Anomalous conversion of 127 keV (E3) transition in134Cs

The total conversion coefficient of the 127.49 keV E3 isomeric transition in the decay of^134mCs was measured using the gamma intensity balance method with the help of a high resolution low energy photon detector. Theα _Tvalue was found to be 5.84±0.47 as against the theoretical value of 6.96, thus showing an anomaly of (16.1±6.7)%. TheK-conversion coefficient,α _kwas also measured using the X-ray peak to gamma ray intensity method and found to be 2.24±0.04 as against the theoretical value of 2.72, which shows an anomaly of (17.6±1.4)% consistent with the experimental anomaly inα _T. TheE3 hindrance factor of the isomeric transition was estimated to be (3.44±0.23) ·10⁴.     

Spectrophotometric Methods for the Determination of Nelfinavir Mesylate

Three visual spectrophotometric methods are described for the assaying of nelfinavir mesylate (NEL) in either bulk form or dosage forms. Methods A-C are based on the oxidation of NEL with an excess of oxidant (N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) in methods A&B or chloramine-T (CAT) in method C) in acidic medium. The unreacted oxidant is then estimated colorimetrically using an oxidisable dye (Celistine blue (CB) in method A or Gallocyanine (GC) in method C) or p-N-methyl aminophenol sulphate (PMAP)-sulphanilamide (SA) reagent (in method B). These methods obey Beer's law and give reproducible results. Recoveries range from 99.3–100.5%.     

Determination of cefadroxil by three simple spectrophotometric methods using oxidative coupling reactions

Three simple and sensitive visible spectrophotometric methods for the assay of cefadroxil have been developed. MethodA (_max 410 nm) is based on the reaction of cefadroxil with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone hydrochloride in the presence of eeric ammonium sulphate. MethodB (_max, 510 nm) involves the reaction with 4-aminophenazone in the presence of potassium hexacyanoferrate(III). MethodC (_max, 620 nm) involves reaction with 2, 6-dichloroquinone-4-chlorimide (Gibb's reagent). All variables have been optimised and the reaction mechanisms presented. Regression analysis of the Beer's plots showed good correlation in the concentration ranges 1.0–6.0, 2.0–24.0 and 1.0–6.0 g/ml for methodsA, B andC, respectively. No interferences were observed from excipients and the validity of the methods was tested by analysing pharmaceutical dosage forms. Recoveries were 98.0–100.3%. The concentration measurements were reproducible within a relative standard deviation of 1.0%.     

Recent advances in the synthesis and structure determination of site specifically psoralen-modified DNA oligonucleotides.

We have developed novel methods for the preparation of multimicromole quantities of extremely pure, uniquely photoadducted psoralen-DNA cross-links, furan-side monoadducted DNA and pyrone-side monoadducts. Psoralen cross-linked and furan-side monoadducted DNA were produced by employing high intensity argon ion and krypton ion lasers as light sources. Pyrone-side monoadducts were prepared by base-catalyzed photoreversal of psoralen cross-links. The various psoralen-adducted DNA oligomers were efficiently purified by high performance liquid chromatography. These methods have permitted us to synthesize 4 mumol each of a self-complementary 8-mer d(GCGTACGC) 4'-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) furan-side monoadduct and HMT cross-link. Preliminary nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data on the HMT cross-linked 8-mer d(GCGTACGC) have been obtained which confirmed the presence of the diadducted psoralen at the unique 5'TpA3' site. NMR data obtained from the 8-mer furan-side monoadduct revealed that the psoralen molecule is intercalated into the DNA double helix. Preliminary crystals of 8-mer cross-linked DNA molecule have been grown. Conditions for the growth of X-ray diffraction-quality crystals and the further analysis of these crystals are now in progress.     

Synthesis of hydroxyapatite crystals using amino acid-capped gold nanoparticles as a scaffold

Inorganic composites are of special interest for biomedical applications such as in dental and bone implants wherein the ability to modulate the morphology and size of the inorganic crystals is important. One interesting possibility to control the size of inorganic crystals is to grow them on nanoparticles. We report here the use of surface-modified gold nanoparticles as templates for the growth of hydroxyapatite crystals. Crystal growth is promoted by a monolayer of aspartic acid bound to the surface of the gold nanoparticles; the carboxylate ions in aspartic acid are excellent binging sites for Ca(2+) ions. Isothermal titration calorimetry studies of Ca(2+) ion binding with aspartic acid-capped gold nanoparticles indicates that the process is entropically driven and that screening of the negative charge by the metal ions leads to their aggregation. The aggregates of gold nanoparticles are believed to be responsible for assembly of the platelike hydroxyapatite crystals into quasi-spherical superstructures. Control experiments using uncapped gold nanoparticles and pure aspartic acid indicate that the amino acid bound to the nanogold surface plays a key role in inducing and directing hydroxyapatite crystal growth.     

Spectrophotometric procedures for the determination of roxithromycin in pharmaceutical formulations

Four simple and sensitive visible spectrophotometric procedures for the assay of roxithromycin (RXT) have been developed. Procedures A and B are based on the formation of ion-pairs of roxithromycin with the dyes supracen violet 3B and tropaeolin 000, which are extracted into chloroform and have absorption maxima at 590 nm (SV 3B) and 490 nm (TP 000). Procedures C and D are based on condensation between the hydrolysis product of RXT in the presence of 3.6M hydrochloric acid in acetic acid medium and vanillin orp-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (PDAB) to form coloured products with _max at 500 nm. Regression analysis of the Beer's plot showed good correlation in the concentration ranges 5–60 (A), 5–40 (B) and 5–50 (C & D) g/ml. No interference was observed from excipients and the validity of the procedures was tested by analysing pharmaceutical formulations. Recoveries were 99.0–102.0%. The concentration measurements are reproducible within a relative standard deviation of 1.0%.     

Algorithms for the computation of Hankel functions of complex order

Hankel functions of complex order and real argument arise in the study of wave propagation and many other applications. Hankel functions are computed using, for example, Chebyshev expansions, recursion relations and numerical integration of the integral representation. In practice, approximation of these functions is required when the order and the argumentz are large.When andz are large, the Chebyshev series expansion of the Hankel function is of limited use. The situation is remedied by the use of appropriate asymptotic expansions. These expansions are normally expressed in terms of coefficients which are defined recursively involving derivatives and integrals of polynomials. The applicability of these expansions in both numerical and symbolic software is discussed with illustrative examples.     

Bacterial aerobic synthesis of nanocrystalline magnetite

The synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles of the predominantly magnetite phase by the reaction of aqueous iron complexes with the bacterium, Actinobacter spp., is described. This reaction occurs at room temperature and under aerobic conditions, resulting in the formation of superparamagnetic magnetite.