Cytotoxic flavonoids from two Lonchocarpus species

A new isoflavone, 4′-prenyloxyvigvexin A (1) and a new pterocarpan, (6aR,11aR)-3,8-dimethoxybitucarpin B (2) were isolated from the leaves of Lonchocarpus bussei and the stem bark of Lonchocarpus eriocalyx, respectively. The extract of L. bussei also gave four known isoflavones, maximaisoflavone H, 7,2′-dimethoxy-3′,4′-methylenedioxyisoflavone, 6,7,3′-trimethoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyisoflavone, durmillone; a chalcone, 4-hydroxylonchocarpin; a geranylated phenylpropanol, colenemol; and two known pterocarpans, (6aR,11aR)-maackiain and (6aR,11aR)-edunol. (6aR,11aR)-Edunol was also isolated from the stem bark of L. eriocalyx. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was tested by resazurin assay using drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant cancer cell lines. Significant antiproliferative effects with IC₅₀ values below 10 μM were observed for the isoflavones 6,7,3′-trimethoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyisoflavone and durmillone against leukemia CCRF-CEM cells; for the chalcone, 4-hydroxylonchocarpin and durmillone against its resistant counterpart CEM/ADR5000 cells; as well as for durmillone against the resistant breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB231/BCRP cells and resistant gliobastoma U87MG.ΔEGFR cells.     

Optimization of process parameters and its effect on structure and morphology of CuO nanoparticle synthesized via the sol−gel technique

This article describes systematic basic research on the optimization of the processing parameters of sol?gel technique for synthesis of the high purity CuO nanoparticles. Effect of the synthesis parameters such as copper salt concentration, solvent and gelating agent, optimized one at a time, was investigated by employing XRD, TEM, FESEM, micro-Raman, UV-visible-NIR and PL spectroscopies. XRD results clearly demonstrate the monoclinic structure of CuO nanoparticles with traceable impurities at a lower molar concentration of Cu²⁺, transition of nucleation system from homogeneous to heterogeneous state with the increase in concentration of Cu²⁺ from 0.05 to 0.15?M. It was also found that the isopropyl alcohol offers better results in comparison to ethanol and water. Moreover, the lattice parameters, space group, and crystal system were determined by powder X-ray diffraction method. Further we propose the optimization of synthesis process using ethylene glycol and citric acid (EG:CA). The Raman analysis confirmed the influence of ethylene glycol and citric acid ratio and TEM observations confirmed that EG:CA 1:2 ratio formulate homogenous flower-like nanostructures. The optical absorption of CuO nanostructures can be easily tuned by varying the concentration of citric acid without changing other conditions; it shows the role of synthesis parameters more significant. Our results suggest that the prepared CuO nanostructures have a potential to be used as absorbing material in solar cell applications.

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PVP Assisted Shape-Controlled Synthesis of Self-Assembled 1D ZnO and 3D CuO Nanostructures

Self-assembled one-dimensional (1D) zinc oxide (ZnO) rods and three-dimensional (3D) cupric oxide (CuO) cubes like nanostructures with a mean crystallite size of approximately 33 and 32 nm were synthesized through chemical route in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) under mild synthesis conditions. The technique used for the synthesis of nanoparticles seems to be an efficient, inexpensive and easy method. X-Ray diffraction patterns confirmed well crystallinity and phase purity of the as prepared samples, followed by the compositional investigation using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The formation of ZnO nanorods and CuO nanocubes like structures were through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images. The mechanism and the formation factors of the self-assembly were discussed in detail. It was clearly observed from results that the concentration of precursors and PVP were important factors in the synthesis of self-assembly ZnO and CuO nanostructures. These self-assembly nanostructures maybe used as novel materials in various potential applications.     

Synthesis and characterization by MALDI-TOF MS of polycyclic siloxanes derived from p-substituted novolac resins by MALDI-TOF MS

Novel polycyclic siloxane resins were prepared from phenol-formaldehyde novolac type resins by reacting them with dialkyl or diaryl dichlorosilanes under anhydrous and high dilution conditions. The formation of polycyclic species was confirmed by the detection of absolute masses by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. ¹H- and ²⁹Si-NMR confirmed the substitutions of phenolic hydroxy groups by siloxane bonds. Curing studies were conducted on the polycyclic siloxane resins as well as on the polycyclic siloxane resins incorporated into two types of polysiloxane gums. A trace amount of potassium hydroxide was used as a catalyst for the crosslinking of these systems. The blend of polysiloxane with 30 wt % polycyclic siloxane was found to be stable at the curing temperature. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis techniques were used to study the thermal profiles of these systems. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. A Polym. Chem. 36: 2429–2437, 1998     

Effect of heat and time-period on the growth of ZnO nanorods by sol–gel technique

Sol–gel routes to metal oxide nanoparticles in organic solvents under exclusion of water have become a versatile alternative to aqueous methods. We focus on the preparation of well-aligned ZnO nanorod arrays using non-aqueous sol–gel synthesis route, where ZnO nanorods arrays have been grown on glass substrates. This work provides a systematic study of controlled morphology and crystallinity of ZnO nanorod arrays. The investigation demonstrates that the synthesis process conditions of ZnO thin film have strong influences on the morphology and crystallinity of the ZnO nanorod arrays grown thereon, where non-aqueous process offers the possibility of better understanding and controlling the reaction pathways on the molecular level, enabling the synthesis of nanomaterials with high crystallinity and well-defined, uniform particle morphologies. Here the annealing temperature plays an important role on the growth of nanostructures of the ZnO grains and nanorod arrays. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image shows that the growth of ZnO nanorod arrays are high-quality single crystals growing along the c-axis perpendicular to the substrates. A detailed analysis of the growth characteristics of ZnO nanostructures as functions of growth time is also reported.     

Exogenous Application of Green Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) to Improve the Germination,Physiochemical, and Yield Parameters of Wheat Plants under Salinity Stress

Agriculture is the backbone of every developing country. Among various crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) belongs to the family Poaceae and is the most important staple food crop of various countries. Different biotic (viruses, bacteria and fungi) and abiotic stresses (water logging, drought and salinity) adversely affect the qualitative and quantitative attributes of wheat. Among these stresses, salinity stress is a very important limiting factor affecting the morphological, physiological, biochemical attributes and grain yield of wheat. This research work was carried out to evaluate the influence of phytosynthesized TiO₂ NPs on the germination, physiochemical, and yield attributes of wheat varieties in response to salinity. TiO₂ NPs were synthesized using TiO₂ salt and a Buddleja asiatica plant extract as a reducing and capping agent. Various concentrations of TiO₂ nanoparticles (20, 40, 60 and 80 mg/L) and salt solutions (NaCl) (100 and 150 mM) were used. A total of 20 mg/L and 40 mg/L improve germination attributes, osmotic and water potential, carotenoid, total phenolic, and flavonoid content, soluble sugar and proteins, proline and amino acid content, superoxide dismutase activity, and reduce malondialdhehyde (MDA) content at both levels of salinity. These two concentrations also improved the yield attributes of wheat varieties at both salinity levels. The best results were observed at 40 mg/L of TiO₂ NPs at both salinity levels. However, the highest concentrations (60 and 80 mg/L) of TiO₂ NPs showed negative effects on germination, physiochemical and yield characteristics and causes stress in both wheat varieties under control irrigation conditions and salinity stress. Therefore, in conclusion, the findings of this research are that the foliar application of TiO₂ NPs can help to improve tolerance against salinity stress in plants.     

Combined parametric optimization of P3HT: PC70BM films for efficient bulk-heterojunction solar cells

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this report, the effects of photoactive blend compositions, film thicknesses, and annealing conditions on the P3HT:PC70BM solar cells performance and...     

Synthesis of Poly(Ether Sulfone)s End-Capped with Metal Containing Phthalocyanines

Abstract

A series of low molecular weight poly(aryl ether sulfone)s with metallophthalocyanine (PcM) end groups were synthesized by reacting o-phthalonitrile end-capped poly(aryl ether sulfone)s with excess phthalonitrile and metal salts/metals in high boiling solvents. The metals selected for this study were copper and iron. The polymers were soluble in common organic solvents. They were characterized by ¹H NMR, IR, GPC and UV-VIS spectroscopy. Appearance of an absorption band at around 700 nm confirmed the presence of phthalocyanine moieties in these polymers. The possibility of occurrence of any stacking phenomenon of the PcM rings was studied by annealing the polymers in a Thermo-Gravimetric/Differential Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA) instrument. An increase in T_g was observed for the PcM containing polymers perhaps indicating the aggregation of the terminal PC rings in the solid state.     

Facilitated kinetic transport of Cu(II) through a supported liquid membrane with calix[4]arene as a carrrier

In the present investigation, p-morpholinomethylcalix[4]arene (1) has been examined as a carrier in supported liquid membrane (SLM) for Cu(II) transport. The influence of different parameters, such as solvent, membrane dipping time, support membrane, co-anions, donor and acceptor pH, and carrier concentration on Cu(II) transport, was checked. The permeability values were calculated by using Danesi mass transfer model. Higher Cu(II) permeability was observed in diphenyl ether, with 1 h dipping time, Celgard 2500 and Cl^? as co-anion. The optimum pH for donor phase was 2 and that for acceptor phase was neutral at 10^?3 M carrier concentration. Diffusion coefficients were calculated using Reinhoudt's model, lag time measurements as well as by Wilke–Chang relation and compared. The transport was found to be diffusion-controlled in the membrane phase and the diffusion coefficient was calculated to be 1.54 × 10^?10 m/s whereas the extraction constant was calculated to be 1.19 × 10^?5 m/s.