Self-assembly of cationic surfactant in choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents: structural solvation and dynamics.

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have gained popularity in various applications due to their improved environmental sustainability and biodegradability. For the present study, several polyhydric alcohols, including ethylene glycol (EG), diethylene glycol (DEG), triethylene glycol (TEG), and glycerol (Gly), have been used as hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) and choline chloride (ChCl) as a hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) in a fixed molar ratio to form a homogenous and stable DES. Controlled water mixing into such neat DESs has always been thought to be a quick and efficient method to tune the chemical and thermodynamic properties of DESs.

Impact of Ionic Liquids on the Physicochemical Behavior of Vesicles.

The effects of two ionic liquids (ILs), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim]BF) and 1-butyl-1-methyl pyrrolidinium tetrafluoroborate ([bmp]BF), on a mixture of phospholipids (PLs) 1,2-dipalmitoyl--glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl--glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (DPPE), and 1,2-dipalmitoyl--glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (DPPG) (6:3:1, M/M/M, 70% PL) in combination with 30 mol % cholesterol (CHOL) were investigated in the form of a solvent-spread monolayer and bilayer (vesicle). Surface pressure (π)-area () isotherm studies, using a Langmuir surface balance, revealed the formation of an expanded monolayer, while the cationic moiety of the IL molecules could electrostatically and hydrophobically bind to the PLs on the palisade layer. Turbidity, dynamic light scattering (size, ζ-potential, and polydispersity index), electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray/neutron scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetric studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of IL on the structural organization of bilayer in the vesicles.

Developing biomass augmentation strategy for cultivation of Marvania coccoides using fruit waste and wastewater based growth medium for biodiesel production.

Microalgae cultivation using waste as nutrient source can minimize the use of expensive chemical nutrients and valuable freshwater. In present work, novel microalgae Marvania coccoides was cultivated in fruit waste (FW) and wastewater (WW) based growth medium. To further augment metabolites and biomass, the culture was supplemented with phytohormone, kinetin (K).

Synchronized Codelivery of Combination Chemotherapies Intratumorally Using a Lipidic Lyotropic Liquid Crystal System.

In this work, an injectable in situ depot-forming lipidic lyotropic liquid crystal (L3C) system is developed to codeliver a precisely synchronized combination of chemotherapeutics intratumorally. The developed L3C system is composed of amphiphilic lipids and surfactants, including monoolein, phosphatidylcholine, tocopherol acetate, and d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate. Owing to its amphiphilic nature, the developed formulation can coaccommodate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic chemotherapeutic moieties simultaneously.

Atlantoaxial Instability with Persistent Second Intersegmental Artery.

Understanding the anatomy of the vertebral artery is essential while manipulating the craniovertebral joint during surgery. Its anomalous course in congenital atlantoaxial dislocation makes it more vulnerable to injury. Preoperative dedicated computed tomography (CT) angiography helps identify the artery's position and plan for surgical procedure.

Block Copolymer Encapsulation of Disarib, an Inhibitor of BCL2 for Improved Chemotherapeutic Potential.

A chemical inhibitor of antiapoptotic protein, BCL2, known as Disarib, suffers poor solubility in aqueous environments; thereby limiting its potential as a chemotherapeutic agent. To overcome this limitation and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of Disarib, we have employed the encapsulation of this small molecule inhibitor within P123 copolymer matrix. Micelles were synthesized using a thin-film hydration technique, and a comprehensive analysis was undertaken to evaluate the resulting micelle properties, including morphology, particle size, intermolecular interactions, encapsulation efficiency, and release characteristics.

An Injectable In Situ Depot-Forming Lipidic Lyotropic Liquid Crystal System for Localized Intratumoral Drug Delivery.

To address the need for localized chemotherapy against unresectable solid tumors, an injectable in situ depot-forming lipidic lyotropic liquid crystal system (L3CS) is explored that can provide spatiotemporal control over drug delivery. Although liquid crystals have been studied extensively before but their application as an injectable intratumoral depot system for locoregional chemotherapy has not been explored yet. The developed L3CS in the present study is a low-viscosity injectable fluid having a lamellar phase, which transforms into a hexagonal mesophase depot system on subcutaneous or intratumoral injection.

Spontaneous Formation of Cationic Vesicles in Aqueous DDAB-Lecithin Mixtures for Efficient Plasmid DNA Complexation and Gene Transfection.

Cationic liposomes have become an attractive tool to deliver genes and interfering RNA into cells. Herein, we report the application of spontaneously formed cationic vesicles in mixtures of lecithin and cationic amphiphiles for efficient transfection of plasmid DNA and siRNA into cells. The average hydrodynamic diameter of the phospholipid vesicles was modulated by changing the ratio of dihexadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) to phospholipid in the vesicles.

Alzheimer's disease and sleep disorders: Insights into the possible disease connections and the potential therapeutic targets.

One of the comorbid conditions in an individual with Alzheimer's disease is a sleep disorder. Clinical features of sleep disorders involve various sleep disturbances such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSAS), Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS), Rapid Eye Movement (REM), Breathing Disorders, Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS), etc. The primary tools used for the identification of such disturbances are Polysomnography (PSG) and Wrist actigraphy.

Thermoresponsive liquid crystalline formulation of Exemestane: Design and structural characterization.

Exemestane (EXE), a drug used for the treatment of breast cancer, has limited aqueous solubility of 0.08 mg/mL and log P∼ 4.22.

Bivalirudin and sirolimus co-eluting coronary stent: Potential strategy for the prevention of stent thrombosis and restenosis.

Localized drug delivery with sustained elution characteristics from nanocarrier coated stents represents a viable therapeutic approach to circumvent concerns related to coronary stent therapy. We fabricated a Sirolimus (SRL) and Bivalirudin (BIV) releasing nanoparticles (NPs) coated stent for concurrent mitigation of vascular restenosis and acute stent thrombosis. SRL NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation method whereas the BIV vesicles were generated using hydrophobic ion pair approach followed by micellization phenomenon.

Immobilization of protein on FeO nanoparticles for magnetic hyperthermia application.

We report a facile approach for the preparation of protein conjugated glutaric acid functionalized FeO magnetic nanoparticles (Pro-Glu-MNPs), having improved colloidal stability and heating efficacy. The Pro-Glu-MNPs were prepared by covalent conjugation of BSA protein onto the surface of glutaric acid functionalized FeO magnetic nanoparticles (Glu-MNPs) obtained through thermal decomposition. XRD and TEM analyses confirmed the formation of crystalline FeO nanoparticles of average size ~5 nm, whereas the conjugation of BSA protein to them was evident from XPS, FTIR, TGA, DLS and zeta-potential measurements.

Electrostatically bound lanreotide peptide - gold nanoparticle conjugates for enhanced uptake in SSTR2-positive cancer cells.

Lanreotide peptide (LP) has high affinity to somatostatin receptors like SSTR2 and is commonly used in the treatment of neuro-endocrine tumors. The main objective of this study is to target gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) towards SSTR2-positive cancer cells using lanreotide peptide (LP) as the targeting agent for enhanced tumor uptake and antitumor activity. pH mediated changes in the surface potential of LP and AuNP is used to prepare electrostatically bound AuNP-LP complexes.

pH dependent aggregation and conformation changes of rituximab using SAXS and its comparison with the standard regulatory approach of biophysical characterization.

Development of biologics and biosimilars involves extensive physical and structural characterization, which underlines the further course of its implementation. These characterization techniques require considerable standardization and are labor intensive. It is therefore, important to have an immediate, independent and affordable characterization strategy that may meet the regulatory guidelines.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Cytotoxicity of Novel Coumarin Peptide Alcohol Derivatives.

Background: Coumarins are naturally occurring biologically active heterocyclic molecules endowed with a wide range of biological properties, including antibacterial, antifungal, and antitumor activities.

Objective: The present work was aimed to synthesize new coumarin-containing compounds and to investigate their cytotoxic activity.

Methods: Coumarin peptide and coumarin amino alcohols were prepared by treating epoxidecontaining coumarin derivatives with suitable aromatic amines and peptides in trifluoroethanol as a solvent at 50°C.

High antimicrobial photodynamic activity of photosensitizer encapsulated dual-functional metallocatanionic vesicles against drug-resistant bacteria S. aureus.

Developments in the field of photodynamic therapy (PDT) are being made by investigating appropriate photosensitizers (PSs) and enhancing the penetration effect of light by developing new nano-carriers. So, to boost the PDT effect, in the present work, new metallocatanionic vesicles were fabricated by a convenient, efficient, green and inexpensive method to encapsulate PSs and evaluate their antimicrobial PDT against the drug-resistant bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. They were prepared from a combination of a double-chained copper-based cationic metallosurfactant (CuCPCII) and an anionic surfactant sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (Aerosol OT or AOT).

Altering the X-ray Scattering Contrast of Triton X-100 Micelles and Its Trapping in a Supercooled Solvent.

The structure of core-shell micelles formed by nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 (TX-100) in a supercooled glucose-urea melt is investigated by contrast variation small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), small angle neutron scattering (SANS), and HR-TEM. Cooling a molten mixture of glucose-urea (weight ratio of 3:2) to room temperature yields a supercooled solvent without crystallization that can be used for trapping micelles of TX-100. By use of a combination of water and glucose-urea mixture at different proportions as solvent for micellization, the scattering length density (SLD) of the solvent can be tuned to match the shell contrast of the micelles.

pH-Labile Magnetic Nanocarriers for Intracellular Drug Delivery to Tumor Cells.

We report the development of pH-labile ascorbic acid-coated magnetic nanocarriers (AMNCs) for effective delivery of the anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) to tumor cells. The uniqueness of this drug delivery system lies in the covalent conjugation of DOX through carbamate and hydrazone bonds, resulting in a slow and sustained drug release profile at different environmental acidities. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy analyses reveal the formation of crystalline single-phase FeO nanoparticles with an average size of 10 nm.

Manganese(I)-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling of Ketones and Secondary Alcohols with Primary Alcohols.

Catalytic cross-coupling of ketones and secondary alcohols with primary alcohols is reported. An abundant manganese-based pincer catalyst catalyzes the reactions. Low loading of catalyst (2 mol %) and catalytic use of a mild base (5-10 mol %) are sufficient for efficient cross-coupling.

Discerning the Structure Factor of Charged Micelles in Water and Supercooled Solvent by Contrast Variation X-ray Scattering.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is a well-known anionic surfactant that forms micelles in various solvents including supercooled sugar-urea melt. Here, we explore the application of contrast variation small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in discerning the structure and interactions of SDS micelles in aqueous solution and in a room-temperature supercooled solvent. The SAXS patterns can be analyzed in terms of a core-shell ellipsoid model.