Magnetic nanoparticles (Fe<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> &amp; Co<Subscript>3</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript>) and their applications in urea biosensing

Nanobiotechnology has opened a new and exciting opportunities for exploring urea biosensor based on magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) mainly Fe₃O₄ and Co₃O₄. These NPs have been extensively exploited to develop biosensors with stability, selectivity, reproducibility and fast response time. This review gives an overview of the development of urea biosensor based on Fe₃O₄ and Co₃O₄ for in vitro diagnostic applications along with significant improvements over the last few decades. Additionally, effort has been made to elaborate properties of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in biosensing aspects. It also gives details of recent developments in hybrid nanobiocomposite based urea biosensor.     

Two new rare-class tetracyclic diterpenoids from Otostegia limbata

Two new tetracyclic diterpenoids trivially named as limbatenolide D (1) and limbatenolide E (2) have been isolated from Otostegia limbata. The structure elucidation of the compounds was based primarily on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques and on comparison with the literature data.     

Complete (1)H and (13)C NMR assignments of two new trans-clerodane diterpenoids from Otostegia limbata

Two new tricyclic trans-clerodane diterpenoids trivially named as ballotenic acid A (1) and ballodiolic acid A (2) have been isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of Otostegia limbata. The structure assignments are based on (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra, 2D NMR (HMQC, HMBC, COSY, NOESY and NOE) techniques and comparison with the literature data.     

Development of Antibacterial,Degradable and pH-Responsive Chitosan/Guar Gum/Polyvinyl Alcohol Blended Hydrogels for Wound Dressing

The present research is based on the fabrication preparation of CS/PVA/GG blended hydrogel with nontoxic tetra orthosilicate (TEOS) for sustained paracetamol release. Different TEOS percentages were used because of their nontoxic behavior to study newly designed hydrogels’ crosslinking and physicochemical properties. These hydrogels were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and wetting to determine the functional, surface morphology, hydrophilic, or hydrophobic properties. The swelling analysis in different media, degradation in PBS, and drug release kinetics were conducted to observe their response against corresponding media. The FTIR analysis confirmed the components added and crosslinking between them, and surface morphology confirmed different surface and wetting behavior due to different crosslinking. In various solvents, including water, buffer, and electrolyte solutions, the swelling behaviour of hydrogel was investigated and observed that TEOS amount caused less hydrogel swelling. In acidic pH, hydrogels swell the most, while they swell the least at pH 7 or higher. These hydrogels are pH-sensitive and appropriate for controlled drug release. These hydrogels demonstrated that, as the ionic concentration was increased, swelling decreased due to decreased osmotic pressure in various electrolyte solutions. The antimicrobial analysis revealed that these hydrogels are highly antibacterial against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus) and Gram negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) bacterial strains. The drug release mechanism was 98% in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) media at pH 7.4 in 140 min. To analyze drug release behaviour, the drug release kinetics was assessed against different mathematical models (such as zero and first order, Higuchi, Baker–Lonsdale, Hixson, and Peppas). It was found that hydrogel (CPG2) follows the Peppas model with the highest value of regression (R² = 0.98509). Hence, from the results, these hydrogels could be a potential biomaterial for wound dressing in biomedical applications.     

Current advances in molecularly imprinted polymers and their release mechanisms in drug delivery systems

Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) has gained wide interest among researchers due to its unique molecular recognition of the template that is suitable as a drug carrier. Therefore, the preparation and formulation of the MIP are significant to suit the needs of the intended use. Due to its significance in drug delivery, this review aims to highlight various methods in the preparation of MIP, the composition for both controlled and stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems, and the release mechanism of the drugs. In drug delivery systems, MIP should have a sustained release performance as well as flexibility in surface modification for targeted delivery via a range of stimuli-responses, including  external stimuli (magnetic, light) and internal stimuli (pH, temperature, redox, biological). The properties of sustained release and targeted delivery of the MIP can improve the drug's therapeutic efficacy as well as the breakthrough for the tumor targeting application.     

Intermolecular stacking in pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine‐based pentamethylene‐linked flexible ­molecules

The crystal structures of 1‐{5‐[4,6‐bis­(methyl­sulfanyl)‐2H‐py­razolo­[3,4‐d]­pyrimidin‐2‐yl]­pentyl}‐6‐methyl­sulfanyl‐4‐(pyr­rolidin‐1‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazolo­[3,4‐d]­pyrimidine, C₂₂H₂₉N₉S₃, and 6‐methyl­sulfanyl‐1‐{5‐[6‐methyl­sulfanyl‐4‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐2H‐pyrazolo­[3,4‐d]­pyrimidin‐2‐yl]­pentyl}‐4‐(pyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazolo­[3,4‐d]­pyrimidine, C₂₅H₃₄N₁₀S₂, which differ in having either a pyrrolidine substituent or a methylsulfanyl group, show intermolecular stacking due to aromatic π–π interactions between the pyrazolo­[3,4‐d]­pyrimidine rings.     

Investigations of Viscous Dissipation in Stagnation Point Flow Past a Stretchable Riga Wall: Modern Analysis of Heat Transport

This article scrutinizes the features of viscous dissipation in the stagnation point flow past through a linearly stretched Riga wall by implementing Cattaneo-Christov heat flux model. Viscous dissipation is carried out in Cattaneo-Christov diffusion analysis for the first time in this letter. As a result of Cattaneo-Christov model, some extra terms of viscous dissipation are appeared in the energy equation. These extra terms of viscous dissipation are missing in the literature. On the utilization of suitable transformations, the equations governing the problem are reduced under the boundary layer approximation into the non-linear and dimensionless ordinary differential equations. Convergent approach is utilized to solve the dimensionless governing equations. The solution thus acquired is used to highlight the effects of emerging parameters on velocity distribution and fluid's temperature through the graphs. Features of the drag force (or skin friction co-efficient) are graphically interpreted. It is noticed that the presence of modified Hartman number helps to reduce the fluid's temperature but enhances the velocity profile. Further an enlargement in the value of thermal time relaxation parameter helps to decrease the temperature distribution.     

Generalized holographic dark energy model

In this paper, the model of the holographic Chaplygin gas has been extended to two general cases: first the case of a modified variable Chaplygin gas and second the case of the viscous generalized Chaplygin gas. The dynamics of the model is expressed by the use of scalar fields and scalar potentials.     

Highly Sensitive and Selective Eco-Toxic 4-Nitrophenol Chemical Sensor Based on Ag-Doped ZnO Nanoflowers Decorated with Nanosheets

Herein, we have developed a novel sensing electrode to detect the eco-toxic 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Ag-doped-ZnO nanoflowers were synthesized by facile hydrothermal method and examined by several characterization techniques in order to understand the morphology, crystal structure, composition, and surface properties. Morphological results were confirmed by the formation of Ag-doped ZnO nanoflowers decorated with nanosheets. Ag-doped ZnO/glassy carbon electrode (GCE) electrode-material-matrix was used for electrochemical sensing of toxic 4-NP. Under optimized conditions, Ag-doped ZnO/GCE modified electrode exhibits high-sensitivity and selectivity compared to the bare GCE electrode. The Ag-doped ZnO/GCE modified electrode exhibits high electrocatalytic oxidation towards 4-NP. Anodic peak current of 4-NP is increased linearly by increasing the concentration of nitrophenol. Additionally, Ag-doped ZnO/GCE shows a wide range of sensitivity from 10 µM to 500 µM, and a linear calibration plot with a good detection limit of 3 µM (S/N = 3). The proposed Ag-doped ZnO/GCE modified electrode showed high sensing stability. In addition, the oxidation mechanism was studied. The obtained results revealed that the Ag-ZnO/GCE electrode could be the promising sensing electrode for 4-NP sensing.     

Ultra-sensitive hydrazine chemical sensor based on high-aspect-ratio ZnO nanowires

High-aspect-ratio ZnO nanowires based ultra-sensitive hydrazine amperometric sensor has been fabricated which showed a high and reproducible sensitivity of 12.76 μA cm⁻² nM⁻¹, detection limit, based on S/N ratio, 84.7 nM, response time less than 5 s, linear range from 500 to 1200 nM and correlation coefficient of R = 0.9989. This is the first report in which such a very high-sensitivity and low detection limit has been achieved for the hydrazine sensors by using ZnO nanostructures modified electrodes. Therefore, this work opens a way to utilize simply grown ZnO nanostructures as an efficient electron mediator to fabricate efficient hydrazine sensors.