Acrylamide Research Articles

Metabolomics analysis using matrix-assisted diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) and its application in acrylamide-induced cardiovascular toxicity

Untargeted NMR-based metabolomics strategies are increasingly applied for metabolite screening in a wide variety of medical conditions. However, the identification of metabolites remains a great challenge in NMR metabolomics research. Here, we used matrix-assisted diffusion-ordered spectroscopy (DOSY) to identify new biomarkers in body fluids. DOSY-based metabolomics can exploit the unique strengths of NMR and, thanks to improvements in its resolution, can be successfully used to address a significantly wider range of biological issues. In this study, a metabolite model consisting of ten common metabolites was employed to optimize the matrix-assisted DOSY experimental parameters. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), a high-molecular-weight polymer, was found to be the most appropriate matrix with which to accomplish the separation of the mixture components. 1H NMR and PVP-assisted DOSY analyses were performed to characterize the metabolic profile of serum samples from acrylamide (ACR)-treated rats and study the mechanism of ACR-induced cardiovascular toxicity. Biomarker identification by 1H NMR and PVP-assisted DOSY yielded similar results. However, multivariate statistical analysis showed that, compared with 1H NMR, PVP-assisted DOSY achieved a better discrimination of the serum samples obtained from rats treated with different doses of ACR. A total of 11 differential metabolites were identified. An enrichment analysis of the metabolic pathways showed that, in rats treated with a high dose of ACR, the glutamate and glutathione metabolic pathways and the energy metabolism pathway of the tricarboxylic acid cycle were mainly affected.

Porous molecularly imprinted beads for highly specific separation of 10-hydroxycamptothecine: An imprinted strategy based on modified cellulose hydrogel

10-hydroxycamptothecine (HCPT), known as a natural alkaloid with significant anti-cancer properties in Camptotheca acuminata, has valuable application prospects in health and medicine and has attracted worldwide attention especially in the field of cancer research. In this study, a porous cellulose hydrogel-based molecularly imprinted bead (PCH@MIBs) with high affinity and selectivity was prepared and served as novel fillers of solid phase extraction (SPE) for selectively separating HCPT. The combination of polydopamine (PDA) modified cellulose hydrogel and highly selective molecular imprinting technology enabled the efficient and targeted adsorption for template molecules. The mixture of nano-calcium carbonate and cellulose solution underwent a reaction with an acidic coagulation bath, which endowed the cellulose hydrogel beads with porous structures. Porous cellulose hydrogel beads were coated with a PDA layer, followed by the preparation of PCH@MIBs using HCPT as template molecules and acrylamide (AM) as functional monomers, resulting in hydrogel-based materials with specific adsorption cavities matched to HCPT. The PCH@MIBs exhibited excellent adsorption capacity (57.87 mg·g−1) and adsorption selectivity (IF = 3.75), as well as good reusability (5 of cycles). The PCH@MIBs were successfully used to separate HCPT from C. acuminata fruits, with an impressive adsorption capacity (0.0974 mg·g−1) and recovery of HCPT (91.27 %). Mechanism analysis demonstrated that the recognition of PCH@MIBs was primarily achieved through non-covalent interactions between AM and HCPT, specifically hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces. This work proposes a novel strategy for constructing porous cellulose-based molecularly imprinted hydrogel beads to specific capture targeted compound, which have broad potential for practical application.

Innovative Acrylic Resin-Hydrogel Double-Layer Coating: Achieving Dual-Anchoring, Enhanced Adhesion, and Superior Anti-Biofouling Properties for Marine Applications

Traditional anti-corrosion and anti-fouling coatings struggle against the harsh marine environment. Our study tackled this by introducing a novel dual-layer hydrogel (A-H DL) coating system. This system combined a Cu2O–SiO2–acrylic resin primer for anchoring and controlled copper ion release with a dissipative double-network double-anchored hydrogel (DNDAH) boasting superior mechanical strength and anti-biofouling performance. An acrylamide monomer was copolymerized and cross-linked with a coupling agent to form the first irreversible network and first anchoring, providing the DNDAH coating with mechanical strength and structural stability. Alginate gel microspheres (AGMs) grafted with the same coupling agent formed the second reversible network and second anchoring, while coordinating with Cu2+ released from the primer to form a system buffering Cu2+ release, enabling long-term antibacterial protection and self-healing capabilities. FTIR, SEM, TEM, and elemental analyses confirmed the composition, morphology, and copper distribution within the A-H DL coating. A marine simulation experiment demonstrated exceptional stability and anti-fouling efficacy. This unique combination of features makes A-H DL a promising solution for diverse marine applications, from ship hulls to aquaculture equipment.

Synthesis of phosphonic acid and amide functionalized core–shell magnetic composite and its mechanisms for synergistic adsorption of thorium from strongly acidic solution

To develop adsorbents for the preeminent extraction of thorium in strongly acidic solutions is very imperative, due to strong inorganic acids are frequently used in the fuel cycle of thorium. Herein, a robust core–shell magnetic nanocomposite Fe3O4@SiO2/P (MBA-VPA-AM) possessing phosphonic acid and amide was developed via distillation-precipitation copolymerization of N, N'-methylene diacrylamide (MBA), vinylphosphonic acid (VPA) with acrylamide (AM) employing Fe3O4 decorated by SiO2 (Fe3O4@SiO2) as magnetic core. Due to the synergistic effect of phosphonic acid and amide ligand, the sorbent could capture thorium from concentrated HNO3 media efficiently, and the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) at 4 mol L−1 of HNO3 solution reached up to 232.5 mg g−1, superior to that of all magnetic sorbents reported previously. Furthermore, the sorbent displayed good selectivity towards thorium in the presence of competitive metal ions including La3+, Nd3+, and Ce3+. The excellent thorium sorption behavior in strong hydrogen nitrate solution was merely ascribed to the complexation of thorium with phosphonic acid ligand, and the amide ligand could not complex with thorium, evidenced by XPS, FT-IR and DFT method. However, the presence of amide ligand could enhance the hydrophilicity of the sorbent and the free movement degree of phosphonic acid ligand to a certain extent, both of which could help to promote the thorium sorption on the sorbent in strong HNO3 media. Besides, due to its core–shell structure and superparamagnetism, the sorbent not only exhibited excellent acidic resistance in strong acid medias, but could be magnetically recouped, which could avoid tedious centrifugation or filtration of traditional adsorbents. This work provides a novel strategy to develop magnetic sorbent for the preeminent entrapment of thorium from strong acid solutions.

Highly Stretchable Double Network Ionogels for Monitoring Physiological Signals and Detecting Sign Language

At the heart of the non-implantable electronic revolution lies ionogels, which are remarkably conductive, thermally stable, and even antimicrobial materials. Yet, their potential has been hindered by poor mechanical properties. Herein, a double network (DN) ionogel crafted from 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Emim]Cl), acrylamide (AM), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was constructed. Tensile strength, fracture elongation, and conductivity can be adjusted across a wide range, enabling researchers to fabricate the material to meet specific needs. With adjustable mechanical properties, such as tensile strength (0.06–5.30 MPa) and fracture elongation (363–1373%), this ionogel possesses both robustness and flexibility. This ionogel exhibits a bi-modal response to temperature and strain, making it an ideal candidate for strain sensor applications. It also functions as a flexible strain sensor that can detect physiological signals in real time, opening doors to personalized health monitoring and disease management. Moreover, these gels’ ability to decode the intricate movements of sign language paves the way for improved communication accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. This DN ionogel lays the foundation for a future in which e-skins and wearable sensors will seamlessly integrate into our lives, revolutionizing healthcare, human–machine interaction, and beyond.

Mechanism of Apoptosis Induced by the Combined Action of Acrylamide and Elaidic acid through Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Injury

Thermal processing of food is likely to form acrylamide (AA) and elaidic acid (EA), which are both mainly metabolized by the liver. The two substances are associated with the pathogenesis of liver disease. In the current study, we investigated the toxic effects of the combined action of AA and EA on HSC-T6 cells, and the mechanism of apoptosis exacerbated by the co-exposure. The results showed a synergistic effect of AA and EA, which exacerbated the damage and oxidative stress (OS) in HSC-T6. Meanwhile, the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) proteins, such as GRP78 and CHOP, was increased, the ERS pathway was activated, and Ca2+ in cells was increased, which exacerbated mitochondrial damage, and opened IP3R-Grp75-VDAC1 channel. Both ERS and mitochondrial damage caused the process of cell apoptosis. Inhibition of ERS by 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) significantly reversed the synergistic effects on mitochondrial damage via ERS, suggesting that AA and EA exacerbated mitochondrial damage through ERS-mediated Ca2+ overload. AA and EA synergistically damaged the function of mitochondria through exacerbating ERS and led to cell apoptosis.

Real-time and high-sensitive colorimetric sensor based on photonic crystal for amniotic fluid identification

In this study, we proposed a pH-responsive photonic crystal hydrogel sensor (PCHs) to conveniently and accurately recognize the amniotic fluid from urine of parturient women, which was constituted by three-dimensional polymethyl acrylamide (PMMA) array and optimized hydrogel. PMMA array was self-assembled by 180 nm monodispersed nanoparticles with vertical sedimentation method. The functional hydrogel containing N-acryloyl phenylalanine (APA), acrylamide (AM) and N, N'-methylene bis(acrylamide) (BIS) as co-monomer and crosslinking agent respectively, was photo-polymerized by the precursor under 365 nm UV light. This hydrogel significantly shrank or swelled corresponding to the acidity and alkalinity of the aqueous solution, which resulted in both the reflection peak position (λmax) of the prepared sensor and its structural color changing with the pH value. The λmax of PCHs redshifted from 514 nm to 606 nm in 60 s while the pH value of testing solution increased from 4.5 to 8.0, which exactly covered the pH value of amniotic fluid and urine. Correspondingly, its structure color gradually changed from pale-green to red ensuring their naked-eye determination. Furthermore, an extremely high sensitivity as 26.3 nm/pH of Δλmax was obtained which was linearly related to pH value. The prepared sensor possessed steady accuracy and extraordinary sensitivity compared with the pH test strip which was generally used in amniorrhexis diagnosis nowadays besides the advantages of the low cost, simple operation, rapid response and visual detection mode. The reliability of this PCHs was further confirmed by the real sample detection which relative standard deviation was below 5.0 %, suggesting its potential clinical applications.

Design and preparation of reticular superabsorbent hydrogel material with nutrient slow-release and high shear strength for ecological remediation of abandoned mines with steep slopes

In order to solve ecological remediation issues for abandoned mines with steep slopes, a kind of hydrogels with high cohesion and water-retaining were designed by inorganic mineral skeleton combining with polymeric organic network cavities. This eco-friendly hydrogel (MFA/HA-g-p(AA-co-AM)) was prepared with acrylic acid (AA)-acrylamide (AM) as network, which was grafted with humic acids (HA) as network binding point reinforcement skeleton and polar functional group donors, KOH-modified fly ash (MFA) as internal supporter. The maximum water absorption capacities were 1960 g/g for distilled water, which followed the pseudo-second-order model. This super water absorption was attributed to the first stage of 62 % fast absorption due to the high specific surface area, pore volume and low osmotic pressure, moreover, the multiple hydrophilic functional groups and network structure swell contributed to 36 % of the second stage slow adsorption. In addition, the pore filling of water in mesoporous channels contributed the additional 2 % water retention on the third stage. The high saline-alkali resistance correlated with the electrostatic attraction with MFA and multiple interactions with oxygen-containing functional groups in organic components. MFA and HA also enhanced the shear strength and fertility retention properties. After 5 cycles of natural dehydration and reabsorption process, these excellent characteristics of reusability and water absorption capacity kept above 97 %. The application of 0.6 wt% MFA/HA-g-p(AA-co-AM) at 15° slope could improve the growth of ryegrass by approximately 45 %. This study provides an efficient and economic superabsorbent material for ecological restoration of abandoned mines with steep slopes.

Molecular and Microbial Insights Towards Understanding the Anaerobic Biodegradation of Anionic Polyacrylamide in Oil Sands Tailings

Anionic polyacrylamide (A-PAM) is widely used as a flocculant in the management of oil sands tailings. Nevertheless, apprehensions arise regarding its potential biodegradation and environmental consequences within the context of oil sands tailings. Consequently, it is imperative to delve into the anaerobic biodegradation of A-PAM in oil sands tailings to gain a comprehensive understanding of its influence on tailings water quality. This work explored the dynamics of A-PAM biodegradation across concentrations: 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg TS. The results showed a significant decrease in A-PAM concentration and molecular weight at lower concentrations (50 and 100 mg/kg TS) compared to higher ones, suggesting enhanced degradation efficiency. Likewise, the organic transformation and methane production exhibited dependency on A-PAM concentrations. The peak concentrations observed were 20.0 mg/L for volatile fatty acids (VFAs), 0.07 mg/L for acrylamide (AMD), and 8.9 mL for methane yield, with these maxima being recorded at 50 mg/kg TS. The biodegradation efficiency diminishes at higher concentrations of A-PAM, potentially due to the inhibitory effects of polyacrylic acid accumulation. A-PAM biodegradation under anaerobic condition did not contribute to acute toxicity or genotoxicity. SEM-EDS, FT-IR and XRD analyses further revealed that higher concentrations of A-PAM inhibited the biodegradation by altering floc structure and composition, thereby restricting the microbial activity. Major microorganisms, including Smithella, Candidatus_Cloacimonas, W5, XBB1006, and DMER64 were identified, highlighting A-PAM's dual role as a source of carbon and nitrogen under anaerobic conditions. The above findings from this research not only significantly advance understanding of A-PAM's environmental behavior but also contribute to the effective management practices in oil sands tailings.

Color-tunable fluorescence and ultralong organic room temperature phosphorescence from multicomponent copolymers

Materials with color-tunable photoluminescence (PL) have attracted dramatically increasing interest in recent years, especially the tuning of both fluorescence (FL) and ultra-long organic room temperature phosphorescence (UOP). Herein, a series of polymer films are successfully fabricated by in situ copolymerization of carbazole derivatives, lanthanide complex, and acrylamide (AM). With a long lifetime of 2.82 s and a high quantum yield of 21.40%, these copolymers exhibit not only color-tunable FL from violet-red to blue, but also multicolor UOP scope from blue to chartreuse when the excitation wavelength is changed. Moreover, a nearly-white phosphorescence can also be observed by adjusting the excitation wavelength. Multiple information patterns with color-tunable FL and UOP emissions are captured, exhibiting promising potential in the information encryption and anti-counterfeiting fields.

MXene Crosslinked Hydrogels with Low Hysteresis Conferred by Sliding Tangle Island Strategy.

Single-network hydrogels are often too fragile to withstand mechanical loading, whereas double-network hydrogels typically exhibit significant hysteresis during cyclic stretching-releasing process due to the presence of a sacrificial network. Consequently, it is a considerable challenge for designing hydrogels that are both low in hysteresis and high in toughness for applications requiring dynamic mechanical loads. Herein, the study introduced a novel "sliding tangle island" strategy for creating tough and low-hysteresis hydrogels, which are prepared through in situ polymerization of highly concentrated acrylamides (AM) to form numerous entanglements within the MXene spacing without any chemical crosslinker. The MXene entangled with long polyacrylamide (PAM) chains to form tangle island that served as a relay station to transmit stress to neighboring molecular chains. This mechanism helps alleviate stress concentration and enhances energy dissipation efficiency, thereby reducing mechanical hysteresis. The resulting hydrogel exhibited exceptional properties, including high stretchability (≈900%), low hysteresis (less than 7%), high toughness (1.34MJm-3), and excellent sensing performance to rival the commercial hydrogel electrode. Therefore, this work sheds light on feasible design of energy dissipation structure to reduce the hysteresis of the composite hydrogels.

Evaluation an anionic polyacrylamide flocculant with microblock structure in the hematite wastewater treatment: Characterization and flocculation performance

In this study, a template polymer with anionic microblock structure was successfully synthesized through ultrasonic initiated template copolymerization (USTP) by using sodium allylsulfonate (SAS) and acrylamide (AM) as monomers, poly diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (polyDADMAC) as template, and 2,2′-azobis [2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] dihydrochloride (VA-044) as initiator. The anionic polyacrylamide (APAM-T) flocculant was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was conducted to measure the elemental composition. The results of XPS and 1H NMR spectroscopy analysis indicated the existence of anionic microblock structure in APAM-T. Besides, the copolymerization was revealed to follow the self-assembly mechanism by analyzing the association constant (KM). The flocculation performance was evaluated by turbidity and zeta potential in the flocculation tests. The results indicated that the APAM-T with microblock structure enhanced the charge neutralization and bridging adsorption capacity, thus improving the flocculation performance. In the floc particle size distribution and fragmentation and reflocculation experiments, the floc corresponding to APAM-T had the strongest regeneration ability after fragmentation, which further confirmed the criticality of the microblock structure in enhancing the flocculation performance. Compared with existing studies, this study not only demonstrated a novel synthesis method, but also found that the microblock structure could significantly improve its treatment efficiency and effectiveness, providing a new theoretical basis and practical application path for wastewater treatment technology.

Synthesis and characterization of a β-cyclodextrin-MOF-based porous hydrogel for efficient adsorption of Au3+, Ag+, and Pb2+ ions

Wastewater containing heavy metal ions produced by electroplating, smelting and other industries poses a threat to human safety. Recently, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as porous crystalline adsorbents for the removal of heavy metal ions. Starch-derived cyclodextrins (CDs), a series of cyclic oligosaccharides, have been explored for fabrication of cost-efficient MOF materials. However, the coordination bonds in CD-based MOFs can be destroyed by water, which limits their application as absorbent materials for the removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater. In this work, a β-CD-MOF-based porous hydrogel was developed by incorporating a crosslinked hydrogel network based on acrylic acid (AA) and N,N’-methylenebis(acrylamide) (MBA) monomers into a β-CD-based MOF structure. The synthesized porous hydrogel, denoted A/M−CDMOF−gel, not only showed enhanced structural stability but also exhibited excellent properties for simultaneous adsorption of Au3+, Ag+, and Pb2+ ions. A kinetic study revealed that the A/M−CDMOF−gel had a satisfactory binding rate within 60 min of contact, and the higher fit coefficient from the pseudo-second-order model indicated its chemical adsorption property. Moreover, according to the Langmuir isotherm model fitting results, the maximum capacity of the A/M−CDMOF−gel reached 316.4, 60.9, and 414.2 mg/g for Au3+, Ag+, and Pb2+, respectively. Therefore, the regenerable A/M−CDMOF−gel adsorbent is expected to provide ideas for the development of renewable absorbent materials in the field of wastewater treatment and remediation.

Polyhydroxy structure orchestrates the intrinsic antibacterial property of acrylamide hydrogel as a versatile wound-healing dressing.

Hydrogel is considered as a promising candidate for wound dressing due to its tissue-like flexibility, good mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, traditional hydrogel dressings often fail to fulfill satisfied mechanical, antibacterial, and biocompatibility properties simultaneously, due to the insufficient intrinsic bactericidal efficacy and the addition of external antimicrobial agents. In this paper, hydroxyl-contained acrylamide monomers, N-Methylolacrylamide (NMA) and N-[Tris (hydroxymethyl)methyl] acrylamide (THMA), are employed to prepare a series of polyacrylamide hydrogel dressings xNMA-yTHMA, where x and y represent the mass fractions of NMA and THMA in the hydrogels. We have elucidated that the abundance of hydroxyl groups determines the antibacterial effect of the hydrogels. Particularly, hydrogel 35NMA-5THMA exhibits excellent mechanical properties, with high tensile strength of 259kPa and large tensile strain of 1737%. Furthermore, the hydrogel dressing 35NMA-5THMA demonstrates remarkable inherent antibacterial without exogenous antimicrobial agents owing to the existence of abundant hydroxyl groups. Besides, hydrogel dressing 35NMA-5THMA possesses excellent biocompatibility, in view of marginal cytotoxicity, low hemolysis ratio, and negligible inflammatory response and organ toxicity to mice during treatment. Encouragingly, hydrogel 35NMA-5THMA drastically promote the healing of bacteria-infected wound in mice. This study has revealed the importance of polyhydroxyl in the antibacterial efficiency of hydrogels and provided a simplified strategy to design wound healing dressings with translational potential.

Results of the BfR MEAL Study: Acrylamide in foods from the German market with highest levels in vegetable crisps

Acrylamide (AA) is formed in foods due to thermal processes. AA was analysed in 230 foods in the first German Total Diet Study and the highest mean levels of AA were found in vegetable crisps (1430 μg/kg), followed by potato pancakes (558) μg/kg) and pan-fried potatoes (450 μg/kg). In various foods, e.g. French fries and sweet potatoes, AA was also tested for different browning degrees and cooking methods. French fries cooked to a browning degree of 3 in all cooking methods exceeded the benchmark level set by the European Union. French fries prepared in the oven and sweet potatoes in the air fryer had the lowest AA levels. In foods from the German market, AA was found also in foods such as popcorn (243 μg/kg), salty sticks (190 μg/kg), and dark chocolate (130 μg/kg). Levels of AA found in our study may support future dietary exposure and food safety assessments.

Study on Preparation and Humidity-Control Capabilities of Vermiculite/Poly(sodium Acrylate-acrylamide) Humidity Controlling Composite.

This paper focuses on the preparation and evaluation of a novel humidity-control material, vermiculite/(sodium polyacrylate(AA)-acrylamide(AM)), using inverse suspension polymerization. Acrylic acid and acrylamide were introduced into the interlayer of modified vermiculite during the polymerization process, leading to the formation of a strong association with the modified vermiculite. The addition of vermiculite increased the specific surface area and pore volume of the composites. To investigate the moisture absorption and desorption properties of the composites, an orthogonal experiment and single-factor experiment were conducted to analyze the impacts of vermiculite content, neutralization degree, and the mass ratio of AA to AM. According to the control experiment, the addition of vermiculite was found to enhance the pore structure and surface morphology of the composite material, surpassing both vermiculite and PAA-AM copolymer in terms of humidity control capacity and rate. The optimal preparation conditions were identified as follows: vermiculite mass fraction of 4 wt%, a neutralization degree of 90%, and mAA:mAM = 4:1. The moisture absorption rate and moisture release rate of the composite material prepared under these conditions are 1.285 g/g and 1.172 g/g. The humidity control process of the composite material is governed by pseudo second-order kinetics, which encompasses the complete adsorption process. These results indicate that the vermiculite/PAA-AM composite humidity control material has excellent humidity control performance and is a simple and efficient humidity control method.

Synthesis, characterization and column adsorption properties of gum ghatti and water hyacianth derived cellulose grafted poly(vinyl sulfonic acid-co-acrylamide) composites

Vinylsulfonic acid (VSA), acrylamide (AM) and N, N methylene bis acrylamide(MBA) were copolymerized by radical polymerization in the presence of gum ghatti (GG) and treated water hyacianth (WH) in water. Several composite copolymers were prepared by varying the i) AM: VSA molar ratios ii) wt% of GG and iii) wt% of treated WH based on a Box-Behnken Design(BBD) of a response surface methodology (RSM) model with three input variables and the batch adsorption capacity (mg/g) of 100 mg/L Cd (II) from water as response. The composite polymer was characterized by Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis(TGA), X- ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS), compressive strength, pH reversibility, pH at point zero charge (pHPZC), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The network parameters of the composites were determined. The copolymer composite prepared with AM: VSA of 5:1 containing 10 wt% GG and 4 wt% treated WH showed an optimum batch adsorption capacity of 399.15 mg/g Cd (II) from water containing 100 mg/L Cd (II). The same composite showed an adsorption capacity of 170.1 mg/g and a removal% of 31.5 at a feed concentration/feed flow rate/bed height of 150 mgL−1/30mLmin−1/30 mm in a fixed bed column.

Studying removal of anionic dye by prepared highly adsorbent surface hydrogel nanocomposite as an applicable for aqueous solution

In this study, a Sodium alginate-g-poly (acrylamide-clay)/TiO2 hydrogel nanocomposite [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] was synthesized using the biopolymer sodium alginate (SA), acrylamide (AM), and bentonite clay (Bn) as hybrid materials embedded with titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) for the removal of toxic Congo Red (CR) dye from an aqueous solution. The [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] nanocomposite has been described on the basis of thermal stability, morphological analysis, estimation of functional group, and crystalline/amorphous character by TGA, EFSEM/EDX, TEM, FT-IR, and XRD analysis, respectively. The effects of operational parameters toward the CR dye adsorption on [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2], including contact time, adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, initial pH, and temperature were investigated. The maximum adsorption efficiency was found to be 185.12 mg/g for [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] in 100 mg/L of solution CR at pH 6.0 within 1 h. The equilibrium isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics parameters of adsorption were examined, and results showed that the isotherm fitted the Freundlich model and the kinetics adsorption model of CR followed pseudo-first-order, thus indicating physisorption of anionic-CR onto the sorbent due to the development of an electrostatic attraction bond. Thermodynamic parameters for [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] have values (ΔG and ΔH) reflecting the spontaneous and endothermic nature of the adsorption processes. Moreover, [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)/TiO2] presented outstanding excellent reusability and recyclability with a relatively best removal percentage as compared to [SA-g-p(AM-Bn)] and suggested their applicability towards the textile industry and water purification purposes.

Hydrophilic Modification of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Capillary Membranes with Chemical Resistance by Constructing Three-Dimensional Hydrophilic Networks.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) capillary membranes, known for the great chemical resistance and thermal stability, are commonly used in membrane separation technologies. However, the strong hydrophobic property of PTFE limits its application in water filtration. This study introduces a method whereby acrylamide (AM), N, N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA), and vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) undergo free radical copolymerization, followed by the hydrolysis-condensation of silane bonds, resulting in the formation of hydrophilic three-dimensional networks physically intertwined with the PTFE capillary membranes. The modified PTFE capillary membranes prepared through this method exhibit excellent hydrophilic properties, whose water contact angles are decreased by 24.3-61.2%, and increasing pure water flux from 0 to 1732.7-2666.0 L/m2·h. The enhancement in hydrophilicity of the modified PTFE capillary membranes is attributed to the introduction of hydrophilic groups such as amide bonds and siloxane bonds, along with an increase in surface roughness. Moreover, the modified PTFE capillary membranes exhibit chemical resistance, maintaining the hydrophilicity even after immersion in strong acidic (3 wt% HCl), alkaline (3 wt% NaOH), and oxidative (3 wt% NaClO) solutions for 2 weeks. In conclusion, this promising method yields modified PTFE capillary membranes with great hydrophilicity and chemical resistance, presenting substantial potential for applications in the field of water filtration.

Acrylamide-Aggravated Liver Injury by Activating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Female Mice with Diabetes.

Acrylamide (ACR) is a common industrial contaminant with endocrine-disrupting toxicity. Numerous studies have indicated that females and diabetics are more sensitive to environmental contaminants. However, it remains unknown whether female diabetics are susceptible to ACR-induced toxicity and its potential mechanisms. Thus, the female ACR-exposure diabetic Balb/c mice model was established to address these issues. Results showed that ACR could induce liver injury in normal mice and cause more serious inflammatory cell infiltration, hepatocyte volume increase, and fusion in diabetic mice liver. Meanwhile, ACR could lead to exacerbation of diabetic symptoms in diabetic mice by disturbing the glucose and lipid metabolism in the liver, which mainly manifests as the accumulation of liver glycogen and liver lipids, the reduction of the activity/content of glycolytic and metabolizing enzyme as well as pentose phosphatase, upregulation of the gene expression in fatty acid transporter and gluconeogenesis, and downregulation of the gene expression in fatty acid synthesis and metabolism. Moreover, ACR exposure could induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the liver by a decrease in hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity and antioxidant content, an increase in inflammatory factor levels, and a change in the related protein expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and apoptosis-related pathways in diabetic mice. Statistical analysis results revealed that ACR-induced liver injury was highly correlated with inflammation and oxidative stress, and ERS and diabetic mice had a higher risk of liver injury than normal mice. Overall results suggested that female diabetic mice easily suffer from ACR-induced toxicity, and the reason was that ACR could induce further damage to the liver by worsening the condition of inflammation, oxidative stress, and ERS in the liver.