Photodynamic therapy is an emerging modality for cancer treatment which involves the uptake of photosensitizer by cancer tissues followed by photo irradiation. Based upon the action of light activated photosensitizer in the excited state with the molecular oxygen, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free radicals formed due to electron transfer or energy transfer process are very toxic to cancer cells that can react with biomolecules and causes cell death. The present study describes the spectroscopic method of identification of ROS production for a model photosensitizer (PS), protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) in free and after loaded inside the biocompatible dendrimeric nano carrier with the help of decrease in tryptophan emission intensity at 286nm excitation. The photochemical reaction of L-tryptophan with ROS after light treatment indicates, this may be due to photo-oxidation of tryptophan. This information supports to explore our study as spectroscopic evidence for monitoring the ROS production during photodynamic therapy.

Nano TiO2 and TiO2/MWCNT nanocomposite synthesized by the sol-gel method were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, EDAX and FTIR techniques. These nanoparticles were used for photocatalytic decolorisation and degradation of three different reactive dyes such as Reactive Orange 16 (RO 16), Reactive Yellow 145 (RY 145) and Reactive Red 195 (RR 195) and real textile composite wastewater under the UVA and UVA-LED irradiation at room temperature. The maximum color removal of 96% and COD removal of 72% were achieved after 5 h in the presence of TiO2/MWCNT and H2O2 under UVA-LED irradiation. The kinetic studies obey pseudo-first order kinetics which is discussed in terms of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model. The maximum degradation of 50% was achieved after 5 h in the presence of H2O2 using TiO2/MWCNT/UVA-LED for real textile composite wastewater. This study revealed that TiO2/MWCNT has improved the photocatalytic activity when compared to that of bare TiO2 under similar conditions. UVA-LED could be an alternative light source for the replacement of the conventional UV light for the photocatalytic treatment of reactive dyes.

One of the major problems reported clinically for photosensitizers (PS) in Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is, the cause of side-effects to normal tissue due to dark toxicity. The usefulness of photosensitizers can be made possible by reducing its dark toxicity nature. In such scenario, biocompatible carriers can be used as a drug delivery system to evade the problems that arises while using free (dark toxic) drugs. So in this study, we have developed a nano drug delivery system called Phloroglucinol Succinic acid (PGSA) dendrimer, entrapped a photosensitizer, protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) inside the system and investigated whether the photodynamic efficacy of the anionic surface charged dendrimer-PpIX nano formulation is enhanced than achieved by the free PpIX in HeLa cancer cell lines. Moreover, the Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was monitored using 2', 7'dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCF-DA)-ROS Marker with phase contrast microscopy for the IC50 values of free and dendrimer-PpIX nano formulation. Similarly, the mode of cell death has been confirmed by cell cycle analysis for the same. For the in vitro PDT application, we have used a simple light source (Light Emitting Diode) with a power of 30-50 mW for 20 min irradiation. Hence, in this study we have taken steps to report this anionic drug delivery system is good to consider for the photodynamic therapy applications with the photosensitizer, PpIX which satisfied the prime requirement of PDT.

Blood plasma possesses the biomolecules released from cells/tissues after metabolism and reflects the pathological conditions of the subjects. The analysis of biofluids for disease diagnosis becomes very attractive in the diagnosis of cancers due to the ease in the collection of samples, easy to transport, multiple sampling for regular screening of the disease and being less invasive to the patients. Hence, the intention of this study was to apply near-infrared (NIR) Raman spectroscopy in the high wavenumber (HW) region (2500-3400 cm(-1)) for the diagnosis of oral malignancy using blood plasma. From the Raman spectra it is observed that the biomolecules protein and lipid played a major role in the discrimination between groups. The diagnostic algorithms based on principal components analysis coupled with linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) with the leave-one-patient-out cross-validation method on HW Raman spectra yielded a promising results in the identification of oral malignancy. The details of results will be discussed.

A biocompatible anionic dendrimer with carboxylic acid and phenolic hydroxyl functional groups at the surface of every half and full generations was designed by condensing phloroglucinol and succinic acid and its hemolytic effect on red blood cells was studied. The study reveals that the anionic surface charged dendrimer exhibits hemocompatibility and satisfies the reduction of dark toxicity of photosensitizer when loaded inside the nanocarrier, one of the prime requirements for a drug delivery system in photodynamic therapy applications.[GRAPHICS].

In this study, antimicrobial investigations for the efficiently synthesized biocompatible Phloroglucinol Succinic acid (PGSA) dendrimer with anionic surfaces were performed using broth dilution method against a Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus), a Gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) and a fungal human pathogen (Candida albicans) to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value. Additionally, fluorescence and UV absorbance spectroscopy techniques were used to monitor the release of intracellular materials from the pathogens owing to anionic dendrimers. The exact binding sites of this dendrimer on these pathogens by molecular modelling studies motivated us to report this nanocarrier as a new antimicrobial agent.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising treatment modality in the management of premalignant and malignant conditions. Nanoparticles were used recently as drug delivery agents and have shown increase in the efficacy of PDT. In this study we have used gold nanoparticles as a potential drug delivery agent in enhancing the photodynamic efficacy. Glutathione (GSH) capped gold nanoparticles were synthesized by immobilizing the thiol group of the GSH on to the surface of the gold nanoparticles. Rosebengal, a hydrophilic photosensitizer was conjugated to the amine group of the bounded GSH. These synthesized rosebengal conjugated gold nanoparticles were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy for confirmation of the complex formation. Further, studies on the absorption, emission and lifetime of the nanocomplexes-show significant changes due to the formation of the complex. The PDT efficacy of these nanocomplexes and sensitizer alone were studied against Vero and HeLa cell lines. The phototoxicity results shows the nanocomplexes are more phototoxic than that of the free rosebengal where the covalent complex being the better of the nanocomplex.

The wide application and utilization of the activated sludge process has resulted in the production of excess sludge, posing a serious disposal problem. Many efforts have been dedicated to reduce the excess sludge by treatments such as digestion and dewatering. In this study, an aerobic submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) was used to study the effect of alkaline and ozone pretreatment on the efficiency of sludge reduction. For this purpose, two MBRs were fabricated. Among the two MBRs, one acted as a control reactor (CMBR) and the other acted as an experimental reactor (EMBR). The MBRs were operated with mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) concentrations in the range of 7,000-7,200mg/L for a period of 120d. In the EMBR, part of the MLSS was withdrawn at a ratio of 1.5% of Q and was pretreated by alkali-ozone. The sludge pretreatment was carried out at pH 11 and an ozone dosage of 0.09gO(3)/g MLSS. During the pretreatment, 40% COD solubilization and 30% suspended solid reduction were observed. The pretreated sludge was returned to the reactor for further degradation, where it was found to be 37% degraded. During the 120d of reactor operation, both of the MBRs maintained a relatively constant transmembrane pressure. The sludge digestion does not have any impact on the COD removal efficiency of the reactor.

The present study describes the development and evaluation of a novel biocompatible dendrimer-based nano drug delivery system which is readily soluble in water prepared by condensing Phloroglucinol and Succinic Acid (PGSA) and could efficiently encapsulate a well known hydrophobic photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent, protoporphyrin u2168 (Ppu2168). The (dark and photo) cytotoxicity of the PGSA-Ppu2168 (dendrimer-drug) formulation towards Dalton Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cancer cell lines upon visible light treatment is reported and evaluated the cytotoxic Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation efficiency of the Protoporphyrin u2168 in free and dendrimer encapsulated forms. The in vitro toxicity demonstrated by Ppu2168 loaded PGSA dendrimer nanoformulation, on DLA cells reveals that this novel PGSA nanocarrier reduces the toxic nature of Ppu2168 when compared to free Ppu2168 without light treatment which satisfy the aim of our study. On the other hand, treatment of DLA cells with PGSA dendrimer formulation in combination with light resulted in significant enhancement in therapeutic efficacy of the PDT agent, Ppu2168.

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Gerotor pumps are widely used in the automotive industry for engine oil lubrication, due to their high volumetric efficiency and smooth pumping action. In many cases, the lubricating oil from the sump is mixed with contaminants, such as dust and tiny solid particles, or becomes thickened, due to aging. These problems will lead to critical situations, such as increased noise, enhanced wear and erosion, and poor lubrication of the engine. These critical situations were studied by conducting a detailed CFD integrated investigation on a gerotor pump’s performance at different operating conditions in three phases, and the results are presented in this paper. In first phase, a CFD model of a gerotor pump was developed with a dynamic mesh for the rotary movement of both the inner and outer rotors. The effects on pump flow rate of important parameters, such as rotor speed, fluid viscosity and number of ports, were simulated using non-contaminated oil at room temperature and an elevated temperature of 140oC. The relationship between flow rate and pressure at different rotor speeds was predicted and validated with test data for further parametric study. The pressure ripples at different time steps were measured at different angular positions of the rotors to examine the model accuracy. It was found that the flow rate increased and pressure pulsation, as well as flow recirculation, was reduced when ports were added to the cover plate. A suction pipe with a strainer was added for the second phase to capture the undesired changes in flow behavior, such as cavitation, which is caused by negative suction at the inlet region of pump. A suitable size for the inlet suction pipe for this pump was chosen after performing tests to characterize the flow behavior with single and double ports. Next, the relationship between pressure drop and strainer porosity was determined using different porosity values for the strainers. In the final phase, oil with different concentrations of solids was simulated to measure the effect of solid particles on flow rates and pressure losses. It was observed that the intensity of the recirculation was reduced at the suction end at the higher concentration of 0.04%, due to particle inertial effects. It was also found that particle size distribution affected the overall efficiency and pressure head of the pump.

Generated rotor (gerotor) pumps are widely used in the automotive industry for engine oil lubrication. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be utilized as a useful design tool not only to optimize the flow performance of gerotor pumps but also to develop and finalize specifications for the gerotor pump inlet components. In this paper, a CFD integrated development process for the gerotor pump inlet components such as the suction pipe, strainer, and ports has been executed using a three-dimensional transient mathematical model. The effects of the rotor speed, strainer porosity, and number of ports on the pump performance have been investigated. The results showed that the inlet pipe size, the free area ratio of the strainer, and the sizing of the ports have vital roles in the suction capacity, flow velocity, and volumetric efficiency of the gerotor pump. The selected pump components based on CFD simulation were validated using physical test data, and good agreement was found.

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a near-infrared fluorescence contrast agent, which has enormous potential in early tumor diagnosis and therapy. The objective of this study is to develop biodegradable nanoparticles entrapping ICG and to characterize its intracellular uptake and photodynamic activity in different cancer cell lines. Nanoparticles entrapping ICG were engineered, characterized and the intracellular uptake of lCG was investigated in B16-F10 and C-33A cancer cell lines. The photodynamic activity of ICG-loaded nanoparticles was also investigated. The nanoparticles. enhanced the intracellular uptake of lCG and showed significant photodynamic activity, especially at very low lCG concentrations. These preliminary studies indicate the potential of efficient tumor cell delivery and tumoricidal effect of lCG when incorporated in nanoparticles.