Live Cell Imaging With Biocompatible Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots Derived From Edible Mushrooms Agaricus bisporus,Pleurotus ostreatus,and Suillus luteus

In the study, fluorescent imaging of live cells was performed using fluorescent carbon quantum dots derived from edible mushrooms species; Agaricus bisporus, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Suillus luteus as a fluorophore agent. Carbon quantum dots were synthesized through a facile and low-cost method based on microwave irradiation of dried mushroom samples in hydrogen peroxide solution under optimized conditions (microwave energy, solution type, duration of microwave treatment, amount of mushroom). Upon purification with centrifugation, microfiltration, and dialysis, the lyophilized carbon quantum dots were identified through UV–visible, fluorescence and FT-IR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and quantum yield calculation. Cell viability assessment of the carbon quantum dots was evaluated against human epithelial cell line PNT1A using the Alamar Blue Assay. In vitro fluorescence cell imaging studies demonstrated that the carbon dots could dynamically penetrate the cell membrane and nuclear membrane and localize in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus.

     

Enantioseparation of Some New 1-(2-Naphthyl)-1-ethanol Ester Derivatives by HPLC on Chiralcel OD

The direct enantiomeric resolution of racemic 2-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-1-naphthalene-2-yl)ethanol esters, 1-(naphthalene-2-yl)ethanol esters, and 1-(1-hydroxynaphthalene-2-yl)-2-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)ethanol on silica-based cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Chiralcel OD) column is described. The separations were performed using mobile phases which consist of alcohol (methanol, ethanol or 2-propanol)/n-hexane in various proportions. The effect of structural features of the solutes along with the nature and concentration of alcohol in the mobile phase on the discrimination between the enantiomers was examined for different mobile phase compositions. The results suggest that not only the structure and concentration of alcohol in the mobile phase, but also the subtle structural differences in racemates can have a pronounced effect on enantiomeric separation and retention. Baseline separations were obtained for 2-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-1-naphthalene-2-yl)ethanol esters carrying imidazole ring in addition to ester functional group in their structures. The α values of the resolved enantiomers of 2-(1H-imidazole-1-yl)-1-naphthalene-2-yl)ethanol esters were in the range of 1.49–1.62 while the R _s values varied from 4.20 to 6.75 when methanol/n-hexane (70:30 v/v) was used as mobile phase.

     

Cobalt(II)/(III) complexes bearing a tetradentate thiosemicarbazone: Synthesis,experimental and theoretical characterization,and electrochemical and antioxidant properties

New cobalt complexes, Co1 and Co2 , were synthesized starting from acetylacetone-S-methylthiosemicarbazone. The square planar cobalt(II) and octahedral cobalt(III) complexes were characterized by FT-IR, UV–visible, ¹H NMR, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. Frontier orbitals of the complexes were theoretically obtained to better understand the complex structures and intermolecular interactions. The electrochemical behaviors of Co1 and Co2 were investigated and the results were evaluated by comparing with each other and with similar published compounds to determine their possible usage in various electrochemical technologies, such as energy storage devices, electrocatalysts, and electrosensors. Metal-based oxidation at around 0 V and metal-based reduction at around −1.0 V indicated that these complexes are valuable for the proposed applications. By determining the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity and the radical scavenging activity of the cobalt complexes, the compatibility between the antioxidant qualification, redox, and theoretical calculation results was discussed.     

Ab initio and semiempirical computational studies on 1‐{(2E)‐2‐[(aminocarbonothioyl)hydrazono]‐2‐(3‐mesityl‐3‐methylcyclobutyl)ethyl}‐pyrrolidine‐2,5‐dione

The molecular geometry, vibrational frequencies, and gauge including atomic orbital (GIAO) ¹H‐ and ¹³C NMR chemical shift values of the title compound in the ground state have been calculated using the Hartree‐Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) methods with 6‐31G(d) basis sets, and compared with the experimental data. The calculated results show that the optimized geometries can well reproduce the crystal structural parameters and the theoretical vibrational frequencies, and ¹H‐ and ¹³C NMR chemical shift values show good agreement with experimental data. To determine conformational flexibility, the molecular energy profile of the title compound was obtained by semiempirical (AM1) calculations with respect to the selected torsion angle, which was varied from ?180° to +180° in steps of 10°. The energetic behavior of the title compound in solvent media was examined using the B3LYP method with the 6‐31G(d) basis set by applying the Onsager and the polarizable continuum model (PCM). The results obtained with these methods reveal that the PCM method provided more stable structure than Qnsager's method. By using TD‐DFT method, electronic absorption spectra of the title compound have been predicted and a good agreement with the TD‐DFT method and the experimental one is determined. The predicted nonlinear optical properties of the title compound are much greater than ones of urea. In addition, the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), frontier molecular orbitals (FMO) analysis, NBO analysis and thermodynamic properties of the title compound were investigated using theoretical calculations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2012     

Electrochromic switching of WO3 nanostructures and thin films

We present transmission measurements through tungsten tri-oxide nanostructures and thin films prepared by sol–gel process on micro-contact printed substrates. Identical electrochromic switching times are found for both the nanostructures and the bulk films with equal thicknesses upon intercalation of H⁺ ions. We attribute the large change in the transmission through nanostructures at 632 nm, which can not be solely explained by absorption, to diffraction effects. PACS 73.40.Cg; 73.40.Mr; 78.20.-e; 78.67.n     

Structure of 2-(2-(anthracen-9-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)-4-(3-methyl-3-phenylcyclobutyl)thiazole by combined X-Ray crystallographic and molecular modelling studies

A single crystal of 2-(2-(anthracen-9-ylmethylene)hydrazinyl)-4-(3-methyl-3-phenylcyclobutyl)thiazole (C₂₉H₂₅N₃S) containing anthracene, thiazole and cyclobutane rings has been synthesised. The synthesised crystal structure was characterised using IR, ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic and X-Ray analysis techniques. In the crystal, neighbouring molecules formed chains along [110] by interconnecting with N–H···N hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions. The geometrical parameters of the title compound were optimised by Gaussian 09 software in the gas phase and Quantum-Espresso software under Periodic Boundary Conditions (PBC) in the solid phase. Theoretically, IR, NMR spectra, Mulliken, NPA and AIM atomic charges, Hirshfeld surface and frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) of the title compound were examined. Using the Hirshfeld surface and two-dimensional (2D) fingerprint graphics, the presence of intermolecular interactions in the crystal packing were analysed. The energies of these interactions and their distribution on the crystal structure were shown graphically. In general, it was seen that theoretical calculations were consistent with X-Ray results.     

Size-dependent self-organization of colloidal particles on chemically patterned surfaces

A study of the self-organization of colloidal particles during the evaporation of particle solutions on chemically patterned surfaces is presented. On a surface with hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, colloidal particles form compact structures on the hydrophilic sites. When a colloidal solution containing a mixture of particles with a variation in size is used, the number density of each type of particle deposited on the hydrophilic islands after evaporation decreases with increasing particle size. This makes it possible to produce a concentration gradient of the particles on islands of different sizes. It is shown that this technique could allow for particle separation.     

Absence of compressible edge channel rings in quantum antidots

We report resonant tunneling experiments in a quantum antidot sample in the integer quantum Hall regime. In particular, we have measured the temperature T dependence of the peak value of a conductance peak on the i = 2 plateau, where there are two peaks per magnetic flux quantum straight phi(0). We observe a T-1 dependence as expected when tunneling through only one electron state is possible. This result is incompatible with tunneling through a compressible ring of several degenerate states. We also observe, for the first time, three conductance peaks per straight phi(0) on the i = 3 plateau.     

Dephasing times in a nondegenerate two-dimensional electron Gas

Studies of weak localization by scattering from vapor atoms for electrons on a liquid helium surface are reported. There are three contributions to the dephasing time. Dephasing by the motion of vapor atoms perpendicular to the surface is studied by varying the holding field to change the characteristic width of the electron layer at the surface. A change in vapor density alters the quasielastic scattering length and the contribution to dephasing due to the motion of atoms both perpendicular and parallel to the surface. Dephasing due to the electron-electron interaction is dependent on the electron density.