Pratap K. Chhotaray

Effect of protic ionic liquid on the volumetric properties and taste behaviour of sucrose

The volumetric properties and taste behaviour of sucrose in aqueous solutions of a protic ionic liquid (3-hydroxypropylammonium acetate) have been studied at temperatures, T=(293.15-318.15)K and at atmospheric pressure. Apparent molar volumes, V2,ϕ, apparent specific volumes, ASV, apparent molar isentropic compressibilities, Ks,2,ϕ, and apparent specific isentropic compressibilities, ASIC, were calculated from measured density, ρ and speed of sound, u data. Partial molar volumes, V2(°), and partial molar isentropic compressibilities, Ks,2(°) at infinite dilution, transfer parameters (ΔtV2(°) and ΔtKs,2(°)), expansion coefficients, [(∂V2(°)/∂T)P and (∂(2)V2(°)/∂T(2))P], interaction coefficients, (YAB and YABB) and hydration numbers, Nw, were also evaluated and discussed in terms of solute-cosolute interactions. Further, the effect of protic ionic liquid on the taste behaviour of sucrose has been discussed from ASV and ASIC parameters, as these parameters, which are sensitive to solvation behaviour of solute, are divided into four basic taste qualities occupying certain ranges.

Class specific discrimination of volatile organic compounds using a quartz crystal microbalance based multisensor array

The use of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor arrays for analyses of volatile organic compounds (VOC) has attracted significant interest in recent years. In this regard, a group of uniformed materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS) has proven to be promising recognition elements in QCM based sensor arrays due to diverse properties afforded by this class of tunable materials. Herein, we examine the application of four novel phthalocyanine based GUMBOS as recognition elements for VOC sensing using a QCM based multisensor array (MSA). These synthesized GUMBOS are composed of copper (II) phthalocyaninetetrasulfonate (CuPcS4) anions coupled with ammonium or phosphonium cations respectively (tetrabutylammonium (TBA), tetrabutylphosphonium (P4444), 3-(dodecyldimethyl-ammonio)propanesulfonate (DDMA), and tributyl-n-octylphosphonium (P4448)). These materials were characterized using ESI-MS and FTIR, while thermal properties were investigated using TGA. Vapor sensing properties of these GUMBOS towards a set of common VOCs at three sample flow rate ratios were examined. Upon exposure to VOCs, each sensor generated analyte specific response patterns that were recorded and analyzed using principal component and discriminant analyses. Use of this MSA allowed discrimination of analytes into different functional group classes (alcohols, chlorohydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and hydrocarbons) with 98.6% accuracy. Evaluation of these results provides further insight into the use of phthalocyanine GUMBOS as recognition elements for QCM-based MSAs for VOC discrimination.

Enhanced chemotherapeutic toxicity of cyclodextrin templated size-tunable rhodamine 6G nanoGUMBOS

Nanodrugs have been widely investigated for combating the large number of side effects associated with conventional therapeutics. Several investigations of such nanomedicines have demonstrated the profound role of nanoparticle size in therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we report the role of cyclodextrin (CD)-templating on the size and therapeutic properties of rhodamine 6G (R6G) nanoGUMBOS, i.e. nanomaterials derived from a Group of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts (GUMBOS). In these studies, templating of nanoGUMBOS using 2-hydroxypropyl-alpha (2-HP-α), 2-hydroxypropyl beta (2-HP-β), and gamma (γ) cyclodextrin (CD) led to a significant reduction in size and enhanced uniformity as indicated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. In addition, CD-templated nanoGUMBOS remarkably displayed a three to four fold enhancement in toxicity towards cancer cells as compared to nanoGUMBOS without CD-templates, suggesting a significant improvement in therapeutic efficacy. Correlation between size and toxicity suggests that CD-templated nanoparticles of ∼70 to 80 nm produced optimal toxicity. Even more interesting, all investigated nanoGUMBOS displayed no toxicity toward normal cells under examined conditions. Moreover, these nanoGUMBOS display comparable chemotherapeutic toxicity to the parent dye, [R6G][Cl], while also eliminating toxicity towards normal cells, indicating their strong chemotherapeutic potential. The studies outlined here provide further insight into an approach that may be employed for rapid synthesis of size tunable nanodrugs for enhanced chemotherapeutic efficacy.