Preparation of Chitosan Based Scaffolds Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

A novel chitosan-formaldehyde porous derivative (scaffolds) was prepared by reaction of 85% deacetylated chitosan with 37% aq. formaldehyde using supercritical carbon dioxide (sc. CO₂). Prior to reaction, the chitosan hydrogel was prepared in 1% aq. acetic acid (AcOH) and formaldehyde. The prepared hydrogel was subjected to solvent exchange. The identity of the Schiff base was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The chitosan-derivative was evaluated by thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and porosimetry analysis. Overall, the sc. CO₂ assisted chitosan derivative opens new perspectives as biomedical material.     

RP–LC Simultaneous Determination of Aconitine, Solanine and Piperine in an Ayurvedic Medicine

By optimizing the extraction, separation and analytical conditions, a reliable, rapid, simple and accurate liquid chromatography method with UV detection was developed for the simultaneous quantitative determination of aconitine, solanine and piperine in an ayurvedic preparation prepared from Aconitum ferox, Solanum indicum, Piper nigrum and Piper longum. The separation of these alkaloids was achieved on an reversed phase C-18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm ID, 5 μm particle size), with isocratic elution using a mixture of acetonitrile–potassium hydrogen phosphate buffer (10 mM, pH 7.5)–methanol (60:25:15, v/v) at a flow rate of 1 mL min^?1 with UV detection at 227 nm for aconitine and solanine while 343 nm for piperine. The calibration curves were linear with correlation coefficients of 0.9990, 0.9942, 0.9989 for solanine, piperine and aconitine, respectively. The % Relative standard deviation (%RSD) values were less than 2% in the concentration range of 10–100 μg mL^?1 for all the three alkaloids. Intra-day assay and inter-day assay precision of the analytes were less than 2%, and the average recovery rates obtained were in the range of 98–102% for all with %RSD below 2%. Quantitative analysis of the alkaloids in the laboratory and marketed formulations showed that the contents of the alkaloids varied significantly. This method can provide a scientific and technical platform to the product manufacturers for setting up a quality control standard as well as to the public for quality and safety assurance of the proprietary ayurvedic formulations.     

DSC studies on the curing kinetics of chitosan–alanine using glutaraldehyde as crosslinker

The curing of chitosan–alanine with glutaraldehyde as curing agent in the presence of Chlorpheniramine Maleate (CPM) is carried out with the help of differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The effect of concentration of chitosan and percentage of crosslinker on the curing is studied at a rate of 5 °C/min. Cure kinetics are measured from 30 to 200 °C at four different heating rates (3, 5, 7 and 10 °C/min). It is observed that the crosslinking of chitosan–alanine is an exothermic process which results in a positive peak in the curves. An increase in activation energy (E _α) is observed with extent of conversion.     

An efficient stereoselective dihydroxylation of glycals using a bimetallic system, RuCl3/CeCl3/NaIO4

A catalytic dihydroxylation reaction on glycals has been developed using a bimetallic oxidizing system to furnish sugar 1,2-diols in a highly stereoselective manner.     

Indole-based distinctive chemosensors for ‘naked-eye’ detection of CN and HSO4−, associated with hydrogen-bonded complex and their DFT study

Colorimetric detection of anions (HSO₄^? and CN^?) was achieved via analyte triggered colour changing of the dipodal and tripodal sensors in CH₃CN–H₂O (1:1). The sensors exhibited very sharp visual colour changes and fluorescence quenching–enhancing effect upon addition of the HSO₄^? and CN^?. The large downfield shift of the NH proton signals in ¹H-NMR complexation studies and quantum chemical DFT calculations proved the formation of hydrogen-bonded complexes where no proton transfer mechanism was found.     

Designs of all-optical NOR gates using SOA based MZI

The paper investigates the non-linear behavior of semiconductor optical amplifier with Mach–Zehnder interferometer (SOA-MZI) configuration which makes it to work as a logic gate. The two designs of NOR gate based on SOA-MZI have been verified. The basic principal of both designs are same. The summation of data pulses have been taken and inverted to perform a NOR operation. In the design, the first 3 dB coupler creates a phase difference of π/2 in clock pulse and data pulse while passing through two interferometer arms. The clock and data pulses pass through SOA which attenuates the clock pulse wherever the data pulse is present. After passing through second 3 dB coupler a phase difference of π/2 is again created. Therefore, if the clock pulse is in the same phase will be added and if it is out of phase, will be canceled. The designs have been investigated at different bit-rates to achieve higher extinction ratio (ER), Q-factor and bit-error rate (BER) for different pump currents of SOA.     

Design and performance analysis in multiuser optical CDMA systems

The article presents comparative performance analysis of the proposed Optical CDMA system for 32 and 16 users with two dimensional codes. Numerical simulations have been done under interference significant environment, considering noise and dark current at data rates 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 Gbps over single mode fiber for transmission distance of more than 270 km. Results illustrate overall good performance, degraded with augment in bit rate and transmission distance, impervious with raise in number of simultaneous active users. Depicts significant performance improvement with inclusion of forward error correction RS (255,239), for low attenuation and chirp factor. It perceived, this is one of the efficient functional techniques for next generation broadband optical networks together with higher security owing to encoding and decoding, as it allow multiple users in the network to access the same fiber channel asynchronously.     

Proximity Approach to Study the Fusion Barriers for Proton and Helium Induced Reactions

By using various proximity potentials, the fusion barrier heights and positions are calculated for proton and helium induced reactions with targets in the mass range 51≤ A ≤130 and 12≤ A ≤233, respectively. The calculated fusion barriers are parameterized by using the relations RB^Par = aX1 ＋ b and VB^Par = cX2, where X1 and X2 are A2^1/3 and Z1Z2/RB^Par, respectively. The values of the constants a, b and c are different for different versions of proximity potentials. We find that the parameterized forms derived by using Proximity 1977 yield values closer to the empirical data in proton as well as helium induced reactions and can be used further to estimate directly the barrier parameters for the fusion reactions of proton and helium with any target.     

Ionic liquid catalyzed synthesis of 7-phenyl-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine-2,5-diones

A simple, green and catalyst free one pot synthesis of 7-phenyl-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-thiazolo[5,4-d]pyrimidine-2,5-diones via a multicomponent reaction between thiazolidine-2, 4-dione (TZD), aromatic aldehyde and urea analogues is described. The ionic liquid has been used as a solvent as well as catalyst for this reaction. This reaction proceeded smoothly in good to excellent yields and offered several other advantages including short reaction time, simple experimental workup procedure and no by-products.     

A Chemodosimetric Probe Based on a Conjugated Oxidized Bis‐Indolyl System for Selective Naked‐Eye Sensing of Cyanide Ions in Water

A new bis‐indolyl‐based colorimetric probe has been synthesized. This allows a Michael‐type adduct formation for the detection of cyanide ions. The probe shows a remarkable color change from red to colorless upon addition of the cyanide ions in pure water. The cyanide ion reacts with the probe and removes the conjugation of the bis‐indolyl moiety of the probe with that of the 4‐substituted aromatic ring. This renders the probe colorless. The mechanism of the reaction of the probe with the cyanide ion was established by using ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and kinetic studies.