Functionalization of Graphene Oxide and its Biomedical Applications

Graphene oxide (GO) offers interesting physicochemical and biological properties for biomedicine due to its versatility, biocompatibility, small size, large surface area, and its ability to interact with biological cells and tissues. GO is a two-dimensional material of exceptional strength, unique optical, physical, mechanical, and electronic properties. Ease of functionalization and high antibacterial activity are two major properties identified with GO. Due to its excellent aqueous processability, amphiphilicity, surface functionalization capability, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and fluorescence quenching ability, GO chemically exfoliated from oxidized graphite is considered a promising material for biological applications. In addition, due to π-π* transitions, a low energy is required for electron movement, a property important in Biosensor and Bioimaging applications of GO. In this article, we present an overview of current advances in GO applications in biomedicine and discuss future perspectives. We conclude that GO is going to play a vital role in Biomedical applications in the near future.     

Synthesis,characterization and antioxidant activity of bis (arylsulfonylmethyl/arylaminosulfonylmethylazolyl) pyridines

A new class of bis(arylsulfonylmethylazolyl)pyridines and bis(arylaminosulfonylmethyl-azolyl)pyridines were synthesized from the synthetic intermediates methyl arylsulfonylacetic acid hydrazide and methyl arylaminosulfonylacetic acid hydrazide adopting a green methodology-ultrasonication. All the synthesized compounds were resulted in higher yield and in shorter reaction times. The spectral parameters such as IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass and microanalyzes were used to determine the structures of all the synthesized compounds and were assayed for antioxidant activity. The bis(arylaminosulfonylmethylazolyl)pyridines showed higher radical scavenging activity than the bis(arylsulfonylmethylazolyl)pyridines. Besides, unsubstituted, and methyl substituted compounds exhibited greater activity. Among all the tested compounds 8b and 11b were identified as potential antioxidants.     

Neighbouring group effect on the kinetics of acetalisation of poly(vinyl alcohol)

A kinetic model for acetalisation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH) involving a neighbouring group effect has been developed using a statistical approach. Assuming that the acetalisation proceeds irreversibly, an effectiveness factor (defined as the ratio of the concentration of reactable hydroxyl groups to the total concentration of hydroxyl groups of the polymer) has been obtained as a function of conversion. When the effect of neighbouring groups on the reactivity of OH groups is neglected, the model predicts a maximum attainable conversion of 87% which compares well with that postulated by Flory for irreversible acetalisation. Possibilities of conversions > 87%, as reported by some investigators, are discussed. Flory accounted for such higher conversions by postulating reversibility of the acetalisation. Experimental studies reported in the literature, however, indicate the acetalisation to be essentially irreversible. It is shown here that the present model, with the inclusion of the neighbouring group effect, can account for such higher conversions even for irreversible acetalisation of PVOH.     

The dynamic analysis of circular plates and shallow spherical shells

In the investigation reported here an attempt has been made to study the influence of Berger's approximation on the non-linear transient response of circular plates and shallow spherical shells. The governing equations of motion obtained from Berger's approximation are solved by using the rapidly converging Chebyshev series spacewise and the Houbolt scheme for integration in the time domain. Results calculated when using Berger's approximation are compared with exact results. It is shown that Berger's method yields very accurate values for plates and shells under transient loading, in the case of immovable edge conditions.     

Synthesis and reactivity of enediynyl amino acids and peptides: a novel concept in lowering the activation energy of Bergman cyclisation by H-bonding and electrostatic interactions

Novel enediynyl amino acids and peptides 3 and 5-8 were synthesized and their thermal reactivity towards Bergman cyclization studied and compared with the earlier reported amino acid 4, which demonstrated, for the first time, the effect of H-bonding and electrostatic interactions in lowering the activation energy of Bergman cyclization.     

Alternative Synthesis and the Determination of Absolute Configuration of Docetaxel,an Anticancer Drug

Abstract

A simple, efficient, and alternative synthetic route for docetaxel with better control on the protection–deprotection sequence has been developed. The process is easily scalable and commercially viable, and critical impurities can be controlled efficiently. For the first time, absolute configuration of docetaxel was determined unambiguously by single-crystal x-ray diffraction.     

Numerical simulation of laminar flow past a circular cylinder

The present paper focuses on the analysis of two- and three-dimensional flow past a circular cylinder in different laminar flow regimes. In this simulation, an implicit pressure-based finite volume method is used for time-accurate computation of incompressible flow using second order accurate convective flux discretisation schemes. The computation results are validated against measurement data for mean surface pressure, skin friction coefficients, the size and strength of the recirculating wake for the steady flow regime and also for the Strouhal frequency of vortex shedding and the mean and RMS amplitude of the fluctuating aerodynamic coefficients for the unsteady periodic flow regime. The complex three dimensional flow structure of the cylinder wake is also reasonably captured by the present prediction procedure.