In vitro and in vivo investigations on the photodynamic activity of core-modified expanded porphyrin--ammonium salt of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(meso-p-sulfonato phenyl)-25,27,29-trithia sapphyrin

The core modification of expanded porphyrins has been proved to have better photochemical properties, which are favorable for photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. In this context, this study was aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo photodynamic activity of one such core-modified expanded porphyrin, namely, ammonium salt of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(meso-p-sulfonato phenyl)-25,27,29-trithia sapphyrin. For the in vitro studies, human erythrocytes were used as a membrane semimodel system to investigate the partitioning ability and drug-uptake characteristics. The partition studies on the membrane semimodel system revealed that maximum partitioning occurs at 12 microgm/mL concentration, and from the drug-uptake studies it is observed that maximum amount of the sensitizer is bound to the erythrocyte membranes during a 45 min incubation period. Photohemolysis studies at different concentrations of the sensitizer and exposure time showed maximum damage at 5 microgm/mL and 30 min exposure time. In vivo studies were performed on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)nthracene-induced superficial squamous cell carcinoma on mouse skin. The sensitizer at a concentration of 2.5% in 2.0% dimethyl sulfoxide was applied topically on the tumor spot. After 1 h incubation the tumor spot was exposed to laser irradiation from Nd-YAG laser at its second harmonic wavelength of 532 nm. The photodynamic efficacy was estimated by tumor volume measurements at regular intervals after the treatment. One month after PDT exposure a 3.9-fold decrease in the tumor volume was observed with respect to the tumor volume before treatment. The treatment efficacy was further confirmed by histological and fluorescence spectroscopic evaluations of the tissue biopsy sample from the treated area. The results of our study suggest that the ammonium salt of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(meso-p-sulfonato phenyl)-25,27,29-trithia sapphyrin may find possible applications in the new modality of cancer treatment.     

Immobilization of single-strand specific nuclease (S1 nuclease) fromAspergillus oryzae

S1 nuclease fromAspergillus oryzae (EC 3.1.30.1) was coupled to gelatin-alginate composite matrix using the residual free aldehyde groups on the surface of glutaraldehyde crosslinked matrix. The immobilized enzyme retained approximately 10% activity of the soluble enzyme. When partially purified enzyme was bound to the matrix, the immobilized preparation did not show any detectable enzyme activity. However, the activity could be restored when the coupling was carried out in the presence of a coprotein or substrate. The optimum pH of the immobilized S1 nuclease shifted to 3.8 from 4.3 for the soluble enzyme. Also, optimum temperature increased to 65°C after immobilization. Bound S1 nuclease showed increased pH and temperature stabilities. Immobilization brought about a twofold decrease in the Michaelis-Menton constant (K _m).     

Estimation of 90Sr in reprocessed uranium oxide samples

Summary A method has been developed for the estimation of ⁹⁰Sr in reprocessed uranium oxide samples obtained from the Purex processing of natural uranium spent fuel discharged from the research reactor. The method employs a combination of precipitation and solvent extraction procedure to eliminate other beta-impurities prior to resorting to the estimation of ⁹⁰Sr by beta-counting. ¹⁰⁶Ru was eliminated by volatalizing with perchloric acid, uranium was removed by carrier precipitation with strontium as sulphate. The sulphate precipitate was converted to carbonate and dissolved in nitric acid. ²³⁴Th and ²³⁴Pa were eliminated by synergistic solvent extraction using tri-n-butyl phosphate and thenoyl trifluoroacetone extractant mixture in xylene. An iron scavenging step was included to remove any residual impurities. Finally, strontium is precipitated as SrC₂O₄^. H₂O. The separated ⁹⁰Sr activity was followed to check the equilibrium growth of ⁹⁰Y.     

Purification and Characterization of Gum-Derived Polysaccharides of Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica and Their Applications as Plant Stimulants and Bio-Pesticidal Agents

Plant gums are bio-organic substances that are derived from the barks of trees. They are biodegradable and non-adverse complex polysaccharides that have been gaining usage in recent years due to a number of advantages they contribute to various applications. In this study, gum was collected from Moringa oleifera and Azadirachta indica trees, then dried and powdered. Characterizations of gum polysaccharides were performed using TLC, GC-MS, NMR, etc., and sugar molecules such as glucose and xylose were found to be present. Effects of the gums on Abelmoschus esculentus growth were observed through root growth, shoot growth, and biomass content. The exposure of the seeds to the plant gums led to bio stimulation in the growth of the plants. Poor quality soil was exposed to the gum polysaccharide, where the polysaccharide was found to improve soil quality, which was observed through soil analysis and SEM analysis of soil porosity and structure. Furthermore, the plant gums were also found to have bio-pesticidal activity against mealybugs, which showed certain interstitial damage evident through histopathological analysis.     

Improvement on Quantum Teleportation of Three and Four Qubit States Using Multi-Qubit Cluster States

International Journal of Theoretical Physics - In 2016, Li et al. [Int. J. Theor. Phys. 55, 1820–1823 (2016)] proposed schemes for quantum teleportation of certain class of three and four...     

A Simple and Environmentally Benign Nitration of Pyrazoles by Impregnated Bismuth Nitrate

We report herein a facile, rapid, and environmentally friendly synthesis of nitropyrazoles in good yields using silica‐bismuth nitrate and silica‐sulfuric acid‐bismuth nitrate at room temperature for the first time. The relatively non‐toxic nature, ease of handling, easy availability, and low cost make the present procedure attractive for the nitration of a wide variety of diazoles in the drug and pharmaceutical industries.     

Radiation chemistry of tris(acetylacetonato) cobalt(iii) in aqueous solutions

Abstract

On radiolysis tris(acetylacetonato) cobalt(III) in aqueous solutions is found to get reduced by reaction with (1) hydrated electrons, (2) H atoms, (3) OH radicals and (4) C₂H₂OH radicals. The bimolecular rate constants for the first three reactions, determined by competition kinetics are: 4 × 10¹⁰, 2.3 × 10⁹ and 4.7 × 10⁹ M^?1sec^?1 respectively. Absorption spectra of the irradiated solutions indicate the formation of bis(acetylacetonato) cobalt(II) from reaction (1), but not from (3). The total cobaltous yield in air-free solutions is given byG(Co⁺⁺) = 5.6 and 6.5 at pH 6.5 and 1 respectively. It appears that G_eaq- ∽ _H ⁺ G_oH ∽ 2.8 in neutral solutions. Considerations of material balance for the primary yields of radiolysis of water suggest the possibility that the so-called independent H-atoms in neutral solutions are probably excited water molecules or ion-pairs.     

High‐performance liquid chromatographic enantioseparation of (RS)‐bupropion using isothiocyanate‐based chiral derivatizing reagents

A high‐performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for enantioseparation of bupropion was developed using two isothiocyanate‐based chiral derivatizing reagents, (S)‐1‐(1‐naphthyl) ethyl isothiocyanate, (S)‐NEIT, and (R)‐α‐methyl benzyl isothiocyanate, (R)‐MBIT. The diastereomers synthesized with (S)‐NEIT were enantioseparated by reversed‐phase HPLC using gradient elution with mobile phase containing water and acetonitrile, whereas diastereomers synthesized with (R)‐MBIT were enantioseparated using triethyl amine phosphate buffer and methanol. Derivatization conditions were optimized and the method was validated for accuracy, precision and limit of detection. The limit of detection was found to be 0.040–0.043 µg/mL for each of the diastereomers prepared with (S)‐NEIT. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

E.S.R. and D.S.C. investigations of phase transitions in polymorphic 4-n-alkoxybenzylidene-4′-n-alkylanilines

Abstract

It is shown that the McMillan parameter M = T _SAN/T _N1 (where T _SAN and T _NI are respectively the temperatures of the smectic A to nematic (SAN) and the nematic to isotropic (NI) phase transitions) is useful in analysing the crossover between second and first order behaviour of the S_NN transition in the nO.m homologous liquid crystal series (the 4-n-alkoxybenzylidene-4′-n-alkylanilines). Using a phase diagram of orientational ordering versus M for this series, as obtained in this work (from E.S.R. and D.S.C), a symmetric tricritical point with mean field exponent β₂ = 1 is demonstrated. In a preliminary study of E.S.R. linewidth parameters B and C of nitroxide spin probes dissolved in members of the nO.m series exhibiting a first order S_AN transition, critical-type divergences are observed near this transition. In the case where M is closer to 0.959 (the value at the tricritical point), these divergences appear similar to those previously observed in related nO.m members with a second order S_AN transition; however, they are considerably enhanced for an M value closer to unity (i.e. more removed from the tricritical point). This indicates the importance of coupling between orientational and positional order parameters in the observed critical-type divergences.