Fabrication of the electrochemically reduced graphene oxide-bismuth nanoparticles composite and its analytical application for an anticancer drug gemcitabine

The present study explores an electroreduced graphene oxide-bismuth nanoparticles composite(ErGOBi) as an electrochemical sensor for the determination of an anticancer drug, gemcitabine hydrochloride(GMB). The Er-GOBi interface was prepared by drop casting of bismuth nitrate-graphene oxide suspension on a glassy carbon electrode(GCE) followed by electro-reduction in the potential range of 0.6 V to 1.7 V. SEM, FTIR, EDAX and AFM techniques were employed for the characterization of prepared materials. Cyclic voltammetric and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic methods were used to understand the charge transfer properties of stepwise modification of Er-GOBi/GCE. GMB exhibited an irreversible oxidation peak at 1.144 V on Er-GOBi/GCE in phosphate buffer of p H 3. A 100-fold enhanced oxidation peak current was observed at Er-GOBi/GCE when compared to that at bare GCE.Sensing performance of Er GO-Bi/GCE was optimized by varying peak current dependent parameters.Linear relationship between the peak current and concentration of GMB was observed in the range of 0.1–51.1 mmol/L in differential pulse voltammetric method and 2.1–61.1 mmol/L in linear sweep voltammetric method. The practical utility of the proposed sensor, Er-GOBi/GCE was demonstrated by determining GMB in pharmaceutical formulations and spiked urine samples.     

Co-Existent Biphasic Region of Nematic and Columnar Smectic Phases in Binary Mixture of Berberine and Alizarin Dye

We report the results of our studies on the optical and thermal properties of binary mixture of two compounds viz., berberine and alizarin dye. The mixture shows a very interesting co-existent biphasic region of nematic N + I and smectic C + I phases, sequentially when the specimen is cooled from its isotropic phase respectively at different concentrations of Alizarin dye in berberine molecule. The temperature variations of optical anisotropy, optical textures, and electrical conductivity have also been discussed. Aggregated molecular size has been confirmed by X-ray studies.     

Diformylhydrazine as analytical reagent for spectrophotometric determination of iron(II) and iron(III)

The bidentate ligand diformylhydrazine (OHC-HN-NH-CHO), DFH, combines with iron(II) and iron(III) in alkaline media in the pH range 7.3-9.3 to form an intensely colored red-purple iron(III) complex with an absorption maximum at 470 nm. Beer's law is obeyed for iron concentrations from 0.25 to 13 microg mL(-1). The molar absorptivity was in the range 0.3258x10(4)-0.3351x10(4) L mol(-1) cm(-1) and Sandell's sensitivity was found to be 0.0168 microg cm(-2). The method has been applied to the determination of iron in industrial waste, ground water, and pharmaceutical samples.     

Role of liquid membrane phenomenon in the biological actions of thioridazine

Role of surface activity in the mechanism of action of thioridazine (THR) has been studied. THR has been shown to generate liquid membrane it self and also in association with the relevant membrane lipids, sphingomyelin and cholesterol in series with a supporting membrane. Transport of relevant biogenic amines e.g. dopamine, nor-adrenaline, adrenaline, serotonin, gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) and glutamic acid and ions viz. sodium, potassium, and calcium has been studied in the presence of liquid membranes generated by THR and THE in association with sphingomyelin-cholesterol. The data on modifications in the permeability of relevant biogenic amines and ions indicate that the liquid membranes generated by THR may contribute to the mechanism of action of THR.     

Transport across liquid membranes containing vitamin A (retinol acetate)

The role of the surface activity of vitamin A has been studied in the light of the liquid membrane hypothesis of drug action. Transport of relevant amino acids such as serine, threonine, arginine, and histidine and various ions such as calcium, sodium, and potassium in the presence of liquid membranes generated by vitamin A has been studied. The data on the modifications in the permeability of relevant amino acids and ions indicate that the liquid membranes generated by vitamin A may also play a significant role in its physiological action.     

Twist Grain Boundary Phases in the Binary Mixtures of Smectic and Cholesteryl Compounds

Abstract

The binary mixture of Terephthal-bis-p-n-hexadecylaniline (TB16A) and cholesteryl nonanoate (CN) exhibits I - N* - TGB _A - TGB _c*- Sm A - Sm I - Sm F - Sm G - K phases in the concentration region between 95 to 98% of TB16A at higher temperature range. The 90% of TB16A exhibits I - N* - TGB _A - TGB _c - Sm A - Sm I - Sm F - K phases. The mixtures of concentration between 50 to 80% of TB16A exhibits I - Sm A - Sm I - K phases. The frustrated blue phase is also observed in the mixtures of lower concentration of TB16A in CN at higher temperature. Optical, DSC and X-ray studies were carried out for the identification of the different phases. The phase diagram of the Chen-Lubensky model in this context is discussed.     

Bulk Modification of Carbon Paste Electrode with Bi2O3 Nanoparticles and Its Application as an Electrochemical Sensor for Selective Sensing of AntiHIV Drug Nevirapine

Bi₂O₃ nanoparticles were synthesized by solution combustion method and utilized for fabrication of an electrochemical sensor [carbon paste electrode modified with Bi₂O₃ (CPE‐Bi₂O₃)] for nevirapine (NVP). Electrode materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TG‐DTA, AFM and SEM‐EDS methods. CPE‐Bi₂O₃ was electroreduced (Er) in KOH in the potential range of ?1.3–0 V to obtain CPE‐ErBi₂O₃. CPE‐ErBi₂O₃ exhibited electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of NVP. Under optimized conditions, linearity between the peak current and NVP concentration was observed in the range of 0.05–50 µM. Further, the sensor was used for the assay of NVP in tablets and biological samples.     

Fabrication of an Electrochemical Sensor Based on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Almotriptan

In the present work, the electrochemical behavior of an antimigraine drug, almotriptan malate (ALM), on a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) film modified glassy carbon electrode under cyclic voltammetry was described for the first time. A significant enhancement in the oxidation peak current of ALM was noticed at MWCNT‐GCE. This property was exploited to develop a simple, sensitive and time‐saving differential pulse voltammetric method for the determination of ALM in bulk and pharmaceutical samples. A linear relationship was observed between concentration and peak current with a correlation coefficient of 0.9915 in the range of 0.25–37.5 µM ALM.     

Synthesis, characterization and applications of nanostructural/nanodimensional metal oxides

Molybdenum oxide nanorods (MOx-NR) and vanadium oxide nanotubes (VOx-NT) have been prepared using MoO₃ and V₂O₅ powders as precursors and hexadecylamine as surfactant via hydrothermal route. Porous nanocrystalline MgO powder has been prepared by a simple and instantaneous solution combustion process using corresponding magnesium nitrate as oxidizer and glycine as fuel. The compounds are characterized by XRD, TG-DTA, SEM, TEM, surface area and porosity measurements. Because of the porous nature having large surface area (107 m²/g) with nanodimension (12-23 nm), MgO powder has been successfully employed as defluoridizing agent for the removal of fluoride (75%) in ground water