Supercritical carbon dioxide–assisted synthesis of stimuli-responsive magnetic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)–ferrite biocompatible nanocomposites for targeted and controlled drug delivery

Supercritical carbon dioxide–assisted synthesis of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)–ferrite nanocomposites was carried out by polymerization reaction of N-isopropyl acrylamide monomer in the presence of ferrite nanoparticles. They were characterized by Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry analysis. Drug loading and release profiles were studied. Nanomaterials showed pH-dependent drug release profile. Polymer nanocomposites in comparison to ferrite nanoparticles showed impressive drug release activity, with a release percent of 20.98–76.54%, and greater biocompatibility in breast cancer cells, with a cell viability of 81–93%. This pH-dependent drug release activity and magnetic property of polymer nanocomposites can be used for controlled and targeted drug delivery.     

Failure analysis of air pre-heater tubes of a petrochemicals plant

Heat resistant alloy tubes used in the higher temperature range of 1150–1273 K depends on the protective scale integrity for prevention of corrosion induced premature failures in a mixed gas environment with potential corrodents for oxidation, carburization and sulphidation attack. Cast HK40+Nb alloy tubes of an air pre-heater unit of a petrochemical industry failed prematurely after 13,000 h in service. The unit used smoke gas containing gaseous corrodents that could cause oxidation/sulphidation/carburization type of attack. Failed parts showed crack/punctures below the corrosion product filled pits. The crack occurred in the fully carburized zone present at the thinned out centre of the pit. Factors like excessive temperature cycling, overheating, presence of impurities either in the pre-heating gas mixture or that got introduced while in operation were found to be the reasons for breach of protective scale integrity leading to unwarranted corrosion attack resulting in thinning of tube material and internal corrosion penetration which finally led to premature failure.     

Biomimetic synthesis and patterning of silver nanoparticles

The creation of nanoscale materials for advanced structures has led to a growing interest in the area of biomineralization. Numerous microorganisms are capable of synthesizing inorganic-based structures. For example, diatoms use amorphous silica as a structural material, bacteria synthesize magnetite (Fe3O4) particles and form silver nanoparticles, and yeast cells synthesize cadmium sulphide nanoparticles. The process of biomineralization and assembly of nanostructured inorganic components into hierarchical structures has led to the development of a variety of approaches that mimic the recognition and nucleation capabilities found in biomolecules for inorganic material synthesis. In this report, we describe the in vitro biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using silver-binding peptides identified from a combinatorial phage display peptide library.     

Multiple material domain‐based computational tools for ease assessment of modal parameter in photonic crystal fibers

We report here the development of two computational tools PCFPS (Photonic Crystal Fiber Parameter Study) and PCFPA (Photonic Crystal Fiber Parameter Analysis), equipped with graphical user interface (GUI) for modeling of photonic crystal fiber. The tools are based on different structural parameters, and they provide characteristic analysis of the modal parameters from the structural parameters. The main feature of PCFPS is that it enables the user to find out the values of each defining modal parameter that has an immense contribution towards the manufacture of photonic crystal fiber. Additionally, PCFPA allows the user to observe the variation in the modal parameters with respect to the changes in structural parameters (such as d, Λ, d/Λ, and λ/>Λ). Besides their ease of use, these two schemes have high computational precision and adaptability, giving a novel platform to optical engineers to modulate the microstructured fibers according to their requirement.     

Formulation,optimization, hemocompatibility and pharmacokinetic evaluation of PLGA nanoparticles containing paclitaxel

Objective: Paclitaxel (PTX)-loaded polymer (Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), PLGA)-based nanoformulation was developed with the objective of formulating cremophor EL-free nanoformulation intended for intravenous use.

Significance: The polymeric PTX nanoparticles free from the cremophor EL will help in eliminating the shortcomings of the existing delivery system as cremophor EL causes serious allergic reactions to the subjects after intravenous use.

Methods and results: Paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles were formulated by nanoprecipitation method. The diminutive nanoparticles (143.2?nm) with uniform size throughout (polydispersity index, 0.115) and high entrapment efficiency (95.34%) were obtained by employing the Box–Behnken design for the optimization of the formulation with the aid of desirability approach-based numerical optimization technique. Optimized levels for each factor viz. polymer concentration (X1), amount of organic solvent (X2), and surfactant concentration (X3) were 0.23%, 5?ml %, and 1.13%, respectively. The results of the hemocompatibility studies confirmed the safety of PLGA-based nanoparticles for intravenous administration. Pharmacokinetic evaluations confirmed the longer retention of PTX in systemic circulation.

Conclusion: In a nutshell, the developed polymeric nanoparticle formulation of PTX precludes the inadequacy of existing PTX formulation and can be considered as superior alternative carrier system of the same.     

Proposing a decision support system for automated mobile asthma monitoring in remote areas*

ABSTRACT

Advances in mobile computing have paved the way for the development of several health applications using Smartphone as a platform for data acquisition, analysis and presentation. Such areas where m-health systems have been extensively deployed include monitoring of long-term health conditions such as cardio-vascular diseases and pulmonary disorders, as well as detection of changes from baseline measurements of such conditions. Asthma is one of the respiratory conditions with growing concern across the globe due to the economic, social and emotional burden associated with the ailment. The management and control of asthma can be improved by consistent monitoring of the condition in real-time since attack could occur anytime and anywhere. This paper proposes the use of smartphone equipped with built-in sensors, to capture and analyze early symptoms of asthma triggered by exercise. The system design is based on decision support system (DSS) techniques for measuring and analyzing the level and type of patient’s physical activity as well as weather conditions that predispose asthma attack. Preliminary results show that smartphones can be used to monitor and detect asthma symptoms without other networked devices. This would enhance the usability of the health system while ensuring user’s data privacy, and reducing the overall cost of system deployment. Further, the proposed system can serve as a handy tool for a quick medical response for asthmatics in low-income countries where there is limited access to specialized medical devices and shortages of health professionals. Development of such monitoring systems signals a positive response to lessen the global burden of asthma.     

Magnetic force microscopy of superparamagnetic nanoparticles

The use of magnetic force microscopy (MFM) to detect probe-sample interactions from superparamagnetic nanoparticles in vitro in ambient atmospheric conditions is reported here. By using both magnetic and nonmagnetic probes in dynamic lift-mode imaging and by controlling the direction and magnitude of the external magnetic field applied to the samples, it is possible to detect and identify the presence of superparamagnetic nanoparticles. The experimental results shown here are in agreement with the estimated sensitivity of the MFM technique. The potential and challenges for localizing nanoscale magnetic domains in biological samples is discussed.     

Increased thermal tolerance in Cronobacter sakazakii strains in reconstituted milk powder due to cross protection by physiological stresses

Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) is an opportunistic, neonatal, and food borne pathogen primarily associated with the contamination of powdered infant formula (PIF). The pathogen is reported to overcome the food safety barriers such as increased acidity, heat treatment, and so on. This study evaluates the thermal tolerance of C. sakazakii strains independently at 52, 55, and 58°C in reconstituted PIF after exposure to physiological stresses: refrigeration (4°C for 24 hr), starvation (37°C for 48 hr), and desiccation (25°C for 4 days). The Log₁₀ CFU/ml and D-values indicated that survival rate of all the strains decreased significantly (p < .05) after desiccation as compared to those of the control condition (without stress exposure). However, cold stress increased the thermal tolerance of all strains at all temperatures (52, 55, and 58°C) as indicated by increased D-values. Among the tested strains, C. sakazakii strain N15 was found to be the most resistant to thermal treatment after each stress exposure as depicted by principal component analysis (PCA). No apparent correlation between thermal tolerance and starvation stress was observed. The findings indicate that prior exposure to stress conditions may induce cross protection to thermal treatment in C. sakazakii.     

NSGA-II with ENLU inspired clustering for wireless sensor networks

Wireless Networks - Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have a large number of existing applications and is continuously increasing. Thus it is envisioned that WSN will become an integral part of our...     

Investigation of cation-deficient quaternary thiospinels: single crystal study of Ag1.4Cr1.47Sn2.53S8

Single crystals of the quaternary thiospinel Ag_1.41(1)Cr_1.47(5)Sn_2.52(5)S₈ have been obtained by heating stoichiometric mixtures of elemental metals and sulfur at 750 °C. Structural analysis by single crystal X-ray diffraction shows that the above phase crystallizes in the space group with a = 10.4142(3) Å (R₁ = 0.0156 and wR₂ = 0.0416). The Ag-deficiency has been confirmed by solving the structures of crystals prepared in different batches and was observed to vary slightly between crystals. Magnetic studies on a monophasic powder sample with a nominal composition of Ag_1.63CrSn₃S₈ indicates anti-ferromagnetic ordering at low temperature. The high temperature susceptibility leads to a magnetic moment of 3.45 B.M. suggesting that chromium exists predominantly in a trivalent state.