Development of Poly(urethane esteramide) Coatings from Pongamia glabra Oil as Anticorrosive Applications

In this study, ethylene glycol polyesteramide (Eg-PEA) was synthesized from N,N-bis (2-hydroxy ethyl) pongamia oil fatty amide and ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) through condensation polymerization. It was further modified by toluene 2,4-diisocynate in different wt.% (20, 25, 30, and 35) to obtain urethane-modified polyesteramide (Eg-UPEA). The synthesized resins were characterized using FT-IR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic techniques, and molecular weight was determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Physico-chemical and physico-mechanical analyses were carried out by standard laboratory methods. Thermal studies of Eg-UPEA were undertaken by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. To evaluate corrosion prevention performance Eg-UPEA-coated mild steel strips were investigated by potentiodynamic polarization in different corrosive media (5 wt.% NaCl, 3 wt.% HCL, 2.5 wt.% NaOH, and tap water) at room temperature. Thermal analysis revealed that Eg-UPEA30 may find application as an environmentally friendly corrosion protective coating and may be safely used up to 250°C.     

Electrochemical approach for monitoring the effect of anti tubulin drugs on breast cancer cells based on silicon nanograss electrodes

One of the most interested molecular research in the field of cancer detection is the mechanism of drug effect on cancer cells. Translating molecular evidence into electrochemical profiles would open new opportunities in cancer research. In this manner, applying nanostructures with anomalous physical and chemical properties as well as biocompatibility would be a suitable choice for the cell based electrochemical sensing. Silicon based nanostructure are the most interested nanomaterials used in electrochemical biosensors because of their compatibility with electronic fabrication process and well engineering in size and electrical properties. Here we apply silicon nanograss (SiNG) probing electrodes produced by reactive ion etching (RIE) on silicon wafer to electrochemically diagnose the effect of anticancer drugs on breast tumor cells. Paclitaxel (PTX) and mebendazole (MBZ) drugs have been used as polymerizing and depolymerizing agents of microtubules. PTX would perturb the anodic/cathodic responses of the cell-covered biosensor by binding phosphate groups to deformed proteins due to extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK^1/2) pathway. MBZ induces accumulation of Cytochrome C in cytoplasm. Reduction of the mentioned agents in cytosol would change the ionic state of the cells monitored by silicon nanograss working electrodes (SiNGWEs). By extending the contacts with cancer cells, SiNGWEs can detect minor signal transduction and bio recognition events, resulting in precise biosensing. Effects of MBZ and PTX drugs, (with the concentrations of 2 nM and 0.1 nM, respectively) on electrochemical activity of MCF-7 cells are successfully recorded which are corroborated by confocal and flow cytometry assays.     

Pentafluorophenylammonium triflate (PFPAT): An efficient, metal-free and reusable catalyst for the von Pechmann reaction

Pentafluorophenylammonium triflate (PFPAT) is used as an efficient catalyst in the von Pechmann condensation of phenols with β-ketoesters leading to the formation of coumarin derivatives. Short reaction times, easy and quick isolation of the products, excellent chemoselectivity, excellent yields and ease of catalyst recovery with consistent activity makes this protocol efficient and environmentally benign.     

Nanopositioning control of an electrostatic MEMS actuator: adaptive terminal sliding mode control approach

Nonlinear Dynamics - This research proposes an adaptive terminal sliding mode control strategy dedicated to motion tracking control of an electrostatic-actuated nanopositioning system. The...     

Evaluation of Gaussian hypergeometric series using Huff’s models of elliptic curves

The Ramanujan Journal - A Huff curve over a field K is an elliptic curve defined by the equation $$ax(y^2-1)=by(x^2-1)$$ where $$a,bin K$$ are such that $$a^2ne b^2$$ . In a similar fashion, a...