Effect of low intensity laser interaction with human skin fibroblast cells using fiber-optic nano-probes

Over the past forty years, many efforts have been devoted to study low power laser light interactions with biological systems. Some of the investigations were performed in-vitro, on bulk cell populations. Our present work was undertaken to apply specially engineered fiber-optic based nano-probes for the precise delivery of laser light on to a single cell and to observe production of low power laser light induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). A normal human skin fibroblast (NHF) cell line was utilized in this investigation and the cells were irradiated under two different schemes of exposure: (1) an entire NHF cell population within a Petri dish using a fan beam methodology, and (2) through the precise delivery of laser energy on to a single NHF cell using fiber-optic nano-probe. Photobiostimulative studies were conducted through variation of laser intensity, exposure time, and the energy dose of exposure. Laser irradiation induced enhancement in the rate of cell proliferation was observed to be dependent on laser exposure parameters and the method of laser delivery. The total energy dose (fluence) had a greater influence on the enhancement in the rate of cellular proliferation than compared to laser intensity. The enhancement in the growth rate was observed to have a finite life-time of several days after the initial laser exposure. Fluorescent life-time imaging of ROS was performed during the nano-based single cell exposure method. The kinetics of ROS generation was found to depend strongly on the laser fluence and not on the laser intensity.     

Synthesis,X-ray, 1H-NMR and DFT analysis of the phthalimide–hydrazone probes as selective anion sensor

Two simple phthalimide–hydrazone probes with nitro groups were synthesised and characterised by NMR, FT-IR, HR-MS and single crystal X-ray crystallography. The synthesised receptors were evaluated for application in anion sensing. The receptors displayed strong, sensitive and selective colouration in the presence of cyanide ions by forming a stable complex with cyanide ion. The use of variable nitro groups helped in the elucidation of the mechanism of the complex formation. The ¹H NMR spectroscopy was used to support the mechanism of the complex formation. DFT methods were used to understand the stability of the complex with respect to the reactant. The absorbance data were also compared with the TD-DFT calculated excitation parameters. The experimental results were found to correlate well with the theoretical data.     

Anti-leptospiral activities of an endemic plant Glyptopetalum calocarpum (Kurz.) Prain used as a medicinal plant by Nicobarese of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Leaves of an endemic plant Glyptopetalum calocarpum are used by Nicobarese tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India, to prepare traditional medicine for treating fever. In the present investigation, pharmacologically active compounds were isolated from this plant and their antimicrobial efficacy was evaluated against the leptospiral strains. The anti-leptospiral activity of six plant-derived compounds was determined by both microdilution and macrodilution methods. Two out of six compounds, namely lupenone and stigmasterol, showed anti-leptospiral activity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the two compounds tested against pathogenic leptospiral strains belonging to 10 serovars were in the range of 100–200 μg/mL. The range of minimum bactericidal concentrations was 400–800 μg/mL. Compounds lupenone, stigmasterol, lupeol, β-amyrin and β-amyrin acetate had negligible or no haemolytic activity, exhibiting IC₅₀ values of greater than 5 mg/mL. Further in vivo studies are needed to investigate the pharmacological and toxicological properties of G. calocarpum before it can be considered as a new anti-leptospiral agent.     

Advances in QSPR/QSTR models of ionic liquids for the design of greener solvents of the future

In order to protect the life of all creatures living in the environment, the toxicity arising from various hazardous chemicals must be controlled. This imposes a serious responsibility on different chemical, pharmaceutical, and other biological industries to produce less harmful chemicals. Among various international initiatives on harmful aspects of chemicals, the ‘Green Chemistry’ ideology appears to be one of the most highlighted concepts that focus on the use of eco-friendly chemicals. Ionic liquids are a comparatively new addition to the huge garrison of chemical compounds released from the industry. Extensive research on ionic liquids in the past decade has shown them to be highly useful chemicals with a good degree of thermal and chemical stability, appreciable task specificity and minimal environmental release resulting in a notion of ‘green chemical’. However, studies have also shown that ionic liquids are not intrinsically non-toxic agents and can pose severe degree of toxicity as well as the risk of bioaccumulation depending upon their structural components. Moreover, ionic liquids possess issues of waste generation during synthesis as well as separation problems. Predictive quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models constitute a rational opportunity to explore the structural attributes of ionic liquids towards various physicochemical and toxicological endpoints and thereby leading to the design of environmentally more benevolent analogues with higher process selectivity. Such studies on ionic liquids have been less extensive compared to other industrial chemicals. The present review attempts to summarize different QSAR studies performed on these chemicals and also highlights the safety, health and environmental issues along with the application specificity on the dogma of ‘green chemistry’.     

4,5-Pyrenocyanine--just another phthalocyanine? A STM and 2D WAXS study

Pyrene-fused tetraazaporphyrins were synthesized from pyrene-4,5-dicarbonitrile precursors using a recently reported procedure as the key step for the asymmetric substitution of pyrene. Metal-free, zinc- and lead-centered pyrenocyanines were obtained and their optical properties as well as their molecular assembly in the solution and bulk phases and at the liquid/solid interface were studied. The characteristic Q-band appears broadened, most likely owing to distortion of the molecule introduced by the steric demand of the angularly extended aromatic residue. The angular annulation does not bathochromically shift the Q-band as far as would have been expected for the linear case. Peripheral substitution with linear and branched alkoxy chains affords solubility of the compounds in organic solvents. The influence of the distinct steric demand of the substituents on aggregation was investigated for metal-centered pyrenocyanines by using temperature-dependent (1)H NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy. The self-assembly at the liquid/solid interface was studied using scanning tunneling microscopy. The alkoxy substituents facilitate the anchoring of these slightly non-planar molecules on the surface of graphite. Pyrenocyanine molecules form well-ordered 2D arrays in which the molecules are arranged in rows. The angular annulation of the pyrenocyanine residue leads to characteristic adsorption behavior at the liquid/solid interface, in which the molecules adsorb in two different adsorption geometries. The alkoxy side-chains give rise to a discotic columnar superstructure and induce distinct thermotropic behavior. Dependent on the steric demand of the branched chains and the central metal atom, the molecules are rotated with respect to each other to form helical organization.     

Global stability and bifurcation analysis of a delay induced prey-predator system with stage structure

This paper describes a delay induced prey–predator system with stage structure for prey. The dynamical characteristics of the system are rigorously studied using mathematical tools. The coexistence equilibria of the system is determined and the dynamic behavior of the system is investigated around coexistence equilibria. Sufficient conditions are derived for the global stability of the system. The optimal harvesting problem is formulated and solved in order to achieve the sustainability of the system, keeping the ecological balance, and maximize the monetary social benefit. Maturation time delay of prey is incorporated and the existence of Hopf bifurcation phenomenon is examined at the coexistence equilibria. It is shown that the time delay can cause a stable equilibrium to become unstable and even a switching of stabilities. Moreover, we use normal form method and center manifold theorem to examine the nature of the Hopf bifurcation. Finally, some numerical simulations are given to verify the analytical results, and the system is analyzed through graphical illustrations.     

A study of the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of microcrystalline cellulose particles prepared from cotton slivers using different acid concentrations

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) particles are mostly prepared by acid hydrolysis of various agro sources. Acid hydrolysis is usually carried out with high concentration (64 wt%) of sulfuric acid. Here, an attempt has been made to optimize lower acid concentrations which can effectively produce MCC particles. In this work, different concentrations of sulfuric acid (20, 30, 35, 40, 47 and 64 wt%) have been used to prepare MCC particles, which have been characterized by XRD, particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nanoindentation and thermogravimetric analysis. MCC prepared with 35 and 47% sulfuric acid (MCC 35 and MCC 47) had finest particle size and fibrils were produced in the range of 15–25 nm. MCC 20 showed wide particle size distribution, indicating low breakdown of the cellulose chains. The energy absorption behavior and mechanical properties of the MCC pellets were determined by nanoindentation test for the first time. MCC 35 pellets exhibited lowest modulus and hardness.     

Performance analysis of a double-pass solar air heater system with asymmetric channel flow passages

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - The present work seeks to address the forced convection heat transfer behaviour of a double-pass solar air heater system (DPSAHS) provided with...