Phase tuning of a thermal plasma synthesized cobalt oxide catalyst and understanding of its surface modification during the hydrolysis of NaBH4.

NaBH4 is an attractive candidate for closed-loop hydrogen generation in small practical applications owing to its ambient condition hydrogen release mechanism, non-toxic byproduct, ability to regenerate, and stability at ambient conditions. The hydrolysis of NaBH4 requires a catalyst to accelerate the hydrogen generation process and cobalt oxide is one such promising catalyst in this reaction. The surface species and crystalline phases of cobalt oxide catalysts play an important role in determining the hydrogen generation rate and overall hydrolysis process. In this study, cobalt oxide nanoparticles are synthesized by a thermal plasma route. The two crystalline phases, namely c-CoO and Co3O4, are tuned using thermal plasma operating conditions. The catalysts so obtained have been thoroughly characterized using analytical techniques like XRD, XPS, HR-TEM, etc. Furthermore, the catalyst was used for hydrogen production in the hydrolysis process of NaBH4. The ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectra recorded at different stages of the hydrolysis process have been extensively used to understand surface modifications occurring at the surface of the catalyst. The Co+3/Co+2 ratio and attachment of other species during hydrolysis analyzed using XPS are correlated with the overall hydrolysis reaction before and after catalysis. It was concluded that the presence of the c-CoO (i.e. initial Co+2 species presence) phase brings stability to hydrogen production in that cycle.

BSA-drug-ZnO-PEI conjugates interaction with glycans of gp60 endothelial cell receptor protein for targeted drug delivery: a comprehensive spectroscopic study.

The zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) have several biomedical applications such as drug delivery, bio-imaging, and biomedical research. ZnO NPs were remedied with polyethyleneimine (PEI) and modified with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Two anticancer drugs - Cisplatin (CIS) and Gemcitabine (GEM) were used in conjugation with BSA. BSA-ZnO-PEI (conjugate 1), BSA-CIS-ZnO-PEI (conjugate 2), and BSA-GEM-ZnO-PEI (conjugate 3) can be used for targeted drug delivery via glycans - N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), L-fucose (FUC), N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG), D-mannose (MAN), and D-galactose (GAL), of albumin binding membrane receptor protein (gp60). Considerable interaction and the strong binding of conjugate 2 and conjugate 3 with NANA were observed by UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectra. The electrostatic stability of conjugate 2 and conjugate 3 with NANA was considerably increased in comparison to conjugate 1 as evident with zeta potential values. The fluorescence quenching data (Ksv and kq) and binding parameters (K and n) of BSA-CIS, BSA-GEM, conjugate 2, and conjugate 3 with NANA and FUC attributes to the strong binding. Amide I and amide III bands of the Raman signal suggested insignificant loss in alpha-helical and beta-sheet content of conjugate 2 and conjugate 3 with NANA and FUC. Therefore, the present study is going to assist in the comprehensive development of conjugates for targeted drug delivery based on the differential glycation pattern of gp60 protein.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Differential changes to splanchnic and peripheral protein metabolism during the diet-induced development of metabolic syndrome in rats.

Little is known about the effects of the development of metabolic syndrome (MS) on protein and amino acid (AA) metabolism. During this study, we took advantage of the variability in interindividual susceptibility to high fat diet-induced MS to study the relationships between MS, protein synthesis, and AA catabolism in multiple tissues in rats. After 4 mo of high-fat feeding, an MS score (ZMS) was calculated as the average of the z-scores for individual MS components [weight, adiposities, homeostasis model for the assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and triglycerides]. In the small intestine, liver, plasma, kidneys, heart, and muscles, tissue protein synthesis was measured by 2H2O labeling, and we evaluated the proportion of tissue AA catabolism (relative to protein synthesis) and nutrient routing to nonindispensable AAs in tissue proteins using natural nitrogen and carbon isotopic distances between tissue proteins and nutrients (Δ15N and Δ13C), respectively. In the liver, protein mass and synthesis increased, whereas the proportion of AA catabolism decreased with ZMS. By contrast, in muscles, we found no association between ZMS and protein mass, protein synthesis (except for a weak positive association in the gastrocnemius muscle only), and proportion of AA catabolism. The development of MS was also associated with altered metabolic flexibility and fatty acid oxidation, as shown by less routing of dietary lipids to nonindispensable AA synthesis in liver and muscle. In conclusion, MS development is associated with a greater gain of both fat and protein masses, with higher protein anabolism that mainly occurs in the liver, whereas muscles probably develop anabolic resistance due to insulin resistance.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of ultrasound treated GO/TiO2 composite for photocatalytic degradation of salicylic acid under sunlight illumination.

The current research work deals with the preparation of TiO2 and GO/TiO2 composite by simple, chemical, cost effective hydrothermal method. Graphene oxide (GO) is prepared by modified Hummer's method. Dispersion of GO is achieved by an ultrasonic cleaning bath for 1 h. using a power of 200 W and at a frequency of 40 kHz. The prepared catalyst material is characterized by different characterization techniques. XRD study confirms the prepared material is polycrystalline in nature. The synthesized TiO2 and GO/TiO2 photocatalyst materials are used to study the photocatalytic degradation of salicylic acid under sunlight illumination. GO/TiO2 composite shows superior photocatalytic activity than TiO2. GO/TiO2 composite shows 57% degradation of salicylic acid. Mineralization of salicylic acid is studied using chemical oxygen demand.

Sonochemical synthesis of CZTS photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of phthalic acid.

In recent year, sonochemistry has fascinated some interest in the fabrication of nanostructured materials and functional nanoparticles because the chemical activity of ultrasound may cause different effects such as the generation of heat, mass transfer or intimate contact between materials, distribution of contaminated layers of chemicals and generation of free chemical radicals. In this work, Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) photocatalyst is prepared by simple, cost effective, sonochemical method and used for photocatalytic degradation of phthalic acid. The ultrasonic treatment affects the structural, morphological, optical, contact angle properties of CZTS photocatalyst. The XRD and FT-Raman spectroscopy study shows the formation of a single phase CZTS with kesterite structure. SEM analysis reveals nano-spherical architecture with pinhole and crake free surface. The optical study shows that band gap energy lies in the visible region of the solar spectrum and useful for visible light assisted photocatalysis. The end results show that the CZTS photocatalyst exhibited about 56% degradation of phthalic acid under sunlight illumination. The mineralization study of phthalic acid is done by determining chemical oxygen demand (COD) values.

Albumin nanoparticles conjugates binding with glycan - A strategic approach for targeted drug delivery.

Understanding the transcytosis phenomenon through albumin binding receptor (glycoproteins) is an important step towards targeted drug delivery research. The transcytosis of bovine serum albumin (BSA) occurs through its uptake by binding to glycoprotein (gp60) present on the endothelial cell membrane. gp60 possess abundant glycans like N-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid, NANA), l-fucose (FUC), N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG), d-mannose (MAN) and d-galactose (GAL). Hence, the objective of the present study was to insight the binding between BSA-gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and BSA-silver nanoparticles (SNPs) conjugates with model glycans using several biophysical techniques. The fluorescence spectroscopy analysis established the strong affinity of BSA-NPs conjugates with glycan's as observed with the bimolecular quenching rate, the Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv), binding constant and binding site. The increase in hydrodynamic radii of conjugates exhibited strong association and zeta potential confirmed the significant stability of conjugates. Circular dichroism (CD) study showed that the substantial amount of secondary structure (α-helix) was retained in NPs bound BSA while interacting with glycans. Raman spectroscopy study of BSA-GNP and BSA-SNP with glycans depicted the intrusion in the spectral range of 400-1800 cm-1. The overall results showed that BSA-NPs conjugates can act as a virtuous system for targeted drug delivery in endothelial cells.

Ultrasound assisted synthesis of WO3-ZnO nanocomposites for brilliant blue dye degradation.

The present work deals with the preparation of WO3 and WO3-ZnO nanocomposites in presence of ultrasonic irradiation, and its use in the sonocatalytic degradation of brilliant blue dye. WO3-ZnO nanocomposite is prepared using one step in-situ ultrasound assisted method. The successfully prepared WO3 and WO3-ZnO nanocomposites were characterized using different characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman, BET, FE-SEM and EDS. The XRD pattern reveals that the formation of monoclinic and hexagonal crystal structures of WO3 and ZnO respectively. BET study shows that WO3-ZnO nanocomposite have maximum surface area than that of the WO3. EDS study confirms the formation of WO3-ZnO nanocomposites. Further the use of the prepared WO3 and WO3-ZnO nanocomposites as a sonocatalyst for the degradation of brilliant blue dye. The rate constant (k) was evaluated as a function of the initial concentration of brilliant blue dye. It is found that WO3-ZnO nanocomposites exhibits maximum sonocatalytic activity as compared to WO3 photocatalyst.

Synthesis and characterization of Nd2O3 nanoparticles in a radiofrequency thermal plasma reactor.

The synthesis of nanocrystalline Nd2O3 through an inductively coupled radiofrequency thermal plasma route is reported. Unlike in conventional synthesis processes, plasma-synthesized nanoparticles are directly obtained in a stable hexagonal crystal structure with a faceted morphology. The synthesized nanoparticles are highly uniform with an average size around 20 nm. The nanoparticles are characterized in terms of phase formation, crystallinity, morphology, size distribution, nature of chemical bonds and post-synthesis environmental effects using standard characterization techniques. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy are used for structural and morphological studies. The thermo-gravimetric technique, using a differential scanning calorimeter, is used to investigate the purity of phase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy is used to investigate the nature of existing bonds. The optical response of the nanoparticles is investigated through the electronic transition of Nd(3+) ions in its crystalline structure via UV-visible spectroscopy. The presence of defect states and corresponding activation energies in the nanocrystalline Nd2O3 compared to those of the precursors are studied using thermoluminescence.

N-3 fatty acids improve body composition and insulin sensitivity during energy restriction in the rat.

The hypothesis that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) could contribute to maintain muscle mass during energy restriction aiming to weight loss was tested in the rat, with special attention paid to insulin signalling. After 10 weeks on a diet rich in lipids and sucrose, male rats were energy restricted and fed diets rich in 18:1 n-9 (OLE), 18:3 n-3 (ALA) or n-3 long-chain (LC, >18 carbons) PUFA. After 4 weeks, they were killed after an insulin injection. Red blood cells, liver, and Gastrocnemius muscle were enriched in ALA in the ALA group, and in LC-PUFA in the ALA and LC groups. The LC diet resulted in a higher weight loss, without negative impact on the muscle weight. In parallel, hepatic phosphorylation of insulin receptor and IRS1 was the highest in this group. This suggests that the trend we observed in the preservation of protein homeostasis in the LC group is mediated, at least partly, by an enhancement of the early steps of insulin signalling resulting from cell membrane enrichment in n-3 PUFA.

Metabolic evidence for adaptation to a high protein diet in rats.

This study was designed to assess the effects of long-term adaptation to a high protein diet on energy intake, body weight gain, body composition and splanchnic metabolic indicators in rats. For this purpose, adult male Wistar rats were fed either a 50 g/100 g dry matter (DM) protein diet (P50 group) or a 14 g/100 g DM protein diet (P14 group) for 21 d. These two groups were compared with a P14 pair-fed (P14-pf) group that consumed the same daily energy as the P50 group. The energy intake of the P50 group was 16 +/- 1% less than that of the P14 group (P < 0.05), and the P50 group had significantly lower body weight. The P50 group had significantly less adipose tissue compared with both P14 and P14-pf rats. The activities of the brush border membrane enzymes, neutral aminopeptidase and gamma-glutamyl transferase, were significantly higher in the P50 group than in the P14 rats. Similarly, the activities of alanine aminotransferase, arginase and serine dehydratase were significantly higher in the liver of P50 rats compared with P14 rats. Both amino acid transporter system A and X(A,G-) activities, measured in freshly isolated hepatocytes, were significantly higher in the P50 group (8- and 1.5-fold, P < 0.05, respectively) compared with the P14 group. The 1.5-fold increase in the steady-state activity of X(A,G-) was accompanied by a doubling of EAAT2 mRNA, involved in the system X(A,G-). This study provides confirmation that specific biochemical and molecular adaptive processes of the splanchnic area are involved in the response to variations in the protein content of the diet.

Modulation of putrescine transport in rat intestinal brush-border membrane vesicles by fasting and refeeding.

Fasting and refeeding dramatically alter small intestinal mucosal growth which is greatly dependent on polyamine biosynthesis and transport. The aim of this study was therefore to examine the uptake of the diamine putrescine by brush-border membrane vesicles from the small intestine of rats fasted for 3 days or refed a standard diet after a PERIOD OF FASTING. WHILE THE MICHAELIS-MENTEN CONSTANT KM WAS essentially unaltered, the maximum velocity (Vmax) for putrescine uptake was 1.85-fold higher in fasted animals than in ad libitum-fed controls. Refeeding fasted rats for 24 h caused a 31% decrease in the Vmax value that, however, remained 1.27-fold higher than in control RATS, WHILE THE KM VALUE WAS STILL UNCHANGED. FASTING RATS OR refeeding rats after a period of fasting caused only a 13 or 17% increase, respectively, in the value of the constant for the nonsaturable component (P) of putrescine transport relative to the corresponding control condition. Our study also confirms that both the mucosal polyamine biosynthesis and intestinal content are altered by fasting. We suggest that an increased uptake activity may have a conservative role by preventing a substantial loss of tissue polyamines during fasting.