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The current research work focuses on the characterization and biological activities (antibacterial, antioxidant and hemolytic) of essential oils isolated from the flowers of Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) from three different regions of Punjab, Pakistan. The yield of hydro distilled sweet basil flower essential oil (SBFEO) ranged from 0.40 to 0.54 % (w/w) across the regions. The SBFEOs showed considerable antibacterial activity against S. aureus, E. coli and K. oxytoca. The results of DPPH (59.33-71.31%), TPC (13.46 to 57.75 GAE mg/100g) and TFC assays (3.99 to 21.72 CE mg/100g) also showed that SBFEOs have good antioxidant activity. Similarly, lower cytotoxic/ hemolytic effect (1.85 to 3.90%) of the tested SBFEOs also supported their safer nature as ingredient in food/medicinal products. GC/MS analyses of the oils reveal that estragole (56.57%), α-linalool (46.25%) and τ-cadinol (52.54%) are present as major components. The findings of this research work depicted significant variations in the yield, composition and biological activities of SBFEOs that can be linked to varying morphological features of the plants harvested from different agro-climatic regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjugated polymer/graphite nanocomposites have been known as high performance materials owing to improve the physicochemical properties relative to conventional once. Multilayered polymer nanocomposites based on polypyrrole (PPy), polyvinylchloride (PVC) as matrices and p-phenylene diamine (PDA) as linker were prepared via chemical in situ polymerization process and subsequently investigated the physical characteristics of fabricated nanocomposites at various loadings. The structural characterization and morphology of prepared nanocomposites were inspected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), respectively. The composite III showed higher thermal stability at 10 wt% loading of PPy. According to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the glass transition temperature (Tg), melting temperature Tm, and crystallization temperature (Tc) of nanocomposites increases with PPy loading (2–10 wt%) owing to crosslinking and chain rigidity. Moreover, higher surface area was displayed by the multilayered PPy/PVC/PDA@FG nanocomposites. Remarkably, electrical conductivity of ultimate nanocomposites was also found to be a function of PPy loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1,2,3-Thiadiazoles, structurally active pharmacophores have attracted significant attention of synthetic chemists, medicinal and pharmaceutical researchers because of their versatile biological activities against various diseases such as herbicidal, insecticidal, antiviral, antitumor, antimicrobial, anticancer, plants activator and anti-amoebic activities. A literature survey of the last decade presented in this review article summarizes the major synthetic approaches, methodologies and strategies adopted for the synthesis of 1,2,3-thiadiazole scaffolds which will be help for medicinal chemists and pharmacists in future synthesis and development of novel therapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes were introduced during the '80s with characteristics in between those of reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration membranes. This article aims at critically reviewing advances in NF research including relevance of fabrication techniques, modifications, and current problems. We also have a comprehensive look at fouling mitigation as well as its prevention by treating NF membranes with functionalized carbon nanotubes. It was found that some parameters such as porosity, crystallinity of polymer and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity can affect the performance of membranes. NF membranes can be widely utilized in broad spectrum of applications particularly in desalination and wastewater treatment. Abbreviations: VA: Vertically align; MMM: Mixed matrix membrane; PAN: Polyacrylonitril; PAA: Poly(amic acid); HA: Humic Acid; BPA: Bisphenol A; MPD: m-phenylene diamine; PES: Polyether sulfone; LBL: Layer by layer; PEO: Poly(ethylene-oxide); PVA: Poly(vinyl alcohol); TR: Thermally rearranged; TR-PBO: Thermally rearranged polybenzoxazole; CVD: Chemical vapor deposition; PMMA: Poly(methy methacrylate; PET: polyetherimid; Psf: polysulfone; FSCMs: Fixed site carrier membranes; SILMs: Supported ionic liquid membranes; TFC: Thin film composite; IP: Interfacial polymerization; PE: Polyethylene; PP: Polypropylene; PC: Polycarbonate; PET: Polyethylene naphthalate; AMPS: 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid; NPs: Nanoparticles; TFC: Thin film composite; MPD: m-phenylenediamine; TMC: Trimesoyl chloride; CPES: Carboxylic polyethersulfon; ECPN: Electrically conducting polymer nanocomposites; mPDA:1,3-phenylenediamine; SWCNTs: Single wall carbon nanotubes; MWCNT: Multi wall carbon nanotubes; PVC: Polyvinyl chloride; NOMs: Natural organic matter; AAO: Anodic aluminium oxide; PVDF: Polyvinylidene fluoride; MD: Membrane distillation; PHGH: Polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride; TMBPA: Tetramethyl Bisphenol A; APDEMS: Aminopropyldiethoxymethylsilane; PLGA: Poly(lactide-co-glycolide); PEVA: Poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol); PCL: Poly(ε-caprolactone); PS: Polystyrene; PU: Polyurethane; PGA: Poly(glycolide); TE: Tissue engineering; SEM: Scanning electron microscopy; TEM: Transmission electron microscopy; EDX: Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy; BOD: Biological oxygen demand; COD: Chemical oxygen demand; TSS: Total suspended solids; SMBR: Submerged membrane bioreactor; NVP: N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone; NVF: N-vinylformamide; NVC: N-vinylcaprolactam; HEMA: 2-hydroxylethyl methacrylate; AA: Acrylic acid; AAm: Acrylamide; AAG: 2-Acrylamidoglycolic acid; AMPS: 2-acrylamido-methyl-propane sulfonic acid; SPMA: 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate; GAMA: d-gluconamidoethyl methacrylate; MPDSAH inner salt: [(methacryloylamino)propyl]-dimethyl (3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide inner salt; BSA: Bovine serum albumin; PDA: 2,4-phenylenediamine; EDA: Ethylene diamine; PDMSO: Poly(dimethylsiloxane); GPUs: Gas Permeation Units; ZIF: Zeolitic imidazolate framework; UF: ultrafiltration; MF: microfiltration; RO: Reverse osmosis; MD: Membrane distillation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural variation and its influence on morphology, mechanical, thermal, and electrical conductivity properties of polyethylene oxide/poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)/2,4-toluene diisocyanate/polypyrrole (PEO/P(P-E-P)G/TDI/PPy) blends and nanocomposites with varying PPy content were reported. The chemical and fundamental linkages were confirmed by FTIR. SEM micrographs demonstrated homogeneous PEO/P(P-E-P)G/TDI/PPy blend formation and globular morphology for nanocomposites. The mechanical and DSC parameters were found to increase systematically with increasing PPy content in blend films. While for nanocomposites, better results were observed for 0.1% PPy content. Maximum electrical conductivity and good shape recovery of 94% was obtained for the nanocomposite with 1% PPy content. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]