Embryo-toxicity of docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids: In vivo and in silico investigations using the chick embryo model

Objective: The objective of the current study was to evaluate the embryo-toxicity of omega-3 fatty acids. Methods: Firstly, the embryo-toxicity of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA), as well as their interaction with Bcl-2 family members, were predicted using an in silico assay. In the next step, the embryonic pathological lesions and amniotic fluid biochemical changes following omega-3 treatment were investigated using a chick embryo model. Finally, the drug's vascular apoptotic effect on the chick's yolk sac membrane (YSM) was assessed. Results: In silico simulations revealed the embryo-toxicity, tissue-toxicity (respiratory and cardiovascular), and vascular-toxicity (apoptotic activity) of DHA and EPA. There was also an accurate interaction between DHA and EPA with Bax (Binding affinity: -7.6 and -10.6 kcal/mol) and Bcl-2 (Binding affinity: -8.0 and -12.2 kcal/mol), respectively. Moreover, DHA and EPA administrations were related to various adverse consequences, including weight loss and lesions in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Histopathological findings consisted of pulmonary edema, airway dilatation, increased interstitial tissue, and hyperemia in the lungs, heart, liver, kidney, and brain. Morphometric evaluation of the YSM vasculature revealed that the vascular apoptotic effect of omega-3was associated with a significant reduction in mean capillary area. In immunohistochemistry assay, increased expression of BAX and low expression of Bcl-2 affirmed apoptosis in YSM vessels. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, one could confirm that the possible embryo-toxicity of omega-3 was approved by data presented in this research. The obtained results also support the suspicion that alteration of the apoptotic-related proteins in vessels is an essential pathway in embryo-toxicity of omega-3. © 2021 The Author(s

Electrochemical CO₂ and CO Reduction on Metal-Functionalized Porphyrin-like Graphene

Porphyrin-like metal-functionalized graphene structures have been investigated as possible catalysts for CO₂ and CO reduction to methane or methanol. The late transition metals (Cu, Ag, Au, Ni, Pd, Pt, Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ru, Os) and some p (B, Al, Ga) and s (Mg) metals comprised the center of the porphyrin ring. A clear difference in catalytic properties compared to extended metal surfaces was observed owing to a different electronic nature of the active site. The preference to bind hydrogen, however, becomes a major obstacle in the reaction path. A possible solution to this problem is to reduce CO instead of CO₂. Volcano plots were constructed on the basis of scaling relations of reaction intermediates, and from these plots the reaction steps with the highest overpotentials were deduced. The Rh–porphyrin-like functionalized graphene was identified as the most active catalyst for producing methanol from CO, featuring an overpotential of 0.22 V. Additionally, we have also examined the hydrogen evolution and oxidation reaction, and in their case, too, Rh–porphyrin turned out to be the best catalyst with an overpotential of 0.15 V

Trends in the Electrochemical Synthesis of H₂O₂: Enhancing Activity and Selectivity by Electrocatalytic Site Engineering

The direct electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide is a promising alternative to currently used batch synthesis methods. Its industrial viability is dependent on the effective catalysis of the reduction of oxygen at the cathode. Herein, we study the factors controlling activity and selectivity for H₂O₂ production on metal surfaces. Using this approach, we discover two new catalysts for the reaction, Ag–Hg and Pd–Hg, with unique electrocatalytic properties both of which exhibit performance that far exceeds the current state-of-the art