Triazole-linked phenyl derivatives: redox mechanisms and in situ electrochemical evaluation of interaction with dsDNA

Synthesis of 1,2,3-Triazole-Methyl-Menadione Derivatives: Evaluation of Electrochemical and Antiparasitic Properties against two Blood-Dwelling Parasites

This study explores the synthesis and evaluation of novel 1,2,3-triazole-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone hybrids, focusing on their electrochemical properties and antiparasitic efficacies against two human blood-dwelling parasites Plasmodium falciparum and Schistosoma mansoni. Using copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), a well-established tool in click chemistry, two synthetic routes were assessed to develop α- and β-[triazole-methyl]-menadione derivatives. By optimizing the CuAAC reaction conditions, yields were significantly improved, reaching up to 94 % for key intermediates and resulting in the formation of a library of approximately 30 compounds. Biological evaluation of the compounds in antiparasitic drug assays demonstrated notable antischistosomal potencies, while no significant activity was observed for the same series against P. falciparum parasites. Electrochemical and 'benzylic' oxidation studies confirmed that the active 'benzoyl' metabolite responsible for the antiplasmodial activity of plasmodione cannot be generated. These findings highlight the potential of triazole-linked menadione hybrids as promising early candidates for antischistosomal drug development, and provides insights into structure-activity relationships crucial for future therapeutic strategies.

Trends on Aerogel-Based Biosensors for Medical Applications: An Overview

Aerogels are unique solid-state materials composed of interconnected 3D solid networks and a large number of air-filled pores. This structure leads to extended structural characteristics as well as physicochemical properties of the nanoscale building blocks to macroscale, and integrated typical features of aerogels, such as high porosity, large surface area, and low density, with specific properties of the various constituents. Due to their combination of excellent properties, aerogels attract much interest in various applications, ranging from medicine to construction. In recent decades, their potential was exploited in many aerogels' materials, either organic, inorganic or hybrid. Considerable research efforts in recent years have been devoted to the development of aerogel-based biosensors and encouraging accomplishments have been achieved. In this work, recent (2018-2023) and ground-breaking advances in the preparation, classification, and physicochemical properties of aerogels and their sensing applications are presented. Different types of biosensors in which aerogels play a fundamental role are being explored and are collected in this manuscript. Moreover, the current challenges and some perspectives for the development of high-performance aerogel-based biosensors are summarized.