Synthesis and Characterization of Host Guest Inclusion Complexes of Cyclodextrin Molecules with Theophylline by Diverse Methodologies

Steady host–guest inclusion complexes have been produced with medicinally important guest molecule theophylline within aqueous α-Cyclodextrin and HP-β-Cyclodextrin. α-and HP-β-Cyclodextrins have been established with favorable structural features for inclusion with Theophylline which include diversified applications in modern science such as controlled delivery in the field of pharmaceuticals, food processing, pesticides, foodstuffs etc. Theophylline is one of the most widely accepted drugs for the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worldwide, even if it has been used clinically for many years. With both α and HP-β-Cyclodextrins it is found that 1:1 hosts-guest inclusion complexes are formed with the guest molecule theophylline. The construction and quality of the inclusion complexes have been characterized by using conductivity measurement, surface tension study, and Job’s method. The inclusion phenomenon has been confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, proton NMR study. Association constants and thermodynamic parameters have been evaluated for the created inclusion complexes by ultraviolet spectroscopy

Nanostructured ZnO thin film with improved optical and electrochemical properties prepared by hydrothermal electrochemical deposition technique

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass substrate by the hydrothermal electrochemical deposition (HTED) route using slightly acidic aqueous zinc acetate solution at 80°C and were characterised by various techniques. The deposited films showed n-type behaviour with improved carrier concentration. The steady state photocurrent densities were found to be 0.4 mA/cm2(under UV irradiation) and 8 μA/cm 2(under visible light illumination) at zero bias potential. Significant improvement of optical, electrochemical and photoelectrochemical properties of deposited films could be achieved using HTED technique

Suppressor of clathrin deficiency (Scd6)An emerging RGG-motif translation repressor

Translation control plays a key role in variety of cellular processes. Translation initiation factors augment translation, whereas translation repressor proteins inhibit translation. Different repressors act by distinct mechanisms to accomplish the repression process. Although messenger RNAs (mRNAs) can be repressed at various steps of translation, most repressors have been reported to target the initiation step. We focus on one such translation repressor, an Arginine-Glycine-Glycine (RGG)-motif containing protein Scd6. Using this protein as a model, we present a discourse on the known and possible functions of this repressor, its mechanism of action and its recently reported regulation. We suggest a case for conservation of the mechanism employed by Scd6 along with its regulation in orthologs, and propose that Scd6 family of proteins will be an ideal tool to understand translation control and mRNA fate decision mechanisms across biological systems. This article is categorized under: Translation > Translation Regulation RNA Turnover and Surveillance > Turnover/Surveillance Mechanisms RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > RNA-Protein Complexe

Exploring the Subsistence of Solvation Consequences of l‑Asparagine and l‑Glutamine Prevailing in Aqueous Ionic Liquid Solutions by Physicochemical and Computational Investigations

In order to comprehend the various properties of two amino acids (AAs), l-asparagine and l-glutamine, we have studied a number of physicochemical parameters, including density (ρ), absolute viscosity (η), refractive index (nD), conductivity (σ), and surface tension (γ) in the aqueous solution of an ionic liquid (IL), benzyl-tributyl ammonium chloride (BTBAC), in (0.001, 0.003, and 0.005) molalities and five temperatures of 293.15, 298.15, 303.15, 308.15, and 313.15 K at atmospheric pressure of 0.1 MPa. Limiting apparent molar volumes (Vφ0) derived from the Masson equation, coefficient of viscosity (B) from the Jones–Doles equation, and limiting molar refraction (RM0) from the Lorentz–Lorenz equation are applied to criticize the molecular interactions involving the AAs and the IL at different concentrations and temperatures. Transfer limiting apparent molar volume, Vφ0tr, has been calculated to determine the solute–solvent interaction in an aqueous medium. The thermodynamic parameters such as Δμ10⧧, Δμ20⧧, ΔS20⧧, and ΔH20⧧ also suggest that the intermolecular interaction in the ground state is more significant compared to that in the transition state of two ternary systems. The UV–vis and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy data also supported our experimental and theoretical observations. Optimization energy calculation obtained from the computational technique leads to the consequence of stability of the ternary system (IL + AA + H2O) at the molecular level

Fe–Mn nanocomposites doped graphene quantum dots alleviate salt stress of Triticum aestivum through osmolyte accumulation and antioxidant defense

Abstract An investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of graphene quantum dots (GQD) and its nanocomposites on germination, growth, biochemical, histological, and major ROS detoxifying antioxidant enzyme activities involved in salinity stress tolerance of wheat. Seedlings were grown on nutrient-free sand and treatment solutions were applied through solid matrix priming and by foliar spray. Control seedlings under salinity stress exhibited a reduction in photosynthetic pigment, sugar content, growth, increased electrolyte leakage, and lipid peroxidation, whereas iron-manganese nanocomposites doped GQD (FM_GQD) treated seedlings were well adapted and performed better compared to control. Enzymatic antioxidants like catalase, peroxidase, glutathione reductase and NADPH oxidase were noted to increase by 40.5, 103.2, 130.19, and 141.23% respectively by application of FM_GQD. Histological evidence confirmed a lower extent of lipid peroxidation and safeguarding the plasma membrane integrity through osmolyte accumulation and redox homeostasis. All of these interactive phenomena lead to an increment in wheat seedling growth by 28.06% through FM_GQD application. These findings highlight that micronutrient like iron, manganese doped GQD can be a promising nano-fertilizer for plant growth and this article will serve as a reference as it is the very first report regarding the ameliorative role of GQD in salt stress mitigation

Ultrahigh field enhancement and photoresponse in atomically separated arrays of plasmonic dimers

Combining oblique angle deposition with standard graphene transfer protocols, two planar arrays of metal nanoparticles are fabricated that are vertically separated by atomic dimensions, corresponding precisely to the thickness of a single layer of graphene, i.e. 0.34 nm. Upon illumination of light at an appropriate wavelength, the local electromagnetic field at the junction of the dimers can be increased dramatically, thereby resulting in the most sensitive graphene–plasmonic hybrid photodetector reported to date

Extremely High Near Field Enhancement in a Novel Plasmonic Nano Material used for Photovoltage Generation

Enhancement of localized electric field near metal (plasmonic) nanostructures can have various interesting applications in sensing, imaging, photovoltage generation etc., for which significant efforts are aimed towards developing plasmonic systems with well designed and large electromagnetic response. In this paper, we discuss the wafer scale fabrication and optical characterization of a unique three dimensional plasmonic material. The near field enhancement in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum obtained in these structures (order of 106), is close to the fundamental limit that can be obtained in this and similar EM field enhancement schemes. The large near field enhancement has been reflected in a huge Raman signal of graphene layer in close proximity to the plasmonic system, which has been validated with FEM simulations. We have integrated graphene photodetectors with this material to obtain record photovoltage generation, with responsivity as high as A/W. As far as we know, this is the highest sensitivity obtained in any plasmonic-graphene hybrid photodetection system till date

Synthesis, crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface, and DFT studies of a Copper(II) complex of 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine and 1,2,2-trimethylcyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid

A new metal-organic hybrid complex [Cu(5,5′-dmbipy) (D-cam) (H2O)]n (1), (5,5′-dmbipy = 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine, D-cam = D-camphoric acid anion) was hydrothermally synthesized. This complex was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, TGA, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystallographic studies show that the title complex 1 crystallizes in an orthorhombic system with a P212121 space group with a = 06.9518(05) Ǻ, b = 13.5516(13) Ǻ, c = 22.6380(02)Ǻ; V = 2132.7(3) Ǻ3. The title CuII complex adopts a square pyramidal configuration. DFT study and Hirshfeld topology analysis of complex 1 was also done. The crystal achieves its three-dimensional structure and stability through polymeric chains having helical motifs of arrangement in between moieties and interconnected through hydrogen bonding interactions between the apical water molecule and non-coordinated oxygen atoms of the D-cam2- ligands. TGA, DFT calculations and Hirshfeld topology analysis revealed that the title complex 1 was stable