Aqueous Research Articles

Sensor for Real-Time Glucose Measurement in Aqueous Media based on Nanomaterials Incorporating an Artificial Neural Network Algorithm on a System-On-Chip

The aim of this paper is to present the development of a real-time measurement system for glucose in aqueous media. The proposed system incorporates two lines of research: i) design, synthesis, and implementation of a non-enzymatic electrochemical sensor of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Copper nanoparticles (MWCNT-Cu) and ii) design and implementation of a machine learning algorithm based on an Artificial Neural Network Multilayer Perceptron (ANN-MLP), which is embedded in an ESP32 SoC (System on Chip). From the current data that is extracted in real-time during the oxidation-reduction process to which an aqueous medium is subjected, it feeds the algorithm embedded in the ESP32 SoC to estimate the glucose value. The experimental results show that the nanostructured sensor improves the resolution in the amperometric response by identifying an ideal place for data collection. For its part, the incorporation of the algorithm based on an ANN embedded in a SoC provides a level of 97.8 % accuracy in the measurements. It is concluded that incorporating machine learning algorithms embedded in low-cost SoC in complex experimental processes improves data manipulation, increases the reliability of results, and adds portability.

Postsynthetically Modified Cationic, Robust MOF Featuring Selective Separation of Carboxylate-Containing Pharmaceutical Drugs from Water at Neutral pH: Elucidation of the Adsorption Mechanism by Theory and Experiments.

The escalating levels of hazardous pharmaceutical contaminants, specifically nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in groundwater reservoir surfaces and surface waterway systems have prompted substantial scientific interest regarding their potential deleterious effects on both aquatic ecosystems and human health. Extraction of those pollutants from wastewater is quite challenging. Hence, the development of economic, sustainable, and scalable techniques for capturing and removing those pollutants is crucial to ensure water safety. Herein, we demonstrate a physicochemically stable, reusable, porous Hf(IV)-based cationic metal-organic framework (MOF), namely, 1'@MeCl for the aqueous phase adsorption-based removal of NSAIDs (diclofenac, naproxen, ibuprofen) from the wastewater environment. The highly positively charged surface of the 1'@MeCl MOF enables it to selectively extract more than 99% of diclofenac, naproxen, and ibuprofen contaminants within less than 30 s. With fast adsorption kinetics, very high adsorption capacities (Qe) were achieved at neutral pH for diclofenac (482.9 mg/g), naproxen (295.9 mg/g), and ibuprofen (219.5 mg/g). Moreover, the influence of changes in pH and coexisting anions on the adsorption property of the 1'@MeCl MOF was studied. Furthermore, the adsorption efficiency of 1'@MeCl in different real water environments was ensured by performing diclofenac, naproxen, and ibuprofen adsorption from tap, river, and lake water. Moreover, a 1'@MeCl-anchored cellulose acetate-chitosan membrane was developed successfully to demonstrate the membrane-based extraction of diclofenac, naproxen, and ibuprofen from contaminated water. Furthermore, a molecular-level mechanistic study was performed through experimental and computational study to propose the plausible adsorption mechanisms for diclofenac, naproxen, and ibuprofen over the surface of 1'@MeCl.

Coordination-Driven Nanomedicine Mitigates One-Lung Ventilation-Induced Lung Injury via Radicals Scavenging and Cell Pyroptosis Inhibition.

One-lung ventilation (OLV) during thoracic surgery often leads to post-operative complications, yet effective pharmacological interventions are lacking. This study reports a baicalin-based metal-coordination nanomedicine with disulfiram (DSF) co-loading to address one-lung ventilation-induced lung injury and reperfusion injury (OLV-LIRI). Baicalin, known for its robust antioxidant properties, suffers from poor water solubility and stability. Leveraging nanotechnology, baicalin's coordination is systematically explored with seven common metal ions, designing iron/copper-mediated binary coordination nanoparticles to overcome these limitations. The self-assembled nanoparticles, primarily formed through metal coordination and π-π stacking forces, encapsulated DSF, ensuring high colloidal stability in diverse physiological matrices. Upon a single-dose administration via endotracheal intubation, the nanoparticles efficiently accumulate in lung tissues and swiftly penetrate the pulmonary mucosa. Intracellularly, baicalin exhibits free radical scavenging activity to suppress inflammation. Concurrently, the release of Cu2+ and DSF enables the in situ generation of CuET, a potent inhibitor of cell pyroptosis. Harnessing these multifaceted mechanisms, the nanoparticles alleviate lung injury symptoms without notable toxic side effects, suggesting a promising preventive strategy for OLV-LIRI.

Can the AMOEBA forcefield be used for high pressure simulations? The extreme case of methane and water.

We have performed classical molecular dynamics simulations using the fully polarizable Atomic Multipole Optimized Energetics for Biomolecular Applications (AMOEBA) forcefield implemented within the Tinker package to determine whether a more adequate treatment of electrostatics is sufficient to correctly describe the mixing of methane with water under high pressure conditions. We found a significant difference between the ability of AMOEBA and other classical, computationally cheaper forcefields, such as TIP3P, simple point charge-extended, TIP4P, and optimized potentials for liquid simulations-all atom. While the latter models fail to detect any effect of pressure on the miscibility of methane in water, AMOEBA qualitatively captures the experimental observation of the increased solubility of methane in water with pressure. At higher temperatures, the solubility of water in methane also increases; this seems to be associated with the breakdown of the fourfold hydrogen-bonded water network structure: bonding in water is weaker, so the energy cost of solution is lowered.

Effect of dissolved KOH and NaCl on the solubility of water in hydrogen: A Monte Carlo simulation study.

Vapor-Liquid Equilibria (VLE) of hydrogen (H2) and aqueous electrolyte (KOH and NaCl) solutions are central to numerous industrial applications such as alkaline electrolysis and underground hydrogen storage. Continuous fractional component Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compute the VLE of H2 and aqueous electrolyte solutions at 298-423K, 10-400bar, 0-8 molKOH/kg water, and 0-6 molNaCl/kg water. The densities and activities of water in aqueous KOH and NaCl solutions are accurately modeled (within 2% deviation from experiments) using the non-polarizable Madrid-2019 Na+/Cl- ion force fields for NaCl and the Madrid-Transport K+ and Delft Force Field of OH- for KOH, combined with the TIP4P/2005 water force field. A free energy correction (independent of pressure, salt type, and salt molality) is applied to the computed infinite dilution excess chemical potentials of H2 and water, resulting in accurate predictions (within 5% of experiments) for the solubilities of H2 in water and the saturated vapor pressures of water for a temperature range of 298-363K. The compositions of water and H2 are computed using an iterative scheme from the liquid phase excess chemical potentials and densities, in which the gas phase fugacities are computed using the GERG-2008 equation of state. For the first time, the VLE of H2 and aqueous KOH/NaCl systems are accurately captured with respect to experiments (i.e., for both the liquid and gas phase compositions) without compromising the liquid phase properties or performing any refitting of force fields.

Biofuel from wastewater-grown microalgae: A biorefinery approach using hydrothermal liquefaction and catalyst upgrading

Third-generation biofuels from microalgae are becoming necessary for sustainable energy. In this context, this study explores the hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of microalgae biomass grown in wastewater, consisting of 30% Chlorella vulgaris, 69% Tetradesmus obliquus, and 1% cyanobacteria Limnothrix planctonica, and the subsequent upgrading of the produced bio-oil. The novelty of the work lies in integrating microalgae cultivation in wastewater with HTL in a biorefinery approach, enhanced using a catalyst to upgrade the bio-oil. Different temperatures (300, 325, and 350 °C) and reaction times (15, 30, and 45 min) were tested. The bio-oil upgrading occurred with a Cobalt-Molybdenum (CoMo) catalyst for 1 h at 375 °C. Post-HTL, although the hydrogen-to-carbon (H/C) ratio decreased from 1.70 to 1.38–1.60, the oxygen-to-carbon (O/C) ratio also decreased from 0.39 to 0.079–0.104, and the higher heating value increased from 20.6 to 36.4–38.3 MJ kg−1. Palmitic acid was the main component in all bio-oil samples. The highest bio-oil yield was at 300 °C for 30 min (23.4%). Upgrading increased long-chain hydrocarbons like heptadecane (5%), indicating biofuel potential, though nitrogenous compounds such as hexadecanenitrile suggest a need for further hydrodenitrogenation. Aqueous phase, solid residues, and gas from HTL can be used for applications such as biomass cultivation, bio-hydrogen, valuable chemicals, and materials like carbon composites and cement additives, promoting a circular economy. The study underscores the potential of microalgae-derived bio-oil as sustainable biofuel, although further refinement is needed to meet current fuel standards.

Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Computational Study on Microsolvated [B10H10]2- Clusters and Comparisons to Their [B12H12]2- Analogues.

Microhydrated closo-boranes have attracted great interest due to their superchaotropic activity related to the well-known Hofmeister effect and important applications in biomedical and battery fields. In this work, we report a combined negative ion photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical investigation on hydrated closo-decaborate clusters [B10H10]2-·nH2O (n = 1-7) with a direct comparison to their analogues [B12H12]2-·nH2O and free water clusters. A single H2O molecule is found to be sufficient to stabilize the intrinsically unstable [B10H10]2- dianion. The first two water molecules strongly interact with the solute forming B-H···H-O dihydrogen bonds while additional water molecules show substantially reduced binding energies. Unlike [B12H12]2-·nH2O possessing a highly structured water network with the attached H2O molecules arranged in a unified pattern by maximizing B-H···H-O dihydrogen bonding, distinct structural arrangements of the water clusters within [B10H10]2-·nH2O are achieved with the water cluster networks from trimer to heptamer resembling free water clusters. Such a distinct difference arises from the variations in size, symmetry, and charge distributions between these two dianions. The present finding again confirms the structural diversity of hydrogen-bonding networks in microhydrated closo-boranes and enriches our understanding of aqueous borate chemistry.

Nanocomposite Coatings of Pectin and Oxide Zinc Nanoparticles to Increase Papaya Shelf Life

Nanocomposite coatings functionalized with antimicrobial nanoparticles could be a promising alternative for the postharvest preservation of fruits. This study aimed to develop nanocomposite coatings based on pectin incorporated with zinc oxide (NPZ) nanoparticles to preserve the postharvest quality of papaya fruits. The coatings were prepared using pectin (3%) and NPZ (0%–0.4%). The materials were characterized for water-related properties (water solubility and water vapor permeability) as well as physical, mechanical, morphological, rheological, and structural properties. The coatings were applied to papaya fruits, which were analyzed for weight loss, firmness, titratable acidity, and soluble solids over nine days of storage. Incorporating NPZ (0%–0.4%) did not affect the films’ water solubility and vapor permeability. However, films with NPZ exhibited lower mechanical properties than pure pectin films. Rheological behavior testing indicated that the pectin solution was a Newtonian fluid, whereas pectin solutions with zinc nanoparticles were non-Newtonian fluids. The pectin coating with 0.2% NPZ was the most effective in preserving the postharvest quality of papaya by reducing fruit weight loss and acidity content. Therefore, the developed coatings incorporated with NPZ showed promise for the postharvest preservation of papaya fruits.

Conformational preferences of heparan sulfate to recognize the CXCL8 dimer in aqueous medium: degree of sulfation and hydrogen bonds.

The sulfation pattern and epimerization of the long-chain sulfated polysaccharide heparan sulfate (HS) cause structural diversity and regulate various physiological and pathological processes when binding with proteins. In this work, we performed a series of molecular dynamics simulations of three variants of the octadecasaccharide HS with varying sulfation positions in aqueous medium in their free forms and in the presence of the chemokine CXCL8 dimer. The free energy of binding depicts the sulfation at the 6-O position of GlcNAc (HS6S), and both 3-O and 6-O positions of GlcNAc (HS3S6S) of HS variants are more likely to bind with the CXCL8 dimer than the triply sulfated HS2S3S6S, which is sulfated at the 2-O position of GlcUA additionally along with 3-O and 6-O positions of GlcNAc. Binding between HS and CXCL8 was driven by electrostatic and van der Waals interactions predominantly regardless of the sulfation pattern; however, unfavorable entropic contribution suppressed the interaction between HS and CXCL8. The contribution of different amino acid residues to the binding energetics suggested that basic amino acids line up the binding site of CXCL8. This study further acknowledges the role of interfacial water that is structured and bound with HS through hydrogen bonds, exhibiting differential hydrogen bond relaxation dynamics compared to when the HS molecules are free. Moreover, this study identifies that with the increase in sulfation, the HS-water hydrogen bond relaxation occurs faster with the complexation, while the reverse trend is followed in their free forms. Significant structural adaptation of the different sulfated HS molecules, as verified from the free energy landscapes generated from various reaction coordinates, root-mean-square-deviations, end-to-end distances, including ring pucker angles, dihedral flexibility, and the high conformational entropy cost arising from the glycosidic bonds, suggests that the different sulfated variants of HS undergo significant structural transformation to bind with CXCL8. The presence of a CXCL8 dimer imposes the bound forms of HS to adopt non-linear structures with skew-boat conformations. The atomistic details of the study would help in understanding the selectivity and conformational diversity, as well as the role of solvents in the recognition of CXCL8 by different sulfated variants of HS molecules.

Phenylboronic Acid-Functionalized Ratiometric Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Nanoprobe for Selective Tracking of Hg2+ and CH3Hg+ in Aqueous Media and Living Cells.

The development of appropriate molecular tools to monitor different mercury speciation, especially CH3Hg+, in living organisms is attractive because its persistent accumulation and toxicity are very harmful to human health. Herein, we develop a novel activity-based ratiometric SERS nanoprobe to selectively monitor Hg2+ and CH3Hg+ in aqueous media and in vivo. In this nanoprobe, a new bifunctional Raman probe bis-s-s'-[(s)-(4-(ethylcarbamoyl)phenyl)boronic acid] (b-(s)-EPBA) was synthesized and immobilized on the surface of gold nanoparticles via a Au-S bond, in which the phenylboronic acid group was employed as the recognition unit for Hg2+ and CH3Hg+ based on the Hg-promoted transmetalation reaction. In the presence of Hg2+ and CH3Hg+, a new surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) peak aroused from of C-Hg appeared at 1080 cm-1, and the SERS intensity at 1002 cm-1 belonged to the B-O symmetric stretching decreased simultaneously. The quantitative tracking of Hg2+ and CH3Hg+ was realized based on the SERS intensity ratio (I1080/I1303) with rapid response (∼4 min) and high sensitivity, with detection limits of 10.05 and 25.13 nM, respectively. Moreover, the SERS sensor was used for the quantitative detection of Hg2+ and CH3Hg+ in four actual water samples with a high accuracy and excellent recovery. More importantly, cell imaging experiments showed that AuNPs@b-(s)-EPBA could quantitatively detect intracellular CH3Hg+ and had a good concentration dependence in ratiometric SERS imaging. Meanwhile, we demonstrated that AuNPs@b-(s)-EPBA could detect and image CH3Hg+ in zebrafish. We anticipate that AuNPs@b-(s)-EPBA could potentially be used to study the physiological functions related to CH3Hg+ in the future.

Modification of an AIE Fluorescent Probe for Monitoring the Polarity of Lipid Droplets Based on a series of Synthesized Aryl Naphthalizes.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are subcellular organelles that are dynamic and play a central role in energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism. They also contribute to the transport and maturation of cellular proteins and are closely associated with several diseases. The important role of the cellular microenvironment in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Changes in cell polarity, particularly in organelles, have been found to be strongly linked to inflammation, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and other illnesses. It is essential to check the polarity of the LDs. A series of arylated naphthalimide derivatives were synthesized using the Suzuki reaction. Modification of synthesized aryl naphthalimides using oligomeric PEG based on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) mechanism. A series of fluorescent probes were designed to target LDs and detect their polarity. Nap-TPA-PEG3 probe exhibited high sensitivity to polarity. The addition of oligomeric polyethylene glycol (PEG) to the probe not only significantly improved its solubility in water, but also effectively reduced its cytotoxicity. In addition, the probe exhibited excellent aggregation-induced luminescence (AIE) properties and solvent discolouration effects. Nap-TPA-PEG3 probe exhibited high Pearson correlation coefficient (0.957163) in lipid droplet co-localization in cells. Nap-TPA-PEG3 could be used as an effective hand tool to monitor cell polarity.

P‐Toluene Sulphonic Acid (PTSA): An Efficient Catalyst for One‐Pot Three‐Component Synthesis of Novel 3‐Pyrazolyl‐Thiazolidin‐4‐One Derivatives

AbstractThis research article focuses on the pathway for metal‐free unprecedented one‐pot three‐component synthesis of biologically active 3‐pyrazolyl‐thiazolidin‐4‐one derivatives through cyclo‐condensation of aromatic aldehydes, 1H‐pyrazol‐3‐amine and thioglycolic acid in aqueous medium. p‐Toluene sulphonic acid (PTSA), a non‐toxic, cheaper, easily accessible, eco‐benign, organic acid‐catalyst was explored to mediate this reaction. Formation of novel 3‐pyrazolyl‐thiazolidin‐4‐one derivatives, environment‐benign conditions, quick reaction time, excellent functional group acceptance and moderate to high yield of the products are some of the chief advantages of the reaction. Further, this methodology will surely contribute in various fields of synthetic organic methodology, pharmaceutical industry and natural bio‐active product synthesis.

Voltammetric determination of a UV filter pollutant using a platinum electrode modified by a polymer membrane based on ß-cyclodextrin

Purpose This study aims to develop an electrochemical sensor for the detection of benzophenone (BP) as an alternative to conventional techniques that are known, expensive, complex and less sensitive. Design/methodology/approach The developed sensor is a platinum electrode modified with a plasticized polymer film based on ß-cyclodextrin, using PVC as the polymer, PEG as the plasticizer and ß-CD as the ionophore. This sensor is characterized by various techniques, such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. This latter is also used for analyzing kinetic processes at the electrode/electrolyte interface and to evaluate the selectivity and sensitivity of the sensor. Findings The results highlight the performance of our sensor. In fact, it exhibits a linear response extending from 10−19 to 10−13 M, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9836. What is more, it has an excellent detection limit of 10−19 M and a good sensitivity of 21.24 µA/M. Originality/value The results of this investigation demonstrated that the developed sensor is an analytical tool of choice for the monitoring of BP in the aqueous phase. The suggested sensor is fast, simple, reproducible and inexpensive.

Preparation and characterization of nano-emulsion formulations of Asparagus densiflorus root and aerial parts extracts: evaluation of in-vitro antibacterial and anticancer activities of nano-emulsion versus pure plant extract

Objective Preparation and characterization of nano-emulsion formulations for Asparagus densiflorus aerial and root parts extracts. Significance Genus Asparagus is known for its antimicrobial and anticancer activities, however, freeze dried powder of aqueous – alcoholic extract prepared in this study, exhibited a limited water solubility, limiting its therapeutic application. Thus, encapsulation of its phytochemicals into nano-emulsion is proposed as a solution to improve water solubility, and facilitate its clinical translation. Methods the composition of extracts for both aerial and root parts of Asparagus densiflorus was identified by HPLC and LC-MS analysis. Nano-emulsion was prepared via homogenization where a mixture of Castor oil: phosphate buffered saline (10 mM, pH 7.4): Tween 80: PEG 600 in a ratio of 10: 5: 2.5: 2.5, respectively. Nano-emulsion formulations were characterized for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, TEM, viscosity and pH. Then, the antibacterial and anticancer activities of nano-emulsion formulations versus their pure plant counterparts was assessed. Results The analysis of extracts identified several flavonoids, phenolics, and saponins which were reported to have antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Nano-emulsion formulations were monodispersed with droplet sizes ranging from 80.27 ± 2.05 to 111.16 ± 1.97 nm, and polydispersity index ≤0.3. Nano-emulsion formulations enhanced significantly the antibacterial (multidrug resistant bacteria causing skin and dental soft tissues infections) and anticancer (HuH7, HEPG2, H460 and HCT116) activities compared to their pure plant extract counterparts. Conclusion Employing a nano-delivery system as a carrier for phytochemicals might be an effective strategy to enhance their pharmacological activity, overcome their limitations, and ultimately increase their potential for clinical applications.

Synthesis and Characterization of Janus fenugreek Seed Gum-based Film for Food Packaging and Wound Dressing Applications

The use of plant-derived natural gum polysaccharides in food packaging and biomedicine is growing due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, film-forming ability, abundant functional groups, and potential for chemical or physical modification to develop novel materials. In this study, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed gum (FSG)-based Janus films with glycerol (GLY) as a plasticizer in varying concentrations (2%, 5%, 7%, and 10% w/w) were synthesized for potential food packaging and biomedical applications. The glycerol concentration significantly affected the stability, microstructure, moisture content, and solubility of the film, with 5% GLY yielding the most stable films. The water solubility was gradually increased with increasing the GLY content in the film sample. The film exhibited strong radical scavenging activity against DPPH assays, with an IC50 value of 158.73±0.013 µg/mL. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the film were found to be 88.21±0.012 mg/g in gallic acid equivalents (GAE) and 9.36±0.018 mg/g in quercetin equivalents (QE), respectively. The pristine FSG film exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and the fungal strain Candida albicans, which was significantly enhanced by incorporating the antibacterial drug penicillin. Additionally, we examined the impact of different films on chicken meat and cheese by monitoring changes in weight loss, color, pH, total aerobic mesophilic counts (TAMC), and psychrotrophic bacterial counts (PBC) during storage. Our results demonstrated that the samples packaged with pristine FSG film exhibited significantly lower TAMC and PBC values and slowed down the increase in pH values compared to the control samples, which further decreased by incorporating antimicrobial drug. These findings indicated that the Janus pristine FSG film is suitable for food packaging. Further, antimicrobial drugs incorporated into FSG film could be potential candidates for wound dressing applications.

A novel biodegradable film based on chicken gelatin and κ-carrageenan cross-linked with oxidized phenolic compounds.

Natural and renewable polymers are gradually replacing petroleum-based plastics, mostly as a result of environmental concerns. Moreover, upcycling industrial food waste into new added-value products is a creative approach that is crucial for cleaner and more sustainable manufacturing. The aim of this study was to obtain an environmentally friendly biodegradable film using a combination of k-carrageenan (KCAR) and chicken gelatin (CGEL), which obtained from poultry by-products. The effects of varying concentrations of KCAR (0-2%) on the physical, permeability, textural, thermal, and microstructural properties of CGEL/KCAR composite films were evaluated. The findings demonstrated that an increase in KCAR enhanced the lightness and opacity levels of the films. Water vapor permeability (WVP) values reduced as the KCAR concentration increased. The lowest WVP value (0.0012g.mm/h.m2.kpa) was seen in the treatment with 2% KCAR. Tensile strength (TS) values increased with increasing KCAR. The films' thermal stability was increased by the addition of KCAR. Microstructure assessments revealed a more compact and smooth structure in the KCAR-containing treatments, indicating improvements in WVP, thermal stability, and TS. Compared to the commercial cattle gelatin film, the CGEL film had higher TS and lower water solubility (WS). Overall, this study showed that the physical, mechanical, barrier and thermal and microstructural qualities of gelatin-based films may be enhanced by combining CGEL and KCAR to create an effective biodegradable film. Moreover, the comparison study between commercial cattle and chicken gelatin films revealed that cross-linked chicken gelatin films would be a suitable alternative for bovine gelatin films in the production of biodegradable film.

Membranes Based on Aminated Graphene Oxide with High Selectivity Toward Organic Substances.

In this work, membranes based on graphene oxide, modified with oleylamine, have been prepared by a simple wet chemistry protocol without the use of complex equipment, elevated temperature, and additional reagents. The membrane material was characterized by a set of physicochemical methods: thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The prepared membranes are stable in both aqueous and organic media. The membranes have a high flux for organic substances and do not permeate water at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The selectivity of the membranes toward organic substances increases with their thickness. The highest flux among the tested organic liquids is registered for methanol. The membranes have high selectivity toward ethanol/1-butanol and acetone/1-butanol pairs, which opens up the possibility of separating actual industrial mixtures. The membrane retains 90% of methylene blue from the alcohol solution. Our work expands the possibilities of using modified GO-based membranes in purification and filtration technologies.

The role of ceranib-2 and its nanoform on the decrease of telomerase levels in human non-small cell cancer.

Ceranib-2, an acid ceramidase (AC) inhibitor, can inhibit cancer cell proliferation and tumor development. However, poor water solubility and low cellular bioavailability limit its efficacy in cancer treatment. This study aimed to investigate the cell death induced by ceranib-2 and its solid lipid nanoformulation (ceranib-2-SLN) produced by the hot homogenization technique and the synergistic relationship between ceramide and telomerase in vitro and in silico. Furthermore, this study proved the possible mechanism of ceranib-2-induced AC inhibition by in silico studies. The effective cytotoxic concentrations of ceranib-2, telomerase level, and changes in ceramide levels were measured by MTT colorimetric cytotoxicity assay, ELISA, and LC/MS/MS methods, respectively. TEM results showed that ceranib-2-SLN was 13-fold smaller than the size of ceranib-2. Ceranib-2 and ceranib-2-SLN had IC50 concentrations of 31.62 (± 2.1) and 27.69 (± 1.75) µM in A549, and 48.79 (± 1.56) and 67.98 (± 2.33) in Beas-2B cells. These compounds simultaneously increased ceramide levels and decreased telomerase levels in A549 cells. Ceranib-2 increased telomerase levels while decreasing ceramide levels in Beas-2B cells. It was shown how the synergistic impact of ceranib-2-induced ceramide production and ceramide-induced telomerase level reduction on cytotoxicity in A549 cells. Ceranib-2-SLN was discovered to be more cytotoxic on cancer cells than ceranib-2, suggesting that it could be a promising option for the development of a new anti-cancer agent.

Synthesis of Quarternized Chitosans and Their Potential Applications in the Solubility Enhancement of Indomethacin by Solid Dispersion.

This study was designed to synthesize quarternized chitosans (Q-CS) and explore their potential application in aqueous solubility enhancement of indomethacin (IND), a BCS class-II drug.Three different Q-CS; N,N,N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC), N-(4-N'-methylpyridinylmethyl) chitosan chloride (mPyCS), and N-(4-N',N',N'-trimethylaminobenzyl) chitosan chloride (TmBzCS) were synthesized and characterized through various spectroscopic analysis. Q-CS-based solid-dispersion (SD) composites of IND (Q-CS-IND) were prepared using the spray-drying methodand characterized through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential-scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD). The solubility and dissolution profiles of SD-composites of IND were evaluated and compared with physical mixtures (PM). The IND contents were quantified and validated in the composites using UV-Vis spectrophotometer.FTIR and NMR analysis showed the successful preparation of Q-CS. TMC was found with the highest yield (55.13%) and mPyCS with the highest degree of quaternization (DQ) (63.37%). FT-IR analysisof IND-Q-CS composites demonstrated chemical interaction between carbonyl moieties of IND with functional groups of Q-CS. DSC and PXRD analyses demonstrated the transformation of IND in SD compositesfrom crystalline to an amorphous form. All the IND-Q-CS composites were observed with a significant increase in the solubility and dissolution rate of the drug (1996.0µg/min) compared to PM (1306.8µg/min), which is higher than pure IND (791.6µg/min). The contents of IND in TMC, mPyCS, and TmBzCS composites were 97.69-99.92%, 97.66-100.25%, and 97.18-100.11% respectively.Overall, the findings encourage the applications of Q-CS derivatives for increasing IND water solubility and warrant further in vivo biological profiling of IND composites.

Nano-drug delivery systems (NDDS) in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD): current status, prospects and challenges

About one-third of the global population suffers from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but specific treatments for MASLD have long been lacking, primarily due to the unclear etiology of the disease. In addition to lifestyle modifications and weight loss surgery, pharmacotherapy is the most common treatment among MASLD patients, and these drugs typically target the pathogenic factors of MASLD. However, bioavailability, efficacy, and side effects all limit the maximum therapeutic potential of the drugs. With the development of nanomedicine, recent years have seen attempts to combine MASLD pharmacotherapy with nanomaterials, such as liposomes, polymer nanoparticles, micelles, and cocrystals, which effectively improves the water solubility and targeting of the drugs, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing toxic side effects, offering new perspectives and futures for the treatment of MASLD.