Enhancement of Anticorrosive Performance of Cardanol Based Polyurethane Coatings by Incorporating Magnetic Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles.

The present investigation demonstrates renewable cardanol-based polyol for the formulation of nanocomposite polyurethane (PU) coatings. The functional and structural features of cardanol polyol and nanoparticles were studied using FT-IR and 1H NMR spectroscopic techniques. The magnetic hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (MHAPs) were dispersed 1-5% in PU formulations to develop nanocomposite anticorrosive coatings. An increase in the strength of MHAP increased the anticorrosive performance as examined by immersion and electrochemical methods. The nanocomposite PU coatings showed good coating properties, viz., gloss, pencil hardness, flexibility, cross-cut adhesion, and chemical resistance. Additionally, the coatings were also studied for surface morphology, wetting, and thermal properties by scanning electron microscope (SEM), contact angle, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The hydrophobic nature of PU coatings increased by the addition of MHAP, and an optimum result (105°) was observed in 3% loading. The developed coatings revealed its hydrophobic nature with excellent anticorrosive performance.

Standardization of topical preparations for finger-tip unit-Awareness and attitudes among pharmacists and dermatologists and suggestions to improve standardization of topical drug dosing-A two-phase cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Standardization of topical therapy dosage is important to ensure optimum use and dosage of topical medications. One of the concepts frequently used in the standardization of topical treatment is the Finger-tip unit (FTU). While practitioners, both dermatologists and pharmacists, are generally aware of FTU, practical use is less. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate views and practices related to FTU among both dermatology and pharmacy faculty and to elicit and validate suggestions for improving standardization. METHODS: We surveyed a group of Dermatologists and Pharmacists-in two phases-in phase 1 (n = 44), an electronic survey was used as a tool to understand their practices regarding FTU, and to obtain suggestions regarding standardization of topical medication delivery. In phase 2 (n = 40), the main suggestions for improvement were resent to the group to rate and validate the same. RESULTS: The awareness of FTU was high among the experts, but practical use of the FTU for patient counselling was less frequent. The group gave suggestions to standardize applications. All these suggestions got high ratings on both feasibility and possible effectiveness in the second phase, with the highest rating being for the suggestion of "Placing QR codes on ointment/cream tubes which link to websites with educational materials/ videos on FTU/topical drug dosing." CONCLUSION: Awareness regarding FTU is high among both dermatologists and pharmacists, however practical use is less. Strategies to improve standardization of topical drug dosing can be formulated through collaboration involving both dermatologists and pharmacists.

Nonedible Vegetable Oil-Based Polyols in Anticorrosive and Antimicrobial Polyurethane Coatings.

This review describes the preparation of nonedible vegetable oil (NEVO)-based polyols and their application in anticorrosive and antimicrobial polyurethane (PU) coatings. PUs are a class of versatile polymers made up of polyols and isocyanates. Renewable vegetable oils are promising resources for the development of ecofriendly polyols and the corresponding PUs. Researchers are interested in NEVOs because they provide an alternative to critical global food issues. The cultivation of plant resources for NEVOs can also be popularized globally by utilizing marginal land or wastelands. Polyols can be prepared from NEVOs following different conversion routes, including esterification, etherification, amidation, ozonolysis, hydrogenation, hydroformylation, thio-ene, acrylation, and epoxidation. These polyols can be incorporated into the PU network for coating applications. Metal surface corrosion and microbial growth are severe problems that cause enormous economic losses annually. These problems can be overcome by NEVO-based PU coatings, incorporating functional ingredients such as corrosion inhibitors and antimicrobial agents. The preferred coatings have great potential in high performance, smart, and functional applications, including in biomedical fields, to cope with emerging threats such as COVID-19.

A highly selective fluorescent 'turn-on' chemosensor for Zn(2+) based on a benzothiazole conjugate: their applicability in live cell imaging and use of the resultant complex as a secondary sensor of CN(-).

A benzothiazole derivative linked "off-on" multi-responsive and selective chemosensor has been synthesized and evaluated for cation recognition properties. The receptor shows a high sensitivity and selectivity for Zn(2+) through a 'turn-on' fluorescence response over the other tested cations with a detection limit as low as 0.67 µM. The receptor was successfully applied for the detection of Zn(2+) in live HeLa cells. Then, the Zn(2+) complex of receptor was also used for cyanide detection and recognition.

"Turn-on" fluorescent chemosensor for zinc(II) dipodal ratiometric receptor: application in live cell imaging.

A dipodal ligand 2,2'-((ethane-1,2-diylbis(azanediyl))bis(ethane-1,1-diyl))diphenol was synthesized through a condensation reaction and was characterized with IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C-NMR, and mass spectroscopy. The receptor 2 has shown marked enhancement in fluorescence intensity (emission signal at 341 nm) on binding with Zn(2+) as compared to other surveyed metal ions. The sensor has shown dramatic changes in dual channel fluorescence emission with λmax at 300 and 341 nm. The successive addition of Zn(2+) to the solution of the sensor led to a blue shift of the peak maxima and interestingly upon addition of higher equivalents of Zn(2+) quenched the fluorescence intensity of the sensor, and ultimately the original fluorescent profile of sensor was restored. The structures of 2 and 3 were optimized with B3LYP/LanL2DZ basis sets. The receptor 2 successfully detect the Zn(2+) ion in HeLa cells cultured in Zn(2+) enriched medium.

Bis(2-hydroxy-3-isopropyl-6-methyl-benzaldehyde)ethylenediamine: a novel cation sensor.

Novel substituted phenol-based new symmetrical bis(2-hydroxy-3-isopropyl-6-methyl-benzaldehyde)ethylenediamine (1) has been designed and synthesized. The compound 1 fluorometrically recognized Cu(2+) ion in CH3OH/H2O (90:10, v/v) by exhibiting an increase in emission upon complexation. In addition, Cu(2+) gave rise to a change in colour of the solution of compound 1, which was clearly visible to the naked eye under UV irradiation. The association constant (K) of compound 1 with Cu(2+) ion was computed with the Benesi-Hildebrand plot and Scatchard plot at 43,000 M(-1) and 43,011 M(-1) respectively.