External electric field, hydrostatic pressure and conduction band non-parabolicity effects on the binding energy and the diamagnetic susceptibility of a hydrogenic impurity quantum dot

Electric field, hydrostatic pressure and conduction band non-parabolicity effects on the binding energies of the lower-lying states and the diamagnetic susceptibility of an on-center hydrogenic impurity confined in a typical GaAs/Al_xGa_1−xAs spherical quantum dot is theoretically investigated, by direct diagonalization of the Hamiltonian. To this end, the effect of band non-parabolicity has been performed, by means of the Luttinger-Kohn effective mass equation. Binding energies and diamagnetic susceptibility of the hydrogenic impurity are computed as a function of the dot size, external electric field strength and hydrostatic pressure, with considering the edge-band non-parabolicity. Results show that the external electric field and the hydrostatic pressure have an obvious influence on the binding energies and the diamagnetic susceptibility of the impurity.     

Preparation,characterization, and assessment of cytotoxicity,antioxidant, antibacterial,antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing properties of titanium nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam leaves

In recent decades, nanotechnology is growing rapidly owing to its widespread application in science and industry. The aim of the experiment was chemical characterization and evaluation of cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing activities of titanium nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam leaves (TiNPs@Ziziphora). These nanoparticles were characterized by fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–visible spectroscopy. The synthesized TiNPs@Ziziphora had great cell viability dose‐dependently (Investigating the effect of the plant on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) cell line) and revealed this method was nontoxic. Then, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging test was done to assess the antioxidant properties, which indicated similar antioxidant potentials for TiNPs@Ziziphora and butylated hydroxytoluene. Agar diffusion tests were applied to determine the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) were specified by macro‐broth dilution assay. The data were analyzed by SPSS 21 software (Duncan post‐hoc test). TiNPs@Ziziphora indicated higher antibacterial and antifungal effects than all standard antibiotics (p ≤ 0.01). Also, TiNPs@Ziziphora inhibited the growth of all bacteria at 2‐16 mg/ml concentrations and removed them at 2‐32 mg/ml concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). In case of antifungal properties of TiNPs@Ziziphora, they prevented the growth of all fungi at 2‐8 mg/ml concentrations and destroyed them at 2‐16 mg/ml concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). In vivo experiment, after creating the cutaneous wound, the rats were randomly divided into six groups: untreated control, treatment with Eucerin basal ointment, treatment with 3% tetracycline ointment, treatment with 0.2% TiO₂ ointment, treatment with 0.2% Z. clinopodioides ointment, and treatment with 0.2% TiNPs@Ziziphora ointment. These groups were treated for 10 days. For histopathological and biochemical analysis of the healing trend, a 3 × 3 cm section was prepared from all dermal thicknesses at day 10. Use of TiNPs@Ziziphora ointment in the treatment groups substantially reduced (p ≤ 0.01) the wound area, total cells, neutrophil, and lymphocyte and remarkably raised (p ≤ 0.01) the wound contracture, hydroxyl proline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid, fibrocyte, and fibrocytes/fibroblast rate compared to other groups. In conclusion, the results revealed the useful non‐cytotoxic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing effects of TiNPs@Ziziphora.     

Green synthesis and chemical characterization of silver nanoparticles obtained using Allium saralicum aqueous extract and survey of in vitro antioxidant,cytotoxic, antibacterial and antifungal properties

Allium saralicum R.M. Fritsch has been used in Iranian traditional medicine as a remedial supplement for microbial diseases. This paper reports the green synthesis, chemical characterization and antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial and antifungal properties of silver nanoparticles obtained using aqueous extract of A. saralicum leaves. In this synthesis, no surfactants or stabilizers were used. For characterization, UV–visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy were used. 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl was used in experiments to assess the antioxidant potential of the silver nanoparticles, which revealed an impressive prevention in comparison with butylated hydroxytoluene. The synthesized silver nanoparticles at low doses (1–250 μg dl^?1) did not show marked cytotoxic activity (against cervical cancer cells (Hela), breast cancer cells (MCF‐7) and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK‐293)). Agar diffusion tests were applied to determine the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. Compared with all standard antimicrobials, the silver nanoparticles showed higher antibacterial and antifungal activities (p ≤ 0.01). Also, the silver nanoparticles inhibited the growth of all bacteria and fungi at concentrations of 31–250 μg ml^?1, and destroyed them at concentrations of 31–500 μg ml^?1 (p ≤ 0.01). Because the silver nanoparticles obtained using aqueous extract of A. saralicum leaves have antioxidant, non‐cytotoxic, antifungal and antibacterial potentials, they can be used as a medical supplement or drug.     

Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using Allium noeanum Reut. ex Regel leaves aqueous extract; characterization and analysis of their cytotoxicity,antioxidant, and antibacterial properties

Gold nanoparticles have unique and excellent medical and nonmedical properties and application compared with other metallic nanoparticles. Recently, they have been used for the prevention, control, and treatment of bacterial and fungal diseases. In the recent study, fresh and clean leaves of Allium noeanum Reut. ex Regel leaves have been used for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles. Also, we evaluated the cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of HAuCl₄, A. noeanum, and the synthesized nanoparticles (Au NPs). These nanoparticles were analyzed by FT‐IR, UV, XRD, EDS, FE‐SEM, and TEM tests. FTIR results offered antioxidant compounds in the plant were the sources of reducing power, reducing gold ions to Au NPs. In TEM images revealed an average diameter of 10‐30 nm. At the beginning of biological experiments, DPPH free radical scavenging test was carried out to examine the antioxidant property. Also, in the bacterial part of this study, the concentration of HAuCl₄, A. noeanum, and AuNPs with minimum dilution and no turbidity was considered MIC. To determine MBC, 60 μL of MIC and three preceding chambers were cultured on Muller Hinton Agar. The minimum concentration with no bacterial growth was considered MBC. Au NPs revealed excellent antioxidant potential against DPPH, non‐toxicity property against human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and antibacterial activities against Streptococcus pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella flexneri, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. These findings show that the inclusion of A. noeanum extract improves the solubility of Au NPs, which led to a notable enhancement in the antioxidant and antibacterial effects.     

Synthesis of mesoporous functional hematite nanofibrous photoanodes by electrospinning

Iron(III) oxide (hematite, Fe₂O₃) nanofibers, as visible light‐induced photoanode for water oxidation reaction of a water splitting process, were fabricated through electrospinning method followed by calcination treatment. The prepared samples were characterized with scanning electron microscopy, and three‐electrode galvanostat/potentiostat for evaluating their photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties. The diameter of the as‐spun fibers is about 300 nm, and calcinated fibers have diameter less than 110 nm with mesoporous structure. Optimized multilayered electrospun α‐Fe₂O₃ nanostructure mats showed photocurrent density of 0.53 mA/cm² under dark and visible illumination conditions at voltage 1.23 V and constant intensity (900 mW/cm²). This photovoltaic performance of nanostructure mats makes it suitable choice for using in the PEC water splitting application as an efficient photoanode. This method, if combined with appropriate flexible conductive substrate, has the potential for producing flexible hematite solar fuel generators. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Mechanism for reduction catalysis by metal oxo: hydrosilation of organic carbonyl groups catalyzed by a rhenium(V) oxo complex

The rhenium oxo complex [Re(O)(hoz)2][TFPB], 1 (where hoz = 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxazoline(-) and TFPB = tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate) catalyzes the hydrosilation of aldehydes and ketones under ambient temperature and atmosphere. The major organic product is the protected alcohol as silyl ether. Isolated yields range from 86 to 57%. The reaction requires low catalyst loading (0.1 mol %) and proceeds smoothly in CH2Cl2 as well as neat without solvent. In the latter condition, the catalyst precipitates at the end of reaction, allowing easy separation and catalyst recycling. Re(O)(hoz)(H), 3, was prepared, and its involvement in an ionic hydrosilation mechanism was evaluated. Complex 3 was found to be less hydridic than Et3SiH, refuting its participation in catalysis. A viable mechanism that is consistent with experimental findings, rate measurements, and kinetic isotope effects (Et3SiH/Et3SiD = 1.3 and benzaldehyde-H/benzaldehyde-D = 1.0) is proposed. Organosilane is activated via eta2-coordination to rhenium, and the organic carbonyl adds across the coordinated Si-H bond [2 + 2] to afford the organic reduction product.     

Second-order calibration of excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectra for determination of glutathione in human plasma

A rapid non-separative spectroflourimetric method based on the second-order calibration of the excitation-emission data matrix was proposed for the determination of glutathione (GSH) in human plasma. In the phosphate buffer solution of pH 8.0 GSH reacts with ortho-phthaldehyde (OPA) to yield a fluorescent adduct with maximum fluorescence intensity at about 420 nm. To handle the interfering effects of the OPA adducts with aminothiols other than GSH in plasma as well as intrinsic fluorescence of human plasma, parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis as an efficient three-way calibration method was employed. In addition, to model the indirect interfering effect of the plasma matrix, PARAFAC was coupled with standard addition method. The two-component PARAFAC modeling of the excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectra accurately resolved the excitation and emission spectra of GSH, plasma (or plasma constituents). The concentration-related PARAFAC score of GSH represented a linear correlation with the concentration of added GSH, similar to that is obtained in simple standard addition method. Using this standard addition curve, the GSH level in plasma was found to be 6.10 ± 1.37 μmol L⁻¹. The accuracy of the method was investigated by analysis of the plasma samples spiked with 1.0 μmol L⁻¹ of GSH and a recovery of 97.5% was obtained.     

Using a new solvation model for thermodynamic study on the interaction of nickel with human growth hormone

Thermodynamics of the interaction between Ni²⁺ and human growth hormone (hGH) were determined at 27 °C in Nail solution by isothermal titration calorimetry. A new method to predict protein penetration and the effect of metal ions on the stability of proteins is introduced. The new solvation model was used to reproduce the enthalpies of Ni²⁺-hGH interaction over the whole range of Ni²⁺ concentrations. The solvation parameters recovered from the new equation, attributed to the structural change of hGH and its biological activity.     

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Anthemis altissima L. var. altissima

The essential oil obtained from the flowering parts of Anthemis altissima L. var. altissima was analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. In this study, 34 compounds representing 98.76% of the essential oil were identified. The main components were α-terpineol (26.42%), β-pinene (9.23%), cis-chrysanthenyl acetate (6.30%), globulol (5.36%), n-tricosane (4.41%), terpinen-4-ol (4.08%) and 1,8 cineole (3.84%). Antibacterial activities of the essential oil and its two major components (α-terpineol and β-pinene) were determined using microdilution method against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria. The essential oil showed a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (MICs ranged from 3.13 to 6.25?μL?mL(-1)). It was found that α-terpineol with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the range 0.87-1.56?μL?mL(-1) was a more potent antibacterial agent than β-pinene with MIC values of the range 1.56-6.25?μL?mL(-1). All of them, the essential oil, β-pinene and α-terpineol, were more effective against Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative ones.