Enhanced ethanol sensing properties of WO3 modified TiO2 nanorods

Pristine and WO₃ decorated TiO₂ nanorods (NRs) were synthesised to investigate n-n-type heterojunction gas sensing properties. TiO₂ NRs were fabricated via hydrothermal method on fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass (FTO) substrates. Then, tungsten was sputtered on the TiO₂ NRs and thermally oxidised to obtain WO₃ nanoparticles. The heterostructure was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Fabricated sensor devices were exposed to VOCs such as toluene, xylene, acetone and ethanol, and humidity at different operation temperatures. Experimental results demonstrated that the heterostructure has better sensor response toward ethanol at 200 °C. Enhanced sensing properties are attributed to the heterojunction formation by decorating TiO₂ NRs with WO₃.     

Lanthanide luminescent anion sensing: evidence of multiple anion recognition through hydrogen bonding and metal ion coordination

The delayed lanthanide luminescence of the terbium [Tb(III)] diaryl-urea complex 1xTb is significantly enhanced upon sensing of dihydrogenphosphate (H2PO4(-)) in CH3CN, which occurs through multiple anion binding through hydrogen bonding interactions and potential metal ion coordination to Tb(III).     

Phenolic compounds,essential oil composition,and antioxidant activity of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill

In this study, methanol extracts (MEs) and essential oil (EO) of Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gill obtained from different parts (root, stem, leaf, and seed) were evaluated in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolics, compositions of phenolic compound, and essential oil with the methods of 2,2-azino-bis(3ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•⁺), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH•) radical scavenging activities, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), the Folin–Ciocalteu, liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (LC−MS/MS), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC−MS), respectively. The root extract of A. purpurascens exhibited the highest ABTS•⁺, DPPH•, and FRAP activities (IC₅₀: 0.05 ± 0.0001 mg/mL, IC₅₀: 0.06 ± 0.002 mg/mL, 821.04 ± 15.96 µM TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), respectively). Moreover, EO of A. purpurascens root displayed DPPH• scavenging activity (IC₅₀: 2.95 ± 0.084 mg/mL). The root extract had the highest total phenolic content (438.75 ± 16.39 GAE (gallic acid equivalent), µg/mL)). Twenty compounds were identified by LC−MS/MS. The most abundant phenolics were ferulic acid (244.39 ± 15.64 μg/g extract), benzoic acid (138.18 ± 8.84 μg/g extract), oleuropein (78.04 ± 4.99 μg/g extract), and rutin (31.21 ± 2.00 μg/g extract) in seed, stem, root, and leaf extracts, respectively. According to the GC−MS analysis, the major components were determined as α-bisabolol (22.93%), cubebol (14.39%), α-pinene (11.63%), and α-limonene (9.41%) among 29 compounds. Consequently, the MEs and EO of A. purpurascens can be used as a natural antioxidant source.     

Concept Design,Development and Preliminary Physical and Chemical Characterization of Tamoxifen-Guided-Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

Conventional chemotherapies used for breast cancer (BC) treatment are non-selective, attacking both healthy and cancerous cells. Therefore, new technologies that enhance drug efficacy and ameliorate the off-target toxic effects exhibited by currently used anticancer drugs are urgently needed. Here we report the design and synthesis of novel mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) equipped with the hormonal drug tamoxifen (TAM) to facilitate guidance towards estrogen receptors (ERs) which are upregulated in breast tumours. TAM is linked to the MSNs using a poly-ʟ-histidine (PLH) polymer as a pH-sensitive gatekeeper, to ensure efficient delivery of encapsulated materials within the pores. XRD, HR-TEM, DLS, SEM, FT-IR and BET techniques were used to confirm the successful fabrication of MSNs. The MSNs have a high surface area (>1000 m²/g); and a mean particle size of 150 nm, which is an appropriate size to allow the penetration of premature blood vessels surrounding breast tumours. Successful surface functionalization was supported by FT-IR, XPS and TGA techniques, with a grafting ratio of approximately 29%. The outcomes of this preliminary work could be used as practical building blocks towards future formulations.     

Luminescent sensing of dicarboxylates in water by a bismacrocyclic dinuclear Eu(III) conjugate

The design, synthesis, and characterization of a novel dinuclear Eu(III) bismacrocyclic conjugate 1.Eu2 as a delayed luminescent lanthanide sensor for dicarboxylates is discussed. The sensor was shown to bind small dicarboxylic acids such as aspartic, malonic, succinic, or glutaric acid in pH 6.5 solutions. However, only malonic acid gave rise to selective Eu(III) luminescent enhancements, as the emission was reduced for all of the other acids.     

Solution studies of trimetallic lanthanide luminescent anion sensors: towards ratiometric sensing using an internal reference channel

Luminescent europium and terbium complexes and a mixed Eu(III)-Tb(III) complex were prepared, each with three macrocycles coordinating to a single lanthanide ion to form a trimetallic system, and can be used for the ratiometric sensing of anions in the case of the mixed complex.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOSTRUCTURES:TOOLS AND CHALLENGES

Apart from long-known and applied nanostructures like carbon black for tyres or pigments for coatings nanotechnology has created highly sophisticated structures used for nano/molecular electronics,diagnostics,drug delivery, UV-absorbers etc.Often the main question to be solved analytically is the local determination of tiny amounts of chemicals resulting in an ever increasing need for highly sensitive as well as locally resolved techniques.Applications of techniques like mass spectroscopy,transmission el...     

Spectroscopic and Molecular Docking Study of the Interaction between Neutral Re(I) Tetrazolate Complexes and Bovine Serum Albumin

Re(I) complexes have potential in biomedical sciences as imaging agents, diagnostics and therapeutics. Thus, it is crucial to understand how Re(I) complexes interact with carrier proteins, like serum albumins. Here, two neutral Re(I) complexes were used (fac-[Re(CO)₃(1,10-phenanthroline)L], in which L is either 4-cyanophenyltetrazolate (1) or 4-methoxycarbonylphenyltetrazole ester (2) , to study the interactions with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Spectroscopic measurements, calculations of thermodynamic and Förster resonance energy transfer parameters, as well as molecular modelling, were performed to study differential binding between BSA and complex 1 and 2 . Induced-fit docking combined with quantum-polarised ligand docking were employed in what is believed to be a first for a Re(I) complex as a ligand for BSA. Our findings provide a basis for other molecular interaction studies and suggest that subtle functional group alterations at the terminal region of the Re(I) complex have a significant impact on the ability of this class of compounds to interact with BSA.     

Photochromic and fluorescence properties of coumarin fulgimides

Four new fulgimides possessing a fluorescent coumarin unit were synthesized from the corresponding fulgides, and their photochromic as well as fluorescence properties were investigated. The open-ring forms of coumarin fulgimides were found to exhibit fluorescence in the visible region. Upon exposure to UV light, the fulgimides were transformed into the nonfluorescent closed-ring forms, which can be reverted to the initial fluorescent open-ring forms on exposure to visible light. The efficiency of quenching of fluorescence was as high as 95% at the photostationary state of UV irradiation.