Functionalization of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer‐based nano‐architectures using a naphthalimide derivative and their fluorescent,dyeing and antimicrobial properties on wool fibers

Novel naphthalimide–poly(amidoamine) dendrimer fluorescent dyes were synthesized, and their structures were identified and confirmed using different characterization methods such as Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, elemental analysis and UV–vis spectroscopy. The spectrophotometric studies demonstrated absorption maxima (λ_max) and extinction coefficient (ε_max) values in the ranges of 429–438 nm and 25,635–88,618 L/mol/cm, respectively. The dyeing, fastness and antimicrobial properties of dyed wool fibers were examined. Colorimetric measurements demonstrated a greenish‐yellow hue with remarkable fluorescence intensity on dyed wool. Although the fastness properties of naphthalimide dye on wool fibers were poor/moderate, color fastness was appreciably improved through modification of the dye using dendrimers. The results revealed that the newly synthesized dyes are potent antimicrobial agents on wool fibers. Overall, it was deduced that poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers could be exploited as a promising tool in tailoring the different properties of naphthalimide dyes, being suitable for dyeing and antimicrobial finishing agents for wool fibers. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hexylthiophene‐Featured D–A–π–A Structural Indoline Chromophores for Coadsorbent‐Free and Panchromatic Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells

For a sensitizer with a strong π‐conjugation system, a coadsorbent is needed to hinder dye aggregation. However, coadsorption always brings a decrease in dye coverage on the TiO₂ surface. Organic ‘‘D–A–π–A’’ dyes, WS‐6 and WS‐11, are designed and synthesized based on the known WS‐2 material for coadsorbent‐free, dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Compared with the traditional D–π–A structure, these D–A–π–A indoline dyes, with the additional incorporated acceptor unit of benzothiadiazole in the π‐conjugation, exhibit a broad photoresponse, high redox stability, and convenient energy‐level tuning. The attached n‐hexyl chains in both dyes are effective to suppress charge recombination, resulting in a decreased dark current and enhanced open‐circuit voltage. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies indicate that both the resistance for charge recombination and the electron lifetime are increased after the introduction of alkyl chains to the dye molecules. Without deoxycholic acid coadsorption, the power‐conversion efficiency of WS‐6 (7.76%) on a 16 μm‐thick TiO₂ film device is 45% higher than that of WS‐2 (5.31%) under the same conditions. The additional n‐hexylthiophene in WS‐11 extends the photoresponse to a panchromatic spectrum but causes a low incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency.     

Biodegradation of C.I. Reactive Red 195 by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterococcus faecalis</Emphasis> strain YZ66

Synthetic dyes are extensively used in textile dyeing, paper, printing, colour photography, pharmaceutics, cosmetics and other industries. Among these, azodyes represents the largest and most versatile class of synthetic dyes. As high as 50% of the dyes are released into the environment during manufacture and usage. Traditional methods of treatment are found to be expensive and have operational problems. Biological decolourization has been investigated as a method to transform, degrade or mineralize azo dyes. In the present studies bacteria from soil from dye waste area, dye waste, sewage and dung were subjected to acclimatization with C.I. Reactive Red 195 an azo dye, in the basal nutrient media. The most promising bacterial isolate was used for further dye degradation studies. The 16s rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical characteristics revealed the isolated organism as Enterococcus faecalis strain YZ66. The strain showed 99.5% decolourization of the selected dye (Reactive Red 195–50 mg/l) within one and half hour in static anoxic condition. The optimum pH and temperature for the decolourization was 5.0 and 40°C respectively. The biodegradation was monitored by UV–Vis, FTIR, TLC and HPLC. The final products were characterized by Gas chromatography and Mass Spectrophotometry. Toxicity study demonstrated no toxicity of the biodegradation product. The results suggest that the isolated organism E. faecalis strain YZ 66 can be used as a useful tool to treat waste water containing reactive dyes.     

Redox-mediated decolorization of recalcitrant textile dyes by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma harzianum</Emphasis> WL1 laccase

The efficiency of crude and partially purified Trichoderma harzianum WL1 laccase for the decolorization of synthetic dyes (Rhodamine 6G, Erioglaucine and Trypan blue) with complex aromatic structures were evaluated. Selection of dyes was based on their extensive usage in local dyeing and textile industries around the study area. Studies on the role of redox potential of laccases on dye decolorization are rarely discussed and hence, for the first time we have shown the redox mediated dye decolorizing efficiency of T. harzianum WL1 laccase with the commonly employed redox mediator 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT). The process parameters such as initial dye concentration, enzyme load and HBT concentration were studied and found that they had a great influence on dye removal process. When the dyes were treated with increased concentration of enzyme, it showed a greater percentage of decolorization. Compared to the crude laccase, partially purified laccase accounts for maximum decolorization of all the dyes studied. In addition, the rate of dye decolorization was considerably enhanced in presence of 4 mM HBT. Maximum and minimum decolorization were recorded for Rhodamine 6G and Trypan blue, respectively. The results of this study further confirmed that, T. harzianum laccase was found to be suitable with HBT and this laccase-mediator system (LMS) could be applied for the decolorization of various classes of dyes.     

Adsorption and decolorization of dyes using solid residues from Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom production

We investigated the use of solid residues from Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom production in adsorbing and decolorizing different dyes. The solid residue used in this study was composed of hemicellulose and cellulose (52.81 %), acid-insoluble lignin (25.42%), chitin (6.5%), and water extractives (14.82%). After incubating 14% (wt/vol) solid residue in distilled water for 4 h, laccase and manganese peroxidase (MnP) activities were 0.5 U/g and 12 mU/g, respectively. Enzymatic decolorization percentages were up to 100 for azure B (heterocyclic dye) and indigo carmine (indigoid dye), 74.5 for malachite green (MG) (triphenylmethane dye), and zero for xylidine (azoic dye). The optimum temperature for decolorization was in the range of 26 ∼ 36°C for all dyes. Data obtained on adsorption (enzymatic decolorization was prevented with sodium azide) at different dye concentrations and in a pH range of 3 ∼ 7 were used to plot Freundlich isotherms. The spent fungal substrate (SFS) displayed large differences in adsorption capacity, depending on the dye tested. The highest adsorption capacity was observed at pH 3 for MG, while xylidine was slightly adsorbed at pH 3 and 4 and not adsorbed at higher pH values. Laccase and MnP production were affected by the presence of the dyes. The highest enzyme levels were observed in the presence of MG, when laccase and MnP increased 1.39- and 2.13-fold, respectively. Decolorization and adsorption to SFS are both important processes in removing dyes from aqueous solutions. The application of this spent substrate for wastewater treatment will be able to take advantage of both of these dye removal processes. An important problem in bioremediation processes involving microorganisms is the amount of time required for their growth. In this report, we used the spent substrates from mushroom cultivation in wastewater treatment, thus solving the problem of waiting for microorganisms to grow.     

Decolorization of Turquoise Blue HFG by Coprinus plicatilis for Water Bioremediation

Synthetic dyes are extensively used in textile dyeing, paper printing, color photography, and the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, and leather industries. Most synthetic dyes are toxic and highly resistant to removal due to their complex chemical structures. There is a need for investigation of the biological treatment of synthetic dyes at a low cost and in the shortest possible time; synthetic dyes are used especially in the dye and textile industries and are an important polluting agent in the wastewater dumped into the environment by these industries. White rot fungus contains a variety of extracellular enzymes, and these enzymes are used for biological degradation of organic matter. The aim of the present work is to evaluate removal of the textile dye Turquoise Blue HFG by Coprinus plicatilis. Coprinus plicatilis was able to enzymatically decolorize 100% of the dye (dye concentration 10.0 and 25.0 mg L^?1). Ultraviolet–visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometric analyses, before and after decolorization, suggest that decolorization was due to biodegradation. There was an attempt to identify metabolites with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) at the end of the decolorization process. These results indicate that the samples did not include any detectable metabolite. Therefore, this fungus can be used as an economical and eco-friendly tool to minimize the pollution by industries to a significant extent.     

Spectral and fluorescent study of the interaction of squarylium dyes,derivatives of 3<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis>-indolium,with albumins

Noncovalent interaction of intraionic squarylium dyes, derivatives of 3H-indolium, as well as the structurally analogous ionic indodicarbocyanine dye with serum albumins (human, bovine, rat) and, for comparison, with ovalbumin has been studied by spectral and fluorescent methods. The hydrophilic squarylium dye with sulfonate groups was found to interact with albumins more efficiently, which is probably due to the double negative charge on the dye molecule at the expense of the sulfonate groups and the ability to form hydrogen bonds with albumin. The hydrophilic indodicarbocyanine dye without the squarylium group in its structure binds to albumins much weaker than the structurally analogous squarylium dye. The dyes bind to ovalbumin less efficiently than to serum albumins. Along with the binding of monomeric dye molecules, the aggregation of the dyes on albumins is also observed. The hydrophobic squarylium dye without sulfonate groups tends to form aggregates in aqueous solutions, which partially decompose upon the introduction of albumin into the solution. The hydrophilic squarylium dye with sulfonate groups can be recommended for tests as a spectral-fluorescent probe for serum albumins in extracellular media of living organisms.     

A Novel Technique for Viable Cell Determinations

We have developed a simple method to determine cell viability using two fluorescent dyes, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange. When these dyes are used in combination, dead cells fluoresce brilliant blue and live cells fluoresce green. This method works over a range of dye concentrations (Hoechst 33258, 0.25-2 μg/ml; acridine orange, 1-5.0 μg/ml) and the fluorescence spectra of the two dyes are such that only one set of filters is required to visualize the effects of both dyes simultaneously. It is insensitive to a wide range of exogenous serum concentrations and is read with greater uniformity by different observers.     

A novel technique for viable cell determinations

We have developed a simple method to determine cell viability using two fluorescent dyes, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange. When these dyes are used in combination, dead cells fluoresce brilliant blue and live cells fluoresce green. This method works over a range of dye concentrations (Hoechst 33258, 0.25-2 micrograms/ml; acridine orange, 1-5.0 micrograms/ml) and the fluorescence spectra of the two dyes are such that only one set of filters is required to visualize the effects of both dyes simultaneously. It is insensitive to a wide range of exogenous serum concentrations and is read with greater uniformity by different observers.     

Induced optical activity in the complex of poly(L-arginine) with azo dyes

The absorption and CD spectra of the complexes of poly(L -arginine) (PLA) and azo dyes have been measured in aqueous solution. On complexation, Blue-shifted additional absorption bands were observed. In the wide pH 4–11 range, induced CD was observed at the visible wavelengths corresponding to the blue-shifted absorption bands. The induced CD arose from the dimeric dye molecules bound to PLA in the α-helical structure. When a modified analysis of induced CE is made by the excition chirality method, the origin of the induced CD can be assigned to the dipole coupling. The PLA–dye complexes showed the counterlockwise (negative, S) chirality of the transition dipole moments of dyes.