Vesicles Functionalized with a CO-Releasing Molecule for Light-Induced CO Delivery

In this paper, a new type of methodology to deliver carbon monoxide (CO) for biological applications has been introduced. An amphiphilic manganese carbonyl complex (<b>1.Mn</b>) incorporated into the 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine lipid vesicles has been reported first time for the photoinduced release of CO. The liposomes (<b>Ves-1.Mn</b>) gradually released CO under light at 365 nm over a period of 50 min with a half-time of 26.5 min. The CO-releasing ability of vesicles appended with <b>1.Mn</b> complexes has been confirmed by myoglobin assay and infrared study. The vesicles appended with <b>1.Mn</b> have the advantages of biocompatibility, water solubility, and steady and slow CO release. This approach could be a rational approach for applying various water-insoluble photoinduced CO donors in aqueous media by using vesicles as a nanocarrier for CO release

Reversible Colorimetric Sensor for Moisture Detection in Organic Solvents and Application in Inkless Writing

Colorimetric sensors based on Sudan-III (<b>1</b>) and Alizarin red S (<b>2</b>) have been developed for the detection of a trace amount of water in organic solvents such as THF, acetone, acetonitrile, and DMSO. The deprotonated (anionic) forms of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> namely <b>1.F</b> and <b>2.F</b> are reprotonated by using a trace amount of water. Deprotonation of <b>1</b> and <b>2</b> was obtained by using fluoride anion. Test papers of <b>1.F</b> and <b>2.F</b> in organic solvents with and without moisture showed dramatic changes in color. Receptor <b>1.F</b> exhibits high sensitivity for water in acetone and THF with the detection limit as low as 0.0042 and 0.0058 wt %. Remarkably, probes <b>1.F</b> and <b>2.F</b> are reversible in nature both in solution and in test strips. <b>1.F</b> and <b>2.F</b> are reversible and reusable for sensing moisture in the organic solvents with high selectivity, high sensitivity, and fast response. The reversible moisture sensor <b>1.F</b> has also been used for application in inkless writing

Selective Detection of H₂S by Copper Complex Embedded in Vesicles through Metal Indicator Displacement Approach

A new approach for the detection of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) was constructed within vesicles comprising phospholipids and amphiphilic copper complex as receptor. 1,2-Distearoyl-<i>sn</i>-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) vesicles with embedded metal complex receptor (<b>1.Cu</b>) sites have been prepared. The vesicles selectively respond to H₂S in a buffered solution and show colorimetric as well as spectral transformation. Other analytes such as reactive sulfur species, reactive nitrogen species, biological phosphates, and other anions failed to induce changes. The H₂S detection is established through a metal indicator displacement (MIDA) process, where Eosin-Y (EY) was employed as an indicator. Fluorescence, UV–vis spectroscopy, and the naked eye as the signal readout studies confirm the high selectivity, sensitivity, and lower detection limit of the vesicular receptor. The application of vesicular receptors for real sample analysis was also confirmed by fluorescence live cell imaging

Investigation of the Role of 3<i>d</i>‑4<i>d</i> Elements in a Disordered Double Perovskite toward Efficient Photocatalytic Energy Conversion and Electrochemical Energy-Storage Behaviors

Toward the goal of achieving green and sustainable energy conversion and storage behaviors, double perovskite oxide materials are always pronounced not only due to their exciting properties but also for their advanced catalytic and electroactive nature. In order to understand the factual role of either 3d or 4d metal ions in double perovskites toward energy conversion and storage applications, herein we have demonstrated three ruthenium-based disordered double perovskites, namely, Ca2MnRuO6 (CMRO), Ca2Mn1.25Ru0.75O6 (CMRO-1), and Ca2Mn0.75Ru1.25O6 (CMRO-2), by varying the Mn/Ru stoichiometry. The well-characterized phase-pure polycrystalline oxides are employed as efficient photocatalysts for visible light-driven water oxidation in a neutral pH medium. Even a small quantity of the present catalyst can evolve larger amounts of oxygen compared to reported photocatalysts. Furthermore, electrochemical supercapacitor performance has been accomplished by the CMRO compounds and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite electrodes. The electrochemical measurement reveals that the as-fabricated CMRO-2 oxide-rGO composite electrode possesses much higher capacitance of 598.8 F/g at a scan rate of 2 mV/s in 0.5 M H3PO4 electrolyte solution compared to 0.5 M H2SO4 common electrolyte medium. Remarkably, the CMRO-2 and rGO composite electrode exhibited a maximum energy density of 431.1 Wh/kg at a power density of 14.4 W/kg in 0.5 M H3PO4 electrolyte. Notably, the slight variation of Mn/Ru concentration in title perovskite structures commendably affects the photocatalytic water oxidation and electrochemical supercapacitor performances. Such exciting structure–activity phenomena of 3d-4d transition metal-based oxide materials are also validated through density functional theory calculations

Caffeic Acid-Conjugated Budesonide-Loaded Nanomicelle Attenuates Inflammation in Experimental Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a multifactorial disease of the gastrointestinal tract which is caused due to chronic inflammation in the colon; it usually starts from the lower end of the colon and may spread to other portions of the large intestine, if left unmanaged. Budesonide (BUD) is a synthetically available second-generation corticosteroidal drug with potent local anti-inflammatory activity. The pharmacokinetic properties, such as extensive first-pass metabolism and quite limited bioavailability, reduce its therapeutic efficacy. To overcome the limitations, nanosized micelles were developed in this study by conjugating stearic acid with caffeic acid to make an amphiphilic compound. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the pharmacological potential of BUD-loaded micelles in a mouse model of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. Micelles were formulated by the solvent evaporation method, and their physicochemical characterizations show their spherical shape under microscopic techniques like atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The in vitro release experiment shows sustained release behavior in physiological media. These micelles show cytocompatible behavior against hTERT-BJ cells up to 500 μg/mL dose, evidenced by more than 85% viable cells. BUD-loaded micelles successfully normalized the disease activity index and physical observation of colon length. The treatment with BUD-loaded micelles alleviates the colitis severity as analyzed in histopathology and efficiently, overcoming the disease severity via downregulation of various related cytokines (MPO, NO, and TNF-α) and inflammatory enzymes such as COX-2 and iNOS. Results of the study suggest that BUD-loaded nano-sized micelles effectively attenuate the disease conditions in colitis