Complexation, retention and release pattern of arsenic from humic/fulvic acid extracted from zinc and iron enriched vermicompost.

Arsenic (As) is a highly poisonous heavy metal with major environmental ramifications. Inorganic components such as zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe), as well as organic vermicompost, have been used as management solutions, with limited attempts of using them together. The current study involved preparing non-enriched vermicompost as well as six distinct Zn and Fe enriched vermicomposts and analyzing their chemical composition using the standard procedures.

A Co(III) Complex of 1-Amino-4-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone Exhibits Apoptotic Action against MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells.

A Co(III) complex of 1-amino-4-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone (QH) (Scheme-1) having the molecular formula CoQ (Scheme-2) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. In the absence of a single crystal, the energy-optimized molecular structure of CoQ was determined by employing computational methods that was validated using spectroscopic evidences, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry data. The electrochemical properties of the complex were analyzed using cyclic voltammetry and indicate a substantial modification of the electrochemical properties of the parent amino-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone.

CdS quantum dots embedded in PVP: Inorganic phosphate ion sensing in real sample and its antimicrobial activity.

Polyvinyl-pyrrolidone capped spherical cadmium sulphide quantum dots (CdS-PVP QDs), 2-6 nm in size, were developed as a selective turn-on fluorescence nanosensor for monohydrogen phosphate ion (HPO) in aqueous medium. Fluorescence intensity of CdS-PVP QDs significantly increased with addition of HPO ions, whereas the other common inorganic ions had very little effect on the fluorescence intensity. The proposed sensor may be efficiently used for the detection of HPO ions at a low level of concentration up to 213 nM in real urine sample.

Isolation, characterization and growth kinetics of phenol hyper-tolerant bacteria from sewage-fed aquaculture system.

Pollution of aquatic resources is increasing day-by-day, and phenolic compounds are common pollutants negatively impacting aquatic biodiversity and production. This study aimed at isolation of phenol hyper-tolerant bacteria from polluted aquaculture resource so that they might be useful in aquaculture systems. Four phenol hyper-tolerant bacterial strains were isolated from sewage fed East Kolkata Wetlands, a Ramsar site.

Dual sensing and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopic monitoring of Crand Al using a luminescent Schiff base: Extraction and DFT studies.

A well designed, new pyrene based small molecule (L) was synthesized from 1:1 condensation reaction of 1-aminopyrene and 6-(1,3-benzodioxal-5-yl)-2-pyridine carboxaldehyde which was characterized by absorption, emission spectrometry, FTIR, NMR and mass studies. Interestingly the UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopic studies revealed that the ligand (L) works as a dual turn-on luminescent chemosensor for chromium(III) (Cr) and aluminium(III) (Al) in aqueous environment which were further supported by DFT and TDDFT studies. L shows a significant colour change from pale yellow to reddish yellow with a detection limit of ~10 M in the presence of Cr and Al whereas there were no noteworthy changes in the presence of other monovalent and divalent metal ions.

A bio-relevant supramolecular Co(ii)-complex for selective fluorescence sensing of μM range inorganic As(iii) in aqueous medium and its intracellular tracking in bacterial systems.

A novel Co(ii)-complex {i.e. [Co(n-BuM)(DPA)(H2O)2]·H2O} [n-BuMH2 = n-butylmalonic acid and DPA = 2,2'-dipyridylamine] was synthesized.

Phosphatase-like Activity of Tetranuclear Iron(III) and Zinc(II) Complexes.

Three new tetranuclear iron(III) and zinc(II) complexes, [Fe(cpdp)(phth)(OH)]·8HO (1), [Fe(cpdp)(terephth)(OH)] (2), and [Zn(Hcpdp)(suc)]Br·12HO (3), have been synthesized as models for the active site of phosphoester hydrolases by utilizing a polydentate ligand, N, N'-bis[2-carboxybenzomethyl]- N, N'-bis[2-pyridylmethyl]-1,3-diaminopropan-2-ol (Hcpdp) in combination with exogeneous phthalate (phth), terephthalate (terephth), and succinate (suc). Single crystal X-ray analyses reveal that the metallic core of complex 1 consists of four distorted octahedral iron(III) ions with average intraligand Fe---Fe separation of 3.656(2) Å, while the structure 3 represents a tetranuclear metallic core containing four distorted trigonal bipyramidal zinc(II) ions with average intraligand Zn---Zn separation of 3.

Reactivity of CO on Ni cluster- effect of spin multiplicity and H doping-A DFT investigation.

We investigated the reactivity of carbon monoxide on tetrahedral Ni clusters at different spin multiplicity applying density functional theory calculations considering pure and hybrid functional. The stability of the clusters increases with the increasing spin multiplicity and doping hydrogen in Ni cluster. The adsorption or binding energy of CO on Ni cluster is thermodynamically feasible process at normal condition whereas dissociation is not feasible.

Therapeutic efficacy of artemisinin-loaded nanoparticles in experimental visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal vector-borne parasitic syndrome attributable to the protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex. The available chemotherapeutic options are not ideal due to their potential toxicity, high cost and prolonged treatment schedule. In the present study, we conjectured the use of nano drug delivery systems for plant-derived secondary metabolite; artemisinin as an alternative strategy for the treatment of experimental VL.

A simple, fast and cost-effective method of synthesis of cupric oxide nanoparticle with promising antibacterial potency: Unraveling the biological and chemical modes of action.

Background: Gradual attainment of bacterial resistance to antibiotics led us to develop a robust method of synthesis of stable, colloidal cupric oxide nanoparticle of physiological pH with potential antibacterial action.

Methods: Cu(II) oxide NP was synthesized by reduction-oxidation of CuCl2, using polyvinyl alcohol as stabilizer. Characteristics and antibacterial activity of the particles were investigated by techniques like UV-Vis spectrophotometry, DLS, AFM, TEM, EDS, FTIR, AAS, agar plating, FACS, gel electrophoresis and XPS.

Femtomolar level sensing of inorganic arsenic(III) in water and in living-systems using a non-toxic fluorescent probe.

A highly selective femtomolar level sensing of inorganic arsenic(III) as arsenious acid has been accomplished in water medium and in living-systems (on pollen grains of Tecoma stans; Candida albicans cells (IMTECH No. 3018) and Peperomia pellucida stem section) using a non-toxic fluorescent probe of a Cu(II)-complex.

A new approach for the delivery of artemisinin: formulation, characterization, and ex-vivo antileishmanial studies.

Hypothesis: Artemisinin, a potential antileishmanial compound with poor bioavailability and stability has limited efficacy in visceral leishmaniasis. Encapsulating artemisinin into poly lactic-co glycolic nanoparticles may improve its effectiveness and reduce toxicity.

Experiments: Artemisinin-loaded nanoparticles were prepared, optimized (using Box-Behnken design) and characterized by dynamic light scattering technique, Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier Transform-Infra Red spectroscopy.

A simple robust method for synthesis of metallic copper nanoparticles of high antibacterial potency against E. coli.

A method for preparation of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) was developed by simple reduction of CuCl2 in the presence of gelatin as a stabilizer and without applying stringent conditions like purging with nitrogen. The NPs were characterized by spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering, x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The particles were about 50-60 nm in size and highly stable.