Formulation of Microemulsion-Based Gels for Enhanced Topical Administration of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly administered orally to manage pain and inflammation, but they can have negative gastrointestinal side effects. Topical delivery is an alternative, and microemulsions (µEs) have been shown to be effective in facilitating, but they suffer from a liquid nature and low long-term retention on the skin. Hence, microemulsified gels (µEGs) have been developed, and in this study, we explored certain µEGs with diclofenac sodium (DF-Na) and naproxen sodium (NP-Na) with the hypothesis to ensure a slower and more sustained delivery of NSAIDs through the skin. The µEGs comprised castor oil (∼8%), water (∼12%), Tween-20 (∼72%), Span-20 (∼8%), poloxamer 407, and DF-Na or NP-Na. Optical microscopy was used to study the microstructures in the µEs and µEGs, and phase transitions from water-in-oil (w/o) to oil-in-water (o/w) with continuous networks were observed. Based on studies with dynamic light scattering and analyses of electron micrographs, it was observed that the µEs and µEGs loaded with DF-Na and NP-Na comprised monomodal nanodroplets. The average sizes of the droplets were (∼35 nm) and (∼60 nm) for the µEGs, without and with drugs. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to ensure that the drugs were more likely to be present in the hydrophobic microenvironment of the formulations. Moreover, ex vivo permeation studies were conducted at pH values of 5.5 and 7.4 across rabbit skin. The release rates of DF-Na (>99 ± 1.5%, P < 0.07) and NP-Na (>89 ± 1.1%, P < 0.01) were slower for the µEGs within 8-10 h than for the µEs at the low pH, which is of relevance to the optimal pH of the skin. It was observed that µEGs with high viscosities are effective and may have potential for use in topical drug delivery applications.

Solubilization of Reactive Red 2 in the Mixed Micelles of Cetylpyridinium Chloride and TX-114.

Owing to their surface active properties, surfactants have numerous applications in different fields of life. In the present research work, the solubilization of reactive red 2 (RR2) has been studied in single and mixed micellar systems (MMS) using UV-visible spectroscopy and electrical conductivity measurements. The interaction of RR2 with ionic micelles of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) was investigated. In order to probe the interaction of RR2 in MMS, mixtures of CPC and TX-114 (Triton X-114, a nonionic surfactant) were used. UV-visible spectroscopy has been used to obtain the degree of solubilization of RR2 in terms of the partition coefficient (Kc) and Gibbs free energy of partitioning (ΔG°p). Electrical conductivity data have been employed to detect the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the surfactant systems in the presence of RR2 and, accordingly, to calculate the thermodynamic parameters of the micellization. From the obtained data, it is concluded that the micellization is spontaneous at all studied temperatures. Moreover, the micellization was observed to be driven by both enthalpy and entropy. The results also indicated that MMS have better solubilizing power than single micellar solutions.

Occurrence and risk evaluation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in wastewater and surface water of Lahore, Pakistan.

The current study highlights the occurrence, spatial distribution, and risk assessment of 16 endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) including their transformation products (TPs) in the wastewater and surface water of Lahore, Pakistan, using solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The parent EDCs include bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), triclocarban (TCC), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), ethinylestradiol (EE2), 4-n-octylphenol (4n-OP), and 4-n-nonylphenol (4n-NP). The TPs include two TPs each of BPA, TCC, and estrogens along with a TP of TCS. Most EDCs showed 100% detection frequency in the wastewater with highest median concentration of 1310 ng/L for E3. In the surface water, the highest median concentration was, however, observed for BPA (54.6 ng/L). Spatial variations in terms of sum of concentration due to all EDCs and their TPs were observed at different sampling points which suggest contamination due to industrial waste from nearby industrial estate. Risk evaluation in terms of risk quotient (RQ) and estradiol equivalent factor (EEQ) showed that most of EDCs and their TPs could pose high risk and estrogenicity to the surrounding environment. From the results of the current study, it is observed that the environment of Pakistan is deteriorating and is potential risk for endocrine disruption. It is, therefore, recommended to take stringent measures to make it sustainable for current as well as for future generations.

Surfactant stabilized gold nanomaterials for environmental sensing applications - A review.

Surfactant stabilized Gold (Au) nanomaterials (NMs) have been documented extensively in recent years for numerous sensing applications in the academic literature. Despite the crucial role these surfactants play in the sensing applications, the comprehensive reviews that highlights the fundamentals associated with these assemblies and impact of these surfactants on the properties and sensing mechanisms are still quite scare. This review is an attempt in organizing the vast literature associated with this domain by providing critical insights into the fundamentals, preparation methodologies and sensing mechanisms of these surfactant stabilized Au NMs. For the simplification, the surfactants are divided into the typical and advanced surfactants and the Au NMs are classified into Au nanoparticles (NPs) and Au nanoclusters (NCs) depending upon the complexity in structure and size of the NMs respectively. The preparative methodologies are also elaborated for enhancing the understanding of the readers regarding such assemblies. The case studies regarding surfactant stabilized Au NMs were further divided into colorimetric sensors, surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) based sensors, luminescence-based sensors, and electrochemical/electrical sensors depending upon the property utilized by the sensor for the sensing of an analyte. Future perspectives are also discussed in detail for the researchers looking for further progress in that particular research domain.

New organosulfur metallic compounds as potent drugs: synthesis, molecular modeling, spectral, antimicrobial, drug likeness and DFT analysis.

During the present investigation, two new sulfonamide-based Schiff base ligands, 4-{[(2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methylidene]amino}-N-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)benzene-1-sulfonamide (L1) and 4-{[1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethylidene]amino}-N-(1,3-thiazol-2-yl)benzene-1-sulfonamide (L2), have been synthesized and coordinated with the transition metals (V, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu and Zn). The ligands were characterized by their physical (color, melting point, yield and solubility), spectral (UV-Vis, FT-IR, LC-MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR) and elemental data. The structures of the metal complexes (1)-(12) were evaluated through their physical (magnetic and conductance), spectral (UV-Vis, FT-IR and LC-MS) and elemental data. The molecular geometries of ligands and their selected metal complexes were optimized at their ground state energies by B3LYP level of density functional theory (DFT) utilizing 6-311+G (d, p) and LanL2DZ basis set. The first principle study has been discussed for the electronic properties, the molecular electrostatic possibilities as well as the quantum chemical identifiers. An obvious transition of intramolecular charge had been ascertained from the occupied to the unoccupied molecular orbitals. The UV-Vis analysis was performed through time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) by CAM-B3LYP/6-311+G (d, p) function. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was studied against two fungal (Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus) and four bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiela pneumoniae, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis) species. The antioxidant activity was executed as antiradical DPPH scavenging activity (%), total iron reducing power (%) and total phenolic contents (mg GAE g-1). Additionally, enzyme inhibition activity was done against four enzymes (Protease, α-Amylase, Acetylcholinesterase and Butyrylcholinesterase). All the synthetic products exhibited significant bioactivity which were found to enhance upon chelation due to phenomenon of charge transfer from metal to ligand.

Microemulsified Gel Formulations for Topical Delivery of Clotrimazole: Structural and In Vitro Evaluation.

Microemulsified gels (µEGs) with fascinating functions have become indispensable as topical drug delivery systems due to their structural flexibility, high stability, and facile manufacturing process. Topical administration is an attractive alternative to traditional methods because of advantages such as noninvasive administration, bypassing first-pass metabolism, and improving patient compliance. In this article, we report on the new formulations of microemulsion-based gels suitable for topical pharmaceutical applications using biocompatible and ecological ingredients. For this, two biocompatible µE formulations comprising clove oil/Brij-35/water/ethanol (formulation A) and clove oil/Brij-35/water/1-propanol (formulation B) were developed to encapsulate and improve the load of an antimycotic drug, Clotrimazole (CTZ), and further gelatinized to control the release of CTZ through skin barriers. By delimiting the pseudo-ternary phase diagram, optimum µE formulations with clove oil (∼15%) and Brij-35 (∼30%) were developed, keeping constant surfactant/co-surfactant ratio (1:1), to upheld 2.0 wt % CTZ. The as-developed formulations were further converted into smart gels by adding 2.0 wt % carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a cross-linker to adhere to the controlled release of CTZ through complex skin barriers. Electron micrographs show a fine, monodispersed collection of CTZ-µE nanodroplets (∼60 nm), which did not coalesce even after gelation, forming spherical CTZ-µEG (∼90 nm). However, the maturity of CTZ nanodroplets observed by dynamic light scattering suggests the affinity of CTZ for the nonpolar microenvironment, which was further supported by the peak-to-peak correlation of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis and fluorescence measurement. In addition, HPLC analysis showed that the in vitro permeation release of CTZ-µEG from rabbit skin in the ethanolic phosphate buffer (pH = 7.4) was significantly increased by >98% within 6.0 h. This indicates the sustained release of CTZ in µEBG and the improvement in transdermal therapeutic efficacy of CTZ over its traditional topical formulations.

Formation of Antihyperlipidemic Nano-Ezetimibe from Volatile Microemulsion Template for Enhanced Dissolution Profile.

Nanostructures play an important role in targeting sparingly water-soluble drugs to specific sites. Because of the structural flexibility and stability, the use of template microemulsions (µEs) can produce functional nanopharmaceuticals of different sizes, shapes, and chemical properties. In this article, we report a new volatile oil-in-water (o/w) µE formulation comprising ethyl acetate/ethanol/brij-35/water to obtain the highly water-dispersible nanoparticles of an antihyperlipidemic agent, ezetimibe (EZM-NPs), to enhance its dissolution profile. A pseudoternary phase diagram was delineated in a specified brij-35/ethanol ratio (1:1) to describe the transparent, optically isotropic domain of the as-formulated µE. The water-dilutable µE formulation, comprising an optimum composition of ethyl acetate (18.0%), ethanol (25.0%), brij-35 (25.0%), and water (32.0%), showed a good dissolvability of EZM around 4.8 wt % at pH 5.2. Electron micrographs showed a fine monomodal collection of EZM-loaded µE droplets (∼45 nm) that did not coalesce even after lyophilization, forming small spherical EZM-NPs (∼60 nm). However, the maturity of nanodrug droplets observed through dynamic light scattering suggests the affinity of EZM to the nonpolar microenvironment, which was further supported through peak-to-peak correlation of infrared analysis and fluorescence measurements. Moreover, the release profile of the as-obtained EZM-nanopowder increased significantly >98% in 30 min, which indicates that a reduced drug concentration will be needed for capsules or tablets in the future and can be simply incorporated into the multidosage formulation of EZM.

Fourth-Generation Antibiotic Gatifloxacin Encapsulated by Microemulsions: Structural and Probing Dynamics.

To overcome the increased disease rate, utilization of the versatile broad spectrum antibiotic drugs in controlled drug-delivery systems has been a challenging and complex consignment. However, with the development of microemulsion (µE)-based formulations, drugs can be effectively encapsulated and transferred to the target source. Herein, two biocompatible oil-in-water (o/w) µE formulations comprising clove oil/Tween 20/ethylene glycol/water (formulation A) and clove oil/Tween 20/1-butanol/water (formulation B) were developed for encapsulating the gatifloxacin (GTF), a fourth-generation antibiotic. The pseudoternary phase diagrams were mapped at a constant surfactant/co-surfactant (1:1) ratio to bound the existence of a monophasic isotropic region for as-formulated µEs. Multiple complementary characterization techniques, namely, conductivity (σ), viscosity (η), and optical microscopy analyses, were used to study the gradual changes that occurred in the microstructure of the as-formulated µEs, indicating the presence of a percolation transformation to a bicontinuous permeate flow. GTF showed good solubility, 3.2 wt % at pH 6.2 and 4.0 wt % at pH 6.8, in optimum µE of formulation A and formulation B, respectively. Each loaded µE formulation showed long-term stability over 8 months of storage. Moreover, no observable aggregation of GTF was found, as revealed by scanning transmission electron microscopy and peak-to-peak correlation of IR analysis, indicating the stability of GTF inside the formulation. The average particle size of each µE, measured by dynamic light scattering, increased upon loading GTF, intending the accretion of drug in the interfacial layers of microdomains. Likewise, fluorescence probing sense an interfacial hydrophobic environment to GTF molecules in any of the examined formulations, which may be of significant interest for understanding the kinetics of drug release.

Can cloud point-based enrichment, preservation, and detection methods help to bridge gaps in aquatic nanometrology?

Coacervate-based techniques are intensively used in environmental analytical chemistry to enrich and extract different kinds of analytes. Most methods focus on the total content or the speciation of inorganic and organic substances. Size fractionation is less commonly addressed. Within coacervate-based techniques, cloud point extraction (CPE) is characterized by a phase separation of non-ionic surfactants dispersed in an aqueous solution when the respective cloud point temperature is exceeded. In this context, the feature article raises the following question: May CPE in future studies serve as a key tool (i) to enrich and extract nanoparticles (NPs) from complex environmental matrices prior to analyses and (ii) to preserve the colloidal status of unstable environmental samples? With respect to engineered NPs, a significant gap between environmental concentrations and size- and element-specific analytical capabilities is still visible. CPE may support efforts to overcome this "concentration gap" via the analyte enrichment. In addition, most environmental colloidal systems are known to be unstable, dynamic, and sensitive to changes of the environmental conditions during sampling and sample preparation. This delivers a so far unsolved "sample preparation dilemma" in the analytical process. The authors are of the opinion that CPE-based methods have the potential to preserve the colloidal status of these instable samples. Focusing on NPs, this feature article aims to support the discussion on the creation of a convention called the "CPE extractable fraction" by connecting current knowledge on CPE mechanisms and on available applications, via the uncertainties visible and modeling approaches available, with potential future benefits from CPE protocols.

Antioxidant and antiacetylcholine esterase potential of aerial parts of Conocarpus erectus, Ficus variegata and Ficus maclellandii.

The current study was designed to check the antioxidant and enzyme inhibition potential of various extracts/ fractions of three selected plants. The aerial parts of Conocarpus erectus (Combretaceae), Ficus variegata (Moraceae) and Ficus maclellandii (Moraceae) were extracted with ethanol (95%) and the resulting crude extracts were partitioned with n-hexane, chloroform and n-butanol successively. Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was used to calculate the total phenolic contents, flavonoids contents were calculated with aluminum chloride while antioxidant and enzyme studies were carried out through standard protocols. All extracts/fractions contained reasonable amount of phenolic compounds ranging from 0.58-58.23 mg CE/g of DW and 0.43-30.56 mg GAE/g of DW. Total flavonoids were determined using rutin and quercetin standards, ranging from 2.65-18.2 mg rutin equivalent/g of dry weight and 0.92-5.41 mg quercetin equivalent/g of dry weight. Antioxidant studies such as DPPH inhibition FRAP and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was checked. The crude ethanolic extract of C. erectus showed maximum antiradical scavenging power (90.43%; IC50=7 µg) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (16.5 µM eq.FeSO4.7H2O), respectively while leave extract of F. variegata (chloroform) was the most active (0.6577) in TAC among other extracts of the selected medicinal plants. Butanolic leave extract of C. erectus exhibited maximum enzyme inhibition activity (91.62% with IC50 40 µg/ml) while other extracts showed significant activity. It was observed from results that all extracts/fractions of under consideration plants, exhibited significant bioactivities especially ethanolic and butanolic fractions, which may be the richest source of such type of activities.

Electronic absorption spectra and nonlinear optical properties of ruthenium acetylide complexes: a DFT study toward the designing of new high NLO response compounds.

In this study we have used density functional theory (DFT) to calculate nonlinear optical properties and simulate the UV-VIS absorption spectra of ruthenium acetylide complexes.Among the studied systems, system 4 has shown highest non-linear optical properties (a = 72.92 × 10(-24)esu and b = 76.32 × 10(-30)esu).New compounds have been theoretically designed by the extension of conjugation length and substitution of electron withdrawing atom/groups as acceptor on system 4. All designed compounds show intense band due to metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT).Second-order polarizabilityof new design compounds was remarkablyhigh as compared to system 4 (123.35 × 10(-30)to 360.23 × 10(-30)esu). Effect of acceptors was more prominent than pi-spacers. Results of theoretical investigation indicate that all systems should be excellent non-linear optical materials.

Correction: Facile fabrication of a graphene-based chemical sensor with ultrasensitivity for nitrobenzene.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/D3RA08794H.].

Facile fabrication of a graphene-based chemical sensor with ultrasensitivity for nitrobenzene.

Chemical sensors have a wide range of applications in a variety of industries, particularly for sensing volatile organic compounds. This work demonstrates the fabrication of a chemical sensor based on graphene deposited on Cu foils using low-pressure chemical vapor deposition, following its transfer on oxidized silicon through a wet etching method. Scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy of the transferred graphene were performed. A device was fabricated by simply connecting the strips of a Cu tape along the two opposite edges of graphene, which acted as a chemical sensor. The sensor was exposed to different analytes, namely acetone, propanol, benzyl chloride, nitrobenzene, carbon tetrachloride and acetic acid. A relative change in the resistance of the device was observed, which was attributed to the interaction of analytes with graphene as it changes charge concentrations in the graphene lattice. The fabricated sensor showed a notable sensitivity and response time for all analytes, particularly a sensitivity as high as 231.1 for nitrobenzene and a response time as short as 6.9 s for benzyl chloride. The sensor was also tested for analyte leakage from containers for domestic, laboratory and industrial applications.

Heating effect on quality characteristics of mixed canola cooking oils.

BACKGROUND: The subcontinent is famous for its variety of seasonal foods cooked in vegetable seed cooking oils at elevated heating. Oils are often of poor quality that effect to consumer health. The work, therefore, planned to examine the effects of heat on the quality of mixed canola cooking oils (MCCOs). MCCOs were analyzed by preparing volatile fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and for physiochemical properties. RESULTS: A major change was observed in the FAs composition of various MCCOs as coded K-1 to K-5. MCCOs were found rich in unsaturated 9-octadecanoic acid (oleic acid C18:1) and 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid (linoleic acid C18:2) along saturated octadecanoic acid (stearic acid C18:0). Results reveals that canola oil samples are mixed in the range of 4-30% with other vegetable oils and animal fats. The quality of canola cooking oils further reduced after heating to 100 °C, 200 °C and 350 °C, respectively. Quality parameters of MCCOs were significantly altered after heating and found as color (510-520 nm to 570-600 nm), mass 220-237 g to 210-225 g, volume 250 mL to 239 mL, pH (6.76-6.89), specific gravity (0.87-0.92), refractive index (1.471-1.475), saponification value (SV) (0.7-2.5), un-saponifiable matter (2.4-9.8%) and acid value (AV) (1.20-5.0 mg KOH). CONCLUSION: Heating of oils at elevated temperature have shown a significant effect on pH, specific gravity and un-saponifiable matter (p-value < 0.05). Large changes in the physicochemical parameters and FAs composition help to develop a conclusion that cooking at high temperatures affects the quality of mixed canola cooking oils.

Sago starch nanocrystal-stabilized Pickering emulsions: Stability and rheological behavior.

This study presents the isolation of SNC from sago starch and its performance as proficient particle emulsifier. It highlights the impact of SNC on the stability and rheological properties of oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions. The percentage yield of the SNC obtained was equivalent to 25 ± 0.1% (w/w) with particle diameters ranging from 25 to 100 nm. A series of Pickering emulsion at different ratios of oil (5%-35% v/v) and SNC (1%-4% w/v) was prepared for further investigations. The mean droplet diameter of emulsions obtained was ranged from 19.12 to 35.96 µm, confirming the effects of both SNC and oil content on the droplet's diameter distribution. Formulations with 4.0 wt% of SNC exhibited the maximum stability against coalescence. Results obtained have justified that the SNC can be used as an alternative solid emulsifier in producing stable emulsion with desired properties for various applications.

Green photosensitisers for the degradation of selected pesticides of high risk in most susceptible food: A safer approach.

Pesticides are the leading defence against pests, but their unsafe use reciprocates the pesticide residues in highly susceptible food and is becoming a serious risk for human health. In this study, mint extract and riboflavin were tested as photosensitisers in combination with light irradiation of different frequencies, employed for various time intervals to improve the photo-degradation of deltamethrin (DM) and lambda cyhalothrin (λ-CHT) in cauliflower. Different source of light was studied, either in ultraviolet range (UV-C, 254 nm or UV-A, 320-380 nm) or sunlight simulator (> 380-800 nm). The degradation of the pesticides varied depending on the type of photosensitiser and light source. Photo-degradation of the DM and λ-CHT was enhanced by applying the mint extracts and riboflavin and a more significant degradation was achieved with UV-C than with either UV-A or sunlight, reaching a maximum decrement of the concentration by 67-76%. The light treatments did not significantly affect the in-vitro antioxidant activity of the natural antioxidants in cauliflower. A calculated dietary risk assessment revealed that obvious dietary health hazards of DM and λ-CHT pesticides when sprayed on cauliflower for pest control. The use of green chemical photosensitisers (mint extract and riboflavin) in combination with UV light irradiation represents a novel, sustainable, and safe approach to pesticide reduction in produce.

Pd(II) complexes with chelating N-(1-alkylpyridin-4(1H)-ylidene)amide (PYA) ligands: Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of anticancer activity.

The bidentate N-(1-Alkylpyridin-4(1H)-ylidene)amide (PYA) pro-ligands [H2LBn][Cl]2 (2), and [H2LMe][TfO]2 (3) were prepared by simple alkylation reactions of the known compound, N,N-di(pyridin-4-yl)oxalamide (H2L, 1). The Pd(II) complexes, [Pd(LBn)2][Cl]2 (4), [Pd(LMe)2][Cl][TfO] (5), Pd(LBn)Cl2 (6) and Pd(LMe)Cl2 (7) were synthesized through reactions between these pro-ligands and suitable Pd(II) substrates in the presence of base. The molecular structures of 3 and 6 were obtained by single crystal X-ray structure determinations. Studies of the experimental and computational DNA binding interactions of the compounds 1-7 revealed that overall 4 and 6 have the largest values for the binding parameters Kb and ΔGbo. The results showed a good correlation with the steric and electronic parameters obtained by quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) studies. In-vitro cytotoxicity studies against four different cell lines showed that the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, T47D and cervical cancer cell line HeLa had either higher or similar sensitivities towards 4, 6 and 2, respectively, compared to cisplatin. In general, the cytotoxicity of the compounds, represented by IC50 values, decreased in the order 4 > 6 > 2 > 5 > 3 > 1 > 7 in cancer cell lines. Apoptosis contributed significantly to the cytotoxic effects of these anticancer agents as evaluated by apoptosis studies.

Exploring 3-hydroxyflavone scaffolds as mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors: synthesis, X-ray crystallography, antimicrobial, fluorescence behaviour, structure-activity relationship and molecular modelling studies.

To explore new scaffolds as tyrosinase enzyme inhibitors remain an interesting goal in the drug discovery and development. In due course and our approach to synthesize bioactive compounds, a series of varyingly substituted 3-hydroxyflavone derivatives (1-23) were synthesized in one-pot reaction and screened for in vitro against mushroom tyrosinase enzyme. The structures of newly synthesized compounds were unambiguously corroborated by usual spectroscopic techniques (FTIR, UV-Vis, 1H-, 13C-NMR) and mass spectrometry (EI-MS). The structure of compound 15 was also characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, the synthesized compounds (1-23) were evaluated for their antimicrobial potential. Biological studies exhibit pretty good activity against most of the bacterial-fungal strains and their activity is comparable to those of commercially available antibiotics i.e. Cefixime and Clotrimazole. Amongst the series, the compounds 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 14 and 22 exhibited excellent inhibitory activity against tyrosinase, even better than standard compound. Remarkably, the compound 2 (IC50 = 0.280 ± 0.010 µg/ml) was found almost sixfold and derivative 5 (IC50 = 0.230 ± 0.020 µg/ml) about sevenfold more active as compared to standard Kojic acid (IC50 =1.79 ± 0.6 µg/ml). Moreover, these synthetic compounds (1-23) displayed good to moderate activities against tested bacterial and fungal strains. Their emission behavior was also investigated in order to know their potential as fluorescent probes. The molecular modelling simulations were also performed to explore their binding interactions with active sites of the tyrosinase enzyme. Limited structure-activity relationship was established to design and develop new tyrosinase inhibitors by employing 2-arylchromone as a structural core in the future. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Recycling functional colloids and nanoparticles.

The stability and separation of colloids and nanoparticles has been addressed in numerous studies. Most of the work reported to date requires high cost, energy intensive approaches such as ultracentrifugation and solvent evaporation to recover the particles. At this point of time, when green science is beginning to make a real impact, it is vital to achieve efficient and effective separation and recovery of colloids to provide environmental and economic benefits. This article explores recent advances in strategies for recycling and reusing functional nanomaterials, which indicate new directions in lean engineering of high-value nanoparticles, such as Au and Pd.

Synthesis of novel fluorescent cyclohexenone derivatives and their partitioning study in ionic micellar media.

An approach is demonstrated toward the synthesis of four novel cyclohexenone derivatives (CDs) via a convenient route of Michael addition of ethyl acetoacetate. The molecular structures of CDs were confirmed by means of FT-IR, (1)H NMR, EIMS, UV and also by X-ray single crystal structure analysis. CDs are strongly fluorescent compounds and their fluorescent spectra exhibits intense violet fluorescence. To model the binding to biological membranes the behavior of CDs in micellar solutions of a cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) has also been examined. The characteristics of partition and binding interactions of CDs with CTAB and SDS were investigated by UV-Visible and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. Higher values of all mentioned interactions in case of CTAB, compared to SDS, indicate that there are greater interactions between the CDs and CTAB than with SDS.