Dynamics of capillary flow of blood into a microfluidic channel

In this paper, a novel mathematical approach is devised to analyze the flow of blood from a droplet into a microcapillary channel. Special attention is devoted to estimate the effects of variable hydraulic resistance over different flow regimes, influence of suspended RBC particulates on the non-Newtonian flow characteristics and implications of a dynamically-evolving contact angle. Flow characteristics depicting advancement of the fluid within the microfluidic channel turn out to be typically non-linear, as per relative instantaneous strengths of the capillary forces and viscous resistances. It is found that the greater the 'pseudoplasticity' of the blood, the weaker the retarding shear forces. The driving forces, on the other hand, become stronger with time, on account of a reduction of contact angle with a decrease of blood flow velocity, although this strengthening is less prominent for blood samples with greater 'pseudoplasticity'. It is revealed that RBCs suspended in blood samples have a strong influence on the effective blood viscosity, and consequently, may drive the fluid significantly faster into the microchannel, especially when the characteristic length scales of the suspensions approach the hydraulic radius of the channel.     

Partially bio‐based poly(amide imide)s by polycondensation of aromatic diacylhydrazides based on lignin‐derived phenolic acids and aromatic dianhydrides: Synthesis,characterization, and computational studies

Two new bio‐based diacylhydrazide monomers, namely, 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diylbis(oxy))bis(3‐methoxybenzohydrazide) and 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diylbis(oxy))bis(3,5‐dimethoxybenzohydrazide) were synthesized starting from lignin‐derived phenolic acids, namely, vanillic acid and syringic acid. A series of poly(amide imide)s was synthesized by polycondensation of these diacylhydrazide monomers with commercially available aromatic dianhydrides. Poly(amide imide)s showed inherent viscosity in the range 0.44–0.56 dL g^?1 and exhibited good solubility in organic solvents. Poly(amide imide)s could be cast into transparent, flexible, and tough films from their N ,N‐dimethylacetamide solutions. Poly(amide imide)s showed 10% weight loss in the temperature range 340–364 °C indicating their good thermal stability. Glass transition temperature (T _g) of poly(amide imides)s were measured by DSC and DMA which were in the range 201–223 °C and 214–248 °C, respectively. The T _g values of poly(amide imide)s were dependent on the number methoxy substituents on aromatic rings of diacylhydrazide monomers. Molecular dynamics simulation studies revealed that chain rigidity is the dominant factor for observed trends in T _g. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 3636–3645     

Unusual Salt‐Induced Color Modulation through Aggregation‐Induced Emission Switching of a Bis‐cationic Phenylenedivinylene‐Based π Hydrogelator

The synthesis, hydrogelation, and aggregation‐induced emission switching of the phenylenedivinylene bis‐N‐octyl pyridinium salt is described. Hydrogelation occurs as a consequence of π‐stacking, van der Waals, and electrostatic interactions that lead to a high gel melting temperature and significant mechanical properties at a very low weight percentage of the gelator. A morphology transition from fiber‐to‐coil‐to‐tube was observed depending on the concentration of the gelator. Variation in the added salt type, salt concentrations, or temperature profoundly influenced the order of aggregation of the gelator molecules in aqueous solution. Formation of a novel chromophore assembly in this way leads to an aggregation‐induced switch of the emission colors. The emission color switches from sky blue to white to orange depending upon the extent of aggregation through mere addition of external inorganic salts. Remarkably, the salt effect on the assembly of such cationic phenylenedivinylenes in water follow the behavior predicted from the well‐known Hofmeister effects. Mechanistic insights for these aggregation processes were obtained through the counterion exchange studies. The aggregation‐induced emission switching that leads to a room‐temperature white‐light emission from a single chromophore in a single solvent (water) is highly promising for optoelectronic applications.     

Electro-kinetically driven route for highly sensitive blood pathology on a paper-based device

Enhancing the sensitivity of colorimetric detection in paper-devices is a quintessential step in achieving frugal diagnosis. Here, we demonstrate an effective way of improving the detection sensitivity of paper-based devices, as mediated by electro-kinetic mechanisms. By directly employing blood plasma, we investigate the electro-kinetic clustering of glucose, a neutral molecule in paper devices. Under the influence of uniform electric field, dispersed glucose gets accumulated in the paper strips. Due to the combination of EOF and electrophoretic migration, we achieve twofold increase in the colour intensity for both normal and diabetic samples. This approach is robust and possesses better sensitivity than conventional colorimetric assays and can be easily extended to other body fluid based diagnosis. These results may turn out to be of profound importance in improving the quality of pathological diagnosis in low-cost paper-based point-of-care devices deployed in resource-limited settings.     

Ionic size dependent electroosmosis in ion‐selective microchannels and nanochannels

Electrokinetics in salt‐free media (in which counterions are only present) is central to the performance of many systems of modern technological relevance, ranging from ion‐selective nanopores to electronic papers. Here, we introduce an analytical theory to describe the size dependence of electroosmosis in such typical scenarios, exhibiting an interesting confluence of the implications of interdependence of the electroosmotic transport mechanisms, ionic sizes, and confinement dimensions along with the counterion concentration. Our results do reveal that the concerned mobility parameter, describing the strength of electroosmotic transport, increases simultaneously with increments in the surface charge density as well as an ionic size factor (also known as the steric factor), bearing far‐ranging consequences in microfluidic and nanofluidic technology.     

Effect of residual Doppler averaging on the probe absorption in cascade type system: A comparative study

Effect of residual Doppler averaging on the probe absorption in an alkali vapor medium in the presence of a coherent pump beam is studied analytically for the Ξ type system. A coherent probe field is assumed to connect the ground level with the intermediate level whereas a coherent control beam is supposed to act between the intermediate energy level and the uppermost level. Optical Bloch equations(OBE) for a three-level Ξ type system and a four-level Ξ type system are derived by using density matrix formalism. These equations are solved by an analytic method to determine the probe response, which not only depends on the wavelength difference between the control(pump) field and the probe field but shows substantially different features depending on whether the wavelength of the control field is greater than that of the probe field or the reverse. The effect of temperature on probe response is also shown. Enhancement in probe absorption and additional features are noticed under a strong probe limit at room temperature. The four-level Ξ type system has two ground levels and this leads to substantial modification in the simulated probe absorption as compared to the three-level system.     

RAPTA complexes containing N‐substituted Tetrazole scaffolds: Synthesis,characterization and Antiproliferative activity

This work describes the synthesis of a series of Ru(II)‐Arene (Arene=p‐cymene, benzene) complexes using different N‐substituted tetrazole ligands and their PTA analogues. All the complexes have been characterized thoroughly using different analytical techniques. Antiproliferative activity of the synthesized complexes against different cell lines indicates remarkable activity of certain complexes up to nanomolar level. In few cases introduction of water soluble PTA (PTA = 1,3,5‐ triaza‐7‐phospha‐tricyclo‐[3.3.1.1]decane) ligand induce significant cytotoxic activity in the ruthenium complex with respect to their chloro analogues, particularly against Jurkat and MCF‐7 cell lines. Interaction with different biomolecules and stability of the RAPTA complexes have been explored in pseudo‐pharmacological conditions.     

[Bmim]BF4-immobilized rhenium-catalyzed highly efficient oxygenation of aldimines to oxaziridines using solid peroxides as oxidants

Various rhenium-based catalysts immobilized in [bmim]BF₄ were found to be efficient for oxygenation of various aldimines to the corresponding oxaziridines in excellent yields under mild conditions using solid peroxides like UHP, SPC and SPB as oxidants. Among the various rhenium-based catalysts studied, MTO was found to be most efficient. The reusability and recyclability of MTO immobilized in [bmim]BF₄ was established by using it for three subsequent cycles for oxygenation of benzylidine-tert-butylamine using UHP as oxidant.