The photo- and electrophysical properties of curcumin in aqueous solution

3D printed edible electronics: Components, fabrication approaches and applications

A recently minted field of 3D-printed edible electronics (EEs) represents a cutting-edge convergence of edible electronic devices and 3D printing technology. This review presents a comprehensive view of this emerging discipline, which has gathered significant scientific attention for its potential to create a safe, environmentally friendly, economical, and naturally degraded inside the human body. EEs have the potential to be used as medical and health devices to monitor physiological conditions and possibly treat diseases. These edible devices include different components, such as sensors, actuators, and other electronic elements, all made from edible ingredients such as sugars, proteins, polysaccharides, polymers, and others. Among the different fabrication approaches, 3D printing can provide reliable solutions to specific requirements. The concept of EEs has the potential to transform healthcare, providing more convenient, less invasive alternatives and personalized, customizable products for patients that beat traditional manufacturing methods. While the potential is enormous, there are critical challenges, notably ensuring the long-term stability, and regulatory and safety of these devices within the human body. Accordingly, a detailed understanding of the underlying concepts, fabrication approaches, design considerations, and action in the body/application range has been presented. As an evolving field, there is ample scope for research and multiple challenges must be addressed; these are elaborated towards the concluding sections of this article.

Curcumin Analogue Spectral, Nonlinear Optical Properties and All-optical Switching Using Visible, Low Power Cw Laser Beams

In this study, we conducted the synthesis and diagnosis of compound denoted as 1A3, specifically, (2E,4E,9E,11E)-7-chloro-2,12-diphenyltrideca-2,4,9,11-tetraene-6,8-dione. The photoluminescent and UV-vis spectral properties of this compound are investigated. The compound is dissolved in both chloroform and DMF for analysis purposes. Compound 1A3's nonlinear optical (NLO) characteristics when dissolved in DMF, are extensively studied through a series of experiments including diffraction patterns (DPs) and Z-scan. The optical limiting (OL) property of the 1A3 compound is tested and a threshold value of 12.4 mW at the wavelength 473 nm is obtained. Additionally, we explored its potential for all-optical switching utilizing two low-power visible laser beams. Notably, we achieved a significant nonlinear refractive index (NLRI) reaching up to 5.921 x 10-11 m2/W. To analyze the obtained diffraction patterns, we employed the Fresnel-Kirchhoff integral equation and conducted meticulous simulations. The numerical outcomes showed satisfactory agreement with the experimental observations.

Nonlinear Optical Properties and All Optical Switching of Curcumin Derivatives

In this work OR1(E1,6E) -1,7-bis (4-propyloxy phenyl) hepta-1,6-diene-3,5 dione compound is synthesized. The compound has been characterized via computational technique by studying the molecule's electronic structures through calculating its HOMO and LUMO energies, and its band gap energy (EHOMO-ELUMO). The nonlinear refractive index (NLRI) of the solution of OR1 compound in DMF solvent is determined using diffraction patterns (DPs) which resulted when a continuous wave laser beam of wavelength 473 nm traversed the compound solution in a glass cell of 1 mm thickness. By counting the number of rings under maximum beam input power, the NLRI of value 10- 6 cm2/W resulted. The NLRI is calculated once more via the Z-scan technique and a value of 0.25 × 10- 7 cm2/W is obtained. The vertical convection current in the OR1 compound solution appears to be responsible for the asymmetries noticed in the DPs. The temporal variation of each DP is noticed together with the evolution of DPs against beam input power. DPs are numerically simulated based on the Fresnel-Kirchhoff integral with good accord compared to the experimental findings. Dynamic and static all-optical switching in the OR1 compound using two laser beams (473 and 532 nm) is tested successfully.

The nonlinear optical properties of two dihydropyridones derived from curcumin

Two dihydropyridone compounds are synthesized from curcumin using microwave radiation. Both compounds were identified by their melting points and ¹HNMR spectra. The nonlinear properties viz., nonlinear absorption coefficients and nonlinear refractive index of both compounds were calculated at wavelength 473 nm using the diffraction ring patterns and Z-scan techniques separately. The diffraction ring patterns evolved from circular symmetric to asymmetric due to convection current in the vertical direction. As a result of using Gaussian laser beam, the Fraunhofer approximation of the Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction, have led to successful simulation of the diffraction ring patterns with good quantitative and excellent qualitative agreements compared with experimental results. Optical limiting property has been tested in both compounds.

Sensitized ZnO nanorod assemblies to detect heavy metal contaminated phytomedicines: spectroscopic and simulation studies

The immense pharmacological relevance of the herbal medicine curcumin including anti-cancer and anti-Alzheimer effects, suggests it to be a superior alternative to synthesised drugs. The diverse functionalities with minimal side effects intensify the use of curcumin not only as a dietary supplement but also as a therapeutic agent. Besides all this effectiveness, some recent literature reported the presence of deleterious heavy metal contaminants from various sources in curcumin leading to potential health hazards. In this regard, we attempt to fabricate ZnO based nanoprobes to detect metal conjugated curcumin. We have synthesized and structurally characterized the ZnO nanorods (NR). Three samples namely curcumin (pure), Zn-curcumin (non-toxic metal attached to curcumin) and Hg-curcumin (toxic heavy metal attached to curcumin) were prepared for consideration. The samples were electrochemically deposited onto ZnO surfaces and the attachment was confirmed by cyclic voltammetry experiments. Moreover, to confirm a molecular level interaction picosecond-resolved PL-quenching of ZnO NR due to Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) from donor ZnO NR to the acceptor curcumin moieties was employed. The attachment proximity of ZnO NR and curcumin moieties depends on the size of metals. First principles analysis suggests a variance of attachment sites and heavy metal Hg conjugated curcumin binds through a peripheral hydroxy group to NR. We fabricated a facile photovoltaic device consisting of ZnO NR as the working electrode with Pt counter electrode and iodide-triiodide as the electrolyte. The trend in photocurrent under visible light illumination suggests an enhancement in the case of heavy metal ions due to long range interaction and greater accumulation of charge at the active electrode. Our results provide a detailed physical insight into interfacial processes that are crucial for detecting heavy-metal attached phytomedicines and are thus expected to find vast application as sensors for the detection of selective metal contaminants.

Reversible loading of thiol-modified curcumin in an engineered protein capsid

The dodecahedral capsid formed by Aquifex aeolicus lumazine synthase (AaLS) is a promising protein scaffold for bionanotechnological applications.

Synthesis and characterization of (68)Ga-labeled curcumin and curcuminoid complexes as potential radiotracers for imaging of cancer and Alzheimer's disease

Curcumin (CUR) and curcuminoids complexes labeled with fluorine-18 or technetium-99m have recently shown their potential as diagnostic tools for Alzheimer's disease. Gallium-68 is a positron-emitting, generator-produced radionuclide, and its properties can be exploited in situ in medical facilities without a cyclotron. Moreover, CUR showed a higher uptake in tumor cells compared to normal cells, suggesting potential diagnostic applications in this field. In spite of this, no studies using labeled CUR have been performed in this direction, so far. Herein, (68)Ga-labeled complexes with CUR and two curcuminoids, namely diacetyl-curcumin (DAC) and bis(dehydroxy)curcumin (bDHC), were synthesized and characterized by means of experimental and theoretical approaches. Moreover, a first evaluation of their affinity to synthetic β-amyloid fibrils and uptake by A549 lung cancer cells was performed to show the potential application of these new labeled curcuminoids in these diagnostic fields. The radiotracers were prepared by reacting (68)Ga(3+) obtained from a (68)Ge/(68)Ga generator with 1 mg/mL curcuminoids solutions. Reaction parameters (precursor amount, reaction temperature, and pH) were optimized to obtain high and reproducible radiochemical yield and purity. Stoichiometry and formation of the curcuminoid complexes were investigated by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, NMR, ultraviolet-visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy on the equivalent (nat)Ga-curcuminoids (nat = natural) complexes, and their structure was computed by theoretical density functional theory calculations. The analyses evidenced that CUR, DAC, and bDHC were predominantly in the keto-enol form and attested to Ga(L)2(+) species formation. Identity of the (68)Ga(L)2(+) complexes was confirmed by coelution with the equivalent (nat)Ga(L)2(+) complexes in ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography analyses.(68)Ga(CUR)2(+), (68)Ga(DAC)2(+), and (68)Ga(bDHC)2(+) were highly (87 ± 4, 90 ± 1%) and moderately (48 ± 2%), respectively, retained by synthetic β-amyloid fibrils in vitro. All the Ga-curcuminoid complexes showed an uptake in A549 lung cancer cells, at least equivalent to the respective free curcuminoids, confirming potential applications as cancer-detecting radiotracers.

Formation of curcumin molecular ion under electrospray ionisation conditions in the presence of metal cations

Electrospray ionisation (ESI) mass spectra obtained for solutions containing curcumin, copper cation and other metal cations, namely Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+, have shown an abundant curcumin molecular ion at m/z 368. This ion was not formed for solutions containing curcumin and copper cations or for those containing curcumin and other metal cations. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first example of a system in which copper cations and other metal cations promote formation of organic radical cation under ESI conditions.

Spectral properties of highly selective chemosensor for Hg2+

A (E)-2-(2-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)vinyl)-4H-chromen-4-ylidene)malononitrile (dye 1) was synthesized and its cation sensing properties in DMSO were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy. Upon the addition of Hg2+, the solution of dye 1 showed color change and the absorption band shows a formation of a 1:1 dye 1-Hg2+ coordination complex. The dye 1 exhibited high selectivity for Hg2+ as compared with other cations. Interestingly, the dye 1-F- complex also could be recovered by adding Hg2+. We have investigated the ability of complex formation based on the association constant, Kass; the binding ability for the complex formation of dye 1-F- and Hg2+ is greater than that of the dye 1 with F-.