A single-step plasma method for rapid production of 2D, ferromagnetic, surface vacancy-engineered MoO3-xnanomaterials, for photothermal ablation of cancer

A rapid, clean plasma-chemical technique is demonstrated here, for cost-effective, synthesis of surface vacancy engineered, 2D, molybdenum-oxide nanomaterials, during a one-step, integrated synthesis-hydrogenation process for biomedical applications. A laminar plasma beam populated with O and H radicals impinges on a molybdenum target, out of which molybdenum-oxide nanomaterials are very rapidly generated with controlled surface O vacancies. 2D, dark-blue coloured, nano-flake/ribbon like MoO_3-xis produced maximum up to 194 g h^-1, the core of which still remains as stoichiometric molybdenum-oxide. These nanomaterials can get heated-up by absorbing energy from a near-infrared (NIR) laser, which enable them as photothermal therapy (PTT) candidate material for the invasive precision therapy of cancer. The surface defects endows the products with robust ferromagnetism at room temperature conditions (maximum saturation-magnetization: 6.58 emu g^-1), which is order of magnitude stronger than most other vacancy engineered nanomaterials. These nanometric metal-oxides are observed to be perfectly compatible in animal physiological environment and easily dispersed in an aqueous solution even without any pre-treatment. The MoO_3-xnanomaterials are stable against further oxidation even under prolonged atmospheric exposure.In vitroexperiments confirm that they have ideal efficacy for photothermal ablation of human and murine melanoma cancer at relatively lower dose. Duringin vivoPTT treatments, they may be manipulated with a simple external magnetic field for targeted delivery at the malignant tumours. It is demonstrated that commensurate to the neutralization of the malignant cells, the nanomaterials themselves get self-degraded, which should get easily excreted out of the body.

Simultaneous measurements of radon and thoron, and their progeny levels in dwellings on anticlinal structures of Assam, India

Radon and thoron, and their progeny concentrations along with equilibrium factors for gas progeny and radiological risks to the residents have been measured in dwellings of Digboi and Mashimpur areas located on anticlines during the winter season. In this present investigation, twin-cup dosemeters fitted with LR-115 (II) nuclear detectors have been employed. The present work has shown that there exist considerable house-to-house variations in values with maximum values in mud houses and minimum values in assam type (AT) houses. It has been found that mean (and geometric standard deviations (GSD)) radon concentrations are 83.8 (1.3), 113.5 (1.1) and 157.2 (1.2) Bq m(-3) in AT, reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and mud houses in Digboi area and 63.0 (1.1), 87.1 (1.4) and 182.1 (1.2) Bq m(-3) in AT, RCC and mud houses in Mashimpur area, respectively. The overall mean radon concentrations in Digboi and Mashimpur are estimated to be 114.4 (1.4) and 100.0 (1.7) Bq m(-3). The mean radon concentrations are found to be less than the lower reference level of 200 Bq m(-3) of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP 2007). The thoron concentrations in Digboi area are estimated to be 31.1 (1.3), 50.8 (1.4) and 67.0 (1.6) Bq m(-3) in AT, RCC and mud houses, respectively, whereas in Mashimpur area, the thoron concentrations are estimated to be 26.4 (1.3), 44.4 (1.3) and 77.7 (1.3) Bq m(-3) in AT, RCC and mud houses, respectively. The mean annual effective doses in Digboi area are found to be 1.9 (1.3), 2.7 (1.2) and 4.1 (1.4) mSv y(-1) in AT, RCC and mud houses, respectively, while in the case of Mashimpur area, the mean annual effective doses are found to be 1.5 (1.4), 2.2 (1.2) and 4.9 (1.3) mSv y(-1) in AT, RCC and mud houses, respectively. Nevertheless, the obtained results are much lower than the upper reference level of 10 mSv (ICRP 2007).

Synthesis and fluorescence studies of porphyrin appended 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

A modular synthetic approach for preparing a family of porphyrin appended 1,3,4-oxadiazoles 9 is described. The porphyrin hydrazides are reacted with aryl aldehydes in presence of Yb(OTf)3 as catalyst to give porphyrin hydrazones 8 which are then cyclized to porphyrin appended 1,3,4-oxadiazoles 9 using iodobenzene diacetate. Photophysical studies in CHCl3 solvent shows that the electronic structure of the porphyrin chromophore is not greatly perturbed by the incorporation of the oxadiazole group onto the meso-phenyl ring. Efficient quenching of porphyrin fluorescence was observed in 9g with a pyridinium moiety.

GSK3beta: role in therapeutic landscape and development of modulators

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3beta) is a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase which was originally identified as a regulator of glycogen metabolism. It plays a key role in the regulation of numerous signalling pathways including cellular process such as cell cycle, inflammation and cell proliferation. Over the last few years there is a considerable rise in the number of journals and patents publication by different workers worldwide. Many pharmaceutical companies are focusing on GSK3beta as a therapeutic target for the treatment of disease conditions. The present review is focused on signalling pathways of different disease conditions where GSK3beta is implicated. In this review, we present a comprehensive map of GSK3beta signalling pathways in disease physiologies. Structural analysis of GSK3beta along with molecular modelling reports from numerous workers are reviewed in context of design and development of GSK3beta inhibitors. Patent landscape of the small molecule modulators is profiled. The chemo space for small molecule modulators extracted from public and proprietary Kinase Chembiobase for GSK3beta are discussed. Compounds in different clinical phases of discovery are analysed. The review ends with the overall status of this important therapeutic target and challenges in development of its modulators.

Phytopesticidal and repellent efficacy of Litsea salicifolia (Lauraceae) against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus

Litsea salicifolia is one of the many plants used as phytopesticide, traditionally by various tribes of Assam. Of the five extracts of L. salicifolia tested for the bioactivity against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus, the aqueous extract was more effective compared to other extracts exhibiting bioactivity at 72 ppm against A. aegypti. The hexane extract (2000 ppm) exhibited 70% repellent activity for 3 hr against A. aegypti and 46% activity for 3 hr against C. quinquefasciatus. This is the first report on the insecticidal properties of L. salicifolia which can be further developed as an eco-friendly biopesticides of the future.