Hybrid Curdlan Poly(γ ‐Glutamic Acid) Nanoassembly for Immune Modulation in Macrophage

A nanoformulation composed of curdlan, a linear polysaccharide of 1,3‐β‐linked d ‐glucose units, hydrogen bonded to poly(γ ‐glutamic acid) (PGA), was developed to stimulate macrophage. Curdlan/PGA nanoparticles (C‐NP) are formulated by physically blending curdlan (0.2 mg mL^?1 in 0.4 m NaOH) with PGA (0.8 mg mL^?1). Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis demonstrates a heterospecies interpolymer complex formed between curdlan and PGA. The ¹H‐NMR spectra display significant peak broadening as well as downfield chemical shifts of the hydroxyl proton resonances of curdlan, indicating potential intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, the cross peaks in ¹H‐¹H 2D‐NOESY suggest intermolecular associations between the OH‐2/OH‐4 hydroxyl groups of curdlan and the carboxylic‐/amide‐groups of PGA via hydrogen bonding. Intracellular uptake of C‐NP occurs over time in human monocyte‐derived macrophage (MDM). Furthermore, C‐NP nanoparticles dose‐dependently increase gene expression for TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IL‐8 at 24 h in MDM. C‐NP nanoparticles also stimulate the release of IL‐lβ, MCP‐1, TNF‐α, IL‐8, IL‐12p70, IL‐17, IL‐18, and IL‐23 from MDM. Overall, this is the first demonstration of a simplistic nanoformulation formed by hydrogen bonding between curdlan and PGA that modulates cytokine gene expression and release of cytokines from MDM.     

Versatile Iridicycle Catalysts for Highly Efficient and Chemoselective Transfer Hydrogenation of Carbonyl Compounds in Water

Cyclometalated iridium complexes are shown to be highly efficient and chemoselective catalysts for the transfer hydrogenation of a wide range of carbonyl groups with formic acid in water. Examples include α‐substituted ketones (α‐ether, α‐halo, α‐hydroxy, α‐amino, α‐nitrile or α‐ester), α‐keto esters, β‐keto esters and α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes. The reduction was carried out at substrate/catalyst ratios of up to 50 000 at pH 4.5 and required no organic solvent. The protocol provides a practical, easy and efficient way for the synthesis of β‐functionalised secondary alcohols, such as β‐hydroxyethers, β‐hydroxyamines and β‐hydroxyhalo compounds, which are valuable intermediates in pharmaceutical, fine chemical, perfume and agrochemical synthesis.     

Role of graphene in structural transformation of zirconium oxide

Fine powders of zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) were prepared using zirconium oxychloride by combustion method. The crystalline size of pure ZrO₂ was in range of 14–45 nm. Graphene was incorporated in ZrO₂ using graphene oxide as precursor and reducing it with hydrazine hydrate. X-Ray diffraction, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy methods were used to characterize the samples. The role of graphene in structural transformation of ZrO₂ to monoclinic phase was clearly observed.     

1, 3-azaphospholo[5, 1-b]thiazolines and benzothiazoles

The title compounds 3 and 7 are novel heterocyclic systems incorporating two-coordinate phosphorus. They are obtained in reasonable to good yields from the condensation of suitable 2-ethyl-3-alkylthiazolinium and -benzothiazolium bromides 2 and 6 with phosphorus trichloride in the presence of triethylamine in an aprotic solvent. Intermediate dichlorophosphino-substituted N-ylides can be observed or isolated in some cases. From a 2-methyl-3-alkylthiazolinium bromide ( 2a ), a 1-(dichlorophosphino) substituted 1, 3-azaphospholo[5,1-b]thiazoline ( 4 ) was obtained. The chemical shift of the two-coordinate phosphorus in 1,3-azaphosphole derivatives clearly reflects the influence of the heterocyclic system annulated to its 1,5-bond and of the substituents in its 2-and 4-positions.     

Studies on the interactions of polymer-anchored copper(II) complexes with tRNA

The binding interactions between tRNA and polyethyleneimine-anchored copper(II) complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridine ligands and varying degrees of coordination have been studied using physico-chemical techniques. In both sets of polyethyleneimine-anchored complexes, the complexes with higher degree of coordination bind more strongly to tRNA than those with lower degree of coordination. Binding to tRNA appears to be mainly electrostatic in nature.     

High-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for the determination of chlorpyrifos and its metabolite in visceral samples

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - In an attempt to determine chlorpyrifos insecticide and its metabolite 3,5,6-trichloropyridinol in visceral samples, a rapid...     

Synthesis of C–N nanotube blocks and Y-junctions in bamboo-like C–N nanotubes

We report the observations made on the synthesis and characterization of C–N nanotube blocks and Y-junctions in bamboo-like C–N nanotubes. The C–N nanotube Blocks have been synthesized by pyrolyzing the mixture of silver nitrate acetonitrile solution and ferrocene benzene solution. The structural/microstructural characterization of the as-synthesized material has been done using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis has been carried out to confirm the presence of nitrogen in nanotubes. These investigations reveal the formation of blocks of bamboo-like nanotubes having the dimension 300 × 200 × 30 μm and the diameter is 20–50 nm. We also observe the formation of Y-junctions in bamboo-like nanotubes as we spray the acetonitrile ferrocene and AgNO₃ mixture. The length of the synthesized Y-junction nanotube bundles is ~2 μm. Some more complex Ψ-shaped junctions are also found to be present. The diameters of the Y-junction nanotubes is ~80 nm at the junction and 25–50 nm at the branches.