Reversible Ultra-Slow Crystal Growth of Mixed Lead Bismuth Perovskite Nanocrystals: The Presence of Dynamic Capping

An ultra-slow crystal growth over a period of 24 h of a newly synthesized CH₃NH₃Pb_1/2Bi_1/3I₃ perovskite (MPBI) nanocrystal in non-polar toluene medium is reported here. From several spectroscopic techniques as well as from TEM analysis we found that the size of nanocrystals changes continuously with time, in spite of being capped by the ligands. Using a single molecular spectroscopic technique, we also found that this size change is not due to the stacking of nanocrystals but due to crystal growth. The notable temperature dependence and reversible nature of the nanocrystals growth is explained by the dynamic nature of the capping. The observed temperature-dependent ultra-slow growth is believed to be a pragmatic step towards controlling the size of perovskite NC in a systematic manner.     

Solution‐Based Synthesis of Layered Intergrowth Compounds of the Homologous PbmBi2nTe3n+m Series as Nanosheets

Layered intergrowth compounds in the homologous Pb_mBi_2nTe_3n+m family are interesting because they are examples of natural heterostructures. We present a simple solution‐based synthesis of two‐dimensional nanosheets of PbBi₂Te₄, Pb₂Bi₂Te₅, and PbBi₆Te₁₀ layered intergrowth compounds, which are members of the Pb_mBi_2nTe_3n+m [that is, (PbTe)_m(Bi₂Te₃)_n] homologous series. Few‐layer nanosheets exhibit narrow optical band gaps (0.25–0.7 eV) with semiconducting electronic‐transport properties.     

Interaction of RuIII(EDTA) with cellular thiols and O2: biological implications thereof

Reaction of [Ru^III(EDTA)(CyS)]^2? (edta^4? = ethylenediaminetetraacetate; CySH = cysteine) with molecular oxygen (O₂) has been studied as a function of pH (4.0–8.0) and cysteine concentration (0.2–2.0 mM) at room temperature (25 °C). Biological activities of the [Ru(EDTA)]/CySH/O₂ system pertaining to cleavage of supercoiled plasmid DNA to its nicked open circular form has been explored in this work. Results are discussed in regard to the reaction of the ruthenium(III)-complex with molecular oxygen) and a working mechanism is proposed for the biological activities of the ruthenium(III)-complex in the presence of O₂.     

Real‐time electro‐diffusion method to discriminate carbon nanomaterials

We report both the experimental and theoretical insights of differential electro‐diffusion behavior of carbon nanomaterials (e.g. single wall, multiwall carbon nanotubes, and graphene). We thus discriminate one from the other in a soft gel system. The differential mobility of such material depends on their intrinsic properties, both extend and rate of migration bearing the discriminatory signature. The mobility analysis is made by a real time monitoring of the respective bands.     

An Organoruthenium Anticancer Agent Shows Unexpected Target Selectivity For Plectin

Organometallic metal(arene) anticancer agents require ligand exchange for their anticancer activity and this is generally believed to confer low selectivity for potential cellular targets. However, using an integrated proteomics-based target-response profiling approach as a potent hypothesis-generating procedure, we found an unexpected target selectivity of a ruthenium(arene) pyridinecarbothioamide (plecstatin) for plectin, a scaffold protein and cytolinker, which was validated in a plectin knock-out model in vitro. Plectin targeting shows potential as a strategy to inhibit tumor invasiveness as shown in cultured tumor spheroids while oral administration of plecstatin-1 to mice reduces tumor growth more efficiently in the invasive B16 melanoma than in the CT26 colon tumor model.     

Stability-indicating RP-HPLC method for simultaneous quantitation of tramadol and aceclofenac in presence of their major degradation products: Method development and validation

Primary objective of this study was to develop a stability-indicating reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for simultaneous quantitation of tramadol and aceclofenac in presence of their degradation products. The drugs were subjected to various International Conference on Harmonization recommended stress conditions, such as acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis, peroxide oxidation, thermolysis, and photolysis. The major degradation products got well resoluted from the analytes in HPLC analysis with a mobile phase composed of a mixture of 0.01?M ammonium acetate buffer (pH 6.5) and acetonitrile (65:35, v/v) through a Phenomenex Gemini C18 (250?mm?×?4.6?mm, 5?µm particle size) column. The method was linear over a range of 15–60?µg/mL for tramadol and 40–160?µg/mL for aceclofenac concentration. The analytes were detected at a wavelength of 270?nm. The method was validated and found to be specific, accurate, precise, stable, and robust for its intended use. The method can be recommended for its future use in routine quality control, accelerated and real-time stability analysis of the formulations containing tramadol and aceclofenac combination.