A modified BFGS algorithm based on a hybrid secant equation

By making a convex combination of the modified secant equations proposed by Yuan and Wei et al.,a hybrid secant equation and also,a modified BFGS algorithm is proposed.The hybridization parameter is effectively computed using the available information of recent iterations.Under proper conditions,it is shown that the proposed algorithm is globally,locally and superlinearly convergent.By using the performance profile introduced by Dolan and Mor'e,a comparison between the implementations of the proposed algori...     

Synthesis of AS1411-Aptamer-Conjugated CdTe Quantum Dots with High Fluorescence Strength for Probe Labeling Tumor Cells

In this paper, we report microwave-assisted, one-stage synthesis of high-quality functionalized water-soluble cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots (QDs). By selecting sodium tellurite as the Te source, cadmium chloride as the Cd source, mercaptosuccinic acid (MSA) as the capping agent, and a borate-acetic acid buffer solution with a pH range of 5–8, CdTe nanocrystals with four colors (blue to orange) were conveniently prepared at 100 °C under microwave irradiation in less than one hour (reaction time: 10–60 min). The influence of parameters such as the pH, Cd:Te molar ratio, and reaction time on the emission range and quantum yield percentage (QY%) was investigated. The structures and compositions of the prepared CdTe QDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, selective area electron diffraction, and X-ray powder diffraction experiments. The formation mechanism of the QDs is discussed in this paper. Furthermore, AS1141-aptamer-conjugated CdTe QDs in the U87MG glioblastoma cell line were assessed with a fluorescence microscope. The obtained results showed that the best conditions for obtaining a high QY of approximately 87 % are a pH of 6, a Cd:Te molar ratio of 5:1, and a 30-min reaction time at 100 °C under microwave irradiation. The results showed that AS1141-aptamer-conjugated CdTe QDs could enter tumor cells efficiently. It could be concluded that a facile high-fluorescence-strength QD conjugated with a DNA aptamer, AS1411, which can recognize the extracellular matrix protein nucleolin, can specifically target U87MG human glioblastoma cells. The qualified AS1411-aptamer-conjugated QDs prepared in this study showed excellent capabilities as nanoprobes for cancer targeting and molecular imaging.     

Polyfluorene Polyelectrolyte Nanoparticles: Synthesis of Innovative Stabilizers for Heterophase Polymerization

Polyfluorene‐bearing bromohexyl side chains are quaternized by 1‐vinylimidazole in order to attach dialkylimidazolium bromide ionic liquid (IL) species along the conjugated backbone. Subsequently, polyfluorene polyelectrolyte nanoparticles (NPs) of 40 nm in average size are created via radical cross‐linking of the pendant vinylimidazolium groups. Anion exchange from Br⁻ to BF₄⁻, PF₆⁻, and bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anion (TFSI⁻) renders NPs adjustable dispersability in various organic solvents. The hydrophobic‐conjugated backbone and the hydrophilic dialkylimidazolium bromide IL moieties depict an amphiphilic profile, which allows the NPs to be deployed as conductive stabilizer in the emulsion polymerization of styrene. The resultant latexes are fluorescent, tunable in size and can be transferred to organic solvents without forfeiting their colloidal stability.

     

Stabilisation of Recombinant Aequorin by Polyols: Activity, Thermostability and Limited Proteolysis

The photoprotein aequorin is a calcium-dependent bioluminescent enzyme which is most widely used in biotechnology processes, but this protein is susceptible to aggregation and proteolysis degradation. Various additives such as polyols are known to enhance the stability of proteins and protect them in native folded and functional state. In this work, for study of aequorin stability, the histidine-tagged apoaequorin was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by nickel chelate affinity chromatography. Kinetics of light emission of purified aequorin upon addition of Ca²⁺ showed a linear dependency on aequorin concentration. Furthermore, the effect of some stabilisers, such as glycerol, glucose, lactose, terehalose, sucrose and sorbitol on thermostability of recombinant aequorin was measured. Results indicate that the recombinant aequorin is very stable in phosphate buffer including 30 mM sorbitol, since after heat shock of 30 min at different temperatures, a slight decrease in activity was observed. However, flexibility and exposure of tryptophan residues of aequorin to the solvent, in the presence and absence of stabilisers, with respect to fluorescence quenching by acrylamide, indicated identical characterisation. In addition, according to limited proteolysis of aequorin demonstrating that this enzyme is sensitive to proteases as in the presence of 2 ng/ml of protease, aequorin was completely digested. In conclusion, sorbitol increases stability of aequorin with high photoactivity and not effect for flexibility and limited proteolysis of this photoprotein.     

Dynamics of PEGylated–Dextran–Spermine Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery to Leukemic Cells

Leukemic cells are hard-to-transfect cell lines. Many transfection reagents which can provide high gene transfer efficiency in common adherent cell lines are not effective to transfect established blood cell lines or primary leukemic cells. This study aims to examine a new class of cationic polymer non-viral vector, PEGylated–dextran–spermine (PEG-D-SPM), to determine its ability to transfect the leukemic cells. Here, the optimal conditions of the complex preparation (PEG-D-SPM/plasmid DNA (pDNA)) were examined. Different weight-mixing (w/w) ratios of PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex were prepared to obtain an ideal mixing ratio to protect encapsulated pDNA from DNase degradation and to determine the optimal transfection efficiency of the complex. Strong complexation between polymer and pDNA in agarose gel electrophoresis and protection of pDNA from DNase were detected at ratios from 25 to 15. Highest gene expression was detected at w/w ratio of 18 in HL60 and K562 cells. However, gene expression from both leukemic cell lines was lower than the control MCF-7 cells. The cytotoxicity of PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex at the most optimal mixing ratios was tested in HL60 and K562 cells using MTS assay and the results showed that the PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex had no cytotoxic effect on these cell lines. Spherical shape and nano-nature of PEG-D-SPM/pDNA complex at ratio 18 was observed using transmission electron microscopy. As PEG-D-SPM showed modest transfection efficiency in the leukemic cell lines, we conclude that further work is needed to improve the delivery efficiency of the PEG-D-SPM.     

Synthesis and Application of FI Catalyst for Ethylene Polymerization

A FI (phenoxy-imine) Zr-based catalyst of bis[1-[(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imino]methyl-3,6-ditertbutyl-2-naphtholato]zirconium(IV) dichloride was prepared by changing the ligand from salicylaldehyde imine ligand which is used for well known FI catalysts to 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1-carbaldehyde imine ligand and used for polymerization of ethylene. Replacement of the phenoxy-group by naphtholato-group does not provide any spatial difficulties in the ortho-position to oxygen, but introduction of the bulky alkyl substitution groups at the ortho position of the naphthoxy-oxygen and on phenyl ring on the N dramatically enhanced the activity of the catalyst, as well as viscosity average molecular weight (M_v) of the obtained polymer. The prepared catalyst could produce a high molecular weight polyethylene under the polymerization conditions used. The optimum activity of the catalyst was obtained at the reaction temperature of 40°C. Activity of the catalyst was continuously increased with increasing MAO concentration and monomer pressure and no optimum activity was observed in the range studied. Crystallinity and melting point of the obtained polymer were between 55–65% and 125–135°C, respectively. A molecular weight distribution of 1.55–2.75 was obtained under the polymerization condition used and the polydispersity was broadened with the time. The activity of the catalyst was not sensitive to the hydrogen concentration. However, higher amount of hydrogen could slightly increase the activity of the catalyst.     

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles for the solid-phase extraction of paracetamol from plasma samples,followed its determination by HPLC

We are presenting magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (m-MIPs) for solid-phase extraction and sample clean-up of paracetamol. The m-MIPs were prepared from magnetite (Fe₃O₄) as the magnetic component, paracetamol as the template, methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, and 2-(methacrylamido) ethyl methacrylate as a cross-linker. The m-MIPs were then characterized by transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry. The m-MIPs were applied to the extraction of paracetamol from human blood plasma samples. Following its elution from the column loaded with the m-MIPs with an acetonitrile-buffer (9:1) mixture, it was submitted to HPLC analysis. Paracetamol can be quantified by this method in the 1 μg L^?1 to 300 μg L^?1 concentration range. The limit of detection and limit of quantification in plasma samples are 0.17 and 0.4 μg L^?1. The preconcentration factor of the m-MIPs is 40. The HPLC method shows good precision (4.5 % at 50 μg L^?1 levels) and recoveries (between 83 and 91 %) from spiked plasma samples. Figure

We are presenting magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (m-MIPs) for solid-phase extraction and sample clean-up of paracetamol. The m-MIPs were applied to the extraction of paracetamol from human blood plasma samples     

Magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles for the solid-phase extraction of paracetamol from plasma samples,followed its determination by HPLC

We are presenting magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (m-MIPs) for solid-phase extraction and sample clean-up of paracetamol. The m-MIPs were prepared from magnetite (Fe₃O₄) as the magnetic component, paracetamol as the template, methacrylic acid as a functional monomer, and 2-(methacrylamido) ethyl methacrylate as a cross-linker. The m-MIPs were then characterized by transmission electron microscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometry. The m-MIPs were applied to the extraction of paracetamol from human blood plasma samples. Following its elution from the column loaded with the m-MIPs with an acetonitrile-buffer (9:1) mixture, it was submitted to HPLC analysis. Paracetamol can be quantified by this method in the 1 μg L⁻¹ to 300 μg L⁻¹ concentration range. The limit of detection and limit of quantification in plasma samples are 0.17 and 0.4 μg L⁻¹. The preconcentration factor of the m-MIPs is 40. The HPLC method shows good precision (4.5 % at 50 μg L⁻¹ levels) and recoveries (between 83 and 91 %) from spiked plasma samples.

We are presenting magnetic molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles (m-MIPs) for solid-phase extraction and sample clean-up of paracetamol. The m-MIPs were applied to the extraction of paracetamol from human blood plasma samples

     

Magnetic Nanoparticles Supported Ionic Liquids Improve Firefly Luciferase Properties

Ionic liquids as neoteric solvents, microwave irradiation, and alternative energy source are becoming as a solvent for many enzymatic reactions. We recently showed that the incubation of firefly luciferase from Photinus pyralis with various ionic liquids increased the activity and stability of luciferase. Magnetic nanoparticles supported ionic liquids have been obtained by covalent bonding of ionic liquids-silane on magnetic silica nanoparticles. In the present study, the effects of [γ-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂][BMImCl] and [γ-Fe₂O₃@SiO₂][BMImI] were investigated on the structural properties and function of luciferase using circular dichroism, fluorescence spectroscopy, and bioluminescence assay. Enzyme activity and structural stability increased in the presence of magnetic nanoparticles supported ionic liquids. Furthermore, the effect of ingredients which were used was not considerable on K _m value of luciferase for adenosine-5′-triphosphate and also K _m value for luciferin.