Antibacterial Mechanisms of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle against Bacterial Food Pathogens Resistant to Beta-Lactam Antibiotics

The increase in β-lactam-resistant Gram-negative bacteria is a severe recurrent problem in the food industry for both producers and consumers. The development of nanotechnology and nanomaterial applications has transformed many features in food science. The antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and their mechanism of action on β-lactam-resistant Gram-negative food pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis, are investigated in the present paper. The study results demonstrate that ZnO NPs possesses broad-spectrum action against these β-lactamase-producing strains. The minimal inhibitory and minimal bactericidal concentrations vary from 0.04 to 0.08 and 0.12 to 0.24 mg/mL, respectively. The ZnO NPs elevate the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde in the bacterial cells as membrane lipid peroxidation. It has been confirmed from the transmission electron microscopy image of the treated bacterial cells that ZnO NPs diminish the permeable membrane, denature the intracellular proteins, cause DNA damage, and cause membrane leakage. Based on these findings, the action of ZnO NPs has been attributed to the fact that broad-spectrum antibacterial action against β-lactam-resistant Gram-negative food pathogens is mediated by Zn²⁺ ion-induced oxidative stress, actions via lipid peroxidation and membrane damage, subsequently resulting in depletion, leading to β-lactamase enzyme inhibition, intracellular protein inactivation, DNA damage, and eventually cell death. Based on the findings of the present study, ZnO NPs can be recommended as potent broad-spectrum antibacterial agents against β-lactam-resistant Gram-negative pathogenic strains.     

SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND PROPERTIES OF ORGANOCLAY-MODIFIED POLYSULFONE/EPOXY INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORK NANOCOMPOSITES

Organoclay-modified hydroxylterminated polysulfone (PSF)/epoxy interpenetrating network nanocomposites (oM-PSF/EP nanocomposites) were prepared by adding organophilic montmorillonite (oMMT) to interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of polysulfone and epoxy resin (PSF/EP) using diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) as curing agent.The mechanical properties like tensile strength,tensile modulus,flexural strength,flexural modulus and impact properties of the nanocomposites were studied as per ASTM standards.Differ...     

Radiative decays,photoproduction and total cross section of theψ particles

It is pointed out that the coupling characterizing theψ-γ vertex must change substantially between the limits,ψ on mass-shell which occurs inψ→e ⁺ e ⁻ and photon on mass-shell which is relevant in radiative decays likeψ→ππγ, ψ→ηγ and photoproduction ofψ. This has the consequence that the value ofψN total cross section must be larger than what is inferred from the use of naive vector dominance in photoproduction.     

Copper(II)-catalyzed CH oxidation of alkylbenzenes and cyclohexane with hydrogen peroxide

Copper(II) complex 1 efficiently catalyses the oxidation of alkylbenzenes and cyclohexane into the corresponding ketones in moderate to high yields in the presence of 30% H₂O₂. This protocol is simple, clean and generates water as the only by-product.     

Validity of the equivalent-photon approximation for the production of massive spin-1 particles

We point out that the equivalent-photon approximation (EPA) for processes with massive spin-1 particles in the final state would have validity in a more restricted kinematic domain than for processes where it is commonly applied, viz., those with spin-1/2 or spin-0 particles in the final state. We obtain the criterion for the validity ofEPA for the two-photon production of a pair of charged, massive, point-like spin-1 particlesV ^±, each of massM and with a standard magnetic moment (κ=1). In a process in which one of the photons is real and the other virtual with four-momentumq, the condition for the validity ofEPA is |q ²|≪M ², in addition to the usual condition |q ²|≪W ²,W being theV ⁺ V ⁻ invariant mass. In a process in which both photons are virtual (with four-momentaq andq′), our condition is |q ²||q′²|W ⁴ ≪ 16M ⁸, in addition to |q ²| ≪M ², |q′²| ≪M ² and |q ²| ≪W ², |q′²| ≪W ². Even when these extra conditions permitting the use ofEPA are not fulfilled, convenient approximate expressions may still be obtained assuming merely |q ²| ≪W ² and |q′²| ≪W ². We also discuss how the extra conditions are altered when the vector bosons are incorporated in a spontaneously broken gauge theory. Examples ofW boson production in Weinberg-Salam model are considered for which the condition |q ²||q′²|W ⁴ ≪ 16M ⁸ is shown to be removed.     

Studies on electron transfer reactions: reduction of heteropoly 10-tungstodivanadophosphate by <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-cysteine in aqueous acid medium

l-cysteine undergoes facile electron transfer with heteropoly 10-tungstodivanadophosphate, [ \textPV^\textV \textV^\textV \textW _{1 0} \textO _{4 0} ]^{5 -} , \left[ {{\text{PV}}^{\text{V}} {\text{V}}^{\text{V}} {\text{W}}_{ 1 0} {\text{O}}_{ 4 0} } \right]^{5 - } , at ambient temperature in aqueous acid medium. The stoichiometric ratio of [cysteine]/[oxidant] is 2.0. The products of the reaction are cystine and two electron-reduced heteropoly blue, [PV^IVV^IVW₁₀O₄₀]⁷⁻. The rates of the electron transfer reaction were measured spectrophotometrically in acetate–acetic acid buffers at 25 °C. The orders of the reaction with respect to both [cysteine] and [oxidant] are unity, and the reaction exhibits simple second-order kinetics at constant pH. The pH-rate profile indicates the participation of deprotonated cysteine in the reaction. The reaction proceeds through an outer-sphere mechanism. For the dianion ⁻SCH₂CH(NH₃ ⁺)COO⁻, the rate constant for the cross electron transfer reaction is 96 M⁻¹s⁻¹ at 25 °C. The self-exchange rate constant for the ^- \textSCH₂ \textCH( \textNH₃ ⁺ )\textCOO ^- \mathord

Electrochemically synthesized polymer of the plant substance embelin (2,5-dihydroxy-3-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone)

Among the possible new materials for microelectronics, quinones have a number of significant advantages. Similarly, polymers with quinone functionality possess biodegradability. Because natural polymers are promising candidates for functional materials for the future, we have initiated studies on the polymers of natural products. In the present study, a natural quinone (a plant substance) extracted from Embelier libes distributed in the Kerala state of India was electrochemically polymerized and its properties were investigated. The redox activity, electrical conductivity, and biodegradability are discussed.     

Four oxoindole‐linked α‐alkoxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives

Four structures of oxoindolyl α‐hydroxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives, namely, methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐methoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₄H₂₈N₂O₆, (I), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐ethoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₅H₃₀N₂O₆, (II), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐[(4‐methoxybenzyl)oxy]‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₇, (III), and methyl 2‐[(anthracen‐9‐yl)methoxy]‐2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₈H₃₆N₂O₆, (IV), have been determined. The diastereoselectivity of the chemical reaction involving α‐diazoesters and isatin imines in the presence of benzyl alcohol is confirmed through the relative configuration of the two stereogenic centres. In esters (I) and (III), the amide group adopts an anti conformation, whereas the conformation is syn in esters (II) and (IV). Nevertheless, the amide group forms intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds with the ester and ether O atoms in all four structures. The ether‐linked substituents are in the extended conformation in all four structures. Ester (II) is dominated by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions. In contrast, the remaining three structures are sustained by C—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions.