rula buqain | University of Jordan (original) (raw)

Papers by rula buqain

Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 2021

Triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive type of cancer with limited therapeutic options. A... more Triple negative breast cancer is an aggressive type of cancer with limited therapeutic options. Aptamer-functionalized liposomes to deliver short interference RNAs (siRNAs) offer a promising therapeutic option. The current study aimed at preparing an aptamer functionalized liposome loaded with siRNA-protamine polyplexes for selective delivery of Notch 1 siRNA into cancer cells. The aptamer functionalized liposomes were characterized by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and electron microscopy. In vitro silencing and antiproliferative efficiency were conducted using the triple negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. The unfunctionalized loaded liposomes had a Z-average size of 153.1 ± 6.481 nm and a charge of −17.5 ± 0.265 mV, while the functionalized liposomes had a higher Z-average size of 285 ± 12.33 nm and a charge of −23.8 ± 0.924 mV with an encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of 60%. The presence of the nucleolin aptamer on the surface of the liposomes increased the cellular uptak...

Arabian Journal of Chemistry

Abstract A green method was developed for the synthesis of CuFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles using a... more Abstract A green method was developed for the synthesis of CuFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles using a Neem leave extract. The prepared nanoparticles with an average size of 19.7 nm were used as an effective catalyst for the oxidation of various aryl alkanes in moderate to excellent yields under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst was characterized by powder- XRD, SEM and TEM study. The key advantages of this protocol are simple preparation, a recyclable heterogeneous catalytic system, and benign reaction condition with good to excellent yields with high selectivity toward acid (42–87%).

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

A green method was developed for the synthesis of CuFe 2 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles using a Neem ... more A green method was developed for the synthesis of CuFe 2 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles using a Neem leave extract. The prepared nanoparticles with an average size of 19.7 nm were used as an effective catalyst for the oxidation of various aryl alkanes in moderate to excellent yields under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst was characterized by powder-XRD, SEM and TEM study. The key advantages of this protocol are simple preparation, a recyclable heterogeneous catalytic system, and benign reaction condition with good to excellent yields with high selectivity toward acid (42-87%).

In this research, we report on the synthesis and characterization of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (LCMO), La0... more In this research, we report on the synthesis and characterization of La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 (LCMO), La0.67Ba0.33MnO3 (LBMO), and La0.67Sr0.33MnO3 (LSMO) perovskites. Precursor powders for the perovskite samples were prepared using ball mailing technique. The resulting powder was pressed into disks which were subsequently sintered at 1000º C for 2h. The structural characteristics of the prepared samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the magnetic properties were investigated using vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). XRD pattern of LCMO sample revealed a pure perovskite phase with Pnma space group, while the pattern of LSMO sample revealed a pure perovskite with 3 ̅ space group. XRD pattern of LBMO sample, however, demonstrated the presence of a major perovskite phase with 3 ̅ symmetry, together with a secondary BaMnO3 phase. This secondary phase disappeared upon sintering LBMO at a higher temperature of 1100º C. Isothermal magnetic measurements and thermomagnetic curves revealed that LCMO was paramagnetic at room temperature. However, LSMO exhibited soft ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature, with Tc = 380 K and Ms = 50.9 emu/g. Also, LBMO sample sintered at 1000º C exhibited soft ferromagnetic behavior at room temperature, with Curie temperature Tc = 343 K and a rather low saturation magnetization of Ms = 30.7 emu/g. The higher sintering temperature of LBMO compound resulted in a significant increase of the saturation magnetization to 50.8 emu/g for the sample sintered at 1100º C.

Curcumin (CRM) is a natural polyphenol with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer ther... more Curcumin (CRM) is a natural polyphenol with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer therapeutic properties. However, CRM therapeutic potential is limited by low water solubility and bioavailability. Intraliposomal remote loading describes the retention of drugs in liposome cores in response to transmembrane pH gradient. The current study describes for the first time the remote loading of CRM into liposomes using secondary (E-bCD) and tertiary (D-bCD) amino-modified b-cyclodextrins (bCDs) as carriers and solubilizers. bCDs were chemically modified to prepare the ionizable weak base functional group followed by forming a guest-host complex of CRM in the modified bCDs hydrophobic cavities via a solvent evaporation encapsulation technique. These complexes were then actively loaded into preformed liposomes, composed of DPPC/cholesterol (65/35 molar ratio) via pH gradient. The formation of CRM-bCDs inclusion complexes was characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and NMR spectroscopy. The complex stoichiometric ratio was determined to be 1 : 1 of CRM-bCDs based on Job's plot which was also confirmed by the modified Benesi-Hildebrand equation with increasing probability of forming the 1 : 2 ratio of CRM-bCDs. The apparent formation constants (K f) of 51.6, 100.9 and 55.4 mM À2 were determined for CRM-bCD, CRM-E-bCD, and CRM-D-bCD complexes, respectively. Liposome size, charge and polydispersity index indicate the presence of a homogeneous population before and after active loading. The encapsulation efficiencies of CRM-bCD complexes into pH gradient preformed liposomes were 16.5, 51.1, and 41.7 for CRM-bCD, CRM-E-bCD, and CRM-D-bCD, respectively, showing more than 5 fold increase compared to normal liposomes. The current study provides a novel remote loading approach utilizing chemically modified cyclodextrins to incorporate hydrophobic drugs into liposomes.

Arsenite adsorption on biochar-based nano copper oxide composites using Mediterranean cypress con... more Arsenite adsorption on biochar-based nano copper oxide composites using Mediterranean cypress cones: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies Short Title: Arsenite adsorption on biochar-based nano copper oxide composites using Mediterranean cypress cones: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies

In this work, the differences in the behavior and properties of the emitted electron beam from tu... more In this work, the differences in the behavior and properties of the emitted electron beam from tungsten (W) tips were studied before and after coating these tips with a thin layer of dielectric material followed by a thin layer of gold, to improve the emission current density, stability, and emission current pattern concentration. The core of the composite cathode is made of high purity tungsten (W). Measurements have been made with clean W emitters before and after coating these tips with two types of epoxy resins (epoxy 478 resins or epoxy UPR-4 resins) followed by a thin layer of gold. For critical comparison, several tungsten tips with various apex-radii have been prepared using electrochemical etching techniques. The emitters have been coated by dielectric thin films of various thicknesses and the layer of Au used for coating the Epoxy layer has the same thicknesses. Their behavior has been recorded before and after the process of coating. These measurements include the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics and Fowler-Nordheim (F-N) plots. Imaging has also been done using a visible light microscope (VLM), along with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to help in characterizing the epoxy layer thickness on the tip surface after coating. Besides, the emission patterns have been recorded from the phosphorescent screen of a field electron emission microscope (FEM). Having two types of composite systems tested under similar conditions provided several advantages. These measurements helped in producing a new type of emitters that have more suitable features with each of the two resins

In this study, Jordanian diatomaceous earth (JDA) and commercial diatomaceous earth (standard dia... more In this study, Jordanian diatomaceous earth (JDA) and commercial diatomaceous earth (standard diatomaceous earth, SDA) were used for adsorption of samarium (Sm)(III) and neodymium (Nd)(III) ions from aqueous solutions using batch technique as a function of initial concentration of metal ions, adsorbent dosage, ionic strength, initial pH solution, contact time, and temperature. Both adsorbents were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area, and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Maximum metal ion uptake was observed after 100 min of agitation, and the uptake has decreased with increasing temperature and reached a maximum at pH ≈ 5. Different types of adsorption isotherms and kinetic models were used to describe the Nd(III) and Sm(III) ion adsorption. The experimental data fitted within the following isotherms in the order Langmuir > Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) > Freundlich and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model based on their coefficient of determination (R 2), chi-square (χ 2), and error function (F error%) values. Maximum adsorption uptakes, according to the Langmuir model, were obtained as 188.679 mg/g and 185.185 mg/g for Sm(III) and 169.492 mg/g and 149.254 mg/g for Nd(III) by JDA and SDA, respectively. The results of thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption of Sm(III) and Nd(III) ions onto JDA and SDA is a feasible, spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy driven. The best recovery for Sm(III) and Nd(III) was obtained when the 0.05 M EDTA + 0.05 M H 3 PO 4 mixture was used as an eluent.

Given the huge and increasing global demand for permanent magnet supply, even slight improvements... more Given the huge and increasing global demand for permanent magnet supply, even slight improvements of the magnetic properties and cost effectiveness of permanent magnet materials could incur huge energy and money savings. This article is concerned with the optimization of the experimental conditions for the production of pure M-type BaxSr1-xFe12O19 hexaferrites with improved magnetic properties. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the formation of a single M-type hexaferrite in the ball milling route at a sintering temperature of 1100° C for the samples with x = 0.0 and 0.5, and at 1200° C for x = 1.0. In the sol-gel route, however, a single M-type phase was successfully synthesized at a significantly lower temperature of 890° C. The magnetic parameters of the samples prepared by ball milling exhibited an improvement at lower Ba contents. On the other hand, the samples prepared by sol-gel method exhibited a significant improvement of the intrinsic coercivity (HcM) compared with those prepared by ball milling, with the highest value of 5.9 kOe observed at x = 0.0 and sintering temperature of 1000 °C. The saturation and remnant magnetization, however, were not influenced significantly by the synthesis route, and remained relatively high, comparable with the best parameters for ferrite isotropic magnets. The sample with x = 1.0 prepared by solgel method and sintering at 890 °C exhibited the highest residual induction Br = 2509 G, practical coercivity HcB = 1919 Oe, and maximum energy product (BH)max = 9.9 kJ/m 3 .

This article is concerned with the synthesis of high-quality (Mg, Zn)2Z hexaferrites. A series of... more This article is concerned with the synthesis of high-quality (Mg, Zn)2Z hexaferrites. A series of the ferrites Ba3(ZnxMg1−x)2Fe24O41 (x = 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0) were prepared by high-energy ball milling and sintering at 1250 • C for 2 h. The structural and magnetic properties of the samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometer. X-ray diffraction and thermomagnetic studies indicated that the Z-type phase was dominant at x = 0.5, and decreased with the increase of x, whereas the fraction of the Y-type hexaferrite increased. The saturation magnetization and initial permeability, however, increased slightly with the increase of x. The coercivity, on the other hand, was in the range 40-54 Oe for all samples, and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy field did not change significantly with increasing x. The FMR frequency estimated from the static magnetic parameters was ≈ 19 GHz for all samples.

Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A

Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 2021

Arabian Journal of Chemistry

Environmental Science and Pollution Research

Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A