Reverse micellar synthesis and properties of nanocrystalline GMR materials (LaMnO3, La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 and La0.67Ca0.33MnO3): Ramifications of size considerations

Nanoparticles of complex manganites (viz. LaMnO₃, La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ and La_0.67Ca{0.33}MnO₃) have been synthesized using the reverse micellar route. These manganites are prepared at 800‡C and the monophasic nature of all the oxides has been established by powder X-ray diffraction studies. TEM studies show an average grain size of 68, 80 and 50 nm for LaMnO₃, La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ and La_0.67Ca{0.33}MnO₃respectively. Ferromagnetic ordering is observed at around 250 K for LaMnO₃, 350 K for La_0.67Sr_0.33MnO₃ and 200 K for La_0.67Ca{0.33}MnO₃. These Curie temperatures correspond well with those reported for bulk materials with similar composition.     

Optical reflectance of blue bronze crystals near the Peierls transition

We report on the reflectance of blue bronze crystals in the visible frequency range as a function of temperature. The observed large oscillations in the reflectance at all wavelengths at temperatures near the Peierls transition are interpreted as interference effects stemming from a surface layer. It is found that the surface layer, which appears to be tied to fluctuations, can be as much as 1.6 microns thick.     

Amberlite IR-120 catalysed efficient synthesis of glycosyl enamines and their application

β-Keto esters and acetyl acetone on condensation with glycosylated amino esters in the presence of IR-120 resin resulted in high yields of glycosyl enamino esters or ketones. The latter on cyclisation with NaH in toluene at reflux gave 6-glycosyl-5,6-dihydro-1H-pyridin-4-ones in fair to good yields.     

Sensitive and selective methods for determination of antipsychotic drug olanzapine in pharmaceuticals

Two simple and sensitive spectrophotometric methods have been developed for analysis of the antipsychotic drug olanzapine in pharmaceuticals. Method A is based on liberation of iodine by reaction between the drug and potassium iodate, followed by reaction with leuco crystal violet (LCV), the color of oxidized LCV being measured at 598 nm. Method B is based on oxidation of olanzapine with chloramine-T (CAT) in acidic medium, the unconsumed CAT being determined with rhodamine B, measuring the absorbance at 550 nm. Calibration graphs were linear over the ranges of 0.05–2.0 and 0.1–1.6 μg mL^?1 olanzapine for method A and B, respectively. The molar absorptivity, Sandell’s sensitivity, detection limit, and quantitation limit were found to be 1.59 × 10⁵, 0.00132, 0.038, and 0.117, respectively, for method A and 0.953 × 10⁵, 0.00221, 0.064, and 0.192, respectively, for method B. The optimum conditions and other analytical parameters were evaluated. The proposed methods have been applied successfully for analysis of olanzapine in pure form and its dosage forms, and no interference was observed from common excipients present in pharmaceutical formulations.     

Spectrophotometric analysis of trichloroethylene in various environmental and biological samples

A simple sensitive extractive spectrophotometric method for determination of trichloroethylene is proposed. Trichloroethylene is treated with pyridine to form glutaconic aldehyde by heterolytic cleavage of the pyridine ring. Glutaconic aldehyde is further coupled with 4-aminoacetanilide to form an orange–red dye which is extractable in 3-methyl-1-butanol. The extracted dye shows absorption maximum at 520 nm. The system obeys Beer’s law in the range of 0.05–0.8 μg mL^?1. Important analytical parameters such as time, temperature, reagent concentration, acidity etc. have been optimized for complete colour reaction. Sandell’s sensitivity and molar absorptivity for the system were found to be 0.001 μg cm^?2 and 1.2 × 10⁵ L mol^?1 cm^?1, respectively. The proposed method is satisfactorily applied to micro-level determination of trichloroethylene in various environmental and biological samples.     

Cooperative Effect of Noncovalent Interactions on Tetrel Bonding in Halogenated Silanes

Tetrel bond, a weak noncovalent interaction between the σ-hole of a Group IV element (silicon in our case) and the cloud of an electronegative element (oxygen in our case) is the focus of this work. The percentage strengthening of tetrel bond has been investigated by optimizing 16 binary complexes of halogenated silane and water of general formula SiX_nH_4−n−H₂O and 16 ternary complexes, of general formula NaX−SiX_nH_4−n−H₂O, where X=F, Cl, Br and I and n=1, 2, 3 and 4 at various levels of theory defined within the formalism of density functional theory (DFT). With the addition of NaX, tetrel bond between Si and O in SiX_nH_4−n−H₂O gets strengthened up to 49 %, owing to cooperativity effect exerted by hydrogen bonding between X and H in the ternary complex NaX−SiX_nH_4−n−H₂O. In the series of complexes studied here, overall stabilization due to cooperativity lies between 10 kJ/mol to 170 kJ/mol. This large extent of reinforcement due to cooperativity has never been showcased before. The exceptional stabilization and reinforcement owe its genesis to the transformation of the ternary complex into a cluster orchestrated by the H-bonding in most of the cases and covalent bonding in few of the cases.     

Water-annealing regulated protein-based magnetic nanofiber materials: tuning silk structure and properties to enhance cell response under magnetic fields

In this study, flexible silk fibroin protein and biocompatible barium hexaferrite (BaM) nanoparticles were combined and electrospun into nanofibers, and their physical properties could be tuned through the mixing ratios and a water annealing process. Structural analysis indicates that the protein structure of the materials is fully controllable by the annealing process. The mechanical properties of the electrospun composites can be significantly improved by annealing, while the magnetic properties of barium hexaferrite are maintained in the composite. Notably, in the absence of a magnetic field, cell growth increased slightly with increasing BaM content. Application of an external magnetic field during in vitro cell biocompatibility study of the materials demonstrated significantly larger cell growth. We propose a mechanism to explain the effects of water annealing and magnetic field on cell growth. This study indicates that these composite electrospun fibers may be widely used in the biomedical field for controllable cell response through applying different external magnetic fields.     

Optimization of Biocompatibility for a Hydrophilic Biological Molecule Encapsulation System

Despite considerable advances in recent years, challenges in delivery and storage of biological drugs persist and may delay or prohibit their clinical application. Though nanoparticle-based approaches for small molecule drug encapsulation are mature, encapsulation of proteins remains problematic due to destabilization of the protein. Reverse micelles composed of decylmonoacyl glycerol (10MAG) and lauryldimethylamino-N-oxide (LDAO) in low-viscosity alkanes have been shown to preserve the structure and stability of a wide range of biological macromolecules. Here, we present a first step on developing this system as a future platform for storage and delivery of biological drugs by replacing the non-biocompatible alkane solvent with solvents currently used in small molecule delivery systems. Using a novel screening approach, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of the 10MAG/LDAO system using two preparation methods across seven biocompatible solvents with analysis of toxicity and encapsulation efficiency for each solvent. By using an inexpensive hydrophilic small molecule to test a wide range of conditions, we identify optimal solvent properties for further development. We validate the predictions from this screen with preliminary protein encapsulation tests. The insight provided lays the foundation for further development of this system toward long-term room-temperature storage of biologics or toward water-in-oil-in-water biologic delivery systems.     

A study of mercury(II)-catalysed substitution of cyanide in hexacyanoferrate(II) by 2-methylpyrazine: effects of inhibitor on the catalysed reaction

The kinetics and mechanism of the mercury(II)-catalysed ligand substitution reaction between potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) and 2-methylpyrazine (2-Mepz), in potassium hydrogen phthalate buffer of pH 3.50 ± 0.02 at 25.0 ± 0.1 °C and constant ionic strength of 0.1 M, were studied spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance of the yellow-coloured product at 447 nm (λ_max). The reaction was studied under pseudo-first-order conditions using excess of 2-Mepz. The reaction was found to obey first-order dependence in concentration of both [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ and 2-Mepz. At higher concentrations of 2-Mepz, the effect of [2-Mepz] levels off. A complex behaviour is observed on varying [Hg²⁺]. The effect of pH on the reaction rate was also analysed. The effects of dielectric constant and water content of the reaction medium have been interpreted in terms of the formation of a polar activated complex and suggest an I_d mechanism. The inhibitory effect of 2,3-dimercaptopropanol on the reaction was also studied and explained in terms of binding of this species to the catalyst.     

Two manganese(II) coordination polymers driven by (iso)nicotinoyl-hydrazone blocks and pseudohalide ancillary ligands: syntheses,structural features,and magnetic properties

Two coordination polymers, [Mn₂(μ-L¹)₂(μ-N₃)₂]_n (1) and [Mn(μ-HL²)(SCN)₂]_n (2), were assembled in a single-pot from MnCl₂·4H₂O, HL¹ (2-acetylpyridine isonicotinoylhydrazone) or HL² (2-acetylpyridine nicotinoylhydrazone) and ancillary ligand sources (NaN₃ or NH₄NCS). The products were fully characterized, including by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which revealed a 2-D metal–organic layer in 1 and a 1-D zigzag coordination chain in 2. Both 1 and 2 are constructed from six-coordinate Mn(II) nodes that adopt distorted octahedral (MnN₅O) environments; the adjacent nodes are driven by the μ-L¹ and μ-N₃ linkers in 1 or μ-HL² linkers in 2 to form different metal–organic networks. Their topological classification was performed, disclosing the hcb and 2C1 topology in 1 and 2, respectively. Different weak non-covalent interactions promote dimensionality extension. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements were carried out, revealing weak ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions in 1 and 2, respectively.