Weight variations with time during the melting of suspended ice cubes under controlled conditions at various temperatures ranging from 10–45°C have been experimentally studied. The melting data have been used to determine certain parameters leading to the calculation of complete melting time, thickness of the water film on ice surface and the temperature at the interface of air and water films.

Novel biodegradable aliphatic poly(ether-urethane)s (PEUs) based on pluronic F-68 (PLF68) and castor oil were synthesized by the solution polymerization technique. These polymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (¹HNMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to confirm the PEU formation and the molecular weight. Moderate molecular weight PEUs were obtained and converted into microspheres by solvent evaporation method to study the controlled release (CR) characteristics for 5-flurouracil (5-FU). PLF-68 acts as amphiphilic filler, which enhances the release of a hydrophobic drug such as 5-FU. Sizes of the microspheres as measured by laser light scattering technique ranged between 15 and 42 𝜇m. An increase in the size of particles was observed with increasing molar ratio of PLF-68 with respect to castor oil. The percentage encapsulation efficiency varied between 71 and 98. Surface morphology of the microspheres as studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the spherical nature of the particles with wrinkles on their surfaces. The release of 5-FU through the microspheres was investigated in pH 7.4-phosphate buffer. An increase in release rate was observed with increasing molar ratio of PLF68 with respect to castor oil.

Benzylidene and benzyl thiazolidinediones, oxazolidinediones, isoxazolidinediones and their acyclic analogs like alpha alkylthio/alkoxy phenylpropanoic acids, beta-keto esters and tyrosine-based compounds possess broad therapeutic potential in general and as Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors (PPARs) agonists in particular in the management of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidaemia for the treatment of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). We have synthesised and characterized some novel and suitably substituted heterocyclyl linked benzaldehydes and anilines, which can be easily and very readily derivatized to all the above mentioned classes to generate new chemical entities of broader biological significance. Synthesis of their benzylidene thiazolidinedione and diethyl malonate and also benzyl diethyl malonate and alpha-bromoesters derivatives is reported in some of the cases in the present work.

The design and synthesis of benzimidazolyl and indolyl linked 𝛼-alkoxy phenylpropanoic acid derivatives and the 𝛽-keto ester analogues in an effort to develop novel peroxisome proliferator activated receptors ligands expected to exhibit PPAR𝛼 and PPAR𝛾 partial agonism in the management of hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is reported. Computational validation of the designed molecules through activity prediction and docking studies showed expected results.

Diarylbenzopyrans and their annulated derivatives are a class of photochromic compounds, which have been extensively investigated for photochromism. In fact, some naphthopyrans are employed industrially in ophthalmic lens applications. Photoirradiation of 2,2-diphenylbenzopyran leads to the formation of coloredo-quinonoid intermediates. The latter revert too rapidly to allow their observation only at low temperatures (173–263 K). Annulation and other strategies are exploited to observe the colored o-quinonoid intermediates that persist for a few minutes at room temperature. We have examined photochromism of a set of silyloxysubstituted 2,2-diphenylbenzo- and naphthopyrans to explore how the mesomeric effects transmitted by the strongly e-donating silyloxy group substituted in the ring and at phenyl groups manifest in the spectrokineticproperties of their photogenerated colored o-quinonoid intermediates. We show that silyloxy substitution in the benzopyran ring leads to remarkable stabilization of the colored intermediates to enable their persistence at 283 K for a few minutes. In contrast, similar substitution in the C2-phenyl rings destabilizes the colored intermediates.