Enhanced CO2 uptake by intramolecular proton transfer reactions in amino-functionalized pyridine-based ILs

This work presents a new strategy for the promotion of CO₂ uptake by an intramolecular proton transfer reaction in amino functionalized hydroxypyridine based anions.

Bioactives from fruit processing wastes: Green approaches to valuable chemicals

Fruit processing industries contribute more than 0.5billion tonnes of waste worldwide. The global availability of this feedstock and its untapped potential has encouraged researchers to perform detailed studies on value-addition potential of fruit processing waste (FPW). Compared to general food or other biomass derived waste, FPW are found to be selective and concentrated in nature. The peels, pomace and seed fractions of FPW could potentially be a good feedstock for recovery of bioactive compounds such as pectin, lipids, flavonoids, dietary fibres etc. A novel bio-refinery approach would aim to produce a wider range of valuable chemicals from FPW. The wastes from majority of the extraction processes may further be used as renewable sources for production of biofuels. The literature on value addition to fruit derived waste is diverse. This paper presents a review of fruit waste derived bioactives. The financial challenges encountered in existing methods are also discussed.

A study on the safety evaluation of buphrenorphine administered through an autoinjector compared with manual injection using haematological and biochemical variables in rats

Buprenorphine drug cartridge was made for autoinjector device for use in emergency and critical situations to reduce the morbidity and mortality. Water-filled cartridges were prepared and buprenorphine was injected aseptically in the cartridge, to make 0.05 and 0.10 mg/mL. Rats were injected intraperitoneally, buprenorphine (0.3 and 0.6 mg/kg), repeatedly with the autoinjector and compared with manual injection (7 days and 14 days) using various haematological and biochemical parameters. No significant change was observed in the body weight, organ to body weight ratio and haematological variables in any of the experimental groups compared with the control group. Except serum urea and aspartate aminotransferase, no significant change was observed in glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, bilirubin, protein, albumin, creatinine, uric acid, alanine aminotransferase, gamma glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase. The autoinjectors deliver the drugs with spray effect and force for faster absorption. In the present study, the autoinjector meant for intramuscular injection was injected intraperitoneally in rats, and the drug was delivered with force on the vital organs. No significant difference was observed in the autoinjector group compared to the manual group showing tolerability and safety of the buphrenorphine autoinjector. This study shows that buprenorphine autoinjector can be considered for further research work.

A Concept of a Probable Autoinjector for Bio-threat Agents

Chemical and biological weapons can be used during conflicts and by terrorists to injure or kill humans and animals. Chemical weapons contain toxic chemicals and biological weapons contain pathogenic organisms. With proper protective equipments and training, the lethal effects of chemical and biological warfare agents can be minimised. First aid kit is available that contain detection, decontamination and medical protection for chemical warfare agents including autoinjectors, for rapid administration and faster absorption of drugs. The autoinjectors are safe and available for life saving drugs like atropine sulphate and pralidoxime chloride (nerve agent poisoning), epinephrine (anaphylaxis), diazepam (seizures) and sumatriptan (migraine). For bio-threat agents doxycycline alone is available as a broad spectrum antibiotic in the first aid kit. Majority of the bacterial agents are gram negative and hence amikacin drug cartridge was developed for the existing autoinjector. The advantage of amikacin is its safety, stability, can be given prophylactically and supplemented with other antibiotics when medical attention arrives. The usability and tolerability of amikacin administered repeatedly through autoinjector was studied using various haematological, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in animal models. The results are promising and as there is no antibiotic autoinjector available, amikacin autoinjector can be considered for bio-threat agents.

In vivo protection by amifostine and DRDE-07 against sulphur mustard toxicity

The study was aimed at investigating the prophylactic efficacy of orally administered amifostine and a newly synthesized compound, S-2(2-amino-ethylamino)ethyl phenyl sulphide (DRDE-07), against dermally applied sulphur mustard (SM) in mice and rats. The LD50 values of amifostine and DRDE-07 were determined following oral and intraperitoneal routes and the LD50 of SM diluted in PEG-300 was determined following dermal route. Amifostine or DRDE-07 (equivalent to their 0.05 LD50, 0.10 LD50 and 0.20 LD50) dissolved in water was fed to mice and rats and, after 30 min, various doses of SM were applied to the hair-clipped area of the skin and were observed for 14 days for mortality. The protection index (PI) was calculated as a ratio of LD50 with treatment to LD50 without treatment. The estimated percutaneous LD50 of SM was found to be 8.1 and 2.4 mg///kg for female mice and male rats, respectively. A dose-related protection was observed with all the three doses of both compounds. Thirty minutes prior, the administration of amifostine in female mice offered a PI of 3.0 at the lowest pretreatment dose (52.5 mg// kg) followed by PI of 6.7 and 9.5 at 105 and 210 mg// /kg pretreatment doses, respectively. DRDE-07 offered better protection against SM in female mice, i.e., a PI of 4.8 at pretreatment dose of 62.5 mg// /kg, a PI of 12.0 at the dose of 124.7 mg///kg and a PI of 27.0 at the dose of 249.4 mg/kg. In male rats, DRDE-07 gave a PI of about 3.0 at all the three pretreatment doses (80, 160 and 320 mg///kg), whilst amifostine offered a PI of 3.1 at the highest pretreatment dose (452 mg///kg). The present study showed that oral administration of both amifostine and DRDE-07 was effective as a prophylactic agent for protecting against SM toxicity, and that DRDE-07 offered better protection.

Mechanisms of low temperature capture and regeneration of CO2 using diamino protic ionic liquids

Carbon dioxide chemical absorption and regeneration was investigated in two protic ionic liquids using novel calorimetric techniques.

Protic organic ionic plastic crystals based on a difunctional cation and the triflate anion: a new solid-state proton conductor

A new family of ammonium based organic ionic plastic crystals exhibits exciting solid-state proton conductivity.

Control of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus, the vectors of dengue and chikungunya, by using pheromone C21 with an insect growth regulator: Results of multicentric trials from 2007-12 in India

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Aedes mosquito control has gained much importance nowadays in view of rise in number of reported cases of dengue and chikungunya in India and other countries. In the present study, C21 attracticide (containing a pheromone and an insect growth regulator—IGR, developed by Defence Research and Development Establishment (DRDE), Gwalior, India was tested for its feasibility for surveillance and control of Aedes mosquito in a multicentric mode from October 2007 to June 2012 in urban (Delhi, and Bengaluru district, Karnataka) and suburban (Alappuzha district, Kerala) settings of the country in three phases.

METHODS

Across the randomly selected households in each study area, two to four containers treated with attracticide (experimental) and untreated (control) were placed and monitored by trained surveillance workers on weekly/ fortnightly basis for determining the presence of eggs, larvae and pupae. Container positivity, percent larvae, egg and pupae collected were determined during different phases and analyzed statistically using SPSS 18.0.

RESULTS

Container positivity was found statistically significant at Bengaluru and Alappuzha, Kerala while in Delhi, it was found non-significant. Eggs collected from experimental containers were significantly higher in comparison to control at all the locations except Delhi. Also larvae collected from control containers were significantly higher at all the locations except Bengaluru. Pupae collected from control containers remained significantly higher at all the locations as no pupal formation was recorded from experimental containers.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION

The use of C21 attracticide hampered pupal formation, thus inhibiting adult population in the study areas. The study established that C21 attracticide was efficacious in the field conditions and has potential for use in surveillance and management of dengue and chikungunya mosquitoes.

Effect of bacopa monniera on cold stress induced neurodegeneration in hippocampus of wistar rats: a histomorphometric study

INTRODUCTION

Bacopa monniera/ Brahmi,is used over centuries in Ayurvedic medicine for memory development, learning, concentration and other mental illnesses such as nervousness and poor cognition. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi, BM) on cold stress induced histological changes in hippocampus of Wistar rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Total 24 male rats divided into four groups were used (n=6) for this study. Group I was control in which rats were kept under ideal laboratory conditions, Group II was given 40 mg/kg of BM extract, Group III was cold water swim stress in which rats were forced to swim in the cold water maintained at 18±2(o)C till it started to sink for a period of one month and Group IV in which cold water swim stress given for a month followed by oral administration of BM extracts 40mg/kg treatment for a month. The whole study was carried out for a period of 60 d. The animals were sacrificed next day and their brains dissected out for histomorphometric analysis. The diameter, packing density and total number of neurons were calculated from stained histological section by using micrometry in the CA-1 region of the hippocampus.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The analysis and plotting of graphs were carried out using Sigma Plot 12 (Systat Software Inc., USA). Values are expressed as Mean ± SEM (n = 6). One way analysis of variance followed by Student-Newman-Keul's multiple comparisons test was used for the comparison of means. A probability of 0.05 and less was taken as statistically significant.

RESULTS

The results showed that there is no significant difference in the diameter of the cells between the groups but total number of the cells in Group II was statistically significant when compared with the others groups. Student-Newman-Keuls method showed that Group II and Group IV are statistically significant when compared to Group III (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

RESULTS indicates that when BM extracts administered orally produce neuroprotective effect in cold stress induced hippocampal neurodegeneration of rats. Hence, the herb BM can possibly be used as an adjuvant to improve memory to combat stress in our day to day life.

Enhanced enzymatic degradation resistance of plasmid DNA in ionic liquids

Buffered ionic liquids can substantially enhance enzymatic degradation resistance of plasmid DNA, indicating the potential to serve as next-generation biological storage buffer at ambient temperature.

Inhibited fragmentation of mAbs in buffered ionic liquids

Choline-based buffered ionic liquids have been demonstrated to greatly inhibit enzymatic degradation of antibodies, and are promising as next-generation biological buffers.

Biocompatible ionic liquid-biopolymer electrolyte-enabled thin and compact magnesium-air batteries

With the surge of interest in miniaturized implanted medical devices (IMDs), implantable power sources with small dimensions and biocompatibility are in high demand. Implanted battery/supercapacitor devices are commonly packaged within a case that occupies a large volume, making miniaturization difficult. In this study, we demonstrate a polymer electrolyte-enabled biocompatible magnesium-air battery device with a total thickness of approximately 300 μm. It consists of a biocompatible polypyrrole-para(toluene sulfonic acid) cathode and a bioresorbable magnesium alloy anode. The biocompatible electrolyte used is made of choline nitrate (ionic liquid) embedded in a biopolymer, chitosan. This polymer electrolyte is mechanically robust and offers a high ionic conductivity of 8.9 × 10(-3) S cm(-1). The assembled battery delivers a maximum volumetric power density of 3.9 W L(-1), which is sufficient to drive some types of IMDs, such as cardiac pacemakers or biomonitoring systems. This miniaturized, biocompatible magnesium-air battery may pave the way to a future generation of implantable power sources.

Size-dependent effect of zinc oxide on toxicity and inflammatory potential of human monocytes

With the rapid development of nanomedicines, it is important to understand their potential immunotoxicity. Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have several applications in the pharmaceutical and biomedicine industries. This study investigates the effect of particles size (nano and micro) of ZnO on viability, phagocytosis, and cytokine induction in human monocytes, THP-1 cells, a model of the innate immune system. Cells were incubated with nano (approximately 100 nm) and micro (approximately 5 μm) sized ZnO particles in a concentration range of 10-100 μg/ml. The parameters measured included the MTT assay, phagocytosis assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), gene expression, and DNA analysis. ZnO particles significantly decreased cell viability in a size- and concentration-dependent manner associated with significant alterations in phagocytic capacity of monocytes. Exposure of THP-1 cells to both sizes of ZnO stimulated and increased release of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-6, as well as chemokine IL-8, and upregulated the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 genes. However, ZnO particles did not markedly affect monocytes DNA. Collectively, these results suggest higher propensity of nano ZnO particles in inducing cytotoxicity and inflammation in human monocytes regardless of micro size, and caution needs to be taken concerning their biological application.

Curcumin loaded poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) nanoparticles from gelled ionic liquid--in vitro cytotoxicity and anti-cancer activity in SKOV-3 cells

The main focus of this study is to encapsulate hydrophobic drug curcumin in hydrophilic polymeric core such as poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) [PHEMA] nanoparticles from gelled ionic liquid (IL) to improve its efficacy. We have achieved 26.4% drug loading in a biocompatible hydrophilic polymer. Curcumin loaded PHEMA nanoparticles (C-PHEMA-NPs) were prepared by nano-precipitation method. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis showed that the prepared nanoparticles were spherical in shape and free from aggregation. The size and zeta potential of prepared C-PHEMA-NPs were about 300 nm and -33.4 mV respectively. C-PHEMA-NPs were further characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy which confirmed the existence of curcumin in the nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry studies revealed that curcumin present in the PHEMA nanoparticles were found to be amorphous in nature. The anticancer activity of C-PHEMA-NPs was measured in ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3) in vitro, and the results revealed that the C-PHEMA-NPs had better tumor cells regression activity than free curcumin. Flow cytometry showed the significant reduction in G0/G1 cells after treatment with C-PHEMA-NPs and molecular level of apoptosis were also studied using western blotting. Toxicity of PHEMA nanoparticles were studied in zebrafish embryo model and results revealed the material to be highly biocompatible. The present study demonstrates the curcumin loaded PHEMA nanoparticles have potential therapeutic values in the treatment of cancer.

Interaction of choline salts with artificial biological membranes: DSC studies elucidating cellular interactions

To better understand the relationship between the relative cytotoxicity of diluted ionic liquids and their specific interaction with biological membranes, the thermotropic behavior of model lipid membrane systems formulated in a series of choline based organic salts was investigated. Unilamellar vesicles prepared from dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine were exposed to a series of choline phosphate salts at a concentration of 10mM at pH7.40, and the gel to liquid-crystalline state transition was examined using differential scanning calorimetry. The choline salts that were observed to have a low relative toxicity in previous studies induced minimal changes in the lipid phase transition behavior of these model membranes. In contrast, the salts choline bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate and choline bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate, both of which were observed to have high relative toxicity, caused distinct disruptions in the lipid phase transition behavior, consistent with penetration of the salts into the acyl chains of the phospholipids. choline bis(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)phosphinate reduced the Tm and enthalpy of the main transition of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine while choline bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphate induced the equilibration of alternate phases.

Effects of 28 days silicon dioxide aerosol exposure on respiratory parameters, blood biochemical variables and lung histopathology in rats

Inhalation toxicity of silicon dioxide aerosol (150, 300 mg/m(3)) daily over a period of 28 days was carried out in rats. The changes in respiratory variables during the period of exposure were monitored using a computer programme that recognizes the modifications of the breathing pattern. Exposure to the aerosol caused a time dependent decrease in tidal volume, with an increase in respiratory frequency compared to the control. Biochemical variables and histopathological observation were noted at 28th day following the start of exposure. Biochemical markers of silica induced lung injury like plasma alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and angiotensine converting enzyme activities increased in a concentration dependent manner compared to control. Increase in the plasma enzymatic activities indicates endothelial lung damage, increased lung membrane permeability. Histopathological observation of the lungs confirmed concentration dependent granulomatous inflammation, fibrosis and proteinacious degeneration. Aggregates of mononuclear cells with entrapped silica particles circumscribed by fibroblast were observed in 300 mg/m(3) silica aerosol exposed group at higher magnification. Decrease in tidal volume and increase in respiratory frequency might be due to the thickening of the alveolar wall leading to a decreased alveolar volume and lowered elasticity of the lung tissue. The trends in histological and biochemical data are in conformity with the respiratory data in the present study. This study reports for the first time, the changes in respiratory variables during silica aerosol exposure over a period of 28 days.

Assessment and comparison of microleakage of a fluoride-releasing sealant after acid etching and Er: YAG laser treatment - An in vitro study

Aim:

The aim of the present study was to estimate and compare the microleakage of a pit and fissure sealant after etching and Er:YAG laser treatment.

Materials and Methods:

Twenty non-carious premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons were equally divided into two groups. Samples in Group- I were treated with 37% phosphoric acid. Samples in Group II were irradiated with Er: YAG laser at 400 mJ at 4 Hz. Sealant was placed and light cured. Then, the samples were subjected to thermocycling. The samples were then immersed in 1% methylene blue. The samples were sectioned and examined under stereomicroscope at ×10 magnification.

Results:

Acid etched samples showed significantly less microleakage when compared to laser etching and it was statistically significant (P<0.01).