The shape,size and flow behaviors of micelle forming various synthetic tannin materials in aqueous solutions

The results of viscometric and optical microscopic studies indicated that both Syntan 25 and Syntan PUR in aqueous concentrated solutions (above their c.m.c. values) at 25 °C are spherical in shape. The size and other physico-chemical parameters e. g. Volumes of the aggregated particleM _v, Radius of gyrationR _g, Hydrodynamic radius ¯R _h, Diffusion coefficient ¯D, and the Correlation times for aggregate rotationT _r Translational diffusionT _D and effective aggregation timeT _a have been derived on the basis of microscopic results. The viscosity data for both Syntan 25 and Syntan PUR were analysed in terms of Einstein equation, Moulik equation, Jones-Dole equation. It has been shown that Syntan PUR was more highly hydrated than that of Syntan 25 although the intrinsic viscosity [η], of Syntan PUR is nearly 1.5 times greater than that of Syntan 25. The Flory-Huggins equation and Thomas equation has been compared in both the Syntans and it has been concluded that the Thomas' constantk ₁ may be 12.50 for perfect spherical shape of the particle instead of 10.05 (which has originally been proposed by Thomas).     

Mass spectrometric studies of cisplatin-induced changes of hemoglobin

This study reports on structural changes of hemoglobin (Hb) that were induced by cisplatin binding. Two techniques, nanoelectrospray quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (nanoES-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC/ICPMS), were developed to facilitate this study. Nanospray MS analyses of cisplatin and Hb reaction mixtures demonstrated that the ion at m/z 616.5, the heme group, increased with an increase of cisplatin concentration, indicating the loss of heme groups from the intact protein. This conclusion was also supported by the increase of cisplatin-alpha or -beta complex formation. The change of the Hb-bound Fe was further investigated by monitoring Fe signals using size-exclusion HPLC/ICPMS. After incubation with cisplatin at clinically relevant concentrations, under physiological conditions, the amount of Fe bound to Hb was reduced while formation of cisplatin-Hb complexes increased. Flow-injection ICPMS analysis of the Fe contents in the low molecular weight fraction (<3000 Da) of the reaction mixtures after size fractionation further demonstrated a corresponding increase of Fe with the increase of cisplatin concentrations. HPLC/ICPMS detected three Hb-cisplatin complexes, one of which eluted at the same retention time as Hb while the other two complexes eluted later than Hb. With clinically relevant concentrations of cisplatin (0.05-1.0 microM) and 10 microM of Hb, the concentrations of the Hb-cisplatin complexes were determined in the range 0.1-64 nM. These results, obtained from nanoES-MS, HPLC/ICPMS, and FIA-ICPMS, demonstrate that cisplatin binding to Hb resulted in the dissociation of the heme group from the intact protein.     

Intact human holo-transferrin interaction with oxaliplatin

We report the interaction of intact human holo-transferrin (holo-Tf) with oxaliplatin (an anticancer drug), and the characterization of a complex composed of (1:1) intact holo-Tf and the parent oxaliplatin molecule using nanoelectrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (nanoESI-QTOF-MS). The molecular weight of this complex was determined to be 80,077 Da, which was an increase of 397 mass units compared to the protein alone (79,680 Da), suggesting that a parent drug molecule was bound to the intact protein. We further examined the interaction between the intact protein and oxaliplatin using size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography/inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC/ICPMS). The protein complex and free oxaliplatin were separated by HPLC and quantitatively determined by simultaneous monitoring of both 195Pt and 56Fe using ICPMS. The HPLC/ICPMS detected both Pt and Fe signals at retention time of 2.6 min, identifying the protein-drug complex. The Fe signal at 2.6 min did not change with the increase in incubation time of the reaction mixture containing holo-Tf and oxaliplatin, while the Pt signal at the same retention time increased over time, further demonstrating that the formation of this complex does not affect the protein-bound Fe. The binding constant of the (1:1) intact human holo-Tf-oxaliplatin complex was determined to be 7.7x10(5) M-1. Both nanoESI-MS and HPLC/ICPMS results support that the holo-Tf and parent oxaliplatin molecules form complexes through non-covalent binding, suggesting that holo-Tf may be a useful carrier for oxaliplatin delivery.     

Co-nonsolvent systems for poly(ϵ-caprolactone) and poly(methyl methacrylate)

The cloud points for the co-nonsolvent systems (i) pyridine (PY) + formic acid (FA) towards poly(?-caprolactone) (PCL) or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and (ii) pyridine + acetic acid (AA) towards PCL have been experimentally determined as a function of solvent composition at fixed polymer concentrations. Heats of mixing for the (FA + PY) system have also been measured. The single liquid approximation model correctly predicts for the (PY + FA) system the solvent composition at which the solvent power of the mixture is the poorest, provided it is recognized that the solvent system is comprised of pyridinium formate (PYFA) as one component and either PY or FA (depending on which is present in excess over 1:1 mole ratio) as the other. With the other co-nonsolvent system, the prediction is not as good. A possible reason for the discrepancy has been given.     

Diagrammatic valence bond studies on hemocyanin

Summary The Diagrammatic Valence Bond studies on the active sites of hemocyanin, consisting of two Cu(I) ions and an oxygen molecule, are performed to find out the stable geometrical pattern and electronic structure. Different parameters used in this theoretical approach are taken from existing literature on highT _c superconductors. Attempts have been made to find out the differences in electronic structure of [Cu₂O₂]⁺² and [Cu₂O₂N₄]⁺² as it is observed that coordination of nitrogen ligand do affect electronic structure i.e. spin excitation gaps and charge and spin density distribution. A comparison of our results with earlier theoretical results are also presented.     

Proton transfer reaction of a new orthohydroxy Schiff base at room temperature and 77 K

One new orthohydroxy Schiff base, 2-(N-benzyl-alpha-iminoethyl)naphthol (BEIN) has been synthesized. The proton transfer reaction of BEIN has been investigated by means of absorption, steady state and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in different solvents at room temperature and 77K. The behavior of BEIN in ethanol and water, has been studied in neutral, acidic and basic conditions. Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) is evidenced by a large Stokes shifted ( approximately 11,000 cm-1) fluorescence in solid crystalline media at room temperature. We present the observation of phosphorescence both in non-polar and protic solvents at 77K. The observed decay dynamics of the phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence indicates that the triplet state can be attributed to the cis-keto form. The molecular structures are determined by B3LYP/6-31G** calculation. From theoretical study it is suggested that the strengthening of hydrogen bond result from the steric repulsion of the phenyl ring. The presence of benzene ring increases the proton transfer barrier in case of BEIN compared to previously studied 7-ethylsalicylidenebenzylamine (ESBA).     

Indexing of diffraction patterns and indentification of fault vector in decagonal Al65Cu20Co15 phase

Characterisations of defect structures such as pencil disorder, faulting in quasiperiodic layers and dislocation in decagonal quasicrystals has assumed importance currently. The first step towards a complete understanding of these defects requires easy and unambiguous method of indexing the diffraction patterns. The present study is devoted to this task. New rules have been framed for an unambiguous indexing of the diffraction patterns following the model of Mandal and Lele. The scheme is applied to the indexing of important electron diffraction patterns from a decagonal Al₆₅ Cu₂₀ Co₁₅ alloy and the indices for the direction of streaking in some of the diffraction patterns have been found and are of the type .     

In Vitro Screening of Indigenous <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus</Emphasis> Isolates for Selecting Organisms with Better Health-Promoting Attributes

Lactobacilli have several attributes that provide health benefits to the host. The aim of this study was to screen indigenous lactobacilli from human gut and fermented foods for such attributes as production of β- and α-galactosidase and also their ability to reduce serum cholesterol. Lactobacilli were cultured on MRS broth and β-galactosidase activity was determined using o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) as a substrate. Three isolates Lactobacillus fermentum GPI-3 and L. fermentum GPI-6 and Lactobacillus salivarius GPI-1(S) showed better β-galactosidase activity than the standard strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014. The isolates showed variability in assimilating cholesterol during growth. Several isolates showed excellent cholesterol-lowering ability compared to standard strains LGG and L. plantarum ATCC 8014. Isolate L. rhamnosus SCB being the highest acid producer (pH 4.38) also showed the highest cholesterol reduction compared to other strains including standard strains. The ability of these isolates to produce α-galactosidase was also studied and the maximum α-galactosidase activity was found in isolate L. salivarius GPI-1(S) followed by L. fermentum FA-5 and Lactobacillus helveticus FA-7. This study therefore reports Lactobacillus isolates that have superior probiotic properties when compared to the standard strains; hence, they could be considered as potential probiotic strains, which can provide health benefits to the Indian population.     

Synthesis of furan-fused 1,4-dihydrocarbazoles via an unusual Garratt-Braverman Cyclization of indolyl propargyl ethers and their antifungal activity

The reactivity of indole based bis-propargyl ethers 4a-4g under Garratt-Braverman condition (KOBu^t in refluxing toluene) has been studied. Interestingly, these propargyl systems with one arm attached with substituted 3-indolyl derivatives leaving the other arm unsubstituted produced the 3,4-furan fused dihydrocarbazole derivatives 6a-6g (and not the expected carbazole derivatives) as the predominant product (70–82%) making this methodology to access such derivatives an attractive route. The results are supported by computational studies and some of the carbazole derivatives showed good antifungal activities.