Synthesis and Theoretical Studies of Aromatic Azaborines

Organoboron compounds are well known for their use as synthetic building blocks in several significant reactions, e.g., palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. As an element, boron is fascinating; as part of a molecule it structurally resembles a three-valent atom, but if there is a lone pair of electrons nearby, the boron atom’s empty p-orbital may capture the lone pair and form a covalent bond. This is the main aspect that is challenging chemistry during the synthesis of boron containing molecules and may lead into unexpected reactions and products. To study this, we synthesized and studied novel aromatic azaborines for better understanding of their structures and reactions. Here, we report a one-pot method for the synthesis of substituted aromatic azaborines and computational studies of their structure to explain their observed chemical properties

3-(3-Bromophenyl)-7-acetoxycoumarin

In natural product synthesis, the procurement of easily accessible starting materials is crucial. Chromenones and their subclass, coumarins, are a wide family of small, oxygen-containing aromatic heterocycles. Phenylcoumarins offer a particularly excellent starting point for a diverse chemical space of natural products, and thus are excellent staring materials for more complex natural products. Herein, we report an efficient synthesis of an easily accessible 3-phenylcoumarin bearing two orthogonally substitutable groups, bromine, and an acetyl-protected phenylic hydroxyl group

Addressing the Biochemical Foundations of a Glucose-Based "Trojan Horse"-Strategy to Boron Neutron Capture Therapy: From Chemical Synthesis to In Vitro Assessment

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for cancer is on the rise worldwide due to recent developments of in-hospital neutron accelerators which are expected to revolutionize patient treatments. There is an urgent need for improved boron delivery agents, and herein we have focused on studying the biochemical foundations upon which a successful GLUT1-targeting strategy to BNCT could be based. By combining synthesis and molecular modeling with affinity and cytotoxicity studies, we unravel the mechanisms behind the considerable potential of appropriately designed glucoconjugates as boron delivery agents for BNCT. In addition to addressing the biochemical premises of the approach in detail, we report on a hit glucoconjugate which displays good cytocompatibility, aqueous solubility, high transporter affinity, and, crucially, an exceptional boron delivery capacity in the in vitro assessment thereby pointing toward the significant potential embedded in this approach

Anti-bacterial activity of inorganic nanomaterials and their antimicrobial peptide conjugates against resistant and non-resistant pathogens

This review details the antimicrobial applications of inorganic nanomaterials of mostly metallic form, and the augmentation of activity by surface conjugation of peptide ligands. The review is subdivided into three main sections, of which the first describes the antimicrobial activity of inorganic nanomaterials against gram-positive, gram-negative and multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. The second section highlights the range of antimicrobial peptides and the drug resistance strategies employed by bacterial species to counter lethality. The final part discusses the role of antimicrobial peptide-decorated inorganic nanomaterials in the fight against bacterial strains that show resistance. General strategies for the preparation of antimicrobial peptides and their conjugation to nanomaterials are discussed, emphasizing the use of elemental and metallic oxide nanomaterials. Importantly, the permeation of antimicrobial peptides through the bacterial membrane is shown to aid the delivery of nanomaterials into bacterial cells. By judicious use of targeting ligands, the nanomaterial becomes able to differentiate between bacterial and mammalian cells and, thus, reduce side effects. Moreover, peptide conjugation to the surface of a nanomaterial will alter surface chemistry in ways that lead to reduction in toxicity and improvements in biocompatibility

Synthesis and Theoretical Studies of Aromatic Azaborines

Organoboron compounds are well known for their use as synthetic building blocks in several significant reactions, e.g., palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling. As an element, boron is fascinating; as part of a molecule it structurally resembles a three-valent atom, but if there is a lone pair of electrons nearby, the boron atom’s empty p-orbital may capture the lone pair and form a covalent bond. This is the main aspect that is challenging chemistry during the synthesis of boron containing molecules and may lead into unexpected reactions and products. To study this, we synthesized and studied novel aromatic azaborines for better understanding of their structures and reactions. Here, we report a one-pot method for the synthesis of substituted aromatic azaborines and computational studies of their structure to explain their observed chemical properties

Amino Acid-Based Boron Carriers in Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT)

Interest in the design of boronated amino acids has emerged, partly due to the utilization of boronophenylalanine (BPA), one of the two agents employed in clinical Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT). The boronated amino acids synthesized thus far for BNCT investigations can be classified into two categories based on the source of boron: boronic acids or carboranes. Amino acid-based boron carriers, employed in the context of BNCT treatment, demonstrate significant potential in the treatment of challenging tumors, such as those located in the brain. This review aims to shed light on the developmental journey and challenges encountered over the years in the field of amino acid-based boron delivery compound development. The primary focus centers on the utilization of the large amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) as a target for boron carriers in BNCT. The development of efficient carriers remains a critical objective, addressing challenges related to tumor specificity, effective boron delivery, and rapid clearance from normal tissue and blood. LAT1 presents an intriguing and promising target for boron delivery, given its numerous characteristics that make it well suited for drug delivery into tumor tissues, particularly in the case of brain tumors

Addressing the Biochemical Foundations of a Glucose-Based "Trojan Horse"-Strategy to Boron Neutron Capture Therapy : From Chemical Synthesis to In Vitro Assessment

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for cancer is on the rise worldwide due to recent developments of in-hospital neutron accelerators which are expected to revolutionize patient treatments. There is an urgent need for improved boron delivery agents, and herein we have focused on studying the biochemical foundations upon which a successful GLUT1-targeting strategy to BNCT could be based. By combining synthesis and molecular modeling with affinity and cytotoxicity studies, we unravel the mechanisms behind the considerable potential of appropriately designed glucoconjugates as boron delivery agents for BNCT. In addition to addressing the biochemical premises of the approach in detail, we report on a hit glucoconjugate which displays good cytocompatibility, aqueous solubility, high transporter affinity, and, crucially, an exceptional boron delivery capacity in the in vitro assessment thereby pointing toward the significant potential embedded in this approach.Peer reviewe