Calixarene capped ZnS quantum dots as an optical nanoprobe for detection and determination of menadione

In this communication we report a p-sulfonatocalix[4]arene coated ZnS quantum dots "cup type" highly stable optical probe for the detection and determination of menadione (VK(3)) with high sensitivity and selectivity. The detection of VK(3) depends on supramolecular host-guest chemistry.     

Trends in the electronic structure of extended gold compounds: implications for use of gold in heterogeneous catalysis

First-principles electronic structure calculations are presented on a variety of Au compounds and species--encompassing a wide range of formal oxidation states, coordination geometries, and chemical environments--in order to understand the potentially systematic behavior in the nature and energetics of d states that are implicated in catalytic activity. In particular, we monitor the position of the d-band center, which has been suggested to signal catalytic activity for reactions such as CO oxidation. We find a surprising absence of any kind of correlation between the formal oxidation state of Au and the position of the d-band center. Instead, we find that the center of the d band displays a nearly linear dependence on the degree of its filling, and this is a general relationship for Au irrespective of the chemistry or geometry of the particular Au compound. Across the compounds examined we find that even small calculated changes in the d-band filling result in a relatively large effect on the position of the d-band center. The results presented here have some important implications for the question of the catalytic activity of Au and indicate that the formal oxidation state is not a determining factor.     

Dark-field scanning in situ spectroscopy platform for broadband imaging of resected tissue

A dark-field geometry spectral imaging system is presented to raster scan thick tissue samples in situ in 1.5 cm square sections, recovering full spectra from each 100 μm diameter pixel. This spot size provides adequate resolution for wide field scanning, while also facilitating scatter imaging without requiring sophisticated light-tissue transport modeling. The system is demonstrated showing accurate estimation of localized scatter parameters and the potential to recover absorption-based contrast from broadband reflectance data measured from 480 nm up to 750 nm in tissue phantoms. Results obtained from xenograft pancreas tumors show the ability to quantitatively image changes in localized scatter response in this fast-imaging geometry. The polychromatic raster scan design allows the rapid scanning necessary for use in surgical/clinical applications where timely decisions are required about tissue pathology.     

Investigations on membrane perturbation by chrysin and its copper complex using self-assembled lipid bilayers

The mechanism of membrane interactions of most of the flavonoids in the presence of transition-metal ions is not well-understood. To understand this phenomenon, the present work aims to synthesize a chrysin-copper complex at room temperature and investigate its influence on the electrical characteristics of planar lipid bilayers. The chrysin-copper complex was characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and was found to have a metal/ligand ratio of 1:2 and of cationic nature. Its ability to inhibit 1,1'-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals was not significant at alkaline pH because of the involvement of the 5-hydroxy group in coordination with the copper ion compared to its parent flavonoid, chrysin (p < 0.05). The addition of different concentrations (20-100 μM) of chrysin and the chrysin-copper complex to lipid bilayers decreases the resistance, indicating a strong surface interaction and partial insertion into the bilayer near the lipid-water interface. The dose-dependent reduction in resistance as a result of the chrysin-copper complex is more pronounced in comparison to chrysin, implying that the bulkier and charged chrysin-copper complex displays greater ability to distort the lipid bilayer architecture. These conclusions were further confirmed by curcumin-loaded liposome permeabilization studies, where both chrysin and its Cu(II) complex increased the fluidity in a dose-dependent manner. However, the extent of fluidization by the chrysin-copper complex was nearly twice that of chrysin alone (p < 0.05). The implications of these surface interactions of chrysin and its copper complex on cell membranes were studied using a hypotonic hemolysis assay. Our results demonstrate that, at low concentrations (20 μM), the chrysin-copper complex exhibited twice the protection against hypotonic stress-induced membrane disruption when compared to chrysin. However, this stabilizing effect gradually decreased and became comparable to chrysin at higher concentrations. This biphasic behavior of the chrysin-copper complex could further be explored for therapeutic applications.     

Azo calix[4]arene based neodymium(III)-selective PVC membrane sensor

We found that the PVC membrane, containing azo calix[4]arene is a suitable ionophore, exhibited a Nernstian response for neodymium (Nd³⁺) ions (with slope of 19.8 ± 0.2 mV decade⁻¹ for the triply charged ion) over a wide linear range of 4.0 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.0 × 10⁻¹ mol L⁻¹ with a detection limit 1.0 × 10⁻⁸ mol L⁻¹, a relatively fast response time, in the whole concentration range (<10 s), and a considerable life time at least for four months in the pH range of 4.0-8.0. Furthermore, the electrode revealed high selectivity with respect to all the common alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions, including the members of the lanthanide family other than Nd³⁺. Concerning its applications, it was effectively employed for the determination of neodymium ions in industrial waste water as well as in lake water.     

Fullerene–ferrocene dyad linked by rigid bilinkage: synthesis,photophysical properties and application as copper ion sensor

A novel fullerene–ferrocene based donor–bridge–acceptor dyad was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT‐IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and FAB‐MS. The dyad with a bilinker comprising of azomethine and ester group was studied for its photo physical properties using absorption spectra and steady‐state fluorescence spectra as a function of dielectric constant of the medium. Fluorescence spectra of the dyad studied with excitation at 449 nm showed a weak emission at 742 nm, which got weaker on increasing the dielectric constant of the medium, indicating efficient electron transfer from ferrocene to fullerene. By designing a bilinked structure between the two redox moieties, we obtained a chelating structure which was found to coordinate copper ion efficiently and hence found application as a metal ion sensor. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multiple muon events observed underground

Observations are reported on events involving multiple penetrating particles recorded in a scintillator-neon flash tube telescope, at a depth of 1500 hg/cm² in the Kolar Gold Mines. From these, it is shown that: (1) the cross-section for nuclear interaction of muons of average energy ～200 GeV is ～ 6 × 10^?30 cm²/nucleon; (2) the decoherence curve for events involving two parallel muons is uniform over the range of distances from 0 to 2 metres; and (3) the angular distribution of double-parallel muons closely resembles that of single muons, implying that these two types of events are probably produced in the atmosphere in a similar manner.     

The synthesis and characterization of calix[4]arene based azo dyes

A series of azocalix[4]arene dyes (1–7) were prepared by linking 2,4-di-chloroaniline, 2,4,5-tri-chloroaniline, 2,4-di-nitroaniline, 2-nitro p-toluidin, 4-nitro o-toluidin, 5-nitro o-toluidin and sulfanilic acid, to calix[4]arene through a diazo-coupling reaction. These compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, MALDI-TOF, UV–Vis., DSC, and DTA. The absorption properties of the synthesized dyes were studied and the application of the water soluble dye on cotton and wool was discussed. Solvent based inks were investigated and the fastness properties of formulated inks were also discussed.