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The present work involves the preparation of pure ZnO and gadolinium‐doped ZnO nanoparticles with the general formula GdxZn1−xO (X = 0–0.05) by wet chemical coprecipitation technique. XRD outcomes confirmed that these nanoparticles exhibited a hexagonal wurtzite structure of zinc oxide lacking any secondary phase. The calculated average crystallite size declined from 33 to 28 nm. Through SEM analysis, the shape and morphology of the sample were determined, which showed nanoflakes‐like structures, and EDS analysis confirmed the elemental composition of Gd‐doped ZnO nanoparticles. UV–vis DRS spectral studies indicate good optical capabilities with a decline in the bandgap from 3.4 to 2.6 eV with an incline in doping concentration. Photoluminescence studies exhibited a green emission peak at 378 nm. Additionally, photodegradation of these nanoparticles was assessed through degradation of MB dye, which showed 94% of dye degradation. Synthesized nanoparticles show good electrochemical performance in CV studies. Pure ZnO and Gd‐ZnO were examined against Gram‐positive Enterococcus faecalis and Gram‐negative Escherichia coli bacteria, and it was initiated that the zone of inhibition of antibacterial activity improved with gadolinium doping compared to the pure ZnO nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In microbiological and clinical studies, purified staphylococcal α-toxin provokes coronary vasoconstriction and loss in myocardial contractility. Bacterial exotoxins, such as staphylococcal α -toxin, implicated in the loss of cardiac performance encountered in Gram-positive septic shock. Exposure of rat aortic rings to purified Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) in vitro inhibited subsequent contractions caused by vasoconstrictors. In the present study we have examined the effects of bacterial exotoxins like Staphylococcus aureus exotoxins, E. coli exotoxins, Bacillus subtilis exotoxin in vitro. For this purpose we have choosen frog as an experimental animal and the tissue was frog isolated heart. In the initial days there was no change in HR, CO and force of contraction with sample when compared with control. But on the later days the initial decrease (negative inotropic) and later increase (positive inotropic) in force of contraction was more with sample compared to control. Muscarinic blocker like Atropine (ATP) and non-selective blocker like Timolol did not block these effects indicating that these actions are not mediated through either muscarinic or β1-receptors respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new class of Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes of azo-containing Schiff base of the type [Cu(L1)2] and [Co(L1)2], where L1=4-[(E)-{2-hydroxy-3-[(E)-(4-bromophenyl)diazenyl]benzylidene}amino]benzoic acid have been synthesized and characterized. Extension of conjugation and the presence of free carboxylic acid group of the ligand L1 increased the wavelength of the complexes from visible region to the near IR region (620-850 nm). The Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes interacted with CT-DNA via intercalative mode with the respective Kb value of 3.2×10(4) M(-1) and 2.9×10(4) M(-1) and acted as proficient photocleavers of SC pUC19 DNA in UV-A light, forming (1)O2 as the reactive oxygen species with the quantum yield of 0.38 and 0.36, respectively. Furthermore, the Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes showed photocytotoxicity toward two selected tumor cell lines MCF-7 and A549 by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) method, and the Cu(II) complex exhibits higher photocytotoxicity than Co(II) complex against each of the selected cell lines, this result is identical with their DNA binding ability order., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Uncoated ZnS, MnS and ZnS/MnS/ZnS nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method in air atmosphere by varying the thicknesses of MnS layer. Characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were used to characterize the novel ZnS/MnS/ZnS nanocomposites. The obtained particles were highly crystalline and monodispersed with an average particles size of 4.5-6.5 nm. The room temperature photoluminescence (PL) study of ZnS/MnS/ZnS nanocomposites showed an enhanced intensity with different concentration of manganese acetate. The presences of MnS layer in the nanocomposite have tuned the PL emission in the IR region. Addition of manganese acetate (0.1-0.4 M) in the nanocomposite showed a distinct PL emission peak centered at 740 nm i.e. in the red region with significant red shift. The PL emission of ZnS and MnS were tuned in the nonvisible IR region. It is shown that the variation in thickness of MnS layer leads to an enhanced photoluminescence intensity/efficiency of ZnS/MnS/ZnS nanocomposites., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In the present investigation, a Schiff base N'(1),N'(3)-bis[(Z)-(2-hydroxynapthyl)methylidene]benzene-1,3-dicarbodihydrazide (L1) and its Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized as novel photosensitizing agents for photodynamic therapy (PDT). The interaction of these complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) has been explored using absorption, thermal denaturation and viscometric studies. The experimental results revealed that Co(II) and Ni(II) complexes on binding to CT DNA imply a covalent mode, most possibly involving guanine N7 nitrogen of DNA, with an intrinsic binding constant Kb of 4.5×10(4)M(-1) and 4.2×10(4)M(-1), respectively. However, interestingly, the Cu(II) complex is involved in the surface binding to minor groove via phosphate backbone of DNA double helix with an intrinsic binding constant Kb of 5.7×10(4)M(-1). The Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes are active in cleaving supercoiled (SC) pUC19 DNA on photoexposure to UV-visible light of 365nm, through (1)O2 generation with quantum yields of 0.28, 0.25 and 0.30, respectively. Further, these complexes are cytotoxic in A549 lung cancer cells, showing an enhancement of cytotoxicity upon light irradiation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new tetra-aza macrocyclic ligand, L (C(24)H(16)N(12)O(2)S(4)) and its complexes of type, [MLCl(2)] and [CuL]Cl(2) (where M=Ni(II), Co(II); L=N,N'-(benzene-1,3-diyldi-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5,2-diyl)bis{2-[(5-benzene-1,3-diyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl)amino]acetamide}) were synthesized and characterized by the spectral and analytical techniques. An octahedral geometry has been proposed for Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes while Cu(II) complex exhibit a square planar geometry. All the synthesized metal complexes were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against selected species of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The binding property of the complexes with CT-DNA was studied by absorption spectral analysis, followed by viscosity measurement and thermal denaturation studies. The photo induced cleavage studies revealed that the complexes possess photonuclease property against pUC19 DNA under UV-visible irradiation., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The three Ni(II) complexes of fused aromatic N-containing ligands such as [Ni(bnp)(3)](PF(6))(2) (1), [Ni(phen)(2)(bnp)](PF(6))(2) (2) and [Ni(bpy)(2)(bnp)](PF(6))(2) (3) (where bnp=dibenzo(b)1,8-naphthpyridine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline and bpy=bipyridine) were synthesized and structurally characterized. Elemental analysis, magnetic and spectroscopic data suggested octahedral geometry for all the complexes. Binding of these complexes with (ds)DNA were analyzed by absorption spectra, viscosity and thermal denaturation studies. Detailed analysis revealed that the metal complexes intercalates into the DNA base stack as intercalator. The oxidative cleavage activities of the complexes were studied with supercoiled (SC)pUC19 DNA by using gel electrophoresis, and the results show that complexes have potent nuclease activity.