Synthesis of magnesium aluminate spinel—An overview

Magnesium aluminate spinel (MAS) is a remarkable ceramic material known for its unique combination of beneficial properties. But due to volume expansion associated with spinel formation, and the high cost of production, MAS was not commercially successful till last century. However, environmental friendliness and superior properties have helped MAS to substitute magnesia-chrome refractories and are commercially acceptable with time. From an industrial perspective, solid-oxide reaction route or conventional oxide mixing route is the most popular method used for the synthesis of MAS. Although there have been myriad other common routes-coprecipitation, sol–gel, auto-ignition, molten technique, and so forth to produce spinel, solid-oxide reaction route is still the principal route from the industrial point of view owing to its ease of bulk production and low cost of production for refractory applications. This report attempts to accumulate the information on different synthesis techniques used for the synthesis of MAS for easy and ready reckoning.     

A Comprehensive Investigation of Vertically Stacked Silicon Nanosheet Field Effect Transistors: an Analog/RF Perspective

Silicon - In this article, the analog/RF performance of n-channel vertically stacked gate all around (GAA) silicon nanosheet field effect transistors (Si-NSFETs) are investigated using 3-D TCAD...     

An Anti-inflammatory Fe3O4-Porphyrin Nanohybrid Capable of Apoptosis through Upregulation of p21 Kinase Inhibitor Having Immunoprotective Properties under Anticancer PDT Conditions

We report the influence of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) on porphyrins in the development of photosensitizers (PSs) for efficient photodynamic therapy (PDT) and possible post-PDT responses for inflicting cancer cell death. Except for Au, most metal-based nanomaterials are unsuitable for clinical applications. The US Food and Drug Administration and other agencies have approved Feraheme and a few other iron oxide NPs for clinical use, paving the way for novel biocompatible immunoprotective superparamagnetic iron oxide nanohybrids to be developed as nanotherapeutics. A water-soluble nanohybrid, referred to here as E-NP, comprising superparamagnetic Fe₃O₄ NPs functionalised with tripyridyl porphyrin PS was introduced through a rigid 4-carboxyphenyl linker. As a PDT agent, the efficacy of E-NP toward the AGS cancer cell line showed enhanced photosensitising ability as determined through in vitro photobiological assays. The cellular uptake of E-NPs by AGS cells led to apoptosis by upregulating ROS through cell-cycle arrest and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. The subcellular localisation of the PSs in mitochondria stimulated apoptosis through upregulation of p21, a proliferation inhibitor capable of preventing tumour development. Under both PDT and non-PDT conditions, this nanohybrid can act as an anti-inflammatory agent by decreasing the production of NO and superoxide ions in murine macrophages, thus minimising collateral damage to healthy cells.     

An Overview on Effect of Alloying Elements on the Phase Formation,Mechanical and Oxidation Properties of Nb-Nb Silicide In Situ Composites

Silicon - This paper reflects on the potentiality and development of the Nb-Si alloys for the hot section components of the futuristic turbine engine. The Nb-Si alloys consist of ductile Nbss phase...