Density functional study of inclusion complex of Albendazole/cucurbit [7]uril: Structure, electronic properties, NBO, GIAO and TD-DFT analysis

Theoretical investigations of free energy of binding and chiral recognition studies of (R)- and (S)-Noradrenaline towards β-cyclodextrin

Noradrenaline (NA), one of the important excitatory catecholamine neurotransmitters, is used as a medication for Parkinson's Disease (PD). The β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is one of the most effective drug carrier & also used in chiral separation. So, in this theoretical investigation, the R/S-Noradrenaline (R/S-NA) forms binding & chiral recognition mechanisms and energies with β-CD were explored. Using the AutoDock, R/S forms were first docked into the cavity of β-CD giving host-guest complexes with the free energy of binding for S-NA (-4.81 kcal/mol) larger than R-NA (-4.53 kcal/mol). The host-guest inclusion 1:1 complexes between R/S-NA and β-CD have been also modeled and optimized with ONIOM2 (B3LYP/6-31g++DP: PM6) method by using the Gaussian software. Further, frequency calculations were carried out to obtain the free energies. In comparison to the R-NA (-54.59 kcal/mol), it was observed that the S-NA (-56.48 kcal/mol) with β-CD is more stable. Furthermore, the H-bond results from molecular dynamics simulation revealed that S-NA/β-CD was more stable than R-NA/β-CD. In addition, the thermodynamic properties, vibrational analysis (IR), HOMO-LUMO band gap energy, inter molecular hydrogen bond interactions, and conformational analysis were investigated for both the R/S forms to support & compare the stability of the inclusion complex. These inclusion & high stability of S-NA/β-CD and in turn its theoretical chiral recognition behavior observed agreeing well with the reported NMR experimental data have implications in drug delivery and chiral separation research.

Spectrophotometric determination of Zr(IV), Hg(II) and U(VI) in solution with their analytical applications: Structural characterization and molecular docking of the solid complexes

Spectrophotometry was used to determine trace amounts of Zirconium(IV), Mercury(II) and Uranium(VI) in environmental, biological, pharmaceutical and industrial samples. The determination depend on the complexation reactions between albendazole reagent and metal ions [Zr(IV), Hg(II) and U(VI)] at 555 nm, 485 nm and 510 nm, respectively. The experimental conditions were explored to reach the optimum conditions for albendazole-metal ions interaction, including detection of a suitable wavelength, medium (pH), reagent concentration, surfactants effect, reaction time and temperature. Under optimum conditions, the complexes displayed apparent molar absorptivities of 0.8350 × 10⁴, 0.6210 × 10⁴ and 0.7012 × 10⁴ L mol^-1 cm^-1; Sandell's sensitivity of 0.01092, 0.03230 and 0.03394 µg cm^-2 and with linearity ranges of 1.0-120.0, 3.0-200.0 and 1.0-150.0 µg mL^-1 for the developed methods, respectively. Furthermore, Elemental analysis, thermal analysis (TGA, DTG), IR, ¹HNMR, spectroscopies, electrical molar conductivity and magnetic moment measurements were used to determine the structures and characteristics of the complexes. A careful examination of the IR spectra revealed that the ligand interacted with all of the metal ions described as a bidentate via the oxygen of the carbonyl of the ester moiety and the nitrogen atom of the heterocyclic CN group. An octahedral geometry for Zr(IV), Hg(II) and U(VI) complexes has been postulated based on magnetic and electronic spectrum data. The band gap values indicated that these complexes were semi-conductors and belong to the same class of extremely effective solar materials. The albendazole ligand and its complexes have been biologically tested against a variety of bacterial and fungal strains, and molecular docking studies have been conducted to evaluate the optimal binding site and its inhibitory action.

Spectral and Theoretical Studies of Benzimidazole and 2-Phenyl Substituted Benzimidazoles

This chapter discusses about the spectral and theoretical aspects of selected benzimidazole and 2-phenyl substituted benzimidazole molecules. The synthesis of these benzimidazoles was reported in many methods by the reaction between o-phenylenediamine with formic acid, aromatic aldehydes and N-benzylbezene-1,2-diamine in presence of oxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). The spectral analysis of these molecules mainly such as UV-visible, fluorescence in solvents will be included in this chapter and discussed about the absorption, fluorescence maximum, conjugation, transition. Further the optimized structure of these molecules will be given using Gaussian 09 W (DFT 6-31G method). And also will be discussed about structural parameters, highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) – lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy energy values, natural bond orbital (NBO), molecular electrostatic potential map (ESP). Many benzimidazole molecules having tautomers in the structure will be explained with the help of theoretical parameters to describe the structural properties.

Reduction of peroxynitrite by some manganoporphyrins of AEOL series: DFT approach with dispersion correction and NBO analysis

The AEOL series of manganoporphyrins (MnP; AEOL compounds were named by US Aeolus pharmaceuticals) designed as superoxide dismutase mimic are well-known for their powerful catalytic activity to neutralize reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Reductive oxygen atom cleavage from peroxynitrite (ONOO^-) to form NO₂ in aqueous solution by some AEOL compounds (AEOL-10113, AEOL-10150, AEOL-11114 and AEOL-11203) was studied by DFT/M06-2X computations with D3 dispersion correction and gCP (geometrical counterpoise correction) for basis set superposition error. DFT computation showed that AEOL-10150 can form the most stable association complex {MnP^…OONO} among four AEOL models. AEOL-10150 complex with ONOO^- has the lowest deformation energy. In AEOL compounds and their association complexes with ONOO^-, Mn atom prefered the high spin state (S = 2) to the intermediate spin state (S = 1). Natural bond orbital analysis showed that electron transfer from the most negative oxygen atom in ONOO^- to Mn atom in MnP has the biggest interaction energy among all kinds of donor-acceptor interactions between ONOO^- and MnP.

Host-guest interaction studies of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in alkoxy bridged binuclear rhenium (I) complexes

The interaction of two neutral alkoxy bridged binuclear rhenium(I) complexes, 1 and 2 [{Re(CO)₃(1,4-NVP)}₂(μ₂-OR)₂] (1, R = C₄H₉; 2, R = C₁₀H₂₁; 1,4-NVP = 4-(1-naphthylvinyl)pyridine] with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is investigated. UV-vis absorption, emission, ¹H NMR spectral titrations, TCSPC lifetime studies and DFT theoretical calculations were carried out to examine the binding responses of complexes 1 and 2 with various PAHs such as pyrene, naphthalene, anthracene and phenanthrene. The UV-Vis absorption spectra showed an increase in absorbance of the metal-to ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) and ligand centered (LC) bands upon addition of various PAH molecules to 1 and 2, whereas the emission behavior was found to show emission quenching, which might occur through energy transfer pathway. The binding constants (K) of complexes 1 and 2 for various PAHs are found to be in the order of 10⁴ M^-1 with a 1:1 binding mode, as determined from UV-vis absorption and emission spectral titration studies. ¹H NMR spectral studies show that the chemical shifts of pyrene guest and the 1,4-NVP moiety of 2 are shifted up-field, whilst the alkoxy protons do not show any appreciable change in their chemical shifts. It is believed that the open cavities present in the Re(I) complexes may lead to the recognition of PAHs via CH···π interaction.

Carbon and boron nanotubes as a template material for adsorption of 6-Thioguanine chemotherapeutic: a molecular dynamics and density functional approach

The interaction of 6-Thioguanine molecule, an antitumor drug with carbon nanotube and boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. Based on the obtained results, the strongest negative van der Waals interaction is found between 6-TG and BNNT among the studied nanotubes, which indicated BNNT is a better nanocarrier of the 6-TG drug than CNT within biological systems. Moreover, the adsorption and electronic properties of the 6-Thioguanine interacted with boron-nitride nanotube has been studied within the framework of density functional theory calculations. The negative binding energy values denote that there is the favorable interaction between 6-TG drug and BNNT at the studied 6-TG/BNNT complexes. Also, the amounts of the binding energies indicated that the 6-Thioguanine molecule physically interacts with the surface of BNNT. The values of electron densities and their Laplacian have been analyzed using the Bader's theory of atoms in molecules to characterize the nature of the intermolecular interactions through the topological parameters. We hope that the results of this work may provide useful information about the nature of the nanotube-drug molecule interactions and highlight the ability of these materials to be used as an adsorbent enhancing delivery of drug to cancer cells. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Encapsulation of the Sulfur Compounds by Cucurbit[7]uril: A Quantum Chemistry Study

Benzothiophene (BT) and dibenzothiophene (DT) are the most important contaminants in the petroleum derivatives responsible for serious environmental and health problems. Therefore, we have investigated the absorption of these compounds for the first time by considering cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) as the host molecule and using the theoretical levels of density functional theory//B3LYP-D3/6-31G(d). BT and DT absorbed into CB[7] do not undergo a significant structural change in the CB[7] structure. The energy gap of the S-compounds@CB[7] in water and hexane solvents was approximately 5 eV, and this large value implies that the complexes have high chemical stability. Moreover, the absorption of the BT and DT into CB[7] in the water and hexane solvents is a favorable process, whereas the lowest binding energy was observed between the dibenzothiophene and CB[7] in the DT@CB[7] complex. The solvation enthalpy shows a preferential solvation of the complexes in water than in hexane solvent. This trend is confirmed by the AIM analysis that shows the highest stability for the DT@CB[7] system with the contribution of cooperative hydrogen bonding. The transfer free energy of S-compounds@CB[7] complexes from hexane to water are -66.12 and -59.56 kcal/mol for BT@CB[7] and DT@CB[7], respectively, implying the spontaneous transference of these complexes from hexane to water solvent. Overall, our results show that the cucurbiturils can be a new class of host molecules to be used in the removal of S-compounds from petroleum derivatives. Finally, a schematic flow diagram of the desulfurization process by cucurbiturils was proposed.

Nanoformulations of albendazole as effective anticancer and antiparasite agents

Initially emerging as a widely used clinical antiparasitic drug, albendazole (ABZ) has been increasingly recognized as an effective anticancer agent due to its outstanding advantage, in other words, low toxicity to normal cells but high effectiveness against parasites and some tumors. The major challenge is its poor water solubility and subsequently low bioavailability. This article thus first reviews the brief achievements in using ABZ to treat parasites and cancers, and summarizes the basic mechanisms of action of ABZ. Then this article critically reviews recent nanotechnological strategies, in other words, formulating/conjugating it with carriers into nanoformulations, in practices of improving aqueous solubility and efficacy in treatment of tumors and parasites. Our expert opinions in this field are provided for more effective delivery of ABZ to treat tumors and parasites in vivo.

New insights about the hydrogen bonds formed between acetylene and hydrogen fluoride: π⋯H, C⋯H and F⋯H

A theoretical study of hydrogen bond strength and bond properties in the C₂H₂⋯(HF)-T, C₂H₂⋯2(HF)-T, C₂H₂⋯2(HF), C₂H₂⋯3(HF) and C₂H₂⋯4(HF) complexes was carried out at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) theory level. In these systems, a strength competition between the π⋯H and C⋯H interactions was examined. Specifically the F⋯H hydrogen bond, its properties were studied through a comparison between the hydrogen fluoride and the higher-order complexes (trimer, tetramer and pentamer). Regarding the electronic properties, the hydrogen bond strength could not be determined by the supermolecule approach. Thus, the hydrogen bond energies were computed via NBO calculations. Additionally to NBO, the ChelpG charge calculations were used to interpret the intermolecular charge transfer. The QTAIM integrations were useful to predict the covalent character of the π⋯H, C⋯H and F⋯H hydrogen bonds. Moreover, values of hybrid orbitals (s and p) and atomic radii were also determined in order to justify the red shifts in the stretch frequencies of the HF bonds.

The new supramolecular nano-aggregate curcumin-cucurbit[7]uril: synthesis, photophysical properties and biocompatibility evaluation

The supramolecular nano-aggregate CUR–CB[7] was efficiently prepared by mixing curcumin (CUR) and cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) in ethanol at room temperature.