Potassium–sulfur (K–S) batteries are emerging as low‐cost and high‐capacity energy‐storage technology. However, conventional K–S batteries suffer from two critical issues that have not yet been successfully resolved: the dissolution of potassium polysulfides (KPS) into the liquid electrolyte and the formation of K dendrites on the K metal anode, which lead to inadequate cycling efficiencies with a low reversible capacity. Herein, a high‐capacity and long cycle‐life K–S battery consisting of a highly concentrated electrolyte (HCE) (4.34 mol kg−1 potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide in a 1,2‐Dimethoxyethane) and a sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) cathode is presented The application of a HCE efficiently suppresses the dendritic growth of K, as evidenced by operando optical imaging and phase field modeling, owing to the reduced K‐ion depletion on the electrode surface and a uniform Faradaic current density over the K metal anode surface. Additionally, because S is covalently bonded to the C backbone of PAN in the SPAN structure, the SPAN cathode inhibits the dissolution of KPS. These features generate synergy that the proposed K–S battery can provide a practical areal capacity of 2.5 mAh cm−2 and unprecedented lifetimes with high Coulombic efficiencies over 700 cycles.
Background
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. COVID-19 has devastating effects on people in all countries and getting worse. We aim to investigate an in-silico docking analysis of phytochemical compounds from medicinal plants that used to combat inhibition of the COVID-19 pathway. There are several phytochemicals in medicinal plants, however, the mechanism of bioactive compounds remains unclear. These results are obtained from in silico research provide further information to support the inhibition of several phytochemicals.
Methods
Molecular docking used to determine the best potential COVID-19 M pro inhibitor from several bioactive compounds in Moringa oleifera, Allium cepa, Cocos nucifera, Psidium guajava, and Eucalyptus globulus. Molecular docking was conducted and scored by comparison with standard drugs remdesivir. ADME properties of selected ligands were evaluated using the Lipinski Rule. The interaction mechanism of the most recommended compound predicted using the STITCH database.
Results
There was no recommended compound in Moringa oleifera as a potential inhibitor for COVID-19. Oleanolic acid in Allium cepa, α-tocotrienol in Cocos nucifera, asiatic acid in Psidium guajava and culinoside in Eucalyptus globulus were the most recommended compound in each medicinal plant. Oleanolic acid was reported to exhibit anti-COVID-19 activity with binding energy was − 9.20 kcal/mol. This score was better than remdesivir as standard drug. Oleanolic acid interacted through the hydrogen bond with HIS41, THR25, CYS44, GLU166. Oleanolic acid binding with CASP-3, CASP-9, and XIAP signaling pathway.
Conclusions
Oleanolic acid in Allium cepa found as a potential inhibitor of COVID-19 M-pro that should be examined in future studies. These results suggest that oleanolic acid may be useful in COVID-19 treatment.
This tree generally is used as traditional medicine for several ailments. In this research, the In Silico approach using molecular docking has been applied to 11 compounds from the Ficus religiosa to the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) receptor. This study aimed to predict the ability of 11 compounds from the Ficus religiosa in inhibition COX-2 enzyme as a prostaglandin source. The detailed information was obtained using the molecular docking approach. Docking simulation for 11 compounds was executed through AutodockVina embedded in MGL Tools 1.5.6. The lowest binding energy of the complexes was visualized by using Discovery Studio (Biova) software. It was found that campesterol provided the lowest binding energy to COX-2, while kaempferol strongly was tied to TYR385 and SER530 of the receptor. The compounds containing anti-inflammatory effect have the lowest binding energy, and binds to the residue as native ligands. This result is indicated that the compounds from Ficus religiosa have potency as an anti-inflammatory agent. Still, advanced research is needed to examine more ligands from Ficus religiosa to isolate the best conformation.
Stability and hydrogen bond occupancy analysis of flavonol derivative docked in DAPK1 have been carried out using molecular dynamics simulation approach. Six flavonol derivatives were docked in DAPK1 as protein target, then continued with molecular dynamics simulation. NVT and NPT ensembles were used to equilibrate the system, followed by 20 ns sampling time for each system. Structural stability and hydrogen bond occupancy analyses were carried out at the NVT ensemble, while free binding energy analysis was done at NPT ensemble. From all compounds used in this work, compound B (5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one) has a similar interaction with reference ligands (quercetin, kaempferol, and fisetin), and the most stable complex system has the maximum RMSD around 2 Å. Compound C complex has -48.06 kJ/mol binding free energy score, and it was slightly different from quercetin, kaempferol, and fisetin complexes. Even though complex C has similar binding free energy with the reference compound, complex B shows more stable interactions due to their hydrogen bond and occupancy.
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