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This paper reports on the two‐photon absorption (TPA) and related up‐converted emission properties of a novel series of chromophores containing ladder‐type oligo‐p‐phenylenes with various π‐conjugation lengths. The design and synthesis of these ladder‐type two‐photon chromophores are first discussed. An increase in the π‐conjugated length of the ladder‐type oligo‐p‐phenylene for these chromophores leads to an increase in TPA cross‐section together with an increased fluorescence quantum yield. These chromophores exhibit high fluorescence quantum yields because of the rigid planar structure of the ladder‐type oligomers. The chromophore with an enhanced TPA cross‐section together with an increased fluorescence quantum yield would provide significant benefits for two‐photon excited fluorescence based applications. An improved optical limiting behavior was also demonstrated using the ladder‐type pentaphenylene cored chromophore.

We report a formulation of near infrared (NIR) phosphorescent polymeric nanomicelles and their use for in vivo high contrast optical imaging, targeting and detection of tumors in small animals. NIR phosphorescent molecules of Pt(II)-tetraphenyltetranaphthoporphyrin [Pt(TPNP)] were found to maintain their NIR phosphorescence properties when encapsulated into phospholipid nanomicelles. The prepared phosphorescent micelles are of ~100 nm size and are highly stable in aqueous suspensions. A large spectral separation between Pt(TPNP) absorption, peaked at ~700 nm, and its phosphorescence emission, with peak at ~ 900 nm, allows a dramatic decrease in the level of background autofluorescence and scattered excitation light in the NIR spectral range, where the signal from phosphorescent probe is observed. In vivo animal imaging with subcutaneously xenograted tumor-bearing mice has resulted in high contrast optical images, indicating highly specific accumulation of the phosphorescent micelles into tumors. Using optical imaging with NIR phosphorescent nanomicelles, detection of smaller, visually undetectable tumors has also been demonstrated.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effectiveness and safety aspects of sodium valproate in the management of painful neuropathy in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A randomized double‐blind placebo controlled trial of sodium valproate was done in type 2 diabetic patients to assess its efficacy and safety in the management of painful neuropathy. We screened 60 patients but eight patients could not complete the study; hence, the present study was done on 52 patients. Each patient was assessed by clinical examination, pain score by short form of the McGill pain questionnaire (SF‐MPQ) and electrophysiological examination, which included motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity, amplitude and H‐reflex initially and at the end of 1 month of treatment. RESULTS: Significant improvement was noticed in the pain score of patients receiving sodium valproate in comparison to patients receiving placebo at the end of 1 month (P < 0.05). The changes in electrophysiological data were not significant. The drug was well tolerated by all patients except one who developed a raised aspartate transaminase (AST)/alanine transaminase (ALT) level after 15 days of treatment. CONCLUSION: Sodium valproate is a well‐tolerated drug and provides significant subjective improvement in painful diabetic neuropathy. These data provide a basis for future trials of longer duration in a larger group of patients.

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