Rechargeable zinc-air batteries are deemed as the most feasible alternative to replace lithium-ion batteries in various applications. Among battery components, separators play a crucial role in the commercial realization of rechargeable zinc-air batteries, especially from the viewpoint of preventing zincate (Zn(OH)42-) ion crossover from the zinc anode to the air cathode. In this study, a new hydroxide exchange membrane for zinc-air batteries was synthesized using poly (2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) (PPO) as the base polymer. PPO was quaternized using three tertiary amines, including trimethylamine (TMA), 1-methylpyrolidine (MPY), and 1-methylimidazole (MIM), and casted into separator films. The successful synthesis process was confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, while their thermal stability was examined using thermogravimetric analysis. Besides, their water/electrolyte absorption capacity and dimensional change, induced by the electrolyte uptake, were studied. Ionic conductivity of PPO-TMA, PPO-MPY, and PPO-MIM was determined using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy to be 0.17, 0.16, and 0.003 mS/cm, respectively. Zincate crossover evaluation tests revealed very low zincate diffusion coefficient of 1.13 × 10-8, and 0.28 × 10-8 cm2/min for PPO-TMA, and PPO-MPY, respectively. Moreover, galvanostatic discharge performance of the primary batteries assembled using PPO-TMA and PPO-MPY as initial battery tests showed a high specific discharge capacity and specific power of ~800 mAh/gZn and 1000 mWh/gZn, respectively. Low zincate crossover and high discharge capacity of these separator membranes makes them potential materials to be used in zinc-air batteries.
A series of triclosan mimic diphenyl ether derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antitubercular activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. The binding mode of the compounds at the active site of enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase of M. tuberculosis has been explored. Among them, compound 10b was found to possess antitubercular activity (minimum inhibitory concentration =12.5 µg/mL) comparable to triclosan. All the synthesized compounds exhibited low levels of cytotoxicity against Vero and HepG2 cell lines, and three compounds 10a, 10b, and 10c had a selectivity index more than 10. Compound 10b was also evaluated for log P, pKa, human liver microsomal stability, and % protein binding, in order to probe its druglikeness. Based on the antitubercular activity and druglikeness profile, it may be concluded that compound 10b could be a lead for future development of antitubercular drugs.
The bark of Litsea costalis affords two new compounds named 4,4'-diallyl-5,5'-dimethoxy-[1,1'-biphennyl]-2,2'-diol, biseugenol A (1) and 2,2'-oxybis (4-allyl-1-methoxybenzene), biseugenol B (2) along with two known compounds (3-4), namely 5-methoxy-2-Hydroxy Benzaldehyde (3), and (E)-4-styrylphenol (4). The structures of 1 and 2 were determined using 1D and 2D NMR data. Also, the IR and NMR data were combined with quantum chemical calculations in the DFT approach using the hybrid B3LYP exchange-correlation function to confirm the structures of the compounds. Compounds showed fairly potent anticancer activity against cell lines and antioxidant (DPPH).
A series of novel 2-amino-4-(3-hydroxy-4-phenoxyphenyl)-6-(4-substituted phenyl) nicotinonitriles were synthesized and evaluated against HepG2, A-549 and Vero cell lines. Compounds 3b (IC50 16.74 ± 0.45 µM) and 3p (IC50 10.57 ± 0.54 µM) were found to be the most active compounds against A-549 cell line among the evaluated compounds. Further 3b- and 3p-induced apoptosis was characterized by AO/EB (acridine orange/ethidium bromide) nuclear staining method and also by DNA fragmentation study. A decrease in cell viability and initiation of apoptosis was clearly evident through the morphological changes in the A-549 cells treated with 3b and 3p when stained with this method. Fragmentation of DNA into nucleosomes was observed which further confirmed the cell apoptosis in cells treated with compound 3b. Flow cytometry studies confirmed the cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in A549 cells treated with compound 3b. Further in silico studies performed supported the in vitro anticancer activity of these compounds as depicted by dock score and binding energy values.