Solar light degradation of organic dye pollutants and preparation of bis(indolyl)methanes using core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2@CuO nanocomposite.

In this research, a new ferromagnetic-recoverable core-shell Fe3O4@SiO2@CuO nanocomposite of a certain size (20-25 nm) has been synthesized based on Cu(II) complex coated on Fe3O4@SiO2 nanoparticles by facile and fast solid state microwave irradiation method. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite was investigated for degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dye pollutants in aqueous media under solar light irradiation. The nanocomposite could destroy these dyes with high efficiency in short time. With comparison of degradation percentages can be concluded that the nanocomposite shows better photocatalytic activity for MB dye (97% in 180 s). Kinetic study revealed higher rate constant for degradation of MB (k= 3.6×10-3 s-1) with pseudozero-order model. Also, Fe3O4@SiO2@CuO nanocomposite was an efficient magnetically recoverable catalyst for the preparation of bis(indolyl)methanes (BIMs) through the condensation of an aldehyde with 2 equivalents of indole in EtOH/H2O as green solvents.

Co-Sn-Cu oxides/graphene nanocomposites as green catalysts for preparing 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthenes and apoptosis-inducing agents in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

In this work, Co-Sn-Cu oxides/graphene nanocomposite, 30-40 ± 0.5 nm in size, was synthesized by solid-state microwave irradiation. This method presents several advantages such as operational simplicity, fast, low cost, safe and energy efficient, and suitability for production of high purity of nanoparticles. Other advantages of this method are there is no need for the use of solvent, fuel, and surfactant. Co-Sn-Cu oxides/graphene nanocomposites have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The synthesized nanocomposites were used as novel highly efficient catalysts for the synthesis of 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthenes at room temperature. The catalysts are recoverable and can be reused for six runs without loss of their activity. Also, the obtained nanocomposites exhibited significant anticancer activity against breast cancer cells and they could induce apoptosis in cancer cells.

Facile microwave-assisted synthesis of NiO nanoparticles and its effect on soybean (Glycine max).

NiO nanoparticles in high purity, 15 ± 0.5 nm in size, were prepared via solid-state microwave irradiation. The [Ni(NH3)6](NO3)2 complex as a novel source was decomposed in the presence of microwave irradiation for a short time (10 min). The present method is facile, safe, and low-cost. This method exhibits other advantages; there is no need of a solvent, fuel, surfactant, expensive material, or complex instrument. Synthesised NiO nanoparticles were determined by various analyses. Also, for the first time, NiO nanoparticle effects on biochemical factors in soybean were investigated. Seeds of soybean were grown in the Murashige and Skoog agar medium containing different concentrations of NiO nanoparticles (0, 200, and 400 mg/L) for 21 days under growth chamber conditions. Estimates of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide contents, and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and ascorbate peroxidase) under treatment of NiO nanoparticles were assayed. The result showed that by significantly increasing the concentration of NiO nanoparticles, the activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes was enhanced. Malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide contents significantly increased in the presence of NiO nanoparticles. In this study, the increasing activity of catalase and ascorbate peroxidase was not enough for radical oxygen species detoxification.

Synthesis of conductive polymeric ionic liquid/Ni nanocomposite and its application to construct a nanostructure based electrochemical sensor for determination of warfarin in the presence of tramadol.

In the current study, poly(MImEO8BS)-Ni nanocomposite was synthesized and applied to modify a glassy carbon electrode along with conductive polymeric ionic liquids. The electrochemical investigation of the modified electrode as well as its efficiency for voltammetric oxidation of warfarin is elucidated. The electrode was used to study the voltammetric oxidation of warfarin by employing cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), chronoamperometry, and square wave voltammetry (SWV) as diagnostic techniques. It has been observed that warfarin oxidation at the surface of modified electrode occurs at a potential of about 230mV which is less positive than that of an unmodified glassy carbon electrode. SWV demonstrated a linear dynamic range from 1.0×10-6 to 1.0×10-4M and a detection limit of 1.5×10-7M for warfarin. In addition, this modified electrode was utilized for simultaneous determination of warfarin and tramadol. Finally, the modified electrode was employed for determination of warfarin and tramadol in pharmaceutical compounds.