Research Articles (Chemistry and Polymer Science)
Recent Submissions
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In vitro analysis of the combinatory effects of novel aminonaphthoquinone derivatives and curcumin on breast cancer progression
(International Institute of Anticancer Research, 2020-01)Background/aim: We previously reported the potential of aminonaphthoquinone derivatives as therapeutic agents against breast and other oestrogen-responsive tumours when combined with curcumin. This study aimed at screening ... -
Cyclization of enaminones derived from N-phenacylpyrrolidin-2-ones to pyrrolizines under acidic conditions
(ARKAT USA, 2020)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Several N-phenacyl enaminones, prepared by Eschenmoser sulfide contraction between Nphenacylpyrrolidine-2-thiones and a range of substituted phenacyl halides, were transformed into 2,3- dihydro-1H-pyrrolizines ... -
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Synthesis of pyrrolocarbazoles with N-substituted alkynyl-, alkylcyano- and alkylhydroxyl-groups
(ARKAT USA, 2020)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Due to their involvement in almost all stages of cellular life, kinase biomolecular catalysts have been linked to cancer development and, thus, remain attractive drug targets for cancer therapeutics. ... -
Attempted synthesis of a meta-metalated calix[4]arene
(Beilstein-Institut, 2019)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An evidence for the formation of a rare meta-metalated inherently chiral calix[4]arene is described. Our strategy involved using a mesoionic carbene to direct C–H activation, but proved to form an ... -
Advancing membrane biology with poly(styrene-co-maleic acid)-based native nanodiscs
(Elsevier, 2019)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The elucidation of the structures and interactions of proteins and lipids in intact biological membranes remains largely uncharted territory. However, this information is crucial for understanding how ... -
Degradation of proteins and starch by combined immobilization of protease, α-amylase and β-galactosidase on a single electrospun nanofibrous membrane
(MDPI, 2019-01-31)Two commercially available enzymes, Dextrozyme (α-amylase) and Esperase (protease), were covalently immobilized on non-woven electrospun poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) nanofiber mats with partial retention of their ... -
4-Benzyloxylonchocarpin and muracatanes A-C from Ranunculus muricatus L. and their biological effects
(MDPI, 2020-11-17)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Ranunculus muricatus L. is a spiny fruit buttercup that is used in various traditional medicinal systems. In the current investigation of R. muricatus, the new chalcone 4-benzyloxylonchocarpin (1), the ... -
A calix[4]arene based boronic acid catalyst for amide bond formation : proof of principle study
(ARKAT USA, 2018-06-25)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A calix[4]arene boronic acid was synthesized and tested for catalysis in amide formation. The results were positive and paved the way for future designs, even though protodeboronation was observed under ... -
The development and refinement of a questionnaire on the investigation of students' experience of first-year chemistry practicals
(University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2013)This article reports on the development and refinement of a questionnaire for first-year Chemistry students. Three subscales were probed, namely affective attitudes, perceptions towards tutor effectiveness and outcomes achieved. -
Critical self-assembly concentration of bolaamphiphilic peptides andpeptide hybrids determined by fluorescence measurements
(University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2013)The study of the self-assembly properties of peptides and proteins is important for the understanding of molecular recognition processes and for the rational design of functional biomaterials. Novel bolaamphiphilic peptides ... -
Coordinated autophagy modulation overcomes glioblastoma chemoresistance through disruption of mitochondrial bioenergetics
(Nature Research, 2018-07-09)Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is known to be one of the most malignant and aggressive forms of brain cancer due to its resistance to chemotherapy. Recently, GBM was found to not only utilise both oxidative phosphorylation ... -
Computational investigation of Au...H hydrogen bonds involving neutral AuI N-heterocyclic carbene complexes and amphiprotic binary hydrides
(Springer, 2019-04-26)In this computational study we investigate the ability of various neutral R-AuI-NHC (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes [R = H, CH3, Cl, OH] to form hydrogen bonds with the amphiprotic binary hydrides NH3, H2O and HF. ... -
Steric and electronic effects in gold N-heterocyclic carbene complexes revealed by computational analysis
(Wiley, 2019-04-29)A computational analysis of a series of cationic and neutral gold imidazolylidene and benzimidizolylidene complexes is reported. The Bond Dissociation Energies of the various ligands in the complexes calculated at the ... -
Chemical constituents isolated from Lycium shawii and their chemotaxonomic significance
(ACG Publications, 2017-11-15)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Phytochemical investigation of Lycium shawii Roem. & Schult provided fourteen compounds, including lyciumate (1), dehydrocostus lactone (2), costunolide (3), catechin (4), lyciumaside (5), emodin (6), ... -
A review on recent syntheses of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids and isocarbostyrils (time period mid-2016 to 2017)
(Sage Publishing, 2018)Alkaloids from the Amaryllidaceae have become valuable targets for synthetic organic chemists, mainly due to their wide variety of bioactivities and potential for utilization in medicinal chemistry ventures. In addition, ... -
Removal of organic pollutant (pyrene) from aqueous solution using coordination polymer of [Cu(Pic)2(H2O)2]·H2O (CP-1) as adsorbent
(Springer, 2019-09-24)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Adsorptive removal of organic pollutant (pyrene) was carried out using coordination polymer [Cu(Pic)2(H2O)2]·H2O (CP-1) (where “Pic” represents picolinic acid), which was prepared from copper acetate ... -
Visualizing structural transformation and guest binding in a flexible metal-organic framework under high pressure and room temperature
(American Chemical Society, 2018)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Understanding the effect of gas molecules on the framework structures upon gas sorption in porous materials is highly desirable for the development of gas storage and separation technologies. However, ... -
The garlic compound ajoene covalently binds vimentin, disrupts the vimentin network and exerts anti-metastatic activity in cancer cells
(BMC (part of Springer Nature), 2019)Background: Garlic has been used for centuries for its flavour and health promoting properties that include protection against cancer. The vinyl disulfide-sulfoxide ajoene is one of the phytochemicals found in crushed cloves, ... -
The impact of plasticizer and degree of hydrolysis on free volume of poly(vinyl alcohol) films
(MDPI, 2018-05)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The effect of plasticizer species and the degree of hydrolysis (DH) on the free volume properties of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were studied using positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy. Both glycerol ...