Synthesis of Hexagonal ZnO-PQ7 Nano Disks Conjugated with Folic Acid to Image MCF – 7 Cancer Cells

Surface modified ZnO nanomaterial is widely used in the field of bioimaging worldwide due to its optical properties, electronic characteristics and biocompatibility. Fluorescent enhanced, Polyquaternium-7(PQ7) capped, ZnO hexagonal nano disks (ZnO-PQ7) were synthesised by simple wet chemical method. The structural and optical properties of ZnO-PQ7 hexagonal nano disks were characterized using XRD, UV-Visible, Fluorescence, HRTEM, EDAX and FTIR studies. The size of synthesised ZnO-PQ7 were around 30-45 nm as confirmed by HRTEM studies. Fluorescence emission intensity increased with increase in PQ7 concentration. ZnO-PQ7 was further conjugated with folic acid (FA) to target human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) via EDC/NHS coupling chemistry. Conjugation of folic acid with ZnO-PQ7 was confirmed by FTIR studies. The cell viability study using Methyl thiazolyltetrazolium(MTT) assay has demonstrated that the ZnO-PQ7 conjugated FA composites (ZnO-PQ7-FA) exhibit low toxicity towards MCF-7 up to a concentration of 125 μg/mL. Confocal laser scanning microscopic images confirmed the uptake of ZnO-PQ7-FA nanoparticles by MCF-7 cells. This study reveals ZnO-PQ7-FA nano disks as a potential imaging agent for detection of cancer cells. The synthesis route reported in this article is simple and easy to follow for the synthesis of ZnO-PQ7-FA in bulk quantities with high purity.     

One-pot synthesis of methyl piperazinyl–quinolinyl nicotinonitrile derivatives under microwave conditions and molecular docking studies with DNA

Derivatives of methyl piperazinyl–quinolinyl nicotinonitrile were synthesised by one-pot method under microwave conditions. This was achieved using the Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The novel derivatives described above were purified by column chromatography and characterised by FT-IR, ¹H, ¹³C, 2D-NMR and HRMS spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, molecular docking was used to determine the binding sites of DNA with selected compounds. The synthetic method developed in this study showed several advantages including simplicity, high yield of products, coupled with safety and a short reaction time of 15 min.     

M(S)2(I)2 (M=Zn,Cd) and Hg(S)3I Coordination Environment of Transition Metal Complexes – Synthesis,Spectral, and Single Crystal X‐ray Structural Investigations

Three new transition metal complexes [Zn(bipyrtds)I₂]( 1 ), [Cd(bipyrtds)I₂] ( 2 ) and [Hg(pipdtc)I]( 3 ) (where bipyrtds = bipyrrolidine thiuamdisulfide and pipdtc = piperidinecarbodithioate) were prepared by the reaction of the corresponding biscarbodithioates with iodine and were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectra. The structures of all the three complexes were determined by single crystal X‐ray crystallography. Compounds 1 and 2 contain four coordinated metal atoms and both Zn^II and Cd^II complexes are isostrucutral. Interestingly, complex 3 was found to contain effectively four coordinated mercury atom as a dimer with a relatively long Hg‐S (3.084Å) bond. The IR studies are in keeping with the observed thioureide distances. ¹H NMR spectra of 1 and 2 show clear differences in environments of α‐ and β‐CH₂ protons. However, in 1 a broad signal was observed at 4.02 ppm for α‐protons and a multiplet at 2.10 for β‐protons. For 2 , two triplets appeared at 4.26 and 4.03 ppm for α‐protons and two quintets appeared in the range of 2.18 and 2.28 ppm for β‐protons. Complex 3 gave three sets of signals. Variation of stereochemical environment with respect to α and β protons of the rings is very clearly observed in the NMR spectra.     

On the Davenport–Heilbronn theorems and second order terms

We give simple proofs of the Davenport–Heilbronn theorems, which provide the main terms in the asymptotics for the number of cubic fields having bounded discriminant and for the number of 3-torsion elements in the class groups of quadratic fields having bounded discriminant. We also establish second main terms for these theorems, thus proving a conjecture of Roberts. Our arguments provide natural interpretations for the various constants appearing in these theorems in terms of local masses of cubic rings.     

Synthesis and Functional Characterization of Antibiofilm Exopolysaccharide Produced by Enterococcus faecium MC13 Isolated from the Gut of Fish

The synthesis and functional characterization of an antibiofilm exopolysaccharide (EPS) from a probiotic Enterococcus faecium MC13 were investigated. The temperature of 35 °C, pH of 6.5, and salinity of 1–2 % were found to be optimum for EPS production. The sucrose (30 g?l^?1) and yeast extract (20 g?l^?1) acted as suitable carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, which strongly influenced EPS production with yield of 11.33 and 11.91 g?l^?1. Based on the thin layer chromatography, EPS of E. faecium MC13 was found to be a heteropolysaccharide, composed of galactose and glucose sugar units with a molecular mass of 2.0?×?10⁵?Da. Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis of the EPS revealed many predominant functional groups including hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amide groups. EPS exhibited better emulsifying and flocculating activities which is relatively similar to those of commercial polysaccharides. In vitro antioxidant inspect of EPS showed lesser antioxidant activity than that of the control ascorbic acid. Thermal behavior of EPS was different from the other EPS produced by other lactic acid bacteria. In vitro antibiofilm assay of EPS exhibited significant biofilm inhibition, especially with Listeria monocytogenes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on EPS of E. faecium with strong emulsifying and flocculating activities.     

Numerical simulation of the target system of an ADSS

The study of thermal–hydraulic issues related to target module of an accelerator driven sub-critical nuclear reactor system (ADSS) play a crucial role in its design. For this, one needs to analyze laminar/turbulent flow and heat transfer characteristics of lead bismuth eutectic (LBE), target cum coolant liquid, at low Prandtl number in the target system of an ADSS. In this work, equations governing conservation of mass, momentum and energy together with equations for kinetic energy and its dissipation rate are solved numerically using streamline upwind Petrov-Galerkin (SUPG)-finite element (FE) method in a two-dimensional axisymmetric ADSS target system. The transfer of kinetic energy and its dissipation rate are modeled using standard k ? ε equations with the wall function approach. The complex target module comprises a 180° turn-around flow along a straight flow guide and a window interfacing the proton beam interaction with LBE. The principal purpose of the analysis is to trace the flow structure in the domain and the temperature distribution on the window. Increasing flow rate to turbulent regime is seen to minimize the number of re-circulation or stagnation zones that may lead to the development of hot spots in the flow domain.     

NMR Spin–Spin Coupling Constants in Polymethine Dyes as Polarity Indicators

Herein, we explore the use of spin–spin coupling constants (SSCCs) in merocyanine (MCYNE) dyes as indicators of polarity. For this purpose, we use Car–Parrinello hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) to determine the structures of MCYNE in solvents of different polarity, followed by computations of the SSCCs by using QM/MM linear‐response theory. The molecular geometry of MCYNE switches between neutral, cyanine‐like, and zwitterionic depending on the polarity of the solvent. This structural variation is clearly reflected in the proton SSCCs in the polymethine backbone, which are highly sensitive to the dielectric nature of the environment; this mechanism can be used as a “polarity indicator” for different microenvironments. This result is highlighted by computing the SSCCs of the MCYNE probe in the cavity of the beta‐lactoglobulin protein. The computed SSCCs clearly indicate a non‐polar hydrophobic dielectric nature of this cavity.     

Synthesis and characterization of naphth-annelated thiophene analogs

Synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical naphth-annelated thienyl heterocycles has been achieved via thionation of hydroxyketones/diketones using Lawesson's reagent. Photophysical studies of 1,3-disubstituted naphtho[c]thiophene analogs are presented. Electro-oxidative behavior of these naphtha-annelated thiophenes are investigated using cyclic voltammeter.     

Crystal growth, spectral, optical, and thermal characterization of glycyl-l-alanine hydrochloride (GLAH) single crystal

A new semi-organic nonlinear optical material glycyl-l-alanine hydrochloride (GLAH) was grown successfully by slow evaporation solution growth method. The solubility of GLAH was estimated for a wide range of temperatures. Large size single crystal of size 15?×?9?×?6?mm³ was grown at room temperature. The grown crystal was subjected to single crystal X-ray diffraction study which confirms that the grown crystal is monoclinic in nature with the space group P2₁. The molecular weight of the title compound was estimated by mass spectrometry. Functional groups and the modes of vibrations were identified by FT-IR spectral analysis. The UV?Cvisible spectral study reveals that the percentage of optical transmission of the sample is very high in the entire visible and UV regions. The second harmonic generation of the crystal was confirmed by the Kurtz and Perry technique. The hardness of the sample was tested by microhardness test which shows that the grown crystal belongs to the soft category of materials. The thermal stability of the compound was studied by TG?CDTA analyses which indicate that the crystal is thermally stable up to 248.6?°C.