Synthesis and characterization of chitosan–polyvinylpyrrolidone–bovine serum albumin-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as potential carrier for delivery of tamoxifen

The proposed study examined the preparation of chitosan (CS)–polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)–bovine serum albumin (BSA)-coated magnetic iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄–CS–PVP–BSA) to use as potential drug delivery carriers for delivery of tamoxifen drug (TAM) . The anticancer drug selected in this study was tamoxifen which can be used for the human breast cancer treatment. These prepared nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM, CD and VSM techniques. The swelling studies have been measured at different (10, 20, 30, 40, 50%) drug loading. The mean particle size of the tamoxifen-loaded nanoparticles system (Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM, Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM–PVP and Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM–PVP–BSA) as measured by Malvern Zetasizer ranged between 350 ± 2.3 and 601 ± 1.7 nm. As well as these drug-loaded nanoparticles were positively charged. The zeta potential was in the range of 28.9 ± 3.5 and 50.8 ± 3.9 mV. The encapsulation efficiency was between 63.60 ± 2.11 and 96.45 ± 2.12%. Furthermore, in vitro release and drug loading efficiency from the nanoparticles were investigated. The cytotoxicity of prepared nanoparticles was verified by MTT assay. In vitro release studies were executed in 4.0 and 7.4 pH media to simulate the intestinal and gastric conditions and different temperature (37 and 42 °C). Hence, the prepared tamoxifen-loaded nanoparticles system (Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM, Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM–PVP and Fe₃O₄–CS–TAM–PVP–BSA) could be a promising candidate in cancer therapy.     

Electroanalytical applications of cationic self-assembled monolayers: square-wave voltammetric determination of dopamine and ascorbate

Gold electrodes modified with cationic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 2,2'-dithiobisethaneamine (CYST) and 6,6'-dithiobishexaneamine (DTH) were used for the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA) and ascorbate (AA). The cationic SAM modified electrodes have several advantages over the bare electrode for the oxidation of AA. A very large (approximately 450 mV) decrease in the overpotential for the oxidation of AA when compared with the bare electrode has been observed at the cationic monolayer-modified electrode. The electrostatic interaction of negatively charged AA with the monolayer shift the oxidation peak potential of AA to less positive potential and enhances the peak current. On the other hand, the positively charged DA is repelled from the monolayer and the oxidation potential shifts to more positive potential when compared to the bare electrode. The electrochemical oxidation of AA at the mixed monolayer of CYST and diethyl disulfide (DEDS) supports the influence of cationic terminal group of the monolayer on the oxidation of AA. Since the oxidation of AA occurs well before the oxidation potential of DA is reached, the homogeneous catalytic oxidation of AA by the oxidized DA has been advantageously eliminated at the monolayer-modified electrode. The cationic self-assembled monolayers successfully detect DA in the presence of high concentration of AA. The sensitivity of the electrode modified with CYST monolayer was found to be 0.036 and 0.021 microA/microM towards AA and DA, respectively.     

Metal-free,PTSA catalyzed facile synthesis of β-ketoacetal from β-chlorocinnamaldehyde

A toluene solution of β-chlorocinnamaldehyde and dihydroxy alcohols in the catalytic presence of para-toluenesulphonic acid (PTSA) yield the β-ketoacetal in good to outstanding amount. The catalyst (PTSA), first selectively protect the aldehydic group to form the β-chloroacetal and the subsequent dechlorination by H₂O result the β-ketoacetal. Significant transformation was achieved with electron donating substituent attached at the para-position of cinnamaldehyde. The selective formation of β-keto-1,3-acetal was also obtained with a mixture of 1, 2- and 1, 3- diol. The present reaction consists of a metal-free, economical, robustly feasible, sizeable functional group tolerance and high yield properties. Moreover, the use of different dihydroxy alcohols made this process more benign and valuable towards the metal-free development of ketones. First, of its kind, a rare and unusual multitasking nature of PTSA is observed.     

La<Subscript>0.1</Subscript>Ca<Subscript>0.9</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> for oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORER) in alkaline electrolyte

Non-precious metal bifunctional catalysts are of great interest for metal–air batteries, electrolysis, and regenerative fuel cell systems due to their performance and cost benefits compared to the Pt group metals (PGM). In this work, metal oxides of La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and nano Co₃O₄₇ catalyst as bifunctional catalysts were used in oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORER). The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and N₂ adsorption isotherms. The electrocatalytic activity of the perovskite-type La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and Co₃O₄ catalysts both as single and mixtures of both were assessed in alkaline solutions at room temperature. Electrocatalyst activity, stability, and electrode kinetics were studied using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and rotating disk electrode (RDE). This study shows that the bifunctional performance of the mixed La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and nano Co₃O₄ was superior in comparison to either La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ or nano Co₃O₄ alone for ORER_. The improved activity is due to the synergistic effect between the La_0.1Ca_0.9MnO₃ and nano Co₃O₄ structural and surface properties. This work illustrates that hybridization between these two metal oxides results in the excellent bifunctional oxygen redox activity, stability, and cyclability, leading to a cost-effective application in energy conversion and storage, albeit to the cost of higher catalyst loadings.     

O‐Ethyl and O‐methyl N‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl)thiocarbamate

In both the title structures, O‐ethyl N‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐gluco­pyran­osyl)­thio­carbam­ate, C₁₇H₂₅NO₁₀S, and O‐methyl N‐(2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐gluco­pyran­osyl)­thiocar­bam­ate, C₁₆H₂₃NO₁₀S, the hexo­pyran­osyl ring adopts the ⁴C₁ conformation. All the ring substituents are in equatorial positions. The acetoxy­methyl group is in a gauche–gauche conformation. The S atom is in a synperi­planar conformation, while the C—N—C—O linkage is antiperiplanar. N—H?O intermolecular hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into infinite chains and these are connected by C—H?O interactions.     

10‐(4‐Fluorophenyl)‐3,3,6,6,9‐pentamethyl‐3,4,6,7,9,10‐hexahydroacridine‐1,8(2H,5H)‐dione and 10‐(4‐fluorophenyl)‐3,3,6,6‐tetramethyl‐9‐­propyl‐3,4,6,7,9,10‐hexahydroacridine‐1,8(2H,5H)‐dione

10‐(4‐Fluoro­phenyl)‐3,3,6,6,9‐penta­methyl‐3,4,6,7,9,10‐hexa­hydro­acridine‐1,8(2H,5H)‐dione, C₂₄H₂₈FNO₂, (I), crystallizes with two crystallographically independent mol­ecules (which differ slightly in conformation), while 10‐(4‐fluoro­phenyl)‐9‐propyl‐3,3,6,6‐tetra­methyl‐3,4,6,7,9,10‐hexa­hydro­acridine‐1,8(2H,5H)‐dione, C₂₆H₃₂FNO₂, (II), crystallizes with one mol­ecule per asymmetric unit. In both structures, the central ring in the acridine moiety is in a sofa conformation, while the outer rings adopt intermediate half‐chair/sofa conformations. The central pyridine ring is orthogonal to the substituted phenyl ring. In both structures, the packing of the crystal is stabilized by C—H?O intermolecular hydrogen bonds.     

Generation and trapping of non-aromatic cycloimines via diazotization/dediazotization of N-amino cyclic amines: theoretical and experimental results

Structural Chemistry - A theoretical investigation of the model diazotization/dediazotization of N-aminopiperidine and N-aminomorpholine at the DFT (B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) level indicated that the...     

Diffuse ultra-high energy neutrino fluxes and physics beyond the Standard Model

We study spectral distortions of diffuse ultra-high energy (UHE) neutrino flavour fluxes resulting due to physics beyond the Standard Model (SM). Even large spectral differences between flavours at the source are massaged into a common shape at earth by SM oscillations, thus, any significant observed spectral differences are an indicator of new physics present in the oscillation probability during propagation. Lorentz symmetry violation (LV) and neutrino decay are examples, and result in significant distortion of the fluxes and of the well-known bounds on them, which may allow UHE detectors to probe LV parameters, lifetimes and the mass hierarchy over a broad range.     

Michael addition of ethyl anthranilate and phenyl monothioanthranilate to acetylenic esters: experimental and theoretical results

Structural Chemistry - The reaction of ethyl anthranilate with DMAD and with methyl propiolate in dichloromethane in the presence of ethylaluminium dichloride as catalyst at room temperature gives...