Advances in Chemical Science

Control of Pore Structure Formation in Cellulose Nitrate Polymer Membranes

2013-06

Control of Pore Structure Formation in Cellulose Nitrate Polymer Membranes

Pages 9-18
Author Eoin J. FlynnJovanna ArndtLéa BrothierMichael A. Morri
Abstract Porous cellulose based membranes are commonly used for filtration and controlled flow of fluid through the 3D pore network in the bulk (lateral flow). It has been shown that the performance of cellulose nitrate membranes in terms of capillary driven lateral flow of fluid through the system is inhibited by the formation of surface skin layers and bulk macrovoids. These ‘defects’ are created during phase inversion when the porous structure is formed using a water anti-solvent. The work carried out in this study shows that the incorporation of ethanol as a meso-solvent into the membrane casting solution for use in vapour induced phase seaparation (VIPS) produced lateral flow membranes, effectively prevents the formation of both skin layers and macrovoids while simultaneously increasing membrane porosity resulting in an improvement in lateral flow rates of the final membranes. It is indicated that the improved performance is achieved through reduction of the rate of evaporation of solvent from the membrane surface/demixing front during membrane formation.

RNA: Disulphide Bond Containing Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Duplexes Selectivity Studies

2013-06

RNA: Disulphide Bond Containing Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Duplexes Selectivity Studies

Pages 19-23
Author Ajay Kuma
Abstract Selectivity studies of RNA: disulphide bond containing oligodeoxynucleotide duplexes using melting temperature (Tm) have been reported. The Tm data of the RNA/ DNA duplexes showed that duplex formed with disulphide bond containing oligodeoxynucleotide melted at higher temperature than that of RNA/ unmodified DNA duplex by 9.5o C. Even RNA /oligodeoxynucleotide with adjacent thiol groups formed more stable duplex compared to RNA/unmodified DNA duplex. Studies also showed that the selectivity of duplexes with disulphide bond was out performed duplexes with unmodified oligonucleotide.

In Silico Molecular Docking of Marine Drugs Against Cancer Proteins

2013-06

In Silico Molecular Docking of Marine Drugs Against Cancer Proteins

Pages 24-28
Author Tejasvi KhamkarMayuresh AbhyankarGauri TendulkarVenkatesan Gopiesh KhannaKrishnan Kannabira
Abstract At present, the criteria used to select optimal new anticancer drug candidates include inhibitors of cell proliferation, essential reaction and pathways in cancerous cells. In silico approach resulting in the identification of essential reactions and pathways spreads across several parts of metabolism. The aim of our study is to study the interaction of broad spectrum antibiotic squalamine and LAQ824 with 4 selected anticancer drug target enzymes in Silico molecular docking approach. The ligand squalamine showed minimum binding energy −6.88 kcal/mol with promyleocytic leukemia (PDB ID-1BOR) and −5.68 kcal/mol with estrogen related receptor α (PDB ID-1XB7). Similarly, the compound LAQ824 showed minimum binding energy -6.77 kcal/mol with BRCA2 (PDB ID-1NOW). The compound squalamine interacted with several amino acid residues, of which glutamate was found to be common among all the target enzymes for protein and hydrogen bond formation. Likewise, lysine was found to be common among all the target enzymes for protein and hydrogen bond formation with LAQ824. Results of our study suggested that molecular docking approach could be a potential tool to identify the hydrogen bond interactions and the molecular mechanisms of diseases. It was concluded that squalamine and LAQ824 ligands would be of potent drug targets to treat various cancers based on the docking approach.