The binding of antitumor flavonoids, namely 3- hydroxyflavone (3HF) and hesperidin (Hesp) with dsDNA was investigated in the absence and presence of Cu(II) using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry at the hanging mercury drop electrode. The reduction currents of 3HF, 3HF-Cu complex, and the 3HF-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex decreased after intercalation into dsDNA. The intercalation of Hesp into dsDNA is weak. dsDNA is reduced at a potential of −1.48 V overlaying the reduction of Hesp. In contrast, in the presence of Cu(II), the interaction of Hesp with dsDNA leads to a much stronger intercalation. The binding constants of the flavonoid-Cu complex with dsDNA were evaluated and calibration graphs for the determination of dsDNAwere obtained fromthe decrease in the peak current in the cyclic voltammograms of 3HF in the presence of dsDNA. The proposed method exhibited good recovery and reproducibility for indirect determination of dsDNA.

The binding of antitumor flavonoids, namely 3- hydroxyflavone (3HF) and hesperidin (Hesp) with dsDNA was investigated in the absence and presence of Cu(II) using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry at the hanging mercury drop electrode. The reduction currents of 3HF, 3HF-Cu complex, and the 3HF-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex decreased after intercalation into dsDNA. The intercalation of Hesp into dsDNA is weak. dsDNA is reduced at a potential of −1.48 V overlaying the reduction of Hesp. In contrast, in the presence of Cu(II), the interaction of Hesp with dsDNA leads to a much stronger intercalation. The binding constants of the flavonoid-Cu complex with dsDNA were evaluated and calibration graphs for the determination of dsDNAwere obtained fromthe decrease in the peak current in the cyclic voltammograms of 3HF in the presence of dsDNA. The proposed method exhibited good recovery and reproducibility for indirect determination of dsDNA.

An electrochemical anodic adsorptive stripping procedure for ultra-trace assay of 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF) and Morin at a renewable pencil electrode (PGE) in bulk form and in biological fluids is described. The nature of the oxidation process of 3HF and Morin taking place at the PGE was characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the determination of the oxidation peak current is the basis of a simple, accurate and rapid method for quantification of 3HF by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Determination of Morin was achieved by square-wave anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry of the formed MorinCu(II) complex at a PGE. Factors influencing the trace measurements of 3HF and the MorinCu (II) complex at a PGE are assessed. The limits of detection and quantitation for the determination of 3HF and Morin in bulk form and in biological fluids were determined. The statistical analysis and the calibration curve data for trace determination of 3HF and Morin are reported.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal disease of plasma cells that remains incurable despite the advent of several novel therapeutics. In this study, we aimed to delineate the impact of snake venom extracted from Walterinnesia aegyptia (WEV) alone or in combination with silica nanoparticles (WEV+NP) on primary MM cells isolated from patients diagnosed with MM as well as on two MM cell lines, U266 and RPMI 8226. The IC(50) values of WEV and WEV+NP that significantly decreased MM cell viability without affecting the viability of normal peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined to be 25 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml, respectively. Although both WEV (25 ng/ml) and WEV+NP (10 ng/ml) decreased the CD54 surface expression without affecting the expression of CXCR4 (CXCL12 receptor) on MM cells, they significantly reduced the ability of CXC chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) to induce actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and the subsequent reduction in chemotaxis. It has been established that the binding of CXCL12 to its receptor CXCR4 activates multiple intracellular signal transduction pathways that regulate MM cell chemotaxis, adhesion, and proliferation. We found that WEV and WEV+NP clearly decreased the CXCL12/CXCR4-mediated activation of AKT, ERK, NFκB and Rho-A using western blot analysis; abrogated the CXCL12-mediated proliferation of MM cells using the CFSE assay; and induced apoptosis in MM cell as determined by PI/annexin V double staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. Monitoring the expression of B-cell CCL/Lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family members and their role in apoptosis induction after treatment with WEV or WEV+NP revealed that the combination of WEV with NP robustly decreased the expression of the anti-apoptotic effectors Bcl-2, Bcl(XL) and Mcl-1; conversely increased the expression of the pro-apoptotic effectors Bak, Bax and Bim; and altered the mitochondrial membrane potential in MM cells. Taken together, our data reveal the biological effects of WEV and WEV+NP and the underlying mechanisms against myeloma cancer cells.

Background: Delayed wound healing is considered one of the most serious diabetes-associated complications. The presence of replicating organisms such as bacteria within a diabetic’s wound is considered one of the most important factors that impair cutaneous wound healing and the potential cellular and/or molecular mechanisms that are involved in the healing process. Defensins, which are anti-microbial peptides, have potent bactericidal activity against a wide spectrum of the bacterial and fungal organisms that are commonly responsible for wound infections. We recently demonstrated that camel whey proteins (WPs) expedite the healing of diabetic wounds by enhancing the immune response of wounded tissue cells and by alleviating some of the diabetic complications. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the effects of WP supplementation on the mRNA and protein expression levels of β-defensin-1 (BD-1), 2 and 3 and subsequently on the wound healing process in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mouse model. In this study, three groups of mice were used (10 mice per group): group 1, the non-diabetic mice (control); group 2, the diabetic mice; and group 3, the diabetic mice that received a daily supplement of undenatured WP (100 mg/kg of body weight) via oral gavage for 1 month. Results: Compared with the non-diabetic control mice, the diabetic mice exhibited delayed wound closure that was characterized by a reduction in hydroxyproline content (indicator of collagen deposition), a marked elevation in free radical levels and a prolonged elevation in the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Interestingly, compared with the diabetic mice that did not receive WP supplementation, the diabetic mice with WP had an accelerated closure and healing process of their wounds. The WP supplementation also decreased their levels of free radicals and restored their hydroxyproline content; proinflammatory cytokine levels; and expression of BD-1, 2 and 3 in the wounded tissue. Conclusion: WP supplementation may be beneficial for improving the healing and closure of diabetic wounds.

The effect of anodization parameters, e.g. anodizing voltage, anodizing current, duration time, electrolyte temperature, electrolyte type and concentration, on the volume expansion of anodized Al, Al-1wt%Si and Al-1%Cu thin films have been studied. The volume expansion factor of anodic porous alumina is found to vary from 1.32 to 2.08, depending on the anodizing voltage, anodizing current density and electrolyte type. The electrolyte temperature and impurity type have slight effect on the volume expansion factor. The relation between the pore density of porous alumina and the anodizing voltage is found to follow the relation NP=9.4×1010exp(-0.042V). In addition, the current efficiency during the anodization was determined to be about 83%.

The effect of anodization parameters, e.g. anodizing voltage, anodizing current, duration time, electrolyte temperature, electrolyte type and concentration, on the volume expansion of anodized Al, Al-1wt%Si and Al-1%Cu thin films have been studied. The volume expansion factor of anodic porous alumina is found to vary from 1.32 to 2.08, depending on the anodizing voltage, anodizing current density and electrolyte type. The electrolyte temperature and impurity type have slight effect on the volume expansion factor. The relation between the pore density of porous alumina and the anodizing voltage is found to follow the relation NP=9.4×1010exp(-0.042V). In addition, the current efficiency during the anodization was determined to be about 83%.

An electrochemical anodic adsorptive stripping procedure for ultra-trace assay of 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF) and Morin at a renewable pencil electrode (PGE) in bulk form and in biological fluids is described. The nature of the oxidation process of 3HF and Morin taking place at the PGE was characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the determination of the oxidation peak current is the basis of a simple, accurate and rapid method for quantification of 3HF by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Determination of Morin was achieved by square-wave anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry of the formed MorinCu(II) complex at a PGE. Factors influencing the trace measurements of 3HF and the MorinCu (II) complex at a PGE are assessed. The limits of detection and quantitation for the determination of 3HF and Morin in bulk form and in biological fluids were determined. The statistical analysis and the calibration curve data for trace determination of 3HF and Morin are reported.

An electrochemical anodic adsorptive stripping procedure for ultra-trace assay of 3-hydroxyflavone (3HF) and Morin at a renewable pencil electrode (PGE) in bulk form and in biological fluids is described. The nature of the oxidation process of 3HF and Morin taking place at the PGE was characterized by cyclic voltammetry. The results show that the determination of the oxidation peak current is the basis of a simple, accurate and rapid method for quantification of 3HF by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Determination of Morin was achieved by square-wave anodic adsorptive stripping voltammetry of the formed MorinCu(II) complex at a PGE. Factors influencing the trace measurements of 3HF and the MorinCu (II) complex at a PGE are assessed. The limits of detection and quantitation for the determination of 3HF and Morin in bulk form and in biological fluids were determined. The statistical analysis and the calibration curve data for trace determination of 3HF and Morin are reported.

The crystallization process of Se87.5 Te10 Sn2.5 glassy was studied by differential thermal analysis (DTA) technique under non-isothermal condition at various heating rates. The crystallization parameters were calculated using different models. The validity of the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami (JMA) model to describe the crystallization process for the studied composition was discussed. Results obtained by directly fitting the experimental DTA data to the calculated DTA curves indicate that the crystallization process of Se87.5 Te10 Sn2.5 glass cannot be satisfactorily described by the JMA model. On the other hand, kinetic parameters of both the peak crystallization temperature Tp and the glass transition temperature Tg are significantly influenced by the heating rate. Simulation results indicate that the Sestak–Berggren (SB) model is more suitable to describe the crystallization kinetics. The crystalline phases were identified by using X-ray diffraction technique (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).