Atenolol Research Articles

Atenolol removal from aqueous solutions using Bi2O3/TiO2 under UV-C and visible light irradiations

ABSTRACT In this study, Bi2O3/TiO2 composite was successfully synthesised using the solvothermal method, and the morphology, composition, and surface area of the composite were determined. Comparisons of photocatalytic performance were performed using Bi2O3/TiO2 for the decomposition of Atenolol (ATN) a β-blockers that is generally used to treat disorders such as hypertension and arrhythmias, as a model contaminant under visible light irradiation. The effects of different parameters such as solution pH, catalyst dosage, initial ATN concentration, reaction time, coexisting cations and anions, and turbidity on the degradation efficiency of ATN were investigated. An excellent synergistic effect was observed in the decomposition of ATN with the simultaneous application of Bi2O3/TiO2 and LED compared to single processes (synergistic index value, 4.027). The Bi2O3 catalyst has a much lower photocatalytic performance for the decomposition of ATN than the synthesised Bi2O3/TiO2 composite. The optimal rate for pH, catalyst dosage, and initial concentration of ATN was 7, 400 mg/l and 10 mg/l, respectively. Under optimal conditions, about 68.92% and 22.58% of ATN were degraded after 60 minutes in the presence of Bi2O3/TiO2 and Bi2O3 catalysts, respectively. However, these efficiencies are reduced to 51.83% and 12.4%, respectively, under 50 NTU. The addition of co-existing anions, especially PO4 3 ⁻, remarkably reduced the efficiency of ATN removal in the Bi2O3/TiO2/LED process. The presence of cations promoted the degradation of ATN in the Bi2O3/LED process, while the efficiency of ATN degradation was inhibited by the presence of cations in the Bi2O3/TiO2/LED process. The ATN removal efficiency using LED irradiation (49.02%) was much higher than that of UV-C irradiation (27.16%) when the concentration of ATN was 30 mg/L.

Sensitivity Analysis with the Monte Carlo Method and Prediction of Atenolol Removal Using Modified Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Based on the Response Surface Method: Isotherm and Kinetics Studies

Atenolol (ATN) is a β-blocker drug extensively used to treat arrhythmias and high blood pressure. Because the human body cannot metabolize it completely, this drug has been commonly found in many environmental matrices. In the present study, the response surface method (RSM) was used for adsorption prediction of ATN on modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (M-MWCNTs) by NaOCl and ultrasonic. The sensitivity analysis was done by the Monte Carlo method. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the effective parameter by the Monte Carlo simulator. Statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed by using the nonlinear second-order model of RSM. The influential parameters including contact time (min), adsorbent dosage (g/L), pH, and the initial concentration (mg/L) of ATN were investigated, and optimal conditions were determined. Kinetic of ATN adsorption on M-MWCNTs was evaluated using pseudo-first, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion models. Equilibrium isotherms for this system were analyzed by the ISOFIT software. As per our result, optimum conditions in the adsorption experiments were pH 7, 60 min of contact time, 0.5 mg/L ATN initial concentration, and 150 mg/L adsorbent dose. In terms of ATN removal efficiency, coefficients of R2 and adjusted R2 were 0.999 and 0.998, respectively. Sensitivity analysis also showed that contact time has the greatest effect on increasing the removal of ATN. Pseudo-first-order (R2 value of 0.99) was the best kinetic model for the adsorption of ATN, and for isotherm, BET (AICC value of 3.27) was the best model that fit the experimental data. According to the obtained results from sensitive analysis, time was the most important parameter, and after that, the adsorbent dose and pH affect positively on ATN removal efficiency. It can be concluded that the modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes can be applied as one of the best adsorbents to remove ATN from the aqueous solution.

Atenolol-imprinted polymer: a DFT study.

The purpose of this work was to investigate, via DFT calculations, the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for atenolol (ATL) β-blocker evaluating distinct functional monomers (FMs), solvents, and cross-linker agents (CLAs). As the main result, we could determine from structural and thermodynamic data the best MIP synthesis protocol as being: p-vinyl benzoic acid (APV) as FM, toluene as solvent, and pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETRA) as CLA. We believe this rational design can be very useful for experimentalists in an attempt to perform an efficient synthesis of a MIP for this important β-blocker drug.

Transport dynamics of atenolol in an electrodialysis cell: Membrane sorption and electric field-driven effects

Electrooxidation has proven to be an effective technique to remove pharmaceutical from water and wastewater. However, the low concentration of pharmaceuticals in the environment affects the process, becoming a drawback that needs solution. A new system coupling electrooxidation and electrodialysis was recently proposed for micropollutants removal, since ionic interactions between micropollutants and ion-exchange membranes were already proven. Despite this, the transport of pharmaceutical through ion-exchange membranes under the application of an electric field is still unclear and pathless. To fill this gap, the transport of atenolol (ATL) at under- and overlimiting current conditions was evaluated in an electrodialysis cell for the first time as an initial step to the application of the hybrid process. This study focused on the interaction and transport of ATL through the cation-exchange membrane (CEM), considering ATL cationic aspect. Different current densities (5, 10, 15, 25 mA/cm2) were applied and ion uptake experiments were done. It was found that the transport is mostly driven by this parameter: by applying 15 mA/cm2, ≈98% removal rate was achieved, while applying 5 mA/cm2 only 7% of ATL was removed. Part of the ATL remained into the CEM structure can be desorbed by applying an electric field at inverse polarity. It occurs because ATL seems to be linked by electrostatic interactions with the functional groups on the CEM matrix. Thus, a hybrid process would be feasible allowing to concentrate and degrade ATL simultaneously, reducing the consumption of chemicals, energy, unitary processes, besides operational costs.

Assessment of the contribution of various constructed wetland components for the removal of pharmaceutically active compounds

Constructed wetland (CW) is being used to attenuate pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) from wastewater. In this study, the fate of three PhACs – atenolol (ATL), carbamazepine (CBZ), and diclofenac (DCF) was investigated in each component of the CW. The acclimatized microbes showed effective degradation of PhACs at initial concentrations of 100 µg/L under different redox conditions, with degradation rates in the order of ATL > CBZ > DCF. The hydroponics study with Canna indica removed 19.3–31.2 % without substrate materials (initial PhACs:100 µg/L each). The breakthrough and sorption capacity of unplanted CW followed the order: natural zeolite (1.6–2.15 µg/g) < Light-weight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) (5.37–8.27 µg/g) < waste autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) block (9.27–10.79 µg/g) < wood charcoal (24.1–26.4 µg/g), according to their surface and textural properties. Eventually, four laboratory-scale CW units with enriched microbes, C. indica, and different supporting materials were monitored for the removal of organics, nutrients, and PhACs. A significant variation (p < 0.05) in the pollutant’s removal was observed with the four supporting materials. The synergistic interaction among AAC blocks, macrophytes, and microbial population in the system exhibited higher removal of COD, TN, TP, and PhACs as 88.6%, 81.6%, 77.6%, and 95.3%, respectively. In addition, the estimated PhACs mass balance corroborated that biodegradation (80.57–93%) dominated over sorption and phytodegradation in the CWs. The abundance of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Planctomycetes in enriched consortia contributed to the degradation of PhACs. Owing to the highly porous nature of waste AAC blocks, a relatively higher microbial activity was observed in the CW unit with AAC as substrate material.

Evaluation of an electrochemical membrane reactor for the removal of β-blocker compound from water

As part of the Brazilian Popular Pharmacy Program, the β-blocker Atenolol (ATN) is widely used, and its presence in the environmental ecosystems is a reality. Aiming the ATN removal, the use of an electrochemical membrane reactor was evaluated and compared to a membraneless one. The results show that the generation of SO4•− in the membrane reactor occurs by the reaction of HSO4−/H2SO4 scavenging HO•, whereas, in the membraneless reactor, the SO4•− generation occurs mainly by the direct oxidation mechanism. Operating both reactors in the same hydrodynamic conditions, it was found that the concentrations of SO4•− and S2O82− are higher in the membrane reactor, leading to a greater concentration of these species being transported to the bulk solution, changing the kinetics, and presenting better results in electrochemical combustion (ϕ), mineralization current efficiency (MCE) and specific energy consumption (Es). Since the mass transport limitations were overcome in membrane reactor, the processes may find their good applications in water and wastewater treatment.

Enhanced electro-Fenton processes by persulfate radical for atenolol oxidation from aqueous solution

Background: Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are a group of emerging environmental pollutants that have attracted the attention of many researchers due to their harmful effects on aquatic environment, animals, and humans. Thus, it is necessary to remove these contaminants from water resources. This study aimed to assess the efficiency of enhanced electro-Fenton (EF) process by persulfate (PS) radical for removal of atenolol (ATL) from aqueous solutions. Methods: The bench scale experimental setup was used to examine the factors affecting the ATL removal efficiency from synthetic wastewater; supporting electrolyte type, pH, contact time, PS concentration, Fe concentration, and ATL initial concentration. Results: Based on the results, ATL removal efficiency of 78.6% was reached under the optimum conditions of enhanced EF process by PS radical. The optimum conditions included NaCl (as a supporting electrolyte) dose of 0.5 g/L, pH 5, contact time of 60 minutes, PS dose of 0.15 g/L, Fe dose of 0.15 g/L, current density (CD) of 1.5 A/m2 , and ATL concentration of 40 mg/L. Kinetic model was following the second-order kinetics. Conclusion: The studied advanced oxidation process (AOP) can effectively remove ATL from aqueous solutions. Therefore, it can be used as an effective technique for removing other organic matter from the wastewater.

A rapid and versatile microfluidic method for the simultaneous extraction of polar and non-polar basic pharmaceuticals from human urine

In sample preparation, simultaneous extraction of analytes of very different polarity from biological matrixes represents a challenge. In this work, verapamil hydrochloride (VRP), amitriptyline (AMP), tyramine (TYR), atenolol (ATN), metopropol (MTP) and nortriptyline (NRP) were used as basic model analytes and simultaneously extracted from urine samples by liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) in a microfluidic device. The model analytes (target compounds) were pharmaceuticals with 0.4 < log P < 5. Different organic solvents and mixtures of them were investigated as supported liquid membrane (SLM), and a mixture of 2:1 (v/v) tributyl phosphate (TBP) and dihexyl ether (DHE) was found to be highly efficient for the simultaneous extraction of the non-polar and polar model analytes. TBP reduced the intrinsic hydrophobicity of the SLM and facilitated extraction of polar analytes, while DHE served to minimize trapping of non-polar analytes. Sample and acceptor phase composition were adjusted to pH 12 and pH 1.5, respectively. Urine samples were pumped into the microfluidic system at 1 μL min-1 and the extraction was completed in 7 min. Recoveries exceeded 78% for the target analytes, and the relative standard deviation (n = 4) was below 7% in all cases. Using five microliters of SLM, the microfluidic extraction system showed good long-term stability, and the same SLM was used for more than 18 consecutive extractions.

Deciphering the Core Metabolites of Fanconi Anemia by Using a Multi-Omics Composite Network.

Deciphering the metabolites of human diseases is an important objective of biomedical research. Here, we aimed to capture the core metabolites of Fanconi anemia (FA) using the bioinformatics method of a multi-omics composite network. Based on the assumption that metabolite levels can directly mirror the physiological state of the human body, we used a multi-omics composite network that integrates six types of interactions in humans (gene-gene, disease phenotype-phenotype, disease-related metabolite-metabolite, gene-phenotype, gene-metabolite, and metabolite-phenotype) to procure the core metabolites of FA. This method is applicable in predicting and prioritizing disease candidate metabolites and is effective in a network without known disease metabolites. In this report, we first singled out the differentially expressed genes upon different groups that were related with FA and then constructed the multi-omics composite network of FA by integrating the aforementioned six networks. Ultimately, we utilized random walk with restart (RWR) to screen the prioritized candidate metabolites of FA, and meanwhile the co-expression gene network of FA was also obtained. As a result, the top 5 metabolites of FA were tenormin (TN), guanosine 5'-triphosphate, guanosine 5'-diphosphate, triphosadenine (DCF) and adenosine 5'-diphosphate, all of which were reported to have a direct or indirect relationship with FA. Furthermore, the top 5 co-expressed genes were CASP3, BCL2, HSPD1, RAF1 and MMP9. By prioritizing the metabolites, the multi-omics composite network may provide us with additional indicators closely linked to FA.

SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF ATORVASTATIN AND ATENOLOL IN RABBIT PLASMA BY RP-HPLC METHOD AND ITS APPLICATION IN PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY

Objective: The objective of the present study is to establish a simple, sensitive, and specific RP-HPLC technique to determine atorvastatin calcium (ATV) and atenolol (ATL) in rabbit plasma.&#x0D; Methods: Both the drugs like atorvastatin calcium and atenolol have been extracted by simple liquid-liquid extraction with acetonitrile.&#x0D; Results: The chromatographic separation has performed on a reversed-phase C18 column with a mobile phase of phosphate buffer (pH 4.0): acetonitrile: methanol (40:40:20, v/v). The techniques have been validated over the concentration range of 22.08-4778.37 ng ml-1 for ATV and 18.35-3969.20 ng ml-1 for ATL in rabbit plasma. The acceptability range was satisfied for all validation criteria. These methods have been profitably applied to the pharmacokinetic study of a bilayer tablet of ATV and ATL after an oral administration to a rabbit. A significant recovery of the drug from plasma resulted from acetonitrile as extracting solvent compared to other organic solvents.&#x0D; Conclusion: The results obtained proved that the RP-HPLC method developed was accurate and reproducible, and the drug was stable in rabbit plasma.

Nonclinical cardiovascular safety assessment of thioridazine: Impact of autonomic tone, body temperature, and choice of species

Pending updates to ICH S7B/E14 guidelines will enable the substitution of human TQT studies with support from concomitant negative hERG and non-rodent CV studies. This retrospective analysis compared the effects of thioridazine (THD) (5–20 mg/kg) on heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), body temperature (Tc), and QT in the dog (n = 6), cynomolgus monkey (n = 4), and Goettingen minipig (n = 4) with data from previously completed studies employing crossover designs. As QT measurements are confounded by HR and Tc changes, QT effects were individually corrected for changes in HR (QTca) and Tc (QTcaT). THD-induced hemodynamic changes seen in humans were most accurately reflected in the monkey and, to a lesser extent, the dog, but not in the minipig. The minipig was most sensitive to THD QTc effects. When QTca was adjusted for THD-associated Tc decreases in minipigs and monkeys, the minipig revealed a lessened but pronounced QTcaT increase (48 ms). In the monkey, a persistent QTca increase was reduced to only a transient (0.5–3 h) QTcaT increase (20 ms). The dog's lack of THD QTca effects triggered co-administration of atenolol (AT) to attenuate THD-induced HR increases in the dog and monkey. THD + AT revealed peak QTcaT increases of 32 ms in the dog and 40 ms in the monkey, suggesting potential autonomic nervous system (ANS) interference in detecting repolarization changes. These results highlight critical species-specific differences in the outcome of parallel safety investigations. Species selection for nonclinical safety studies should consider the potential impact of Tc and ANS effects to avoid false-negative or overly positive outcomes.

Two different spectrophotometric methods for simultaneous determination of binary mixture of atenolol and amlodipine in commercial formulation

Two different spectrophotometric methods for simultaneous determination of binary mixture of atenolol and amlodipine in commercial formulation

Rapid Estimation of Water Stress in Choy Sum (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis) Using Integrative Approach.

To optimize crop water consumption and adopt water-saving measures such as precision irrigation, early identification of plant water status is critical. This study explores the effectiveness of estimating water stress in choy sum (Brassica chinensis var. parachinensis) grown in pots in greenhouse conditions using Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) and crop vegetation indicators to improve irrigation water management. Data on CWSI and Spectral reflectance were collected from choy sum plants growing in sandy loam soil with four different soil field capacities (FC): 90–100% FC as no water stress (NWS); 80–90% FC for light water stress (LWS); 70–80% FC for moderate water stress (MWS); and 60–70% FC for severe water stress (SWS). With four treatments and three replications, the experiment was set up as a completely randomized design (CRD). Throughout the growing season, plant water stress tracers such as leaf area index (LAI), canopy temperature (Tc), leaf relative water content (LRWC), leaf chlorophyll content, and yield were measured. Furthermore, CWSI estimated from the Workswell Wiris Agro R Infrared Camera (CWSIW) and spectral data acquisition from the Analytical Spectral Device on choy sum plants were studied at each growth stage. NDVI, Photochemical Reflectance Index positioned at 570 nm (PRI570), normalized PRI (PRInorm), Water Index (WI), and NDWI were the Vegetation indices (VIs) used in this study. At each growth stage, the connections between these CWSIW, VIs, and water stress indicators were statistically analyzed with R2 greater than 0.5. The results revealed that all VIs were valuable guides for diagnosing water stress in choy sum. CWSIW obtained from this study showed that Workswell Wiris Agro R Infrared Camera mounted on proximal remote sensing platform for assessing water stress in choy sum plant was rapid, non-destructive, and user friendly. Therefore, integrating CWSIW and VIs approach gives a more rapid and accurate approach for detecting water stress in choy sum grown under greenhouse conditions to optimize yield by reducing water loss and enhancing food security and sustainability.

Efficient removal of Salbutamol and Atenolol by an electronegative silanized β-cyclodextrin adsorbent

Salbutamol (SAL) and Atenolol (ATL), two common medical ingredients acting on adrenal receptor, are often used for treating chronic illnesses. However, the incomplete metabolism in organism and widespread utilization lead to unneglected problems of water pollution, which the traditional treatment plant cannot satisfactorily deal with. For efficient removal of SAL and ATL, a kind of silanized β-cyclodextrin compound adsorbents (GD-EDTS) was designed based on the ionization features of two pollutants. Through an introduction of rich carboxyl groups by N-[(3-Trimethoxysilyl)propyl]ethylenediamine triaceticacid trisodium salt (EDTS), GD-EDTS surface obtains an appropriate electronegativity to meet different forms of IOCs and maintain a good adsorption performance in a wide pH range. The maximum adsorption capacities of SAL and ATL are 140.24 mg/g and 236.92 mg/g, respectively. And a remarkable rise is known from the adsorption capacity of SAL and ATL increasing to 162% and 706%, respectively, after EDTS modification. Adsorption data fit the Sips adsorption isotherms and the pseudo second-order kinetic model, and a weak competitive behavior between SAL and ATL indicates two pollutants can be removed simultaneously by GD-EDTS in their binary system. In this work, GD-EDTS is suggested to be an efficient adsorbent in the removal of SAL and ATL.

Toxicological effects of atenolol and venlafaxine on zebrafish tissues: Bioaccumulation, DNA hypomethylation, and molecular mechanism

The beta-blocker atenolol (ATE), and the selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, venlafaxine (VEN) are frequently detected in municipal wastewater effluents, but little is known about their ecotoxicological effect on aquatic animals. Herein, ATE and VEN were selected to explore their accumulation and global DNA methylation (GDM) in zebrafish tissues after a 30-day exposure. Molecular dynamics (MD) stimulation was used to investigate the toxic mechanism of ATE and VEN exposure. The results demonstrated that ATE and VEN could reduce the condition factor of zebrafish. The bioaccumulation capacity for ATE and VEN was in the order of liver > gut > gill > brain and liver > gut > brain > gill, respectively. After a 30-day recovery, ATE and VEN could still be detected in zebrafish tissues when exposure concentrations were ≥10 μg/L. Moreover, ATE and VEN induced global DNA hypomethylation in different tissues with a dose-dependent manner and their main target tissues were liver and brain. When the exposure concentrations of ATE and VEN were increased to 100 μg/L, the global DNA hypomethylation of liver and brain were reduced to 27% and 18%, respectively. In the same tissue exposed to the same concentration, DNA hypomethylation induced by VEN was more serious than that of ATE. After a 30-day recovery, the global DNA hypomethylations caused by the two drugs were still persistent, and the recovery of VEN was slower than that of ATE. The MD simulation results showed that both ATE and VEN could reduce the catalytic activity of DNA Methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), while the effect of VEN on the 3D conformational changes of the DNMT1 domain was more significant, resulting in a lower DNA methylation rate. The current study shed new light on the toxic mechanism and potential adverse impacts of ATE and VEN on zebrafish, providing essential information to the further ecotoxicological risk assessment of these drugs in the aquatic environment.

QBD based Design and Characterization of Proniosomal Transdermal Delivery of Atenolol and Glibenclamide Combination: An Innovative Approach

There are numerous circumstances where chronic disease is associated with other disorders, especially in diseases like diabetes with noncommunicable disease risk factors, such as hypertension. This study shows a novel and innovative combinational proniosomal delivery of combination to beat the reactions by complex therapeutic regimen, and to improve patient compliance after controlling combinational transdermal delivery of Glibenclamide (GLB) and Atenolol (ATN) which have not been tried actually. To achieve the above reason, proniosomes were prepared and optimized utilizing Box-Behnken design. The ideal formulation was chosen by a point prediction method and formulation showed vesicle size of 562 ± 1.223 nm, entrapment efficiency of GLB & ATN 97.037 ± 1.43% and 96.230 ± 1.62% respectively which were found in concurrence with the predicted value. The optimized combinational proniosomal gel (OCPG) formulation was additionally assessed for in vitro drug release, In vitro drug permeation, and in vivo pharmacokinetic study. The OCPG formulation shows the greatest flux over the rabbit skin (128.609 ± 2.24 mg/cm2/h and 322.054 ± 1.53 mg/ cm2/h) of GLB and ATN respectively. The results indicated desired release and permeation profiles. OCPG showed significantly (p < 0.001) pharmacokinetic contemplate exhibited that transdermal proniosomal formulation demonstrated improvement in bioavailability of two drugs 129.30 and 174.62 times respectively as that of the oral formulation. Overall the results show that controlled release GLB and ATN provesicles offer a useful and promising transdermal delivery system for the treatment of type II diabetes and hypertension by using design. Henceforth this may be an achievement in treating diabetic hypertensive patient.

In Vitro Investigation of Binding Interactions between Albumin-Gliclazide Model and Typical Hypotensive Drugs.

Type 2 diabetes management usually requires polytherapy, which increases the risk of drug-to-drug interactions. Among the multiple diabetes comorbidities, hypertension is the most prevalent. This study aimed to investigate the binding interactions between the model protein, bovine albumin, and the hypoglycemic agent gliclazide (GLICL) in the presence of typical hypotensive drugs: quinapril hydrochloride (QUI), valsartan (VAL), furosemide (FUR), amlodipine besylate (AML), and atenolol (ATN). Spectroscopic techniques (fluorescence quenching, circular dichroism) and thermodynamic experiments were employed. The binding of the gliclazide to the albumin molecule was affected by the presence of an additional drug ligand, which was reflected by the reduced binding constant of the BSA–DRUG–GLICL system. This may indicate a possible GLICL displacement and its enhanced pharmacological effect, as manifested in clinical practice. The analysis of the thermodynamic parameters indicated the spontaneity of the reaction and emphasized the role of hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces in these interactions. The secondary structure of the BSA remained almost unaffected.

Nebulization of a polyelectrolyte-drug system for systemic hypertension treatment

Hypertension is a chronic pathology where blood pressure levels are continuously high, causing cardiac, renal, cerebral, and vascular damage leading to early morbi-mortality. This illness is the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and the main cause of atrial fibrillation. Atenolol (AT) is a β-1 blocker drug useful for antihypertension and antiarrhythmic treatments. However, this drug possesses low oral bioavailability associated to its low permeability and extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism. To solve the conventional AT-administration problems, oral controlled-release and transdermal delivery have been reported. In this work, an alternative AT inhalatory system administered by nebulization is presented. This system is based on an ionic complex between acidic groups of alginic acid and cationic groups of AT (AA-AT), which was obtained by spray-drying. Pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical properties for AA-AT inhalatory administration using a jet nebulizer were investigated. The aerodynamic performance (assayed at different cup-nebulizer loadings) of the nebulized system demonstrated that around 40% of the formulation would deposit in the respiratory membrane, with mass median aerodynamic diameters of 3.4–3.6 µm. The AT carried in the AA-AT system was released adequately by ionic exchange in saline solution by permeation through a cellulose membrane. The presence of AA as polyelectrolyte conferred mucoadhesive properties to the ionic complex. Even at high relative AA-AT concentrations, no cytotoxic effect was detected in A-549 cell line. Finally, the preliminary pharmacokinetic assay in the in vivo model confirmed that AT was absorbed from the lung to the systemic circulation, with a greater plasmatic AUC compared to the pure drug (around 50% higher). Then, the system and the nebulization administration demonstrated potential for drug cardiac targeting.

Enhanced Slow Sand Filtration for the Removal of Micropollutants from Groundwater

Remote areas, where centralized water supply cannot reach, rely heavily on decentralized supply systems such as slow sand filters (SSFs). Groundwater used to be a reliable water source; yet, the advent of micropollutants (MPs) has raised concerns over its quality. In this study, an enhanced slow sand filtration utilizing graphene oxide (GO)-coated sand prepared via a simple thermal method was employed to remove two representative MPs, atrazine (ATZ) and atenolol (ATL), from real groundwater for drinking water treatment. The removal of ATZ and ATL was studied in a bench-scale enhanced SSF using GO-coated sand in comparison with the conventional plain sand. The results showed that the GO-coated sand performed better in the removal of ATZ, ATL, and total organic carbon (TOC), as well as turbidity reduction. Moreover, in order to study the role of the schmutzdecke in MPs' removal small lab-scale columns with and without schmutzdecke growth were set up. The results indicated the enhanced removal capacity of the coated sand toward ATZ, ATL, and TOC could mainly be attributed to the GO coating layer, not the schmutzdecke. Hence, if the coated sand is to be used in field SSFs for the removal of organic contaminants, the schmutzdecke growing phase might not be needed. A preliminary techno-economic analysis was performed to evaluate the practicability of enhanced SSF and GO was found to dominate the overall cost. For a community-level or a household-level SSF, the extra cost using GO-coated sand may be $0.34 and $3.25 per m3 of water if the GO price is $10 and $100 per kg, respectively.

Spectrophotometric determination of atenolol via oxidation and bleaching color reaction for methyl red dye

A selective and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been suggested for the quantitative assay of atenolol (ATNL) as pure and in its manufactural formulation(Tablet). The suggested procedure included oxidation of ATNL with an excess quantity of the oxidant N-bromosuccinimide (NBS), and then the excess of NBS was occupied in bleaching the color of methyl red dye(MRD), then measuring the absorbance of remaining MRD at 518 nm. The absorbance of the unbleached color of MRD corresponds to the ATNL concentration in the sample solution. Beer’s law was followed in the range of 0.1-2.0 μg.ml−1with molar absorptivity value equal to 8.8864x104 l.mol−1. cm−1. The suggested method was applied to the assay of ATNL in commercial tablets, with satisfactory results.