The significance of complex polysaccharides in personal care formulations

Complex polysaccharides have numerous pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulating, anticoagulant and anticancer effects. In personal care products, these biopolymers are used as thickener and stabilizing agents or as moisturizing ingredients that could be beneficial to the skin. Various polysaccharides, such as glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), hyaluronic acid (HA), carrageenan, fucose, fucoidan, chitin, chitosan, etc., have applications in cosmeceutical industries. GAGs and HA incorporated in moisturizing creams strengthen the skin barrier by forming a protective layer which prevents transdermal water loss. Therefore, these polysaccharides have been formulated into potential cosmeceuticals and biopharmaceuticals.     

Study of ion beam induced mixing in Sn/Si system using electrical resistivity measurements

The ion-beam mixing of Sn thin film evaporated on silicon has been investigated by continuously measuring the electrical resistivity of the sample during irradiation by Kr ions. The resistivity results exhibit a tendency toward a saturation process and allow the determination of the critical dose corresponding to the total mixing condition. The variation of the volume fraction of intermixed atoms as a function of the ion dose has been deduced and compared with a semiempirical formula to explain the observed mixing kinetics. A linear dependence of the volume fraction of the intermixed atoms on the fluence is observed, which is a signature of recoil type mixing.     

Synthesis of the ABC fragment of the pectenotoxins

[reaction: see text] A highly stereocontrolled synthesis of the C1-C16 ABC spiroacetal-containing fragment 5 of PTX7 (4) has been achieved. Appendage of the C ring to the AB fragment involved Wittig reaction of spiroacetal aldehyde 8 with a stabilized ylide 9 followed by displacement of allylic iodide 27 with a lithium acetylide to afford enyne 7. Fructose-derived chiral dioxirane and dihydroxylation were then used to introduce the correct functionality in the tetrahydrofuran C ring.     

On the formation of protonated acetic acid from ionized n-alkanoic acids in the gas phase

By means of collisional activation mass spectrometry and semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations (MNDO) it is shown that the [C₂H₅O₂]⁺ ions from metastable molecular ions of n-pentanoic and hexanoic acid have the structure of carbonyl protonated acetic acid [CH₃C(OH)₂]⁺. The MNDO calculated geometries of this ion and some other isomeric forms are given together with the ΔH_f⁰ values.     

Study of tolbutamide-hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin interaction in solution and solid state

Tolbutamide-hydroxypropyl-gamma-cyclodextrin (TBM-HPGCD) interaction has been investigated in an aqueous environment and in the solid state. The solubility of TBM was increased in accord with the amount of HPGCD added to the aqueous medium forming a soluble inclusion compound. The phase solubility diagram obtained was of A(L) type. Physical mixtures and kneaded systems of the drug and cyclodextrin derivative were prepared in 1:1 and 1:2 drug/cyclodextrin mol/mol ratio. All solid binary systems were characterised by hot-stage microscopy (HSM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and X-ray powder diffractometry (XRD). An inclusion complex was formed in both of the kneaded systems. In the 1:2 kneaded system, the entire drug was included in the cyclodextrin cavity, while, in the 1:1 kneaded system only a part of the drug formed an inclusion complex with the cyclodextrin. A significant improvement in the dissolution of the drug was obtained from the kneaded systems in comparison with that of the pure TBM and physical mixtures. However, there was no significant difference between the dissolution profiles of the two kneaded systems. The study suggests that an inclusion complex was obtained both in aqueous solution and in solid state.     

Beiträge zur Chemie der Halogensilan-Addukte. XXII. Wasserstoffbrückenbindung und Ionisierung Pentakoordinierter SiCl-Verbindungen. Darstellung,Eigenschaften, Kristall- und Molekülstruktur von 2,2-Dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-[1,4,2]diazasilolo[4,5-α]pyridiniumchlorid-Chloroform(1/1),

Contributions to the Chemistry of Halosilane Adducts. XXII. Hydrogen Bonding and Ionization of Pentacoordinated Si-Compounds. Preparation, Properties, Crystal and Molecular Structure of 2,2-Dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-[1,4,2]diazasilolo[4,5-α]pyridinium-chloride-Chloroform(1/1), The title compound ( 1 ) is obtained by the reaction of 2-trimethylsilylaminopyridine and Me₂CH₂ClSiCl in CHCl₃. The SiCl bond is ionic (X-ray structure determination). 1 crystallizes monoclinic space group P2₁/c (Z = 8). The asymmetric unit contains two symmetrically nonequivalent molecular cations of 1 , two Cl anions and two CHCl₃. Silicon is tetracoordinate with Si? N-bond distances of 1.766 Å and 1.777 Å. The shortest SiCl distances (3.908 and 4.110 Å) correspond to ionic interactions. Both Cl anions are hydrogen bonded to CHC1₃. Additionally one C1_? is hydrogen bonded to the NH groups of two neighbouring cations. Structural comparison with related compounds suggests these interactions to be responsible for the transition from pentacoordination to tetracoordination at Si (ionization of the Sic1 bond). ¹H- and ²⁹Si-NMR investigations of 1 show this transition to be dependent on the combined effect of NH…?C1^? and C1₃CH…?C1_? interactions. 1 is completely ionized in CDCl₃ in the temperature range ?80° to +80°C while in the weaker acceptor solvent benzonitrile a temperature dependent shift from the ionic tetracoordinate to the pentacoordinate structure is observed with increasing pentacoordination with increase of temperature.     

Synthesis of pyrrolo[3,2-b]benzofurans and pyrrolo[3,2-b]naphthofurans via addition of a silyloxypyrrole to activated quinones

The uncatalyzed reaction of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxypyrrole 3 with 1,4-quinones bearing an electron withdrawing group at C-2 has been studied. Use of 1,4-quinones 4, 5 bearing an ester group at C-2 provided an efficient synthesis of the respective pyrrolidinobenzofuran adduct 9 or pyrrolidinonaphthofuran adduct 10 whereas use of 1,4-quinones 6, 7 and 8 bearing an acetyl group at C-2 afforded silyloxypyrroles 11, 12 and 13 resulting from direct electrophilic substitution of the silyloxypyrrole by the electrophilic quinone. Addition of Eu(fod)₃ to the reaction of 2-acetyl-1,4-naphthoquinone 7 and 3-acetyl-5-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone 8 with N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxypyrrole 3 provided a method for obtaining the pyrrolidinonaphthofuran adducts 14 and 15 together with silyloxypyrroles 12 and 13. Oxidative rearrangement of pyrrolidinonaphthofuran adduct 15 to pyrrolidino pyranonaphthoquinone 16 using ceric ammonium nitrate in acetonitrile provided a novel approach for the synthesis of an aza-analogue of the pyranonaphthoquinone antibiotic kalafungin.     

Antimicrobial and anticancer activities of Schiff base ligand and its transition metal mixed ligand complexes with heterocyclic base

A new Schiff base ligand (HL) was prepared via a condensation reaction of quinoline‐2‐carboxaldhyde with 2‐aminophenol in a molar ratio of 1:1. Its transition metal mixed ligand complexes with 1,10‐phenanthroline (1,10‐phen) as co‐ligand were also synthesized in a 1:1:1 ratio. HL and its mixed ligand complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, infrared, ¹H NMR, mass and UV–visible spectroscopies, molar conductance, magnetic measurements, solid reflectance, thermal analysis, electron spin resonance and X‐ray diffraction. Molar conductance measurements showed that all complexes have an electrolytic nature, except Cd(II) complex. From elemental and spectral data, the formulae [M(L)(1,10‐phen)(H₂O)]Cl_x?nH₂O (where M = Cr(III) (x = n = 2), Mn(II) and Ni(II) (x = 1, n = 2), Fe(III) (x = n = 2), Co(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) (x = 1, n = 2)) and [Cd(L)(1,10‐phen)Cl]?3H₂O for the metal complexes have been proposed. The geometric structures of complexes were found to be octahedral. Powder X‐ray diffraction reflected the crystalline nature of the complexes; however, the Schiff base is amorphous. HL and its mixed ligand complexes were screened against Gram‐positive bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram‐negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli). Antifungal activity was determined against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans, the data showing that most complexes had activity less than that of the Schiff base while Mn(II), Fe(III) and Ni(II) complexes showed no significant antifungal activity. The anticancer activity of HL and its metal complexes was also studied against breast and colon cell lines. The metal complexes showed IC₅₀ higher than that of HL, especially the Cu(II) complex which showed the highest IC₅₀ against breast cell line.     

Colorizing mechanism of brass surface by femtosecond laser induced microstructures

In this paper, we exhibit the colorizing of brass surfaces by forming femtosecond laser induced microstructures on the sample surfaces. A variety of single colors such as brown, yellow, green, and black are introduced on brass surfaces by engineering periodic microgratings, microholes, and ring-shaped micro-patterns using Single Beam Direct Laser Writing (SBDLW) technique. The color of the micro-structured brass surfaces is certainly dependent on the width, depth, and period of the microstructures. Finally, we explain, in brief, the colorizing mechanism of metals by femtosecond laser induced microstructures.     

Green synthesis and characterizations of Nickel oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Rhamnus virgata and their potential biological applications

In the present report, Nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiONPs) were synthesized using Rhamnus virgata (Roxb.) (Family: Rhamnaceae) as a potential stabilizing, reducing and chelating agent. The formation, morphology, structure and other physicochemical properties of resulting NiONPs were characterized by Ultra violet spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared analysis (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy‐dispersive‐spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Detailed in vitro biological activities revealed significant therapeutic potential for NiONPs. The antimicrobial efficacy of biogenic NiONPs was demonstrated against five different gram positive and gram negative bacterial strains. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC: 125 μg/mL) were found to be the least susceptible and Bacillus subtilis (MIC: 31.25 μg/mL) was found to be the most susceptible strain to NiONPs. Biogenic NiONPs were reported to be highly potent against HepG2 cells (IC₅₀: 29.68 μg/ml). Moderate antileishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica (KMH₂₃) promastigotes (IC₅₀: 10.62 μg/ml) and amastigotes (IC₅₀: 27.58 μg/ml) cultures are reported. The cytotoxic activity was studied using brine shrimps and their IC₅₀ value was recorded as 43.73 μg/ml. For toxicological assessment, NiONPs were found compatible towards human RBCs (IC₅₀: > 200 μg/ml) and macrophages (IC₅₀: > 200 μg/ml), deeming particles safe for various applications in nanomedicines. Moderate antioxidant activities: total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (51.43%), 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity (70.36%) and total reducing power (TRP) (45%) are reported for NiONPs. In addition, protein kinase and alpha amylase inhibition assays were also performed. Our results concluded that Rhamnus virgata synthesized NiONPs could find important biomedical applications with low cytotoxicity to normal cells.