Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science

About: Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science is a education organization based out in Kolkata, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Excited state. The organization has 3867 authors who have published 10457 publications receiving 220098 citations.

Mixed Micelles of Sodium Deoxycholate and Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Monooleate (Tween 80).

Abstract: The results of studies on the interaction of binary mixtures of sodium deoxycholate (NaDC) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) in bulk and at the air/water interface obtained from conductance, surface tension, and fluorescence measurements are described. The critical micelle concentration (CMC), thermodynamics of micellization, free energy of interfacial adsorption, minimum average area occupied by the surfactant species at the interface, micellar polarity, and aggregation number of the mixed aggregates have been determined. The mixed micellar composition and the estimation of the interacting forces involved are evaluated on the basis of recent theoretical models. The estimated interaction parameter indicates an overall attractive force in the mixed state, and the proportion of NaDC in the mixed micelle is found to be lower compared to the stoichiometric compositions. The mixed aggregates with higher mole fractions of NaDC show less stability in comparison with those having higher proportions of the nonionic component.

Detection of cellular glutathione and oxidized glutathione using magnetic-plasmonic nanocomposite-based "turn-off" surface enhanced Raman scattering.

Abstract: Glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) control cellular function and efficiency of anticancer therapy. Reliable detection of cellular GSH/GSSG is challenging due to their ultralow concentration (typically femtomolar concentrations) and interference by other thiol-based molecules. Here, we report a “turn-off” surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based approach for reliable detection of cellular GSH and GSSG. This approach exploits GSH-induced replacement of a Raman probe from the surface of γ-Fe2O3–Au followed by Ag growth around γ-Fe2O3–Au that generates electromagnetic hot spots at the junction between Au and Ag where the Raman probe is localized. The magnetic component of the hybrid nanoparticle concentrates the cellular GSH, and the Au/Ag-based plasmonic component provides electromagnetic hot spots for sensitive SERS. This approach is able to monitor GSH level during photothermal cancer therapy.

Preparation and Characterization of Cross-Linked Starch/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Green Films with Low Moisture Absorption

Abstract: The effects of incorporating different cross-linking agents into starch/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) blend were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), mec...

Interaction of Gold Nanoparticle with Human Serum Albumin (HSA) Protein Using Surface Energy Transfer

Abstract: Here, we study the human serum albumin (HSA) protein–Au nanoparticle interaction to identify the specific binding site of protein with nanoparticles by using the surface energy transfer (SET) method among tryptophan (Trp) of HSA, ANS-dye-labeled HSA protein, and Au nanoparticles. Here, ANS dye is used as a probe located at domain IIIA of HSA. In particular, absorbance, fluorescence quenching, decay time, circular dichroism, dynamic light scattering, and TEM measurements are performed to understand the physical properties of protein-conjugated Au nanoparticles. Using the SET method, the measured distances between the Trp residue of HSA and the binding site of HSA interacting with Au nanoparticles are 42.5, 41.9, and 48.1 A for 1.5, 2.0, and 2.9 nm HSA-conjugated Au nanoparticles, respectively. The measured distances between the binding site of ANS dye (located at domain IIIA) in HSA to the binding site of HSA interacting with Au nanoparticles are 51, 51.5, and 54.7 A for 1.5, 2.0, and 2.9 nm HSA-conjugated...

Synthesis of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurural from Carbohydrates using Large‐Pore Mesoporous Tin Phosphate

Abstract: A large-pore mesoporous tin phosphate (LPSnP-1) material has been synthesized hydrothermally by using Pluronic P123 as the structure-directing agent. The material is composed of aggregated nanoparticles of 10-15 nm in diameter and has a BET surface area of 216 m(2) g(-1) with an average pore diameter of 10.4 nm. This pore diameter is twice as large as that of mesoporous tin phosphate materials synthesized through the surfactant-templating pathways reported previously. LPSnP-1 shows excellent catalytic activity for the conversion of fructose, glucose, sucrose, cellobiose, and cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in a water/methyl isobutyl ketone biphasic solvent to give maximum yields of HMF of 77, 50, 51, 39, and 32 mol %, respectively, under microwave-assisted heating at 423 K. Under comparable reaction conditions, LPSnP-1 gives 12 % more HMF yield than a small-pore mesoporous tin phosphate catalyst that has an identical framework composition. This confirms the beneficial role of large mesopores and nanoscale particle morphology in catalytic reactions that involve bulky natural carbohydrate molecules.