Optimization of the extraction of paclitaxel from Taxus baccata L. by the use of microwave energy

A simple and rapid microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) procedure was developed and optimized for the extraction of paclitaxel (Taxol) from the needles of yew trees Taxus baccata L. grown in Iranian habitats. The samples, immersed in a methanol-water mixture, were irradiated with microwaves in a closed-vessel system. The method was evaluated using a factorial design approach based on parameters such as extraction time, temperature, methanol concentration in water (v/v), and the ratio of grams of sample to 10 mL of solvent. Statistical treatment of the results revealed that the selected parameters were all significant except the extraction time. Optimum conditions would be 1.5 g samples in 10 mL solvent (90% methanol), an extraction temperature of 95 degrees C, and an extraction time of 7 min. The extracts has been analyzed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (LC/UV) at 227 nm for quantification. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for confirmation. The main advantage of the proposed MAE method versus conventional solvent extraction (CSE) are the considerable reductions in time (7 min versus 16 h) and in solvent consumption (20 mL versus 150 mL). The MAE procedure yielded extracts that could be analyzed directly without any preliminary clean-up or solvent exchange steps. Both extraction methods show RSDs lower than 10% and lead to comparable recoveries of paclitaxel (87-92%).     

Development and characterization of hydroquinone-loaded nanofiber for topical delivery: effect of chitosan

Hydroquinone (HQ) loaded polymer solution was electrospun for its topical application. Nanofibers were then investigated in terms of stability, drug release, and antifungal activity. The effect of chitosan (CS) was investigated on the viscosity, stability, drug release, and antifungal activity of the developed formulation. Results indicate a significantly stable HQ-loaded nanofiber formulation. The addition of CS caused hydration of the drug delivery system and enhanced drug release but reduced its stability. HQ-loaded nanofiber mat showed significant antifungal activity, however, there was no inhibition zone in samples containing CS.     

A Gas Chromatography-Molecular Rotational Resonance Spectroscopy Based System of Singular Specificity

We designed and demonstrated the unique abilities of the first gas chromatography–molecular rotational resonance spectrometer (GC-MRR). While broadly and routinely applicable, its capabilities can exceed those of high-resolution MS and NMR spectroscopy in terms of selectivity, resolution, and compound identification. A series of 24 isotopologues and isotopomers of five organic compounds are separated, identified, and quantified in a single run. Natural isotopic abundances of mixtures of compounds containing chlorine, bromine, and sulfur heteroatoms are easily determined. MRR detection provides the added high specificity for these selective gas-phase separations. GC-MRR is shown to be ideal for compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA). Different bacterial cultures and groundwater were shown to have contrasting isotopic selectivities for common organic compounds. The ease of such GC-MRR measurements may initiate a new era in biosynthetic/degradation and geochemical isotopic compound studies.     

Examination of Selectivities of Thermally Stable Geminal Dicationic Ionic Liquids by Structural Modification

Dicationic ionic liquids (ILs) are widely used as gas chromatography (GC) stationary phases as they show higher thermal stabilities, variety of polarities, and unique selectivities towards certain compounds. An important aspect contributing to them is that they show multiple solvation interactions compared to the traditional GC stationary phases. Dicationic ILs are considered as combination of three structural moieties: (1) cationic head groups; (2) a linkage chain; and (3) the counter anions. Modifications in these structural moieties can alter the chromatographic properties of IL stationary phases. In this study, a series of nine thermally stable IL stationary phases were synthesized by the combination of five different cations, two different linkage chains, and two different anions. Different test mixtures composed of a variety of compounds having different functional groups and polarities were analyzed on these columns. A comparison of the separation patterns of these different compounds on nine different IL columns provided some insights about the effects of structural modifications on the selectivities and polarities of dicationic ILs.     

Instability investigation of creeping viscoelastic flow in a curved duct with rectangular cross-section

In this paper, instability in the creeping viscoelastic flow inside a curved rectangular duct is investigated numerically for the first time. Using the Criminale–Eriksen–Filbey (CEF) model as the constitutive equation, the governing equations are solved by a second order of finite difference method based on the artificial compressibility algorithm in a staggered mesh. The effects of normal stress differences on the flow stability are investigated. The numerical results obtained indicate that the increase of the negative second normal stress difference of viscoelastic fluid causes stability in the creeping flow in curved ducts, however, the increase of the first normal stress difference intensifies the instability. Furthermore, at the special value of Ψ₂/Ψ₁=?0.5, the interaction of the two normal stress differences results in a stable flow field.     

Radio labeling,quality control and biodistribution of <Superscript>99m</Superscript>Tc-cefotaxime as an infection imaging agent

Cefotaxime, a cephalosporin antibiotic, used to treat bacterial infections was investigated to label with ^99mTc. Labeling was performed using sodium dithionite as a reducing agent at 100 °C for 10 min and radiochemical analysis involved ITLC and HPLC methods. The stability of labeled antibiotic was checked in the presence of human serum at 37 °C up to 24 h. The maximum radiolabeling yield was 92 ± 2%. Bacterial binding assay was performed with S. aureus and the in vivo distribution was studied in mice. Images showed minimal accumulation in non-target tissues, with an average target/non-target ratio of 2.89 ± 0.58.     

A simple flow injection spectrophotometric determination of nitrite based on its reaction with thiourea.

A simple flow injection spectrophotometric method for the determination of nitrite is described. Nitrite injected into the flow system reacts with thiourea in acidic medium and the generated thiocyanate ion reacts with Fe(III) in the reagent solution to produce a highly colored product. The influences of chemical and physical parameters including reagent concentrations, sample volume injected, flow rates of the carrier and reagent solutions, reaction coil length and reaction temperature, were studied and optimum values of these parameters were established. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curve for nitrite was linear over the concentration range 0.36 - 90 microg ml(-1) without preconcentration and over the range 3.8 - 500 ng ml(-1) with a simple online preconcentration step using an anion exchange column. The corresponding detection limits were 0.36 micro ml(-1) and 3.8 ng ml(-1), respectively. Up to 25 samples can be analyzed per hour, with an average relative standard deviation of < or = 1.2%. Interferences by various foreign ions were studied and the method was applied to the determination of nitrite in water and spiked water samples.     

Two phase mixed convection Al2O3–water nanofluid flow in an annulus

Heat transfer enhancement of a mixed convection laminar Al₂O₃–water nanofluid flow in an annulus with constant heat flux boundary condition has been studied employing two phase mixture model and effective expressions of nanofluid properties. The fluid flow properties are assumed constant except for the density in the body force, which varies linearly with the temperature (Boussinesq’s hypothesis), thus the fluid flow characteristics are affected by the buoyancy force. The Brownian motions of nanoparticles have been considered to determine the effective thermal conductivity and the effective dynamic viscosity of Al₂O₃–water nanofluid, which depend on temperature. Three-dimensional Navier–Stokes, energy and volume fraction equations have been discretized using the finite volume method while the SIMPELC algorithm has been introduced to couple the velocity–pressure. Numerical simulations have been presented for the nanoparticles volume fraction (?) between 0 and 0.05 and different values of the Grashof and Reynolds numbers. The calculated results show that at a given Re and Gr, increasing nanoparticles volume fraction increases the Nusselt number at the inner and outer walls while it does not have any significant effect on the friction factor. Both the Nusselt number and the friction coefficient at the inner wall are more than their corresponding values at the outer wall.