Mathematical analysis on MHD Prandtl‐Eyring nanofluid new mass flux conditions

A speculative investigation has been presented to explore the salient features of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Prandtl‐Eyring nanofluid over stretching surface. Effects of Navier slip and convective boundary conditions are included in flow configuration. The effects of higher order chemical reactions along with Nield conditions are assumed in the concentration of nanoparticles. The mathematical modelling of the said flow problem accomplished the nonlinear partial differential equations along with appropriate boundary conditions. The nondimensional form of governing problem is yielded with the aid of similarity variables. The pivotal physical quantities, ie, velocity, temperature, and concentration (in nondimensional form), within boundary layer region are computed with shooting technique. The physical significance of flow controlling parameters on velocity, temperature, and concentration is illustrated through graphs. Additionally, thermophysical aspects of fluid near stretching surface (wall friction factor, wall heat flux, and wall mass flux) are instantiated graphically. A comparison of the current solution with reported data is established to validate the accuracy of adapted procedure. It is observed that the current findings agree with existing data. This led to confidence on adapted numerical procedure.     

Effect of Phytosynthesized Selenium and Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles on Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) against Stripe Rust Disease

In this study, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeONPs) were synthesized by using the extract of Melia azedarach leaves, and Acorus calamusas rhizomes, respectively, and investigated for the biological and sustainable control of yellow, or stripe rust, disease in wheat. The green synthesized NPs were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SeNPs and CeONPs, with different concentrations (i.e., 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L), were exogenously applied to wheat infected with Puccinia striformis. SeNPs and CeONPs, at a concentration of 30 mg/L, were found to be the most suitable concentrations, which reduced the disease severity and enhanced the morphological (plant height, root length, shoot length, leaf length, and ear length), physiological (chlorophyll and membrane stability index), biochemical (proline, phenolics and flavonoids) and antioxidant (SOD and POD) parameters. The antioxidant activity of SeNPs and CeONPs was also measured. For this purpose, different concentrations (50, 100, 150, 200 and 400 ppm) of both SeNPs and CeONPs were used. The concentration of 400 ppm most promoted the DPPH, ABTS and reducing power activity of both SeNPs and CeONPs. This study is considered the first biocompatible approach to evaluate the potential of green synthesized SeNPs and CeONPs to improve the health of yellow, or stripe rust, infected wheat plants and to provide an effective management strategy to inhibit the growth of Puccinia striformis.     

Magnetic nanoparticle-based cancer nanodiagnostics

Diagnosis facilitates the discovery of an impending disease. A complete and accurate treatment of cancer depends heavily on its early medical diagnosis. Cancer, one of the most fatal diseases world-wide, consistently affects a larger number of patients each year. Magnetism, a physical property arising from the motion of electrical charges, which causes attraction and repulsion between objects and does not involve radiation, has been under intense investigation for several years. Magnetic materials show great promise in the application of image contrast enhancement to accurately image and diagnose cancer. Chelating gadolinium (Gd Ⅲ) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have the prospect to pave the way for diagnosis, operative management, and adjuvant therapy of different kinds of cancers. The potential of MNP-based magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agents (CAs) now makes it possible to image portions of a tumor in parts of the body that would be unclear with the conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Multiple functionalities like variety of targeting ligands and image contrast enhancement have recently been added to the MNPs. Keeping aside the additional complexities in synthetic steps, costs, more convoluted behavior, and effects in-vivo, multifunctional MNPs still face great regulatory hurdles before clinical availability for cancer patients. The trade-off between additional functionality and complexity is a subject of ongoing debate. The recent progress regarding the types, design, synthesis, morphology, characterization, modification, and the in-vivo and in-vitro uses of different MRI contrast agents, including MNPs, to diagnose cancer will be the focus of this review. As our knowledge of MNPs' characteristics and applications expands, their role in the future management of cancer patients will become very important. Current hurdles are also discussed, along with future prospects of MNPs as the savior of cancer victims.     

Enhanced electrochemical performance of La- and Zn-co-doped LiMn2O4 spinel as the cathode material for lithium-ion batteries

We report on the nanoparticle uptake into MCF10A neoT and PC-3 cells using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, SQUID magnetometry, and transmission electron microscopy. The aim was to evaluate the influence of the nanoparticles?? surface charge on the uptake efficiency. The surface of the superparamagnetic, silica-coated, maghemite nanoparticles was modified using amino functionalization for the positive surface charge (CNPs), and carboxyl functionalization for the negative surface charge (ANPs). The CNPs and ANPs exhibited no significant cytotoxicity in concentrations up to 500???g/cm³ in 24?h. The CNPs, bound to a plasma membrane, were intensely phagocytosed, while the ANPs entered cells through fluid-phase endocytosis in a lower internalization degree. The ANPs and CNPs were shown to be co-localized with a specific lysosomal marker, thus confirming their presence in lysosomes. We showed that tailoring the surface charge of the nanoparticles has a great impact on their internalization.     

Low content Ni and Cr co-doped LiMn<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> with enhanced capacity retention

Nanoparticles of the pure and Ni–Cr co-doped lithium manganese oxides Li[Ni_xCr_yMn_2-x-y]O₄ (x = y = 0.01–0.05) have been synthesized by sol–gel method using citric acid as a chelating agent. The effect of low-content doping was noted reflecting the faster ionic movement in the cathode material. The phase structure and morphology of the materials are characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM and TEM. Electrochemical and impedance measurements established that low-content Ni–Cr substitution substantially improves the structural stability and high rate cycling performance of LiMn₂O₄. Among all the investigated compositions, LiNi_0.01Cr_0.01Mn_1.98O₄ demonstrated the best electrochemical performance. At a substantially high current rate of 5 C, 82% of the initial discharge capacity at 0.1 C is retained. Remarkably, after deep cycling at high rates, a discharge capacity of 104 mAhg^?1 is resumed upon reducing the current rate to 0.1 C which is 91% of the specific capacity in the first cycle.     

The effect of matrix on melting and solidification behaviours of embedded Pb-Sn alloy nanoparticles

The present investigation is aimed at understanding the effect of a matrix on the phase transformation of biphasic embedded Pb–Sn alloy nanoparticles. The melting and solidification behaviours of eutectic (Pb_26.1Sn_73.9) nanoparticles embedded in icosahedral (IQC) as well as decagonal quasicrystalline (DQC) matrix have been studied. Electron microscopic observations reveal that the major portion of the alloy nanoparticle consists of body-centred tetragonal β-(Sn) with face-centred cubic (Pb) constituting the cap. (Pb) bears specific orientation relationships (OR) with the surrounding IQC matrix, whereas β-(Sn) does not have any specific OR. For alloy particles embedded in the DQC matrix, both (Pb) and β-(Sn) bear specific OR. In case of IQC matrix, differential scanning calorimetric measurements reveal sharp melting but diffuse solidification peaks for the embedded nanoparticles. On the other hand, sharp melting and solidification peaks are observed for the nanoparticles embedded in the DQC matrix. The IQC and DQC are heat-treated at different temperatures to observe the effect of the matrix on the phase transformation of the alloy nanoparticles. The formation of well- developed facets in the nano-particles and defects in the matrix have been found to play a crucial role in determining the phase transformation of the alloy nanoparticles in the heat-treated samples. The experimental observations are rationalized using available literature.     

Magnetic nanoparticle-based cancer therapy

Nanoparticles(NPs) with easily modified surfaces have been playing an important role in biomedicine.As cancer is one of the major causes of death,tremendous efforts have been devoted to advance the methods of cancer diagnosis and therapy.Recently,magnetic nanoparticles(MNPs) that are responsive to a magnetic field have shown great promise in cancer therapy.Compared with traditional cancer therapy,magnetic field triggered therapeutic approaches can treat cancer in an unconventional but more effective and safer way.In this review,we will discuss the recent progress in cancer therapies based on MNPs,mainly including magnetic hyperthermia,magnetic specific targeting,magnetically controlled drug delivery,magnetofection,and magnetic switches for controlling cell fate.Some recently developed strategies such as magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) monitoring cancer therapy and magnetic tissue engineering are also addressed.     

Synthetic strategies toward the synthesis of polyphenolic natural products: Pauciflorol F and isopaucifloral F: A review

Pauciflorol F and isopaucifloral F are very important polyphenolic natural products and exhibit a variety of biological activities such as antibiotic, anticancer, anti-HIV, antioxidant, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activities. These important molecules have gained significant attraction of medicinal chemists and several new strategies have been developed toward the synthesis of pauciflorol F and isopaucifloral F. This review article summarizes the major synthetic approaches adopted for the synthesis of these two indanone-based compounds.     

Dynamic interfaces between cells and surfaces: electroactive substrates that sequentially release and attach cells

An electroactive substrate that combines dual dynamic properties is demonstrated. A monolayer is patterned to first release an immobilized ligand, and therefore adherent cells, on application of an electrical potential. Subsequently, electrical oxidation of the substrate results in immobilization of ligands, and migration of adherent cells.