Kasim Ocakoglu

High-Capacitance Hybrid Supercapacitor Based on Multi-Colored Fluorescent Carbon-Dots

Multi-colored, water soluble fluorescent carbon nanodots (C-Dots) with quantum yield changing from 4.6 to 18.3% were synthesized in multi-gram using dated cola beverage through a simple thermal synthesis method and implemented as conductive and ion donating supercapacitor component. Various properties of C-Dots, including size, crystal structure, morphology and surface properties along with their Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra were analyzed and compared by means of their fluorescence and electronic properties. α-Manganese Oxide-Polypyrrole (PPy) nanorods decorated with C-Dots were further conducted as anode materials in a supercapacitor. Reduced graphene oxide was used as cathode along with the dicationic bis-imidazolium based ionic liquid in order to enhance the charge transfer and wetting capacity of electrode surfaces. For this purpose, we used octyl-bis(3-methylimidazolium)diiodide (C8H16BImI) synthesized by N-alkylation reaction as liquid ionic membrane electrolyte. Paramagnetic resonance and impedance spectroscopy have been undertaken in order to understand the origin of the performance of hybrid capacitor in more depth. In particular, we obtained high capacitance value (C = 17.3 μF/cm2) which is exceptionally related not only the quality of synthesis but also the choice of electrode and electrolyte materials. Moreover, each component used in the construction of the hybrid supercapacitor is also played a key role to achieve high capacitance value.

Separation and preconcentration of Pb(II) using ionic liquid-modified silica and its determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

A new method based on microcolumn packed with ionic liquid-modified silica combined with flame atomic absorption spectrometry has been developed for the determination of lead in environmental samples. Several factors influencing the preconcentration efficiency of lead and its subsequent determination, such as pH of the sample, flow rate, mass of ionic liquid, and interfering effect, have been investigated. Lead could be quantitatively retained by ionic liquid-modified silica in the pH range of 5-7, and then eluted completely with 3.0 mL 1.0 mol L(-1) HCl. The detection limit of this method for lead was 0.7 μg L(-1) with preconcentration factor of 185, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 4.2% at 0.1 μg mL(-1) Pb(II). This method has been applied for the determination of trace amount of lead in NIST standard reference material 2709 (San Joaquin Soil) and river water samples with satisfactory results.

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanorods.

For the purpose of this study, the nanorods of zinc oxide were synthesized by rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal route. The microstructure and surface morphology of the sensitized nanorods were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). XRD results indicate that synthesized ZnO nanorods have wurtzite phase. The calculated value of the particle size using Debye Scherrer formula and Williamson Hall plot was found to be 20-28 nm and 35.3 nm, respectively. Low uniformity distribution of rod-like morphology (60-80 nm in diameter and average length about 250 nm) are seen in TEM micrographs. The optical parameters of the prepared ZnO nanorods have been calculated using Kubeleka-Munk approach for the UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrum. It is found that the direct transition optical band gap of the studied sample is 3.17 eV. The direct current electrical conductivity (σ) was increased from 6.7×10(-8) to 3×10(-7) Ω(-1) cm(-1) with increasing the temperature (T) in the range (300-425 K). The obtained variation of σ with T refers that the conductivity mechanism is controlled by thermally activated process.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of radiolabeled photosensitizer linked bovine serum albumin nanoparticles as a tumor imaging agent

In this study, we reported on the synthesis and biological evaluation of radiolabeled fluorescent dye conjugated bovine serum albumin nanoparticles within the size range 190-210 nm. The bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (BSANPs) were prepared using a desolvation method, and chemical cross-linking was performed using gluteraldehyde. Furthermore, pheophorbide-a (PH-A) was loaded on the BSANPs. The results obtained from dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy have proved that nanoparticles are highly monodisperse and near-spherical shaped. The photo-physical properties of the PH-A-BSANPs were obtained using the spectrophotometric techniques. According to the results, PH-A and BSANPs show high non-covalent interaction. PH-A loaded nanoparticles were labeled with (99m)Tc and the radio-labeling efficiency was determined as 90 ± 1.2%. Biodistribution studies of (99m)Tc labeled PH-A-BSANPs and PH-A were carried out using female Albino Wistar rats, and (99m)Tc-PH-A-BSANPs showed a significantly higher uptake in the breast and uterus than (99m)Tc-PH-A. Cell culture study was carried out in MCF-7 cell line (human breast adenocarcinoma cell line). According to the cell culture studies, (99m)Tc-PH-A-BSANPs showed a higher uptake than (99m)Tc-PH-A. Moreover, PH-A-BSANPs demonstrated good photo-physical properties and BSANPs increased the uptake of PH-A on to the MCF-7 cell line. These results confirm that (99m)Tc labeled PH-A-BSANPs could be utilized for radioimaging.

Structure Determination of a Bio-Inspired Self-Assembled Light-Harvesting Antenna by Solid-State NMR and Molecular Modeling

The molecular stacking of an artificial light-harvesting antenna self-assembled from 3(1)-aminofunctionalized zinc-chlorins was determined by solid-state NMR in combination with quantum-chemical and molecular-mechanics modeling. A library of trial molecular stacking arrangements was generated based on available structural data for natural and semisynthetic homologues of the Zn-chlorins. NMR assignments obtained for the monomer in solution were validated for self-assembled aggregates and refined with (1)H-(13)C heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy data collected from samples with (13)C at natural abundance. Solid-state ring-current shifts for the (1)H provided spatial constraints to determine the molecular overlap. This procedure allows for a discrimination between different self-assembled structures and a classification of the stacking mode in terms of electric dipole alignment and π-π interactions, parameters that determine the functional properties of light-harvesting assemblies and conducting nanowires. The combination with quantum-mechanical modeling then allowed building a low-resolution packing model in silico from molecular stacks. The method allows for moderate disorder and residual polymorphism at the stack or molecular level and is generally applicable to determine molecular packing structures of aromatic molecules with structural asymmetry, such as is commonly provided by functionalized side chains that serve to tune the self-assembly process.

Ionic liquid coated carbon nanospheres as a new adsorbent for fast solid phase extraction of trace copper and lead from sea water, wastewater, street dust and spice samples.

In this study a new adsorbent, ionic liquid (1,8-naphthalene monoimide bearing imidazolium salt) coated carbon nanospheres, was synthesized for the first time and it was used for the solid phase extraction of copper and lead from various samples prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The ionic liquid, carbon nanospheres and ionic liquid coated carbon nanospheres were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR, Brunauer, Emmett and Teller surface area and zeta potential measurements. Various parameters for method optimization such as pH, adsorption and elution contact times, eluent volume, type and concentration, centrifuge time, sample volume, adsorption capacity and possible interfering ion effects were tested. The optimum pH was 6. The preconcentration factor, detection limits, adsorption capacity and precision (as RSD%) of the method were found to be 300-fold, 0.30µgL(-1), 60mgg(-1) and 1.1% for copper and 300-fold, 1.76µgL(-1); 50.3mgg(-1) and 2.2%, for lead, respectively. The effect of contact time results showed that copper and lead were adsorbed and desorbed from the adsorbent without vortexing. The equilibrium between analyte and adsorbent is reached very quickly. The method was rather selective for matrix ions in high concentrations. The accuracy of the developed method was confirmed by analyzing certified reference materials (LGC6016 Estuarine Water, Reference Material 8704 Buffalo River Sediment, and BCR-482 Lichen) and by spiking sea water, wastewater, street dust and spice samples.

SiO2 Nanoparticule-induced size-dependent genotoxicity – an in vitro study using sister chromatid exchange, micronucleus and comet assay

Abstract Fine particles with a characteristic size smaller than 100 nm (i.e. nanoparticlesspread out in nowadays life. Silicon or Si, is one of the most abundant chemical elements found on the Earth. Its oxide forms, such as silicate (SiO4) and silicon dioxide, also known as silica (SiO2), are the main constituents of sand and quartz contributing to 90% of the Earths crust. In this work, three genotoxicity systems “sister chromatid exchange, cytokinesis block micronucleus test and single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay” were employed to provide further insight into the cytotoxic and mutagenic/genotoxic potential of SiO2 nanoparticules (particle size 6 nm, 20 nm, 50 nm) in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes as in vitro. It was observed that there is a significant decrease in Mitotic index (MI), Cytokinesis block proliferation index (CBPI), proliferation index (PRI) values expressed as Cell Kinetic parameters compared with negative control (p < 0.05). There is a statistically significant difference between negative control culture and culture exposed to SiO2 (6 nm, 20 nm, 50 nm) (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). It is found that SiO2 nanoparticles at different size (6, 20, 50 nm) progressively increased the SCE frequency and DNA damage on the basis the AU values compared with negative control (p < 0.05). Results showed that the genotoxic/mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of SiO2 nanoparticules is dependent to particule size.

131I-Zn-Chlorophyll derivative photosensitizer for tumor imaging and photodynamic therapy.

In recent years, the photodynamic therapy studies have gained considerable attention as an alternative method to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy which is commonly used to fight cancer. In this study, biological potentials of a benzyloxy bearing zinc(II) pheophorbide-a (Zn-PH-A) were investigated via in vivo and in vitro experiments. Zn-PH-A was labeled with (131)I with high efficiency (95.3 ± 2.7%) and its biodistribution studies were investigated on female Albino Wistar rats. The radiolabeled photosensitizer had been intravenously injected into the tail vein, and then the animals were sacrificed at 30, 60 and 120 min post injection. The percent of radioactivity per gram of organs (%ID/g) was determined. The radiolabeled Zn-PH-A showed high uptake in ovary. In addition, photodynamic therapy studies of the photosensitizer were conducted in EMT6, murine mammary carcinoma and HeLa, human cervix carcinoma cell lines. For the photodynamic therapy studies, the cells with Zn-PH-A were exposed to red light (650 nm) at the doses of 10-30 J/cm(2). The results showed that Zn-PH-A has stronger PDT effect in EMT6 than HeLa cell. Our present work demonstrates (131)I-labeled photosensitizer as a bifunctional agent (PDT and nuclear imaging) which could be improved in future by using EMT6 growing tumor in nude mice.

Evaluation of 99mTc-Pheophorbide-a use in infection imaging: a rat model.

This study aims to prepare (99m)Technetium Pheophorbide-a ((99m)Tc-PH-A) complex and evaluate its efficiency as an infection imaging agent. First, PH-A was obtained from Spirulina maxima algae, and the product compound was confirmed using (1)H NMR and MS (ESI) methods. The PH-A was then labeled with (99m)Tc using the tin chloride method and its biological efficacy as a potential radiotracer for Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection was evaluated in bacterially infected and sterile inflamed rats. The radiochemical stability of the (99m)Tc-PH-A in human serum was determined by thin-layer radiochromatography (TLRC). The radiochemical purity was 87±3.2% and remained constant at more than 80±0.1% even in serum for 120 min after radiolabeling. These experiments indicated that the ratio of (99m)Tc-PH-A uptake in bacterially infected muscle, as compared to normal muscle, [target/non-target (T/NT)=5.6 at 1h] was over four times higher than that in sterile inflamed muscle (T/NT=1.29 at 1h). Disappearance of activity from the kidney and liver indicated that the urinary and hepatobiliary systems were the normal routes of excretion of the complex. (99m)Technetium Pheophorbide prepared with high yield is able to localize well in the bacterially infected muscle of the rats and (99m)Tc-PH-A may be developed as a radiopharmaceutical agent to distinguish infection from inflammation by nuclear imaging.

The effect of growing time and Mn concentration on the defect structure of ZnO nanocrystals: X-ray diffraction, infrared and EPR spectroscopy

ZnO nanopowder was synthesized via a hydrothermal route and characterized with several methods such as XRD, TG/DTA, FT-IR, FE-SEM, TEM and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy (EPR) in order to investigate the effect of growing time and Mn doping on the defects which occurred. The pure ZnO nanopowder was obtained in a hexagonal phase with (101) as the preferred orientation except for the one prepared for 36 h which is (002). The growing time does effect the orientation of the crystallite whereas the Mn-doping does not. The concentration of Mn2+ significantly increases the spin–spin interaction in the ZnO : Mn nanopowder. It was observed that there was a competition between intrinsic (Zn and O vacancies) and extrinsic (Mn2+ ion) structural defects but still the former defects are dominant in ZnO : Mn. The effect of growing time and concentration of Mn2+ on the activation energy of ZnO and the ZnO : Mn nanopowder are calculated by Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS) and Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) methods.