Impact of Gd3+ and Nd3+ ions substitution on structural and magnetic properties of Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4 ferrite system

Co_0.5Ni_0.5(Gd/Nd)_xFe_2-xO₄ (x ?= ?0.0 and 0.06) ferrites were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. These materials were characterized by XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy, and VSM techniques. The XRD analysis revealed the phase formation of all samples and their cubic spinel structure with the Fd-3m space group. Lattice constant was found to increase due to Gd and Nd ions substitution. However, the crystallite size was observed to decrease by the substitution effect. The FT-IR spectra showed the two vibrational frequency bands of the tetrahedral and octahedral sites. From the magnetic properties study, it was identified that the pure and Gd substituted Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ ferrite showed a ferromagnetic behaviour. While the Nd substituted Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ ferrite delivered a superparamagnetic behaviour. The substitution of Gd and Nd changed the values of the magnetic parameters of Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ ferrite. An increase in the saturation magnetization (M_s) value was observed due to substitution of Gd and Nd in Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ ferrite, indicating that Gd and Nd substitution strengthen the supermagnetic interactions in Co_0.5Ni_0.5Fe₂O₄ ferrite. The highest value of M_s was observed in Gd doped sample.     

Layer-by-layer sensor architecture of polymers and nanoparticles for electrochemical detection of uric acid in human urine samples

Excessive uric acid levels in the human body (hyperuricemia) are the main causes of kidney stones and diabetes. In this study, a layer-by-layer arrangement of polymers and nanocomposites is used as a new electrode sensing material for rapid and direct electrochemical determination of uric acid (UA). The electrode surface architecture was constructed by the incorporation of poly (amidoamine) dendrimer with 0.5 generation (poly (amidoamine) [PAMAM] [D-G0.5]) of multiwalled carbon nanotube-silver nanoparticles (MWCNT-AgNP) and a poly (neutral-red) (poly [NR]) polymer. The PAMAM (D-G0.5)/MWCNT-AgNP/poly (NR)-coated electrode has a good electrocatalytic activity for the determination of UA using cyclic voltammetry and showed remarkable enhancement in current response at a low-oxidation potential (0.3 V). Under optimal conditions, the developed electrochemical sensor showed an excellent and wide linear range for the determination of UA (i.e. 0.016 μM–2500 μM), and the limit of detection was found to be 0.005 μM. The modified sensor system demonstrated excellent sensitivity and selectivity toward the detection of UA in the presence of interfering substances, which are commonly found in urine and human fluid samples. Furthermore, the developed sensor has represented both reproducibility and excellent stability for the UA determination in real samples (human urine).     

Nickel and Tungsten Bimetallic Nanoparticles Modified Pencil Graphite Electrode: A High-performance Electrochemical Sensor for Detection of Endocrine Disruptor Bisphenol A

In this work, an economically viable, very low cost, indigenous, ubiquitously available electrochemical sensor based on bimetallic nickel and tungsten nanoparticles modified pencil graphite electrode (NiNP-WNP@PGE) was fabricated for the sensitive and selective detection of bisphenol A (BPA). The NiNP-WNP@PGE sensor was prepared by a facile electrochemical one step co-deposition method. The prepared nanocomposite was morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemically by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The proposed sensor displayed high electrocatalytic activity towards electro-oxidation of BPA with one irreversible peak. The fabricated sensor displayed a wide detection window between 0.025 μM and 250 μM with a limit of detection of 0.012 μM. PGE sensor was successfully engaged for the detection of BPA in bottled water, biological, and baby glass samples.     

Development of Pen-type Portable Electrochemical Sensor Based on Au-W Bimetallic Nanoparticles Decorated Graphene-chitosan Nanocomposite Film for the Detection of Nitrite in Water,Milk and Fruit Juices

The development and fabrication of a simple, portable, and sensitive detection tool to precisely monitor nitrite level is of growing importance in electrochemistry research, given the strong interest in the protection of drinking water quality, treatment of wastewater, food production, and control of remediation processes. This work describes the fabrication of a simple, cost-effective, pen-type electrochemical sensor based on bimetallic gold and tungsten nanoparticles electrochemically decorated on graphene-chitosan modified pencil graphite electrode (PGE) for the trace detection of nitrite in real samples. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized using XRD, SEM, and EDS. The electrochemical behavior of the sensor was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance electrochemical spectroscopy (EIS). Results revealed that the proposed sensor displayed excellent electrocatalytic activity towards electro-oxidation of nitrite with an irreversible redox reaction. The AuNPs-WNPs@Gr-Chi/PGE sensor exhibited excellent analytical performance with a wide linear range from 10 to 250 μM towards nitrite. The LOD and LOQ were calculated to be 0.12 μM and 0.44 μM, respectively. The designed electrochemical sensor was successfully applied for the detection of nitrite in water, milk, and natural fruit juice samples.     

Brønsted acid catalyzed synthesis of 2-aryl-quinazolinones via cyclization of 2-aminobenzamide with benzonitriles in PEG

A simple and efficient Brønsted acid catalyzed synthesis of 2-aryl-quinazolinones via cyclization of 2-aminobenzamides with benzonitrile in PEG under metal and ligand-free condition. All substituted benzonitriles were also well participated with the formation of the corresponding products in moderate to good yields.     

Expression of Avian Influenza Virus (H5N1) Hemagglutinin and Matrix Protein 1 in Pichia pastoris and Evaluation of their Immunogenicity in Mice

The conventional avian influenza vaccines rely on development of neutralizing antibodies against the HA and NA antigens. However, these antigens are highly variable, and hence there is a need for better vaccine candidates which would offer broader protection in animals. The M1 of avian influenza is another major structural protein that has conserved epitopes that are reported to induce CD8+ T cells and can contribute to protection against morbidity and mortality from influenza. Hence in an effort to study the immune response of rM1 either alone or in combination with rHA, the hemagglutinin (HA) and matrix protein (M1) of A/Hatay/2004/H5N1 strain of avian influenza were expressed in Pichia pastoris as his-tagged proteins and purified through Ni-NTA chromatography. The His-tag was removed using TEV protease cleavage site and the immunogenicity of purified rHA and rM1 either alone or in combination was determined in mice. One group of mice was immunized with 5 μg of purified rHA, the other group was immunized with rM1, and a third group of mice were immunized with 5 μg of rHA and rM1. All the animals were boosted twice, once on 28 days postimmunization (dpi) and the second on 42 dpi. The immune response was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The group of mice immunized with rHA and rM1 together showed significantly higher immune response against rHA and rM1 than mice immunized with either HA or M1 antigens. The addition of rM1 with rHA resulted in increased HI titer in animals immunized with both the antigens. These results suggest that the HA and M1 expressed in P. pastoris can be utilized in combination for the development of faster and cost-effective vaccines for circulating and newer strains of avian influenza and would aid in combating the disease in a pandemic situation, in which production time matters greatly.     

Design,synthesis, molecular docking,and spectral studies of new class of carbazolyl polyhydroquinoline derivatives as promising antibacterial agents with noncytotoxicity towards human mononuclear cells from peripheral blood

In the present study, we report the design and eco-benign synthesis of new class of carbazolyl-1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-CDHP) and carbazolyl-1,8-dioxodecahydroacridine (CAD) derivatives via a three-component coupling reaction of substituted carbazole aldehydes, ethyl acetoacetate/dimedone, and ammonium acetate under solvent-free conditions at 112°C to 115°C. We also report an efficient one-pot synthesis of new class of carbazolyl polyhydroquinoline (CPQ) derivatives via a four-component coupling reaction of substituted ethyl acetoacetate, dimedone, ammonium acetate, and carbazole aldehydes in acetonitrile/water medium (3:1) at 73°C to 75°C in moderate yields. All the products were thoroughly characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), mass spectral, and CHN analysis. The synthesized heterocyclic compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against pathogenic strains of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the active compounds was evaluated by macrodilution method. The CPQ derivative ( 8a ) displayed superior antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhi with the MIC values of 16.0 to 32.0 μg/mL in comparison with the reference drug. The mechanism of antibacterial action of the CPQ derivatives was investigated via scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies. The molecular docking studies indicate that the CPQ derivative ( 8a ) binds to the cell wall protein of E coli and P aeruginosa by formation of hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues (TYR328 and GLU249) of the bacterial cell wall protein. The 1,4-CDHP, CAD, and CPQ derivatives were either noncytotoxic or exhibited minimal cytotoxicity towards human mononuclear cells from peripheral blood. All the products were evaluated for Lipinski rule of five (RO5) and were found to have good oral bioavailability.     

Buffers for the Physiological pH Range: Studies of 4-(N-Morpholino)butanesulfonic Acid (MOBS) from 5 to 55 °C

In this study, we report the pH values of two buffer solutions without chloride ion and eight buffer solutions with NaCl with an ionic strength I=0.16 mol?kg^?1. Electromotive force (emf) techniques have been used to get the cell potentials at 12 temperatures from 5 to 55?°C, including 37?°C. An extended form of the Bates-Guggenheim convention is used in the entire ionic strength range, 0.04 to 0.16?mol?kg^?1. The residual liquid junction potentials (??E _j ) of the buffer solutions of MOBS have been estimated from previous measurements with a flowing junction cell. These values of ??E _j have been used for correction in order to ascertain the operational pH values of four buffer solutions of MOBS at 25 and 37?°C. These solutions are recommended as pH standards for physiological application in the pH range 7.4 to 7.7.     

Iodine-catalyzed three-component one-pot synthesis of naphthopyranopyrimidines under solvent-free conditions

Iodine is found to be a highly efficient catalyst for the three-component coupling (3CC) of aldehydes, β-naphthol, and 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid under solvent-free conditions to afford the corresponding 8,10-dimethyl-12-aryl-12H-naphtho[1′,2′5,6]pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-9,11-diones in good yields with high selectivity. The use of readily available iodine makes this method very simple, convenient, and cost-effective.