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Although paclitaxel is a front-line chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, its intravenous therapy produces deleterious adverse effects. In an attempt to address the issue, the present study aimed to develop a paclitaxel loaded thermosensitive/thermoresponsive hydrogel (PTXNp-TGel) for loco-regional administration to breast tumors to provide dose-dense chemotherapy. Poloxamer and xanthan gum were used to prepare TGel by the cold method. In vitro and in vivo performance of PTXNp-TGel was compared with TGel, pure drug loaded TGel (PTX-TGel) and marketed formulation, Taxol®. The formulated PTXNp-TGel showed acceptable gelation temperature and time (37 °C and 57 s), lower viscosity at room temperature and higher viscosity at body temperature to support sol-gel transition with increasing temperature, and sustained drug release up to 21 days. Additionally, PTXNp-TGel showed negligible hemolytic toxicity as compared to PTX-TGel and Taxol®. Intratumoral administration of PTXNp-TGel produced significantly higher antitumor activity as indicated by lowest relative tumor volume (1.50) and relative antitumor proliferation rate (27.71 %) in comparison with PTX-TGel, Taxol®, and PTXNp (p 0.05). Finally, insignificant body weight loss during the experimental period, lack of hematotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity imply improved therapeutic performance of the locally administrated dose-dense therapy of PTXNp-TGel as compared to Taxol®.

A large percentage of people are being exposed to mortality due to cardiovascular diseases. Convention approaches have not provided satisfactory outcomes in the management of these diseases. To overcome the limitations of conventional approaches, nanomaterials like nanoparticles, nanotubes, micelles, lipid-based nanocarriers, dendrimers, and carbon-based nanoformulations represent the new aspect of diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The unique inherent properties of the nanomaterials are the major reasons for their rapidly growing demand in the field of medicine. Profound knowledge in the field of nanotechnology and biomedicine is needed for the notable translation of nanomaterials into theranostic cardiovascular applications. In this review, the authors have summarized different nanomaterials which are being extensively used to diagnose and treat the diseases, such as coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, stroke and thrombosis.

In this article, we have studied hydrogen storage properties of alkali-metal decorated silicon clusters (SinMn, n = 6, 10; M = Li, Na) using density functional theory (DFT). The electronic structure, stability and bonding properties of both bare and hydrogen adsorbed clusters are studied and verified using global reactivity descriptors and Quantum Theory Of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) study. No distortion in host clusters is observed upon adsorption. H2 bond lengths ( 0.74 A – 0.75 A ), H − AM bond distances ( 2.134 A − 3.108 A ) and adsorption energy (0.059eV − 0.141eV) confirmed the adsorption process to be molecular and physisorptive in nature. Li sites in Si6Li6 and Si10Li10 can bind up to 18H2 and 40H2 molecules respectively resulting in a maximum gravimetric density of 14.7 wt% and 18.7 wt% respectively. Similarly, Na sites in Si6Na6 and Si10Na10 can adsorb up to 18H2 and 40H2 molecules resulting in a maximum gravimetric density of 10.6 wt% and 13.6 wt% respectively. The gravimetric densities for respective clusters thus obtained are quite higher than the target 5.5 wt% as set by US-DoE. In addition to this, ADMP-MD simulation reveal that all the host clusters adsorb molecular hydrogen reversibly and can undergo room temperature (300 K) desorption.

This work reports the reversible hydrogen storage capacities of Li and Na decorated C20 fullerene using dispersion corrected density functional theory calculation. The alkali metal (AM) atoms are found to bind on the C–C bridge position of C20 through non-covalent closed-shell interaction. Their thermodynamic stabilities are verified through HOMO-LUMO gaps and different reactivity descriptors. Each Li and Na atoms decorated on C20 adsorb maximum up to five H2 molecules through Niu-Rao-Jena interaction. The adsorption energy decreases with successive addition of H2 molecules with average binding energy lying in the range of 0.12 eV–0.13 eV. The systems can have a maximum gravimetric density of 13.08 wt% and 10.82 wt% for C20Li4–20H2 and C20Na4–20H2 respectively. ADMP molecular dynamic simulations illustrate the reversibility of adsorbed hydrogen molecules at higher temperature (≧ 300 K). The calculated thermodynamic useable hydrogen capacity shows the room temperature H2 desorption condition of AM decorated C20. Consistent with criteria set by the US-DOE, C20Li4 and C20Na4 can be used as promising hydrogen storage materials.

ZnO nano-platelets have been prepared using a high pressure reactor via hydrothermal route. The as-formed fine platelets morphology of the as-synthesized powder was confirmed from the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. The elemental analysis using energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis indicated the presence of Zn, O, Na and Cl which confirms the presence of ZnO as major and NaCl as the minor phase. The precipitation of this minor phase after growth and catalytic induction in nano-platelet (NP) morphology during growth has been elucidated. The electrochemical performance of this as-synthesized powder is quite promising. Additionally, the effect of this minor NaCl phase in changing the ionic equilibrium of the electrolyte in capacitance measurement has been analyzed. Copyright © 2016 VBRI Press

Hydrogen storage in Ti-doped small carbon clusters, C2nTin (n = 2–6), has been studied using density functional theory. Using the principle of maximum hardness (η) and minimum electrophilicity (ω), stabilities of the clusters are confirmed. The average adsorption energies of all complexes are found in the range of 0.2–0.5 eV/H2 and average Ti-H2 bond length is in the range of 1.953 to 2.145 A, inferring the adsorption process to be physisorption type. All the studied clusters are found to adsorb hydrogen in molecular form through Kubas type of interaction with H2 uptake capacity in the range of 5.31–10.09 wt% which is well above the target set by US-DOE (5.5 wt%). Bader’s topological analyses confirm the closed-shell type interaction among H2 molecules and Ti atoms. Desorption temperature calculated using Van’t-hoff equation is found above the liquid nitrogen temperature.

We report a surfactant-free, facile, and scalable synthesis of porous nickel oxalate (NiOX) and its derived cabbage-like nickel oxide (NiO) nanostructures. These cabbage-like NiO nanostructures are derived from NiOX by simple open atmosphere annealing for a prolong time at different temperatures. Structural data revealed the NiOX as NiC2O4·2H2O with defective layered carbon and NiO phase formation before and after annealing, respectively. Morphological changes have been observed using a scanning electron microscope, which revealed the effect of annealing in inducing the surface area, by surface modified phase formation. Further, surface area analysis corroborated the above finding confirming an increase in surface area after annealing. As a proof-of-concept application, these as-synthesized and annealed powders are used as electrode materials for super capacitor and electrochemically tested in a three-electrode configuration using KOH as electrolyte. It is estimated that the electrodes fabricated using as-synthesized NiOX, annealed at exhibit specific capacity (Cs) of 428 Cg−1 (@ 2 Ag−1) in a potential range of − 0.3 to + 0.4 V following the electrical double layer charge storage mechanism. After annealing, the Cs value of this material increased by twofold having the highest estimated value of 888 Cg−1 (0 to + 0.46 V) for 450 °C in comparison to 835 and 547 Cg−1 for 350 and 550 °C annealed samples at 3 Ag−1, respectively, following pseudo-capacitive mechanism. Further, a symmetric device was fabricated using 450 °C annealed sample which exhibit a maximum energy density of 26.1 Wh kg−1 and power density of 302.5 W kg−1 at a current density of 1 Ag−1. Moreover, a systematic study on the facile synthesis of NiOX powder and its further modification to tune the structure, morphology, electrochemical charge storage capacity, and working potential window for super capacitor application has been demonstrated.

Binder-free Ni-material array electrodes on Ni-foam are fabricated using a facile hydrothermal method for high-performance supercapacitors. Instead of a binder, urea is added to increase the adhesion of Ni-foam as both the substrate and electrode material. In this paper, we present the contribution of urea to the formation of the material. The surface characteristics and the electrical properties of the Ni-material array change with the amount of urea. When 2.4 g of urea is added to the sample for the first time, a Ni(HCO3)2 microrod electrode is obtained; it shows large wire growth on the Ni-foam, which can be explained about the abnormal grain growth behavior because there is little energy barrier for atomic attachments with a disordered or rough interface atomic structure. Its specific capacitance is 346 F g−1 at a current density of 3 A g−1. In contrast, when the amount of urea is reduced to 0.8 g, a Ni2(CO3) (OH)2 array electrode is produced; it exhibits a nano-size wire array and a specific capacitance of 833.2 F g−1 at a current density of 3 A g−1. Thus, it is confirmed that the large surface area of Ni2(CO3) (OH)2 exhibits outstanding electrical properties. And, the fabricated asymmetric supercapacitor of Ni2(CO3) (OH)2 composite as the positive electrode and graphene as the negative electrode, which has a high energy density of 22.1 W h kg−1 at a power density of 673.1 W kg−1. In addition, this obtained asymmetric supercapacitor can turn on the LED light.

This work reports the hydrogen storage, and delivery capacities of Sc and Y functionalized [1,1]paracyclophane using dispersion corrected density functional theory calculations. The Sc and Y atoms are bind strongly with benzene rings of [1,1]paracyclophane. Each Sc and Y atom functionalized over [1,1]paracyclophane adsorb up to 6 H2 molecules via Kubas interaction achieving maximum gravimetric density up to 8.22 wt% and 6.33 wt%, respectively. The calculated average hydrogen adsorption energy (0.36 eV) is lower than the chemisorption but higher than the physisorption process. The kinetic stabilities are verified through the HOMO-LUMO gap and different global reactive descriptors. ADMP molecular dynamics simulations reveal the reversibility of adsorbed H2 molecules at sufficiently above the room temperature and the solidity of host material at 500 K. Average Van't Hoff desorption temperature for Sc and Y decorated system was calculated to be 439 K and 412 K respectively at 1 atm of pressure. The estimated thermodynamically usable hydrogen capacities are found to be 5.92 wt% and 5.87 wt% of hydrogen which fulfil the hydrogen energy criteria (by 2025) of US-DOE. Hence, we believe that Sc and Y functionalized [1,1]paracyclophane can be considered as a thermodynamically viable, and potential reversible hydrogen storage materials at ambient environment.

The synthesis of dual-function molybdenum (Mo)-complex carbonous sponges is reported for elucidating their utilization as positive and negative electrodes in electrochemical devices and their applicability to the active oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in electrocatalytic devices. Molybdenum (Mo)-coordinated polyvinyl alcohol gel is converted into a porous Mo-complex nitrogen-rich carbonous sponge (MNCS) via microwave and low-temperature-annealing processes as a positive electrode. This MNCS was further thermally treated at a higher temperature to prepare a more carbonized Mo-complex N-doped carbon sponge (cMNCS) as a negative electrode. Both sponges were lightweight and porous and exhibited excellent specific capacitances of 562 F g

Anemia is the most common hematological abnormality of chemotherapy, which is responsible for poor clinical outcomes. To overcome this complication, the present study was aimed for developing a Eudragit/polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) based nanoparticulate system for a model drug paclitaxel (PTX). The study was planned using a simplex lattice mixture design. PTX nanoparticles (PTXNp) were evaluated in vitro for physicochemical properties, hemolytic effects and cytotoxic effects. Further, the nanoparticles were subjected to in vivo screening using rats for hemocompatibility, pharmacokinetic profile, and biodistribution to the vital organs. The PTXNps were 65.77–214.73 nm in size, showed more than 60% sustained drug release in 360 h and caused less than 8% hemolysis. The parameters like red blood cell count, activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT) and C3 complement were similar to the negative control. Cytotoxicity results suggested that all the PTXNp demonstrated drug concentration-dependent cytotoxicity. The in vivo pharmacokinetic study concluded that PTXNp formulations had significantly higher blood AUC (93.194.55–163,071.15 h*ng/mL), longer half-lives (5.80–6.35 h) and extended mean residence times (6.05–8.54 h) in comparison to PTX solution (p

The specific capacitance and energy density of antimony trisulfide (Sb2S3)@carbon supercapacitors (SCs) have been limited and are in need of significant improvement. In this work, Sb2S3 nanoparticl...

We report a scalable two-step plasma mediated process for the synthesis of sillimanite and mullite spray grade powders and their coatings on stainless steel (SS) substrate. In the first step, spray grade sillimanite and mullite powders were prepared by thermal plasma processing followed by second step of plasma spray coating on SS. X-ray diffraction has been used to study the phase formation and structural changes of powders before and after coating on SS. Grown-up stress and defects on the surface of the achieved coatings before and after mechanical tests was visualised by scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical hardness and wear tests were performed to compare the mechanical strength and applicability of these coatings in comparison to commercial powder coating. Further, electrochemical corrosion behaviour of these coatings in-comparison with commercial powder coating confirmed the potential of this two-step process and product for industrial scale-up.

A 3D porous carbon-manganese oxide (3D-C@MnO) nanocomposite is successfully synthesized via a thermal plasma deposition method. The chemical bonds and compositions, phase structures, surface morphologies, etc. of as-obtained 3D-C@MnO nanocomposite were characterized by the various equipment, such as X-ray diffractometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron microscopes. The electrochemical performances of the 3D-C@MnO nanocomposite electrode showed a specific capacitance of 780 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 and a capacitance retention rate of 99% after 5000 charge-discharge cycles at a high current density of 10 A g−1. These excellent capacitive performances may be attributed to the encapsulation of MnO nanoparticles by porous carbon sheets in the 3D-C@ MnO nanocomposite structure. It is believed that the carbon-encapsulated MnO nanoparticles can be protected from a volume deformation during the charge adsorption/desorption cycle and can be electrically improved by the encapsulated carbon sheets, resulting in better overall capacitive performance. In addition, this study also demonstrates the practical applicability by assembling a supercapacitor using the as-obtained 3D-C@MnO nanocomposite to glow a light emitting diode. Keywords: Nanocomposites, 3D-carbon, Manganese monoxide, Cathode material, Supercapacitor

Polycrystalline and mesoporous bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) micro-sponge-balls of 4–7 μm in diameter comprising of 58–65 (±2) nm upright standing petals, separated by 100–700 (±50) nm crevices, are synthesized directly onto 3D Ni-foam at room-temperature (27 °C) using Tritonx-100 surfactant-mediated soft wet chemical method. After knowing the phase purity, surface area, pore-size distribution, micro-sponge-ball-type surface morphology, elemental analysis and binding energy confirmations of Bi2O3, a material with quasi-faradaic redox reactions responsible for supercapattery type behavior, are measured and explored. At a low scan rate, the specific capacitance of Bi2O3 sponge-ball electrode, measured from 0.4 to 1.80 A g−1 current density, decreases from 559 to 211 F g−1 which is equivalent to a capacity from 155 to 58 mAh.g−1. An asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device assembly of Bi2O3 sponge-ball electrode with graphite i.e. Bi2O3//graphite demonstrates excellent electrochemical properties with 8 Wh kg−1 energy density at 2040 W kg−1 power density, and about 80% cycling retention over 5000 redox cycle operations. A demonstration of LED with full-bright intensity during discharge process of the Bi2O3//graphite ASC device suggests its practical potentiality and industrial viability.

We report a simple, time-consuming and scalable synthesis of ZnO1−xMnx nanocrystals (Mn-ZnO NCs) using a thermal plasma chemical method. The diffusion of the Mn2+ into the host ZnO lattice causes pronounced change in the structure, morphology, spectroscopy and magnetic properties of ZnO. The Mn-doping in ZnO lattice introduces defects by changing the lattice constant values, vibration mode shift at a particular position, decrease in the band gap energy from 3.23 to 3.08 eV, with more than 90% photoluminescence quenching proficiency which has not only makes it as the efficient photocatalyst in methylene blue dye degradation but also confirms change in the shape and the magnitude of the electron spin resonance spectra, suggesting revelation of the dilute magnetic semiconducting properties in ZnO. The onset of the sharp resonance peak at 0.6% Mn-doping level followed a sharp fall in the intensity when Mn-concentration ≥0.8% has thoroughly been investigated and explored. Moreover, a tunable optical absorption change of Mn-ZnO NCs at various Mn-contents corroborats a proficient visible light photocatalytic performance which has been optimized, exquisitely, on controlling the shape and Mn-doping concentration level. Our results offer a basic understanding of synergetic effect taking place in enhancing the photocatalytic performance, which otherwise could cause by a defect-mediated ferromagnetic coupling and optimal Mn-doping concentration.

We present faceted and non-faceted crystal cupric oxide (CuO) nanoribbons synthesized by different processes for glucose-sensing applications. The faceted and non-faceted CuO nanoribbons are grown via hydrothermal and microwave heating processes, respectively. Their growth mechanisms are considered as surface energy kinetics supported by a chemical simulation process. Both methods follow a redox precipitation mode for the formation of the nanostructures. Both faceted and non-faceted CuO nanostructures are revealed to exhibit different morphologies, but they have a single crystal structure. In a non-enzymatic glucose sensor, the amperometric oxidation currents of both faceted and non-faceted CuO electrodes increase proportionally as the glucose concentration increases gradually from 0.05 to 3.5 mM. However, the faceted CuO exhibits higher crystallinity with much more surface-active sites as faceted crystal planes compared to the non-faceted ones. Therefore, the glucose sensitivity of a faceted CuO electrode is superior to that of a non-faceted CuO one. The electrochemical glucose detection of the faceted CuO electrode shows a minimum concentration of 58 μM and a specific current sensing of 412 μA mM−1 cm−2, whereas the non-faceted CuO electrode shows low sensitivities of 71 μM and 356 μA mM−1 cm−2.

In the current study, we have explored the coupling of Bi2O3 negative electrode and MnO2 positive electrode materials as an asymmetric faradaic assembly for a high-performance hybrid electrochemical energy storage device (HEESD). Aiming at a low-cost device, both the electrodes have been synthesized by a simple, scalable, and cost-effective chemical synthesis method. After their requisite structure-morphological confirmation and correlation, these electrodes were separately examined for their electrochemical performance in a three-electrode configuration. The results obtained confirm that Bi2O3 and MnO2 exhibit 910 C g−1 and 424 C g−1 specific capacity, respectively, at 2 A g−1 current density. Notably, the performance of both electrodes has been analyzed using Dunn's method to highlight the distinct nature of their faradaic properties. Afterwards, the asymmetric faradaic assembly of both electrodes, when assembled as a HEESD (MnO2//Bi2O3), delivered 411 C g−1 specific capacity at 1 A g−1 current density due to the inclusive contribution from the capacitive as well as the non-capacitive faradaic quotient. Consequently, the assembly offers an excellent energy density of 79 W h kg−1 at a power density of 702 W kg−1, with a magnificent retention of energy density up to 21.1 W h kg−1 at 14 339 W kg−1 power density. Moreover, it demonstrates long-term cycling stability at 10 A g−1, retaining 85.2% of its initial energy density after 5000 cycles, which is significant in comparison with the previously reported literature. Additionally, to check the performance of the device in real time, two HEESDs were connected in series to power a light-emitting diode. The results obtained provide significant insight into hybrid coupling, where two different faradaic electrodes can be combined in a synergistic combination for a high-performance HEESD.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have drawn the attention of researchers due to their biocompatibility and nontoxic nature. In addition, the safety aspect of ZnO has been approved by US Food and Drug Administration. Low polydispersity was observed through microscopic examination, which confirmed their uniform particle size distribution. ZnO NPs can be prepared using different methods, such as physical, chemical, and biological methods. ZnO NPs are being utilized in bioimaging because of their high stability and inherent photoluminescence properties. Apart from bioimaging, theses nanocarriers are also used for drug delivery in different diseases. Surface-modified ZnO NPs have also minimized the off-target toxic effects. However, ZnO NPs alone have demonstrated effective outcomes. The major focus of the present chapter is to explore the possible biomedical applications of ZnO NPs.

We report a simple interface modified strategy to self-assemble the as-synthesized Au@Fe2O3 nano structures by facile chemical synthesis route on graphene substrate (AFG) fo r substrate mediated photo-catalytic dye degradation. The substrate modification, film formation, photo induced charge transfer mechanism and the physico-chemical properties of the AFG has been systematically analysed using different analytical techniques. The alteration in light absorption capacity and band gap of the hybrid with respect to the individuals have been observed using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Moreover, the broad absorption in the visible range and squeeze in band gap of the hybrid from 2.3 to 1.97 eV confirms the ability of the hybrid and the intention of hybridization for visible light-responsive photo-catalysis. Additionally, interesting superparamagnetic behaviour of the hybrid and its magnetic separation ability has been explored. Further, the applicability, repeatability and versatility of this AFG hybrid material in catalytic degradation of different dyes in presence of visible light have been analysed. This AFG catalyst exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity against the decolouration of the both cationic and anionic dyes. A systematic study in the photo-catalytic degradation behaviour, kinetic of degradation and the postulated mechanism has been proposed.

Dendrimers are three dimensional, multifunctional polymeric structures which are composed of a core and branches emanating from these structures, resembling a tree. Here, we review the key highlights of the dendrimers for diagnostic uses as MRI contrast agents, X-ray computed tomography and particularly for cancer treatment as an effective carrier for drug delivery and in boron capture therapy. We will discuss how dendrimers represent a new class of carriers that are able to deliver drugs effectively and in a sustained manner to the target tumor sites. Dendrimers are being utilized to a variety of cancer therapies to improve the safety and effectiveness of anticancer therapeutics. This review will also investigates the benefits utilizing dendrimers for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Bortezomib (BTZ) is a proteasome inhibitor as approved by US FDA for the treatment of multiple myeloma. It exhibits significant anti-cancer properties, against solid tumors; but lacks aqueous solubility, chemical stability which hinders its successful formulation development. The present study is an attempt to deliver BTZ using N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) based copolymeric conjugates and biotinylated PNPs in an effective manner. Study describes a systematic synthetic pathway to synthesize functional polymeric conjugates such as HPMA-Biotin (HP-BT) HPMA-Polylactic acid (HPLA) and HPMA-PLA-Biotin (HPLA-BT) followed by exhaustive characterization both spectroscopically and microscopically. Our strategy yielded polymeric nanoparticles (PNPs) of narrow size range of 199.7 ± 1.32 nm. Release studies were performed at pH 7.4 and 5.6. PNPs were 2-folds less hemolytic (p < 0.0001) than pure drug. BTZ loaded PNPs of HPLA-BT demonstrated significant anti-cancer activity against MCF-7 cells. IC50 value of these PNPs was 56.06 ± 0.12 nM, which was approximately two folds less than BTZ (p < 0.0001). Cellular uptake study confirmed that higher uptake of formulations might be an outcome of biotin surface tethering characteristics that enhanced selectivity and targeting of formulations efficiently. In vivo pharmacokinetics evidenced increased bioavailability (AUC0 t-∞) of DL-HPLA-BT PNPs (drug loaded) than BTZ with an improved half-life. Overall the developed PNPs led to the improved and effective BTZ delivery.

Herein, we investigated the nonlinear optical (NLO) response and optical absorption spectra of the carbon doped boron cluster (CB10) along with its isomer within the principles of density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) respectively. Optical absorption spectra of carbon doped boron cluster were computed using exchange-correlation functional such as; CAM-B3LYP and wb97xD employing 6-311++(2d,2p) basis set. The calculated absorption spectra of the studied compounds mostly fall in the ultraviolet (UV) and visible region in the range 246 nm-409 nm (B10), 231 nm-652 nm (B10C-I), and 236nm - 491 nm (B10C-II) for both the methods respectively. The most prominent peaks of the studied clusters were observed at around 312 nm, 233 nm and 266 nm respectively. In addition, we noticed a very minimal peak in the near visible region in the range between 609 nm–640 nm for all the studied clusters. However, we observed a red shift of around 82 nm for B10C-II cluster. Static polarizability and hyperpolarizabilities were also computed. It has been observed that the carbon doping enhance the NLO responses by narrowing its HOMO-LUMO gaps whereas reverse observation was found in case of its isomer computed. The results might open new perspectives for further development of designing novel promising electro-optical boron-based nanomaterial.

Bulk quantity of the MgAl2O4 spinels with specific composition has been synthesized by thermal plasma method. The process time and compositions of the feed are optimized for a desired stoichiometry. A structural co-relation has been derived from several set of experiments by major variation in the α-Al2O3 content in the feed material. Formation of desired phase with particular feed stoichiometry has been studied by X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) analysis which is corroborated by Raman scattering analysis. A good structural co-relation between the XRD, Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis was derived. Additionally, the electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) of the specific sample has been carried out to study the exact compositional distribution and the presence of additional impurity phases in the as-synthesized spinels. Finally, the micro mechanical behaviour of the as-synthesized spinels has been studied and well co-related with the structural data.

A high-efficiency rational design of a durable material produced from waste materials for sustainable energy generation and storage systems is a formidable challenge. This paper describes the large-scale synthesis of nitrogen-doped porous carbon (PS-C) from waste polystyrene with a short processing time using the thermal plasma method. The as-synthesized PS-C exhibited an electrochemical capacitance of 482 Fg−1 at a current density of 1 Ag−1 and a capacitance retention of 95% at a current density of 6 Ag−1 after 5000 charge–discharge cycles. This reported specific capacitance and cyclic performance are attributed to the morphology, nitrogen doping, and structural integrity resulting from the synergy of the material.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest solid tumors with a high mortality rate and poor survival rate. Depending on the tumor stage, PDAC is either treated by resection surgery, chemotherapies, or radiotherapies. Various chemotherapeutic agents have been used to treat PDAC, alone or in combination. Despite the combinations, chemotherapy exhibits many side-effects leading to an increase in the toxicity profile amongst the PDAC patients. Additionally, these standard chemotherapeutic agents have only a modest impact on patient survival due to their limited efficacy. PDAC was previously considered as an immunologically silent malignancy, but recent findings have demonstrated that effective immune-mediated tumor cell death can be used for its treatment. PDAC is characterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment accompanied by the major expression of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and M2 tumor-associated macrophages. In contrast, the expression of CD8+ T cells is significantly low. Additionally, infiltration of mast cells in PDAC correlates with the poor prognosis. Immunotherapeutic agents target the immunity mediators and empower them to suppress the tumor and effectively treat PDAC. Different targets are studied and exploited to induce an antitumor immune response in PDAC patients. In recent times, site-specific delivery of immunotherapeutics also gained attention among researchers to effectively treat PDAC. In the present review, existing immunotherapies for PDAC treatment along with their limitations are addressed in detail. The review also includes the pathophysiology, traditional strategies and significance of targeted immunotherapies to combat PDAC effectively. Separately, the identification of ideal targets for the targeted therapy of PDAC is also reviewed exhaustively. Additionally, the review also addresses the applications of targeted immunotherapeutics like checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive T-cell therapy etc.

The change in surface behavior of natural quartz stone before and after heat treatment with metal oxides such as: cobalt oxide (Co3O4) and copper oxide (Cu2O) under vacuum and open atmosphere has been investigated. The surface feature, bulk density and hardness value of quartz changed after heat treatment, converting to a high value product. Difference in crystallinity of quartz, pre- and post-heat treatment was obtained through X-ray diffraction (XRD) study. The electron probe microanalysis results clearly explicated the diffusion of metal ion in quartz matrix exposed under vacuum atmosphere but as coating on the surface under open atmosphere. The structural transformation of quartz after heat treatment has been observed from the XRD data and well corroborated with the nanoindentation results. Durability of such quartz to chemical hazardous environment was observed. Thus, this communication demonstrates the change in physical and chemical characteristics of natural quartz stone after heat treatment under different atmosphere.

The colourless natural topaz stones were surface modified to beautiful yellow and green colour after heat treatment with lead oxide (PbO) and chromium oxide (CrO3), respectively. The surface of topaz shows a uniform colouration over the whole structure, which is confirmed by the UV–vis spectroscopic study. The absorption bands in the range 390–440 nm and 646 nm in PbO and CrO3 treated samples are associated with the yellow and green colouration of the stone. The chemical composition and oxidation states of the components present in the un-treated and treated topaz samples were determined from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study, which clearly signifies that the stone retains its structure after treatment. Also, shifts of prominent peaks were observed in XRD and Raman spectra after heat treatment. Pb and Cr incorporation promotes oxygen vacancies in the topaz matrix, which is confirmed from the Raman peak at 223 and 220 cm−1 respectively. As deduced from Raman and XPS spectra, defect centers produced due to the oxygen vacancy and electronic charge transfer between topaz matrix with metal ions are the prime factor for the observed colour on topaz surface.

We describe a technique to fabricate superhydrophobic surface on stainless steel substrate with very short processing time. The process has been optimized to synthesize good quality hydrophobic coating by varying the processing time. The surface morphology of the as-formed nanostructures was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The core-shell structures have been confirmed from the transmission electron microscopy analysis. The selected area diffraction pattern in correlation with the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirmed the presence of crystalline silicon carbide core in the as-formed nanostructures. Additionally, the infrared and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy data confirmed the presence of surface modified silicon dioxide shell layer. The hydrophobic property of the coating has also been tailored and it was found that the maximum dewetting angle of de-ionized water, on the prepared surface enhanced from 86.3° to 150.8°. The origin of the superhydrophobicity of these coating are identified as (1) surface morphology and (2) surface functionalization.

The specific capacitance and energy density of antimony trisulfide (Sb

In the current study, we have explored the coupling of Bi

In this work, we report the synthesis of a Bi2O3-MnO2 nanocomposite as an electrochemical supercapacitor (ES) electrode via a simple, low-cost, eco-friendly, and low-temperature solid-state chemical process followed by air annealing. This as-synthesized nanocomposite was initially examined in terms of its structure, morphology, phase purity, and surface area using different analytical techniques and thereafter subjected to electrochemical measurements. Its electrochemical performance demonstrated excellent supercapacitive properties in a wide potential window. Its specific capacitance was able to reach 161 F g&minus, 1 at a current density of 1A g&minus, 1 and then showed a superior rate capability up to 10 A g&minus, 1. Furthermore, it demonstrated promising cycling stability at 5 A g&minus, 1 with 95% retention even after 10,000 charge&ndash, discharge cycles in a wide potential window of 1.3 V, evidencing the synergistic impact of both Bi2O3 and MnO2 in the Bi2O3-MnO2 ES electrode. Additionally, the practical reliability of the envisioned electrode was ascertained by the fabrication of a symmetric Bi2O3-MnO2//Bi2O3-MnO2 pencil-type supercapacitor device that displayed an energy density of 18.4 Wh kg&minus, 1 at a power density of 600 W kg&minus, 1 and a substantial cyclic stability up to 5000 cycles. Subsequently, an LED was also powered at its full brightness using three of these devices connected in series in order to demonstrate the real-time application of the Bi2O3-MnO2 ES electrode.

A comparative study of the physical properties of undoped Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Al doped Zinc Oxide (AZO) thin films were performed as a function of annealing temperature. The structural properties were analyzed using X-ray diffraction and the recorded patterns indicated that the crystallinity of the films always enhanced with increasing annealing temperature while it degrades with Al doping. The topographical modification of the films due to heat treatment was examined by atomic force microscopy which revealed that annealing roughened the surface of all the films; however the AZO films always exhibited smoother morphology than ZnO. Study of the optical properties by UV-Visible spectrophotometer demonstrated that the transmittance was gradually diminished with the rise in annealing temperature. In addition, a notable increase in the optical band gap was also observed for the AZO films., Comment: AZO thin film; Sol gel preparation; Annealing; X ray diffraction; Atomic force microscopy;Optical properties. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1908.05886

This investigation deals with the effect of annealing temperature on the structural, topographical and optical properties of Zinc Oxide thin films prepared by sol gel method. The structural properties were studied using X-ray diffraction and the recorded patterns indicated that all the films had a preferred orientation along (002) plane and the crystallinity along with the grain size were augmented with annealing temperature. The topographical modification of the films due to heat treatment was probed by atomic force microscopy which revealed that annealing roughened the surface of the film. The optical properties were examined by a UV visible spectrophotometer which exhibited that maximum transmittance reached nearly 90% and it diminished with increasing annealing temperature., Comment: Zinc oxide thin film, Sol gel preparation, Annealing X ray diffraction, Atomic force microscopy, Optical properties

The change in surface compositional and bulk structural characteristics of the natural ruby stone, before and after heat treatment with lead oxide has been analyzed using two advance characterization techniques like: X-ray micro CT scan (μ-CT) and electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA). The analytical correlation between these two techniques in identification as well as in depth study of the ores and minerals before and after processing has been presented. Also, we describe the aesthetic enhancement of a low quality defective ruby stone by lead oxide filling and the sequential analysis of this ruby stone before and after treatment using these two advanced techniques to identify and to confirm the change in its aesthetic value. The cracks healing and pores filling by the metal oxide on the surface of the ruby have been analyzed using μ-CT and EPMA. Moreover, in this work we describe the advance characterization of the repaired gem stones especially ruby stones. This work will light up the path for in-depth understanding of diffusion mechanism and abstract information of impurity particles inside the minerals. Based on these observations, EPMA and micro CT are shown to be powerful tools for the identification as well as research in gem stones.

Energetic ions of N and Cr were used to implant the surfaces of natural rubies (low aesthetic quality). Surface colours of the specimens were found to change after ion implantation. The samples without and with ion implantation were characterized by diffuse reflectance spectra in ultra violet and visible region (DRS-UV–Vis), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and nano-indentation. While the Cr-ion implantation produced deep red surface colour (pigeon eye red) in polished raw sample (without heat treatment), the N-ion implantation produced a mixed tone of dark blue, greenish blue and violet surface colour in the heat treated sample. In the case of heat treated sample at 3 × 10 17 N-ions/cm 2 fluence, formation of colour centres (F + , F 2 , F 2 + and F 2 2+ ) by ion implantation process is attributed to explain the development of the modified surface colours. Certain degree of surface amorphization was observed to be associated with the above N-ion implantation.