Synthesis of Thermally Stable Energetic 1,2,3‐Triazole Derivatives

Various thermally stable energetic polynitro‐aryl‐1,2,3‐triazoles have been synthesized through Cu‐catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition reactions between their corresponding azides and alkynes, followed by nitration. These compounds were characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods and the solid‐state structures of most of these compounds have been determined by using X‐ray diffraction techniques. Most of the polynitro‐bearing triazole derivatives decomposed within the range 142–319 °C and their heats of formation and crystal densities were determined from computational studies. By using the Kamlet–Jacobs empirical relation, their detonation velocities and pressures were calculated from their heats of formation and crystal densities. Most of these newly synthesized compounds exhibited high positive heats of formation, good thermal stabilities, reasonable densities, and acceptable detonation properties that were comparable to those of TNT.     

A validated HPTLC method for quantification of cordifolioside A, 20-β-hydroxyecdysone and columbin with HPTLC–ESI–MS/MS characterization in stems of Tinospora cordifolia

JPC – Journal of Planar Chromatography – Modern TLC - The objective of the present work was to develop a simple, specific, and fast high-performance thin-layer chromatographic (HPTLC)...     

A simple CdS nanoparticles cascading approach for boosting N3 dye/ZnO nanoplates DSSCs overall performance

Enhanced photosensitization in presence of CdS nanoparticles is achieved in electrochemically deposited ZnO nanoplates and N3 loaded dye-sensitized solar cells. Chemically embedded CdS nanoparticles act as a sandwiching layer between ZnO nanoplates and dye molecules by overcoming current limiting serious Zn²⁺/dye insulating complex formation and CdS photo-corrosion issues. The X-ray diffraction and the scanning electron microscopy confirm the ZnO with vertically aligned nanoplates, perpendicular to the substrate surface. Amorphous CdS is monitored using electron dispersive X-ray analysis. The low and high resolution transmission electron microscope images confirm the presence of CdS nanoparticles over ZnO nanoplates which later is supported by an increase in optical absorbance and shift in band edge. About 400% increase in solar conversion efficiency with this cascade arrangement is achieved when compared with without CdS which could be fascinating while designing solid state solar cells in presence of suitable p-type layer.     

Computational studies on tetrazole derivatives as potential high energy materials

The tetrazole is an important functionality of the most of energetic materials due to 80% nitrogen content, stability, and high enthalpy of formation. The present structure–property relationship study focuses on the optimized geometries of tetrazole derivatives obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations at B3LYP/6-31G* levels. The heat of formation (HOF) of tetrazole derivatives have been calculated by designing the appropriate isodesmic reactions. The increase in nitro groups on azole rings shows the remarkable increase in HOF. Density has been predicted by using CVFF force field. Increase in the nitro group increases the density. Detonation properties of the designed compounds were evaluated by using the Kamlet–Jacobs equation based on predicted densities and HOFs. Designed tetrazole derivatives show detonation velocity (D) over 8 km/s and detonation pressure (P) of about 32 GPa. Thermal stability was evaluated via bond dissociation energies (BDE) of the weakest C–NO₂ bond at B3LYP/6-31G* level. Charge on the nitro group has been used to assess the sensitivity correlation. Overall, the study implies that designed compounds of this series are found to be stable and expected to be the novel candidates of high energy materials (HEMs).     

Multimodal Imaging and Phototherapy of Cancer and Bacterial Infection by Graphene and Related Nanocomposites

The advancements in nanotechnology and nanomedicine are projected to solve many glitches in medicine, especially in the fields of cancer and infectious diseases, which are ranked in the top five most dangerous deadly diseases worldwide by the WHO. There is great concern to eradicate these problems with accurate diagnosis and therapies. Among many developed therapeutic models, near infra-red mediated phototherapy is a non-invasive technique used to invade many persistent tumors and bacterial infections with less inflammation compared with traditional therapeutic models such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgeries. Herein, we firstly summarize the up-to-date research on graphene phototheranostics for a better understanding of this field of research. We discuss the preparation and functionalization of graphene nanomaterials with various biocompatible components, such as metals, metal oxides, polymers, photosensitizers, and drugs, through covalent and noncovalent approaches. The multifunctional nanographene is used to diagnose the disease with confocal laser scanning microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging computed tomography, positron emission tomography, photoacoustic imaging, Raman, and ToF-SMIS to visualize inside the biological system for imaging-guided therapy are discussed. Further, treatment of disease by photothermal and photodynamic therapies against different cancers and bacterial infections are carefully conferred herein along with challenges and future perspectives.     

Monitoring dehydration and condensation processes of Na2HPO4*12H2O using thermo-Raman spectroscopy

Thermal dehydration and condensation processes of disodium hydrogen phosphate dodecahydrate (Na2HPO4*12H2O) were monitored by thermo-Raman spectroscopy (TRS). Various hydrated forms Na2HPO4*12H2O, Na2HPO4*8H2O, Na2HPO4*7H2O, Na2HPO4*2H2O, Na2HPO4*H2O and Na2HPO4 were observed, followed by condensation of Na2HPO4 to sodium pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7) in a dynamic thermal process. Representative Raman spectra of all the hydrated forms Na2HPO4*12H2O, Na2HPO4*8H2O, Na2HPO4*7H2O, Na2HPO4*2H2O, Na2HPO4*H2O and Na2HPO4 were detected in both H2O and PO4(3- )regions are reported. The thermo-Raman intensity (TRI) thermogram also showed systematic loss of water in five steps of dehydration, with the differential TRI thermogram in agreement shows five dips corresponding to the five steps of dehydration, respectively. Thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG) are in harmony with the results of TRS, though, the two could not resolve the steps involved.     

Simple and rapid method for evaluating stickiness of cotton using thermogravimetric analysis

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with nitrogen and oxygen as carrier gas is used for the analysis of cotton lint samples for evaluating their stickiness. The advantage of the low melting point of trehalulose, a commonly found sugar, in the presence of oxygen as carrier gas is used for the evaluation. The oxidation of sugar present in the cotton lint results in increased weight around the melting point, which is proportional to the sugar content. The decomposition of the sugar further results in weight loss. This method is compared with the sticky cotton thermodetector and viscosity method for the estimation of sugar content. Good agreement between the methods suggests the usefulness and simplicity of TGA for estimation of stickiness in cotton.     

Noninvasive Assessment of UV-induced Skin Damage: Comparison of Optical Measurements to Histology and MMP Expression

Acute exposure to UV radiation (UVR) causes visible skin damage such as erythema and results in local and systemic immunosuppression while chronic exposure can result in photocarcinogenesis. These deleterious effects can be quantified by histology and by bioassays of key biological markers, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), or tryptophan moieties. We now report our results in quantifying UV skin damage with noninvasive optical methods based on reflectance and fluorescence spectroscopy and compare these noninvasive measurements to histopathology and MMP-13 expression. A solar simulator with spectral output nearly identical to that of solar radiation was developed and used in our experiments. SKH1 hairless mice were exposed to solar-simulated UVR at a total dose of 21 MED delivered over 10 weeks. Changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin were measured by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and tryptophan changes were monitored via a fluorescence monitor. Our results show that there is an increase in erythema, skin fluorescence, sunburn cells and MMP-13 after a series of suberythemal doses of UV irradiation on a hairless mouse animal model. Increased skin fluorescence is observed with increasing UV exposure. The levels of MMP-13 increase as the cumulative UV dose increases but their increase does not correspond to noninvasively measured changes.     

Chemical ionization of substituted naphthalenes using tetrahydrofuran as a reagent in gas chromatography with ion trap mass spectrometry

The ion/molecule reactions of nine monosubstituted naphthalene compounds in chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CI-MS) were studied using tetrahydrofuran (THF) as CI reagent. Proton affinity factors, substituent effects and the preferred site of adduct ion attachment were examined. Good correlation was observed between proton affinity and the formation of [M](+*) and [M+H](+) ions. The influence of substituents on protonation and site-specific adduct [M+13](+) and [M+41](+) ion formation is also observed, with the cyano substituent showing the most stable [M+41](+) ion. Collision-activated dissociation experiments were used to characterize the variety of adducts formed under CI conditions, and provided insight into product ion structures and mechanisms of dissociation and condensation during CI-MS/MS.     

Size limitations for the formation of ordered striped nanoparticles

A combination of immiscible molecules in the ligand shell of a gold nanoparticle (NP) has been shown to phase separate into a rippled structure; this phase separation can be used to direct the assembly of the NPs into chains. Here we demonstrate that only NPs within a certain size range can form chains, and we conclude that the rippled morphology of the ligand shell also exists only within that given size range. We corroborate this result with simulations of the ligand arrangement on NPs of various sizes.