Rohit Bhatia

Syntheses, spectroscopic characterization, thermal study, molecular modeling, and biological evaluation of novel Schiff’s base benzil bis(5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol) with Ni(II), and Cu(II) metal complexes

Novel Schiffs base ligand, benzil bis(5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol) was synthesized by the condensation of benzil and 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol in 1:2 ratio. The structure of ligand was determined on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, (1)H NMR, mass, and molecular modeling studies. Synthesized ligand behaved as tetradentate and coordinated to metal ion through sulfur atoms of thiol ring and nitrogen atoms of imine group. Ni(II), and Cu(II) complexes were synthesized with this nitrogen-sulfur donor (N2S2) ligand. Metal complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility measurements, IR, electronic spectra, EPR, thermal, and molecular modeling studies. All the complexes showed molar conductance corresponding to non-electrolytic nature, expect [Ni(L)](NO3)2 complex, which was 1:2 electrolyte in nature. [Cu(L)(SO4)] complex may possessed square pyramidal geometry, [Ni(L)](NO3)2 complex tetrahedral and rest of the complexes six coordinated octahedral/tetragonal geometry. Newly synthesized ligand and its metal complexes were examined against the opportunistic pathogens. Results suggested that metal complexes were more biological sensitive than free ligand.

Highly Conductive Aromatic Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube for Inkjet Printable High Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes.

We report the functionalization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) via the 1,3-dipolar [3+2] cycloaddition of aromatic azides, which resulted in a detangled CNT as shown by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Carboxylic moieties (-COOH) on aromatic azide result in highly stable aqueous dispersion (max. conc. ~ 10 mg/mL H2O), making the suitable for inkjet printing. Printed patterns on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flexible substrate exhibit low sheet resistivity ~65 Ω. cm, which is attributed to enhanced conductivity. Fabricated Supercapacitors (SC) assembled using these printed substrates exhibit good electrochemical performance in organic as well as aqueous electrolytes. High energy and power density (57.8 Wh/kg and 0.85 kW/kg) in 1M H2SO4 aqueous electrolyte demonstrate the excellent performance of the proposed supercapacitor. Capacitive retention varies from ~85–94% with columbic efficiency ~95% after 1000 charge/discharge cycles in different electrolytes, demonstrating the excellent potential of the device for futuristic power applications.

Potential Antioxidant Anthraquinones Isolated from Rheum emodi Showing Nematicidal Activity against Meloidogyne incognita

Antioxidant and nematicidal properties were evaluated for R. emodi extractives which are extracted by standardizing and adopting accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) method along with traditional Soxhlet extraction. The extracted material was separated using flash chromatography and the separation conditions and solvents were standardized for the extracted plant constituents. The purity was detected by using analytical reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). LC-MS/MS detection in the direct infusion mode of the isolated, purified products afforded four anthraquinones, characterized by their infrared spectra (IR) and 1H spectra as chrysophanol, physcion, emodin, and aloe-emodin. Five antraquinone glucoside derivatives and piceatannol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside have also been detected from the extracted product. During in vitro evaluation the antioxidant potential of methanolic crude extract (CE1) was the highest, followed by ethyl acetate crude extract (CE2) and chloroform extract (CE3) in DPPH radical scavenging activity. The CE1 also demonstrated outstanding nematicidal activity as compared with other extracts, pure anthraquinones, and even positive control azadirachtin. The study conclusively demonstrated the antioxidant potential of R. emodi extracts and also its ability in extenuating the Meloidogyne incognita (root-knot nematode). The bioassay results can be extrapolated to actual field condition and clinical studies.

Interaction studies of carbon nanomaterials and plasma activated carbon nanomaterials solution with telomere binding protein

Most cancer cells have telomerase activity because they can express the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene. Therefore, the inhibition of the hTERT expression can play an important role in controlling cancer cell proliferation. Our current study aims to inhibit hTERT expression. For this, we synthesized graphene oxide (GO) and a functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT), latter treated them with cold atmospheric pressure plasma for further analysis of the hTERT expression. The inhibition of hTERT expression by GO, f-MWCNT, plasma activated GO solution (PGOS), and plasma activated f-MWCNT solution (PCNTS), was studied using two lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H460. The hTERT experimental results revealed that GO and PGOS sufficiently decreased the hTERT concentration, while f-MWCNT and PCNTS were unable to inhibit the hTERT concentration. Therefore, to understand the inhibition mechanism of hTERT, we studied the binding properties of GO and PGOS with telomere binding protein (AtTRB2). The interaction studies were carried out using circular dichroism, fluorescence, 1H-15N NMR spectroscopy, and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) binding assay. We also used docking simulation to have an better understanding of the interactions between GO nanosheets and AtTRB2 protein. Our results may provide new insights that can benefit in biomedical treatments.

Synthetic Strategies for Free & Stable N-Heterocyclic Carbenes and Their Precursors

Recently, chemical cross coupling reactions have emerged as a powerful tool in the hands of synthetic organic chemist to synthesize complicated organic scaffolds like drugs, natural products, optical devices and industrially impor- tant materials. Stable N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) acts as an important catalyst system in various cross coupling reac- tions. This review describes various strategies used for the synthesis of free and stable NHCs. Historical developments made in the propagation of the idea of free and stable carbene have also keenly been illustrated in the introduction of this

Bionanocomposites: Green materials for a sustainable future

Abstract The word “green” refers to those materials that are “renewable” as well as “biodegradable” and thus can be exploited for issues related to the environment and sustainability. Bionanocomposites are an important class of hybrid materials, comprised of biopolymers and inorganic solids. They exhibit at least one dimension on the nanometer scale. Such biodegradable materials prove to be invaluable gifts to present and future generations thanks to modern science and technology. Natural polymers, which are preferred from an environmental standpoint, including starch, poly-lactic acid (PLA), cellulose acetate, etc. have been widely used in the past few years. Optically transparent plasticized PLA-based bionanocomposite films have been utilized for packaging in the food industry. Artificial bone tissue scaffolds based on natural hybrids of cellulose acetate (CA) and nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) have been used to study in vitro bone regeneration. However, the search for and development of new and economical materials for greener requirements has been a dynamic process.

Improving Soybean Seed Performance with Natural Colorant-based Novel Seed-Coats

In the present study, Tagetes erecta, Rheum emodi, and Curcuma longa extracts and their combination with commercial polymer-based seed coats have been developed. Seed coats were screened for enhancing the keeping quality of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seeds. Loss in seed-quality parameters, such as percent germination, growth, seed vigor, moisture, and longevity were studied. The reduction in percent germination was lowest (7.40%) for natural colorant-based seed coats as compared with commercial polymer-coated seeds (12.20%) and uncoated seeds (17.27%) across six month storage period. Seeds coated with T. erecta methanol extract concentrate (Te MC) exhibited 82.7% germination, the highest among all treatments. A significant correlation (r = 0.846; P = 0.01) between seed vigor indices and the germination of the treated seeds was observed. The study revealed the effectiveness of natural colorant-based seed-coatings in reducing overall progressive decrease in seed-quality parameters, and thereby improving seed germination. Such natural colorant-based novel seed-coatings can be used for long-term storage of soybean seeds.