Surface functionalized metal-organic frameworks for binding coronavirus proteins

This work was supported by University of St Andrews Restarting Research Funding Scheme (SARRF), funded through the SFC grant reference SFC/AN/08/020 (XRR064) and European Research Council grant ADOR (Advanced Grant 787073). The authors acknowledge the EPSRC Light Element Analysis Facility Grant (EP/T019298/1) and the EPSRC Strategic Equipment Resource Grant (EP/R023751/1).Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, a multitude of strategies have been explored for the means of protection and shielding against virus particles: filtration equipment (PPE) has been widely used in daily life. In this work, we explore another approach in the form of deactivating coronavirus particles through selective binding onto the surface of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) to further the fight against the transmission of respiratory viruses. MOFs are attractive materials in this regard, as their rich pore and surface chemistry can easily be modified on demand. The surfaces of three MOFs, UiO-66(Zr), UiO-66-NH2(Zr), and UiO-66-NO2(Zr), have been functionalized with repurposed antiviral agents, namely, folic acid, nystatin, and tenofovir, to enable specific interactions with the external spike protein of the SARS virus. Protein binding studies revealed that this surface modification significantly improved the binding affinity toward glycosylated and non-glycosylated proteins for all three MOFs. Additionally, the pores for the surface-functionalized MOFs can adsorb water, making them suitable for locally dehydrating microbial aerosols. Our findings highlight the immense potential of MOFs in deactivating respiratory coronaviruses to be better equipped to fight future pandemics.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

“Imagine what it would be like to have a brand-new heart”: Biosentimentality and embodied-relationality in Change of Heart: A Novel

This paper discusses Jodi Picoult’s Change of Heart: A Novel in order to foreground how the received heart triggers anxiety and the narrative crisis in the heart recipient who develops an ambiguous relationship with the heart donated by a death row inmate. The paper foregrounds how the current culture of transplantation medicine evolution of kinship orders such as intercorporeal and intersubjective relationality has problematized the notion of the body as a discrete biological unit with a definite boundary. Interestingly in the novel, the fragments of the human body acquire a symbolic imagery that challenges the medical and commercial understanding of the human body as spare parts and therapeutic tools. The fictional frame of the literary narrative dramatizes how the residual presence of the donor’s subjectivity validates the notion of cellular memories that define memory as a distributive phenomenon not located to the brain alone. The paper highlights how development in the domain of organ transplantation has enabled us to reconceptualize the significance of body in the construction of human subjectivity and has allowed us to retrospect on the concept of the fluidity of the human bodily boundary that has problematized our traditional understanding of the body as an organic integrated whole

Formulation Development, Optimization, and Characterization of Cilnidipine-Loaded Self-microemulsifying Drug Delivery System

Cilnidipine, a 2, 4-dihydropyridine antihypertensive, is poorly bioavailable and belongs to Biopharmaceutical Classification System Class II. The present study was carried out to develop and evaluate a cilnidipine-loaded self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS) using food grade oil for enhanced pharmacokinetic parameters. The SMEDDS was prepared by low-energy method. A pseudo-ternary phase diagram was developed using triacetin, Tween 20, and Transcutol HP as oil, surfactants, and cosurfactants, respectively. The statistically optimized formulation was obtained and was evaluated for relevant in vitro characterizations. Globule size, zeta potential, and polydispersity index (PDI) of the optimized formulation were found to be 9.045 nm, −2.32 mv and 0.203, respectively, indicating stable and uniformly distributed microemulsion nature of the formulation. Developed SMEDDS of viscosity 31 cps was found to be clear in 500 times dilution in water and phosphate buffer pH 1.2. Selection of the optimized SMEDDS was followed by various formulation characteristics, including goat intestinal membrane permeability. The in vitro dissolution study of optimized SMEDDS exhibited much better result as compared to the marketed tablet of cilnidipine

Bimodal functionality in a porous covalent triazine framework by rational integration of an electron-rich and -deficient pore surface

A porous Covalent Triazine Framework (CTF) consisting of both an electron-deficient central triazine core and electron-rich aromatic building blocks is reported. Taking advantage of the dual nature of the pore surface, bimodal functionality has been achieved. The electron deficiency in the central core has been utilized to address one of the pertinent problems in chemical industries, namely separation of benzene from its cyclic saturated congener, that is, cyclohexane. Also, by virtue of the electron-rich aromatic rings with Lewis basic sites, aqueous-phase chemical sensing of a nitroaromatic compound of highly explosive nature (2, 4, 6-trinitrophenol; TNP) has been achieved. The present compound supersedes the performance of previously reported COFs in both the aspects. Notably, this reports the first example of pore-surface engineering leading to bimodal functionality in CTFs

Thermo‐Responsive MOF/Polymer Composites for Temperature‐Mediated Water Capture and Release

International audienc

On-Chip Tailorability of Capacitive Gas Sensors Integrated with Metal-Organic Framework Films

10.1002/anie.201906222ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION584014089-1409

Selective Anion Exchange and Tunable Luminescent Behaviors of Metal–Organic Framework Based Supramolecular Isomers

Owing to the conformational (cis or trans) flexibility of a N-donor ligand, the combinations of the same and Cd­(ClO₄)₂ under variable solvent templates afforded two supramolecular isomers based on two-dimensional metal–organic frameworks. Both compounds contain weakly coordinating ClO₄^– anions attached to the metal centers. Both frameworks showed facile anion exchange behaviors with various kinds of foreign anions. Moreover, both frameworks showed anion-driven structural dynamism and exhibited the preferential uptake of strongly coordinating anions over others. Anion-regulated modulation in luminescent behaviors was also observed in both cases