Improved efficacy of bio‐mineralization of human mesenchymal stem cells on modified PLLA nanofibers coated with bioactive materials via enhanced expression of integrin α2β1

Current therapeutic interventions in bone defects are mainly focused on finding the best bioactive materials for inducing bone regeneration via activating the related intracellular signaling pathways. Integrins are trans‐membrane receptors that facilitate cell‐extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions and activate signal transduction. To develop a suitable platform for supporting human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM‐MSCs) differentiation into bone tissue, electrospun poly L‐lactide (PLLA) nanofiber scaffolds were coated with nano‐hydroxyapatite (PLLA/nHa group), gelatin nanoparticles (PLLA/Gel group), and nHa/Gel nanoparticles (PLLA/nHa/Gel group) and their impacts on cell proliferation, expression of osteoblastic biomarkers, and bone differentiation were examined and compared. MTT data showed that proliferation of hBM‐MSCs on PLLA/nHa/Gel scaffolds was significantly higher than other groups (P < .05). Alkaline phosphatase activity was also more increased in hBM‐MSCs cultured under osteogenic media on PLLA/nHa/Gel scaffolds compared to others. Gene expression evaluation confirmed up‐regulation of integrin α2β1 as well as the osteogenic genes BGLAP, COL1A1, and RUNX2. Following use of integrin α2β1 blocker antibody, the protein level of integrin α2β1 in cells seeded on PLLA/nHa/Gel scaffolds was decreased compared to control, which confirmed that most of the integrin receptors were bound to gelatin molecules on scaffolds and could activate the integrin α2β1/ERK axis. Collectively, PLLA/nHa/Gel scaffold is a suitable platform for hBM‐MSCs adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation in less time via activating integrin α2β1/ERK axis, and thus it might be applicable in bone tissue engineering.     

Production of single-walled carbon nanotubes from methane over Co-Mo/MgO nanocatalyst:A comparative study of fixed and fluidized bed reactors

In this study,the performances of fixed and fluidized bed reactors in the production of single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWNTs)have been investigated.In both reactors,single-walled carbon nanotubes were grown by catalytic chemical vapor decomposition(CCVD)of methane over Co-Mo/MgO nanocatalyst under two different operating conditions.The synthesized samples were characterized by TEM,TGA and Raman spectroscopy.It is found that the performance of a fluidized bed in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes is much better than that of a fixed bed.The quality of carbon nanotubes obtained from the fluidized bed was significantly higher than that from the fixed bed and the former one with the ID/IG ratio of 0.11 while the latter one with the ID/IG ratio of 0.71.Also,the yield of SWNTs in the fluidized bed was 92 wt%,while it was 78 wt%in the fixed bed.These advantages of fluidized bed reactors for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes can be attributed to more available space for the growth of carbon nanotubes and more uniform temperature and concentration profiles.     

Multiple hydrogen bondings in a platinum complex

An unprecedented example of a platinum(II) complex with simultaneous formation of intermolecular NH···I-Pt and CH···I-Pt H-bondings (with neighboring platinum center) and an intramolecular CH···Pt hydrogen bonding in solid state is described. There are indications showing that the complex in solution probably forms a different kind of H-bonding type interaction.     

Synthesis of Novel 2‐Oxoquinoline Derivatives via Ugi‐Four‐Component‐Heck Reaction

The present study provides an efficient strategy for the preparation of novel N‐substituted‐4‐methyl‐quinolin‐1(2H)‐one derivatives via two‐step Ugi/Heck reaction. The procedure is based on the Ugi coupling between 2‐bromoanilines, various aromatic aldehydes, vinylacetic acid, and isocyanides, and then intramolecular Heck reaction, which leads to the formation of the title compounds in good yields.     

Spiro[4H‐pyran‐3,3′‐oxindoles] Derived from 1,2,3,4‐Tetrahydroquinoline

Three‐component reactions of 5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐pyrrolo[3,2,1‐ij]quinoline‐1,2‐dione with malononitrile, or ethyl cyanoacetate, and cyclic six‐membered or a five‐membered 1,3‐diketone, produce spiro[4H‐pyran‐3,3′‐oxindoles].     

Cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes containing monodentate phosphines: antiproliferative study

Reaction of cyclometalated platinum(II) precursor [Pt(C^N)Cl(dmso)], 1, C^N = N(1), C(2′)-chelated deprotonated 2-phenylpyridine and dmso = dimethylsulfoxide, with 1 equivalent of triphenyl phosphine, PPh₃, or 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane, PTA, gave the complex [Pt(C^N)Cl(PPh₃)], 2, or [Pt(C^N)Cl(PTA)], 3, respectively. On the basis of careful multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, supported by a number of 2D NMR experiments, structures of the complexes 2 and 3 in solution were determined to be neutral four coordinate. The X-ray crystallography indicated that the solid-state structure of complex 3 comprised a common square-planar geometry around platinum(II). Cytotoxicity of the complexes 2 and 3 was studied in three human cancer cell lines derived from ovarian carcinoma (CH1), lung carcinoma (A549), and colon carcinoma (SW480).     

Using graphene/TiO2 nanocomposite as a new route for preparation of electroconductive,self-cleaning,antibacterial and antifungal cotton fabric without toxicity

A novel and efficient process is reported for fabrication of electroconductive, self-cleaning, antibacterial and antifungal cellulose textiles using a graphene/titanium dioxide nanocomposite. Cotton fabric was loaded with graphene oxide using a simple dipping coating method. The graphene oxide-coated cotton fabrics were then immersed in TiCl₃ aqueous solution as both a reducing agent and a precursor to yield a fabric coated with graphene/titanium dioxide nanocomposite. The crystal phase, morphology, microstructure and other physicochemical properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV-Vis reflectance spectroscopy. Electrical resistance, self-cleaning performance, antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of treated fabrics were also assessed. The electrical conductivity of the graphene/titanium dioxide nanocomposite-coated fabrics was improved significantly by the presence of graphene on the surface of cotton fabrics. The self-cleaning efficiency of the treated fabrics was tested by degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution under UV and sunlight irradiations. The results indicated that the decomposition rates of methylene blue were improved by the addition of graphene to the TiO₂ treatment on fabrics. Moreover, the graphene/titanium dioxide nanocomposite-coated cotton samples had negligible toxicity and possessed excellent antimicrobial activity.     

First and second laws of thermodynamics analysis of nanofluid flow inside a heat exchanger duct with wavy walls and a porous insert

This paper investigates the combined effects of using nanofluid, a porous insert and corrugated walls on heat transfer, pressure drop and entropy generation inside a heat exchanger duct. A series of numerical simulations are conducted for a number of pertinent parameters. It is shown that the waviness of the wall destructively affects the heat transfer process at low wave amplitudes and that it can improve heat convection only after exceeding a certain amplitude. Further, the pressure drop in the duct is found to be strongly influenced by the wave amplitude in a highly non-uniform way. The results, also, show that the second law and heat transfer performances of the system improve considerably by thickening the porous insert and decreasing its permeability. Yet, this is associated with higher pressure drops. It is argued that the hydraulic, thermal and entropic behaviours of the system are closely related to the interactions between a vortex formation near the wavy walls and nanofluid flow through the porous insert. Viscous irreversibilities are shown to be dominant in the core region of duct where the porous insert is placed. However, in the regions closer to the wavy walls, thermal entropy generation is the main source of irreversibility. A number of design recommendations are made on the basis of the findings of this study.

     

Solvent effect on the adduct formation of methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) and pyridine: enthalpy and entropy contributions

1:1 adduct formation between methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) and pyridine in different solvents (n-hexane, benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane and acetone) was studied using spectrophotometric techniques. The formation constants were determined from the absorbance change of the adduct versus pyridine concentration. The values of the formation constants vary from 114.5 to 752.5 L mol(-1) at T= 20 degrees C depending on the dielectric constant of the solvent (epsilon(r) = 1.89-20.7). Enthalpy and entropy changes during the adduct formation reactions were determined from van't Hoff plots. The measured enthalpy change of -37.0 to -22.2 kJ mol(-1) depends on epsilon(r), which is explained by Onsager's reaction field theory. The measured entropy change ranges from -71.2 to -36.6 J K(-1) mol(-1), and the dependence on the solvent is discussed in terms of the solvation effect.