The first two-dimensional (2D) substance sparked a boom in research since this type of material showed potential promise for applications in field sensors. A class of 2D transition metal nitrides, carbides, and carbonitrides are referred to as MXenes. Following the 2011 synthesis of Ti3C2 from Ti3AlC2, much research has been published. Since these materials have several advantages over conventional 2D materials, they have been extensively researched, synthesized, and studied by many research organizations. To give readers a general understanding of these well-liked materials, this review examines the structures of MXenes, discusses various synthesis procedures, and analyzes physicochemistry properties, particularly optical, electronic, structural, and mechanical properties. The focus of this review is the analysis of modern advancements in the development of MXene-based sensors, including electrochemical sensors, gas sensors, biosensors, optical sensors, and wearable sensors. Finally, the opportunities and challenges for further study on the creation of MXenes-based sensors are discussed.
This research aimed to optimize the total polyphenol content (TPC) extracted from soybean sprout powder under different experimental parameters, including ethanol concentration (60–100% v/v), extraction temperature (40–80 °C), extraction time (15–150 min), material:solvent ratio (1:4–1:10 g/mL), the number extraction cycles (1, 2 and 3 times), the age of sprout (0–7 days), and the used part of the sprout (cotyledon, hypocotyl, or radicle). The obtained results were used in response surface methodology, in combination with a central composite design, to model the total polyphenol content (TPC) with respect to three variables, including ethanol concentration, extraction temperature, and material:solvent ratio. The experimental conditions for optimal recovery of TPC consisted of ethanol concentration of 88% (v/v), extraction temperature of 59 °C, material:solvent ratio of 1:6.5 g/mL, extraction time of 60 min, and 2 cycles of maceration. In addition, for maximal TPC, the sprout should undergo the germination of 5 days and the radicle fraction should be used. Based on the suggested optimum conditions, the obtained and verified TPC was 19.801 mg genistein (GE)/g dry weight (d.w.). The obtained dried extract also exhibited low antioxidant activity.
This study contributes to anti-malarial research effort by conducting in silico assessment of 125 compounds originated from Cannabis sativa L. against plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase-thymidinesynthase (pfDHFR-TS) enzyme for potential inhibition activity. Drug-like and pharmacokinetic criteria were used to assess the drug-like properties of the studied compounds. AutoDock4.2.6 and AutoDock Vina software were used to calculate the possible binding pose of the studied compounds to pfDHFR-TS enzyme. The docking procedure was validated using two known inhibitors cycloguanil and WR99210. 65 out of 125 compounds violated no more than 2 of Lipinski’s rule of five and were sorted out as favorable for drug development. Amongst these 65 compounds, pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity evaluation identified 60 compounds that meet the criteria of drug-like properties and were subjected to further docking studies. Docking outcomes identified 10 compounds including compounds 4, 9, 19, 22, 23, 25, 30, 42, 43, and 59 as potential candidates for inhibiting the function of pfDHFR-TS at the active site through hydrogen bonds with Ile14, Asp54, and Ile 164 residues. Compound 9 is considered as the top “hit” with docking energy far more exceeding those of the standard compounds. High correlation coefficient between the docking energy of AutoDock4.2.6 and AutoDock Vina was recorded with the value of R2 = 0.74.
Soybeans offer an abundant source of isoflavones, which confer useful bioactivities when existing in aglycone forms. The conversion of isoflavones into aglycones via fermentation of soybean products is often realized by β-glucosidase, an enzyme produced by fungi. In this study, a filamentous fungus, Clerodendron cyrtophyllum, was isolated from root of Clerodendron cyrtophyllum Turcz, which was able to produce the highest activity of β-glucosidase up to 33.72 U/mL at 144 h during fermentation on Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB). The obtained fungus was grown on isoflavones-rich soybean extract to produce genistein and daidzein, achieving the conversion rate of 98.7%. Genistein and daidzein were isolated and purified by column chromatography using hexane/acetone (29:1/1:1), reaching purities of over 90% of total isoflavones, as identified and determined by TLC, LC-MS/MS, and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. These results imply that the isolated P. citrinum is a potential fungal strain for industrial-scale production of genistein and daidzein from isoflavones-containing soybean extracts. These products may serve as potential raw materials for manufacture of functional foods that are based on aglycones.
This research aimed to investigate the chemical composition of seed oils extracted from three Vietnamese Dalbergia species (D. tonkinensis, D. mammosa, and D. entadoides). The fatty acid profiles and contents of tocopherols and sterols of the seed oils, and total phenolic compounds extracted from the fresh seeds were characterized using different methods. Among the examined samples, D. tonkinensis seed oils showed high contents of linoleic acid (64.7%), whereas in D. mammosa, oleic acid (51.2%) was predominant. In addition, α- and γ-tocopherol and β-sitosterol were major ingredients in the seed oils, whereas ferulic acid and rosmarinic acid are usually predominant in the seeds of these species. Regarding sterol composition, the D. entadoides seed oil figured for remarkably high content of Δ5,23-stigmastadienol (1735 mg/kg) and Δ7-stigmastenol (1298 mg/kg). In addition, extracts with methanol/water (80:20, v/v) of seeds displayed significant in vitro antioxidant activity which was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging assay.