Monosaccharide-Directed Selective Internalization of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles in Hepatic Cancer Cells

The therapeutic success of nanomedicines requires nanomaterials to either adhere to the surface or internalize within the cytoplasm. The endocytosis phenomenon is controlled by the nanomaterial's shape, size, composition, charge, and capping molecules. The membrane potential-based non-specific internalization of therapeutic nanomedicines offers limited benefits than receptor-based specific delivery. Glut receptor-based internalization of glucose molecules is a well-known process in cancerous cells, which is one of the most exploited strategies to target cancer cells using nanoparticles. However, the internalization process of other structurally similar monosaccharides (D-Galactose, Mannose, and D-Fructose) conjugated nanoparticles remains to be unexplored. Herein, D-Glucose, D-Galactose, Mannose, and D-Fructose-coated AuNPs and AgNPs have been synthesized and studied the role of Glut receptors in their internalization in liver cancer cells, and compared them with non-cancerous cells. Results revealed that almost all monosaccharide-coated NPs exhibited high uptake in liver cancer cells than non-cancerous cells. Glut-1 receptor is observed to play a key role in the uptake and inhibition of Glut-1 receptors by genistein lead to a significant decrease in nanoparticle uptake. In conclusion, monosaccharide-conjugated nanoparticles can be used to direct the selective internalization of AuNPs and AgNPs in hepatic cancer cells to realize therapeutic and imaging applications.     

Ion recognition by 1,2,3-triazole moieties synthesized via “click chemistry”

1,2,3-Triazole-based ligands obtained through copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) have been exploited in vast array of research domains owing to the stitching of simpler molecules through a needle of Cu(I) catalyst. The numerous reports on ion(s) detection capabilities of synthesized 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole ligands using absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy are accessible. This review enlists substituted 1,2,3-triazole-based sensor probes, since 2010, synthesized selectively by CuAAC, having the ability to sense either a single ion or multiple ions under specific set of conditions along with their detection limits. The review also apprehends the different techniques and sensing mechanisms involved in the detection of ions by chemosensor probes.     

Nafion-multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Supported Tris(bipyridyl)iron(II) for Nicotine Detection

This work reports an electrochemical sensing framework for nicotine determination based on glassy carbon electrode (GC) immobilized with Fe(bpy)₃²⁺ (where bpy is 2,2’-bipyridyl) supported by Nafion and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Nf-MWCNTs). Fe(bpy)₃²⁺ immobilized Nf-MWCNTs modified GC (GC/Nf-MWCNTs/Fe(bpy)₃²⁺) manifests stable redox peaks, characteristics of Fe(bpy)₃²⁺. The GC/Nf-MWCNTs/Fe(bpy)₃²⁺ exhibits effective electrochemical oxidation of nicotine, diminishing the overpotential relative to GC/Nf-MWCNTs. The limit of detection is 0.1 μM (experimentally observed) with two different linear calibration ranges between 0.1 to 600 μM and 600 to 3000 μM. Electrocatalytic responses observed at GC/Nf-MWCNTs/Fe(bpy)₃²⁺ indicate superior performance for nicotine determination with acceptable selectivity, stability, and reproducibility. Additionally, the nicotine present in real samples such as beedi and tobacco are also analyzed with satisfactory recovery percentages.     

Time series model for GLWB with surrender benefit and stochastic interest rate: Dynamic withdrawal approach

This study investigates the pricing problem of a variable annuity (VA) contract embedded with a guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit (GLWB) rider. VAs are annuities in which the value is linked to a bond and equity sub-account fund. The guaranteed lifetime withdrawal benefit rider regularly provides a series of payments to the policyholder for the term of the policy while he/she is alive, regardless of portfolio performance. At the time of the policyholder's death, the remaining fund value is given to his nominee. Therefore, proper fund modeling is critical in the pricing of VA products. Several writers in the literature used a GBM model in which variance is considered to be constant to represent the fund value in a variable annuity contract. However, on the other hand, the returns on financial assets are non-normally distributed in real life. A bit much Kurtosis, leverage effect, and Non-zero Skewness characterize the returns. The generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic (GARCH) models are also used for presenting a discrete framework for the pricing of GLWB. Still, the interest rate was kept constant without including the surrender benefit and the static withdrawal approach, which keeps the model far from the real scenario. Thus, in this research, the generalized GARCH models are used with surrender benefit and dynamic withdrawal strategy to develop a time series model for the pricing of annuity that overcomes the constraints of previous models. A numerical illustration and sensitivity analysis are used to examine the suggested model.     

Poly(vinyl alcohol)-α-chitin composites reinforced by oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber-derived nanocellulose

Poly(vinyl alcohol)-α-chitin composite films reinforced by oil palm empty fruit bunch fiber-derived nanocellulose were prepared by casting technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed partial miscibility between chitin and poly(vinyl alcohol) through hydrogen bonding, as supported by differential scanning calorimetry and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Tensile strength of the poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitin films increased with α-chitin content varied from 10 to 30?wt%, which was from 29.06 to 39.27?MPa. With the addition of 1?wt% nanocellulose, a maximum improvement of 57.64 and 50.66% in terms of tensile strength and Young’s modulus was achieved, respectively.     

Phase transitions,ferroelectric behavior and second-order nonlinear optics of a new mixed sodium dihydrogen phosphate–arsenate

Aiming at the development of new proton conducting solids, recent studies of the NaH₂PO₄·H₂O–NaH₂AsO₄·H₂O system have lead to the synthesis of a new compound NaH₂(PO₄)_0.48(AsO₄)_0.52·H₂O (NDAP). Calorimetric studies have confirmed the presence of four reversible phase transitions (abbreviated by PhT), at 257/270 (PhT, IV), 261/290 (PhT, III), 267/301 (PhT, II) and 317/317.5 K (PhT, I) (for cooling/heating processes, respectively). It is shown that the III and IV phase transitions are of a first order type, with a “order-disorder and displacive” character, accompanied by specific dielectric anomalies. The behavior of the dielectric constant ε′_r and of tan δ shows that, at 272 K, the (PhT, IV) could be ferroelectric–paraelectric. As for the (PhT, III) at 296 K, it leads to a superionic–protonic phase; a jump in the conductivity is associated to this transition with an unusual high value of conductivity 1.07×10^?4 Ω^?1 cm^?1 and a low activation energy 0.39 eV (Kh. Jarraya et al.). Quandratic nonlinear (NLO) properties of NDAP powder was confirmed efficiency of the grown crystal by the Kurtz and Perry second harmonic generation (SHG) technique.     

Friccohenics of Continuum and Non‐Continuum Models for Liquid Flow Applied for Heteromolecular Interaction of DNA Bases and Sugars Estimated with Mansingh Equation

Newtonian and non‐Newtonian liquids widely characterize continuum and non‐continuum models for flows, thus, viscous (continuum) and drop wise (non‐continuum) flows of water and aqueous nucleotides (2‐deoxy adenosine‐DOA, thymidine‐TMD) and nucleosides (guanosine monophosphate‐GMP, adenosine triphosphate‐ATP) with integral unites‐2‐deoxy ribose‐DOR (referred as DNA bases and sugars) have been studied with Survismeter. Time data for viscous (t and drop wise (dt) flows along with drop counts (n) for aqueous solutions of 0.4–1.4 millimol (mm) DNA base and sugars with survismetere at 288.15, 293.15, and 298.15 K are measured for viscosities and surface tension, respectively. The t and n are fitted in Mansingh equation for Friccohesity (σ) calculation that determines dipole moment (µ). The t, dt, and n data are measured for water from 15 to 70°C at an interval of 5°C for standard equation for dipole moment calculation. The t, dt and n values decrease with temperature where the σ is directly proportional to μ values with slight increase with compositions and decreases with temperatures. A continuous decrease in μ values with compositions is noted with slightly higher decrease at 288.15 with both millimol and temperature. The higher decrease with temperatures weakens Coulombic forces ((q₁ · q₂)/r², with charges q₁ and q₂, and radii r)) where σ increase.     

Heck cross-coupling of vinyl heteroaromatic compounds with aryl and heteroaryl halides using Pd(II) complex under phosphine-free conditions

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of vinyl heteroaromatic compounds with aryl bromides and heteroaryl bromides is described using air and moisture stable N,N′,N″,O-tetrafunctional Pd catalyst under phosphine-free conditions. As a result a variety of trans-1,2-disubstituted vinyl heterocycles were obtained in high to good yields.     

Synthetic, structural and biological studies of organotin(IV) complexes of schiff bases derived from pyrrol-2-carboxaldehyde

Some new organotin(IV) complexes having general formulae R₂MCl[L] and R₂M[L]₂ were synthesized by the reactions of Me₂MCl₂ with Schiff bases [5-Mercapto-4-(pyrrolcarboxalideneamino)-s-triazole, 5-Mercapto-3-methyl-4-(2-pyrrolcarboxalideneamino)- s-triazole, 3-Ethyl-5-mercapto-4-(2-pyrrolcarboxalideneamino)-s-triazole] in 1:1 and 1:2 molar ratios. All of the compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, UV, ¹H, ¹³C and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectral studies. The IR and ¹H NMR spectral data suggest the involvement of azomethine nitrogen in coordination with the central metal atom. With the help of the above-mentioned spectral studies, penta and hexacoordinated environments around the central metal atoms in the 1:1 and 1:2 complexes, respectively, have been proposed. Finally, the free ligands and their metal complexes were tested in vitro against some pathogenic bacteria and fungi to assess their antimicrobial properties.