A molecular Solomon knot was isolated from a dynamic library of molecular knots by kinetically controlled crystallization. By incorporating mixed‐metal templates into the usual protocol employed in the synthesis of Borromean Rings, J. F. Stoddart and co‐workers obtained a molecular Solomon link as the only crystalline product under the reaction conditions described and were able to determine its X‐ray crystal structure, as they report in their Communication on page 218 ff.

Recently, nanotechnology has been widely adopted in many fields. The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential for amino acid coated nano minerals as a supplement in broiler feed. Zinc was selected as a model mineral for this test and supplementation of nano zinc, both coated and uncoated was compared with organic and inorganic commercial forms of zinc. A total of 48 pens (8 birds each) were assigned to one of the following dietary treatments: Control, methionine-Zinc chelate (M-Zn), nano zinc oxide (Nano-ZnO), and methionine coated nano zinc oxide (M-Nano-ZnO). All experimental diets were formulated with the same total zinc, methionine, protein, and energy content with just the zinc source as a variable. Bird weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratios were recorded weekly, with three birds culled (sacrificed) at day 21 and day 35 for sampling measures. Ileal digestibility of zinc was determined at day 21 and day 35 using titanium dioxide as an inert marker. Blood serum, liver and spleen samples were collected at day 21 and day 35 and analysed for zinc content via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Tibia strength and morphometrics were measured from both legs of three birds per pen at day 21 and day 35. The study was conducted at Nottingham Trent University Poultry Unit, UK. The novel method of producing nano minerals coated with amino acids was successfully tested with zinc and material produced to test in the feeding study. Methionine coated nano zinc oxide supplementation significantly improved bird weight gain and the increased feed intake of broilers compared to an inorganic zinc form. Ileal digestibility was also improved with this methionine-nano zinc. Moreover, this supplementation improved the tibia strength of broilers at the age of 21 days, though this was not observed at day 35. Therefore, M-Nano-ZnO could be used to supplement broilers to improve both performance and digestibility with a limited positive impact on bone strength. The results of the current study suggest that the amino acid coating of nano minerals can improve the digestibility of minerals which may have further implications for the field of mineral nutrition in animal feeds.

Pure bis-imine Schiff bases are readily accessible in high yield, typically >95%, when aliphatic diamine/aldehyde condensation reactions are carried out under solvent-free conditions or in poly(propyleneglycol) (PPG) as a recyclable reaction medium, with negligible waste.

The anthelmintic effects of extracted coriander oil and five pure essential oil constituents (geraniol, geranyl acetate, eugenol, methyl iso-eugenol, and linalool) were tested, using larval motility assay, on the third-stage larvae (L3s) of Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus axei, Teladorsagia circumcincta, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Trichostrongylus vitrinus and Cooperia oncophora. Coriander oil and linalool, a major component of tested coriander oil, showed a strong inhibitory efficacy against all species, except C. oncophora with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) that ranged from 0.56 to 1.41% for the coriander oil and 0.51 to 1.76% for linalool. The coriander oil and linalool combinations conferred a synergistic anthelmintic effect (combination index [CI] <1) on larval motility comparable to positive control (20 mg/mL levamisole) within 24 h (p < 0.05), reduced IC₅₀ values to 0.11–0.49% and induced a considerable structural damage to L3s. Results of the combined treatment were validated by quantitative fluorometric microplate-based assays using Sytox green, propidium iodide and C₁₂-resazurin, which successfully discriminated live/dead larvae. Only Sytox green staining achieved IC₅₀ values comparable to that of the larval motility assay. The cytotoxicity of the combined coriander oil and linalool on Madin–Darby Canine Kidney cells was evaluated using sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay and showed no significant cytotoxic effect at concentrations < 1%. These results indicate that testing essential oils and their main components may help to find new potential anthelmintic compounds, while at the same time reducing the reliance on synthetic anthelmintics.

Nanoceria (cerium oxide nanoparticles) have been shown to protect human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) from oxidative stress when used at low concentrations. However, there is a lack of understanding about the mechanism of the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of nanoceria when used at higher concentrations. Here, we investigated the impact of 24-hour exposure to nanoceria in HLECs. Nanoceria’s effects on basal reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial morphology, membrane potential, ATP, genotoxicity, caspase activation and apoptotic hallmarks were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) studies on isolated mitochondria revealed significant uptake and localization of nanoceria in the mitochondria. At high nanoceria concentrations (400 µg mL⁻¹), intracellular levels of ROS were increased and the HLECs exhibited classical hallmarks of apoptosis. These findings concur with the cells maintaining normal ATP levels necessary to execute the apoptotic process. These results highlight the need for nanoceria dose-effect studies on a range of cells and tissues to identify therapeutic concentrations in vitro or in vivo.

Chronic diseases are rising in incidence and prevalence because of increases in life expectancy in many parts of the world coupled with advances in medicine which manage disease progression, rather than curing and alleviating the causes. Cataract is one such chronic condition. Identifying a therapeutic intervention that is successful in reversing or preventing cataracts may have applications for other chronic diseases of protein misfolding, such as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease as these have similar causation factors, notably oxidative stress and/or glycation. Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) which have antioxidant, radioprotective and enzyme-mimetic properties have the potential to lead to an effective non-surgical treatment. However, nanoceria stability in physiological media is poor thus hindering their effective use in biomedical applications. Here we report a highly efficient one-pot synthesis of nanoceria (2–5 nm) coated with ethylene glycol, that is colloidally stable in physiological media and exhibits multiwavelength photoluminescence. The formulation, up to concentrations of 200 μg ml⁻¹, was not toxic to human lens epithelial cells and had no adverse effect on the cellular morphology or proliferation rate. More significantly, these nanoceria showed protective effects against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide in lens epithelial cells. Electron microscopy studies show the internalization and cytoplasmic localization of the nanoceria was found to be largely in the perinuclear region.