Response Surface Methodology for the Optimization and Characterization of Cassava Starch‐graft‐Poly(acrylamide)

Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed for the synthesis of cassava starch‐graft‐poly(acrylamide) using ceric ammonium nitrate as free radical initiator. Concentration of acrylamide, concentration of ceric ammonium nitrate, reaction temperature and duration of reaction were optimized using a 4‐factor 3‐level Box‐Behnken design. The dependent variables were percentage grafting (%G) and grafting efficiency (GE). Second order polynomial relationships were obtained for %G and GE, which explained the main, quadratic and interaction effects of factors. The highest%G and GE obtained were 174.8% and 90.7%, respectively. The optimum values of parameters predicted through RSM were 20 g acrylamide/10 g dry starch, 3.3 g/L ceric ammonium nitrate, 180 min reaction duration and 45ºC temperature with a %G of 190.0. For GE, the predicted levels of factors for the optimum value of 90.8% were 17.5 g acrylamide/10 g dry starch, 4.1 g/L ceric ammonium nitrate, 180 min reaction duration and 55ºC temperature. The graft reaction was confirmed by FTIR analysis, where the absorption bands corresponding to the C=O stretching and N‐H bending of the –CONH₂ group were observed. Scanning electron microscopic studies on grafted starches revealed that the granular structure of the starch was affected by the reaction. X‐ray diffraction analysis showed that the crystallinity of starch was decreased as a result of grafting and the reduction was higher for the grafted starches with higher percentage grafting.     

Porosity control in metal-assisted chemical etching of degenerately doped silicon nanowires

We report the fabrication of degenerately doped silicon (Si) nanowires of different aspect ratios using a simple, low-cost and effective technique that involves metal-assisted chemical etching (MacEtch) combined with soft lithography or thermal dewetting metal patterning. We demonstrate sub-micron diameter Si nanowire arrays with aspect ratios as high as 180:1, and present the challenges in producing solid nanowires using MacEtch as the doping level increases in both p- and n-type Si. We report a systematic reduction in the porosity of these nanowires by adjusting the etching solution composition and temperature. We found that the porosity decreases from top to bottom along the axial direction and increases with etching time. With a MacEtch solution that has a high [HF]:[H(2)O(2)] ratio and low temperature, it is possible to form completely solid nanowires with aspect ratios of less than approximately 10:1. However, further etching to produce longer wires renders the top portion of the nanowires porous.     

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible: a laser Raman spectroscopic study

Laser Raman spectroscopy has been used in this study to characterize mandibular bone samples from patients who had undergone radiation therapy for oral cancer. The paper discusses spectral changes resulting in osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandibular bone, a serious complication that may occur after radiation therapy. Histopathological studies normally reveal the radiation damage on vascular canals and loss in bone cells, but will not reveal any structural or biochemical changes. All radiation-induced side effects are attributed to this hypovascularity and hypocellularity caused by early- and/or late-delayed effects. Our Raman studies on normal and ORN bone and on bone exposed to radiation, but not in the ORN state, show that irradiation produces immediate structural changes in the inorganic bone matrix with a slight loss in cells. ORN bone, in addition to the structural changes that had already occurred on radiation exposure, shows almost complete loss of cellular components. Since bone tissue is continuously being remodeled (dissolved and rebuilt) under normal conditions, our results suggest that the immediate structural changes in the calcium hydroxy apatite mineral part is not repaired in ORN, due to loss of the highly transient osteoblasts and osteoclasts resulting from destruction of stem cells. The spectral studies also show changes in the organic matrix, which is mostly type I collagen.     

Targeted Theranostic Nano Vehicle Endorsed with Self‐Destruction and Immunostimulatory Features to Circumvent Drug Resistance and Wipe‐Out Tumor Reinitiating Cancer Stem Cells

The downsides of conventional cancer monotherapies are profound and enormously consequential, as drug‐resistant cancer cells and cancer stem cells (CSC) are typically not eliminated. Here, a targeted theranostic nano vehicle (TTNV) is designed using manganese‐doped mesoporous silica nanoparticle with an ideal surface area and pore volume for co‐loading an optimized ratio of antineoplastic doxorubicin and a drug efflux inhibitor tariquidar. This strategically framed TTNV is chemically conjugated with folic acid and hyaluronic acid as a dual‐targeting entity to promote folate receptor (FR) mediated cancer cells and CD44 mediated CSC uptake, respectively. Interestingly, surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy is exploited to evaluate the molecular changes associated with therapeutic progression. Tumor microenvironment selective biodegradation and immunostimulatory potential of the MSN‐Mn core are safeguarded with a chitosan coating which modulates the premature cargo release and accords biocompatibility. The superior antitumor response in FR‐positive syngeneic and CSC‐rich human xenograft murine models is associated with a tumor‐targeted biodistribution, favorable pharmacokinetics, and an appealing bioelimination pattern of the TTNV with no palpable signs of toxicity. This dual drug‐loaded nano vehicle offers a feasible approach for efficient cancer therapy by on demand cargo release in order to execute complete wipe‐out of tumor reinitiating cancer stem cells.     

Tree gum stabilised selenium nanoparticles: characterisation and antioxidant activity

Selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) were synthesised using sodium borohydride as a reductant and gum kondagogu as a stabiliser. Plant gum serves as a renewable, non‐toxic, non‐immunogenic, biopolymer based feedstock. Role of gum on synthesis and mean particle size was studied using ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. NP generation was visualised with orange red colouration and NPs exhibited a surface plasmon resonance peak at 250 nm. Formed NPs were amorphous, polydisperse and spherical. NPs showed a bimodal distribution, size varied from 44.4 to 200 nm and mean particle size was 105.6 nm. NP solution exhibited a zeta potential of −39.9 mV, confirming the superior stability. In comparison to ionic Se, the gum capped Se NPs exhibited superior 1, 1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyle and 2, 2‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzthinzoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) radial scavenging activities of 73.2 and 92.2%, respectively, at 25 µg/ml. Antibacterial potential of NPs was checked with well diffusion assay. NPs exhibited growth inhibition activity against Gram‐positive bacteria only. Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus showed respective inhibition zones of 6.3 and 8.6 mm at 12 µg. Thus, the present study demonstrates the applicability of tree gum stabilised Se NPs as a potent antioxidant nutrition supplement at a much lower dose, in comparison with ionic Se.Inspec keywords: light scattering, microorganisms, particle size, nanoparticles, antibacterial activity, selenium, surface plasmon resonance, nanofabrication, visible spectra, organic compounds, reduction (chemical), electrokinetic effects, ultraviolet spectra, renewable materials, sodium compoundsOther keywords: mean particle size, selenium nanoparticles, sodium borohydride reductant, kondagogu gum stabiliser, biopolymer‐based feedstock, renewable material, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, orange red colouration, dynamic light scattering technique, zeta potential value, surface plasmon resonance method, antibacterial potential, well‐diffusion assay, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, antioxidant nutrition supplement, bacterial growth inhibition activity, 2,2‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzthinzoline‐6‐sulphonic acid), 1,1 diphenyl picryl hydrazyle, size 105.6 nm, size 6.3 mm, size 8.6 mm, size 44.4 nm to 200.0 nm, Se, NaBH₄      

A study of surface roughness in drilling using mathematical analysis and neural networks

Drilling is one of the most common and fundamental machining processes. It is most frequently performed in material removal and is used as a preliminary step for many operations, such as reaming, tapping and boring. Because of their importance in nearly all production operations, twist drills have been the subject of numerous investigations. The aim of this study is to identify suitable parameters for the prediction of surface roughness. Back propagation neural networks are used for the detection of surface roughness. Drill diameter, cutting speed, feed and machining time are given as inputs to the neural network structure and surface roughness was estimated. Drilling experiments with 12 mm drills are performed at three cutting speeds and feeds. The number of neurons are selected from 1,2,3, ..., 20. The learning rate was selected as 0.01, and no smoothing factor was used. The best structure of neural network was selected based on a criteria including the minimum of sum of squares with the actual value of surface roughness. For mathematical analysis, an inverse coefficient matrix method was used for calculating the estimated values of surface roughness. Comparative analysis was performed between actual values and estimated values obtained by mathematical analysis and neural network structures.     

A Dual‐Targeting Octaguanidine–Doxorubicin Conjugate Transporter for Inducing Caspase‐Mediated Apoptosis on Folate‐Expressing Cancer Cells

An efficient synthetic framework was assembled (G8‐FKE‐FA‐Dox), consisting of a lysosome‐targeting octaguanidine molecular transporter with a cathepsin B (cath B)‐specific peptide substrate, folic acid, and the potent chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (Dox). Because the folate receptor (FR) and cath B are overexpressed in malignant cells, this transporter conjugate successfully executed lysosome‐mediated transport of Dox to FR‐positive tumor cells, illustrating this framework as an excellent targeted drug delivery system (TDDS). G8‐FKE‐FA‐Dox was shown to exhibit selective toxicity toward FR‐overexpressing cancer cells, with an IC₅₀ value superior to that of the USFDA‐approved Lipodox^TM and proportional to that of free Dox via selective induction of apoptosis by the activation of caspases 8, 9, and 3. This TDDS was observed to be nontoxic to red blood cells and lymphocytes at neutral pH. Furthermore the tumor‐targeting dissemination pattern of this system was revealed by monitoring the in vivo biodistribution of the carrier (G8‐FKE‐FA‐FL) in normal and FR‐overexpressing tumor‐bearing mice.     

Corrosion inhibitory action of Commiphora caudata extract on the mild steel corrosion in 1 M H2SO4 acid medium

Corrosion inhibitory action of Commiphora caudata extract on the mild steel corrosion in 1 M H₂SO₄ acid medium is investigated by weight loss and electrochemical studies. The weight loss method shows that the inhibition efficiency increases with the increase of inhibitor concentration, time, and temperature. The polarization studies reveal that the extract acts as a mixed type inhibitor. In electrochemical impedance measurement, the semicircle curves indicated that the charge transfer process controlled the corrosion of mild steel. Thermodynamic parameter such as free energy value was negative, that indicates spontaneous adsorption of inhibitor on mild steel surface. In the presence of inhibitor decreases the activation energy value which shows the chemical adsorption. The Commiphora caudata extract is found to obey Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Scanning electron microscopy, FTIR, and Quantum chemical studies confirmed that the mild steel protect from the corrosion by adsorption of the inhibitor molecules on surface of metal.     

Crosstalk noise analysis in ternary logic multilayer graphene nanoribbon interconnects using shielding techniques

This paper presents an accurate structure for multilayer graphene nanoribbon (MLGNR) bundled interconnects to reduce the effects of crosstalk in ternary logic circuits. In the proposed structures, the signal line is surrounded by the shielding lines to reduce the crosstalk effects. The crosstalk effects such as noise peak, noise area, delay, and power consumptions are compared to effects produced by conventional methods. The impacts of process variation in the proposed structures are also presented. Additionally, the proposed MLGNR interconnect results are compared with the carbon nanotube interconnections. All the proposed circuits are implemented and simulated using HSPICE tool. The simulation results indicated that the passively shielded MLGNR interconnects provide lower crosstalk effects up to 47.7% and 69.4%, respectively, over the active and without shielded interconnects.     

Superior bactericidal activity of SDS capped silver nanoparticles: Synthesis and characterization

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized through UV photo-reduction of silver nitrate aqueous solution, containing ethanol and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) using an UV digester equipped with high pressure mercury lamp of 500 W. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy (UV–vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The formation of silver nanoparticles was confirmed from the appearance of surface plasmon absorption maxima at 418 nm. TEM showed the spherical nanoparticles with size in 23–67 nm (average 45 ± 10 nm). The silver nanoparticles were stable for more than 8 months. The antibacterial activity of these SDS capped silver nanoparticles was tested using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model strain for gram-negative bacteria. SDS capped silver nanoparticles exhibit a much higher bactericidal activity compared to silver nanoparticles capped with other capping agents. Even at a low silver nanoparticle concentration of 5 μg/ml, complete inhibition of 10⁷ colony forming units (CFU) was achieved with SDS capped silver nanoparticles. This concentration is much lower than the values reported by other authors. This enhanced bactericidal activity is attributed to much efficient transport of silver nanoparticles by SDS to the outer membrane of cell wall compared to the other capping agents and have a better interaction of nanoparticles with the cell.