Structural investigation of viscoelastic micellar water/CTAB/NaNO<Subscript>3</Subscript> solutions

A highly viscoelastic worm-like micellar solution is formed in hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in the presence of sodium nitrate (NaNO₃). A gradual increase in micellar length with increasing NaNO₃ was assumed from the rheological measurements where the zero-shear viscosity (η ₀) versus NaNO₃ concentration curve exhibits a maximum. However, upon increase in temperature, the viscosity decreases. Changes in the structural parameters of the micelles with addition of NaNO₃ were inferred from small angle neutron scattering measurements (SANS). The intensity of scattered neutrons in the low q region was found to increase with increasing NaNO₃ concentration. This suggests an increase in the size of the micelles and/or decrease of intermicellar interaction with increasing salt concentration. Analysis of the SANS data using prolate ellipsoidal structure and Yukawa form of interaction potential between micelles indicate that addition of NaNO₃ leads to a decrease in the surface charge of the ellipsoidal micelles which induces micellar growth. Cryo-TEM measurements support the presence of thread-like micelles in CTAB and NaNO₃.      

Bianchi Type <Emphasis Type="Italic">VI</Emphasis><Subscript>0</Subscript> Magnetized Barotropic Bulk Viscous Fluid Massive String Universe in General Relativity

A model of a cloud formed by massive strings is studied in the context of the usual general relativity. This model is used as a source of Bianchi type VI ₀ massive with magnetic field and bulk viscosity. To get a determinate model, we assume that the expansion (θ) in the model is proportional to the shear (σ) and also the fluid obeys the barotropic equation of state. The behaviour of the models from physical and geometrical aspects in presence and absence of magnetic field and bulk viscosity is discussed.     

Determination of nicotinamide by stopped-flow injection method in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple stopped-flow injection system with spectrophotometric detection was proposed for the determination of nicotinamide (NAM) in pharmaceutical formulations. In this system cyanogen chloride formed from the combination of an acidic KSCN with the NaClO streams reacts with injected NAM to form glutaconic aldehyde. Then the product of these three components was coupled with another buffered (pH 3.5) stream of barbituric acid and directed towards the detector. A 45 s after sample injection the pump was stopped for 130 s. During this time the reactants in the flow cell were provided with the required temperature (40 °C) by placing the cell in a home made cell jacket to increase the yield of the polymethine dye product. Eventually, the absorbance of the formed pink color dye was monitored spectrophotometrically at 560 nm and NAM in the concentration range of 1.0–25.0 μg/mL (R = 0.9974 and D.L = 0.5 μg/mL) was determined. The results obtained by this method were compared statistically and agree with those obtained by the method described in the British Pharmacopoeia.     

Optical metal-organic framework sensor for selective discrimination of some toxic metal ions in water

This paper reports the development of a facile and effective approach, based on the use of Zr-based metal-organic frameworks (UiO-66) sensor with micropores geometry, shape and particle morphology for the visual detection and removal of ultra-traces of some toxic metal ions such as Bi(III), Zn(II), Pb(II), Hg(II) and Cd(II). UiO-66 was used as selective carriers for accommodating hydrophobic chromophore probes such as dithizone (DZ) without coupling agent for sensitive and selective discrimination of trace level of toxic analytes. The developed UiO-66 sensor was utilized for the detection of ultra-traces of some toxic metal ions with the naked eye. The new sensor displays high sensitivity and selectivity of a wide range of detectable metals analytes up to 10⁻¹⁰ mol dm⁻³ in solution, in a rapid analyte uptake response (seconds). The developed sensor is stable, cost effective, easy to prepare, and would be useful for rapid detection and removal of ultra-traces of toxic metal ions in water samples.     

Highly Efficient Synthesis of 3,5-Diaryl-1,2,4-thiadiazoles in Water–Wet Paste Conditions

1,3-Dibromo-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (N,N’-dibromo phenytoin) was efficiently used for the rapid conversion of thiobenzamides to the corresponding 3,5-diaryl-1,2,4-thiadiazoles in water–wet paste conditions.

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Spectrophotometric Studies of Entrapped Thymol Phtalein pH Indicator into Sol‐Gel Matrix

This research involves the behavior of thymol phtalein pH indicator entrapped into the sol‐gel derived inorganic matrix. The method is based on the physical entrapment of the reagent molecules in the sol‐gel matrix. The immobilized thymol phthalein pH indicator shows behavior similar to its solution counterpart. The UV/vis spectra indicate that the thymol phthalein retains its structure during the sol‐gel reactions in terms of response to pH. Thymol phthalein can be regarded as uniformly distributed in the sol‐gel matrix. This observation has been confirmed using polarized microscopy. This research shows that thymol phtalein can be immobilized in sol‐gel glasses and used as a solid pH sensor.     

Is PF-00835231 a Pan-SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitor? A Comparative Study

The COVID-19 outbreak continues to spread worldwide at a rapid rate. Currently, the absence of any effective antiviral treatment is the major concern for the global population. The reports of the occurrence of various point mutations within the important therapeutic target protein of SARS-CoV-2 has elevated the problem. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is a major therapeutic target for new antiviral designs. In this study, the efficacy of PF-00835231 was investigated (a Mpro inhibitor under clinical trials) against the Mpro and their reported mutants. Various in silico approaches were used to investigate and compare the efficacy of PF-00835231 and five drugs previously documented to inhibit the Mpro. Our study shows that PF-00835231 is not only effective against the wild type but demonstrates a high affinity against the studied mutants as well.     

Phosphorylated cellulose for water purification: a promising material with outstanding adsorption capacity towards methylene blue

Cellulose - Enhancing the sorption properties of cellulose is a prerequisite for its efficient use in water purification as an alternative to costly activated carbon. Here, solvent-free...     

Utilization of silica–chitosan nanocomposite for removal of 152+154Eu radionuclide from aqueous solutions

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - Nano-silica (Si-AL800) was extracted from the thermally treated rice husk ash by acid leaching route. Coating surface of the extracted silica with...     

Evaluation of 2-Thioxoimadazolidin-4-one Derivatives as Potent Anti-Cancer Agents through Apoptosis Induction and Antioxidant Activation: In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most widespread malignancies and is reported as the fourth most prevalent cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the probable mechanistic cytotoxic effect of the promising 2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one derivative on liver cancer cells using in vitro and in vivo approaches. The compounds were tested for the in vitro cytotoxic activity using MTT assay, and the promising compound was tested in colony forming unit assay, flow cytometric analysis, RT-PCR, Western blotting, in vivo using SEC-carcinoma and in silico to highlight the virtual mechanism of action. Both compounds 4 and 2 performed cytotoxic effects against HepG2 cells with IC₅₀ values of 0.017 and 0.18 μM, respectively, compared to Staurosporine and 5-Fu as reference drugs with IC₅₀ values of 5.07 and 5.18 µM, respectively. Compound 4 treatment revealed apoptosis induction by 19.35-fold (11.42% compared to 0.59% in control), arresting the cell cycle at G2/M phase. Moreover, studying gene expression that plays critical roles in cell cycle and apoptosis by RT-PCR demonstrated that compound 4 enhances the expression of the pro-apoptotic genes p53, PUMA, and Caspase 3, 8, and 9, and impedes the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene in the HepG2 cells. It can also inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway at both gene and protein levels, which was reinforced by the in silico predictions of the molecular docking simulations towards the PI3K/AKT proteins. Finally, in vivo study verified that compound 4 has a promising anti-cancer activity through activating antioxidant levels (CAT, SOD and GSH) and ameliorating hematological, biochemical, and histopathological findings.