News

A RUDN University chemist has synthesized an analog of alpkinidine, a compound that can be used as an anticancer drug. The authors of the experiment were able to obtain its analog via the Negishi reaction and subsequent annulation – a reaction aimed at completing the “rings” to the existing cyclic compound. Previously, there were no ways to synthesize this substance. The developed method could potentially become the basis for a scheme of the synthesis of alpkinidine. 

A chemist at RUDN University has come up with a new method for the synthesis of a large group of complex poly-heterocyclic organic compounds, which draw interest as possible future medications. The researcher turned to a two-step reaction, in which he used affordable and cheap organic reagents and catalysts based on gold, which allowed him to synthesize as many as 28 new molecules. This approach will significantly expand the libraries of biologically active substances. The work was published in Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry.

RUDN University soil scientists were able to visualise for the first time the activity of the phosphatase enzyme in the soil surrounding the roots of a plant by simultaneously using zymography and a fibre optic acidity sensor. This helped them to see how the plants “adjust” their root system to the environment. The study was published in the journal Soil Biology and Biochemistry.

RUDN University bioengineers have created magnetic nanocontainers for “smart” delivery of drugs in the body. Thanks to them, the active substance enters only certain organs or tissues, which reduces the risk of side effects. In an experiment on mice, it was shown that nanocontainers are non-toxic and not dangerous. The results of the study are published in the journal Polymers.

A RUDN University chemist has created a catalyst for wastewater treatment that removes paracetamol – one of the most commonly prescribed antipyretics. This medicine is excreted from the body through the kidneys and enters the sewage, where it does not decompose and can pose a threat to people and the environment. The chemist managed to create a catalyst based on silver sulfide, zinc oxide, and graphene oxide to decompose paracetamol under light irradiation. The study is published in the journal Separation and Purification Technology.

For the first time, RUDN University chemists obtained polymer nanoparticles from chitosan derivatives with antibacterial activity at the level of modern antibiotics. Chitosan is a polyaminosaccharide, which is obtained from chitin and is actively used as a biological additive and cosmetics, but the antibacterial properties of chitosan are expressed quite poor, mainly due to its low solubility in water. Chemical modification of chitosan allows obtaining water-soluble chitosan derivatives with increased antibacterial activity. In this study, chitosan derivatives with extremely high antibacterial activity and significant solubility in water were obtained. To synthesize chitosan derivatives, from which highly active nanoparticles are formed, scientists have developed a new approach based on a combination of click chemistry and ultrasonic processing. With the help of the proposed approach, it will be possible to obtain other polysaccharide particles with antibacterial activity. The article is published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

Soil scientists from RUDN University found that the most suitable conditions for microorganisms are created in soil pores ranging in size from 60 to 180 micrometers. To visualize the relationship between enzymes produced by soil microorganisms and pore size, researchers first created a three-dimensional map of soil structure. To do this, they used soil 2D zymography and X-ray computed tomography. The article is published in the best soil science journal Soil Biology and Biochemistry.

Postgraduate student Peter Harin and Master students Elena Makeeva and Valeria Savich from the Institute of Applied Mathematics and Telecommunications of the RUDN University underwent a one-week internship in Austria at Johannes Kepler Universität Linz.

RUDN University mathematician for the first time proved the theorem of existence and uniqueness of solutions of the Zakharov-Kuznetsov equation in a strip. Such theorems are very rare for partial differential equations. The new results can be applied, for instance, in astrophysics, in describing the propagation of plane waves in plasma. The article is published in the journal Nonlinear Analysis: Real World Applications.

RSF mega-grant, new laboratory, network of green spaces monitoring, Joint degree master's and postgraduate programs – for just a year of work at the RUDN University and many years of cooperation with the university, Nobel Prize Laureate Riccardo Valentini was able to realize many successful projects and is not going to stop on it.

A RUDN University chemist synthesized fluorescent compounds with "merry-go-round" molecules that can be used to create economical displays with organic LEDs (OLED). The nucleus of these molecules is a triangle of silver or copper atoms, and organic elements are bound to it through phosphorus atoms and are able to rotate around them. This molecular geometry doubled the quantum yield of luminescence to 41 percent. In modern OLED screens, this figure is 20 percent. The article is published in Inorganic Chemistry.

A chemist from RUDN University has developed a tin silicate catalyst for the production of esters — flavours, plasticisers, and biofuel components. Unlike existing catalysts, the new material can be made active again and reused. The results are published in the journal Microporous and Mesoporous Materials.