Green and one‐pot surface coating of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles with natural amino acids and biocompatibility investigation

We report the synthesis of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (IONPs) coated with various natural amino acids (AAs) using a one‐pot reaction in an aqueous medium. Several AAs, which contained hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, were selected to study their effects on size, morphology and toxicity of IONPs. Functionalized IONPs were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopies. Furthermore, vibrating sample magnetometry analysis shows these nanoparticles have excellent magnetic properties. Cellular toxicity of IONPs was also investigated on HFF2 cell lines. The AA‐coated IONPs are non‐toxic and biocompatible. Natural AA‐coated IONPs show a potential for their development in in vitro and in vivo biomedical fields due to their non‐toxicity, good ζ‐potential and related small size and narrow size distribution.     

2‐hydroxyethylammonium formate ionic liquid grafted magnetic nanoparticle as a novel heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of substituted imidazoles

Catalytic one‐pot condensation of benzil, aldehyde and ammonium acetate have been successfully carried out using 2‐hydroxyethylammonium formate (HEAF) grafted on a magnetic nanoparticles as a new heterogeneous catalyst. The as‐prepared catalyst was characterized by FT‐IR, TEM, FESEM, VSM, TGA and XRD. This catalyst indicated significant advantages, such as excellent yields, shorter reaction time, reusability of the catalyst and easy workup process.     

Application of a dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction method for pre‐concentration and ultra‐trace determination of cadmium ions in water and biological samples

A method for the trace determination of cadmium ions in water, human urine and human blood serum samples using ultrasonic‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction (UA‐D‐μSPE) was developed. Silica‐coated magnetic nanoparticles were coated with polythiophene, and the resulting sorbent was characterized using thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X‐ray diffraction. Following UA‐D‐μSPE, cadmium ions were quantified using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. A Box–Behnken design was used for optimization of important sorption and desorption parameters in UA‐D‐μSPE: in the sorption step, pH of solution, sorption amount and sonication time for sorption; in the desorption step, concentration of eluent, volume of eluent and sonication time. The optimum conditions for the method were: pH of solution, 7.5; sonication time for sorption, 3 min; sorption amount, 35 mg; type and concentration of eluent, HCl and 1.1 mol l^?1; volume of eluent, 360 μl; sonication time for desorption, 110 s. Under the optimized conditions the limit of detection and relative standard deviation for the detection of cadmium ions by UA‐D‐μSPE were found to be 0.8 ng l^?1 and <6%, respectively.     

Tunable graphene-based mid-infrared band-pass planar filter and its application

We have designed and proposed the edge modes supported by graphene ribbons and the planar band-pass filter consisting of graphene ribbons coupled to a graphene ring resonator by using the finite-difference time-domain numerical method.Simulation results show that the edge modes improve the electromagnetic coupling between devices. This structure works as a novel, tunable mid-infrared band-pass filter. Our studies will benefit the fabrication of planar, ultra-compact nano-scale devices in the mid-infrared region. A power splitter consisting of two output ribbons that is useful in photonic integrated devices and circuits is also designed and simulated. These devices are useful for designing ultra-compact planar devices in photonic integrated circuits.     

Turbulent combined forced and natural convection of nanofluid in a 3D rectangular channel using two-phase model approach

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The nanofluid is a mixture of base fluid and solid nanoparticles in nanosize. The heat transfer generated by the nanofluid is more than the base fluid...     

Incorporation of silica nanoparticles and polyurethane into hybrid composites for increase of char residue

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Effect of different chain extenders, silica nanoparticle loading, and using sol–gel method on the thermal properties of polyurethane (PU) hybrid...     

Tricin isolated from Allium atroviolaceum potentiated the effect of docetaxel on PC3 cell proliferation: role of miR-21

For more effectiveness and overcoming the drug resistance Chemotherapy agents, the combination treatment is raised. Flavonoids with different anti-cancer effects are an appropriate choice as lead compounds. Over expressed MiR-21 in prostate cancer is associated with metastasis and drug resistance to chemotherapy with Docetaxel. In this study, the anticancer effect of 4′, 5, 7-Trihydroxy-3′, 5′-dimethoxyflavone (Tricin) was investigated with Docetaxel on PC3 cell line. Tricin was initially isolated from the Allium atroviolaceum by column chromatography and recrystallization method. The chemical structure of isolate was elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. IC₅₀ of Tricin and Docetaxel were assessed 117.5 ± 4.4 μM and 0.1 ± 0.02 nM by MTT assay, respectively. Analysis of results indicates the synergistic effect of combination therapy on decreased proliferation. MiR-21 in treated cells with Tricin significantly decreased compared to control cells. So, Tricin can be effective in the reduction of metastasis and drug resistance of Docetaxel.     

Preparation of bismuth sulfide nanoparticles as targeted biocompatible nano-radiosensitizer and carrier of methotrexate

In this study, Bi₂S₃@BSA–Bio–MTX nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized for the first time by bovine serum albumin (BSA)-mediated biomineralization (Bi₂S₃@BSA NPs) followed by covalent bonding of biotin (Bio) and methotrexate (MTX) on the surface of the Bi₂S₃@BSA NPs via carbodiimide chemistry. The synthesized NPs were globular and exhibited uniform morphology with a hydrodynamic diameter of 107.6 ± 6.81 nm (mean ± standard deviation) and zeta potential of −20.9 ± 2.18 mV. Drug release from Bi₂S₃@BSA–Bio–MTX NPs indicated an enzyme-dependent release pattern. The in vitro biocompatibility of NPs was confirmed by investigating their cytotoxicity against the HEK-293 cell line and hemolysis assay test, whereas the in vivo biocompatibility of the NPs was evaluated and confirmed by the lethal dose 50 (LD₅₀) test. To evaluate the in vitro anticancer activity of the functionalized NPs and MTX, their cytotoxic effects was assessed against 4T1 cancer cells by 5-dimethylthiazol-z-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay with and without X-ray radiation. Results showed that Bi₂S₃@BSA–Bio–MTX NPs have excellent anticancer activity, especially following X-ray radiation.     

Pd(0)-guanidine@MCM-41: a very effective catalyst for rapid production of bis (pyrazolyl)methanes

In this research, a rapid, green and efficient protocol for synthesis of bis (pyrazolyl)methane derivatives in the presence of Pd(0)-guanidine@MCM-41 catalysts under solvent-free conditions by the following two methods has been reported: (i) via the one-pot pseudo five-component reaction among phenylhydrazine (2 equivalents), ethyl acetoacetate (2 equivalents) and aromatic aldehydes (1 equivalent); and (ii) the one-pot pseudo three-component reaction between 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one (2 equivalents) and aromatic aldehydes (1 equivalent). Some advantages of this protocol include: green conditions, extremely short times, high efficiency, proper one-pot operation, generality of method, easy work-up and recyclability, and reusability of the catalyst up to five times without significant loss in catalytic activity.