Biocompatible Carbon Dot Decorated α-FeOOH Nanohybrid for an Effective Fluorometric Sensing of Cr (VI) in Wastewater and Living Cells

Journal of Fluorescence - This article reports the fluorometric detection of toxic hexavalent chromium Cr (VI)) in wastewater and Cr (VI) contaminated living cells using in-situ grown carbon...     

Photophysics of Hypericin and Hypocrellin A in Complex with Subcellular Components: Interactions with Human Serum Albumin

Time-resolved fluorescence and absorption measurements are performed on hypericin complexed with human serum albumin, HSA (1:4, 1:1 and approximately 5:1 hypericin: HSA complexes). Detailed comparisons with hypocrellin A/HSA complexes (1:4 and 1:1) are made. Our results are consistent with the conclusions of previous studies indicating that hypericin binds to HSA by means of a specific hydrogen-bonded interaction between its carbonyl oxygen and the N1-H of the tryptophan residue in the IIA subdomain of HSA. (They also indicate that some hypericin binds nonspecifically to the surface of the protein.) A single-exponential rotational diffusion time of 31 ns is measured for hypericin bound to HSA, indicating that it is very rigidly held. Energy transfer from the tryptophan residue of HSA to hypericin is very efficient and is characterized by a critical distance of 94 A, from which we estimate a time constant for energy transfer of approximately 3 x 10(-15) s. Although it is tightly bound to HSA, hypericin is still capable of executing excited-state intramolecular proton (or hydrogen atom) transfer in the approximately 5:1 complex, albeit to a lesser extent than when it is free in solution. It appears that the proton transfer process is completely impeded in the 1:1 complex. The implications of these results for hypericin (and hypocrellin A) are discussed in terms of the mechanism of intramolecular excited-state proton transfer, the mode of binding to HSA and the light-induced antiviral and antitumor activity.     

Physical and dielectric properties of poly(vinylidene fluoride)/polybenzimidazole functionalized graphene nanocomposites

Polymer‐based nanocomposites with good dielectric behavior have engrossed research devotion because of their distinctive benefits in electronic applications. An in situ synthetic process for the polybenzimidazole functionalized graphene oxide (GBI) and its nanocomposite with poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is described. GBI shows good dispersion in the bulk PVDF matrix implying a strong interaction of polybenzimidazole with PVDF as evident from morphological and FTIR studies. A gradual increment of GBI in PVDF increases its piezoelectric β‐polymorph formation with a maximum of 73% for 10 wt % GBI in PVDF (GBF10) which also exhibits highest thermal stability. An exhaustive study of frequency dependent electrical properties of GBF10 indicates significantly higher dielectric constant (61), low dielectric loss (0.42), and low AC conductivity value of 1.17 × 10^?10 S/cm at 100 Hz which are the key properties of a suitable capacitor. GBF10 also shows hydrophobic behavior (water uptake 2.89%) and low swelling ratio (1.143), providing an opportunity to use the composite film in fuel cell application. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 189–201     

Nile Blue in Triton-X 100/benzene-hexane reverse micelles: a fluorescence spectroscopic study

We report the observation of ground state prototropic equilibrium of the dye Nile Blue in Triton-X 100/benzene-hexane reverse micellar system. In the absence of water, the deprotonated form of the dye is predominant. Addition of water produces the protonated form. At highest water loading, the equilibrium is still shifted towards the deprotonated form as revealed by the absorption spectrum. In neat Triton-X 100 also, the dye is present almost predominantly in the deprotonated form as revealed by the absorption spectrum. The average fluorescence lifetime of the dye is greater in neat Triton-X 100 than in Triton-X 100 reverse micelles, when no water is added. Addition of water to the reverse micelles increases the average lifetime of the deprotonated species. We offer possible explanations to the above observations by discussing the structure and properties of the Triton-X 100/benzene-hexane reverse micelles.     

Observation of Asymmetric Oxidation Catalysis with B20 Chiral Crystals**

The study of heterogeneous reactions for enantiomeric processes based on inorganic crystals has been resurgent in recent years. However, the question remains how homochirality develops in nature and chemical reactions. Here, the successful growth of B20 group PdGa single crystals with different chiral lattices enabled us to achieve enantioselective recognition of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) based on a new mechanism, namely orbital angular momentum (OAM) polarization. The orbital textures of PdGa crystals indicate large OAM polarization near the Fermi level and carrying opposite signs. A positive or negative magnetization in the [111] direction is expected depending on the chiral lattice of PdGa crystals. Due to this, the adsorption energies of PdGa crystals and DOPA molecules differ depending on how well the O-2p orbital of DOPA pairs with the Pd-4d orbital of PdGa. The results provide one possible explanation for how chirality arises in nature by providing an enantioselective route with pure inorganic crystals.     

Selective four electron reduction of O2 by an iron porphyrin electrocatalyst under fast and slow electron fluxes

An iron porphyrin catalyst with four electron donor groups is reported. The porphyrin ligand bears a distal hydrogen bonding pocket which inverts the normal axial ligand binding selectivity exhibited by porphyrins bearing sterically crowded distal structures. This catalyst specifically reduces O(2) by four electrons under both fast and slow electron fluxes at pH 7.     

Photodynamic action of Rose Bengal silica nanoparticle complex on breast and oral cancer cell lines

Rose Bengal, an anionic photosensitizer was conjugated to organically modified silica nanoparticles having 3-amino propyl groups by electrostatic or covalent interaction. The drug-nanoparticle complexes were characterized by FTIR, light scattering and zeta potential measurements. Significant changes were observed in the spectroscopic properties of the drug when it is conjugated with nanoparticles. The toxicity of the free drug and drug-nanoparticle complex was studied against oral (4451) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines. Both complexes with nanoparticles were more phototoxic than free Rose Bengal, with the covalent complex being the more effective. Studies carried out on cellular uptake, photostability and singlet oxygen generation suggest that enhanced phototoxicity is primarily due to the enhanced uptake of the drug-nanoparticle complex.     

FTIR of touch imprint cytology: a novel tissue diagnostic technique

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) interrogation of biological tissues in real time has largely been a challenging proposition because of the strong absorption of mid-infrared light in water filled tissues. To enable sampling of tissues they must be sectioned and dried, which has time and resource implications. FTIR of touch imprint cytology (TIC) has been proposed to circumvent this problem. TIC is a well known histopathological method of rapidly analysing biological tissues. In this article we demonstrate the ability of FTIR of TIC to provide detailed spectra which can be used to differentiate various tissue pathologies. FTIR spectral profiles of TIC of lymph node and thyroid tissues differ visually when compared with TIC spectra of parathyroid tissue. The lymph node showed strong lipid spectral peaks at 1166cm(-1) and 1380cm(-1) including a very strong carbonyl-ester band at 1748cm(-1), and a strong methylene bending band (scissoring, at 1464cm(-1)). Smaller intensity protein peaks at 1547cm(-1) and 1659cm(-1) were also seen. The thyroid spectra, in addition to evident strong protein peaks at 1547cm(-1) and 1659cm(-1), also demonstrated possible nucleic acid signals at 1079cm(-1) and 1244cm(-1). The C-OH peak at 1037cm(-1) was attributed to carbohydrate signals. Parathyroid adenoma showed a marginal shift to lower wavenumbers with decreased amide I and II peak intensities when compared to hyperplasia. Nucleic acid peak positions at 1079cm(-1) and 1244cm(-1) were of higher intensity in adenomas compared to hyperplastic glands possibly demonstrating an increase in cell proliferation and growth. This study demonstrates the feasibility of cytoimprint FTIR for the intraoperative diagnosis of tissue during surgical neck exploration for the management of hyperparathyroidism. There is potential for the application of the technique in sentinel lymph node biopsy diagnosis and tumour margin evaluation.     

Spectroscopic Investigations on the Binding of the Photosensitizer Chlorin p6 with Amine-modified Silica Nanoparticles in Aqueous Media

Absorption and emission properties of the amphiphilic photosensitizer Chlorin p ₆ were investigated in aqueous medium in the presence of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) having positively charged amino groups. The results of these studies reveal that the acid–base ionization equilibrium of Chlorin p ₆ in aqueous medium is significantly affected as a result of strong electrostatic binding between the negatively charged drug and SiNP. The spectroscopic signature of the drug bound to SiNPs suggests that the tri-anionic form of the drug remains bound to the positively charged SiNPs at pH 8.0. As the pH is progressively decreased the formation of hydrophobic aggregates is disrupted significantly due to the presence of electrostatic binding force, which competes with intermolecular hydrophobic forces. The interplay of hydrophobic and electrostatic forces in the drug–nanoparticle binding process might affect the relative uptake and photodynamic efficacy of the free drug and the drug–nanoparticle complex in cancer cells.     

Weak Ag···Ag and Ag···π interactions in templating regioselective single and double [2+2] reactions of N,N'-bis(3-(4-pyridyl)acryloyl)-hydrazine: synthesis of an unprecedented tricyclohexadecane ring system

Synthesis of a stereospecific four-twelve-four fused tricyclic compound containing a tetraamide macrocycle has been achieved by the solid state [2+2] reaction through utilization of Ag···Ag interaction. The influence of anions on crystal packing has been utilized for the synthesis of a regioselective mono cyclobutane compound via the Ag···π interactions.