Bioactivity Screening of Endophytic Fungus Eutypa linearis isolated from Coleus amboinicus (Lour.)

Coleus amboinicus (Lour.) is a medicinal plant containing various bioactive compounds. Endophytes are microorganisms living inside intracellular tissue of plants and known as the source of bioactive compounds. In order to explore the potential of endophyte in producing novel bioactive compounds, this study focused on isolating endophytic fungi from the leaves of C.amboinicus, characterisation and screening their metabolite bioactivity during submerged culture fermentation. Isolation of endophytic fungi from the leaves segment of C.amboinicus was conducted on PDA media and fungus identification was carried out by analyzing its morphology and molecular examination. The production of metabolites was examined using thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography. Identification of the endophytic fungus showed 98.84% similarity with Eutypa linearis. This species was fermented submergedly in PDB medium for 14 days under dark and exposed to light and the fermentation broth was extracted using ethyl acetate. The results showed that exposure to the light did not significantly influence metabolite production. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Antioxidant activity of this extract as examined by DPPH assay showed IC50 of 105.31 ± 2.11 µg/mL. Cytotoxic activity against Hela cell line was known to be the best among other cell lines (IC50 301.53 ± 11.34 µg/mL) although it was found to be non selective (SI<1). The extract contained five major compounds namely Benzenemethanol, 4-nitro-(CAS) p-Nitrobenzyl alcohol; 2-Pentadecanone (CAS) Pentadecan-2-one; (1R*,6S*,10R*)-5,5-Dimethyl-11,12-dioxatricyclo[8.2.1.0(1,6)] tridecan-10-ol; 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)-, methyl ester (CAS) Methyl linoleate; and 3-Furanacetic acid, 4-hexyl-2,5-dihydro-2,5-dioxo- (CAS) 2-carboxymethyl-3-N-hexyl-maleic anhydride.

The Complex Compound of Amino Acids With Titanium (III) as a Method to Control and Synthesis of Different Structures of TiO2 Nanoparticles; Usage as Photocatalysts to Oxidize Alcohols to Aldehyde

Different types of the amino acids (Glutamine, Glycine, Alanine) were used to coordinate TiCl3 in order to investigating the best precursor for synthesis of TiO2. Also, a full investigation was carried out to synthesis four different structures of TiO2 nanoparticles [TiO2 (A0.8R0.2), TiO2 (A0.6R0.4), TiO2 (Anatase), and TiO2 (Rutile)]. Oxidation of derivatives alcohol to their corresponding aldehyde through the obtained nanoparticles, as a photocatalyst, under UV light was considered to investigate the best structure of TiO2. Different physical-chemical analyses were applied to investigate the result. The result showed that the titanium dioxide nanoparticle, synthesized from glycine was obtained at the least temperature and was chosen as a precursor to synthesis of four different types of TiO2. All the synthesized TiO2 were applied for oxidation of benzyl alcohols into benzaldehyde, as a test, and TiO2 (A0.6R0.4) could give the best result (87% efficiency). Then it was used to oxidize benzyl alcohol, 4-cholorobenzyl alcohol, 4-nitrobenzyl alcohol and 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol to their corresponding aldehyde and efficiency were 74, 92, 87, and 65% respectively.

Recent Trends in Applying Ortho-Nitrobenzyl Esters for the Design of Photo-Responsive Polymer Networks

Polymers with light-responsive groups have gained increased attention in the design of functional materials, as they allow changes in polymers properties, on demand, and simply by light exposure. For the synthesis of polymers and polymer networks with photolabile properties, the introduction o-nitrobenzyl alcohol (o-NB) derivatives as light-responsive chromophores has become a convenient and powerful route. Although o-NB groups were successfully exploited in numerous applications, this review pays particular attention to the studies in which they were included as photo-responsive moieties in thin polymer films and functional polymer coatings. The review is divided into four different sections according to the chemical structure of the polymer networks: (i) acrylate and methacrylate; (ii) thiol-click; (iii) epoxy; and (iv) polydimethylsiloxane. We conclude with an outlook of the present challenges and future perspectives of the versatile and unique features of o-NB chemistry.

Phototriggered labeling and crosslinking by 2-nitrobenzyl alcohol derivatives with amine selectivity

2-Nitrobenzyl alcohol was developed as a new photoreactive group with amine selectivity, which exhibited efficient labeling and crosslinking of biomolecules.

Influence of Early-Stage Hydrolysis on Tensile Fracture Behavior of HAp/PLA Composites Interface-Controlled by Reaction Control Utilizing Photodissociable Protecting Groups

In this study, the change in the tensile fracture behavior of HAp/PLA composites, interface-controlled using pectin and chitosan, was evaluated for the case of the early-stage hydrolysis. Here, the reaction between the HAp particles and modification polymers was controlled using o-nitrobenzyl alcohol. Tensile tests after immersion in a pseudo biological environment indicated that the interface-control method employed in this study improved the fracture properties of HAp/PLA composites significantly, inducing the large plastic deformation. In addition, the effects of early-stage hydrolysis on fracture behavior and mechanism are discussed from the viewpoint of interfacial structures for the interface-controlled HAp/PLA composites. Observations of fracture morphologies and surfaces suggest that the interface-control employed in this study successfully improved interfacial bonding, enabling the effective usage of the deformability of the PLA matrix. The interface-control method employed in this study also maximized the fracture strain through the combination of improved interfacial bonding and an increase in the ductility of the PLA matrix after a 2-week immersion. Test results also suggest that the cancelation induced by the degradation of chitosan accelerated the degradation of the PLA matrix after a longer immersion.

Evaluation of anthropogenic secondary organic aerosol tracers from aromatic hydrocarbons

Products of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid, dicarboxylic acids, nitromonoaromatics, and furandiones – were evaluated for their potential to serve as anthropogenic SOA tracers with respect to their (1) ambient concentrations and detectability in PM2.5 in Iowa City, IA, USA; (2) gas–particle partitioning behaviour; and (3) source specificity by way of correlations with primary and secondary source tracers and literature review. A widely used tracer for toluene-derived SOA, 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid was only detected in the particle phase (Fp = 1) at low but consistently measurable ambient concentrations (averaging 0.3 ng m−3). Four aromatic dicarboxylic acids were detected at relatively higher concentrations (9.1–34.5 ng m−3), of which phthalic acid was the most abundant. Phthalic acid had a low particle-phase fraction (Fp = 0.26) likely due to quantitation interferences from phthalic anhydride, while 4-methylphthalic acid was predominantly in the particle phase (Fp = 0.82). Phthalic acid and 4-methylphthalic acid were both highly correlated with 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid (rs = 0.73, p = 0.003; rs = 0.80, p < 0.001, respectively), suggesting that they were derived from aromatic VOCs. Isophthalic and terephthalic acids, however, were detected only in the particle phase (Fp = 1), and correlations suggested association with primary emission sources. Nitromonoaromatics were dominated by particle-phase concentrations of 4-nitrocatechol (1.6 ng m−3) and 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol (1.6 ng m−3) that were associated with biomass burning. Meanwhile, 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzyl alcohol was detected in a lower concentration (0.06 ng m−3) in the particle phase only (Fp = 1) and is known as a product of toluene photooxidation. Furandiones in the atmosphere have only been attributed to the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons; however the substantial partitioning toward the gas phase (Fp ≤ 0.16) and their water sensitivity limit their application as tracers. The outcome of this study is the demonstration that 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid, phthalic acid, 4-methylphthalic acid, and 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzyl alcohol are good candidates for tracing SOA from aromatic VOCs.

Evaluation of Anthropogenic Secondary Organic Aerosol Tracers

Products of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOC) – 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid, dicarboxylic acids, nitromonoaromatics, and furandiones – were evaluated for their potential to serve as anthropogenic SOA tracers with respect to their 1) ambient concentrations and detectability in PM2.5 in Iowa City, IA, USA, 2) gas-particle partitioning behaviour, and 3) source specificity by way of correlations with primary and secondary source tracers and literature review. A widely used tracer for toluene-derived SOA, 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid was only detected in the particle phase (Fp = 1) at low, but consistently measureable ambient concentrations (averaging 0.3 ng m−3). Four aromatic dicarboxylic acids were detected at relatively higher concentrations (9.1–34.5 ng m−3), of which phthalic acid was the most abundant. Phthalic acid had a low particle-phase fraction (Fp = 0.26) likely due to quantitation interferences from phthalic anhydride, while 4-methylphthalic acid was predominantly in the particle phase (Fp = 0.82). Phthalic acid and 4-methyl phthalic acid were both highly correlated with 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid (rs = 0.73, p = 0.003; rs = 0.80, p < 0.001, respectively), suggesting that they were derived from aromatic VOC. Isophthalic and terephthalic acids, however, were detected only in the particle phase (Fp = 1) and correlations suggested association with primary emission sources. Nitromonoaromatics were dominated by particle-phase concentrations of 4-nitrocatechol (1.6 ng m−3) and 4-methyl-5-nitrocatechol (1.6 ng m−3) that were associated with biomass burning. Meanwhile, 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzyl alcohol was detected in a lower concentration (0.06 ng m−3) in the particle phase only (Fp = 1), and is known as a product of toluene photooxidation. Furandiones in the atmosphere have only been attributed to the photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, however the substantial partitioning toward the gas phase (Fp ≤ 0.16) and their water sensitivity limit their application as tracers. The outcome of this study is the demonstration that 2,3-dihydroxy-4-oxopentanoic acid, phthalic acid, 4-methylphthalic acid, and 4-hydroxy-3-nitrobenzyl alcohol are good candidates for tracing SOA from aromatic VOC.