Characterisation of sol–gel method synthesised MgZnFe2 O4 nanoparticles and its cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cell line,MDA MB‐231 in vitro

In this study, nanocrystalline magnesium zinc ferrite nanoparticles were successfully prepared by a simple sol–gel method using copper nitrate and ferric nitrate as raw materials. The calcined samples were characterised by differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the average particle size of the calcined sample was in a range of 17–41 nm with an average of 29 nm and has spherical size. A cytotoxicity test was performed on human breast cancer cells (MDA MB‐231) and (MCF‐7) at various concentrations starting from (0 µg/ml) to (800 µg/ml). The sample possessed a mild toxic effect toward MDA MB‐231 and MCF‐7 after being examined with MTT (3‐[4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2, 5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay for up to 72 h of incubation. Higher reduction of cells viability was observed as the concentration of sample was increased in MDA MB‐231 cell line than in MCF‐7. Therefore, further cytotoxicity tests were performed on MDA MB‐231 cell line.Inspec keywords: sol‐gel processing, nanoparticles, nanofabrication, magnesium compounds, zinc compounds, toxicology, biological organs, cancer, cellular biophysics, nanomedicine, calcination, differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectra, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, particle size, organic compoundsOther keywords: sol‐gel method, cytotoxic effects, breast cancer cell line, MDA MB‐231 in vitro, nanocrystalline magnesium zinc ferrite nanoparticles, copper nitrate, ferric nitrate, raw materials, calcined samples, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, average particle size, cytotoxicity testing, human breast cancer cells, mild toxic effect, 3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, cell viability, MCF‐7, MDA MB‐231 cell line, size 17 nm to 41 nm     

Synthesis and characterization studies of ZnSe quantum dots

ZnSe QDs have been synthesized by wet chemical, template free process by zinc acetate and elemental selenium powder in presence of ethylene glycol, hydrazine hydrate and a defined amount of water at 90 °C. The product was in strong quantum confinement regime, having yield as high as 50 %. The transmission electron microscopy image indicated that the particles were well dispersed and spherical in shape. The X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the ZnSe nanoparticles were of the Cubic structure, with average particle diameter of about 3.50 nm. The FTIR characteristic indicates that the N₂H₄ molecule has intercalated into the complex and formed a molecular precursor.     

An Efficient Image Analysis Framework for the Classification of Glioma Brain Images Using CNN Approach

The identification of brain tumors is multifarious work for the separation of the similar intensity pixels from their surrounding neighbours. The detection of tumors is performed with the help of automatic computing technique as presented in the proposed work. The non-active cells in brain region are known to be benign and they will never cause the death of the patient. These non-active cells follow a uniform pattern in brain and have lower density than the surrounding pixels. The Magnetic Resonance (MR) image contrast is improved by the cost map construction technique. The deep learning algorithm for differentiating the normal brain MRI images from glioma cases is implemented in the proposed method. This technique permits to extract the linear features from the brain MR image and glioma tumors are detected based on these extracted features. Using k-mean clustering algorithm the tumor regions in glioma are classified. The proposed algorithm provides high sensitivity, specificity and tumor segmentation accuracy.     

Dielectric properties of Erbium doped CaCu<Subscript>3</Subscript>Ti<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>12</Subscript> prepared by sol–gel self combustion method

The dielectric properties of Erbium doped CaCu₃Ti_(4–x)Er_xO_(12–δ) with x = 0, 0.05, 0.1 were synthesized by the sol–gel self combustion method. XRD (X-ray powder diffraction) analysis confirmed the formation of single-phase material in the samples calcined at 800 °C. Crystal structure does not change on doping with Erbium and it remains cubic in all the three compositions studied. It is found that lattice parameter increases slightly with Erbium doping. The surface morphology of CaCu₃Ti_(4–x)Er_xO_(12–δ) powders sintered at 950 °C in air for 3 h was observed using high resolution—scanning electron microscope and it shows that the grain size is in the range of 1–8 μm for these samples. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy pattern confirmed the presence of Erbium with 1.9 and 4.86 atomic percentages with doping concentration. The dielectric characteristics of CaCu₃Ti_(4–x)Er_xO_(12–δ) were studied by LCR meter in the frequency range (100 Hz–1 MHz) at various temperatures (RT to 500 °C). Interestingly, the dielectric constant increases and dielectric loss had lower values than those of undoped CCTO.     

Preparation and magnetic properties of Ni–Zr doped barium strontium hexaferrite

M-type Hexaferrites B_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_12−2x Ni _x Zr _x O₁₉ were synthesized and investigated. The XRD patterns show single phase of the magnetoplumbite barium strontium ferrite and no other phases were present. The samples exhibit well defined crystallization; all of them are hexagonal platelet grains. As the substitution level increased from x = 0.2 to 0.8 mol%, the grains are agglomerated and the average diameter increased. This suggests that Ni–Zr substitution increases the grain size, as observed in the FE-SEM micrographs. The results of magnetic measurement revealed that M_s of barium strontium hexaferrite increased when the value of x increased from 0 to 0.4 mol% and then decreased with the increasing Ni–Zr content. The H_c decreases remarkably with increasing Ni and Zr ions content. Hard magnetic material is converted into soft magnetic material when the substitution level is increased from 0.2 to 0.8 mol%. In particular, Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Fe_12−2x Ni _x Zr _x O₁₉ with x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mol% has suitable magnetic characteristics with particle size small enough for high-density magnetic recording applications.     

Study of CoFe2O4 Particles Synthesized with Various Concentrations of PVP Polymer

CoFe₂O₄ particles were synthesized using metallic nitrates and polyvinylpyrolidone (PVP) using sol–gel method followed by calcination for 2 h at 960 °C. PVP performed as a surfactant and the effect of various concentrations of PVP on the resultant CoFe₂O₄ powder was studied. The resultant samples were characterized by XRD, TG/DSC, HR-SEM and VSM. X-ray diffraction results indicated the crystalline phase of CoFe₂O₄ particles and impurity phase of hematite was observed for higher PVP concentrations. SEM images demonstrated the influence of PVP concentration on the size of the particles. By VSM measurements, the variations in magnetic properties with respect to PVP concentration are studied. All the magnetic characteristics H _c , M _s and M _r increased for 6 wt% and 15 wt% of PVP concentration. The CoFe₂O₄ particles synthesized with the optimum concentration of PVP may be very attractive for potential applications because of their outstanding magnetic properties (M _s =81.1 Am²/kg, H _c =831 Gauss).     

Synthesis,characterization, and thermal properties of cyanate esters with azo linkages

A series of azo functionalized diols were synthesized through diazotization which involves the reaction of amine with phenol and 2,6‐dimethyl phenol. Four different amines have been used to prepare five bisphenols. These bisphenols were converted to their corresponding cyanate esters by treatment with cyanogen bromide (BrCN) in the presence of triethylamine (Et₃N). The chemical structures of the prepared compounds were characterized with Fourier Transform Infrared, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. Dynamic curing behavior was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. The maximum curing temperature of these cyanate esters are in the range of (186–208°C). T_g values of the polycyanurate networks are in the range of 245–276°C. The thermal properties of cured cyanate ester were studied at a heating rate of 10°C min^?1 in N₂ atmosphere. The polymers showed excellent thermal stability (T₁₀ was found to be in the range 405–438°C) and the percentage of char yield at 800°C were found to be 30–49. The flame retardancy of the cyanate ester resins have been studied using limited oxygen index value which is in the range of 29.5–37.1 at 800°C. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:47–53, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Study of morphological and magnetic properties of microwave sintered barium strontium hexaferrite

Magnetic materials are important electronic materials that have a wide range of industrial and commercial applications. Barium strontium hexaferrite (Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Fe₁₂O₁₉-BSF) were prepared by a sol–gel method using d-Fructose as fuel and the heat treatment was carried out in a microwave furnace. The effects of the sintering temperature on the morphology, crystalline structure and magnetic properties are studied. Sintering temperature affected the grains in compact samples. The sintered product possessed dense microstructure with clear micro grains and is in consistence with the XRD analysis based on the peak intensity of the (107) plane. Magnetic measurement shows that the barium strontium hexaferrite sample sintered at 1,150?°C has the coercive field of 1,998 Gauss, remnant magnetization of 38.87?emu/g and the saturation magnetization of 53.44?emu/g.