Magnesium
alloys have gained significant attention as degradable
implant materials, but the fast and localized corrosion behavior leading
to hydrogen gas evolution and alkaline poisoning limits their clinical
application. In this research, the possibility of controlling the
fast degradation rate of an experimental Mg–Si–Sr alloy
by applying hybrid biopolymer chitosan (CS)–gelatin (G)–bioactive
glass (BG) coatings was investigated. Electrophoretic deposition using
alternating current fields (AC-EPD) was employed for surface coating
and the influence of suspension parameters (biopolymer type and concentration,
BG particle size), and key AC-EPD parameters (voltage amplitude, frequency,
and time) on the coating quality were investigated. Stable suspensions
of positively charged biopolymer/BG particles deposited on the Mg
alloy coupled as a cathode during the high-amplitude peak. Furthermore,
coating homogeneity improved with increasing peak-to-peak-voltage
and the hybrid nature of the coatings was confirmed by scanning electron
microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Corrosion
studies revealed a significantly decreased corrosion rate down to
0.08 mm/year for the Mg–Si–Sr alloy incorporating CS–G–BG
b AC-EPD coating.
Imidazolidine and thiazolidine-based isatin derivatives (IST-01–04) were synthesized, characterized, and tested for their interactions with ds-DNA. Theoretical and experimental findings showed good compatibility and indicated compound–DNA binding by mixed mode of interactions. The evaluated binding parameters, i.e., binding constant (Kb), free energy change (ΔG), and binding site sizes (n), inferred comparatively greater and more spontaneous binding interactions of IST-02 and then IST-04 with the DNA, among all compounds tested under physiological pH and temperature (7.4, 37 °C). The cytotoxic activity of all compounds was assessed against HeLa (cervical carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast carcinoma), and HuH-7 (liver carcinoma), as well as normal HEK-293 (human embryonic kidney) cell lines. Among all compounds, IST-02 and 04 were found to be cytotoxic against HuH-7 cell lines with percentage cell toxicity of 75% and 66%, respectively, at 500 ng/µL dosage. Moreover, HEK-293 cells exhibit tolerance to the increasing drug concentration, suggesting these two compounds are less cytotoxic against normal cell lines compared to cancer cell lines. Hence, both DNA binding and cytotoxicity studies proved imidazolidine (IST-02) and thiazolidine (IST-04)-based isatin derivatives as potent anticancer drug candidates among which imidazolidine (IST-02) is comparatively the more promising.
High levels of arsenic contamination in drinking water of two villages, Badarpur and Ibrahimabad of district Kasur, central Punjab, Pakistan is reported first time in present studies. Groundwater quality situation was found to be impaired when samples of different rural areas of district Kasur were monitored according to Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) for all significant water quality constituents and analyzed for trace elements, physico-chemical, and microbiological parameters. Out of 35water sources, 97 % were found unsafe and only 3 % of the sources were within safe limits. High concentrations of arsenic, fluoride, and bacteria were found in 91, 74, and 77 % sources of drinking water, respectively. Very high concentrations of arsenic ranging 58-3800 μg/L were found in the water samples obtained from Badarpur and Ibrahimabad. A decrease in water contamination was observed with increase in source depth. The health issues like arsenicosis and skeletal/dental flourosis were observed in the residents of the monitored areas. Drinking water quality conditions of some rural areas of northen and southern districts of Punjab was also analyzed and compared with Kasur district. High levels of nitrates were found in the samples of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, while high levels of arsenic, iron, fluoride, and TDS were found in Bahawalpur district. Graphical abstract ᅟ.
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