Molecular insights of hyaluronic acid - ethambutol and hyaluronic acid - isoniazid drug conjugates act as promising novel drugs for the treatment of tuberculosis

The present study examines cellular targeted drug delivery (CTDD) pattern of two novel Hyaluronic acid (HA) Tuberculosis Drug (TB) conjugates and its efficacy and strong binding affinity towards TB molecular protein targets. Two TB drugs ethambutol (EB) and isoniazid (IN) and their Hyaluronic acid conjugates (HA-EB & HA-IN) were tested for its metabolism, toxicity and excretion prediction through In silico tools they revealed hyaluronic acid conjugate of two TB drugs exhibited good drug profile over their free form of TB drugs. Further these four molecules subjected to In silico molecular docking study with four potential Mycobacterium tuberculosis target proteins (3PD8, 4Y0L, 5DZK and 6GAU). Molecular docking study revealed that hyaluronic conjugates (HA-EB & HA-IN) exhibit significant binding affinity and excellent docking scores with all screened molecular protein targets of TB over their free form of drug. Further molecular dynamic simulation was calculated for the four drug molecules (EB, IN, HA- EB & HA-IN) with DNA gyrase enzyme (PDB ID 6GAU) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the MDS results revealed that both the conjugates with the TB target protein possessed good number of interaction with binding pocket residues and good simulation scores than the free form of drugs.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Molecular insights of hyaluronic acid-hydroxychloroquine conjugate as a promising drug in targeting SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins

In-silico anti-viral activity of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and its Hyaluronic Acid-derivative (HA-HCQ) towards different SARS-CoV-2 protein molecular targets were studied. Four different SARS-CoV-2 proteins molecular target i.e., three different main proteases and one helicase were chosen for In-silico anti-viral analysis. The HA-HCQ conjugates exhibited superior binding affinity and interactions with all the screened SAR-CoV-2 molecular target proteins with the exception of a few targets. The study also revealed that the HA-HCQ conjugate has multiple advantages of efficient drug delivery to its CD44 variant isoform receptors of the lower respiratory tract, highest interactive binding affinity with SARS-CoV-2 protein target. Moreover, the HA-HCQ drug conjugate possesses added advantages of good biodegradability, biocompatibility, non-toxicity and non-immunogenicity. The prominent binding ability of HA-HCQ conjugate towards Mpro (PDB ID 5R82) and Helicase (PDB ID 6ZSL) target protein as compared with HCQ alone was proven through MD simulation analysis. In conclusion, our study suggested that further in-vitro and in-vivo examination of HA-HCQ drug conjugate will be useful to establish a promising early stage antiviral drug for the novel treatment of COVID-19.

Process optimization of biogas energy production from cow dung with alkali pre-treated coffee pulp

Biogas production from cow dung with co-substrate agricultural waste is one of the most demanding technologies for generating energy in a sustainable approach considering eco-friendly. In the present study, coffee pulp (CP) was pre-treated with 1% NaOH and combined with various proportions of cow dung (CD) to explore its biogas producing potentiality. The optimization of the process was studied using Response surface methodology. Statistics based on 3-D plots were generated to evaluate the changes in the response surface and to understand the relationship between the biogas yield and other parameters. The highest methane production (144 mL/kg) was achieved after 90 h of incubation with 1:3 of CP and CD at 40 °C. Gas chromatography analyzes the chemical compositions of the generated biogas and its post combustion emissions. The chemical composition of the substrates before digestion and after fermentation (biogas spent sludge) were measured in terms of fiber content and the values were noted as, total solids (0.53%), ash content (9.2%), volatile fatty acid (100 mg/L), organic carbon (46%) and a total carbohydrate (179 mg/g). The results of the optimization of biogas production presented in this work found to have significance with the process parameters. The outcome of the study has supported the fact of conventional combustion technology that has to be upgraded to prevent these hazardous emissions into the atmosphere.

Structural and optical properties of Purpurin for dye-sensitized solar cells

In this work, we reported a combined experimental and theoretical study on molecular structure, vibrational spectra and Homo-Lumo analysis of Purpurin and TiO2/Purpurin. The geometries, electronic structures, molecular orbital analysis of natural dye sensitizer Purpurin were studied based on density functional theory (DFT) using the hybrid functional B3LYP. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and FT-Raman spectra have been recorded and extensive spectroscopic investigations have been carried out on Purpurin. The optimized geometries, wave number and intensity of the vibrational bands of Purpurin have been calculated using density functional level of theory (DFT/B3LYP) employing 6-311G (d,p) basis set. Based on the comparison between calculated and experimental results, assignments of the fundamental vibrational modes are examined. Features of the electronic absorption spectrum in the visible and near-UV regions were assigned based on TD-DFT calculations. The calculated results suggest that the three excited states with the lowest excited energies in 1,2,4, trihydroxy 9-10 anthraquinone was due to photo-induced electron transfer processes. Frontier molecular orbitals (FMO), LUMO, HOMO, and energy gap, of these dyes have been analyzed to show their effect on the process of electron injection and dye regeneration. Interaction between HOMO and LUMO of Purpurin are investigated to understand the recombination process and charge transfer process involving these dyes. We also performed analysis of I-V characteristics to investigate the role of charge transfer and the stability of the dye molecule.

DFT and TD-DFT study on geometries, electronic structures and electronic absorption of some metal free dye sensitizers for dye sensitized solar cells

The geometries, electronic structures, polarizabilities and hyperpolarizabilities of 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione (henna1), 3-(5-((1E)-2-(1,4-dihydro-1,4-dioxonaphthalen-3-yloxy) vinyl) thiophen-2-yl)-2-isocyanoacrylic acid (henna2) and anthocyanin dye sensitizers were studied based on density functional theory (DFT) using the hybrid functional B3LYP. The Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectrum was investigated by using a hybrid method which combines the properties and dynamics of many-body in the presence of time-dependent (TD) potentials, i.e. TDSCF-DFT (B3LYP). Features of the electronic absorption spectrum in the visible and near-UV regions were plotted and assigned based on TD-DFT calculations. Due to the absorption, bands of the metal-organic compound are n→π(*) present. The calculated results suggest that the three lowest energy excited states of the investigated dye sensitizers are due to photoinduced electron transfer processes. The interfacial electron transfer between semiconductor TiO2 electrode and dye sensitizer is owing to an electron injection process from excited dye to the semiconductor's conduction band. The role of linking the henna1 dye with a carboxylic acid via a thiophene bridge was analyzed. The results are that using a stronger π-conjugate bridge as well as a strong donator and acceptor group enhances the efficiency.

Molecular structure and vibrational spectra of Irinotecan: a density functional theoretical study

The solid phase FTIR and FT-Raman spectra of Irinotecan have been recorded in the regions 400-4000 and 50-4000 cm(-1), respectively. The spectra were interpreted in terms of fundamentals modes, combination and overtone bands. The structure of the molecule was optimized and the structural characteristics were determined by density functional theory (DFT) using B3LYP method with 6-31G(d) as basis set. The vibrational frequencies were calculated for Irinotecan by DFT method and were compared with the experimental frequencies, which yield good agreement between observed and calculated frequencies. The infrared spectrum was also simulated from the calculated intensities. Besides, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) analysis were investigated using theoretical calculations.

Experimental and theoretical investigation of the molecular and electronic structure of anticancer drug camptothecin

The Fourier Transform Infrared spectrum of (S)-4 ethyl-4-hydroxy-1H-pyrano [3',4':6,7]-indolizino-[1,2-b-quinoline-3,14-(4H,12H)-dione] [camptothecin] was recorded in the region 4000-400 cm(-1). The Fourier Transform Raman spectrum of camptothecin (CPT) was also recorded in the region 3500-50 cm(-1). Quantum chemical calculations of geometrical structural parameters and vibrational frequencies of CPT were carried out by MP2/6-31G(d,p) and density functional theory DFT/B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) methods. The assignment of each normal mode has been made using the observed and calculated frequencies, their IR and Raman intensities. The harmonic vibrational frequencies were calculated and the scaled values have been compared with experimental FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra. Most of the computed frequencies were found to be in good agreement with the experimental observations. The isotropic chemical shifts computed by (13)C and (1)H NMR analysis also show good agreement with experimental observations. Comparison of calculated spectra with the experimental spectra provides important information about the ability of computational method to describe the vibrational modes of large sized organic molecule.

Molecular structure, vibrational spectra and DFT molecular orbital calculations (TD-DFT and NMR) of the antiproliferative drug Methotrexate

The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectral studies of the Methotrexate (MTX) were carried out. The equilibrium geometry, various bonding features and harmonic vibrational frequencies of MTX have been investigated with the help of B3LYP density functional theory (DFT) using 6-31G(d) as basis set. Detailed analysis of the vibrational spectra has been made with the aid of theoretically predicted vibrational frequencies. The vibrational analysis confirms the differently acting ring modes, steric repulsion, conjugation and back-donation. The energy and oscillator strength calculated by Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT) results complement with the experimental findings. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occur within the molecule. Good correlations between the experimental (1)H and (13)C NMR chemical shifts in DMSO solution and calculated GIAO shielding tensors were found.

Effect of sucrose on the properties of caffeine adsorption layers at the air/solution interface

Sweet and bitter tastes are known to be mediated by G-protein-coupled receptors. The relationship between the chemical structure of gustable molecules and their molecular organization in saliva (aqueous solution) near the surface of the tongue provides a useful tool for elucidating the mechanism of chemoreception. The interactions between stimulus and membrane receptors occur in an anisotropic system. They might be influenced by the molecular packing of gustable molecules within an aqueous solvent (saliva) close to the receptor protein. To investigate the molecular organization of a sweet molecule (sucrose), a bitter molecule (caffeine), and their mixture in an aqueous phase near a "wall", a hydrophobic phase, we modeled this using an air/liquid interface as an anisotropic system. The experimental (tensiometry and ellipsometry) data unambiguously show that caffeine molecules form an adsorption layer, whereas sucrose induces a desorption layer at the air/water interface. The adsorption of caffeine molecules at the air/water interface gradually increases with the volume concentration and is delayed when sucrose is added to the solution. Spectroscopic ellipsometry data show that caffeine in the adsorption layer has optical properties practically identical to those of the molecule in solution. The results are interpreted in terms of molecular association of caffeine with itself at the interface with and without sucrose in the subphase, using the theory of ideal gases.

Hydration properties and the role of water in taste modalities of sucrose, caffeine, and sucrose-caffeine mixtures

Solution properties of sapid molecules are informative on their type of hydration (hydrophobic or hydrophilic) and on the extent of the hydration layer. Physicochemical properties (intrinsic viscosity and apparent specific volume) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation rates R(1) and R(2) for pure sucrose, bitter molecule caffeine, and their mixture were found to be relevant in the interpretation of the effects of these solutes on water mobility. Likewise, surface tension, contact angles with a hydrophobic surface, and the adhesion forces to this type of surface of the aqueous solutions of sapid molecules were found to discriminate between their effects on water cohesion and also between their taste qualities. The interpretation of the two sets of independent experimental results, namely physicochemical and spectroscopic data, helps in the elucidation of the role of water in sweet and bitter taste chemoreception.