A novel formulation significantly increases the cytotoxicity of flaxseed orbitides (linusorbs) LOB3 and LOB2 towards human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.

Flaxseed orbitides (linusorbs) are a family of N to C linked bioactive cyclic octa-, nona-, and decapeptides present in flaxseed oil. They are highly hydrophobic and thermally stable. Our previous studies showed that [1-9-NαC]-linusorb B3 (LOB3) and [1-9-NαC]-linusorb B2 (LOB2) exhibited cytotoxic effects towards human breast cancer HER2-subtype Sk-Br-3 cells at a concentration of ~400 µM. However, this high concentration significantly limits their potential clinical applications. In the current study, we developed a novel polyethylene glycol-based formulation for linusorbs and showed that both LOB3 and LOB2, especially LOB3, exhibited strong cytotoxicity towards human breast cancer triple-negative-subtype MDA-MB-231 cells at low nanomolar concentrations.

Sorptive uptake of selenium with magnetite and its supported materials onto activated carbon.

Kinetic and equilibrium uptake studies of selenite in aqueous solution with synthetic magnetite (Mag-P), commercial magnetite (Mag-C), goethite, activated carbon (AC), and a composite material containing 19% magnetite supported on activated carbon (CM-19) were investigated. Kinetic uptake studies used a one-pot setup at pH 5.26 at variable temperature. Sampling of unbound selenite in-situ was achieved with analytical detection by atomic absorbance. The sorptive uptake at equilibrium and kinetic conditions are listed in descending order: goethite>Mag-P>Mag-C>CM-19. Kinetic uptake parameters reveal that Mag-P showed apparent negative values for the activation energy (E(a)) and the enthalpy of activation (ΔH(‡)), in agreement with a multi-step process for the kinetic uptake of selenite. By contrast, Mag-C, CM-19, and goethite showed positive values for E(a) and ΔH(‡). The uptake properties of the various sorbent materials with selenite are in accordance with the formation of inner- and out-sphere complexes. Leaching of iron from the composite material (CM-19) was attenuated due to the stabilizing effect of the magnetite within the pore sites and the surface of AC. Supported iron oxide nanomaterial composites represent a unique sorbent material with tunable uptake properties toward inorganic selenite in aqueous solution.

Note: Optimization of piezoresistive response of pure carbon nanotubes networks as in-plane strain sensors.

The use of carbon nanotubes (CNT) for the application in in-plane strain detection is promising. In recent years, in-plane strain sensors constructed from CNT networks have been developed; however, few studied optimization of these sensors. In this paper, a study of the optimization of pure CNT networks in terms of piezoresistive response is reported. The so-called pure CNT networks are CNT networks free of surfactants. The performances of piezoresistive response are gauge factor (GF) and linearity. The variables are the number of layers of networks, concentration of CNT solution, and length of sonication time. As a result, the study concluded an optimal pure CNT networks sensor (GF: 2.59, linearity 0.98) with ten layers of networks, 0.8 mg/ml concentration, and 2 h of sonication time.

Chemical reactions and applications of the reductive surface of porous silicon.

The chemical reactivity of freshly prepared porous silicon is similar to that of a reducing agent on the surface of the nanocrystallites. Ag+ spontaneously reduces to form Ag0 granular coatings on the surface of porous silicon at the expense of the oxidation of silicon hydride and silicon. Atomic Force Microscopy shows that the thickness and topography of the Ag0 coating depend on the concentration of Ag+ with the porous silicon surface being the limiting reagent. In-situ Raman Spectroscopy shows an Ag layer on the silicon and Si:O layer immediately after etching and exposure to Ag+ and O2 respectively. Ag0 coated on the surface and in the pores of the porous silicon proves to be an excellent material for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and the natural low electron affinity on the surface of porous silicon replaces the need for a negative bias to prepare very stable diamond coatings on the surface of silicon.

Ultrathin W-Al dual interlayer approach to depositing smooth and adherent nanocrystalline diamond films on stainless steel.

The adherence of diamond coated on steel is commonly low and needs to be strengthened with thick intermediate layers. In this paper, a nanoscale W-Al dual metal interlayer has been applied on SS304 substrates to facilitate deposition of continuous, adherent and smooth diamond thin films. During the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, the Al inner layer 30 nm thick diffuses into steel surface inhibiting carbon diffusion and graphitization. The W outer layer 20 nm thick is transformed into W carbides, both preventing carbon diffusion and enhancing diamond nucleation. The diamond films synthesized are of high purity and have smooth surfaces and dense structures. Indentation and shear deformation tests indicate high delaminating tolerance of the diamond films.

Cyclo-linopeptide A methanol solvate.

Crystals of the title compound, C(57)H(85)N(9)O(9)·CH(4)O, the methanol solvate of a nine peptide polypeptide, cyclo-(Pro-Pro-Phe-Phe-Leu-Ile-Ile-Leu-Val), were obtained after separation of the cyclic peptide from flax oil. The cyclo-linopeptide A (CLP-A) mol-ecules are linked in chains along the a axis by N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Each methanol O atom is hydrogen bonded to one O atom and two N-H groups in the same CLP-A mol-ecule. There are a total of eight hydrogen bonds in each CLP-A-MeOH unit.

Using carbon nanotubes to absorb low-concentration hydrogen sulfide in fluid.

Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless and flammable gas under room temperature. Usually hydrogen sulfide is considered to be toxic; however, the recent research revealed that hydrogen sulfide in the cardiovascular system plays the role of a vascular dilator. The physiological role of hydrogen sulfide depends on its in vivo level. As such, the measurement of hydrogen sulfide with nano-quantity resolution becomes an important subject. Existing methods generally require bulky samples and are invasive and offline. It will be significantly helpful to measure hydrogen sulfide with a small amount of tissue in a noninvasive method The first attempt was to take a blood or serum sample with a trace amount to examine the interaction between hydrogen sulfide and carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotube is chosen because of a known fact that hydrogen sulfide can be adsorbed by activated carbon. The carbon nanotube is an excellent activated carbon in this regard. Fluorescence intensity of the carbon nanotube with and without immersion of it in a hydrogen sulfide medium was examined in the study. It was found that the intensities increase as the concentrations of hydrogen sulfide increase. Furthermore, the concentration of 10 microM hydrogen sulfide in water was successfully measured.

Local structure of M-DNA at the Nitrogen K-edge: evidence towards a metal ion induced conduction band in DNA.

M-DNA is an engineered duplex DNA that is synthesized from high doping of transition metal ions (Ni2+, Co2+ and Zn2+) into B-DNA at high pH. X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) of the Nitrogen K-edge shows remarkable differences between the doped and undoped DNA. A metal ion induced conduction band in the M-DNA is used to explain the XANES results.