Dielectric Constant, Metallization Criterion and Optical Properties of CuO Doped TeO2-B2O3 Glasses

Copper oxide doped TeO2 – B2O3 glass system with empirical formula; [(B2O3)0.3(TeO2)0.7]1-x(CuO)x using the melt quenching method, where x = 0.0, 0.01, 0.015, 0.02, and 0.025 was combined. The glass samples’ density and molar volume were measured, followed by characterizations using the UV-Vis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopes. The amorphous or glassy nature of glass samples was proven by the XRD spectra except for the pure borotellurite sample which showed a peak around 2θ = 20o, indicating α-TeO2 crystalline phase presence. The FTIR spectral analysis suggested the presence of BO3, TeO3 and TeO4 as the structural functional units in the glass samples. The UV-Vis spectra showed no presence of any sharply defined edges, affirming the amorphous or glassy nature of the glass materials. Physical parameters e.g. molar volume, density, oxygen packing density (OPD), inter ionic distance of Cu2+ ions, concentration of copper ion per unit volume (N), as well as the polaron radius data were presented and discussed. Also, the direct bandgap (3.8900 to 3.5900 eV) , indirect bandgap (3.3200 to 3.0800 eV), refractive index (2.318 to 2.378), dielectric constant (5.3731 to 5.6549), optical dielectric constant (4.3731 to 4.6549), refractive index based metallization criterion (0.406885 to 0.391916) and the band gap based metallization criterion (0.407431 to 0.392428) were analysed and discussed. Based on the metallization criterion and values of refractive index, the glasses are good candidates for optoelectronic and laser applications. Meanwhile, the dielectric constants’ values of the present glasses indicate their suitability bandpass filters and microelectronic substrates applications.

Green Synthesis of Novel GelMA/Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrogels and Evaluation of Their Properties for Potential Biomedical Applications

Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) hydrogels are the most widely used materials in biomedical applications due to their optimal biological properties and tunable physical characteristics. So far, various studies have been done to improve the properties of GelMA by hybridizing it with chitosan. However, the necessity of acidic solvents usage in these procedures challenges their synthesis process. Herein, we develop an innovative green method to synthesize a novel GelMA hydrogel. In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) has been used to modify gelatin to obtain photo-cross-linkable GelMA. The hydrogels with different amounts of N, Ń methylene bisacrylamide as a cross-linking agent were prepared by using the photopolymerization technique, and their chemical and physical properties were characterized. The FTIR spectral analysis and NMR analysis confirmed gelatin and CMC chemical modification and demonstrated GelMA/CMC hydrogel synthesis. Various studies for characterization of the GelMA/CMC hydrogels revealed the tunability of their physical and mechanical properties by changing the cross-linking agent concentration. The synthesized hydrogels exhibited a tailor-made porosity, good mechanical strength, high swelling ratio, and high thermal stability. In addition, the results of L929 fibroblast cell viability assays indicated their excellent biocompatibility. These findings introduce these hydrogels as promising, great candidates to use in various shapes and an extended range of medical applications such as tissue engineering scaffolds, delivery systems, and wound dressings.

Sheep Wool Humidity under Electron Irradiation Affects Wool Sorptivity towards Co(II) Ions

The effect of humidity on sheep wool during irradiation by an accelerated electron beam was examined. Each of the samples with 10%, 53%, and 97% relative humidity (RH) absorbed a dose of 0, 109, and 257 kGy, respectively. After being freely kept in common laboratory conditions, the samples were subjected to batch Co(II) sorption experiments monitored with VIS spectrometry for different lapses from electron beam exposure. Along with the sorption, FTIR spectral analysis of the wool samples was conducted for cysteic acid and cystine monoxide, and later, the examination was completed, with pH measuring 0.05 molar KCl extract from the wool samples. Besides a relationship to the absorbed dose and lapse, the sorptivity results showed considerable dependence on wool humidity under exposure. When humidity was deficient (10% RH), the sorptivity was lower due to limited transformation of cystine monoxide to cysteic acid. The wool pre-conditioned at 53% RH, which is the humidity close to common environmental conditions, demonstrated the best Co(II) sorptivity in any case. This finding enables the elimination of pre-exposure wool conditioning in practice. Under excessive humidity of 97% RH and enough high dose of 257 kGy, radiolysis of water occurred, deteriorating the sorptivity. Each wool humidity, dose, and lapse showed a particular scenario. The time and humidity variations in the sorptivity for the non-irradiated sample were a little surprising; despite the absence of electron irradiation, relevant results indicated a strong sensitivity to pre-condition humidity and lapse from the start of the monitoring.

Development, Formulation and Evaluation of Sustain Release Dispersible Tablet of Ornidazole

This Present research with dispersible tablet can compromise the efficacy and safety of the treatment to children’s and geriatric patients with masking the bitter taste of drug and developing its dispersible tablet. The purpose of this research work was to develop Dispersible tablet of Ornidazole by masking the bitter taste. Tablet containing drug and excipients were prepared by direct compression method. Excipients in combinations were incorporated to achieve the aim. Effect of different combinations was studied to optimize the ideal formulation. Drug excipients interaction studies were carried out by FTIR spectral analysis. The tablets were evaluated for their hardness, wetting time, disintegrating time and dissolution parameters. It was concluded that the tablets having the combination of Dried Mucilage (obtained from dried seeds of ocimum bacilicum) and Sodium starch glycolate met all the evaluation parameters and thus selected as the optimized formulation. Optimized formulation was undergone for stability testing as a parameter to predict the shelf life as per ICH guidelines and proved for its adequate shelf life.

Exploiting bacterial isolates for diesel degrading potential under in vitro conditions

Hydrocarbon contaminated oil-spilled areas and oil-products have caused serious harm with increasing attention for development, implementation and removal of these contaminants. Bacterial diversity on succession at the petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated environment can give answer the problem. Such lands have serious problems as totally barren or with rare plantation. Bacteria can thereby be exploited for the mitigation of hydrocarbon to enhance the nutrient availability for vegetation. Present study involves collection of soil samples heavily-contaminated with hydrocarbon from Bagru, Rajasthan. Samples were analysed by solid liquid extraction method followed by FTIR and HPLC analysis. During microbiological analysis hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were screened. FTIR spectral analysis indicated the presence of the functional groups alkanes and aromatic ringed compounds; 43–69% hydrocarbon content recorded by HPLC analysis of all the soil samples respectively. From the soil samples six gram-positive and four gram-negative bacterial isolates were explored possessing hydrocarbon degrading capacities in the range 47.04–87.31% and 10.12–95.24% respectively. Growth kinetic studies revealed the degradation upto 1000 ppm diesel in 3 days under in vitro conditions. These bacteria can further be exploited for diesel degradation and will certainly propose a possible solution to the prevailing issue for its biodegradation in ex situ conditions after upscaling.

A New Approach for the Green Biosynthesis of Silver Oxide Nanoparticles Ag2O, Characterization and Catalytic Application

In this paper, a facile and green approach for the synthesis of silver oxide nanoparticles Ag2O NPs was performed using the extract of the wild plant Herniaria hirsuta (H. hirsuta). Different spectral methods were used for the characterization of the biosynthesized Ag2O NPs, ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy gave a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of Ag2O NPs is 430 nm, estimation of direct and indirect forbidden gap bands are respectively 3.76 eV and 3.68 eV; Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectral analysis revealed the groups responsible for the stability and synthesis of Ag2O NPs. The morphology of Ag2O NPs was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showing a nearly spherical shape of Ag2O NPs, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) study confirmed the crystallinity of Ag2O NPs with a crystallinity size of 15.51 nm. The catalytic activity of Ag2O NPs, as well as the rings number were studied by the degradation of methylene blue dye. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Characterisation and Biological Activity of Stingray Venom (HimanturaImbricata)

Stingrays envenomation in humanswere the common accident in the marine and freshwater ecosystem. To determine such effect species Himantura imbricata have been used to elucidate Hemolytic activity, Plasma Coagulation, Fibrin coagulation, Fibrinolytic activity, Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT),and Prothrombin Time (PT) effects were studied. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Amino acid analysis by RP-HPLC, FTIR spectral analysis and SEM were carried for characterization studies. The results show the of plasma coagulation, fibrin coagulation, of this stingray venom delays the coagulation of citrated plasma. APTT and PT results showed intrinsic and extrinsic coagulation factors that were responsible in time delay when compared with the control. Moreover, these biological experiments and characterization studies aided in understanding the envenoming factors and these results might base the development of treatments for complex diseases.