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Composites of carbon nanotubes – titanate nanotubes (MWNTs/ TNTs) – were successfully synthesized by the hydrothermal reaction process. The morphology of the MWNTs/TNTs composites was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize the molecular interactions between TNTs and MWNTs in the composites. The X-ray diffraction of TNTs and MWNTs/TNTs composites exhibited the existence of titanate phase (100), (102), (020) and (422). The charge recombination of MWNTs/TNTs composites was examined by photoluminescence spectrum. The photocatalytic activity of TNTs and MWNTs/TNTs composites was evaluated on the basis of the model oxidation reaction of H2S.

Zinc is a group IIB heavy metal. It is an important regulator of major cell signaling pathways in most mammalian cells, functions as an antioxidant and plays a role in maintaining genomic stability. Zinc deficiency leads to severe diseases in the brain, pancreas, liver, kidneys and reproductive organs. Zinc loss occurs during tumor development in a variety of cancers. The prostate normally contains abundant intracellular zinc and zinc loss is a hallmark of the development of prostate cancer development. The underlying mechanism of this loss is not clearly understood. The knowledge that excess zinc prevents the growth of prostate cancers suggests that zinc-mediated therapeutics could be an effective approach for cancer prevention and treatment, although challenges remain. This review summarizes the specific roles of zinc in several cancer types focusing on prostate cancer. The relationship between prostate cancer and the dysregulation of zinc homeostasis is examined in detail in an effort to understand the role of zinc in prostate cancer.

The prostate gland contains a high level of intracellular zinc, which is dramatically diminished during prostate cancer (PCa) development. Owing to the unclear role of zinc in this process, therapeutic applications using zinc are limited. This study aimed to clarify the role of zinc and its underlying mechanism in the growth of PCa. ZnCl2 suppressed the proliferation of androgen receptor (AR)-retaining PCa cells, whereas it did not affect AR-deficient PCa cells. In LNCaP and TRAMP-C2 cells, zinc downregulated the expression of AR in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Zinc-mediated AR suppression accordingly inhibited the androgen-mediated transactivation and expression of the androgen target, prostate specific antigen (PSA). This phenomenon resulted from facilitated protein degradation, not transcriptional control. In studies using mice bearing TRAMP-C2 subcutaneous tumors, the intraperitoneal injection of zinc significantly reduced tumor size. Analyses of both xenograft tumors and normal prostates showed reduced expression of AR and increased cell death. Considering the significant loss of intracellular zinc and the dominant growth-modulating role of AR during PCa development, loss of zinc may be a critical step in the transformation of normal cells to cancer cells. This study provides the underlying mechanism by which zinc functions as a PCa suppressor, and forms the foundation for developing zinc-mediated therapeutics for PCa.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes were synthesized via one-step dynamic hydrothermal process from commercial TiO2 powder. The effects of NaOH concentration, reaction time, reaction temperature, stirring process and washing on the morphology, and the exchange ions of the nanotubes were investigated. The morphology of the nanotubes was characterized in detail with transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscope. In the dynamic hydrothermal process, stirring can reduce the reaction time of transformation from particles to nanotubes. The nanotubes were formed when the expected reaction temperature reached to 130 °C. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis was used to determine the exchange of sodium ions and protons in washing process. The Na+ ions attached in the nanotubes were removed completely by HCl aqueous solution and deionized water treatments. X-ray diffraction patterns showed the titanate phase of the as-synthesized sample and anatase phase of TiO2 nanotubes after calcination process at 400 °C for 2 h.

Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer MWNTs and TiO{sub 2} were mixed well, forming uniform microstructure in MWNTs/TiO{sub 2} composites. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The combination of MWNTs and TiO{sub 2} contribute to improving photocatalytic activity of TiO{sub 2}. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer MWNTs/TiO{sub 2} composite is an effective photo-catalyst for the removal of sulfur from commercial diesel. -- Abstract: Composite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and titanium (IV) oxide (TiO{sub 2}) were prepared by a heterogeneous gelation method. The activities of the MWNTs/TiO{sub 2} composites were evaluated by photocatalytic oxidative desulfurization using dibenzothiophene (DBT), 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT), n-tetradecane, and commercial diesel under irradiation using a high-pressure Hg lamp. The microstructures of MWNTs/TiO{sub 2} composites were characterized by N{sub 2} adsorption, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscope, and X-ray diffraction. It was found that more than 98% of sulfur compounds in commercial diesel were oxidized and removed by the use of the MWNTs/TiO{sub 2} composite as a photocatalyst.

Magnetic heating effect of Fe 3 O 4 ferrofluids, surface-carboxylated and encapsulated by poly(styrene-acrylic acid) was studied. Magnetic Fe 3 O 4 NPs were synthesized by coprecipitation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Electron Microscope (FESEM) and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). Spectroscopic data (Infra red (IR) and Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ( 1 H NMR) spectra) confirmed that Fe 3 O 4 NP surface was carboxylated and capable for protein binding ( e.g. , Hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb)). Magnetic measurement by Physical Properties Measurement System (PPMS) and magnetic heating experiments revealed that the saturation temperature of the ferrofluids could be advantageously applied in hyperthermic treatment, namely it could achieve as high as 48.6°–57 °C, with as low as 0.3–0.5 mg/ml of Fe 3 O 4 in the fluid, under magnetic field of 60 Oe and 236 kHz. Under those AC field parameters, the specific loss power (SLP) was measured as 0.84 kW/g and Sarcoma 180 cells were killed after 70–80 min-treatment in ex vivo heating experiment, meaning that the synthesized ferrofluid may be considered as promising in hyperthermic cancer treatments.

Magnetic drug targeting, the targeting of a drug conjugated with a magnetic material under the action of external magnetic field constitutes an important drug delivery system. This paper describes the strategy to design a multifunctional, nanosized magnetofluorescent water-dispersible Fe3O4–curcumin conjugate and its multiple ability to label, target and treat the tumor cells. The conjugate possesses magnetic nano Fe3O4 core, chitosan (CS) or oleic acid (OL) as outer shell and entrapped curcumin (Cur), serving dual function of naturally autofluorescent dye as well as anti-tumor model drug, delivered to the cells with the help of macrophage (Cur possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor ability). Fe3O4–Cur conjugate exhibited a high loading cellular uptake which was clearly visualized dually by Fluorescence Microscope, Laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) as well as magnetization measurement (Physical properties measurement systems, PPMS). Preliminary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study also showed a clear contrast enhancement by using Fe3O4–Cur conjugate.

A biosolvent composition containing ethyl lactate and biodiesel was directly obtained by catalytic extractive esterification of lactic acid. Since the esterification of organic acids with alcohols is a thermodynamically limited reaction, the methodology consists in conducting the esterification and the ester extraction simultaneously thereby shifting the equilibrium towards more esters. The acid catalyzed esterification was performed in a biphasic solvent system composed of (i) a reactive polar phase which contains the esterification constituents, lactic acid, ethanol and an acid catalyst (ii) an extractive solvent selective of the ester, fatty acid methyl ester (biodiesel). This solvents system increases the ethyl lactate yield of more than 30 %. During the reaction progress, the selective solvent, fatty acid methyl ester, is progressively blended with ethyl lactate providing a mixture of esters, which can be directly used as an efficient composition of biosolvents without further purification. The solid acidic potassium salt of 12-phosphotungstic acid, K2.5H0.5PW12O40, was shown to be more efficient than the conventional esterification catalysts, H2SO4 or Amberlyst 15. K2.5H0.5PW12O40 gives a yield in ethyl lactate higher than 80 mol% after 2 h of reaction in the biphasic solvent system, using a molar ratio ethanol/lactic acid of 3.3 only. Moreover, K2.5H0.5PW12O40 shows a remarkable higher activity per protonic sites (factor 30) and is recyclable at least two times without apparent loss of activity. These excellent properties were ascribed to its low density of strong Bronsted acid sites and its adequate hydrophobicity which would make this acid more water tolerant than the conventional esterification catalysts, H2SO4 or Amberlyst 15. Acid catalyzed esterification of lactic acid with ethanol was performed in a biphasic system where biodiesel acts as an extractive solvent of ethyl lactate. This extractive reaction produces directly a composition of biosolvent: biodiesel blended with ethyl lactate.