Publications by authors named "Waqas Rafique"

Enormous consumption of fossil fuel resources has risked energy accessibility in the upcoming years. The price fluctuation and depletion rate of fossil fuels instigate the urgent need for searching their reliable substitute. The current study tries to address these issues by presenting butanol as a replacement for gasoline in SI engines at various speeds and loading conditions.

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The 3,4-dichloro--(1-(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl)methyl benzamide scaffold was studied as a template for F-positron emission tomography (F-PET) radiotracer development emphasizing sensitivity to changes in opioid receptor (OR) occupancy over high affinity. Agonist potency, binding affinity, and relevant pharmacological parameters of 15 candidates were investigated. Two promising compounds and with μ-OR (MOR) selective agonist activity in the moderate range (EC = 1-100 nM) were subjected to F-fluorination, autoradiography, and small-animal PET imaging.

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We report the synthesis, radiosynthesis and biological characterisation of two gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRH-R) antagonists with nanomolar binding affinity. A small library of GnRH-R antagonists was synthesised in 20-67 % overall yield with the aim of identifying a high-affinity antagonist capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier. Binding affinity to rat GnRH-R was determined by autoradiography in competitive-binding studies against [ I]buserelin, and inhibition constants were calculated by using the Cheng-Prusoff equation.

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We present proof of concept experiment of a sensing method to detect skin hydration using a low-cost bio-impedance sensor. The sensing system is validated by testing its current output over frequencies between 1 kHz and 50 kHz and comparing measured values of impedance. A series of experiments with salt-water mixtures as well as a gelatin-based phantom were carried out to test the sensor's ability to detect small changes in impedance due to changes in water content.

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Development of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents capable of quantifying tau aggregates in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) is of enormous importance in the field of dementia research. The aim of the present study was to conduct first-in-man imaging studies with the potential novel tau imaging agent [F]-methyl lansoprazole ([F]NML). Herein we report validation of the synthesis of [F]NML for clinical use by labeling the trifluoromethyl group via radiofluorination of the corresponding -difluoro enol ether precursor.

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Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of misfolded protein aggregates that form in neurodegenerative processes of the brain is key to providing a robust marker for improved diagnosis and evaluation of treatments. We report the development of advanced radiotracer candidates based on the sulfoxide scaffold found in proton pump inhibitors (lansoprazole, prevacid) with inherent affinity to neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (e.g.

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Imaging of the mu opioid receptor (MOR) availability with positron emission tomography (PET) is a pertinent challenge in Neuroscience. Both, regulation of receptor expression and occupancy by endogeneous opioids play into cognitive and behavioral phenotypes of healthy function and disease. Receptor expression in the active and inactive states can be measured using high affinity radioagonist and radioantagonist PET tracers, respectively.

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