Nanocatalyst-based assay using DNA-conjugated Au nanoparticles for electrochemical DNA detection

Compared to enzymes, Au nanocatalysts show better long-term stability and are more easily prepared. Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) are used as catalytic labels to achieve ultrasensitive DNA detection via fast catalytic reactions. In addition, magnetic beads (MBs) are employed to permit low nonspecific binding of DNA-conjugated AuNPs and to minimize the electrocatalytic current of AuNPs as well as to take advantage of easy magnetic separation. In a sandwich-type electrochemical sensor, capture-probe-conjugated MBs and an indium-tin oxide electrode modified with a partially ferrocene-modified dendrimer act as the target-binding surface and the signal-generating surface, respectively. A thiolated detection-probe-conjugated AuNP exhibits a high level of unblocked active sites and permits the easy access of p-nitrophenol and NaBH 4 to these sites. Electroactive p-aminophenol is generated at these sites and is then electrooxidized to p-quinoneimine at the electrode. The p-aminophenol redox cycling by NaBH 4 offers large signal amplification. The nonspecific binding of detection-probe-conjugated AuNPs is lowered by washing DNA-linked MB-AuNP assemblies with a formamide-containing solution, and the electrocatalytic oxidation of NaBH 4 by AuNPs is minimized because long-range electron transfer between the electrode and the AuNPs bound to MBs is not feasible. The high signal amplification and low background current enable the detection of 1 fM target DNA.     

Anomalous association and fluorophore influence on the position of dimethylaniline in micelles: fluorescence quenching of 1,8-acridinedione

Fluorescence quenching of 9,10-dimethyl-3, 4,6,7,9,10-hexahydro-1,8(2H,5H) acridinedione (ADD) dye by N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) in SDS and CTAB were studied by steady state fluorescence and time resolved techniques. The Stern-Volmer plots for the quenching of ADD by DMA is found to be linear and the Stern-Volmer constant K(SV) depends on the micellar concentration. The fluorescence quenching analysis reveals the binding of DMA with the micelles. The perturbation of the probe on the position of DMA molecule in micelle is inferred in the present investigation. The ADD fluorophore drives the DMA molecule into the non-polar region (core) of the micelle whereas other fluorophores like pyrene and rhodamine6G do not affect the position of DMA. In this report, the importance of the nature of fluorophores in determining the position and association of the quencher molecules in the aggregated systems is being discussed.     

Studies on growth and characterization of l-alanine strontium chloride trihydrate single crystals for optical applications

The optically transparent nonlinear optical single crystals of l-alanine strontium chloride trihydrate (LASCT) were grown by slow evaporation solution growth method using water as solvent. The purity of the crystals was increased by the method of recrystallization. The grown crystals were analyzed by the single crystal X-ray diffraction pattern which proved that LASCT belongs to monoclinic crystal system. The presence of various functional groups and modes of vibrations were identified by FTIR spectroscopy. The optical absorption study confirms the suitability of the crystal for device applications. The thermal strength and the decomposition of the grown crystals were studied using TG/DTA analyses. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss measurements of the grown crystals at different frequencies of the applied field were measured and reported. The mechanical strength of the crystal is estimated by Vicker's hardness test. The nonlinear optical properties of the grown crystals were confirmed by second harmonic generation test which shows the suitability of NLO applications.     

A novel fluorophore with dual fluorescence: local excited state and photoinduced electron-transfer-promoted charge-transfer state.

Absorption and emission spectra of 9-N,N-dimethylaniline decahydroacridinedione (DMAADD) have been studied in different solvents. The fluorescence spectra of DMAADD are found to exhibit dual emission in aprotic solvents and single emission in protic solvents. The effect of solvent polarity and viscosity on the absorption and emission spectra has also been studied. The fluorescence excitation spectra of DMAADD monitored at both the emission bands are different. The presence of two different conformation of the same molecule in the ground state has lead to two close lying excited states, local excited (LE) and charge transfer (CT), and thereby results in the dual fluorescence of the dye. A CTstate involving the N,N-dimethylaniline group and the decahy droacridinedione chromophore as donor and acceptor, respectively, has been identified as the source of the long wavelength anomalous fluorescence. The experimental studies were supported by ab initio time dependent-density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations performed at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The molecule possesses photoinduced electron transfer (PET) quenching in the LE state, which is confirmed by the fluorescence lifetime and fluorescent intensity enhancement in the presence of transition metal ions.     

Electrical switching in As-Te-Ag system-composition and temperature dependence

The current-voltage characteristics related to switching phenomena in silver doped arsenic telluride glasses, As₂₀Te_80−xAg_x and As₄₀Te_60−xAg_x, have been investigated over a wide composition range (4?x?14). The samples are found to show threshold switching behavior with the number of switching cycles withstood by the samples depending on the ON state current. The switching voltages are found to decrease with increase in silver content and a sharp minimum is seen at the composition x=12 for the As₂₀Te_80−xAg_x glasses and x=11 for the As₄₀Te_60−xAg_x glasses. An effort has been made to understand the observed composition dependence on the basis of increase in the conductance of the samples with silver addition and local structural effects.     

l-Cystine hydrochloride: A novel semi-organic nonlinear optical material for optical devices

A new semi-organic nonlinear optical (NLO) material l-cystine hydrochloride (LCHCl) was grown in large size measuring 19 × 5 × 3 mm³ by slow solvent evaporation technique for the first time in literature. The cell parameter values were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopic analysis was carried out on the grown sample to ascertain the fundamental functional groups. Thermal behavior of the grown LCHCl sample was analyzed by TG & DTA analysis. The mechanical properties of the grown crystals have been studied using Vickers microhardness tester. The optical transmission studies and second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency studies justified the device quality of the grown crystal and the SHG study reveals that the grown sample has nearly 1.2 times higher efficiency than that of potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP), a well known NLO material.     

Non-uniform mass transfer or wall enthalpy into a compressible flow over a rotating sphere

A study for the effect of non-uniform slot injection/suction and non-uniform total enthalpy at the wall for a steady non-similar laminar compressible boundary layer flow over a rotating sphere is presented. The effects of rotation and free stream Mach number have also been considered. Non-similar solutions have been obtained from the starting point of the stream wise coordinate to the point of separation using an implicit finite difference scheme in combination with the quasi-linearization technique. The results indicate that the separation can be delayed by non-uniform slot suction and also by moving the slot downstream but the non-uniform slot injection has just the opposite effect. An increase of rotation and total enthalpy at the wall causes separation to occur earlier while cooling delays it. An increase of the Mach number shifts the point of separation upstream due to the adverse pressure gradient. The non-uniform total enthalpy at the wall has a very little effect on the skin friction and hence on the point of separation.     

Synthesis,crystal growth and characterization of novel semiorganic nonlinear optical crystal: Dichloro(beta-alanine)cadmium(II)

Semiorganic nonlinear optical material of dichloro(beta-alanine)cadmium(II) (DCBAC) have been synthesized and single crystals were grown by solvent evaporation method at room temperature. The lattice parameters of the grown crystals are determined by single crystal XRD. The modes of vibration of different molecular groups present in the sample were identified by the FTIR spectral analysis. Thermal stability of the crystal was investigated using thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The dielectric constants of the crystal were studied as a function of frequency and the results are discussed. The grown crystals are subjected to microhardness studies and the variation of the microhardness with the applied load is studied. The optical transmission spectra and second harmonic generation (SHG) were investigated to study its linear and nonlinear optical properties. The nonlinear optical (NLO) property of the crystal was confirmed by powder second harmonic generation (SHG) test. SHG efficiency is comparable to that of KDP.     

Synthesis of Novel 2-Iminothiazolidin-4-ones

Abstract

Thiazolidin-4-ones are known to exhibit diverse biological activities such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiarrheal, anticonvulsant, antidiabetic, antihistaminic, and antifungal activities. In the present investigation, a series of 2-haloacetamides was prepared by reacting chloroacetyl chloride with amines in dry benzene under reflux conditions. The formed 2-haloacetamides reacted with potassium thiocyanate in refluxing dry acetone to afford new 2-iminothiazolidin-4-ones. The 5-arylidene-2-imino-3 (napthalen-2yl)-thiazolidin-4-ones were prepared by condensing 2-iminothiazolidin-4-ones with substituted benzaldehydes. All the products were characterized by infrared, mass, and ¹H and ¹³C NMR techniques.     

Synthesis,characterization, and antimicrobial activity of new bis-1,2,3-triazol-H-yl-substituted 2-arylbenzimidazoles

New bis-1,2,3-triazol-H-yl-substituted 2-aryl benzimidazoles VIa-VIp were synthesized from O- and N-bis-propargyl substituted 2-arylbenzimidazoles using “click chemistry.” The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, NMR, and mass spectra. These compounds were screened for their activity against bacterial and fungal organisms.