Cochin University of Science and Technology

About: Cochin University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Kochi, Kerala, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Natural rubber. The organization has 5382 authors who have published 7690 publications receiving 103827 citations. The organization is also known as: CUSAT & Cochin University.

Cancer theranostic applications of MXene nanomaterials: Recent updates

Abstract: MXenes have been emerging as one of the most versatile types of nanomaterials over the last decade due to their exciting physical and chemical properties. Thanks to their exciting biocompatibility and tunable electronic and optical properties, the search of promising biomedical applications of MXenes has reached on cancer theranostics. Literature shows valuable results where MXenes have been employed in vitro and in vivo cancer models. This involves drug delivery systems, sensoring probes, auxiliary agents for strategies as photothermal therapy and hyperthermia. This mini review summarizes the works on MXenes reported for cancer theranostic applications on various in vitro and in vivo models. It includes various types of MXene systems as Ti3C2, Nb2C, Ti2C in conjugation with drug molecules, metallic nanoparticles and other macromolecules. Finally, the future possibilities of the scenario were also discussed in detail.

Mechanical, thermal, and viscoelastic response of novel in situ CTBN/POSS/epoxy hybrid composite system

Abstract: The present study focuses on the preparation of a novel hybrid epoxy nanocomposite with glycidyl polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) as nanofiller, carboxyl terminated poly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene) (CTBN) as modifying agent and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) as matrix polymer. The reaction between DGEBA, CTBN, and glycidyl POSS was carefully monitored and interpreted by using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An exclusive mechanism of the reaction between the modifier, nanofiller, and the matrix is proposed herein, which attempts to explains the chemistry behind the formation of an intricate network between POSS, CTBN, and DGEBA. The mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, and fracture toughness, were also carefully examined. The fracture toughness increases for epoxy/CTBN, epoxy/POSS, and epoxy/CTBN/POSS hybrid systems with respect to neat epoxy, but for hybrid composites toughening capability of soft rubber particles is lost by the presence of POSS. Field emission scanning electron micrographs (FESEM) of fractured surfaces were examined to understand the toughening mechanism. The viscoelastic properties of epoxy/CTBN, epoxy/POSS, and epoxy/CTBN/POSS hybrid systems were analyzed using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The storage modulus shows a complex behavior for the epoxy/POSS composites due to the existence of lower and higher crosslink density sites. However, the storage modulus of the epoxy phase decreases with the addition of soft CTBN phase. The Tg corresponding to epoxy-rich phase was evident from the dynamic mechanical spectrum. For hybrid systems, the Tg is intermediate between the epoxy/rubber and epoxy/POSS systems. Finally, TGA (thermo gravimetric analysis) studies were employed to evaluate the thermal stability of prepared blends and composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 2015. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

On the growth mechanism of nickel and cobalt nanowires and comparison of their magnetic properties

Abstract: Magnetic nanowires (NWs) are ideal materials for the fabrication of various multifunctional nanostructures which can be manipulated by an external magnetic field. Highly crystalline and textured nanowires of nickel (Ni NWs) and cobalt (Co NWs) with high aspect ratio (∼330) and high coercivity have been synthesized by electrodeposition using nickel sulphate hexahydrate (NiSO4·6H2O) and cobalt sulphate heptahydrate (CoSO4·7H2O) respectively on nanoporous alumina membranes. They exhibit a preferential growth along 〈110〉. A general mobility assisted growth mechanism for the formation of Ni and Co NWs is proposed. The role of the hydration layer on the resulting one-dimensional geometry in the case of potentiostatic electrodeposition is verified. A very high interwire interaction resulting from magnetostatic dipolar interactions between the nanowires is observed. An unusual low-temperature magnetisation switching for field parallel to the wire axis is evident from the peculiar high field M(T) curve.

Nitrogen fixing potential of various heterotrophic Bacillus strains from a tropical estuary and adjacent coastal regions

Abstract: In the present study, we report the nitrogen fixing potential of heterotrophic diazotrophs isolated from a tropical estuary and adjacent coastal sea. Results of the study revealed that most of the species that are capable of fixing nitrogen in the study area belongs to the genus Bacillus. The isolates from the estuary showed maximum homology with Bacillus megaterium, B. cereus, B. safencis, B. licheniformis, B. aerophilus, B. oceanisediminis, B. flexus, B. aquimaris, B. vietnamensis, and B. subterraneaus, whereas the diazotrophic isolates from coastal samples were closely related to B. subtilis, B. megaterium, B. circulans, B. aerophilus, B. flexus, and B. oceanisediminis. Experimental studies to determine the nitrogen fixation potential of isolates revealed considerable variation among different strains and the highest nitrogen fixing potential was recorded in B. megaterium (210.05 ± 7.0 nmol C2 H4 /mg protein/day) followed by B. flexus (108.76 ± 3.66 nmol C2 H4 /mg protein/day) and B. circulans (98.28 ± 4.32 nmol C2 H4 /mg protein/day). Molecular basis of nitrogen fixation by these heterotrophic Bacillus strains has been explored in terms of the presence of nifH gene in them. We observed that heterotrophic Bacillus sp. have potential ability to fix nitrogen.