Addition Of Zinc Chloride Research Articles

Copper-doped zinc tartrate (Cu-ZnT) nanocrystals: Exploring their physical and antimicrobial properties

This study investigates the growth and properties of pure zinc tartrate (ZnT) and copper-doped zinc tartrate (Cu-ZnT) nanocrystals synthesized via a sol-gel technique using double-distilled water, sodium metasilicate, and tartaric acid. Controlled pH gels were prepared with the subsequent addition of zinc chloride and copper chloride solutions to facilitate nanocrystal formation. The synthesized nanocrystals were characterized using various techniques, including Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis, UV–visible-near infrared spectral analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy. EDAX confirmed the elemental composition of Zn, Cu, C, and O in the crystals. FTIR spectra revealed the presence of functional groups corresponding to water of crystallization, tartaric acid moieties, and potentially other compounds. TGA analysis indicated a two-stage decomposition process for ZnT and the formation of zinc copper oxide in Cu-ZnT. UV–vis-NIR analysis yielded a low cut-off wavelength of 285 nm for both crystals, suggesting electronic transitions below 350 nm. Both ZnT and Cu-ZnT nanocrystals are transparent in visible and near-infrared light, absorbing strongly in the ultraviolet. Copper doping enhances Cu-ZnT light absorption. While both act as insulators, Cu-ZnT exhibits significantly higher conductivity due to copper doping. XRD analysis estimated an average crystalline size of 42 nm, while FE-SEM images revealed a quasi-spherical morphology. Refractive index, extinction coefficient, and optical bandgap were further determined, highlighting the potential suitability of these nanocrystals for optoelectronic applications. Antibacterial and antifungal assays demonstrated moderate effectiveness against tested microorganisms compared to standard drugs.

Freestanding Carbon Nanofibers Derived from Biopolymer (Kraft Lignin) as Ultra-Microporous Electrodes for Supercapacitors

Lignin-derived carbon nanofibers (LCNFs) formed via the solution blowing of a biopolymer are developed here as a promising replacement for polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-derived carbon nanofibers (PCNFs) formed via electrospinning for such applications as supercapacitor (SC) electrodes. Accordingly, it is demonstrated here that a biopolymer (kraft lignin, which is, essentially, a waste material) can substitute a petroleum-derived polymer (PAN). Moreover, this can be achieved using a much faster and safer fiber-forming method. The present work employs the solution blowing of lignin-derived nonwovens and their carbonization to form electrode materials. These materials are characterized and explored as the electrodes in supercapacitor prototypes. Given the porosity importance of carbon fibers in SC applications, N2 gas adsorption tests were performed for characterization. LCNFs revealed the specific surface area (SSA) and capacitance values as high as 1726 m2/g and 11.95 F/g, which are about one-half of those for PCNFs, 3624 m2/g and 25.5 F/g, respectively. The capacitance values of LCNFs are comparable with those reported in the literature, but the SSA observed here is much higher. Moreover, no further post-carbonization activation steps were performed here in comparison with those materials reported in the literature. It was also found here that fiber pre-oxidation in air prior to carbonization and the addition of zinc chloride affect the SSA and capacitance values of both LCNFs and PCNFs. The electrochemical tests of the SCs prototypes were used to evaluate their capacitance at different charging rates, voltage windows, and the number of cycles. The capacitance of PCNFs decreased by about 47% during fast charging, while the capacitance of LCNFs improved during fast charging, bringing them to the level of only 21% below that of PCNFs. These changes were correlated with the packing density of the electrodes. It should be emphasized that LCNFs revealed a much higher mass yield, which was 4–5 times higher than that of PCNFs. LCNFs also possess a higher packing density, a lower price, and cause a significantly lower environmental impact than PCNFs. The best cell supercapacitor delivered a maximum specific energy of 1.77 Wh/kg and a maximum specific power of 156 kW/kg, surpassing conventional electrochemical supercapacitors. Remarkably, it retained 95.2% of its initial capacitance after 10,000 GCD cycles at a current density of 0.25 A/g, indicating robust stability. Accordingly, kraft lignin, a bio-waste material, holds great promise as a raw material for supercapacitor electrodes.

Valorization of a poultry industry floated sludge as a raw material to produce char and activated carbon for pharmaceutical compounds adsorption.

This study was intended to valorize a floated sludge of a poultry slaughterhouse using it as a precursor to producing char and activated carbon, which were tested as adsorbents in removing ketoprofen and diclofenac sodium from the water. The addition of zinc chloride or calcium hydroxide was determinant for forming a porous carbonaceous structure with a high surface area in AC-FSP (656.54 m2 g-1), differently from that exhibited by the CHAR-FSP (8.11 m2 g-1). Kinetic and equilibrium studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order and the Sips models were suitable. The AC- FSP maximum adsorption capacity for ketoprofen and diclofenac sodium was 124.98 mg g-1 and 138.32 mg g-1, respectively. The adsorption was a spontaneous and endothermic process. It was concluded that AC-FSP is a more efficient and promising adsorbent than CHAR-FSP for the adsorption of drugs in contaminated wastewater. In addition, AC-FSP can be reused, maintaining good adsorption levels for about 5 cycles. Therefore, this study is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for global sustainability since converting waste (valueless) into an adsorbent is also directly linked to the circular economy and neutral carbon.

SYNTHESIS AND ANTICONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF 4-THIAZOLIDINONE ANALOGUES OF 2-AMINO-5-CHLOROPYRIDINE

The synthesis of 4-thiazolidinones of 2-amino-5-chloropyridine was performed by novel method of stirring involving the cyclocondensation of the appropriate Schiffs bases (2a–c) with thioglycolic acid, followed by the addition of zinc chloride in the presence of molecular sieves. Characterization of the synthesized compounds, determination of purity and identity of the compounds using following spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques- Solubility,Thin Layer Chromatographic studies, Ultra-Violet studies,Rotational and vibrational studies (FT-IR), 1H-NMR studies. The compounds were investigated for their Anticonvulsant activity by isoniazid induced convulsions in mice model.Compound3-(5-chloropyridin-2-yl)-2-(4-fluorophenyl) thiazolidin-4-one(3c)was found to be the most activeand compound 3-(5-chloropyridin-2-yl)-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl) thiazolidin-4-one (3a) was found to be less active among the tested compound according to pharmacological evaluation exhibited anticonvulsant activity.

Narrow Near-Infrared Emission from InP QDs Synthesized with Indium(I) Halides and Aminophosphine.

Nonpyrophoric aminophosphines reacted with indium(III) halides in the presence of zinc chloride have emerged as promising phosphorus precursors in the synthesis of colloidal indium phosphide (InP) quantum dots (QDs). Nonetheless, due to the required P/In ratio of 4:1, it remains challenging to prepare large-sized (>5 nm), near-infrared absorbing/emitting InP QDs using this synthetic scheme. Furthermore, the addition of zinc chloride leads to structural disorder and the formation of shallow trap states inducing spectral broadening. To overcome these limitations, we introduce a synthetic approach relying on the use of indium(I) halide, which acts as both the indium source and reducing agent for aminophosphine. The developed zinc-free, single-injection method gives access to tetrahedral InP QDs with an edge length > 10 nm and narrow size distribution. The first excitonic peak is tunable from 450 to 700 nm by changing the indium halide (InI, InBr, InCl). Kinetic studies using phosphorus NMR reveal the coexistence of two reaction pathways, the reduction of transaminated aminophosphine by In(I) and via redox disproportionation. Etching the surface of the obtained InP QDs at room temperature with in situ-generated hydrofluoric acid (HF) leads to strong photoluminescence (PL) emission with a quantum yield approaching 80%. Alternatively, surface passivation of the InP core QDs was achieved by low-temperature (140 °C) ZnS shelling using the monomolecular precursor zinc diethyldithiocarbamate. The obtained InP/ZnS core/shell QDs that emit in a range of 507-728 nm exhibit a small Stokes shift (110-120 meV) and a narrow PL line width (112 meV at 728 nm).

One-pot liquefaction of cellulose to ethyl levulinate via 1-sulfonic acid-3-methyl imidazolium trichlorozincate as Brønsted-Lewis catalyst

The direct conversions of cellulose to ethyl levulinate (EL) via Brønsted acidic ionic liquid (BAIL), Lewis acidic ionic liquid (LAIL), and Brønsted-Lewis acidic ionic liquid (BLAIL) conducted in this study is a sustainable approach. Initially, BAIL 1-sulfonic acid-3-methyl imidazolium chloride [SMIM][Cl] was prepared by the mixing of 1-methylimidazole, dry dichloromethane, and chlorosulfonic acid. Then, Lewis acidic site was provided to the BAIL by the addition of zinc chloride (ZnCl2), to synthetize BLAIL 1-sulfonic acid-3-methyl imidazolium trichlorozincate, [SMIM][ZnCl3]. Meanwhile, LAIL 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium trichlorozincate [BMIM][ZnCl3] was prepared by the addition of ZnCl2 to a neutral 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride [BMIM][Cl]. These three catalysts were then characterized and employed in the one-pot liquefaction process that was conducted in a stainless-steel batch reactor at 180 ˚C for 10 hr, by charging 0.6 g of cellulose, 40 mL of ethanol and 3 g of catalyst. A parameter study, mainly temperature (120–200) °C, time (2–10) hr, and cellulose loading (0.2–1.0) g, were then conducted to determine the selected parameters to obtain high EL yield. Among the employed ionic liquids (ILs), BLAIL [SMIM][ZnCl3] exhibited the highest catalytic activity, which was contributed mainly by its co-existence of Brønsted and Lewis acidic sites as detected in Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis, and its high acidic value. The maximum EL yield (20.27 wt%) was obtained under conditions of 180 °C, 6 hr, 0.6 of cellulose, and 3 g of [SMIM][ZnCl3]. The outcome of this study provides an insight on the potential of novel [SMIM][ZnCl3] in facilitating the direct cellulose ethanolysis to EL.

Zinc Promotes Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Neural Differentiation via ERK-STAT Signaling.

Nerve regeneration remains a challenge. Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-differentiated neural stem cells (NSCs) provide a promising hope. Zinc is closely involved in central nervous system development and metabolism, but its role on iPSC neural differentiation is elusive and zinc detection methods in live cells are limited. In this study, intracellular zinc was detected in real time by a zinc fluorescent chemosensor and was shown to be increased during the iPSC neural induction process. iPSC neural differentiation was promoted with the addition of zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and inhibited with the addition of zinc chelator N,N,N0,N0-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-ethylenediamine, indicated by western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis of NSC marker Nestin expression and measurement of neurite-like structures. Mechanistically, the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 and STAT3 was changed with the zinc level, suggesting that zinc may affect the neural differentiation of iPSCs through ERK-STAT signaling. In conclusion, our study shows the important role of zinc in iPSC neural differentiation and suggests a new idea for iPSC-derived NSC application in nerve regeneration.

Room Temperature Synthesis of Monodisperse ZnO Nanoparticles Using Ultrasonically Atomized Precursor Mist in Simple Chemical Route

Monodisperse zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were synthesized using ultrasonically atomized precursor mist in simple chemical route at low temperature. Analytical grade sodium hydroxide and zinc chloride were dissolved in 100 ml methanol. Zinc chloride precursor solution was converted into very fine mist (atomized) using a nozzle (Sono-Tek Corporation, U.S.A.) operated at ultrasonic frequency of 120 KHz. Fine mist droplets were added slowly (50ml/ hour) into sodium hydroxide solution in 2 hours. The NaOH solution in beaker turned slowly into white product due to addition of zinc chloride. The white product was kept in constant temperature bath at 90°C for 3 hours. The white product was washed five times using double distill water and dried in oven for 2 hours. Different powder samples were synthesized using same procedure by changing the molarity of sodium hydroxide keeping the molarity of zinc chloride and other preparative conditions same. The structural, microstructural, thermal and optical properties of fine powders were analyzed using X Ray Diffractometer, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Simultaneous Thermal Analyzer, UV-Vis Spectroscopy and Photoluminescence Spectroscopy. Fine ZnO nanorods, elongated and spherical nanoparticles were observed due to change in molarity of NaOH. The results are discussed and interpreted.

An Ionomeric Renewable Thermoplastic from Lignin-Reinforced Rubber.

An ionomeric, leathery thermoplastic with high mechanical strength is prepared by a new thermal processing method from a soft, melt-processable rubber. Compositions made by incorporation of equal-mass lignin, a renewable oligomeric feedstock, in an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber often yield weak rubbers with large lignin domains (1-2 µm). The addition of zinc chloride (ZnCl2 ) in such a composition based on sinapyl alcohol-rich lignin during a solvent-free synthesis induces a strong interfacial crosslinking between lignin and rubber phases. This compositional modification results in finely interspersed lignin domains (<100 nm) that essentially reinforce the rubbery matrix with a 10-22 °C rise in the glassy-to-rubbery transition temperature. The ion-modified polymer blends also show improved materials properties, like a 100% increase in ultimate tensile strength and an order of magnitude rise in Young's modulus. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations verify the morphology and dynamics of the ionomeric material. The computed result also confirms that the ionomers have glassy characteristics.

Photoluminescence of ZnO/C Nanocomposites Formed by the Sol-Gel Method

Films of undoped zinc oxide (ZnO) and of ZnO/C nanocomposite were formed by the sol-gel method on glass substrates and on fiberglass using zinc acetate as a precursor and with the addition of zinc chloride respectively. Analysis of the photoluminescence spectra of ZnO/C films at high (N2-laser) and low (HeCd-laser) excitation levels made it possible to establish the defining role of bound excitons in this process at 20–60 K, due to the presence of chlorine residues in the films. With the temperature raised to 300 K the role of recombination through the 1LO- and 2LO-phonon replicas of free exciton levels and impurity-defect levels begins to dominate in the photoluminescence of the ZnO/C films.

Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater system (Antuã River, Portugal)

Microplastics (particles with a size<5mm), one of the most emerging aquatic pollutants, are of particular concern since they can reach high densities and interact with biotic and abiotic environment. The occurrence of microplastics in freshwater systems is less understood than in marine environment. Hence, the present study aims to provide new insights into microplastics abundances and distribution in Antuã River (Portugal) by applying the isolation method of wet peroxide oxidation with addition of zinc chloride to water and sediment samples collected in March and October 2016, in three sampling sites. The abundance of microplastics in water ranged from 5 to 8.3mgm−3 or 58–193itemsm−3 in March and from 5.8–51.7mgm−3 or 71–1265itemsm−3 in October. In sediments, the abundance ranged from 13.5–52.7mgkg−1 or 100–629itemskg−1 in March and from 2.6–71.4mgkg−1 or 18–514itemskg−1 in October. The water and sediment samples with the greatest abundances were from São João da Madeira and Aguincheira, respectively. Spatio-temporal distribution showed different pattern according to methodological approaches, seasonal and hydrodynamic conditions and the proximity to urban/industry areas. Analysis of plastics by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy underline polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymer types identified in this work. The low medium high oxidation ratio was 56:22:22 (%) in March and 61:31:8 (%) in October. Foams and fibers were the most abundant type in São João da Madeira, while fibers and fragments were the most abundant in Aguincheira and Estarreja in water and sediment samples, respectively. This study emphasizes the importance of rivers as carriage systems of microplastics. Further studies should be performed to identify point sources in order to mitigate the microplastics contamination in aquatic systems.

Effectiveness of a methodology of microplastics isolation for environmental monitoring in freshwater systems

The accumulation of plastics in aquatic systems constitutes an emerging scientific and societal concern, because of their ubiquity, high persistence and insufficient management by sewage and wastewater treatment processes. Microplastics (<5 mm), a group of particles differing in physico-chemical properties (e.g. size, shape, colour, density and polymer type), are of particular concern as they can reach high densities and can interact with biotic and abiotic environment. Moreover, potential of bioaccumulation increases with decreasing of particle size. Although microplastics have been widely investigated in marine systems, very little attention is paid to freshwater systems. As the concern about microplastics started appearing recently, there is no unified method for microplastic isolation, which result in inconsistent data that differs in quality and resolution. Hence, this work aims to assess the effectiveness of distinct isolation methods as an attempt to identify and establish a unified method for environmental monitoring of aquatic systems. For that, artificial samples containing eleven plastics belonging to the most common types of polymers (e.g. low/high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate) were prepared and subjected to different methods, including density separation methods using sugar, olive oil and zinc chloride, as well as organic matter degradation methods with hydrogen peroxide (wet peroxide oxidation) and multienzymatic detergent (enzymatic digestion). The samples then underwent the detection, quantification, and identification of polymers using a stereomicroscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Several criteria were considered in order to achieve the aims of this work: efficiency of density separation and organic matter degradation, the total mass of recovered polymers, cost of each procedure, the time spent with each method, the simplicity, and the quality of recovered polymers. Based on this multi-criteria approach, this study concludes that the wet peroxide oxidation with addition of zinc chloride was the most effective method.

Abstract 1589: Zinc inhibits androgen receptor expression to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth

Abstract Background: Prostate gland contains high level of intracellular zinc which is dramatically diminished during cancer development. Due to the obscure role of zinc in this process, therapeutic application using zinc and its supplement is very limited. This study aims to clarify the role(s) of zinc and its intervening mechanism. Material and methods: Treated by zinc chloride (15-150 µM), several prostate cancer cell lines were applied to confocal microscopy for intracellular trafficking of exogenous zinc, in vitro proliferation assays for their growth, prostate specific antigen (PSA)-based reporter-mediated transactivation, and Western blot for detection of androgen receptor (AR), PSA and ubiquitination. Further in vivo studies were performed to demonstrate the effect of zinc (10-20 mg/kg) on xenograft cancer growth using syngeneic animals followed by tumor analyses. Results: Zinc chloride suppressed androgen-dependent proliferation of human prostate cancer cells and accordingly zinc chloride dramatically inhibited androgen-mediated transactivation and several androgen target protein expressions, including PSA and p21. Further investigation showed that addition of zinc chloride strikingly downregulated AR protein levels after 4 hours up to 24 hours in both human LNCaP and murine TRAMP C2 prostate cancer cell lines. AR downregulation resulted from facilitated protein degradation instead of transcriptional control. Further in vivo study was carried out using syngeneic mice bearing C2 subcutaneous tumors. Peritoneal injection of zinc chloride significantly reduced tumor size. Analysis of these tumors revealed that there were reduced expression of AR and increased cell death. Conclusions: Zinc has been shown to inhibit incumbent oncogenic NF-κB pathway. These results also suggest that intracellular zinc inhibits cell growth via downregulation of AR to inhibit growth of prostate cancer. Considering that AR functions as a major effector in prostate cancer development and progression into castration resistant prostate cancer, loss of zinc may be a critical step for this devastating disease and further studies can be performed to develop zinc-based cancer therapeutics. Citation Format: Phuong Kim To, Young-Suk Cho, Se-Young Kwon, Taek Won Kang, Kyung Keun Kim, Chaeyong Jung. Zinc inhibits androgen receptor expression to inhibit prostate cancer cell growth [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1589. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1589

ВЛИЯНИЕ МОДИФИКАТОРОВ НА СТРУКТУРНЫЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ УГЛЕРОДСОДЕРЖАЩИХ КОМПОЗИЦИОННЫХ МАТЕРИАЛОВ ПРИ КАРБОНИЗАЦИИИ ДРЕВЕСИНЫ СОСНЫ

Получены пористые углеродсодержащие материалы из сосновых опилок, модифицированных FeCl3, ZnCl2 и H3PO4. Проведен сравнительный анализ их структуры и свойств при различных температурах карбонизации и последующей водной обработки, используя тепловую адсорбцию азота для определения удельной поверхности, электронную микроскопию и рентгенографический анализ. Выявлено, что в процессе нагревания образцов с H3PO4 формируется однородная аморфнокристаллическая структура продукта; при нагревании образцов с FeCl3 проявляются кристаллические железосодержащие фазы, включая магнетит, а при нагревании образцов с добавкой ZnCl2, образуются основные две фазы – аморфнокристаллическая и гексагональные кристаллиты оксида цинка, которые придают специальные свойства продуктам.Показано, что добавка хлорида железа позволяет получить магнетит/углеродный композит с удельной поверхностью до 470 м2 г-1; добавка хлорида цинка в биомассу приводит к образованию оксид цинка/углерод композита с удельной поверхностью до 1900 м2 г-1; а добавка фосфорной кислоты приводит к полифосфатно-углеродной структуре с удельной поверхностью до 1300 м2 г-1. Выявлено, что пористость продукта связана главным образом с образованием водонерастворимых кристаллоподобных фрагментов в процессе карбонизации.

High-performance doped carbon electrocatalyst derived from soybean biomass and promoted by zinc chloride

Abstract A high-performance doped carbon catalyst with a BET surface area of up to 949 m2 g−1 has been prepared by pyrolyzing soybean biomass with ZnCl2 as an activator, followed by acid leaching with H2SO4 and graphitization. For the cathodic reduction of oxygen, the catalyst exhibits excellent activity in an alkaline medium. Its onset potential and half-wave potential for the oxygen reduction reaction reach −0.02 V and −0.12 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in 0.1 M KOH, almost comparable to those of commercial 20 wt% Pt/C catalyst. It is found that the addition of zinc chloride can significantly enhance the catalyst's surface area and activity. We suggest that the high performance of this type of catalyst is mainly contributed from its high active center density resulted from the high surface area of the catalyst, which is caused by the activation of zinc chloride.

Badanie poziomu emisji fluorescencji produktów reakcji wybranych aminokwasów z DFO, 1,2-indanedione oraz 1,2-indanedione z chlorkiem cynku

The study shows the results of fluorescence emission intensity measurements of the reaction products of selected amino acids with DFO, 1,2-IND and 1,2-IND - zinc chloride on absorptive surfaces. Conducted research addressed the following variables: type of developing reagent, type of surface, type of amino acid and sample storage time. It was confirmed that the above factors affected the fluorescence intensity of developed fingerprints. Furthermore, the studies proved that fluorescence intensity of reaction products between amino acids and 1,2- IND stored for 1 or 7 days increased for the majority of samples upon addition of zinc chloride to the developing reagent. For samples stored for 4 months the highest fluorescence emission intensity was observed for DFO. No significant differences were found in fluorescence spectral characteristics of tested compounds, depending on the type of surface.

Reduction of Enhanced Rabbit Intraocular Pressure by Instillation of Pyroglutamic Acid Eye Drops

L-Pyroglutamic acid (PGA) is an endogenous molecule derived from l-glutamate. We demonstrate the effects of PGA on intraocular pressure (IOP) in experimentally induced ocular hypertension in rabbits. In the in vitro and in vivo transcorneal penetration studies, the PGA solution (PGA in saline) did not penetrate the rabbit cornea. On the other hand, the penetration of PGA was improved by the addition of zinc chloride and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD), and PGA penetration was enhanced with increasing HPCD concentration. Therefore, PGA solutions containing 0.5% zinc chloride and 5% or 10% HPCD (PGA/HPCD(5% or 10%) eye drops) were used to investigate the effects for IOP in this study. An elevation in IOP was induced by the rapid infusion of 5% glucose solution (15 mL/kg of body weight) through the marginal ear vein or maintaining under dark phase for 5 h. In the both models, the induced elevation in IOP was prevented by the instillation of PGA/HPCD eye drops, and the IOP-reducing effect enhanced with increasing HPCD concentration in the drops. Nitric oxide (NO) levels elevated in the aqueous humor following the infusion of 5% glucose solution, and this increase was also suppressed by the instillation of PGA/HPCD eye drops. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the instillation of PGA/HPCD eye drops has an IOP-reducing effect in rabbits with experimentally induced ocular hypertension, probably as a result of the suppression of NO production.

Chemical composition of bio-oil produced by co-pyrolysis of biopolymer/polypropylene mixtures with K2CO3 and ZnCl2 addition

The chemical composition of liquid products of cellulose and lignin co-pyrolysis with polypropylene at 450°C with and without the potassium carbonate or zinc chloride as an catalyst was investigated. The yield of liquid products of pyrolysis was in the range of 26–45wt% and their form was liquid or semi-solid highly depending on the composition of sample and pyrolysis conditions. The potassium carbonate and zinc chloride addition to blends has also influenced the range of samples decomposition as well as the chemical composition of resulted bio-oils. All bio-oils from biopolymer and polypropylene mixtures were three-phase (water, oil and solid). While zinc chloride acted as catalyst, all bio-oils obtained from biopolymer and polypropylene mixtures were yellow liquids with well-separated water and oil phases. All analyses proved that the structure and quality of bio-oil strongly depends on both the composition of the blend and the presence of the additive. The FT-IR and GC–MS analyses of oils showed that oxygen functionalities and hydrocarbons contents highly depend on the composition of biomass/polypropylene mixture. Results confirmed the significant removal and/or transformation of oxygen containing organic compounds, i.e. levoglucosan, 1,6-anhydro-β-d-glucofuranose and phenol derivatives due to the zinc chloride presence during pyrolysis process. All analyses showed that zinc chloride as catalyst was generally much more effective for removal of hydroxyl and methoxy groups than was potassium carbonate. It was demonstrated in this study that catalysts used in present work lead to the increased char yield and improved the fuel quality of bio-oil.

Zinc-Chelation Contributes to the Anti-Angiogenic Effect of Ellagic Acid on Inhibiting MMP-2 Activity, Cell Migration and Tube Formation

BackgroundEllagic acid (EA), a dietary polyphenolic compound, has been demonstrated to exert anti-angiogenic effect but the detailed mechanism is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the zinc chelating activity of EA contributed to its anti-angiogenic effect.Methods and Principal FindingsThe matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) activity, a zinc-required reaction, was directly inhibited by EA as examined by gelatin zymography, which was reversed dose-dependently by adding zinc chloride. In addition, EA was demonstrated to inhibit the secretion of MMP-2 from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as analyzed by Western blot method, which was also reversed by the addition of zinc chloride. Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), known to down-regulate the MMP-2 activity, was induced by EA at both the mRNA and protein levels which was correlated well with the inhibition of MMP-2 activity. Interestingly, zinc chloride could also abolish the increase of EA-induced RECK expression. The anti-angiogenic effect of EA was further confirmed to inhibit matrix-induced tube formation of endothelial cells. The migration of endothelial cells as analyzed by transwell filter assay was suppressed markedly by EA dose-dependently as well. Zinc chloride could reverse these two effects of EA also in a dose-dependent manner. Since magnesium chloride or calcium chloride could not reverse the inhibitory effect of EA, zinc was found to be involved in tube formation and migration of vascular endothelial cells.Conclusions/SignificanceTogether these results demonstrated that the zinc chelation of EA is involved in its anti-angiogenic effects by inhibiting MMP-2 activity, tube formation and cell migration of vascular endothelial cells. The role of zinc was confirmed to be important in the process of angiogenesis.

Pyrolysis of cellulose, xylan and lignin with the K2CO3 and ZnCl2 addition for bio-oil production

The chemical structure of liquid products of the wood biopolymers, i.e. cellulose, xylan and lignin pyrolysis at 450°C with and without the 10wt.% addition of potassium carbonate or zinc chloride was investigated. The yield of liquid products of pyrolysis was in the range of 24–44wt.% and their form was depending on the chemical structure of pyrolyzed material. The potassium carbonate and zinc chloride addition to biopolymers has also influenced the temperature range of samples decomposition as well as the structure of resulted bio-oils. All bio-oils from biopolymer were dark-brown water-oil emulsions. Contrarily, bio-oils obtained from biopolymer with K2CO3 or ZnCl2 addition were orange liquids with well-separated water and oil phases. All analyses proved that the composition and the quality of bio-oil strongly depends on both the nature of the starting sample and the presence of the additive. The FT-IR analyses of oils showed that oxygen functionalities and hydrocarbons contents highly depend on the type of biopolymer. Results confirmed the significant removal and/or transformation of oxygen containing organic compounds due to the zinc chloride and potassium carbonate presence during pyrolysis process.