Low temperature synthesis of cubic phase zinc sulfide quantum dots

In this study, we report on a new method for the synthesis of ZnS quantum dots (QDs). The synthesis was carried out at low temperature by a chemical reaction between zinc ions and freshly reduced sulfide ions in ethanol as reaction medium. Zinc chloride and elemental sulfur were used as zinc and sulfur sources, respectively and hydrazine hydrate was used as a strong reducing agent to convert elemental sulfur (S₈) into highly reactive sulfide ions (S²⁻) which react spontaneously with zinc ions. This facile, less toxic, inexpensive route has a high yield for the synthesis of high quality metal sulfide QDs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image analysis and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) reveal that ZnS QDs are less than 3 nm in diameter and are of cubic crystalline phase. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum shows an absorption peak at 253 nm corresponding to a band gap of 4.9 eV, which is high when compared to the bulk value of 3.68 eV revealing strong quantum confinement. PL emission transitions are observed at 314 nm and 439 nm and related to point defects in ZnS QDs.     

Aggregation and interaction of cationic nanoparticles on bacterial surfaces

Cationic monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with sizes of 6 or 2 nm interact with the cell membranes of Escherichia coli (Gram-) and Bacillus subtilis (Gram+), resulting in the formation of strikingly distinct AuNP surface aggregation patterns or lysis depending upon the size of the AuNPs. The aggregation phenomena were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. Upon proteolytic treatment of the bacteria, the distinct aggregation patterns disappeared.     

Glycosides from Bougainvillea glabra

Three glycosides were isolated from Bougainvillea glabra and their structures were determined by extensive use of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy ((1)H and (13)C). First compound was identical to momordin IIc (quinoside D) [beta-D-glucopyranosyl 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1 --> 3)-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)] oleanolate], second compound was quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-(rhamnopyranosyl)(1 --> 6)-[alpha-L-rhamnopy-ranosyl(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-galactopyranoside and third compound was its derivative quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-(4-caffeoylrhamnopyranosyl)(1 --> 6)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 --> 2)]-beta-D-galactopyranoside, a new natural product.     

Ultrafast cooling of photoexcited electrons in gold nanoparticle-thiolated DNA conjugates involves the dissociation of the gold-thiol bond

Using UV-visible extinction spectroscopy and femtosecond pump-probe transient absorption spectroscopy, we have studied the effect of femtosecond laser heating on gold nanoparticles attached to DNA ligands via thiol groups. It is found that femtosecond pulse excitation of the DNA-modified nanoparticles at a wavelength of 400 nm leads to desorption of the thiolated DNA strands from the nanoparticle surface by the dissociation of the gold-sulfur bond. The laser-initiated gold-sulfur bond-breaking process is a new pathway for nonradiative relaxation of the optically excited electrons within the DNA-modified gold nanoparticles, as manifested by a faster decay rate of the excited electronic distribution at progressively higher laser pulse energies. The experimental results favor a bond dissociation mechanism involving the coupling between the photoexcited electrons of the nanoparticles and the gold-sulfur bond vibrations over one involving the conventional phonon-phonon thermal heating processes. The latter processes have been observed previously by our group to be effective in the selective photothermal destruction of cancer cells bound to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor-conjugated gold nanoparticles.     

Stability indicating methods for determination of Donepezil Hydrochloride according to ICH guidelines

Stability indicating assays for determination of Donepezil Hydrochloride in presence of its oxidative degradate were developed and validated. The first three are spectrophotometric methods depending on using zero order (D(0)), first order (D(1)) and second order (D(2)) spectra. The absorbance was measured at 315 nm for (D(0)) while the amplitude was measured at 332.1nm for (D(1)) and 340 nm for (D(2)) using deionized water as a solvent. Donepezil Hydrochloride (I) can be determined in the presence of up to 70% of its oxidative degradate (II) using (D(0)), 80% using (D(1)) and 90% using (D(2)). The linearity range was found to be 8-56 microg ml(-1) for (D(0)), (D(1)) and (D(2)). These methods were applied for the analysis of I in both powder and tablet form. Also, a spectrofluorimetric method depending on measuring the native fluorescence of I in deionized water using lambda excitation 226 nm and lambda emission 391 nm is suggested. The linearity range was found to be 0.32-3.20 microg ml(-1) using this method, I was determined in the presence of up to 90% of II. The proposed method was applied for the analysis of I in tablet form as well as in human plasma. The last method depends on using TLC separation of I from its oxidative degradate II and I was then determined spectrodensitometrically. The mobile phase was methanol : chloroform : 25% ammonia (16 : 64 : 0.1 by volume). The linearity range was found to be 2-15 microg/spot. This method was applied to the analysis of I in both powder and tablet form using acetonitrile as a solvent.     

Stability indicating methods for the determination of some fluoroquinolones in the presence of their decarboxylated degrades

Two stability-indicating methods, namely densitometric TLC and derivative spectrophotometry for the determination of the fluoroquinolone antibacterials lomefloxacin (Lfx), moxifloxacin (Mfx), and sparfloxacin (Sfx) in the presence of their acid degrades are described. Acid degradation was adopted and the main decarboxylated product separated by TLC. Degradation products were identified confirming a previously mentioned degradation scheme. The densitometric method is based on the separation of the intact drug from its acid degradation product on silica gel G plates using different mobile phases and the spots of the intact drugs were scanned at 288, 290, and 292 nm for Lfx, Mfx, and Sfx, respectively. The derivative spectrophotometric method utilizes first derivative D(1) UV spectrophotometry with zero crossing points at 295.2 nm for Lfx, 280.4 and 303.4 nm for Mfx, and 280.8 nm for Sfx. Regression analysis of Beer's plots showed good correlation in the concentration ranges 0.2-1.2, 0.1-1.4, and 0.5-2.0 microg/spot for Lfx, Mfx, and Sfx, respectively, in the densitometric method and 2-16 microg/ml for all drugs in the derivative spectrophotometric method. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of the investigated drugs in bulk powder with mean percentage accuracy ranges from 98.93 to 101.25% for the TLC method and from 98.18 to 100.35% for the D(1) method. The proposed methods were also applied for the determination of the investigated drugs in their pharmaceutical dosage forms and their validity was assessed using the standard addition technique with mean percentage recovery ranging from 100.25 to 101.70% in the TLC method and from 99.27 to 102.12% in the D(1) method. The selectivity of the proposed methods was tested by the analysis of laboratory-prepared mixtures containing different percentages of the studied drugs and their acid degrades. The proposed methods were found selective for the determination of the intact drugs in the presence of up to 90% of their degrades in the TLC method and 70% for Lfx and 90% for Mfx and Sfx in the D(1) method.     

Spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric stability-indicating methods for determination of some oxicams using 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl)

Two sensitive and selective spectrofluorimetric and spectrophotometric stability-indicating methods have been developed for the determination of some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory oxicam derivatives namely lornoxicam (Lx), tenoxicam (Tx) and meloxicam (Mx) after their complete alkaline hydrolysis. The methods are based on derivatization of alkaline hydrolytic products with 7-chloro-4-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole (NBD-Cl). The products showed an absorption maximum at 460 nm for the three studied drugs and fluorescence emission peak at 535 nm in methanol. The color was stable for at least 48 h. The optimum conditions of the reaction were investigated and it was found that the reaction proceeds quantitatively at pH 8, after heating in a boiling water bath for 30 min. The methods were found to be linear in the ranges of 1-10 microg ml(-1) for Lx and Tx and 0.5-4.0 microg ml(-1) for Mx for spectrophotometric method, while 0.05-1.0 microg ml(-1) for Lx and Tx and 0.025-0.4 microg ml(-1) for Mx for the spectrofluorimetric method. The validity of the methods was assessed according to USP guidelines. Statistical analysis of the results revealed high accuracy and good precision. The suggested procedures could be used for the determination of the above mentioned drugs in pure and dosage forms as well as in the presence of their degradation products.     

Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods for analysis of tramadol, acebutolol and dothiepin in pharmaceutical preparations

Sensitive spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods are described for the determination of tramadol, acebutolol and dothiepin (dosulepin) hydrochlorides. The two methods are based on the condensation of the cited drugs with the mixed anhydrides of malonic and acetic acids at 60 degrees C for 25-40 min. The coloured condensation products are suitable for the spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric determination at 329-333 and 431-434 nm (excitation at 389 nm), respectively. For the spectrophotometric method, Beer's law was obeyed from 0.5 to 2.5 microg ml(-1) for tramadol, dothiepin and 5-25 microg ml(-1) for acebutolol. Using the spectrofluorimetric method linearity ranged from 0.25 to 1.25 microg ml(-1) for tramadol, dothiepin and 1-5 microg ml(-1) for acebutolol. Mean percentage recoveries for the spectrophotometric method were 99.68+/-1.00, 99.95+/-1.11 and 99.72+/-1.01 for tramadol, acebutolol and dothiepin, respectively and for the spectrofluorimetric method, recoveries were 99.5+/-0.844, 100.32+/-0.969 and 99.82+/-1.15 for the three drugs, respectively. The optimum experimental parameters for the reaction has been studied. The validity of the described procedures was assessed. Statistical analysis of the results has been carried out revealing high accuracy and good precision. The proposed methods were successfully applied for the determination of the selected drugs in their pharmaceutical preparations with good recoveries. The procedures were accurate, simple and suitable for quality control application.     

Anodic behavior of tin, indium, and tin–indium alloys in oxalic acid solution

The anodic behavior of tin, indium, and tin–indium alloys was studied in oxalic acid solution using potentiodynamic technique and characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The E/I curves showed that the anodic behavior of all investigated electrodes exhibits active/passive transition. In the case of tin, the active dissolution region involves two anodic peaks (I and II) prior to permanent passive region. On the other hand, the active dissolution of indium involves four peaks (I–IV) prior to permanent passive region. The first (I) can be associated with the active dissolution of indium to InOOH, the second peak (II) to the formation of In(OH)₃, the third peak (III) to partially dehydration of In(OH)₃, and the peak (IV) to complete dehydration of In(OH)₃ to In₂O₃. When the surface is entirely covered with In₂O₃ film, the anodic current falls to a small value (I _pass) indicating the onset of passivation. The active dissolution potential region of the first three tin–indium alloys involves a net anodic contribution peak, and this is followed by a passive region. It is expected that the investigated peak is related to the formation of In₂O₃ and SnO (mixed oxides). When the formation of oxides (the oxides of In and Sn) exceeds its dissolution rate, the current drops, indicating the onset of passivation precipitation of In₂O₃/SnO and SnO₂ on the surface which blocks the dissolution of active sites. The alloys IV and V showed small second peak at about −620 mV which may be related to oxidation of In to In₂O₃ due to high In content in the two examined alloys. The active dissolution and passive current are increase with increasing temperature for all investigated metals and their alloys.     

Synthesis,Characterization, In Vitro Anticancer Potentiality,and Antimicrobial Activities of Novel Peptide–Glycyrrhetinic-Acid-Based Derivatives

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) is one of many interesting pentacyclic triterpenoids showing significant anticancer activity by triggering apoptosis in tumor cell lines. This study deals with the design and synthesis of new glycyrrhetinic acid (GA)–amino acid peptides and peptide ester derivatives. The structures of the new derivatives were established through various spectral and microanalytical data. The novel compounds were screened for their in vitro cytotoxic activity. The evaluation results showed that the new peptides produced promising cytotoxic activity against the human breast MCF-7 cancer cell line while comparing to doxorubicin. On the other hand, only compounds 3, 5, and 7 produced potent activity against human colon HCT-116 cancer cell line. The human liver cancer (HepG-2) cell line represented a higher sensitivity to peptide 7 (IC₅₀; 3.30 μg/mL), while it appeared insensitive to the rest of the tested peptides. Furthermore, compounds 1, 3, and 5 exhibited a promising safety profile against human normal skin fibroblasts cell line BJ-1. In order to investigate the mode of action, compound 5 was selected as a representative example to study its in vitro effect against the apoptotic parameters and Bax/BCL-2/p53/caspase-7/caspase-3/tubulin, and DNA fragmentation to investigate beta (TUBb). Additionally, all the new analogues were subjected to antimicrobial assay against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and the yeast candida Albicans. All the tested GA analogues 1–8 exhibited more antibacterial effect against Micrococcus Luteus than gentamicin, but they exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against the tested bacterial and yeast strains. Molecular docking studies were also simulated for compound 5 to give better rationalization and put insight to the features of its structure.