A zinc ferrite nanodrug carrier for delivery of docetaxel: synthesis, characterization, and tests on C6 glioma cells.

Aim: Docetaxel (DTX) loaded bio-compatible PLGA-PEG encapsulated zinc ferrite nanoparticles (ZFNP) formulation was developed and evaluated against C6 glioma cells.

Methods: The ZFNP were characterised using XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, etc. A series of drug formulations were fabricated by conjugating hydrothermally synthesised ZFNP with DTX in a PLGA-PEG matrix and optimised for drug loading.

Anticancer potential of docetaxel-loaded cobalt ferrite nanocarrier: an in vitro study on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines.

Aim: To develop a biocompatible cobalt ferrite (CF-NP) nanodrug formulation using oleic acid and poly (d,l-lactide--glycolic) acid (PLGA) for the delivery of docetaxel (DTX) specifically to breast cancer cells.

Methods: The CF-NP were synthesised by hydrothermal method and conjugated with DTX in a PLGA matrix and were systematically characterised using XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, DLS, FTIR, TGA, SQUID etc. The drug loading, in vitro drug release, cellular uptake, cytotoxicity were evaluated and haemolytic effect was studied.

Effect of Composition and Thickness on the Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy of (Co/Pd) Multilayers.

Magnetic materials with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) have wide-ranging applications in magnetic recording and sensing devices. Multilayers comprised of ferromagnetic and non-magnetic metals (FM-NM) are interesting materials, as their magnetic anisotropy depends strongly on composition and growth parameters. In this context, (Co/Pd) multilayers have gained huge interest recently due to their robustness and tunable PMA.

Pump-probe experiments at the TEMPO beamline using the low-α operation mode of Synchrotron SOLEIL.

The SOLEIL synchrotron radiation source is regularly operated in special filling modes dedicated to pump-probe experiments. Among others, the low-α mode operation is characterized by shorter pulse duration and represents the natural bridge between 50 ps synchrotron pulses and femtosecond experiments. Here, the capabilities in low-α mode of the experimental set-ups developed at the TEMPO beamline to perform pump-probe experiments with soft X-rays based on photoelectron or photon detection are presented.

Indirect excitation of ultrafast demagnetization.

Does the excitation of ultrafast magnetization require direct interaction between the photons of the optical pump pulse and the magnetic layer? Here, we demonstrate unambiguously that this is not the case. For this we have studied the magnetization dynamics of a ferromagnetic cobalt/palladium multilayer capped by an IR-opaque aluminum layer. Upon excitation with an intense femtosecond-short IR laser pulse, the film exhibits the classical ultrafast demagnetization phenomenon although only a negligible number of IR photons penetrate the aluminum layer.

Laser-induced ultrafast demagnetization in the presence of a nanoscale magnetic domain network.

Femtosecond magnetization phenomena have been challenging our understanding for over a decade. Most experiments have relied on infrared femtosecond lasers, limiting the spatial resolution to a few micrometres. With the advent of femtosecond X-ray sources, nanometric resolution can now be reached, which matches key length scales in femtomagnetism such as the travelling length of excited 'hot' electrons on a femtosecond timescale.

Assessment of real time traffic noise attenuation by tree belts within Kolkata city (India).

The study of the existing scenario of the effect of trees and shrubs as urban screen plantings for abating the level of real time traffic-induced noise pollution in Kolkata city deserves extreme importance. However, no such data are available till date in this area. This paper reports the result of a preliminary study to assess the attenuation of real time traffic noise by tree belts at three different important locations of the city.