Department of Chemistry

Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad&nbsp;(IIT Palakkad or IIT PKD) is a public autonomous&nbsp;engineering&nbsp;and&nbsp;research&nbsp;institute located in&nbsp;Palakkad,&nbsp;Kerala. It was&nbsp;one of the five new&nbsp;IITs&nbsp;proposed in the&nbsp;2014 Union budget of India. The campus was inaugurated on 3 August 2015. The institute has 94 faculty, 978 students, and 63 non-teaching staffs.

IT Palakkad currently offers four-year Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) and two years MS programmes in 8 different engineering disciplines including&nbsp;Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil among others.

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IIT Palakkad

Environmental toxic pollutants and pathogens that enter the ecosystem are major global issues. Detection of these toxic chemicals/pollutants and the diagnosis of a disease is a first step in efficiently controlling their contamination and spread, respectively. Various analytical techniques are available to detect and determine toxic chemicals/pathogens, including liquid chromatography, HPLC, mass spectroscopy, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. However, these sensing strategies have some drawbacks such as tedious sample pretreatment and preparation, the requirement for skilled technicians, and dependence on large laboratory-based instruments. Alternatively, biosensors, especially paper-based sensors, could be used extensively and are a cost-effective alternative to conventional laboratory testing. They can improve accessibility to testing to identify chemicals and pollutants, especially in developing countries. Due to its low cost, abundance, easy disposal (by incineration, for example) and biocompatible nature, paper is considered a versatile material for the development of environmentally friendly electrochemical/optical (bio) sensor devices. This review presents an overview of sensing platforms constructed from paper, pointing out the main merits and demerits of paper-based sensing systems, their fabrication techniques, and the different optical/electrochemical detection techniques that they exploit. © 2023 by the authors.

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Biosensors

Trends in Paper-Based Sensing Devices for Clinical and Environmental Monitoring

Metallogels formed from supramolecular interactions of low-molecular-weight gelators (LMWGs) combine the qualities of heterogeneous catalysts and offer the advantages of multifunctionality owing to the facile installation of desired task-specific moieties on the surface and along the channels of the gels. We discuss the applications of a triazole-based Ni(II) gel-derived xerogel (NiXero) having a high density of Ni(II)-nodes and appended primary amines as a recyclable heterogeneous catalyst for Knoevenagel condensation of aldehyde and malononitrile in water and the solvent-free cycloaddition of CO2 to form a series of cyclic carbonates with near-quantitative conversion of the respective epoxides, with low catalyst loading (0.59 mol %), high catalyst stability and recyclability. The structural advantages of NiXero, due to the concurrent presence of bifunctional Lewis acid-base sites on the channels, open Ni(II) nodes, Ntriazole, pendant −NH2 and its chemical stability, are conducive to the cooperative heterogeneous catalytic activity under mild conditions. This work emphasizes the effective amalgamation of metals with purpose-built ligand systems for the construction of metallogels and their utility as heterogeneous catalysts for desired organic transformations. © 2023 American Chemical Society

Inorganic Chemistry

Amine-rich Nickel(II)-Xerogel as a Highly Active Bifunctional Metallo-organo Catalyst for Aqueous Knoevenagel Condensation and Solvent-free CO2 Cycloaddition

The durability of concrete incorporating cactus extract as a bio-admixture is the focus of this study, which is the first of its kind in the literature. Cactus-infused concrete is a novel type of concrete with exceptional fluidity, strength, and durability. In this project, cactus was employed as an addition to M25(3626 psi) concrete, which was designed to Indian standards. Cactus extract (1\% to 9\% of the total weight) was used to replace the water in the mix. In order to look into the durability properties of cactus concrete, durability experiments such as drying shrinkage test, water absorption, porosity, sorptivity, accelerated carbonation, acid, and alkalinity tests were carried out on the material. ETC concrete enhances the fluidity of the mixture, making it more workable. To determine the particle distribution in concrete, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to investigate the material. According to experimental research, polysaccharides and fats in concrete have increased their durability properties by 30\% when used at their optimal level. However, a high level of durability is attained, which encourages concrete voids to be effectively filled.

PERIODICA POLYTECHNICA-CIVIL ENGINEERING

Durability Evaluation of Cactus-infused M25 Grade Concrete as a Bio-admixture

Dual nickel-photoredox-enabled direct synthesis of amides through cross-coupling of cesium oxamates with aryl bromides has been developed. This methodology’s key advantages are mild reaction conditions, utilizing organic dye as a photocatalyst, employing readily available starting chemicals as coupling partners and late-stage carbamoylation of pharmaceutically relevant molecules. DFT studies suggested that the nickel catalytic cycle proceeds via a radical addition pathway prior to the oxidative insertion. © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

ACS Organic and Inorganic Au

Redox-Neutral Decarboxylative Cross-Coupling of Oxamates with Aryl Bromides

Reaction of the 1,2-disilylenes {(DipArAm)Si}2 (DipArAm=[(NDip)2CAr]−, Dip=2,6-diisopropylphenyl, Ar=4-C6H4But (Ar’) 1 a or Ph 1 b) and two abnormal N-heterocyclic silylenes, (DipArAm)SiOCSi{(NDip)2CAr} (Ar=Ar’ 3 a or Ph 3 b) with N2O led to formation of unprecedented examples of uncoordinated silicon analogues of carboxylic acid anhydrides, (DipArAm)(O=)SiOSi(=O)(DipArAm) (Ar=Ar’ 2 a or Ph 2 b). Both compounds have been fully characterized and the mechanism of formation of one explored using DFT calculations. Reduction of sila-acid anhydride 2 a with a dimagnesium(I) compound, [{(MesNacnac)Mg}2] (MesNacnac=[(MesNCMe)2CH]−, Mes=mesityl), led to the one-electron reduction of the anhydride and formation of a magnesium complex of a sila-acid anhydride radical anion [(MesNacnac)Mg{(OSi(DipAr’Am)}2O] 5. A combination of EPR spectroscopic studies and DFT calculations reveal the unpaired electron to largely reside on one of the amidinate ligands of the complex. © 2023 The Authors. Chemistry - A European Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Chemistry - A European Journal

Stabilization and One Electron Reduction of a Silicon Analogue of a Carboxylic Acid Anhydride

ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS

Electrochemical Strip Sensor Based on a Graphene-Au-PEDOT Nanocomposite for Detection and Continuous Monitoring of Dacarbazine

Non-aromatic amino acids are mostly considered as non-emissive due to their lack of conventional fluorophores. However, at high concentrations, they can undergo conformational rigidification via self-aggregation and emit in the visible range. Herein, we have exploited that very property of non-aromatic amino acids as a fluorescence sensor. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating a single unmodified non-aromatic amino acid, Lysine (Lys) as a selective and sensitive fluorescence sensor for the detection of Cu2+ and Co2+ along with colorimetric distinction. An as-prepared aqueous solution of Lys (6.8 mM) served as a fluorescence sensor for Cu2+ and Co2+ with a detection limit of 420 nM and 460 nM, respectively in water. The instantaneous appearance of blue and pink color upon adding Cu2+ and Co2+, respectively to the Lys solution makes the system useful for their real-time analysis. The sensing of Cu2+ and Co2+ are also demonstrated through the fabrication of paper strips. Moreover, the sensor could detect Cu2+ and Co2+ in real water samples (lake water and tap water). The exceptionally low cost (&lt;1 U.S. cent/10 mg Lys), reversibility of the sensor, and its ease of use uniquely qualify Lys as a remarkably simple fluorescent sensor. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry

Non-aromatic single amino acid, lysine: A simple fluorescence sensor for selective detection of Cu2+ and Co2+ with colorimetric distinction by the virtue of its self-aggregation behaviour

Discharge of organic dyes from various industries into water bodies have polluted the resources appallingly which made them unsafe to use. Various materials developed for the removal of these dyes often lacks from cost effectiveness, good removal capacity and fast kinetics. On account of the imperative need for a cost-effective and efficient system for this purpose, we have developed a facile approach for the synthesis of Covalent Organic Polymer (COP) in a two-step strategy by incorporating a versatile functional group dithiocarbamate. This dithiocarbamate-based covalent organic polymer (D-COP) could remove multiple dyes (both cationic and anionic) simultaneously within a flash time with high uptake capacity. Out of five dyes, Eriochrome black T was removed with exceptional uptake capacity of > 4000 mg/g triumphing the existing reports followed by Congo red (1013 mg/g). On top of that, the removal was ultrafast, within 5 s with pseudo-second-order rate constant value 156.25 g/mg.min which is the highest ever reported. The selective adsorption of these dyes over methylene blue and Rhodamine B make D-COP applicable for the separation and purification of these dyes from the mixture. The material was also completely recycled and reused up to several cycles without hampering the performance under different pH, and ionic strength conditions too. The ultrafast and high removal efficiency even in real water samples makes the material more competent. This material, being efficient in terms of low-cost synthesis, removal efficiency, kinetics, and regeneration capability, can be further employed for higher scale water treatment applications. © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

European Polymer Journal

Removal of cationic and anionic dyes from waste water in five seconds by a facile synthesis of a covalent organic polymer

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) actively involves in modulation of various cancer progression related mechanisms including angiogenesis, differentiation and migration. Therefore, targeting EGFR has surfaced as a prominent approach for the treatment of several types of cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic cancer, glioblastoma. Various first, second and third generation of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) have demonstrated effectiveness as an anti-cancer therapeutics. However, rapid development of drug resistance and mutations still remains a major challenge for the EGFR-TKIs therapy. Overcoming from intrinsic and acquired resistance caused by EGFR mutations warrants the further exploration of alternative strategies and discovery of novel inhibitors. In this review, we delve into the breakthrough discoveries have been made in previous 20 years and discuss the currently ongoing efforts aimed to circumvent the chemo-resistance. We also highlight the new challenges, limitations and future directions for the development of improved therapeutic approaches such as fourth-generation EGFR-TKIs, peptides, nanobodies, PROTACs etc. © 2023

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Reviews on Cancer

20 years since the approval of first EGFR-TKI, gefitinib: Insight and foresight

The design and synthesis of dansyl-appended fluorescent sequence-defined oligomers (SDOs) for the selective detection of toxic Hg2+ ions in water is reported. The system incorporates dithiocarbamate (DTC) to act as the binding unit and hydroxy group at the terminal site to improve water solubility. The sensor exhibited positive solvatochromism. This platform has the advantage of systematically increasing the number of DTC units to improve the sensitivity and in doing so, a 100-fold enhancement in sensitivity was obtained by increasing the number of DTC from one to two. A very low detection limit of 60 pM was achieved with the two DTC system and this platform has scope to improve LOD further. Moreover, visual detection and fabrication of paper strip for easy detection of Hg2+ ions are also possible. The sensor selectively binds to Hg2+ ions even in presence of competitive ions and was applied for detection of Hg2+ contamination in lake and tap water samples. Further, we successfully used our sensor for cell imaging in MCF-7 and HeLa cancer cell lines and detect Hg2+ using fluorescence microscopy. The same system was also capable of removing Hg2+ ions from water with an efficiency &gt; 95%. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.

Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical

Dansyl-appended sequence-defined oligomers for selective ultrasensitive detection of Hg2+ in water, paper strips, living cells and its efficient removal