Multifaceted chitin/poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid composite nanogels
Authors: Gopi Chellan
Raja Biswas
R Jayakumar
N Sanoj Rejinold
Journal: International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (2014)
Discipline: BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
Keywords: Chitin; Composite nanogels; Hyperthermia; Microbial and cellular imaging; PLGA.
Affiliations: Amrita Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Ponekkara, Kochi 682041, India., Amrita Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Ponekkara, Kochi 682041, India. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  Cyto-compatible, 80nm sized chitin/PLGA composite nanogels (chit/PLGA-comp NGs) were prepared by regeneration method and characterized. The multifaceted chit/PLGA-comp NGs were surface modified with Au, Fe3O4, CdTe/ZnTe-QDs and umbelliferone, respectively. 185nm sized Au-chit/PLGA-comp NGs, 170nm sized QD-chit/PLGA-comp-NGs and 160nm sized Fe3O4-chit/PLGA-comp-NGs showed RF heating. The QD-chit/PLGA-comp-NGs and 180nm sized umb-chit/PLGA-comp-NGs were well uptaken by Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The chit/PLGA-comp NGs could be useful for microbial monitoring and RF application for cancer therapy. The preliminary data showed that multifaceted chit/PLGA-comp-NGs could be useful for hyperthermia for cancer treatment and microbial labelling and imaging. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 This article has a Corrigendum (May 2019). Of note, several papers from this research group have recent corrections and errata. Most of these appear to correct duplicated panels. The text of this Corrigendum reads:  In the original manuscript, Fig. 8c inadvertently repeated as Fig. 8a. The corrected Fig. 8 is presented below. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. I thank the authors for correcting this figure. Here is the original Figure 8. It was not a simple duplication this time, but a shifted photo leading to an unexpected area of similarity between Untreated and a Treated photo. Shown in green. ![file] , 
 Several panels in Figure 2 appear to show repetitive features within the same photo. I have highlighted them here with colored circles. ![file] , 
 Almost 50 (fifty) articles authored by Dr. Shantikumar V. Nair and Dr. R. Jayakumar (Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre) have been flagged by Dr. Elisabeth M. Bik over 24 hours. That represents 20-25% of the full production of R. Jayakumar, for example. An account is available here: http: journosdiary.com 2019 06 14 amrita-centre-nanosciences-duplicated-images The interesting part is the response provided by these authors. In short: * *Students in some cases were a bit careless*. * *The corresponding authors did not catch the error*[s]. * *We have* [...] *instituted a rigorous data policy*. * *There is* [no] *any trend or pattern*. * And last but not least, as usual: *errors* [...] *did not affect the paper conclusions*. , 
 Update of the story in the *Science Chronicle*: https: journosdiary.com 2019 06 15 amrita-centre-for-nanosciences-38-papers-duplicated-manipulated-images Quote from Dr. Nair:  *We are totally committed to retract any paper where we ourselves see a doubt because keeping the purity of the scientific literature is a sacred commitment of our academic institution*. ,