German Journal of Pharmaceuticals and Biomaterials

Nanocellulose: A potential and versatile ‘Biomaterial’ for futuristic research

2023-07-27T11:27:18-04:00

Nanocelluloses are unique biomaterials with combined potential characteristics of cellulose with added features of nanomaterials. Cellulose is one of the most abundantly available natural biopolymers with a wide range of applications in the Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Agricultural fields. Cellulose from natural sources can be modified by acid hydrolysis or by enzymatic treatment to develop nanostructured cellulose. Based on the condition and method of processing cellulose, nanostructured forms of cellulose can be categorised as nanocrystals and nanofibers. Nanostructured cellulose has created much interest among formulation scientists due to its renewability, biocompatibility, recyclability, least toxicity, better mechanical properties and tunable surface characteristics. Though various methods have been discovered for developing nanocellulose, it still possesses formidable challenges in extraction and modification.

Comparison of in-silico and in-vitro studies of benzimidazoleoxothiazolidine derivatives as m. Tubcerculosis transcriptor inhibitors

2022-10-31T15:23:14-04:00

Novel N-(4-alkyl-4-oxo-1,3-thiazolidin-3-yl)-2-(5-nitro-1H-benzimidazole-1-yl)acetamide derivatives were evaluated as M. tuberculosis transcription inhibitors using protein 3Q3S, by performing molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies. Twelve promising candidates exhibiting good binding interactions in the form of hydrogen bonds, pi-cation interactions, pi-pi stacking and low binding energies (-7.576 kcal/mol to -5.038 kcal/mol) were selected for wet lab synthesis. Their invitro anti-tubercular activity tests using Microplate Alamar Blue Assay were compared with insilico studies. Compounds 4a, 4b, and 4g have exhibited good activity with MIC values of 1.6 μg/ml, while the other compounds exhibited activity at MIC values of 3.125-6.25 μg/ml. The results show that the presence of an additional H-bonding group at the ortho position in the substituted aryl group attached to the thiazolidine ring is leading to an increase in the activity owing to an increase in the binding interaction of the molecule to the substrate.

Editor

2023-07-27T11:23:10-04:00

Front matter

Exploring the role of NMDA receptor in memory

2022-10-18T07:57:40-04:00

N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), a receptor belonging to the family of ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs), plays various physiological and pathological roles in the central nervous system (CNS). Various other receptors located in the midbrain, such as NMDAR2B (NR2B), contribute to fear memory rather than spatial memory. Furthermore, NMDA-receptor channels produce calcium entry, essential for LTP induction; they also produce voltage-dependent excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs). Protein kinase C (PKC) activation is involved in the long-term physiological processes of LTP. This review aimed to determine the pharmacological properties of NMDA in front of native neurons.