Preparation of novel curcumin‐imprinted polymers based on magnetic multi‐walled carbon nanotubes for the rapid extraction of curcumin from ginger powder and kiwi fruit root

A novel molecularly imprinted polymer based on magnetic phenyl‐modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes was synthesized using curcumin as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross‐linker. The phenyl groups contained in the magnetic imprinted polymers acted as the assisting functional monomer. The magnetic imprinted polymers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. Adsorption studies demonstrated that the magnetic imprinted polymers possessed excellent selectivity toward curcumin with a maximum capacity of 16.80 mg/g. Combining magnetic extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography technology, the magnetic imprinted polymer based on magnetic phenyl‐modified multi‐walled carbon nanotubes was applied for the rapid separation and enrichment of curcumin from ginger powder and kiwi fruit root successfully.     

Atomic Layer Deposited Ti2O3 Thin Films

Ti₂O₃ thin films have been prepared through atomic layer deposition and subjected to electrical resistivity measurements as a function of temperature. The as-prepared films were stable for up to three weeks. In Ti₂O₃ thin films, the insulator-metal transition is observed at ∼80 K, with nearly 3–4 orders of magnitude change in resistivity. The anomalous increase in electrical resistivity in the films is in accordance with the two-band model. However, the energy interval between the bands depending on the crystallographic c/a ratio leads to a change in electrical resistivity as a function of temperature.     

3D bioprinted cancer cells are more tolerant to serum starvation than 2D cells due to autophagy

Cancer is a global issue and a serious threat to human health, one approach to treatment is starvation therapy. Recently, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted tumor tissue models have been developed; however, whether 3D bioprinted models are good for in vitro study of starvation therapy is unclear. In this study, we studied the state of cells with serum-free medium in both 3D bioprinted scaffold and 2D cell cultures and found that 3D bioprinted cancer cells (3D cells) were more tolerant to serum starvation than 2D cells in terms of cell viability, cell proliferation, and M2 macrophage polarization. Moreover, the ratio of LC3II/I, an index of autophagy, increased much more in 3D cells, and 3D cells showed more autophagosomes than 2D cells after serum starvation, which indicated that the autophagy levels were higher in 3D cells. These results suggested that 3D cells are more tolerant to serum starvation than 2D cells, and autophagy may play an important role in this process.     

Recent advances in the development of colorimetric analysis and testing based on aggregation-induced nanozymes

Colorimetric sensing strategies as a powerful point-of-care testing(POCT) tool have attracted significant interest in various chem/biosensing applications.Taking the excellent bare-eye-detectable signaling feature,nanozymes-based colorimetric sensors enable more potential applications and have been a new forefront in the colorimetric POCT analysis toward different target analytes.However,the low catalytic activity of nanozymes in most cases limits their practical application.Recent efforts demonstrate that the aggregation-induced nanozymes provide a general means to modulate nanozymes activity and enhance colorimetric sensing performances of some nanozymes-based colorimetric sensors.But there are few reports are explored to discuss and review such aggregation-induced nanozymes and their colorimetric sensing applications.To highlight the advances and progress in aggregation-induced nanozymes based colorimetric assays,we herein summary the fundamentals,classify and applications of this newlydeveloping field,focusing on the aggregation-induced activity enhancement of nanozymes(AIAEnanozymes) with a significant "signal-on" feature and aggregation-induced activity inhibition of nanozymes(AIAI-nanozymes) with a dramatical "signal-of" characteristics.Finally,we also propose the current challenges and the future prospects on both AIAE-nanozymes and AIAI-nanozymes.     

Two New 3D Metal-Organic Frameworks Constructed by Polycarboxylate and N-Donor Ligands: Crystal Structure,Photocatalytic Performances,and DFT Calculation

Russian Journal of Coordination Chemistry - Two new metal-organic frameworks, [Zn(Bdc)(Bip)?H2O] (I) and {[Cd2(Btc)2(H2O)2](H2Bib)· 6H2O} (II) (H2Bdc = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid,...     

New substituted 2-aminomethyl-2-oxo-2λ5-perhydro-[1,3,2]oxazaphospholo [3,4-a]pyridine: Design,synthesis and antimicrobial activity

The synthesis of a new series of P-heterocyclic compounds, substituted 2-aminomethyl-2-oxo-2λ⁵-perhydro-[1,3,2]oxazaphospholo[3,4-a]pyridine derivatives 8(a-j), was accomplished. A key intermediate, 2-(chloromethyl)-2-oxo-2λ⁵-perhydro-[1,3,2]oxazaphospholo[3,4-a]pyridine (6) was primarily synthesized by the condensation of (±)-2-piperidinemethanol (4) and chloromethylphosphonic dichloride (5); subsequently, it was treated with various heterocyclic amines/benzylamines/aminoacid esters, 7(a-j) to obtain the desired products. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were elucidated by ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, mass spectra and elemental analyses. The biological potency of title products was investigated by screening in vitro antimicrobial activity. The bio-screening data revealed that most of the synthesized derivatives showed potent growth of inhibition against fungi while compared with bacteria. Particularly, compounds 8c and 8i against bacterial strains, and 8a and 8f against fungi exhibited promising activity.     

A simple and rapid method for determination of boron in fast breeder reactor components

The present paper describes a new analytical method developed for direct determination of boron in steels using radio frequency glow discharge optical emission spectrometer. “Single parameter alternative method” technique has been used to optimize the various experimental conditions of glow discharge plasma such as forward power, gas pressure inside plasma chamber, pre-integration time, and integration time. Different emission lines for boron were studied and inter element interference effect is also discussed in the paper. A complete statistical analysis has been done to validate the developed method. A RSD of less than ±5% is achieved for boron in the range of 0.0010–0.020% in Steels using this method.     

Alkaline Protease Production from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevibacterium luteolum</Emphasis> (MTCC 5982) Under Solid-State Fermentation and Its Application for Sulfide-Free Unhairing of Cowhides

Enzyme-based unhairing in replacement of conventional lime sulfide system has been attempted as an alternative for tackling pollution. The exorbitant cost of enzyme and the need for stringent process control need to be addressed yet. This study developed a mechanism for regulated release of protease from cheaper agro-wastes, which overcomes the necessity for stringent process control along with total cost reduction. The maximum protease activity of 1193.77 U/g was obtained after 96 h of incubation with 15% inoculum of the actinomycete strain Brevibacterium luteolum (MTCC 5982) under solid-state fermentation (SSF). The medium after SSF was used for unhairing without the downstream processing to avoid the cost involved in enzyme extraction. This also helped in the regulated release of enzyme from bran to the process liquor for controlled unhairing and avoided the problem of grain-pitting. Unhairing process parameters were standardized as 20% enzyme offer, 40% Hide-Float ratio at 5 ± 1 rpm, and process pH of 9.0. The cost of production of 1000 kU of the protease was calculated as 0.44 USD. The techno-economic feasibility studies for setting up an SSF enzyme production plant showed a high return on investment of 15.58% with a payback period of 6.4 years.     

The effects of counter anions on the dynamic mechanical response in polymer networks crosslinked by metal–ligand coordination

Metal–ligand coordination has been proven to be an attractive strategy to tune a polymer network's dynamic mechanical properties, such as self-healing ability. Nonetheless, the role of counter anions is often overlooked. To address this, a series of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) films crosslinked through lanthanide metal cations (Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺)–bipyridine interactions have been prepared and studied. Neutral 2,2'-bipyridine ligands were embedded into the linear polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chain through polycondensation. With nitrate ( ) as the coordinating anions, metal salts Eu(NO₃)₃ and Tb(NO₃)₃ were found to be ineffective crosslinkers. With noncoordinating anions, such as triflate (OTf^-: CF₃ ), metal salts Eu(OTf)₃ and Tb(OTf)₃ showed improved interaction strength with bipyridine ligands. Surprisingly, the addition of Eu(OTf)₃ and Tb(OTf)₃ salts also increased the d-spacing distances of the phase-segregated domains between metal–ligand complexes and the PDMS polymer backbone. For the Eu(OTf)₃-, Tb(OTf)₃-PDMS films, the much-improved self-healing abilities are attributed to the crosslinker dynamics and the enhanced chain mobility. This work underlines the importance of counter anions on the mechanical properties, and provides further guidance on the future design of self-healing metal−ligand crosslinked polymers.) © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3110–3116     

Development and Validation of a Stability-Indicating LC Method for Determination of Bexarotene in Softgel Dosage Formulation

This study focuses on a novel liquid chromatographic approach that has been developed and approved for the quantitative determination of bexarotene (BXT), its potential impurities in drug substances and drug products. Chromatographic separation was developed on a Symmetry C₈ (150 × 4.6) mm 5-µm column with a mobile phase containing an isocratic mixture of acetonitrile:DI water:glacial acetic acid (650:350:7.5) v/v/v at a flow rate of 1.2 mL min^?1, and quantitation was carried out using ultraviolet detection at 262 nm for BXT and 290 nm for BHA with a column temperature of 35 °C. The resolution among butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), BXT and its process-related impurity-A was found to be greater than 5. Regression analysis confers an R value (correlation coefficient) higher than 0.998 for BHA, BXT and impurity-A. The detection level for BXT impurities was found at a level below 0.03% (0.18 µg mL^?1). The inter- and intra-day precisions for BHA, BXT and impurities were evaluated and found to have a %RSD of less than 3.0.