Popcorn‐Shaped Magnetic Core–Plasmonic Shell Multifunctional Nanoparticles for the Targeted Magnetic Separation and Enrichment,Label‐Free SERS Imaging,and Photothermal Destruction of Multidrug‐Resistant Bacteria

Over the last few years, one of the most important and complex problems facing our society is treating infectious diseases caused by multidrug‐resistant bacteria (MDRB), by using current market‐existing antibiotics. Driven by this need, we report for the first time the development of the multifunctional popcorn‐shaped iron magnetic core–gold plasmonic shell nanotechnology‐driven approach for targeted magnetic separation and enrichment, label‐free surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection, and the selective photothermal destruction of MDR Salmonella DT104. Due to the presence of the “lightning‐rod effect”, the core–shell popcorn‐shaped gold‐nanoparticle tips provided a huge field of SERS enhancement. The experimental data show that the M3038 antibody‐conjugated nanoparticles can be used for targeted separation and SERS imaging of MDR Salmonella DT104. A targeted photothermal‐lysis experiment, by using 670 nm light at 1.5 W cm^?2 for 10 min, results in selective and irreparable cellular‐damage to MDR Salmonella. We discuss the possible mechanism and operating principle for the targeted separation, label‐free SERS imaging, and photothermal destruction of MDRB by using the popcorn‐shaped magnetic/plasmonic nanotechnology.     

On the Power Function of the Likelihood Ratio Test for MANOVA

We prove that the power function of the likelihood ratio test for MANOVA attains its minimum when the rank of the location parameter matrix Θ decreases from s to 1. This provides a theoretical justification of a result that is known in the literature based only on numerical studies.     

Self-assembled reverse micelles in supercritical CO2 entrap protein in native state

Molecular dynamics simulations of random quaternary mixtures of protein-water-CO2-fluorosurfactants show the self-assembly of reverse micelles in supercritical carbon dioxide where the protein becomes entrapped inside the aqueous pool. Analyses show that the protein native state remains intact in the water pool. This is because of the bulk nature of the enclosed water that provides a suitable environment for the extracted protein. Results from ab initio calculations imply that the existing fluorosurfactants can be made more effective in stabilizing water-in-CO2 microemulsions by a partial hydrogenation in their tails. A Lewis acid-Lewis base interaction among CO2 and the surfactant tails enhances the stability of the aqueous droplets substantially. The study can help accelerate the search for surfactant process for environmentally benign applications in dense CO2.     

How strongly can calcium ion influence the hydrogen-bond dynamics at complex aqueous interfaces?

The author has performed three independent molecular dynamics computer simulations to examine the effects of counterion identity on hydrogen-bond dynamics in the enclosed water pool of anionic surfactant-based reverse micelles. The water-water hydrogen-bond lifetime in the reverse micelle (RM) with calcium ions is found to be longer than that in the RM with sodium or ammonium ions. The hydrogen bond between a polar head group and a water molecule, on the other hand, breaks but reforms most rapidly in the RM with calcium ions, indicating that there exists a strong competition between head group-counterion and head group-water interactions at such complex interfaces.     

Carbophosphazene-supported ligand systems containing pyrazole/guanidine coordinating groups

Carbophosphazene-based coordination ligands [{NC(NMe(2))}(2){NP(3,5-Me(2)Pz)(2)}] (1), [{NC(NEt)(2)}{NC(3,5-Me(2)Pz)}{NP(3,5-Me(2)Pz)(2)}] (2), [NC(3,5-Me(2)Pz)](2)[NP(3,5-Me(2)Pz)(2)] (3), [{NCCl}(2){NP(NC(NMe(2))(2))(2)}] (4), and [{NC(p-OC(5)H(4)N)}(2){NP(NC(NMe(2))(2))(2)}] (5) were synthesized and structurally characterized. In these compounds, the six-membered C(2)N(3)P ring is perfectly planar. The reaction of 1 with CuCl(2) afforded [{NC(NMe(2))}(2){NHP(O)(3,5-Me(2)Pz)}·{Cu(3,5-Me(2)PzH)(2)(Cl)}][Cl] (6). The ligand binds to Cu(II) utilizing the geminal [P(O)(3,5-Me(2)Pz)] coordinating unit. Similarly, the reaction of 2 with PdCl(2) afforded, after a metal-assisted P-N hydrolysis, [{NC(NEt)(2)}{NC(3,5-Me(2)Pz)}{NP(O)(3,5-Me(2)Pz)}·{Pd(3,5-Me(2)PzH)(Cl)}] (7). In the latter, the [P(O)(3,5-Me(2)Pz)] unit does not coordinate; in this instance, the Pd(II) is bound by a ring nitrogen atom and a carbon-tethered pyrazolyl nitrogen atom. The reaction of 3 with PdCl(2) also results in P-N bond hydrolysis affording [{NC(3,5-Me(2)Pz)(2)}{NP(O)(3,5-Me(2)Pz)}{Pd(Cl)}] (8). In contrast to 7, however, in 8, the Pd(II) elicits a nongeminal η(3) coordination from the ligand involving two carbon-tethered pyrazolyl groups and a ring nitrogen atom. Metalated products could not be isolated in the reaction of 3 with K(2)PtCl(4). Instead, a P-O-P bridged carbodiphosphazane dimer, [{NC(3,5-Me(2)Pz)NHC(3,5-Me(2)Pz)}{NP(O)}](2) (9), was isolated as the major product. Finally, the reaction of 5 with PdCl(2) resulted in [{NC(OC(5)H(4)N)}(2){NP(NC(NMe(2))(2))(2)}·{PdCl(2)}] (10). In the latter, the exocyclic P-N bonds are quite robust and are involved in binding to the metal ion. Compounds 6-10 have been characterized by a variety of techniques including X-ray crystallography. In all of the compounds, the bond parameters of the inorganic heterocyclic rings are affected by metalation.     

Synthesis of highly fluorescent water-soluble silver nanoparticles for selective detection of Pb(ii) at the parts per quadrillion (PPQ) level

This communication reports for the first time the synthesis of water-soluble glutathione protected highly fluorescence (Φ = 0.18) silver nanoparticles for the selective and highly sensitive sensing of Pb(ii) at the parts per quadrillion (PPQ) level.     

Radical pathway in catecholase activity with zinc-based model complexes of compartmental ligands

Four dinuclear and three mononuclear Zn(II) complexes of phenol-based compartmental ligands (HL(1)-HL(7)) have been synthesized with the aim to investigate the viability of a radical pathway in catecholase activity. The complexes have been characterized by routine physicochemical studies as well as X-ray single-crystal structure analysis: [Zn(2)(H(2)L(1))(OH)(H(2)O)(NO(3))](NO(3))(3) (1), [Zn(2)L(2)Cl(3)] (2), [Zn(2)L(3)Cl(3)] (3), [Zn(2)(L(4))(2)(CH(3)COO)(2)] (4), [Zn(HL(5))Cl(2)] (5), [Zn(HL(6))Cl(2)] (6), and [Zn(HL(7))Cl(2)] (7) [L(1)-L(3) and L(5)-L(7) = 2,6-bis(R-iminomethyl)-4-methylphenolato, where R= N-ethylpiperazine for L(1), R = 2-(N-ethyl)pyridine for L(2), R = N-ethylpyrrolidine for L(3), R = N-methylbenzene for L(5), R = 2-(N-methyl)thiophene for L(6), R = 2-(N-ethyl)thiophene for L(7), and L(4) = 2-formyl-4-methyl-6-N-methylbenzene-iminomethyl-phenolato]. Catecholase-like activity of the complexes has been investigated in methanol medium by UV-vis spectrophotometric study using 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol as model substrate. All complexes are highly active in catalyzing the aerobic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone (3,5-DTBQ). Conversion of 3,5-DTBC to 3,5-DTBQ catalyzed by mononuclear complexes (5-7) is observed to proceed via formation of two enzyme-substrate adducts, ES1 and ES2, detected spectroscopically, a finding reported for the first time in any Zn(II) complex catalyzed oxidation of catechol. On the other hand, no such enzyme-substrate adduct has been identified, and 3,5-DTBC to 3,5-DTBQ conversion is observed to be catalyzed by the dinuclear complexes (1-4) very smoothly. EPR experiment suggests generation of radicals in the presence of 3,5-DTBC, and that finding has been strengthened by cyclic voltammetric study. Thus, it may be proposed that the radical pathway is probably responsible for conversion of 3,5-DTBC to 3,5-DTBQ promoted by complexes of redox-innocent Zn(II) ion. The ligand-centered radical generation has further been verified by density functional theory calculation.     

MHD non-Darcy mixed convective diffusion of species over a stretching sheet embedded in a porous medium with non-uniform heat source/sink, variable viscosity and Soret effect

The effects of temperature dependent viscosity and non-uniform heat source/sink on non-Darcy MHD mixed convection boundary layer flow over a vertical stretching sheet embedded in a fluid-saturated porous media is studied in this paper. Boundary layer equations are transformed into ordinary differential equations using self-similarity transformation which are then solved numerically using fifth-order Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method with shooting technique for various values of the governing parameters. The effects of variable viscosity, porosity, electric field parameter, non-uniform heat source/sink parameters, Soret number and Schmidt number on concentration profiles are analyzed and discussed. Favorable comparisons with previously published work on various special cases of the problem are obtained. Numerical results for variation of the local Sherwood number with buoyancy parameter, Schmidt number, and Soret number are reported graphically to show some interesting aspects of the physical parameters.     

Design of nickel chelates of tetradentate N-heterocyclic carbenes with subdued cytotoxicity

A series of nickel complexes, 1b-3b, exhibiting subdued cytotoxicity have been designed with the intent of their use as agents for developing resistance to nickel toxicity. Indeed, the nickel complexes, 1b-3b, display less cytotoxic activity towards two commonly occurring human cancer cell lines namely, HeLa cells (16-64%) and MCF-7 cells (70-90%) in culture as compared to the maximum inhibition by NiCl₂ · 6H₂O under analogous conditions at three different concentrations (1 μM, 5 μM and 20 μM). Similarly, the suppression of cytotoxicity through chelation of the metal ion can also be seen in normal cells as was evident from a significant reduction in cytotoxicity (9-41%) for a non-tumorigenic CHO cell line in case of a representative complex 3b. The reduction in carcinogenic activity in the complexes relative to nickel(II) ion from NiCl₂ · 6H₂O is brought about by successful chelation of the metal center by a class of specially designed new tetradentate N/O-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene ligands. The two strongly σ-donating carbene moieties coupled with two negatively charged amido moieties present in the N-heterocyclic carbene ligands facilitate complete chelation of the metal center and thereby significantly reduce the cytotoxic effects of the metal.