Importance of ligand structure in DNA/protein binding, mutagenicity, excision repair and nutritional aspects of chromium(III) complexes.

Chromium is extensively used in leather, chrome plating and refining industries. On one hand the occupational exposure to chromium leads to cancer, whereas on the contrary certain Cr(III) compounds have been proposed as nutritional supplements for Type II diabetes and as muscle building agents. Despite the positive outlook of chromium as a bio-essential element, there is increasing concern over the therapeutic application of Cr(III) based supplements, its bioavailability and toxicity profile.

Novel transparent poly(silazane) derived solvent-resistant, bio-compatible microchannels and substrates: application in microsystem technology.

In this report we have described fabrication of preceramic polymer-derived transparent, solvent-resistant, thermally stable and bio-compatible microchannels and substrates using soft-lithography methods such as micromolding in capillary (MIMIC) and micromolding. The micromolding technique was preferred in the current work to fabricate channels by thermal and photo crosslinking of a commercially available poly(vinyl silazane) (VL 20, KION Corporation, USA). Both thermal and photo cured preceramic polymer channels were found to possess unique glass-like characteristics, such as transparency and chemical inertness.