Functionalization of short multi-walled carbon nanotubes with creatinine and aromatic aldehydes via microwave and thermal methods and their influence on the MKN45 and MCF7 cancer cells

The chemical functionalization of carboxylated short multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Sh–MWCNT–COOH) by creatinine (Sh–MWCNT–amide) and later modification with aromatic aldehydes for producing 2-amino-5-arylidene-1-methyl-1H–imidazol-4(5H)-one (Sh–MWCNT–imidazols) via thermal and microwave methods have been investigated. All the products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, derivative thermogravimetric and cellular investigations. These functionalizations have been chosen due to the active sites of CC and carbonyl groups in Sh–MWCNT–imidazols, which might be used as functional materials in the future. MTT assay was used to examine the behavior of cell proliferation after 72 h of cell culture experiments. Cellular investigations were performed for two kinds of cells, human breast and gastric cancer cells. Cellular results showed high toxicity of modified Sh–MWCNTs on the gastric cancer cells compared to breast cells.     

Water Structure Modification by Sugars and Its Consequence on Micellization Behavior of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide in Aqueous Solution

Water structure modification by sugars with a wide difference in stereoregular structures ranging from monosaccharide to trisaccharide and its consequence on the micellization behavior of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in aqueous medium have been investigated. The characteristic variation in water absorption peaks in the presence of d(?)fructose has been studied by near-infrared spectroscopy. The analyses show that the hydrogen bonding capability of d(+)glucose, d(?)fructose, sucrose, trehalose and raffinose is mainly responsible for the variation in water-additive interactions. The critical micelle concentration determined by specific conductivity measurement and aggregation number determined by steady state fluorescence quenching method show significant variations in presence of additives for CTAB in aqueous solution. The sugars interact with the water structure to varying extents owing to differences in hydrogen bonding capability depending on the stereoregularity of the structure. This induces differences in the microenvironment for competition between the hydrophobic interaction and degree of hydration of the hydrophilic group of the surfactant to ultimately influence the micellization behavior in aqueous solution.     

Determination of total arsenic in soil and arsenic-resistant bacteria from selected ground water in Kandal Province, Cambodia

Cambodia has geological environments conducive to generation of high-arsenic groundwater and people are at high risk of chronic arsenic exposure. The aims of this study are to investigate the concentration of total arsenic and to isolate and identify arsenic-resistant bacteria from selected locations in Kandal Province, Cambodia. The INAA technique was used to measure the concentration of total arsenic in soils. The arsenic concentrations in soils were above permissible 5 mg/kg, ranging from 5.34 to 27.81 mg/kg. Bacteria resistant to arsenic from two arsenic-contaminated wells in Preak Russey were isolated by enrichment method in nutrient broth (NB). Colonies isolated from NB was then grown on minimal salt media (MSM) added with arsenic at increasing concentrations of 10, 20, 30, 50, 100 and 250 ppm. Two isolates that can tolerate 750 ppm of arsenic were identified as Enterobacter agglomerans and Acinetobacter lwoffii based on a series of biochemical, physiological and morphological analysis. Optimum growth of both isolates ranged from pH 6.6 to 7.0 and 30–35 °C. E. agglomerans and A. lwoffii were able to remove 66.4 and 64.1 % of arsenic, respectively at the initial concentration of 750 ppm, within 72 h of incubation. Using energy dispersive X-ray technique, the percentage of arsenic absorbed by E. agglomerans and A. lwoffii was 0.09 and 0.15 %, respectively. This study suggested that arsenic-resistant E. agglomerans and A. lwoffii removed arsenic from media due to their ability to absorb arsenic.     

Synthesis of sugar oxime ether surfactants

A straightforward synthesis of a novel class of sugar surfactants is described. The key step is the chemoselective condensation of a hydrophobic alkoxyamine with the resident aldehyde/ketone moiety on a hydrophilic sugar. Neither protection/deprotection of the sugars nor extensive product purification is required. The method allows for the facile adjustment of hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains of the sugar oxime ether surfactant and uses inexpensive, readily accessible, and renewable materials.     

Label-free PSA electrochemical determination by seed-mediated electrochemically-deposited gold nanoparticles on an FTO electrode

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - A facile and sensitive approach is introduced to precisely determine trace amounts of prostate specific antigen (PSA) by gold nanostructures deposited on...     

Spectroelectrochemical and electrochromic behavior of poly(methylene blue) and poly(thionine)-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - The increasing efforts devoted to fabricating electrochromic (EC) devices have motivated a lot of studies to develop new EC materials. Herein, we introduce...     

In Vitro and In Silico Screening and Characterization of Antimicrobial Napin Bioactive Protein in Brassica juncea and Moringa oleifera

The study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of Mustard (Brassica juncea) and Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extracts and coagulant protein for their potential application in water treatment. Bacterial cell aggregation and growth kinetics studies were employed for thirteen bacterial strains with different concentrations of leaf extracts and coagulant protein. Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MOS) and coagulant protein showed cell aggregation against ten bacterial strains, whereas leaf extract alone showed growth inhibition of five bacterial strains for up to 6 h and five bacterial strains for up to 3 h. Brassica juncea leaf extract (BJS) showed growth inhibition for up to 6 h, and three bacterial strains showed inhibition for up to 3 h. The highest inhibition concentration with 2.5 mg/mL was 19 mm, and furthermore, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (0.5 mg/mL) and MBC (1.5 mg/mL) were determined to have a higher antibacterial effect for <3 KDa peptides. Based on LCMS analysis, napin was identified in both MOS and BJS; furthermore, the mode of action of napin peptide was determined on lipoprotein X complex (LpxC) and four-chained structured binding protein of bacterial type II topoisomerase (4PLB). The docking analysis has exhibited moderate to potent inhibition with a range of dock score −912.9 Kcal/mol. Thus, it possesses antibacterial-coagulant potential bioactive peptides present in the Moringa oleifera purified protein (MOP) and Brassica juncea purified protein (BJP) that could act as an effective antimicrobial agent to replace currently available antibiotics. The result implies that MOP and Brassica juncea purified coagulant (BJP) proteins may perform a wide degree of antibacterial functions against different pathogens.     

Ionic Liquids Supported on Metal‐Organic Frameworks: Remarkable Adsorbents for Adsorptive Desulfurization

Acidic ionic‐liquids (IL) supported on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been shown to be beneficial for adsorptive desulfurization. A remarkable improvement in the adsorption capacity (ca. 71%) was observed in for ILs supported on MIL‐101 compared with virgin MIL‐101. The improved adsorptive performance might be explained by the acid–base interactions between the acidic ionic liquid and basic benzothiophene (BT). Moreover, from this study, it can be suggested that porous MOFs, supported with ionic liquids, may introduce a new class of highly porous adsorbents for the efficient adsorption of various compounds.     

Vitamin D and Other Differentiation-promoting Agents as Neoadjuvants for Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer

The efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using aminolevulinic acid (ALA), which is preferentially taken up by cancerous cells and converted to protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), can be substantially improved by pretreating the tumor cells with vitamin D (Vit D). Vit D is one of several “differentiation-promoting agents” that can promote the preferential accumulation of PpIX within the mitochondria of neoplastic cells, making them better targets for PDT. This article provides a historical overview of how the concept of using combination agents (“neoadjuvants”) for PDT evolved, from initial discoveries about neoadjuvant effects of methotrexate and fluorouracil to later studies to determine how vitamin D and other agents actually work to augment PDT efficacy. While this review focuses mainly on skin cancer, it includes a discussion about how these concepts may be applied more broadly toward improving PDT outcomes in other types of cancer.