Currently, our group focuses on understanding the nucleation-growth mechanism of metal/alloy nanoparticles/nanowires so as to structurally tune them for the functional applications. Also, we try to engineer the surfaces to synthesize thermally stable nanoscale materials for high temperature applications.
Ordered arrays of magnetic nanowires are of high interest for both fundamental understanding of m... more Ordered arrays of magnetic nanowires are of high interest for both fundamental understanding of magnetism in low dimensions as well as many applications ranging from biological, chemical to information storage systems. They allow studying unexpected effects of different magnetic anisotropies and magnetostatic interactions. Cobalt nanowires are expected to show a complex behaviour due to its hexagonal structure and the resulting high magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Cobalt nanowires were electrodeposited into AAO templates using a single sulphate electrolyte partly buffered by boric acid. The influence of different pH values on structure and temperature dependent magnetic properties was investigated. At high pH and room temperature the easy axis is aligned parallel to the wire axis as expected for high aspect ratio nanowires due to shape anisotropy. Competing effects of shape and magnetocrystalline anisotropies result in a nearly isotropic behaviour at low pH values, when the hexagonal...
The grain size dependency of lattice parameter during high-energy ball milling of W has been inve... more The grain size dependency of lattice parameter during high-energy ball milling of W has been investigated. The lattice parameter varies non-monotonically with grain size during milling with a lattice contraction initially followed by an expansion. The lattice parameters were calculated in view of the non-equilibrium grain boundary structure that evolved during milling using excess free volume and the interfacial stresses at the grain boundaries. The calculated lattice parameters closely match the experimentally observed values.
Ovarian cancer is fourth most common and lethal among all gynecologic malignancies. The chemother... more Ovarian cancer is fourth most common and lethal among all gynecologic malignancies. The chemotherapy usually requires in all stages of ovarian cancer but drugs have several side effects. We hypothesized that use of combination therapy of paclitaxel (PTX) and phytochemical piperine (PIP) may reduce the PTX dose as well as toxicity. The human ovarian adenocarcinomas SKOV3 cell treated with PTX-5nM and PIP-10µm after determination of IC50 by MTT assay. Reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA damage, cell death pathway markers as release of cyt-c, Bax/Bcl2-caspase-3 and cell cycle arrest were analyzed. The dose dependent treatment of SKOV-3 cells showed IC50 and synergism at combination of 5nM-PTX and 10µm-PIP in cell viability assay. PTX and PIP increases the accumulation of reactive oxygen species which subsequently leading to increase in JC-1 and fragmented nuclei in mitotracker/DAPI staining. Comet assay showed 4.4-fold increase of tail format...
Nanocrystalline B2 aluminide (FeAl and NiAl) powders were synthesized using high energy ball mill... more Nanocrystalline B2 aluminide (FeAl and NiAl) powders were synthesized using high energy ball milling and were consolidated using three different sintering methods: conventional pressureless sintering, microwave sintering and spark plasma sintering. The particle-particle contacts after sintering were found to have compositional gradient from interior to surface leading to formation of an Al-O rich phase. This Al-O rich phase formation is primarily attributed to oxygen pick-up during handling of powders and during sintering, leading to formation of amorphous alumina. The formation of amorphous phase is explained by examining the defect concentrations and their interactions. The composite developed with amorphous alumina as a second phase in an ordered B2 matrix can be of great interest for potential structural applications.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 2016
Phloxine B (PhB) is a most commonly used dye in cosmetic products throughout the world. It shows ... more Phloxine B (PhB) is a most commonly used dye in cosmetic products throughout the world. It shows an absorption in visible and ultraviolet radiations. PhB was photodegraded within 4h of UV exposure. It generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) photochemically and intracellularly. Photosensitized PhB caused dose dependent cell viability reduction of human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) which was measured through MTT (75.4%) and NRU (77.3%) assays. It also induces cell cycle arrest and DNA damage. Photosensitized PhB induces Ca(2+) release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It causes the upregulation of ER stress marker genes ATF6 (1.79 fold) and CHOP (1.93 fold) at transcription levels. The similar response of ATF6 (3.6 fold) and CHOP (2.38 fold) proteins was recorded at translation levels. CHOP targeted the mitochondria and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential analyzed through JC-1 staining. It further increases Bax/Bcl2 ratio (3.58 fold) and promotes the release of cytochrome c, finally leads to caspase-dependent apoptosis. Upregulation of APAF1 (1.79 fold) in PhB treated cells under UV B exposure supports the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic cell death. The results support the involvement of ER and mitochondria in ROS mediated PhB phototoxicity. Therefore, the use of PhB in cosmetic products may be deleterious to users during sunlight exposure.
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 2016
Ofloxacin (OFLX) is a broad spectrum antibiotic, which generates photo-products under sunlight ex... more Ofloxacin (OFLX) is a broad spectrum antibiotic, which generates photo-products under sunlight exposure. Previous studies have failed to explain the attenuated anti-bacterial activity of OFLX. The study was extended to explore the unknown molecular mechanism of photogenotoxicity on human skin cell line (HaCaT) under environmental UV-B irradiation. Photochemically OFLX generates ROS and caused 2-d'GuO photodegradation. We have addressed the binding affinity of OFLX and its photo-products against DNA gyrase. Significant free radical generation such as (1)O2, O2(-) and OH reduces antioxidants and demonstrated the ROS mediated OFLX phototoxicity. However, the formation of micronuclei and CPDs showed photogenotoxic potential of OFLX. OFLX induced cell cycle arrest in sub-G1 peak. OFLX triggers apoptosis via permeabilization of mitochondrial membrane with the downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and caspase-3 whereas, upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and Cyto-c proteins. Our study illustrated that binding affinity of OFLX photo-products with DNA gyrase was mainly responsible for the attenuated antimicrobial activity. It was proved through molecular docking study. Thus, study suggests that sunlight exposure should avoid by drug users especially during peak hours for their safety from photosensitivity. Clinicians may guide patients regarding the safer use of photosensitive drugs during treatment.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 2015
Rose Bengal (RB) is an anionic water-soluble xanthene dye, which used for many years to assess ey... more Rose Bengal (RB) is an anionic water-soluble xanthene dye, which used for many years to assess eye cornea and conjunctiva damage. RB showed strong absorption maxima (λmax) under visible light followed by UV-B and UV-A. RB under sunlight exposure showed a time-dependent photodegradation. Our results show that photosensitized RB generates (1)O2 via Type-II photodynamic pathway and induced DNA damage under sunlight/UV-R exposure. 2'dGuO degradation, micronuclei formation, and single- and double-strand breakage were the outcome of photogenotoxicity caused by RB. Quenching studies with NaN3 advocate the involvement of (1)O2 in RB photogenotoxicity. RB induced linoleic acid photoperoxidation, which was parallel to (1)O2-mediated DNA damage. Oxidative stress in A375 cell line (human melanoma cell line) was detected through DCF-DA assay. Photosensitized RB decreased maximum cellular viability under sunlight followed by UV-B and UV-A exposures. Apoptosis was detected as a pattern of cell death through the increased of caspase-3 activity, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and PS translocation through inner to outer plasma membrane. Increased cytosolic levels of Bax also advocate the apoptotic cell death. We propose a p53-mediated apoptosis via increased expression of Bax gene and protein. Thus, the exact mechanism behind RB phototoxicity was the involvement of (1)O2, which induced oxidative stress-mediated DNA and membrane damage, finally apoptotic cell death under natural sunlight exposure. The study suggests that after the use of RB, sunlight exposure may avoid to prevent from its harmful effects.
Solar UV radiation is main factor of photocarcinogenesis, photoageing, and phototoxicity; thus, p... more Solar UV radiation is main factor of photocarcinogenesis, photoageing, and phototoxicity; thus, protection from UV radiation is major concern. Sunscreens containing UV filters are suggested as sun safe practices, but safety of UV filters remains in controversies. Benzophenone-1 (BP1) is commonly used in sunscreens as UV blocker. We assessed the photogenotoxicity and apoptotic parameters in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) by western blot, immunocytochemistry, flowcytometry, comet assay and TEM imaging. Our results exposed that BP1 photosensitized and generated intracellular ROS (2.02 folds) under sunlight/UVR. Decrease in cell viability was recorded as 80.06%, 60.98% and 56.24% under sunlight, UVA and UVB, respectively. Genotoxic potential of BP1 was confirmed through photomicronuclei and CPDs formation. BP1 enhanced lipid peroxidation and leakage of LDH enzyme (61.7%). Apoptotic cells were detected by AnnexinV/PI staining and sub G1 population of cell cycle. BP1 induced up regulation of apoptotic proteins Bax/Bcl2 ratio, Apaf-1, cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO and cleaved caspase 3 was noticed. Down regulation of pro caspase 3 was inhibited by Z-VAD-fmk (inhibitor of caspase). Thus, study established the involvement of BP1 in photogenotoxicity and apoptosis via release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO. These findings suggest sunscreen user to avoid BP1 in cosmetics preparation for its topical application.
Ordered arrays of magnetic nanowires are of high interest for both fundamental understanding of m... more Ordered arrays of magnetic nanowires are of high interest for both fundamental understanding of magnetism in low dimensions as well as many applications ranging from biological, chemical to information storage systems. They allow studying unexpected effects of different magnetic anisotropies and magnetostatic interactions. Cobalt nanowires are expected to show a complex behaviour due to its hexagonal structure and the resulting high magnetocrystalline anisotropy. Cobalt nanowires were electrodeposited into AAO templates using a single sulphate electrolyte partly buffered by boric acid. The influence of different pH values on structure and temperature dependent magnetic properties was investigated. At high pH and room temperature the easy axis is aligned parallel to the wire axis as expected for high aspect ratio nanowires due to shape anisotropy. Competing effects of shape and magnetocrystalline anisotropies result in a nearly isotropic behaviour at low pH values, when the hexagonal...
The grain size dependency of lattice parameter during high-energy ball milling of W has been inve... more The grain size dependency of lattice parameter during high-energy ball milling of W has been investigated. The lattice parameter varies non-monotonically with grain size during milling with a lattice contraction initially followed by an expansion. The lattice parameters were calculated in view of the non-equilibrium grain boundary structure that evolved during milling using excess free volume and the interfacial stresses at the grain boundaries. The calculated lattice parameters closely match the experimentally observed values.
Ovarian cancer is fourth most common and lethal among all gynecologic malignancies. The chemother... more Ovarian cancer is fourth most common and lethal among all gynecologic malignancies. The chemotherapy usually requires in all stages of ovarian cancer but drugs have several side effects. We hypothesized that use of combination therapy of paclitaxel (PTX) and phytochemical piperine (PIP) may reduce the PTX dose as well as toxicity. The human ovarian adenocarcinomas SKOV3 cell treated with PTX-5nM and PIP-10µm after determination of IC50 by MTT assay. Reactive oxygen species generation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA damage, cell death pathway markers as release of cyt-c, Bax/Bcl2-caspase-3 and cell cycle arrest were analyzed. The dose dependent treatment of SKOV-3 cells showed IC50 and synergism at combination of 5nM-PTX and 10µm-PIP in cell viability assay. PTX and PIP increases the accumulation of reactive oxygen species which subsequently leading to increase in JC-1 and fragmented nuclei in mitotracker/DAPI staining. Comet assay showed 4.4-fold increase of tail format...
Nanocrystalline B2 aluminide (FeAl and NiAl) powders were synthesized using high energy ball mill... more Nanocrystalline B2 aluminide (FeAl and NiAl) powders were synthesized using high energy ball milling and were consolidated using three different sintering methods: conventional pressureless sintering, microwave sintering and spark plasma sintering. The particle-particle contacts after sintering were found to have compositional gradient from interior to surface leading to formation of an Al-O rich phase. This Al-O rich phase formation is primarily attributed to oxygen pick-up during handling of powders and during sintering, leading to formation of amorphous alumina. The formation of amorphous phase is explained by examining the defect concentrations and their interactions. The composite developed with amorphous alumina as a second phase in an ordered B2 matrix can be of great interest for potential structural applications.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 2016
Phloxine B (PhB) is a most commonly used dye in cosmetic products throughout the world. It shows ... more Phloxine B (PhB) is a most commonly used dye in cosmetic products throughout the world. It shows an absorption in visible and ultraviolet radiations. PhB was photodegraded within 4h of UV exposure. It generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) photochemically and intracellularly. Photosensitized PhB caused dose dependent cell viability reduction of human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) which was measured through MTT (75.4%) and NRU (77.3%) assays. It also induces cell cycle arrest and DNA damage. Photosensitized PhB induces Ca(2+) release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER). It causes the upregulation of ER stress marker genes ATF6 (1.79 fold) and CHOP (1.93 fold) at transcription levels. The similar response of ATF6 (3.6 fold) and CHOP (2.38 fold) proteins was recorded at translation levels. CHOP targeted the mitochondria and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential analyzed through JC-1 staining. It further increases Bax/Bcl2 ratio (3.58 fold) and promotes the release of cytochrome c, finally leads to caspase-dependent apoptosis. Upregulation of APAF1 (1.79 fold) in PhB treated cells under UV B exposure supports the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic cell death. The results support the involvement of ER and mitochondria in ROS mediated PhB phototoxicity. Therefore, the use of PhB in cosmetic products may be deleterious to users during sunlight exposure.
The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 2016
Ofloxacin (OFLX) is a broad spectrum antibiotic, which generates photo-products under sunlight ex... more Ofloxacin (OFLX) is a broad spectrum antibiotic, which generates photo-products under sunlight exposure. Previous studies have failed to explain the attenuated anti-bacterial activity of OFLX. The study was extended to explore the unknown molecular mechanism of photogenotoxicity on human skin cell line (HaCaT) under environmental UV-B irradiation. Photochemically OFLX generates ROS and caused 2-d'GuO photodegradation. We have addressed the binding affinity of OFLX and its photo-products against DNA gyrase. Significant free radical generation such as (1)O2, O2(-) and OH reduces antioxidants and demonstrated the ROS mediated OFLX phototoxicity. However, the formation of micronuclei and CPDs showed photogenotoxic potential of OFLX. OFLX induced cell cycle arrest in sub-G1 peak. OFLX triggers apoptosis via permeabilization of mitochondrial membrane with the downregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and caspase-3 whereas, upregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax and Cyto-c proteins. Our study illustrated that binding affinity of OFLX photo-products with DNA gyrase was mainly responsible for the attenuated antimicrobial activity. It was proved through molecular docking study. Thus, study suggests that sunlight exposure should avoid by drug users especially during peak hours for their safety from photosensitivity. Clinicians may guide patients regarding the safer use of photosensitive drugs during treatment.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B: Biology, 2015
Rose Bengal (RB) is an anionic water-soluble xanthene dye, which used for many years to assess ey... more Rose Bengal (RB) is an anionic water-soluble xanthene dye, which used for many years to assess eye cornea and conjunctiva damage. RB showed strong absorption maxima (λmax) under visible light followed by UV-B and UV-A. RB under sunlight exposure showed a time-dependent photodegradation. Our results show that photosensitized RB generates (1)O2 via Type-II photodynamic pathway and induced DNA damage under sunlight/UV-R exposure. 2'dGuO degradation, micronuclei formation, and single- and double-strand breakage were the outcome of photogenotoxicity caused by RB. Quenching studies with NaN3 advocate the involvement of (1)O2 in RB photogenotoxicity. RB induced linoleic acid photoperoxidation, which was parallel to (1)O2-mediated DNA damage. Oxidative stress in A375 cell line (human melanoma cell line) was detected through DCF-DA assay. Photosensitized RB decreased maximum cellular viability under sunlight followed by UV-B and UV-A exposures. Apoptosis was detected as a pattern of cell death through the increased of caspase-3 activity, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and PS translocation through inner to outer plasma membrane. Increased cytosolic levels of Bax also advocate the apoptotic cell death. We propose a p53-mediated apoptosis via increased expression of Bax gene and protein. Thus, the exact mechanism behind RB phototoxicity was the involvement of (1)O2, which induced oxidative stress-mediated DNA and membrane damage, finally apoptotic cell death under natural sunlight exposure. The study suggests that after the use of RB, sunlight exposure may avoid to prevent from its harmful effects.
Solar UV radiation is main factor of photocarcinogenesis, photoageing, and phototoxicity; thus, p... more Solar UV radiation is main factor of photocarcinogenesis, photoageing, and phototoxicity; thus, protection from UV radiation is major concern. Sunscreens containing UV filters are suggested as sun safe practices, but safety of UV filters remains in controversies. Benzophenone-1 (BP1) is commonly used in sunscreens as UV blocker. We assessed the photogenotoxicity and apoptotic parameters in human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) by western blot, immunocytochemistry, flowcytometry, comet assay and TEM imaging. Our results exposed that BP1 photosensitized and generated intracellular ROS (2.02 folds) under sunlight/UVR. Decrease in cell viability was recorded as 80.06%, 60.98% and 56.24% under sunlight, UVA and UVB, respectively. Genotoxic potential of BP1 was confirmed through photomicronuclei and CPDs formation. BP1 enhanced lipid peroxidation and leakage of LDH enzyme (61.7%). Apoptotic cells were detected by AnnexinV/PI staining and sub G1 population of cell cycle. BP1 induced up regulation of apoptotic proteins Bax/Bcl2 ratio, Apaf-1, cytochrome c, Smac/DIABLO and cleaved caspase 3 was noticed. Down regulation of pro caspase 3 was inhibited by Z-VAD-fmk (inhibitor of caspase). Thus, study established the involvement of BP1 in photogenotoxicity and apoptosis via release of cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO. These findings suggest sunscreen user to avoid BP1 in cosmetics preparation for its topical application.
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