Using the spray pyrolysis process, nano-sized cobalt oxide powder with average particle size below 50 nm was prepared from cobalt chloride solution. The influences of the raw material solution on the properties of the powder formed examined. When the concentration of Co was low(20 g/L), the average particle size of the powder formed was roughly 20 nm, and the cohesion between these particles was significantly strong. When the concentration of Co increased to 100 g/L, the droplets nearly failed to exist in circular form and reflected a severely divided form. Furthermore, the average size of the particles formed was roughly 40 nm, and the particles reflected a polygonal form. When the solution was increased to nearly saturation level (Co at 200 g/L), the particle size distribution reflected significant unevenness due to severe droplet division while the surface also reflected significant unevenness. Furthermore, the average size of the particles formed increased significantly to 70 nm. The results of XRD analysis showed that the strength of the peaks reflected very little change when the concentration of Co was increased from 20 g/L to 50 g/L. Alternatively, when the concentration was increased to 100 g/L, the strength of the peaks increased compared to when the concentration was 50 g/L. However, when the concentration was increased to 200 g/L, the strength of the peaks failed to reflect significant change compared to when the concentration was 100 g/L. The specific surface area dramatically decreased by 30 % when the concentration of Co was increased from 20 g/L to 50 g/L. Alternatively, when the concentration of Co the solution increased to 100 g/L, the specific surface area decreased by roughly 15 %. Furthermore, when the concentration of Co was increased to nearly saturation level(200 g/L), the specific surface area decreased by roughly 35%.

Tumor cells under hypoxic conditions are often found due to the rapid outgrowth of their vascular supply, and,in order to survive hypoxia, these cells induce numerous signaling factors. Erk is an important kinase in cell survival, and its activity is regulated by Raf kinases through numerous growth factor receptors. The authors investigated Erk activation and Raf/Erk signaling using the hypoxia-mimetic agent, cobalt chloride (CoCl2), in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells. CoCl2 increases Erk phosphorylation in both a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, blocking the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) using PD168393 abolished Erk activation in response to CoCl2, suggesting that Erk phosphorylation by CoCl2 is dependent on EGFR.