Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Production,Characterisations, Recent Trends and Difficulties

Designing of nanomaterials has now become a top-priority research goal with a view to developing specific applications in the biomedical fields. In fact, the recent trends in the literature show that there is a lack of in-depth reviews that specifically highlight the current knowledge based on the design and production of nanomaterials. Considerations of size, shape, surface charge and microstructures are important factors in this regard as they affect the performance of nanoparticles (NPs). These parameters are also found to be dependent on their synthesis methods. The characterisation techniques that have been used for the investigation of these nanomaterials are relatively different in their concepts, sample preparation methods and obtained results. Consequently, this review article aims to carry out an in-depth discussion on the recent trends on nanomaterials for biomedical engineering, with a particular emphasis on the choices of the nanomaterials, preparation methods/instruments and characterisations techniques used for designing of nanomaterials. Key applications of these nanomaterials, such as tissue regeneration, medication delivery and wound healing, are also discussed briefly. Covering this knowledge gap will result in a better understanding of the role of nanomaterial design and subsequent larger-scale applications in terms of both its potential and difficulties.     

Preparation, photophysics, and electrochemistry of segmented comonomers consisting of thiophene and pyrimidine units: new monomers for hybrid copolymers

An efficient coupling route to novel pi-conjugated comonomers consisting of pyrimidine, thiophene, and bithiophene units was developed. The novel pi-donor-acceptor-donor and pi-donor-acceptor-acceptor-donor conjugated compounds were prepared by Suzuki heterocoupling and Ni(0)-mediated Ullman homocoupling reactions. Photophysical investigation of these alternating pi-donor and acceptor compounds indicated that the deactivation of their singlet excited state proceeds predominately by fluorescence and results in high fluorescence quantum yields. Intersystem crossing to the triplet state was also present in ca. 10%. Quantification of the triplet manifold by laser flash photolysis further revealed that bithiophene produced its triplet state in only 31%. Cyclic voltammetry studies showed that the comonomers undergo both oxidation and reduction leading to their radical cations and radical anions, respectively. The radical cations are highly reactive and undergo anodic polymerization resulting in mutual p- and n-type dopable polymers. The extended conjugation resulting from polymer formation was confirmed by both absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy and by GPC. Ruthenium binding with the conjugated homocoupled ligand was also found resulting in a hybrid alternating copolymer with significantly different spectroscopic and electrochemical properties relative to its metal-free counterpart.     

Anodic Stripping Voltammetry with Galinstan as Working Electrode

The liquid alloy galinstan is used to determine low concentrations in microgram per liter level of trace metals like copper, cadmium, lead, bismuth, antimony and thallium using anodic stripping voltammetry. Like the conventionally applied HMDE, the hanging galinstan drop electrode (HGDE) is able to accumulate the investigated metal ions at the electrode surface. Hence, simultaneous determination of Pb and Cd is possible. Both, DPASV and SWASV were used as measuring methods. The influence of different parameters like accumulation potential and time and the frequency in SWASV were studied. By the use of acetic buffer solutions, the potential window reaches from ?900 mV to 150 mV. The limit of detection (LOD) varies from 6 ppm (worst case, Sb³⁺) to 2 ppb (best case, Pb²⁺). Therefore, the use of galinstan in the form of the HGDE is possible as a “mercury‐free” and environmentally friendly electrode in stripping analysis.     

Synthesis of novel heterocycles using 1,2,3-triazole-4-carbohydrazides as precursors

Herein, we report the synthesis of various heterocyclic ring systems containing 1,2,3-triazole from the reactions of acid hydrazides and commercially available reagents, using efficient and simple procedures. Reactions of certain 1,2,3-triazole-4-carbohydrazides and α-bromoketones in boiling ethanol afforded the corresponding hydrazones rather than the expected triazines. The hydrazones could also be synthesized in 85-90% yield via an alternative pathway that involved the reaction of 1,2,3-triazole-4-carbohydrazides and 4-acetyl-1,2,3-triazoles in boiling ethanol containing glacial acetic acid. Reaction of one of the 4-carbohydrazides with carbon disulfide, followed by the reaction with hydrazine hydrate, gave 4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol in 73% yield, which further reacted with other α-bromoketones in boiling ethanol to afford 7H-[1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines in 82-84% yields. Additionally, reactions of certain carbohydrazides with ethyl 2-cyano-3,3-bis(methylthio)acrylate gave 1-aryl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbohydrazides rather than the expected 1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylates.     

Microsized graphite sensors for potentiometric determination of cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride in pure powder, tablets, and plasma

Two cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride (CZ) microsized graphite selective sensors were investigated with dibutylsebacate as a plasticizer in a polymeric matrix of carboxylated polyvinyl chloride (PVC-COOH) in the case of sensor 1, based on the interaction between the drug and the dissociated COOH groups in the PVC-COOH. Sensor 2 was based on the interaction between the drug and ammonium reineckate, which acted as anionic electroactive material in the presence of polyvinyl chloride matrix. The two sensors were constructed by using 2-hydroxy propyl beta-cyclodextrin as an ionophore, which has a significant influence on increasing the membrane sensitivity and selectivity of both sensors. Fast and stable Nernstian responses of 1 x 10(-5) - 1 x 10(-2) and 1 x 10(-4) - 1 x 10(-2) M for the two sensors, respectively, with slopes of 58.6 and 55.5 mV/decade, respectively, over the pH range 2-4 were obtained. The proposed method displayed useful analytical characteristics for determination of CZ in its pure powder form with average recoveries 99.95 +/- 0.23 and 99.61 +/- 0.34% for sensors 1 and 2, respectively, and in plasma with good recoveries. The sensors were also used to determine the intact drug in the presence of its degradate and, thus, could be used as stability-indicating methods. The obtained results by the proposed methods were statistically analyzed and compared with those obtained by the U.S. Pharmacopeia method; no significant difference for either accuracy or precision was observed. Results obtained with the two electrodes revealed their performance characteristics, which were evaluated according to International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry recommendations.     

Kinetic and mechanistic investigations of multielectron transfer reactions induced by stored electrons in TiO2 nanoparticles: a stopped flow study

The kinetics and the mechanism of various multielectron transfer reactions initiated by stored electrons in TiO(2) nanoparticles have been investigated employing the stopped flow technique. Moreover, the optical properties of the stored electrons in the TiO(2) nanoparticles have been studied in detail following the UV (A) photolysis of deaerated aqueous suspensions of TiO(2) nanoparticles in the presence of methanol. The reduction of common electron acceptors that are often present in photocatalytic systems such as O(2), H(2)O(2), and NO(3)(-) has been investigated. The experimental results clearly show that the stored electrons reduce O(2) and H(2)O(2) to water by multielectron transfer processes. Moreover, NO(3)(-) is reduced via the transfer of eight electrons evincing the formation of ammonia. On the other hand, the reduction of toxic metal ions, such as Cu(II), has been studied mixing their respective anoxic aqueous solutions with those containing the electrons stored in the TiO(2) particles. A two-electron transfer is found to occur, indicating the reduction of the copper metal ion into its non toxic metallic form. Other metal ions, such as Zn(II) and Mn(II), could not be reduced by TiO(2) electrons, which is readily explained on the bases of their respective redox potentials. The underlying reaction mechanisms are discussed in detail.     

Isotype 1D polymers of cobalt(II) or zinc(II) constructed with square-planar tetraaqua-metal(2+) units and the bis-zwitterionic form of the μ2-O,O′-trans-1,4-dihydrogen-cyclohexanediaminotetraacetate(2−) ligand

An uncompleted reaction between equimolar amounts of Co₂CO₃(OH)₂·2H₂O and trans-1,4-H₄cyclohexanediaminotetraacetic acid in water affords the ‘acid’ complex {[Co^II(trans-1,4-H₂CDTA)(H₂O)₄]·6H₂O}_n (1). Its IR spectrum does not show the expected ν(CO) band of carboxylic groups. Reactions in aqueous solution between Na(trans-1,4-H₃CDTA) and Zn(AcO)₂·2H₂O or Na₂(trans-1,4-H₂CDTA) and Zn(NO₃)₂·6H₂O yield {[Zn(trans-1,4-H₂CDTA)(H₂O)₄]·6H₂O}_n (2) and {[Zn₂(trans-1,4-CDTA)(H₂O)₂]·H₂O}_n (3) respectively. Crystal structures of compounds 1-3 and that of the trans-1,4-H₄CDTA·2H₂O acid are reported. For steric reasons, in the four reported structures the 1,4-CDTA ligand has the two iminodiacetate moieties as equatorial groups in the 1,4-cyclohexanedi-yl chair. Compounds 1 and 2 are isotype 1D polymers constructed by square planar M^II(H₂O)₄²⁺ knots (M^II = Co^II or Zn^II) linked to bis-zwitterionic trans-1,4-H₂CDTA²⁻ ligands that play a typical μ₂-O,O′-dicarboxylate bridging role. These 1D polymeric structures seem to be favoured by the H-bonded intra-stabilization of the bis-zwitterionic trans-1,4-H₂CDTA²⁻ ligand. In the neutral complex (3), the trans-1,4-CDTA acts as a bridging bis-chelating ligand as well as a syn-anti carboxylate building a polymer where the zinc(II) centres exhibit a rough bipyramidal trigonal coordination.     

A Novel Algebraic Structure of (α,β)-Complex Fuzzy Subgroups

A complex fuzzy set is a vigorous framework to characterize novel machine learning algorithms. This set is more suitable and flexible compared to fuzzy sets, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, and bipolar fuzzy sets. On the aspects of complex fuzzy sets, we initiate the abstraction of (α,β)-complex fuzzy sets and then define -complex fuzzy subgroups. Furthermore, we prove that every complex fuzzy subgroup is an (α,β)-complex fuzzy subgroup and define (α,β)-complex fuzzy normal subgroups of given group. We extend this ideology to define (α,β)-complex fuzzy cosets and analyze some of their algebraic characteristics. Furthermore, we prove that (α,β)-complex fuzzy normal subgroup is constant in the conjugate classes of group. We present an alternative conceptualization of (α,β)-complex fuzzy normal subgroup in the sense of the commutator of groups. We establish the (α,β)-complex fuzzy subgroup of the classical quotient group and show that the set of all (α,β)-complex fuzzy cosets of this specific complex fuzzy normal subgroup form a group. Additionally, we expound the index of -complex fuzzy subgroups and investigate the (α,β)-complex fuzzification of Lagrange’s theorem analog to Lagrange’ theorem of classical group theory.     

A Review of HER4 (ErbB4) Kinase,Its Impact on Cancer,and Its Inhibitors

HER4 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is required for the evolution of normal body systems such as cardiovascular, nervous, and endocrine systems, especially the mammary glands. It is activated through ligand binding and activates MAPKs and PI3K/AKT pathways. HER4 is commonly expressed in many human tissues, both adult and fetal. It is important to understand the role of HER4 in the treatment of many disorders. Many studies were also conducted on the role of HER4 in tumors and its tumor suppressor function. Mostly, overexpression of HER4 kinase results in cancer development. In the present article, we reviewed the structure, location, ligands, physiological functions of HER4, and its relationship to different cancer types. HER4 inhibitors reported mainly from 2016 to the present were reviewed as well.