conventional Synthesis and Characterization of Specific Task Pyridinium Ionic Liquid Hydrazones Tethering Fluorinated Counter Anions: Novel Inhibitors of Fungal Ergosterol Biosynthesis

A series of specific task ionic liquids (ILs) based on a pyridiniumhydrazone scaffold in combination with hexafluorophosphate (PF6−), tetrafluoroboron (BF4−) and/or trifluoroacetate (CF3COO−) counter anion, were designed and characterized by IR, NMR and mass spectrometry. The reactions were conducted under both conventional and green ultrasound procedures. The antifungal potential of the synthesized compounds 2–25 was investigated against 40 strains of Candida (four standard and 36 clinical isolates). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) of the synthesized compounds were in the range of 62.5–2000 μg/mL for both standard and oral Candida isolates. MIC90 results showed that the synthesized 1-(2-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-4-(2-(4-fluorobenzylidene)hydrazinecarbonyl)-pyridin-1-ium hexafluorophosphate (11) was found to be most effective, followed by 4-(2-(4-fluorobenzylidene)hydrazinecarbonyl)-1-(2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-pyridin-1-ium hexafluorophosphate (14) and 1-(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-4-(2-(4-fluorobenzylidene)hydrazinecarbonyl)pyridin-1-ium hexafluorophosphate (8). All the Candida isolates showed marked sensitivity towards the synthesized compounds. Ergosterol content was drastically reduced by more active synthesized compounds, and agreed well with MIC90 values. Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CLSM) results showed that the red colored fluorescent dye enters the test agent treated cells, which confirms cell wall and cell membrane damage. The microscopy results obtained suggested membrane-located targets for the action of these synthesized compounds. It appears that the test compounds might be interacting with ergosterol in the fungal cell membranes, decreasing the membrane ergosterol content and ultimately leading to membrane disruption as visible in confocal results. The present study indicates that these synthesized compounds show significant antifungal activity against Candida which forms the basis to carry out further in vivo experiments before their clinical use.

Mesoporous Silica Powder for Dental Restoration Composites from Rice Husk: A Green Sol–Gel Synthesis

Morphologically organized non-crystalline silica powder was synthesized from rice husk by a green sol–gel route. Amorphous sphere-shaped silica powder with a surface area of ~ 370 m2 g−1, particle size in the range of 70–250 nm and pore size of ~ 8 nm was synthesized using sodium silicate extracted from rice husk at most favourable conditions and adding up of phosphoric acid. The degree of accumulation of the mesoporous particles was extremely reliant on sodium silicate predecessor concentration, solvent and pH. For the characterization of silica powder, various techniques were used such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and N2 adsorption/desorption, and the morphology of the mesoporous powder was characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The synthesis method adopted was kept green and ecofriendly. The end product silica is a favourable choice in dental composite production.

Microwave assisted synthesis, spectral and antifungal studies of 2-phenyl-N,N'-bis(pyridin-4-ylcarbonyl)butanediamide ligand and its metal complexes.

2-Phenyl-N,N′-bis(pyridin-4-ylcarbonyl)butanediamide ligand with a series of transition metal complexes has been synthesized via two routes: microwave irradiation and conventional heating method. Microwave irritation method happened to be the efficient and versatile route for the synthesis of these metal complexes. These complexes were found to have the general composition M(L)Cl2/M(L)(CH3COO)2 (where M = Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), and L = ligand). Different physical and spectroscopic techniques were used to investigate the structural features of the synthesized compounds, which supported an octahedral geometry for these complexes. In vitro antifungal activity of the ligand and its metal complexes revealed that the metal complexes are highly active compared to the standard drug. Metal complexes showed enhanced activity compared to the ligand, which is an important step towards the designing of antifungal drug candidates.