Bio-inspired sustainable synthesis of silver chloride nanoparticles and their prominent applications

Advanced nanotechnology is an enormously growing area due to its massive scope of applications for diverse domains of applied science and engineering. Numerous types of synthetic procedures are utilized for the creation of nanoparticles (NPs) due to their myriad application scenarios. However, known conventional physical and chemical strategies have a number of shortcomings. Consequently, the designs of facile, clean, safer, non-noxious, reliable, inexpensive and eco-friendly processes for manufacturing of NPs are being explored actively to circumvent these barriers. The phytogenic fabrication of NPs is much safer, one-pot, facile, and a sustainable methodology. Hence, divergent biological means like the use of plants, biopolymers, fungi, fibres, bacteria, enzymes, etc., are pursued the procurable biogenic fabrication of metallic NPs. In this review paper, current findings on the bio-inspired fabrication of silver chloride nanoparticles (AgCl-NPs) are deliberated, which have with their useful appliances in assorted sectors. The experimental protocols, advanced characterization techniques along with diverse applications of biogenically synthesized AgCl-NPs have been highlighted.     

Anticancer Properties of Highly Purified l-Asparaginase from Withania somnifera L. against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Withania somnifera L. has been traditionally used as a sedative and hypnotic. The present study was carried out for the purification, characterization, and in vitro cytotoxicity of l-asparaginase from W. somnifera L. l-Asparaginase was purified from the fruits of W. somnifera L. up to 95% through chromatography. The purified l-asparaginase was characterized by size exclusion chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), and 2D PAGE. The antitumor and growth inhibition effect of the l-asparaginase was assessed using [3-(4, 5-dimethyl-thiazol-2yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) colorimetric dye reduction method. The purified enzyme is a homodimer, with a molecular mass of 72 ± 0.5 kDa, and the pI value of the enzyme was around 5.1. This is the first report of the plant containing l-asparaginase with antitumor activity. Data obtained from the MTT assay showed a LD₅₀ value of 1.45 ± 0.05 IU/ml. W. somnifera L. proved to be an effective and a novel source of l-asparaginase. Furthermore, it shows a lot of similarity with bacterial l-asparaginases EC-2.     

A site-differentiated [4Fe–4S] cluster controls electron transfer reactivity of Clostridium acetobutylicum [FeFe]-hydrogenase I

One of the many functions of reduction–oxidation (redox) cofactors is to mediate electron transfer in biological enzymes catalyzing redox-based chemical transformation reactions. There are numerous examples of enzymes that utilize redox cofactors to form electron transfer relays to connect catalytic sites to external electron donors and acceptors. The compositions of relays are diverse and tune transfer thermodynamics and kinetics towards the chemical reactivity of the enzyme. Diversity in relay design is exemplified among different members of hydrogenases, enzymes which catalyze reversible H₂ activation, which also couple to diverse types of donor and acceptor molecules. The [FeFe]-hydrogenase I from Clostridium acetobutylicum (CaI) is a member of a large family of structurally related enzymes where interfacial electron transfer is mediated by a terminal, non-canonical, His-coordinated, [4Fe–4S] cluster. The function of His coordination was examined by comparing the biophysical properties and reactivity to a Cys substituted variant of CaI. This demonstrated that His coordination strongly affected the distal [4Fe–4S] cluster spin state, spin pairing, and spatial orientations of molecular orbitals, with a minor effect on reduction potential. The deviations in these properties by substituting His for Cys in CaI, correlated with pronounced changes in electron transfer and reactivity with the native electron donor–acceptor ferredoxin. The results demonstrate that differential coordination of the surface localized [4Fe–4S]His cluster in CaI is utilized to control intermolecular and intramolecular electron transfer where His coordination creates a physical and electronic environment that enables facile electron exchange between electron carrier molecules and the iron–sulfur cluster relay for coupling to reversible H₂ activation at the catalytic site.

Histidine coordination of the distal [4Fe–4S] cluster in [FeFe]-hydrogenase was demonstrated to tune the cluster spin-states, spin-pairing and surrounding molecular orbitals to enable more facile electron transfer compared to cysteine coordination.     

Direct observation of the ... 4+-to-2+ ... [corrected] gamma transition in 8Be

Electromagnetic transition rates provide an important test for nuclear structure models. The nucleus 8Be exhibits a pronounced alpha-cluster structure and is a building block for more complex cluster nuclei. Here we report on the first observation of the gamma transition between the 4(+) and 2(+) states of 8Be in the 4He+4He reaction. The measured on-resonance cross section of 165+/-54 nb leads to a B(E2) of25+/-8e(2) fm(4), in good agreement with alpha-cluster models and sophisticated ab initio structure calculations.     

Thermogravimetric—differential thermal analysis and paper chromatographic studies of complex alkali-polymethaphosphates

The polymerisation reactions leading to the formation of polyphosphates of the composition (M′_xM″_1?x/2PO₃)_n where M′ = K, or Cs and M″ = Zn, Mg or Ni have been studied by thermogravimetric methods. Differential thermal analysis has been employed for the above reaction mixtures in case of potassium derivatives. TG and DTA curves confirm the formation of complex alkali polymetaphosphates of the composition as mentioned. The absence of lower phosphates and of other cyclic phosphates has been further confirmed by paper chromatographic studies of the above-mentioned complex derivatives as well as of many other alkali polymetaphosphates prepared in an analogous manner.     

Glucocorticoid compounds modify smoothened localization and hedgehog pathway activity

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Highlights? Screened compound libraries for modulation of Smo movement to the primary cilium ? Identified glucocorticoids inducing Smo ciliary accumulation without activation ? They sensitize cells to Hh input and potentially modify the efficacy of Smo antagonists ? Identified a glucocorticoid inhibitor effective in inhibiting drug-resistant Smo mutants     

Some new electrically conducting complexes of nickel chelates

Some new complexes of organo-metallic nickel chelates with organic donors and acceptors and with halogens are found to have electrical resistivities lying in the semiconducting range. The results are discussed here briefly in terms of intermolecular interactions and molecular packing in the solid state. Ni₃O₂(OH)₄ — a mixed valence nickel compound was found to have metallic conductivity in the form of single crystals.     

Nickel complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridyl with strong intermolecular interactions

Nickel complexes of 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2′-bipyridyl which can have strong intermolecular interactions have been prepared in the present work. The complexes with intermolecular interactions appear pink, red or red-violet. Two of the complexes prepared Ni(Bip)₂ · Ni(CN)₄ · x H₂O and Ni(Phen)₂ · Ni(CN)₄ · y H₂O indeed show strong absorption bands at 470 nm and 500 nm, respectively.     

Rapid acquisition technique for MR elastography of the liver

Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) of the liver is a novel noninvasive clinical diagnostic tool to stage fibrosis based on measured stiffness. The purpose of this study is to design, evaluate and validate a rapid MRE acquisition technique for noninvasively quantitating liver stiffness which reduces by half the scan time, thereby decreasing image registration errors between four MRE phase offsets. In vivo liver MRE was performed on 16 healthy volunteers and 14 patients with biopsy-proven liver fibrosis using the standard clinical gradient recalled echo (GRE) MRE sequence (MREs) and a developed rapid GRE MRE sequence (MREr) to obtain the mean stiffness in an axial slice. The mean stiffness values obtained from the entire group using MREs and MREr were 2.72 ± 0.85 kPa and 2.7 ± 0.85 kPa, respectively, representing an insignificant difference. A linear correlation of R² = 0.99 was determined between stiffness values obtained using MREs and MREr. Therefore, we can conclude that MREr can replace MREs, which reduces the scan time to half of that of the current standard acquisition (MREs), which will facilitate MRE imaging in patients with inability to hold their breath for long periods.     

Luminescence study of γ-ray and C5+ ion beam-irradiated LiCaBO3:Cu phosphor

Cu-doped LiCaBO₃ phosphors were prepared by modified solid-state synthesis and the formation of compound was confirmed by X-ray diffraction study. LiCaBO₃:Cu⁺ (Cu?=?0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2?mol%) were studied for photoluminescence (PL) study and prominent PL emission spectra were obtained for Cu⁺ with transition ³d₉⁴s₁?→?³d₁₀. The phosphors were further studied by thermoluminescence (TL) property for exposure to γ-ray irradiation of 1.2?rad with ¹³⁷Cs source. TL of LiCaBO₃:Cu was also studied for C⁵⁺ (3.75?×?10¹²?ion?cm^?2) beam irradiation for 1?min exposure time. Trapping parameters (activation energy and frequency factor) for single deconvoluted peaks were obtained by Chen's peak shape method.