DFT study of Ni-doped graphene nanosheet as a drug carrier for multiple sclerosis drugs

Harnessing two-dimensional nanomaterials for diagnosis and therapy in neurodegenerative diseases: Advances, challenges and prospects

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are specific brain disorders characterized by the progressive deterioration of different motor activities as well as several cognitive functions. Current conventional therapeutic options for NDDs are limited in addressing underlying causes, delivering drugs to specific neuronal targets, and promoting tissue repair following brain injury. Due to the paucity of plausible theranostic options for NDDs, nanobiotechnology has emerged as a promising field, offering an interdisciplinary approach to create nanomaterials with high diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy for these diseases. Recently, two-dimensional nanomaterials (2D-NMs) have gained significant attention in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to their precise drug-loading capabilities, controlled release mechanisms, enhanced stability, improved biodegradability, and reduced cell toxicity. Although various studies have explored the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of different nanomaterials in NDDs, there is a lack of comprehensive review addressing the theranostic applications of 2D-NMs in these neuronal disorders. Therefore, this concise review aims to provide a state-of-the-art understanding of the need for these ultrathin 2D-NMs and their potential applications in biosensing and bioimaging, targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine for NDDs.

To Investigate the Structural, Electronic, and Optical Characteristics of 2D Hetero-atoms Al, N, B-doped-Graphene Composites For Photocatalytic Applications: A DFT Study.. [DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3078072/v1]

Two-dimensional (2D) layer structure graphene-doped composites have been confirmed to be an efficient and appropriate material to build effective photo-catalysts with enhanced catalytic efficiency for wastewater and industrial wastage. Graphene exhibits a proficient 2D layer structure, very large conductivity, better-quality electron mobility, and remarkably high surface area with large active sites for the best photocatalytic activity. In the current research structural, electronic, and optical characteristics of 2D Graphene doped-composites are calculated using a first-principles calculation. To use a generalized gradient approximation (GGA) and an ultra-soft pseudopotential (USP), the impact of Aluminium (Al), Nitrogen (N), and Boron (B) on structural, optical, and electronic characteristics of Graphene doped-composites are investigated. By substituting Al, N, and B in Graphene, extra gamma sites are produced into the energy bandgap (Eg). Owing to the difference in ionic radii of Al, N, and B the band gap is found to remarkably increase from 0 to 1.75 eV. The nature of the band gap is found direct. A noteworthy increment is found in Eg as a result of optical conductivity increase of 2.5 to 4.0. Due to the inclusion of Al, N, and B, the energy absorption peaks are increased and shifted to larger energy in the UV-visible spectrum. 2D layer structure doped-Graphene composites have high optical conductivity, refractive index, and energy absorption is an appropriate material for photocatalytic application.

On the possibility of using the Ti@Si16 superatom as a novel drug delivery carrier for different drugs: A DFT study

The potential application of an experimentally synthesized superatom Ti@Si₁₆ as a novel drug carrier for cisplatin (DDP), isoniazid (INH), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), and favipiravir (FPV) has been explored by density functional theory. It is observed that the Pt atom of DDP can be effectively absorbed on Ti@Si₁₆ via a "donation-back donation" electron transfer mechanism, resulting in a moderate adsorption energy of -19.95 kcal/mol for DDP@[Ti@Si₁₆]. As for INH, it prefers to combine with Ti@Si₁₆ via the N atom of pyridine ring by forming a strongly polar N-Si bond. Differently, the interaction between Ti@Si₁₆ and the ASA, 5-Fu, and FPV drugs is dominated by the Van der Waals interaction. Our results reveal that DDP@[Ti@Si₁₆] possesses a moderate recovery time under body temperature, which benefits the desorption of DDP from Ti@Si₁₆. More importantly, the release of DDP drug from the Ti@Si₁₆ surface can be effectively controlled by exerting small orientation external electric fields on the DDP@[Ti@Si₁₆] complex. Therefore, this study demonstrates that Ti@Si₁₆ can serve as a promising drug carrier for DDP, and thus will further expand its practical applications in the biomedical field.

DFT study on the adsorption of 5-fluorouracil on B40, B39M, and M@B40 (M = Mg, Al, Si, Mn, Cu, Zn)

Based on density functional theory, the adsorption behavior of 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) on B₄₀ and its derivatives has been explored. It was observed that 5-Fu prefers to combine with the corner boron atom of the B₄₀ cage via one of its oxygen atoms, forming a strong polar covalent B–O bond. The adsorption energy of 5-Fu on B₄₀ was calculated to be −11.15 kcal mol⁻¹, and thus, it can be duly released from B₄₀ by protonation in the slightly acidic environment of tumor tissue, which makes for reducing the toxic and side effects of this drug. Additionally, the substituent and embedding effect of Mg, Al, Si, Mn, Cu, and Zn atoms on the drug delivery performance of B₄₀ have been also considered. We hope this work could offer some implications for the potential application of boron-based nanomaterials, such as B₄₀ in drug delivery.

The adsorption of 5-fluorouracil on B₄₀ and its derivatives has been theoretically studied to provide some implications for the potential application of B₄₀ in drug delivery.