ABSTRACT
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. In this perspective, we discuss the role of ligand structure in mediating the interaction of chromium(III) complexes with DNA/protein, their mutagenic outcomes, adduct reparability and as nutritional supplements.
Subject(s)
Chromium/adverse effects , DNA Repair/drug effects , DNA/chemistry , Mutagenesis/drug effects , Organometallic Compounds/pharmacology , Proteins/chemistry , Amino Acids/chemistry , Amino Acids/drug effects , Amino Acids/genetics , Animals , Binding Sites/drug effects , CHO Cells , Chromium/chemistry , Chromium/toxicity , Cricetinae , DNA/genetics , Dietary Supplements , Humans , Ligands , Molecular Structure , Organometallic Compounds/adverse effects , Organometallic Compounds/chemistry , Organometallic Compounds/toxicity , Protein Binding/drug effects , Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
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. However, their surfaces were identified to be hydrophobic with a contact angle of 101 degrees . To have an insight on the nature of the surface groups present on the surface of the cured preceramic polymer, ATR-IR was carried out. The hydrophobic nature of the cured polymer was best utilized for direct patterning of protein by nonspecific binding.
