Conjugation of Au Nanoparticles with Chlorambucil for Improved Anticancer Activity

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of 30–40 nm in size has been prepared using A. hirsutus leaves extract as reducing agent for Au3+ ions under microwave irradiation from 60 to 360 s. These biocapped AuNPs were effectively conjugated with activated folic acid (FA, receptor) and chlorambucil (CHL, anticancer drug) molecules. The formation of AuNPs–FA–CHL was confirmed from different characterization techniques such as XRD, UV–Visible spectra, FT-IR and TEM images. The anticancer activity of these bioconjugated AuNPs was tested against human cancer cell lines (HeLa, RKO and A549) in comparison with normal epithelial cells (Vero). Unlike AuNPs and CHL alone, AuNPs–FA–CHL showed high toxicity towards human cancer cells by significantly decreasing the percentage viability of cells. Furthermore, the amount of drug released was found to be maximum at an ideal tumor environment pH 5.3. Keyword

Magnetic Modulation in Mechanical Alloyed Cr1.4fe0.6o3 Oxide

We have synthesized Cr1.4Fe0.6O3 compound through mechanical alloying of Cr2O3 and Fe2O3 powders and subsequent thermal annealing. The XRD spectrum, SEM picture and microanalysis of EDAX spectrum have been used to understand the structural evolution in the alloyed compound. The alloyed samples are matching to rhombohedral structure with R3C space group. The observation of a modulated magnetic order confirmed a systematic diffusion of Fe atoms into the Cr sites of lattice structure. A field induced magnetic behaviour is seen in the field dependence of magnetization data of the annealed samples. The behaviour is significantly different from the mechanical alloyed samples. The experimental results provided the indications of considering the present material as a potential candidate for opto-electronic applications.Comment: 8 figure

“Impact Of Metformin Therpy on Serum Cobalamin and Homocysteine Among the Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients”

Objective: The aim of the study is to observe the long-term treatment of metformin and its associated effect on Vitamin B12 among Type II Diabetes mellitus south Indian patients. Methods: An observational study conducted over a period of 54 months on Type II Diabetes mellitus patients who are in chronic therapy with metformin. The study described the Vitamin B12 levels among the Type II DM patients, which could alert the patients who are in the low and borderline range of serum Vitamin B12, which may prevent the risk of peripheral neuropathic complications and anaemic conditions, etc. Findings: Totally, 387 patients were enrolled as per the inclusion and exclusion criteria, including 232 males (59.94%) and 155 females (40.05%). A total of 39 patients had been observed to have low levels of Vitamin B12, among them 23 females (Mean 184.17 ±  S.D. 10.69) and 16 males (Mean 185.31± S.D 7.56), followed by 16 patients found to be above the normal range of Vitamin B12, among them 02 females (Mean 991 ±  S.D. 15.55) and 14 males (Mean 1578.14 ±  S.D. 406.93), followed by 76 patients had been found to be borderline of Vitamin B12, among them 43 females (Mean 220.76 ± S.D 6.50). Conclusion: High doses of chronic Metformin therapy may alter Vitamin B12 levels. Some of the patients had an abnormally high level of serum Vitamin B12, whose medical condition should be ruled out, and such Patients’ diet histories were also cross-examined, which was a mixed normal diet, and they had various medical conditions. However, the high chances of metformin-associated effects on Vitamin B12 with higher doses and long-term therapy of metformin, whose duration was 10 to 20 years, Moreover, age is also an important factor, and the study reveals that, among genders, female populations had a higher rate of low-level Vitamin B12 than male populations. Patients in the age group between 50 and 65 years had a higher rate of low-level Vitamin B12 than other age groups, total 20 patients, among them 12 females (Mean 183.08 ± S.D. 13.17) and 8 males (Mean 185.5 ± S.D. 4.3). Patients with other comorbid conditions also had low levels and borderline levels of Vitamin B12 and had been on long-term metformin therapy. Further, homocysteine investigations had been done on low and borderline vitamin B12 patients. Investigation of homocysteine had been done on low range (39) and border line (76) of vitamin B12 patients. Among Low vitamin B12, 13 patients have elevated level of Homocysteine (6 males & 7 females). Among border line of vitamin B12, 4 patients (2 males and 3 females) have elevated level of Homocysteine. Therefore, our study concluded that chronic therapy and higher doses of metformin may lead to a deficit in serum Vitamin B12, which requires regular checks on Vitamin B12 among Type 2 DM patients to avoid the risk of Peripheral neuropathy and other complications

Sr4M3ReO12Sr_4M_3ReO_{12} (M = Co, Fe): New Ferromagnetic Perovskite Oxides

We describe the synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties of two new perovskite oxides, $Sr_4M_3ReO_{12}$ (M =Co, Fe), that exhibit ferromagnetism with fairly high ordering temperatures $(T_c = \sim 250-300 K)$. While the M = Co phase crystallizes in a partially ordered double perovskite $(Pm\={3}m)$ structure (a = $7.8153 \AA$), the M = Fe phase adopts a primitive cubic perovskite $(Pm\={3}m)$ structure (a = $3.9353 \AA$), where the transition metal atoms are not ordered in the long range. Magnetization studies revealed bulk ferromagnetism for both oxides, but the disordered structures seem to preclude a long-range magnetic order and a definite $T_c$. While further studies are needed to establish the exact origin of magnetism of these materials, the present investigation reveals the possibility of designing new ferromagnetic oxides based on $M^{3+}-O-Re^{7+}$ (M =Co, Fe) magnetic interaction in the perovskite related structures

Anomalous thermal expansion behaviour of Ln2Mo4O15Ln_2Mo_4O_{15} (Ln = Y, Dy, Ho, Tm)

Based on a consideration of the crystal structures of well-known negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials, $ZrV_2O_7$ and $ZrW_2O_8$, we have identified a new series of tetramolybdates, $Ln_2Mo_4O_{15}$ (Ln = Y, Dy, Ho, Tm), that exhibit an anomalous thermal expansion behaviour. Unlike $ZrW_2O_8$ and $ZrV_2O_7$ which are cubic, the tetramolybdates are monoclinic (space group $P2_1/c$). Nevertheless, the framework is similar to $ZrV_2O_7/ZrW_2O_8$ consisting of $MoO_4$ tetrahedra that are weakly connected to $Mo_2O_7$ anions, which bind the Ln in a seven-fold anion coordination. An exploratory investigation of these materials using dilatometry, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) $(Dy_2Mo_4O_{15})$ reveals a negative or low thermal expansion in the 30–200 °C temperature range. Since there are no major structural changes in the high-temperature XRD and there is no first-order phase transition in DSC in the 30–500 °C range, we believe the mechanism of anomalous thermal expansion in these molybdates likely involves second-order structural changes of the molybdate oxygens, in a manner similar to the second-order changes found in $ZrW_2O_8$. Further detailed structural studies are essential to unravel the mechanism of anomalous thermal expansion behaviour of these molybdates