Cannabis-Derived Compounds Cannabichromene and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Interact and Exhibit Cytotoxic Activity against Urothelial Cell Carcinoma Correlated with Inhibition of Cell Migration and Cytoskeleton Organization

Cannabis sativa contains more than 500 constituents, yet the anticancer properties of the vast majority of cannabis compounds remains unknown. We aimed to identify cannabis compounds and their combinations presenting cytotoxicity against bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common urinary system cancer. An XTT assay was used to determine cytotoxic activity of C. sativa extracts on T24 and HBT-9 cell lines. Extract chemical content was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to determine apoptosis and cell cycle, using stained F-actin and nuclei. Scratch and transwell assays were used to determine cell migration and invasion, respectively. Gene expression was determined by quantitative Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The most active decarboxylated extract fraction (F7) of high-cannabidiol (CBD) C. sativa was found to contain cannabichromene (CBC) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Synergistic interaction was demonstrated between CBC + THC whereas cannabinoid receptor (CB) type 1 and type 2 inverse agonists reduced cytotoxic activity. Treatments with CBC + THC or CBD led to cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis. CBC + THC or CBD treatments inhibited cell migration and affected F-actin integrity. Identification of active plant ingredients (API) from cannabis that induce apoptosis and affect cell migration in UC cell lines forms a basis for pre-clinical trials for UC treatment.     

Sonoassisted Microbial Reduction of Chromium

This study presents sonoassisted microbial reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) using Bacillus sp. isolated from tannery effluent contaminated site. The experiments were carried out with free cells in the presence and absence of ultrasound. The optimum pH and temperature for the reduction of Cr(VI) by Bacillus sp. were found to be 7.0 and 37 °C, respectively. The Cr(VI) reduction was significantly influenced by the electron donors and among the various electron donors studied, glucose offered maximum reduction. The ultrasound-irradiated reduction of Cr(VI) with Bacillus sp. showed efficient Cr(VI) reduction. The percent reduction was found to increase with an increase in biomass concentration and decrease with an increase in initial concentration. The changes in the functional groups of Bacillus sp., before and after chromium reduction were observed with FTIR spectra. Microbial growth was described with Monod and Andrews model and best fit was observed with Andrews model.     

Facile green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using leaf extract of antidiabetic potent Cassia auriculata

A simple biological method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Cassia auriculata aqueous leaf extract has been carried out in the present study. The reduction of auric chloride led to the formation of AuNPs within 10 min at room temperature (28°C), suggesting a higher reaction rate than chemical methods involved in the synthesis. The size, shape and elemental analysis were carried out using X-ray diffraction, TEM, SEM-EDAX, FT-IR and visible absorption spectroscopy. Stable, triangular and spherical crystalline AuNPs with well-defined dimensions of average size of 15-25 nm were synthesized using C. auriculata. Effect of pH was also studied to check the stability of AuNPs. The main aim of the investigation is to synthesize AuNPs using antidiabetic potent medicinal plant. The stabilizing and reducing molecules of nanoparticles may promote anti-hyperglycemic if tested further.     

Size separations of starch of different botanical origin studied by asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation and multiangle light scattering

Asymmetrical-flow field-flow fractionation combined with multiangle light scattering and refractive index detection has been revealed to be a powerful tool for starch characterization. It is based on size separation according to the hydrodynamic diameter of the starch components. Starch from a wide range of different botanical sources were studied, including normal starch and high-amylose and high-amylopectin starch. The starch was dissolved by heat treatment at elevated pressure in a laboratory autoclave. This gave clear solutions with no granular residues. Amylose retrogradation was prevented by using freshly dissolved samples. Programmed cross flow starting at 1.0 mL min(-1) and decreasing exponentially with a half-life of 4 min was utilised. The starches showed two size populations representing mainly amylose and mainly amylopectin with an overlapping region where amylose and amylopectin were possibly co-eluted. Most of the first population had molar masses below 10(6) g mol(-1), and most of the second size population had molar masses above 10(7) g mol(-1). Large differences were found in the relative amounts of the two populations, the molar mass, and hydrodynamic diameters, depending on the plant source and its varieties.     

Gold‐Nanoparticle‐Decorated Boron Nitride Nanosheets: Structure and Optical Properties

Synergetic cooperation of individual components of the nanocomposites (NCs) is responsible for their novel properties that lead to various technological applications. A simple chemical process depicting the deposition of functionalized gold nanoparticles on the surface of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) in solution is reported. The structure, chemical composition, and optical properties of nanosheets are systematically studied. The deposition of Au nanoparticles on BNNS (BNNS_Au) results in plasmonic band modulation, thus altering the optoelectronic properties of BNNSs. The intense surface plasmon absorption band of BNNS_Au is narrowed and red‐shifted relative to the absorption band of as synthesized monometallic BNNSs. The observations reflect the strong interfacial interaction between BNNS and Au nanoparticles. This approach constitutes a basis for a simple process leading to the preparation of functionalized BNNSs and their utilization as nanoscale templates for assembly and integration with other nanoscale materials for futuristic optoelectronic devices.     

Applications of differential scanning calorimetry in developing cryopreservation strategies for Parkia speciosa, a tropical tree producing recalcitrant seeds

Shoot-tips of Parkia speciosa, a recalcitrant seed producing tropical leguminous tree withstood cryopreservation using encapsulation-vitrification in combination with trehalose preculture. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that trehalose moderated the thermal characteristics of the shoot-tips. A 30 min PVS2 treatment had the lowest glass transition temperature (Tg) (-50.2 +/- 1.1 degree C) when applied in combination with 5% (w/v) trehalose. The Tg increased to -40.2 +/- 1.0 degree C as the sugar concentration was decreased to 2.5 percent (w/v). Tg heat capacity for shoot-tips treated with 2.5 percent and 5 percent (w/v) trehalose and exposed to PVS2 for 30 min increased from 0.17 +/ 0.05 to 0.23 +/- 0.01 J per gram, respectively. Enthalpies of the melt-endotherm varied in proportion to trehalose concentration, for the 30 min PVS2 treatment, whereas the melt enthalpy for control shoots was greater than 150 J per gram and decreased to ca. 60 J per gram with 2.5 percent (w/v) trehalose. For 5 percent and 10 percent (w/v) trehalose treatments, enthalpy declined to ca. 24 and 12 J per gram respectively and freezing points were depressed to -75 degree C and -85 degree C with 2.5 percent and 5 percent trehalose (w/v), respectively. DSC elucidated the critical points at which vitrification occurred in germplasm exposed to trehalose and PVS2. A 60 min PVS2 treatment supporting ca. 70 percent survival was found optimal for stable glass formation during cooling and on rewarming.     

Bright,dark and breather soliton solutions of the generalized long-wave short-wave resonance interaction system

Nonlinear Dynamics - In this paper, a generalized long-wave short-wave resonance interaction system, which describes the nonlinear interaction between a short-wave and a long-wave in fluid...     

Etodolac:β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex as a novel fluorescent chemosensor probe for Ba2+

The inclusion complex of etodolac (ETD) with β-CD was investigated by UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopy. The chemosensory ability of ETD:β-CD complex for various metal cations was investigated thoroughly, and we found that the emission of the complex showed a drastic increase in the intensity for Ba²⁺. Competitive experiments of ETD:β-CD complex with Ba²⁺ showed that no significant variation was found in the fluorescence intensity of the ETD:β-CD/Ba²⁺ complex upon adding other cations, such as Na⁺, Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Cd²⁺, Al³⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺, Se⁴⁺, and Ti⁴⁺. The linearity range, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were determined from the selectivity and sensitivity studies.     

Highly Crystalline Mesoporous C60 with Ordered Pores: A Class of Nanomaterials for Energy Applications

Highly ordered mesoporous C₆₀ with a well‐ordered porous structure and a high crystallinity is prepared through the nanohard templating method using a saturated solution of C₆₀ in 1‐chloronaphthalene (51 mg mL^?1) as a C₆₀ precursor and SBA‐15 as a hard template. The high solubility of C₆₀ in 1‐chloronaphthalene helps not only to encapsulate a huge amount of the C₆₀ into the mesopores of the template but also supports the oligomerization of C₆₀ and the formation of crystalline walls made of C₆₀. The obtained mesoporous C₆₀ exhibits a rod‐shaped morphology, a high specific surface area (680 m² g^?1), tuneable pores, and a highly crystalline wall structure. This exciting ordered mesoporous C₆₀ offers high supercapacitive performance and a high selectivity to H₂O₂ production and methanol tolerance for ORR. This simple strategy could be adopted to make a series of mesoporous fullerenes with different structures and carbon atoms as a new class of energy materials.