(Unused) potentials of educators’ covert language policies at public schools in Limpopo, South Africa:
- Authors: Kretzer, Michael M , Kaschula, Russell H
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/174679 , vital:42500 , DOI: 10.1039/D0PP00075B
- Description: Language policy is an influencing factor of the educational outcome for pupils in Africa. Colonial languages have been largely used and African Languages are neglected. Despite this, the South African Constitution (1996) declares eleven official languages. However, curricular developments favour Afrikaans and English. To analyse the implementation of the official language policy, we focus on Limpopo Province. Over 1000 questionnaires were answered by teachers. This approach aimed to analyse the language practices and language attitudes of teachers. Schools in Limpopo showed significant differences between the official language policy and the daily language practices. Some teachers implement the official language policy; others use one or more African languages in their oral communications during the lessons in the form of Code Switching.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The rituals of labour migration among the Gcaleka
- Authors: McAllister, Patrick Alister
- Date: 1979
- Subjects: Gcaleka (African people) -- Rites and ceremonies , Gcaleka (African people) -- Employment
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:2081 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1001598 , Gcaleka (African people) -- Rites and ceremonies , Gcaleka (African people) -- Employment
- Description: The Xhosa people of the south-eastern part of South Africa have been involved in migratory labour for three generations and more. This study is concerned with the experience of migrant labour among the Gcaleka, who form part of the Xhosa cluster, and who reside in the Willowvale district of the Transkei. It is primarily an attempt to examine and understand the ways in which conservative ("red") Gcaleka society has adapted to the institution of large scale, oscillating labour migration, by looking at the "meaning" of migrant labour to the people involved, and in terms of the relationship between rural social structure and going out to work in town or mine. Much of this meaning and of the relationship between structure and migration is evident in certain ritual and symbolic actions which are associated with a labour migrant's departure from and return to the community. The bulk of the study, therefore, is taken up with a description and analysis of these "rituals of labour migration". An attempt has been made also to relate the rituals of labour migration to the structural principles of society and to underlying moral and religious beliefs and values, and also to the wider Southern African socio-political framework of which the Gcaleka are part. During fieldwork constant reference was made by informants to (ukwakh' umzi) the importance of "building the homestead" and the role of migrant labour in this. The procedure followed here, therefore, after having dealt with basic "background" material and having given an indication of the economic dependence of Gcaleka on migrant labour, is to take the individual homestead as a central reference point. Certain important aspects of social and religious life (kinship, ward section organization, economic relationships and the ancestor cult) are discussed from the point of view of the homestead and the relationships between homesteads in order to outline basic social organizational principles and to identify the socio-economic importance and cultural meaning of migratory labour to conservative Gcaleka. This leads into a discussion of Gcaleka morality in an attempt to demonstrate that the two basic organizational pr inc iples, patrilineali ty and neighbourhood, and their interrelationship, have a counterpart in moral thought. This discussion involves also some tentative ideas regarding the nature of the relationship between morality and religion in this society. All this, it is hoped, provides a basis for the description and analysis of the rituals of labour migration, which follow and which express, inter alia, the importance of the homestead, the organizational importance of kinship and neighbourhood, and certain basic moral precepts. Particular attention is paid to the most elaborate and spectacular of these rituals, the umsindleko beer drink. A separate section is devoted to an attempted analysis of the rituals in terms of Van Gennep's well known schema of rites de passage. Here the absent migrant is viewed as being one who has been separated from society and who has entered a liminal state, to be incorporated back into society once he returns from work. The extent to which liminality is accompanied by the experience of what Victor Turner calls "communitas" is also considered. The general conclusion is that the rituals of labour migration serve as a cultural device to rigidly separate the world of work from the morally superior home reality, to reinforce acceptance of the culturally determined role of migratory labour and migrant labourers and to relate the migratory experience to rural social structure in such a way that the threat of migrant labour is overcome and the rural structure strengthened. To answer the question of why this standpoint towards labour migration has been adopted, it is necessary to outline the position of the Gcaleka within the political economy of Southern Africa, and it is argued that the maintenance of conservatism and the interpretation of migrant labour in terms of the rural structure is largely a response to this position
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1979
The in vitro photo-sonodynamic combinatorial therapy activity of cationic and zwitterionic phthalocyanines on MCF-7 and HeLa cancer cell lines
- Authors: Nene, Lindokuhle Cindy , Buthelezi, Khanyisile , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/295891 , vital:57387 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2022.114116"
- Description: The syntheses and characterization studies of zwitterionic 2,9,16,23-tetrakis-(N-propane sultone-morpholino) zinc(II) (4) and 2,9,16,23-tetrakis-(2,5-dimethyl-4-(N-propane sultone-morpholinomethyl))-phenoxy zinc(II) (6) phthalocyanines are reported in this work. The photophysical properties, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and in vitro anticancer photodynamic (PDT), sonodynamic (SDT), and photo-sonodynamic combination (PSDT) therapy activities of the Pcs were studied and compared to their cationic counterparts: (2,9,16,23-tetrakis-(N-methyl-morpholino) Zn(II)Pc, 3), (2,9,16,23-tetrakis-(2,5-dimethyl-4-(N-methylmorpholine)-phenoxy) Zn(II)Pc, 5). The cationic Pcs maintained higher anticancer activity for all treatment types and had higher ROS generation compared to the zwitterionic Pcs. Singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals were generated during ultrasound and combination irradiations of the Pcs. The zwitterionic Pcs also generated carbon radicals under ultrasound and combination irradiations. The ability of the Pcs to generate ROS is essential for PDT, SDT and PSDT, thus making these Pcs potential anticancer probes for these treatment types. Furthermore, the Pcs demonstrated the ability to bind to bovine serum albumin protein.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Synthesis of a near infrared-actuated phthalocyanine-lipid vesicle system for augmented photodynamic therapy
- Authors: Nwahara, Namdi , Managa, Muthumuni , Stoffels, Mihlali , Britton, Jonathan , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/185395 , vital:44383 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.synthmet.2021.116811"
- Description: The efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) is often limited by the poor bio-distributive properties of conventional photosensitizers and the local hypoxic microenvironment that characterises most solid tumours. Herein, a novel in situ oxygenic lipid formulation for photodynamic therapy (PDT) is reported. Such a hybrid was synthesized by adsorbing bimetallic nanozyme, MnO2@PtNPs (NPs = nanoparticles) onto graphene quantum dots (GQDs) – zinc (II) phthalocyanine conjugates, followed by liposomal encapsulation, affording it enhanced water solubility. The MnO2@PtNPs, which are is shown to possess excellent catalase-like properties surpassing that of MnO2 or PtNPs alone, serves to catalyze H2O2 to O2, while the zinc (II) phthalocyanine (1) serves to transform the formed oxygen to generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen immediately. We show that by combining each function of the respective building blocks, the as-synthesized 1-GQDs-MnO2@PtNPs-liposomes not only maintains the properties of oxygen supplementation through H2O2 catalysis but also displays cooperative properties for enhanced singlet oxygen production. Consequently, a remarkably improved PDT efficacy was observed for 1-GQDs-MnO2@PtNPs-liposomes in both normoxia and hypoxia. These results demonstrate the potential applicability of such nanozyme constituted 1-GQDs-MnO2@PtNPs-liposomes for achieving tumour treatment in hypoxic conditions by PDT.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Sn (IV) porphyrin-biotin decorated nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots nanohybrids for photodynamic therapy
- Authors: Magaela, N Bridged , Matshitse, Refilwe , Balaji, Babu , Managa, Muthumuni , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2022
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/230018 , vital:49733 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2021.115624"
- Description: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive therapeutic procedure for cancer treatment. This study focuses on the synthesis, photophysicochemical properties, and PDT activity of Sn (IV) porphyrin (2), when linked to biotin decorated nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (B-NGQDs). The porphyrin complex 2 was conjugated through an ester bond to B-NGQDs to form 2-B-NGQDs. Singlet oxygen quantum yield increased for 2 when linked to B-NGQDs to form 2-B-NQGDs. The dark toxicity and photodynamic therapy studies were conducted for 2, NGQDs and their conjugates using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The cell viability for dark toxicity of all the compounds was above 90%, and 2-B-NGQDs showed high PDT activity at a concentration of 40 µg/mL with cell viability of 22%.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022
Photodynamic activity of 2, 6-dibrominated dimethylaminophenylbuta-1, 3-dienylBODIPY dyes
- Authors: Khubeka, Gugu , Babu, Balaji , Prinsloo, Earl , Kobayashi, Nagao , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/190804 , vital:45030 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424620500509"
- Description: Mono- and disubstituted 2,6-dibromo-dimethylaminophenylbuta-1,3-dienylBODIPY dyes were successfully prepared, and their in vitro photodynamic activities against MCF-7 breast cancer cells were evaluated with a Thorlabs M660L4 660 nm LED (336 J · cm−2)−2). The IC5050 value of the monophenylbuta-1,3-dienylBODIPY was ca. 2.1 μμM, while that of the diphenylbuta-1,3-dienylBODIPY was > 50 μμM. Both dyes exhibited minimal dark toxicity. The results demonstrate that monosubstituted 2,6-dibromo-dimethylaminophenylbuta-1,3-dienylBODIPY dyes merit further in-depth study for use as photosensitizer dyes in photodynamic therapy.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
Folic acid-modified phthalocyanine-nanozyme loaded liposomes for targeted photodynamic therapy
- Authors: Nwahara, Nnamdi , Abrahams, Garth , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2021
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/231369 , vital:49881 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2021.102527"
- Description: The hypoxic tumour microenvironment and poor spatiotemporal localization of photosensitizers are two significant obstacles that limit practical applications of photodynamic therapy. In response, a biocompatible, light-activatable liposome integrated with both a zinc phthalocyanine photodynamic component and Pt nanoparticles-decorated with MnO2 catalase-mimicking component are engineered. This multifunctional system was rationally designed using unsaturated phospholipids to achieve on-demand drug release following light irradiation. Specificity was achieved by folic acid functionalization resulting in folate-modified liposomes (FTLiposomes). We demonstrated its specific uptake by fluorescence imaging using folate receptor (FR) overexpressing HeLa and MCF-7 cells as in vitro models. This multifunctional liposome exhibits superior hypoxic anti-tumour effects and holds the potential to reduce side effects associated with untargeted therapy. Fluorescence of the constituent ZnPc and folate-receptor targeting could enable tracking and permit spatiotemporal regulation for improved cancer treatment.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021
A STAT3 of addiction: adipose tissue, adipocytokine signalling and STAT3 as mediators of metabolic remodelling in the tumour microenvironment
- Authors: Kadye, Rose , Stoffels, Mihlali , Fanucci, Sidne , Mbanxa, Siso , Prinsloo, Earl
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/149395 , vital:38846 , https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9041043
- Description: Metabolic remodelling of the tumour microenvironment is a major mechanism by which cancer cells survive and resist treatment. The pro-oncogenic inflammatory cascade released by adipose tissue promotes oncogenic transformation, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and evasion of apoptosis. STAT3 has emerged as an important mediator of metabolic remodelling. As a downstream effector of adipocytokines and cytokines, its canonical and non-canonical activities affect mitochondrial functioning and cancer metabolism. In this review, we examine the central role played by the crosstalk between the transcriptional and mitochondrial roles of STAT3 to promote survival and further oncogenesis within the tumour microenvironment with a particular focus on adipose-breast cancer interactions.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
A comparative study of the photophysicochemical and photodynamic activity properties of meso-4-methylthiophenyl functionalized Sn (IV) tetraarylporphyrins and triarylcorroles
- Authors: Dingiswayo, Somila , Babu, Balaji , Prinsloo, Earl , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/186157 , vital:44469 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424620500273"
- Description: Tin(IV) complexes of a 4-methylthiophenyl functionalized porphyrin (1-Sn) and its corrole analogue (2-Sn) were synthesized so that their photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic activities against MCF-7 breast cancer cells could be compared. Singlet oxygen luminescence studies revealed that 1-Sn and 2-Sn have comparable ΦΔΦΔ values in DMF of 0.59 and 0.60, respectively, while the IC5050 values after irradiation of MCF-7 cells for 30 min with a Thorlabs 625 nm LED (432 J · cm−2)−2) were determined to be 12.4 and 8.9 μμM. The results demonstrate that the cellular uptake of 2-Sn and its molar absorptivity at the irradiation wavelength play a crucial role during in vitro cytotoxicity studies.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Fucoidan from Ecklonia maxima is a powerful inhibitor of the diabetes-related enzyme, Éø-glucosidase
- Authors: Daub, Chantal D , Mabate, Blessing , Malgas, Samkelo , Pletschke, Brett I
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/425982 , vital:72304 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.02.161"
- Description: Ecklonia maxima, an endemic South African seaweed, is a potential source of beneficial bioactive compounds. Among these compounds, fucoidan, a sulphated polysaccharide has a wide range of bioactivities including anti-diabetic activity. In this study, fucoidan was extracted from E. maxima by the hot water extraction method and then characterised by colorimetric assays for sugar composition. The extraction from E. maxima yielded 6.89% fucoidan which was found to contain 4.45 ± 0.25% L-fucose and 6.01 ± 0.53% sulphate. The water extracted E. maxima fucoidan had a low molecular weight of approximately 10 kDa. Structural studies (FT-IR, NMR and XRD) confirmed the structure and integrity of the fucoidan to be similar to previously studied fucoidans in literature. Finally, the activities of starch digestive enzymes; α-amylase and α-glucosidase, were investigated in the presence of the E. maxima fucoidan extract. Fucoidan from E. maxima was observed to be a potent mixed-type inhibitor of α-glucosidase with an IC50 range of 0.27–0.31 mg.ml-1, which was significantly lower than the commercial anti-diabetic standard, acarbose. Our present study demonstrated that fucoidan from E. maxima is a more powerful inhibitor compared to some standard anti-diabetic compounds and thus shows great potential for managing type 2 diabetes.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Screening for small molecule modulators of Trypanosoma brucei Hsp70 chaperone activity based upon alcyonarian coral-derived natural products
- Authors: Andreassend, Sarah K , Bentley, Stephen , Blatch, Gregory L , Boshoff, Aileen , Keyzers, Robert A
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/426045 , vital:72309 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.3390/md18020081"
- Description: The Trypanosoma brucei Hsp70/J-protein machinery plays an essential role in survival, differentiation, and pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite, and is an emerging target against African Trypanosomiasis. This study evaluated a set of small molecules, inspired by the malonganenones and nuttingins, as modulators of the chaperone activity of the cytosolic heat inducible T. brucei Hsp70 and constitutive TbHsp70.4 proteins. The compounds were assessed for cytotoxicity on both the bloodstream form of T. b. brucei parasites and a mammalian cell line. The compounds were then investigated for their modulatory effect on the aggregation suppression and ATPase activities of the TbHsp70 proteins. A structure–activity relationship for the malonganenone-class of alkaloids is proposed based upon these results.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
The photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic therapy activity of phenyldiazenyl phenoxy substituted phthalocyanines when incorporated into Pluronic® F127 micelles
- Authors: Motloung, Banele M , Sekhosana, Kutloano E , Managa, Muthumuni , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/186769 , vital:44532 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2019.114157"
- Description: The synthesis, photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic activity (PDT) of 4(4-phenyldiazenyl) phenoxy substituted indium (III) (InPc) and zinc (ZnPc) phthalocyanines when alone or incorporated into Pluronic_ F127 micelles are presented in this study. The InPc exhibited higher singlet oxygen (UD) at 0.47 compared to the ZnPc at 0.20 in dimethylsulfoxide. The UD values in the presence of Pluronic_ F127 and in water, were 0.32 for InPc and 0.09 for ZnPc. The triplet quantum yields (UT) were 0.92 for InPc and 0.32 for ZnPc in DMSO. The PDT activity followed the same trend as the singlet oxygen quantum yields. At the highest concentration, InPc in Pluronic_ F127 gave 22% cell viability compared to 34% for complex ZnPc. The partition coefficient Kp values were determined using the water and octanol system. InPc had a larger Kp suggesting that it is more likely to be taken up by the cancer cells, hence it exhibited better PDT activity.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Preparation of NIR absorbing axial substituted tin (iv) porphyrins and their photocytotoxic properties
- Authors: Babu, Balaji , Amuhaya, Edith K , Oluwole, David O , Prinsloo, Earl , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/234592 , vital:50211 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C8MD00373D"
- Description: Sn(IV) porphyrins ([Sn(IV)TTP(3PyO)2] (5) and [Sn(IV)TPP(3PyO)2] (6) [tetrathienylporphyrin (TTP), tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), and pyridyloxy (PyO)]) were prepared and characterized and their photocytotoxicity upon irradiation with 625 nm light has been studied. The presence of the 3PyO axial ligands was found to limit the aggregation and enhance the solubility of 5 and 6 in DMF/H2O (1 : 1). The photophysical properties and photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity of the meso-2-thienyl and meso-phenyl-substituted Sn(IV) porphyrins are compared. 5 and 6 were found to be photocytotoxic in MCF-7 cancer cells when irradiated with a Thorlabs M625L3 LED at 625 nm but remained nontoxic in the dark. The PDT activity of Sn(IV) meso-tetra-2-thienylporphyrin 5 was found to be significantly enhanced relative to its analogous tetraphenylporphyrin 6. There is a marked red-shift of the Q00 band of 5 into the therapeutic window due to the meso-2-thienyl rings, and 5 has an unusually high singlet oxygen quantum yield value of 0.83 in DMF. The results demonstrate that readily synthesized axially ligated Sn(IV) meso-arylporphyrins are potentially suitable for use as singlet oxygen photosensitizers in biomedical applications and merit further in depth investigation in this context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Synthesis, characterization and photodynamic activity of Sn (iv) triarylcorroles with red-shifted Q bands
- Authors: Babu, Balaji , Prinsloo, Earl , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187521 , vital:44668 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C9NJ03391B"
- Description: Two Sn(IV) triarylcorroles were synthesised and characterized. The absorption spectrum of a meso-thien-2-yl substituted tin(IV)corrole (1-Sn) is red shifted compared to its phenyl analogue (2-Sn) and shows no sign of aggregation in solution. 1-Sn and 2-Sn exhibited singlet oxygen quantum yields of 0.87 and 0.54 in DMF, and have a triplet lifetime of 31 and 50 μs, respectively. Time dependent cellular uptake in MCF-7 cells for 1-Sn reached a peak at 24 h, and 1-Sn was found to be more lipophilic than 2-Sn. 1-Sn showed good photo-cytotoxicity on exposure to a Thorlabs 625 nm LED with an IC50 value of 3.2 μM and remained inactive in the dark.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
Photodynamic activity of 2, 6-diiodo-3, 5-dithienylvinyleneBODIPYs and their folate-functionalized chitosan-coated Pluronic® F-127 micelles on MCF-7 breast cancer cells
- Authors: Molupe, Nthabeleng , Babu, Balaji , Oluwole, David O , Prinsloo, Earl , Gai, Lizhi , Shen, Zhen , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/186222 , vital:44474 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424619501773"
- Description: A 2,6-diiodo-3,5-dithienylvinyleneBODIPY dye was prepared and encapsulated with folate-chitosan capped Pluronic®® F-127 to provide drug delivery systems for photodynamic therapy (PDT). Moderately enhanced singlet oxygen quantum yields were observed for the dye encapsulation complexes in water. The in vitro dark cytotoxicity and photodynamic activity were investigated on the human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line. Minimal dark cytotoxicity was observed for the BODIPY dyes in 5% DMSO and when encapsulated in folate-functionalized chitosan-coated Pluronic®® F-127 micelles, since the cell viability values are consistently greater than 80% over the 0-40 μg⋅mL−1μg⋅mL−1 concentration range. Upon irradiation of the samples, significant cytocidal activity was observed for the encapsulation complex of a 2,6-diiodo-8-dimethylaminophenyl-3,5-dithienylvinyleneBODIPY dye with less than 50% viable cells observed at concentrations ≥20μg⋅mL−1≥20μg⋅mL−1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Photophysicochemical and photodynamic therapy properties of metallophthalocyanines linked to gold speckled silica nanoparticles
- Authors: Dube, Edith , Oluwole, David O , Niemuwa, Nwaji , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/187472 , vital:44657 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdpdt.2019.01.019"
- Description: This work reports on the linkage of 2(3),9(10),16(17),23(24) tetrakis [(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl phenoxy) phthalocyaninato] zinc(II) (1) and indium(III) chloride (2) to gold speckled silica (GSS) nanoparticles via gold to sulphur (Au-S) and gold to nitrogen (Au-N) self-assembly to form the conjugates: 1-GSS and 2-GSS. The formed conjugates were characterized using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques, and the photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7 cells) were studied. The conjugates afforded decrease in fluorescence quantum yields with corresponding increase in triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields when compared to phthalocyanines alone. Singlet oxygen is cytotoxic to cancer cells hence it is important for PDT. The in vitro dark toxicity of complex 2 and 2-GSS against MCF–7 cells showed ≥93% viable cells within concentration ranges of 10–160 μg/mL. 2–GSS showed enhanced PDT activity with less than 50% viable cells at 80 μg/mL as compared to 2 and GSS alone which showed > 60% viable cells within 10–160 μg/mL. The observed improvements in the PDT activity of 2-GSS could be attributed to the high singlet oxygen generation of 2-GSS compared to 2 alone in addition to the phototoxicity of GSS.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
The photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic therapy activity of In and Zn phthalocyanines when incorporated into individual or mixed Pluronic® micelles
- Authors: Motloung, Banele M , Babu, Balaji , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2020
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/186124 , vital:44465 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2020.114683"
- Description: The synthesis, photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic activity (PDT) of tetra-pyridyloxy (1,2) and benzothiazole (3, 4) substituted indium (III) (1,3) and zinc (2, 4) phthalocyanines (Pcs) and their incorporation into Pluronic® F127 and Pluronic L121/F127 mixed micelles (the latter for 3 and 4 only) are presented in this study. The InPcs exhibited higher singlet oxygen (ΦΔ) at 0.76 and 0.68 compared to the ZnPc’s at 0.47 and 0.44 in dimethyl sulfoxide. The ΦΔ values in the presence of Pluronic® F127 and in water, were 0.39 and 0.42 for InPcs and 0.23 and 0.37 for ZnPc. The ΦΔ values in the presence of Pluronic F127/L121 mixed micelles for complex 3 and 4 were 0.51 and 0.29 in water. The Kp was determined using the water and octanol system. InPcs had larger Kp values suggesting that they are more likely to be taken up by the cancer cells hence they showed better PDT activity
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2020
Leveraging a peer-learning community and expert community members in the integration of indigenous knowledge into the learning and teaching of Grade 10 Chemistry on the rate of reactions
- Authors: Simasiku, Fredrick Simataa
- Date: 2023-03-29
- Subjects: Chemical kinetics Study and teaching (Secondary) Namibia , Ethnoscience Namibia , Scientific knowledge , Peer teaching Namibia , Pedagogical content knowledge , Culturally relevant pedagogy Namibia
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/366211 , vital:65843 , DOI https://doi.org/10.21504/10962/366211
- Description: The integration of indigenous knowledge (IK) in science teaching in Namibia is part of the transformation agenda that hopes to revitalise and make science accessible and relevant to learners’ everyday life experiences. However, there seems to be contradictions between the intended curriculum, the enacted curriculum and the attained curriculum. This disjuncture is exacerbated in part by the fact that science teachers seem to be struggling to be cultural knowledge brokers. It is against this backdrop that this formative interventionist study sought to leverage a peer-learning community and expert community members in the integration of IK into the learning and teaching of Grade 10 Chemistry on the rate of reactions. To achieve this, we mobilised the indigenous technologies of preserving and pounding Mahangu and making Oshikundu to mediate learning of the rate of reactions. The study was guided by the broad overarching research question: How does a peer-learning community and expert community members leverage the integration of indigenous knowledge into the learning and teaching of Grade 10 Chemistry on the rate of reactions? In this study, I used two complementary paradigms, viz. the transformative research paradigm and the indigenous research paradigm. Within these paradigms, I employed a qualitative case study research design using the community of practice and participatory action research as research approaches. Five Grade 10 Chemistry teachers from three schools in the Ohangwena region were involved in this study. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews, co-analysis of curriculum documents, workshop presentations and discussions, practical demonstrations, participatory observation, lesson observation, stimulated recall interviews, and participants’ reflections. Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and Shulman’s Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) were employed as theoretical frameworks in this study. Additionally, within PCK, Mavhunga and Rollnick’s Topic-Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge components were used as an analytical framework. I used an inductive-deductive approach to data analysis to come up with sub-themes and themes. The main finding of this study revealed that leveraging a peer-learning community and the expert community members (ECMs) empowered the Chemistry teachers involved in this study to be cultural knowledge brokers and their understanding of how to integrate IK in their teaching improved. Both their subject matter knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge improved through co-developing and enacting exemplar lessons that integrated IK from the expert community members as well as from their own environments. A main insight of this study is that Chemistry teachers should seek opportunities to create peer-learning communities that engage with expert community members who are the custodians of the cultural heritage. The study also shows that this approach will support them to become better cultural knowledge brokers and help their learners bridge the divide between school science and what they have learnt in their homes or community. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-03-29
A gold–chitosan composite with low symmetry zinc phthalocyanine for enhanced singlet oxygen generation and improved photodynamic therapy activity
- Authors: Dube, Edith , Oluwole, David O , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/233397 , vital:50087 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1039/C8NJ00801A"
- Description: Novel zinc(II) 3-(4-((3,17,23-tris(4-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)phenoxy)phthalocyanine-9-yl)oxy)phenyl)propanoic acid (complex 3) was synthesised. Complex 3 was subsequently reacted with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), chitosan (CT) and a gold–chitosan (AuCT) hybrid to form 3-AuNPs, 3-CT and 3-AuCT, respectively. The conjugates afforded a decrease in fluorescence quantum yield with a corresponding increase in the triplet and singlet quantum yields compared to complex 3. The in vitro dark cytotoxicity and photodynamic therapy activity (PDT) of complex 3 and 3-AuCT composites were investigated against epithelial breast cancer cells (MCF-7) with both the samples showing minimum dark cytotoxicity. They both accounted for a cell viability of ≥90% at a concentration of ≤59.2 μg mL−1. 3-AuCT showed better PDT activity (compared to 3 alone) with less than 50% viable cells at a concentration of ≥29.6 μg mL−1 making it potentially applicable for PDT. On the other hand, AuCT displayed some activity against cancer cells, probably due to photothermal activity since gold is a light absorber, however it had more than 50% viable cells at a concentration of ≤59.2 μg mL−1.
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- Date Issued: 2018
Effects of pluronic silica nanoparticles on the photophysical and photodynamic therapy behavior of triphenyl-p-phenoxy benzoic acid metalloporphyrins
- Authors: Managa, Muthumuni , Britton, Jonathan , Prinsloo, Earl , Nyokong, Tebello
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: To be catalogued
- Language: English
- Type: text , article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/239698 , vital:50756 , xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00958972.2016.1236372"
- Description: 5, 10, 15, Triphenyl-20-p-phenoxy benzoic acid porphyrins (P) containing Zn (ZnP), Ga (GaP), and Si (SiP) were synthesized and conjugated to pluronic-silica (PluS) nanoparticles (NPs) where the fluorescence and singlet oxygen generating behavior of the porphyrins were investigated. The highest singlet oxygen quantum yield (ΦΔ) was obtained for ZnP. When the porphyrins were conjugated to the PluS NPs, the ΦΔ was quenched and fluorescence was enhanced. The pore size of the NPs upon conjugation decreased from 18.9 nm for PluS NPs to 2.4 nm (for ZnP as an example) as determined by applying the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. The porphyrin complexes and their conjugates were tested for their photodynamic therapy (PDT) activity on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. It was found that ZnP and its conjugate showed the highest PDT activity. The p > 0.05 indicated that ZnP is significantly different than GaP and SiP.
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- Date Issued: 2016