Spectroscopic Studies on the Thermodynamics of L-Cysteine Capped CdSe/CdS Quantum Dots��BSA Interactions

CdSe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) capped with L-cysteine can provide an effective platform for the interactions with bovine serum albumin (BSA). In this study, absorption and fluorescence (FL) spectroscopy were used to study the binding reactions of QDs with BSA, respectively. The binding constant (??10⁴ M^-1) from FL quenching method matches well with that determined from the absorption spectral changes. The modified Stern-Volmer quenching constant (5.23?×?10⁴, 5.22?×?10⁴, and 4.90?×?10⁴ M^-1) and the binding sites (??1) at different temperatures (304 K, 309 K, and 314 K) and corresponding thermodynamic parameters were calculated (?G?<?0, ?H?<?0, and ?S?<?0). The results show the quenching constant is inversely correlated with temperature. It indicates the quenching mechanism is the static quenching in nature rather than dynamic quenching. The negative values of free energy (?G?<?0) suggest that the binding process is spontaneous, ?H?<?0 and ?S?<?0 suggest that the binding of QDs to BSA is enthalpy-driven. The enthalpy and entropy changes for the formation of ground state complex depend on the capping agent of QDs and the protein types. Furthermore, the reaction forces were discussed between QDs and BSA, and the results show hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions play a major role in the binding reaction.     

Poly(1-amino-5-chloroanthraquinone): Highly Selective and Ultrasensitive Fluorescent Chemosensor For Ferric Ion

Poly(1-amino-5-chloroanthraquinone) (PACA) was firstly synthesized by a chemically oxidative interfacial polymerization. The PACA has been developed as a fluorescent sensor for the determination of Fe(III) in semi-aqueous solution at pH 7.0. The sensor exhibited remarkably high sensitivity toward Fe³⁺ since the fluorescence of the polymer could be significantly quenched even though trace Fe³⁺ was added. The sensor showed a linear fluorescence emission response over a wide concentration range from 1.0?×?10^?10 to 1.0?×?10^?4 M, with an ultra-low detection limit of 2.0?×?10^?11 M. The quenching of the fluorescence was found to be static one due to the formation of non-fluorescent complex in the ground state.     

Toxic effects of copper (II) ions on bovine hemoglobin

In this paper, the toxic influence of copper ions (II) on bovine hemoglobin was investigated by the combination of ultraviolet-visible absorption, fluorescence, time-resolved fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectra. Driven by hydrophobic and electrostatic forces, copper ions (II) could interact with bovine hemoglobin to form bovine hemoglobin-copper ions (II) complex with one binding site. The binding constant (K) was 1.57?×?10⁴, 1.89?×?10⁴ and 2.11?×?10⁴?L/mol at 298, 304, and 310?K, respectively. The binding distance (r) was 4.24?nm. Fluorescence and time-resolved fluorescence spectra showed that bovine hemoglobin quenched by copper ions (II) was a static quenching process. Results of synchronous fluorescence spectra revealed that the microenvironment and the conformation of bovine hemoglobin were changed during the binding reaction. Data of circular dichroism spectra suggested that with the increasing concentration of copper ions (II), the secondary structure of bovine hemoglobin underwent a decrease in α-helix and alteration in backbone microenvironment. Copper ions (II) was thus evidenced to have a certain toxic effect on physical bodies.     

Diffusion of chromium and manganese in γ-TiAl

The γ-TiAl intermetallic compound with suitable alloying additions has shown considerable promise as a material for high-temperature applications. Diffusion studies in this alloy system are useful in assessment of their creep behaviour and structural stability in service conditions. Tracer diffusion coefficients of ⁵¹Cr and ⁵⁴Mn in a γ-TiAl intermetallic compound containing 54.1 at. % aluminium were determined in the temperature range from 1095 to 1470?K. The temperature dependence of both the diffusing species follows a linear Arrhenius behaviour and can be expressed as D _Cr?=?4.4?×?10^?3exp(?350?kJ?mol^?1/RT)?m^2?s^?1 and D _Mn?=?1.2?×?10^?3?×exp(?326?kJ?mol^?1/RT)?m^2?s^?1. The data are analysed on the basis of empirical correlations between the diffusion and melting parameters applicable for conventional mono-vacancy diffusion mechanism in metals. It is concluded that impurity diffusion in γ-TiAl occurs through the migration of thermal vacancies via nearest-neighbour or next-nearest neighbour jumps.     

Ellipsometric study of oxygen adsorption and the carbon monoxide-oxygen interaction on ordered and damaged Ag(111)

The adsorption of oxygen on Ag(111) has been studied by ellipsometry in conjunction with AES and LEED. The oxygen pressure varied between 10^?5 and 10^?3 Torr and the crystal temperature between room temperature and 250° C. Changes in the Auger spectrum and the LEED pattern upon oxygen adsorption are very small. Oxygen coverages were derived from the changes in the ellipsometric parameter Δ. At room temperature a maximum coverage is reached within a few minutes. Its value increases with the damage produced by the preceding argon ion bombardment. The sticking coefficient derived from the initial rate of Δ-change amounts to 3 × 10^?5 for well-annealed surfaces and 2.5 ? 5 × 10^?4 for damaged surfaces. After evacuation no desorption takes place. Other types of adsorption, associated with much larger changes in Δ, were observed upon bombardment with oxygen ions and with oxygen activated by a hot filament. The reaction of CO with adsorbed oxygen was studied ellipsometrically at room temperature in the CO pressure range 10^?7–10^?6 Torr. The initial reaction rate is proportional to the CO pressure. The reaction probability (number of oxygen atoms removed per incident CO molecule) is 0.36.     

Quasi-elastic scattering due to fast oxygen diffuson in yttria stabilized zirconia

Evidence for fast oxygen diffusion at high temperatures in single crystal ZrO₂ containing 12 mol % Y₂O₃ is presented from quasi-elastic light scattering data. Lattice vacancies are responsible for the enhanced ionic diffusion and the structural disorder. In the temperature range investigated we estimate the barrier activation energy for the jumping of oxygen vacancies to be 0.25 eV. At 1500°K the jump time is ～ 4 × 10^?12 sec., the diffusion constant is ～ 3.26 × 10^?5 cm²/sec. and the conductivity is ～ 0.24 (Ωcm)^?1.     

Quantum Dots (QDs) Based Fluorescent Sensor for the Selective Determination of Nimesulide

Fluorescent PET (Photoinduced Electron Transfer) has been of particular growth in recent times. A novel PET based fluorescent sensor using unmodified CdSe quantum dots (QDs) has been developed for the trace determination of Nimesulide (NIM). The sensor is based on the selective fluorescence quenching of quantum dots by NIM in presence of other NSAIDs and is found that intensity of quenching is linearly related to NIM concentration in the range 8.2?×?10^?7 – 4.01?×?10^?5?M. The mechanism of interaction is discussed. Finally, the potential application of the proposed method for the trace determination of NIM in pharmaceutical formulation is demonstrated.     

Rotational dynamics of gold nanoparticle chains in water solution

In this study, the optical properties of two nano-sized polymer colloids in optical coherence tomography (OCT) were compared in vitro with respect to their potential use as contrast agents. We used two types of particles: compact hydrophobic spherical polystyrene (PS) particles and soft water-swollen nanogel (NG) particles both with grafted hydrophilic shell, both prepared at two different sizes (PS at 300 and 150?nm, NG at 300 and 200?nm). The OCT backscattering signals of the particles in a vessel-mimicking highly scattering agar/TiO₂ phantom were compared on either number of particles or weight percent. Larger particles and higher concentrations produced higher OCT contrast. At each concentration tested, a markedly higher contrast was achieved by PS particles than NG particles. PS particles generated a markedly higher OCT contrast than the phantom at concentrations of at least 1?×?10¹⁰ or 0.1?% for PS 300?nm and at least 3?×?10¹¹ particles/mL or 0.4?% for PS 150?nm. The contrast generated by NG 300?nm was above the phantom contrast at concentrations of at least 3?×?10¹¹ particles/mL or 1?%, whereas NG 200?nm only at 4?%. At any given weight percent, the differences in OCT contrast between differently sized particles were much less evident than in the comparison based on particle number. PS 300?nm generated also a good contrast ex vivo on chicken muscle tissue. These results strongly suggest that PS spheres have strong potential as intravascular OCT contrast agent, while NG particles need further contrast enhancer for being used as OCT contrast agent.     

Electrical characterization of PVA-based nanocomposite electrolyte nanofibre mats doped with a multiwalled carbon nanotube

An attempt has been made to prepare and characterise ammonium thiocyanate (NH₄SCN) salt and a multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT)-doped polyvinyl alcohol-based nanofibre mats using an electrospinning process. The X-ray diffraction result shows an improvement in the amorphous nature of composite electrolyte fibre mats with increasing concentrations of the MWNT filler. The DSC behaviour of these nanofibre mat exhibits better thermal response upon dispersal of the filler. Composite electrolyte nanofibre mat doped with 6 wt% MWNT shows optimum conductivity, viz., 5.8?×?10^?4 Scm^?1. The temperature dependence of the bulk electrical conductivity displays a combination of Arrhenius and Vogel–Tammam–Fulcher nature. Dielectric loss studies have also been used to understand the conduction process in the system. Jonscher power law seems to be obeyed during ac conductivity measurements of the fibre mats.     

Diffusion of Butylated Hydroxy Toluol (BHT) in PVC Films

Abstract

The diffusion coefficient of butylated hydroxy toluol (BHT) in solvent casted PVC films from tetrahydrofurane (THF) was studied by UV spectroscopy. Diffusion coefficient of BHT in PVC at 140, 160 and 180°C were determined as 1.0 × 10^?12 3.0 × 10^?12 and 6.0 × 10^?12 m²/s. The activation energy of diffusion (E_a) was 66 kj/mol.

IR spectroscopic work showed that the complete removal of THF was possible by heating films 15 minutes at 140 °C, but that caused formation of C=0 groups in PVC. No dehydrochlorination of films was observed even for heating them at 180 °C for 60 minutes.

Antioxidant BHT is volatile at high temperatures, so it is not advisable to use it for high temperature applications.     

Study on the Interaction between Florasulam and Bovine Serum Albumin

In this paper, the interaction between florasulam (FU, 2′,6′,8-trifluoro-5-methoxy [Kragh-Hansen U, Molecular aspects of ligand binding to serum albumin. Pharmacol Rev 33(1):17–53 1981; Carter DC and Ho JX, Structure of serum albumin. Adv Protein Chem 45:153–203 1994; He XM, and Carter DC, Atomic structure and chemistry of human serum albumin. Nature 358(6383):209–215 1992] triazolo [1,5-c]pyrimidine-2-sulfonanilide) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by fluorescence, ultraviolet absorption (UV) and Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectrometries. A strong fluorescence quenching was observed and the quenching mechanism was considered as static quenching. The binding constant of FU with BSA at 299 and 309 K were obtained as 1.5?×?10⁴ and 7.1?×?10³ l mol^?1, respectively. There was one binding site between FU and BSA. The thermodynamic parameters enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) were calculated as ?57.89 kJ mol^?1 and ?113.6 J mol^?1 K^?1, respectively, which indicated that the acting force between FU and BSA was mainly hydrogen bond and Van der Waals force. According to the Förster non-radiation energy transfer theory, the average binding distance between donor (BSA) and acceptor (FU) was obtained (r?=?1.59 nm). The investigations of the UV/Vis and CD spectra of the system showed that the conformation of BSA was changed in presence of FU.     

Selective Fluorescent Detection of Aspartic Acid and Glutamic Acid Employing Dansyl Hydrazine Dextran Conjugate

Highly water soluble polymer (DD) was prepared and evaluated for its fluorescence response towards various amino acids. The polymer consists of dansyl hydrazine unit conjugated into dextran template. The conjugation enhances higher water solubility of dansyl hydrazine moiety. Of screened amino acids, DD exhibited selective fluorescence quenching in the presence of aspartic acid (Asp) and glutamic acid (Glu). A plot of fluorescence intensity change of DD against the concentration of corresponding amino acids gave a good linear relationship in the range of 1?×?10^?4 M to 25?×?10^?3 M. This establishes DD as a potential polymeric sensor for selective sensing of Asp and Glu.

Copper (50 MeV) and Oxygen (84 MeV) Ion Irradiation Probed Thermal,Structural and Optical Behavior of Polyethylene Terephthalate

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films of 50?μm thickness were exposed to swift-heavy 50?MeV copper and 84?MeV oxygen ions, with fluence varying from 1?×?10¹¹ to 1?×?10¹³ ions cm^?2. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-visible spectroscopic techniques were used to characterize the irradiated samples. The XRD and DSC analysis indicated the loss of crystallinity during/after the irradiation. The FTIR spectra revealed the formation of alkyne end groups, C═C groups and structural deformation with increase of ion fluence. Considerable reduction in the value of the optical bandgap was inferred from the study of the UV-visible absorption curves.     

Combined Quenching Mechanism of Anthracene Fluorescence by Cetylpyridinium Chloride in Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Micelles

The Stern-Volmer quenching constant (K_SV) for quenching of anthracene fluorescence in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles by pyridinium chloride has been reported previously to be 520 M^?1 based on steady state fluorescence measurements. However, such measurements cannot distinguish static versus dynamic contributions to the overall quenching. In the work reported here, the quenching dynamics of anthracene in SDS micelles by cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), an analogue of pyridinium chloride, were investigated using both steady state and time resolved fluorescence quenching. Concurrent measurement of the decrease in fluorescence intensity and lifetime of anthracene provide a quantitative evaluation of collision induced (i.e. dynamic) versus complex formation (i.e. static) quenching of the anthracene fluorophore. The results reveal that a combined quenching mechanism is operative with approximately equal constants of 249?±?6 M^?1 and 225?±?12 M^?1 for dynamic and static quenching, respectively.     

Optical properties of selenium sulfide thin film produced via chemical dropping method

This paper describes the production of selenium sulfide (SeS₂) crystalline thin film on commercial glass substrates, via chemical bath deposition. Transmittance, absorption, dielectric constant and refractive index of the produced films were investigated by UV/VIS Spectrum. It was found that changes occurred on the characteristics of the films and they were determined as a function of selenium sulfide concentration, which varied between 2?×?10^?3 and 5?×?10^?3 M. The structure of the film was analyzed using FTIR spectrum. The calculated refractive index values fell between 1.5 and 1.6, whereas the transmission ratio of the films was around 80–90%. Moreover, a peak in the reflectance was observed at 320–330 nm for all investigated samples. The highest dielectric constant for the films was obtained at the deposition concentration of 0.005 M. This study is believed to be useful for thin film production.     

Preparation of conductive nanocomposites based on poly (aniline-co- butyl 3-aminobenzoate) and poly (aniline-co-ethyl 3-aminobenzoate) by solution blending method

The polyaniline (PANI) is a widely studied conducting polymer due to its application in several devices such as biosensor, gas sensor etc. Known methods to produce PANI composites may be essentially reduced to two distinct groups: synthetic methods based on aniline polymerization in the presence of or inside a matrix polymer, and blending methods to mix a previously prepared PANI with a matrix polymer. Poly (aniline-co-butyl 3-aminobenzoate) (ANI-co-BAB) and poly (aniline-co-ethyl 3-aminobenzoate) (ANI-co-EAB) are prepared as conducting copolymers in nanoscale by chemical oxidation method under ultrasonic irradiation. The different molar ratio of aniline to butyl 3-aminobenzoate and ethyl 3-aminobenzoate are used in the preparation of copolymers. Conductive nanocomposites based on ANI-co-BAB or ANI-co-EAB with poly (styrene-alt-maleic acid) (PSMAC), and polystyrene are prepared by solution blending method. The obtained conductive composites formed films with good homogeneity and flexibility. The conductivity of the obtained nanocomposites is measured with a four-probe method. The electrical conductivity of the composites (ANI-co-EAB)/PSMAC/PS and (ANI-co-BAB)/PSMAC/PS are 24?×?10^?5?S?cm^?1 and 31?×?10^?5?S?cm, respectively. Our results show that the (ANI-co-BAB)/PSMAC/PS composite has more conductivity than (ANI-co-EAB)/PSMAC/PS composite. The copolymers and composites in nanoscale are characterized by FT-IR and ¹H NMR spectral data. The surface morphology was studied using SEM analysis. Also, their grain size is measured using XRD studies.     

Synthesis and Characterization of New Light Emitter Symmetrical Phenoxazinium Salt and Its Potential Application as Sensor for Assessment of Hg2+

The sensitization of the excited triplet state of a novel symmetrical Bis(dialkylamino)phenoxazinium salt was developed in the presence of Hg²⁺. This effect was used to determine the concentration of Hg²⁺ in different water samples. The phenoxazinium salt sensor was characterized by different spectroscopic tools such as: UV, FTIR, NMR and fluorescence spectra. The sensor has an emission band at 347 nm in DMSO. Hg²⁺ in DMSO at pH 5.6 can remarkably quench the fluorescence intensity of the sensor at 347 nm and a new band was appeared at 436 nm due to the strong complex formation between Hg²⁺ and sensor. The quenching of the band intensity at 347 and the enhancement of the intensity of the new band at 436 were used to determine the Hg²⁺ in different waste water samples. The dynamic range found for the determination of Hg²⁺ concentration is 8.7?×?10^-10 – 1.4?×?10^-6 mol L^?1 with a detection limit of 5.8?×?10^?10 mol L^?1 and quantification detection limit of 1.8?×?10^-9 mol L^-1.     

Silicon negative ion implantation induced vacancy defects in thermally grown SiO2 thin films

ABSTRACT

Thermally grown SiO₂ thin films on a silicon substrate implanted with 100?keV silicon negative ions with fluences varying from 1?×?10¹⁵ to 2?×?10¹⁷ ions cm^?2 have been investigated using Electron spin resonance, Fourier transforms infrared and Photoluminescence techniques. ESR studies revealed the presence of non-bridging oxygen hole centers, E′-centers and P_b-centers at g-values 2.0087, 2.0052 and 2.0010, respectively. These vacancy defects were found to increase with respect to ion fluence. FTIR spectra showed rocking vibration mode, stretching mode, bending vibration mode, and asymmetrical stretching absorption bands at 460, 614, 800 and 1080?cm^?1, respectively. The concentrations of Si–O and Si–Si bonds estimated from the absorption spectra were found to vary between 11.95?×?10²¹ cm^?3 and 5.20?×?10²¹ cm^?3 and between 5.90?×?10²¹ cm^?3 and 3.90?×?10²¹ cm^?3, respectively with an increase in the ion fluence. PL studies revealed the presence of vacancies related to non-bridging oxygen hole centers, which caused the light emission at a wavelength of 720?nm.     

Synthesis of 2-Mercaptonicotinic Acid-Capped CdSe Quantum Dots and its Application to Spectrofluorometric Determination of Cr(VI) in Water Samples

The CdSe quantum dots (QDs) capped with 2-mercaptonicotinic acid (H₂MN) were prepared through a controllable process at 80 °C. The prepared QDs were characterized by XRD, TEM, IR, UV–Vis and fluorescence (FL) techniques. It was found that the QDs were nearly mono-disperse with the diameters in the range of 8–10 nm. These QDs are capable to exhibit strong FL even in concentrated acidic media. They exhibit an enhanced fluorescence in the presence of Cr(VI), which was used for the determination of Cr(VI) in water samples. The linear range was found to be 1?×?10^?7–6.0?×?10^?6 M with the RSD and DL of 0.92 % and 5?×?10^?8 M, respectively. Except that Ca²⁺ and Fe³⁺ which can be eliminated through a simple precipitation process, the other co-existent ions present in natural water were not interfered. The recoveries obtained for the added amounts of Cr(VI) were in the range of 96.9–103.2 %, which denote on application of the method, satisfactorily.     

Interface growth mechanism in ion beam sputtering-deposited Mo/Si multilayers

Despite the technological importance of metal/Si multilayer structures in microelectronics, the interface reactions occurring during their preparation are not yet fully understood. In this work, the interface intermixing in Mo/Si multilayer coatings has been studied with respect to their preparation conditions. Various samples, prepared at room temperature with different Mo deposition rates (0.06–0.43?Å?s^?1) and a constant Si rate, have been investigated by detailed TEM observations. Contrary to the Si-on-Mo interface where no evidence of chemical intermixing could be found, the Mo-on-Si interface presents a noticeable interface zone whose thickness was found to noticeably decrease (from 4.1 to 3.2?nm) when increasing the Mo deposition rate. Such intermixing phenomena correspond to diffusion mechanisms having coefficients ranging from 0.25?×?10^?15 to 1.2?×?10^?15?cm²?s^?1 at room temperature. By assuming a diffusion mechanism mainly driven by Mo–Si atomic exchanges to minimize the surface energy, the diffusion dependence with Mo deposition rate has been successfully simulated using a cellular automaton. A refined simulation including Mo cluster formation is also proposed to explain the scenario leading to the full crystallization of Mo layers.