Antibiotics Ciprofloxacin Research Articles

Photocatalytic performance with electrochemical effects for ZnO/graphene quantum dots/CdSe nanocomposite toward ciprofloxacin antibiotics and paracetamol degradation under visible light

There has been significant interest in the advancement of photocatalytic materials that can respond to visible light, in order to fulfill the needs of conserving energy and reducing emissions. Photocatalysis is a method employed to eliminate organic contaminants from wastewater. This study examined the effectiveness of graphene quantum dots (GQDs), zinc oxide/graphene quantum dots (ZnO/GQDs), and zinc oxide/graphene quantum dots/cadmium selenide (ZnO/GQDs/CdSe) as catalyst powders in decomposing Paracetamol and Ciprofloxacin antibiotics when exposed to visible light. The ZnO/GQDs/CdSe composite was synthesized using calcination at a temperature of 400°C for a duration of 2 hours. The studies demonstrated that ZnO/GQDs/CdSe exhibited exceptional catalytic efficiency in the photodegradation of Paracetamol and Ciprofloxacin antibiotic, surpassing other catalysts with degradation rates of 99.2% and 99.9%, respectively. The ZnO/GQDs/CdSe composite can be recycled up to 5 times without experiencing any additional damage. Our findings indicate that the combination of GQDs, ZnO, and CdSe forms a photocatalytic system that follows the Z-scheme heterojunction model. This system demonstrates enhanced efficiency in transferring photogenerated electron-hole pairs and possesses a large redox capacity. These conclusions are supported by the results of radical trapping tests.

Preparation and photocatalytic performance of Cr/Sn BiOCl nanocomposites

Photocatalytic technology represents a promising approach for the removal of organic pollutants like drugs and antibiotics from water. However, the widespread implementation hinges on the development of efficient catalysts. In this study, a series of BiOCl nanoflower-shaped catalysts doped with varying concentrations of Cr and Sn metal ions were successfully synthesized using a solvothermal method. The photocatalytic efficacy of these materials was evaluated using the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) as a model pollutant. Among the synthesized catalysts, BCS-5 demonstrated the exceptional photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation, degrading 90.88% of the CIP solution within 180 minutes, and a 1.9-times enhancement compared to that of pure BiOCl. Photoelectrochemical analyses revealed that doping with Cr and Sn altered the band structure of BiOCl, formed new energy levels that facilitated the separation of photogenerated charge carriers, thereby improved the photocatalytic efficiency of BCS-5 nanomaterials. Moreover, BCS-5 exhibited excellent cyclic stability, highlighting its promising potential for practical applications.

Advancing solar wastewater treatment: A photocatalytic process via green ZnO/g-C3N4 coatings and concentrated sunlight – Comprehensive insights into ciprofloxacin antibiotic inactivation

In this study, a sustainable method employing concentrated sunlight to achieve environmental remediation of wastewater, contaminated by Ciprofloxacin antibiotic (CIP), is thoroughly investigated. A green ZnO/g-C3N4 nanocomposite (NC) is used as a photocatalyst coating on glass to investigate the inactivation of CIP in water, in a flow-reactor configuration at small-prototype scale (10 liters/h, catalyst area 187.5 cm2). ZnO/g-C3N4 NC coatings were obtained by an in-situ thermal condensation process coupled with a green synthesis protocol and deposited on glass, via a simple drop casting method. Morphological and structural analyses of synthesized composites were performed with Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques, while optical properties were studied with Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS). The degradation of CIP was first tested at a lab scale under simulated sunlight and then studied under sunlight in a parabolic trough concentrator (PTC). Suitable degradation of CIP (100%) was observed at 210 min via High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and the by-products were determined by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (LC–MS). Microbiological tests revealed the absence of antibacterial activity in CIP water treated with ZnO/g-C3N4 NC photocatalyst against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Priestia megaterium. Our results directly demonstrate the effective inactivation of CIP with a process designed for sustainability both in terms of energy input (solar) and scalability of materials. Also, the small-prototype scale of this investigation provides insights into the challenges arising from the perspective scale-up to an industrial application, aimed at antibiotics inactivation in wastewater and thus helping to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Degradation of Ciprofloxacin in Water Using Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecium

The presence of antibiotics in the wastewater is a growing concern, as they tend to bioaccumulate and are increasing the resistance of bacteria. This study investigates the microbial degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) in water using Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium). This research aims to degrade the ciprofloxacin antibiotic, which is creating multiple problems in the environment and wastewater. Bacterial strains were isolated from wastewater and sludge samples, and their identities were confirmed through 16S rRNA sequencing. The degradation potential was assessed using a shake flask method under varying conditions, including different antibiotic concentrations, temperatures, pH levels, and inoculum densities. E. coli effectively degraded CIP, achieving 90% degradation at 50 mg/L in 18 days, in optimal conditions like a temperature of 37 °C, a pH of 6.5, and an inoculum concentration of 10−8 CFU/mL. However, at higher concentrations (150 mg/L), degradation decreased. Similarly, E. faecium showed a maximum degradation rate of 100% at 50 mg/L of CIP in 18 days, with optimal degradation occurring at 40 °C, a pH of 6.5, and an inoculum density of 10−8 CFU/mL. This study underscores the effectiveness of selected microbial strains in bioremediation processes, highlighting their potential application in mitigating antibiotic pollution in aquatic environments. This is the preliminary study to explore the potential of isolated bacteria to degrade CIP, and their degradation ability can be utilized to develop a CIP-contaminated wastewater treatment plant.

Photodegradation of mixed organic dyes and ciprofloxacin antibiotic using spray pyrolyzed Li-Nb co-doped SnO2 thin films

Immobilized photocatalysts are emerging in prominence for photocatalytic degradation of various kinds of harmful pollutants. In order to tune SnO2 thin films as an effective transparent conducting photoelectrode towards photocatalytic degradation, the effects of lithium and niobium co-doping are examined for their structural, morphological, and optoelectronic characteristics. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal successful doping of ‘Nb’ and ‘Li’ into the SnO2 lattice rendering highly textured growth along (110), (200), (310), and (220) plane directions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the charge states of Sn4+, Nb5+, O2-, and Li1+ elements to be present in the co-doped SnO2 films. FESEM micrographs reveal that the tetragonal shaped particles (0 - 1 wt.% Li doped Nb(2 wt.%):SnO2) undergo a mild agglomeration by forming more slender grains (2 - 4 wt.% Li doped Nb(2 wt.%):SnO2). The wettability nature by contact angle measurement indicates all the films to be hydrophilic in nature. Nb and Li codoping into the SnO2 lattice enhances the transmittance from 53 % for pure to 72 % for 4 wt.% Li and 2 wt.% Nb codoped SnO2 thin film. Photoluminescence emission intensity has been suppressed by the substitution of Nb and Li into the SnO2 films. Linear four-probe and Hall effect revealed sheet resistance and electrical transport properties with a minimum sheet resistance of 56 Ω/□ and with highest mobility of 34.75 cm2 V-1s-1 for 4 wt. % Li and 2 wt.% Nb doped SnO2 thin film, respectively. Based on the determined optoelectronic properties, the photocatalytic activity for solely methyl violet, mixed dyes (methyl orange, malachite green, and methylene blue), and ciprofloxacin antibiotic degradation was carried out using optimal film (1 wt.% Li: 2 wt.% Nb co-doped SnO2), and a significant degradation efficiency was achieved in both Sunlight and LED light illumination.

Ultrafast Evolution of Bacterial Antimicrobial Resistance by Picoliter-Scale Centrifugal Microfluidics.

Experimental evolution is a powerful approach for scrutinizing and dissecting the development of antimicrobial resistance; nevertheless, it typically demands an extended duration to detect evolutionary changes. Here, a centrifugal microfluidics system is designed to accelerate the process. Through a simple step of on-chip centrifugation, a highly condensed bacterial matrix of ∼1012 cells/mL at the enrichment tip of the chip channel is derived, enabling bacteria encapsulated to survive in antimicrobial concentrations several times higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and rapidly develop resistance in the first 10 h. After 48 h of on-chip evolution, the E. coli strain demonstrated a 64 to 128-fold reduction in sensitivity to disinfectants (triclosan) as well as antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and amikacin), a rate substantially swifter compared to conventional continuous inoculation-based experimental evolution. The speed and simplicity of this microfluidic system suggest its broad application for uncovering resistance mechanisms and identifying targets of biocides and antibiotics.

Removal of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds from Hospital Wastewater with Ozonation

Hospital wastewater includes many pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). Since this resulted in both PhACs distribution to the environment and antibiotic resistance development of microorganisms, on-site treatment of hospital wastewater has gained importance. In this study, the removal of 21 PhACs consisting of 12 parent compounds and 9 main metabolites from hospital wastewater was researched by ozonation. In this context, commonly used analgesics (paracetamol, diclofenac, ibuprofen, and naproxen, 4'-hydroxydiclofenac, 5-hydroxydiclofenac, 1-hydroxyibuprofen, 2-hydroxyibuprofen, carboxyibuprofen, (S)-O-desmethyl naproxen) and antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, erythromycin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, azithromycin, clindamycin, N-acetyl-sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethoxazole-β-D-glucuronide, clindamycin sulfoxide) were selected. PhAC analyses were conducted with HPLC/MS-MS. The ozonation dose was between 0.05-5.0 mg O3/mg COD. In real hospital wastewater, many of the selected PhACs were detected and total analgesic and antibiotic were determined as 22.9 and 40.6 µg/L, respectively. The results showed that detected PhACs were completely removed at 1.5 mg O3/mg COD. Additionally, COD removal was determined as 48% in this ozone dose. The result of the study shows that pre-oxidation of hospital wastewater is an effective method in terms of on-site pretreatment of PhACs.

From Burst to Sustained Release: The Effect of Antibiotic Structure Incorporated into Chitosan-Based Films.

Background/Objectives: Medical devices are susceptible to bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, which can result in severe infections, leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased burden on society. Antibacterial films have the potential to assist in preventing biofilm formation, thereby reducing administration of antibiotics and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains. In a previous study, a chitosan-based matrix crosslinked with tannic acid and loaded with gentamicin was reported. In this study, five different antibiotics (moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole or linezolid) were loaded into these chitosan-based films, and their impact on the release behavior carefully assessed. Methods: The samples were characterized according to their thickness, swelling, and mass loss in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), as well as by morphology using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical phase contrast microscopy. Antibiotic release over time was quantified in PBS by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Antibacterial activity was investigated by disk diffusion test and antibiotic release over time. Finally, the cytotoxicity of the samples was assessed with human dermal fibroblasts. Results: The obtained results differed significantly, especially regarding the antibiotic release time and antibacterial activity, which varied from one day to six months, enabling classification of the films from burst/transient to prolonged release. The films also showed antibacterial features against bacteria mostly present in medical devices and displayed to be non-cytotoxic. Conclusions: In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the antibiotics structure significantly alters the release kinetics, and that by carefully selecting the antibiotic, the consequent release can be tuned. This approach yielded films that could be used for potentially-scalable release in antimicrobial coatings specific to medical devices, aiming to reduce biomaterial associated infections (BAIs).

Graphitic carbon nitride-modified cerium ferrite: an efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of ciprofloxacin, ampicillin, and erythromycin in aqueous solution

Incomplete removal of antibiotics by most known wastewater treatment plants is a global challenge. Therefore, graphitic carbon nitride-modified cerium ferrite (CeFe2O4@g-C3N4) was synthesized to remove antibiotics (ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and erythromycin) from water. CeFe2O4@g-C3N4 showed activity in the visible light with a Tauc plot revealing the bandgap energy (2.46 eV). The scanning electron micrograph (SEM) result revealed the surface of CeFe2O4@g-C3N4 to be heterogeneous, while the transmission electron micrograph (TEM) image confirmed a flaky with rod and oval shaped surface (average particle size of 42.22 nm). CeFe2O4@g-C3N4 exhibited a 100% removal of all the studied antibiotics from aqueous solution in a photocatalytic degradation that is described by pseudo-1st-order kinetics. CeFe2O4@g-C3N4 demonstrated a high regeneration capacity, which is above 90% at the 12th cycle of treatment without any observable changes in its phase structure which suggests a promising chemical stability and reusability. CeFe2O4@g-C3N4 compared favourably with some selected antibiotic degradable photocatalysts suggesting the economic viable of CeFe2O4@g-C3N4 as photocatalyst for the purification of antibiotics-contaminated water.Graphical

Highly sensitive electrochemical detection of ciprofloxacin using MXene (Ti3C2Tx)/poly (rutin) composite as an electrode material

Ciprofloxacin is a widely used antibiotic for treating numerous bacterial infections and it is also considered by the world health organization (WHO) to be extremely vital for human medicine. Therefore, accurate, simple, and cost-effective detection of ciprofloxacin, a commonly used antibiotic, is critical for treating various bacterial infectious diseases. In this work, glassy carbon electrode/poly (rutin)/Ti3C2Tx, is developed for the detection of ciprofloxacin antibiotic. The electrochemical sensor was modified with rutin hydrate monomer and Ti3C2Tx via electro-polymerization of rutin hydrate and drop-casting of Ti3C2Tx. The modified electrode surface was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The oxidation of ciprofloxacin was performed in 0.01molL−1 of phosphate buffer at a pH level of 5.0. This medium established a linear range of 1.0 × 10−9-1.0 × 10−4 molL−1, limit of detection at 1.0 × 10−9 molL−1 and sensitivity of 0.49 μA/μMcm2. Finally, the modified electrode displayed high selectivity when tested in inorganic-organic mixtures as well as in real sample medium such as blood serum. To the best of our knowledge the current work is the first to report the use of MXene/rutin composite for electrochemical sensing mechanism. The proposed electrochemical sensor has high potential for the formation of therapeutic drug doses application via monitoring of CIP patient intake (clinical settings of CIP).

Uncovering Metal-Decorated TiO2 Photocatalysts for Ciprofloxacin Degradation-A Combined Experimental and DFT Study.

Optimization of the efficiency of the photocatalytic degradation of organic and pharmaceutical pollutants represents a matter of fundamental and practical interest. The present experimental and DFT study deals with evaluation of OH radical binding energy as a simple computational descriptor of the catalytic activity of d-metal-decorated TiO2 photocatalysts for the photodegradation of the widely used antibiotic ciprofloxacin. Five d-metals commonly used in catalytic materials (Zr, Pt, Pd, Fe, and Cu) were deposited on the TiO2 surface, and the obtained photocatalysts were characterized experimentally (XRPD, ICP-OES, and SEM) and theoretically (DFT). Attention was also paid to the mechanistic insights and degradation byproducts (based on UV-Vis spectrometry and LC/MS analysis) in order to obtain systematic insight into their structure/performance relationships and confirm the proposed model of the degradation process based on OH radical reactivity.

Fabrication of novel S-type In2S3/Ag2S heterostructures with superior photocatalytic and electrochemical characteristics for remediation of organic contaminants in water

In the present report, In2S3/Ag2S heterojunctions were created hydrothermally and characterized for their crystalline structure, morphology, composition, optical characteristics, charges reunification and property of charge by standard analytical techniques. Synthesized nanomaterials were utilized for the decontamination of organic pollutants such as Rhodamine B (RhB) dye and antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CP) by using visible light radiance. Calculated photocatalytic removal efficacy for RhB and CP over In2S3/Ag2S nanocomposite was 99.95 % in 40 min and 99.49 % in 140 min respectively which is 1.98 and 1.21 times greater than In2S3 alone. Maximum removal efficiency was achieved for In2S3/Ag2S (3 wt%) composition. The enhanced activity is attributed to the greater absorption of visible light and construction of S-type heterojunction which are more efficient for light induced charge separation and therefore decrease the reunification of hole-electron carriers. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis also supported that the nanocomposite is energetically favorable, stable and show significantly electronic and photocatalytic properties. In2S3/Ag2S (3 wt%) nanocomposite achieved excellent photocatalytic stability towards the removal of RhB and CP even after five runs. In2S3/Ag2S (3 wt%) nanocomposites showed maximum photocatalytic activity in acidic medium. Effect of trapping agents towards removal of CP and RhB were conducted and results showed that.O2− radical play dominant role as active species in comparison to ⋅OH radical and holes. Plausible mechanism of transfer of charge in In2S3/Ag2S and removal of pollutants is also represented. Owing to their unique features, novel In2S3/Ag2S heterojunctions exhibits as an exceptionally effective photocatalyst for removal of pollutants and it would display the promising utilization towards wastewater treatment.

Mechanism of UV photodegradation of fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin in aqueous solutions

Mechanism of direct UV photolysis of the zwitterionic and anionic forms of the quinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) was revealed by combination of nanosecond laser flash photolysis, steady-state photolysis coupled with high resolution LC-MS and DFT quantum-chemical calculations. For both forms, the main intermediate is a dissociative triplet state, which loses a fluorine ion to form a triplet carbocation; subsequent solvent attack of the latter leads to the formation of products of hydroxylation both the aromatic ring and the piperazyl substituent. Correspondingly, the quantum yield of photolysis of both CIP forms does not depend on the excitation wavelength, but depends on the concentration of dissolved oxygen. Secondary photolysis leads to a number of products of oxidation of the aromatic system, as well as oxidation, opening and full destruction of the piperazinyl substituent. The results obtained may be important for understanding the fate of quinolone antibiotics in UVC disinfection processes and in natural waters under the action of sunlight.

Highly efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic enabled by TiO2 nanodispersion

The growing pollution of antibiotics poses a significant threat to the ecological environment and human health. Photocatalysis is a promising solution for eliminating tetracycline (TC), but developing efficient photocatalysts remains a critical and challenging task. Herein, TiO2 nanodispersion is first used for the removal of TC in water. The as-prepared TiO2 nanodispersion has a uniform size of 10 nm and a large specific surface area of 198.9 m2/g, exhibiting notable adsorption capacity, exceptional photocatalytic performance, and considerable stability. Under UV light, TiO2 nanodispersion achieved 100 % degradation of TC within 60 min, using less than 1/5 of the catalyst dosage typically applied in most studies, and exhibited the highest catalytic activity, reaching 500 mgTC∙gcatalyst-1h-1. Additionally, the photocatalytic rate constant of TiO2 nanodispersion was 2.74 times higher than commercial P25. After five photocatalytic cycles, the catalyst maintained a high degradation efficiency of 94 %. Even under visible light, the degradation efficiency of TC by TiO2 nanodispersion was approximately 90 % within 20 min, which was notably higher than that of P25 (63 %). Moreover, the as-prepared TiO2 nanodispersion demonstrated outstanding photocatalytic degradation ability for other typical antibiotics (chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, and ciprofloxacin), demonstrating its potential as an efficient photocatalyst for the treatment of antibiotic wastewater.

Magnetic biochar generated from oil-mill wastewater by microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment for sonocatalytic antibiotic degradation

The pollution risks of biomass-containing and antibiotics-containing wastewater mean that it must be treated before discharge into the environment. In a process following circular economy principles, oil-mill wastewater (OMWW) was treated in a microwave-assisted hydrothermal process and with simultaneously fabricated magnetic biochar (MBC), which was used as a catalyst for the sonocatalytic degradation of antibiotics metronidazole (MET) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) in aqueous solutions. FeCl3·6H2O, FeCl2·4H2O, and KOH were added to the OMWW, which was then treated in a SynthWave microwave reactor under either a nitrogen or air atmosphere. The UV254 and COD removal efficiencies of the OMWW reached 42.3% and 60.6%, respectively, after treatment at 250 ℃ for 3h. The MBC obtained from the OMWW treatment with air exhibited the highest adsorption and catalytic activity for antibiotics degradation. The synergistic effects of combining adsorption and sonolytic removal were in the ranges of 0.76-3.07 (MET) and 0.75-3.17 (CIP), resulting in significant degradation rate constants of pseudo-first-order kinetics (k1) that ranged from 0.010 to 0.086min-1 (MET) and from 0.018 to 0.050min-1 (CIP). Hydrophobic MET underwent faster degradation than hydrophilic CIP. The •OH is crucial for removing the model antibiotics. Initial antibiotics concentration, reaction volume, ultrasonic frequency, and power had clearer impacts on antibiotics degradation than bulk temperature. Furthermore, the possible sonocatalytic degradation pathways have also been proposed herein. The absorbents and catalysts were derived during the purification of OMWW and subsequently used for antibiotics removal from water, becoming an innovative case of circular economy and sustainable waste treatment.

Migration of fungicides, antibiotics and resistome in the soil-lettuce system

The emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have become a serious issue in global agricultural production. However, understanding how these ARGs spread across different spatial scales, especially when exposed to both pesticides and antibiotics, has remained a challenge. Here, metagenomic assembly and binning methodologies were used to determine the spread pathway of ARGs in the soil-lettuce system under individual and combined exposure of fungicides (carbendazim and pyraclostrobin) and antibiotics (chlortetracycline and ciprofloxacin). These agrochemicals not only facilitated the spread of ARGs from soil to lettuce but also significantly elevated the risk of developing multi-antibiotic resistance among bacteria, especially to some antibiotic types (i.e. sulfonamide, aminoglycoside, quinolone, and tetracycline). ARGs could be migrated through distinct pathways, including both vertical and horizontal gene transfer, with plasmids playing a crucial role in facilitating the horizontal gene transfer. These transfer pathways have enabled key pathogenic bacteria belonging to the genera Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Pantoea to acquire resistance and remain recalcitrant, posing the potential risk to crop health and food safety. In summary, our findings highlighted that fungicide and antibiotic could drive upward migration of ARGs in the soil-lettuce system and reduced the quality safety of agricultural products.

Dysprosium chromite nanoparticles: A promising photocatalyst for the remediation of ciprofloxacin and methylene blue from wastewater

A facile sol-gel synthesis method was employed to synthesize dysprosium chromite (DyCrO3) nanoparticles (NPs), which were subsequently calcined at 750 ∘C to investigate their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties. Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction patterns revealed a single-phase orthorhombic structure for the DyCrO3 NPs, exhibiting good crystallinity and belonging to the Pbnm space group. Furthermore, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy imaging revealed a promising morphology with an average particle size of 30 ± 7 nm. Optical assessments indicated an energy band gap of 2.72 eV, suggesting potential for solar light harvesting as a photocatalyst. Mott-Schottky plots confirmed the n-type semiconductor behavior of the DyCrO3 NPs, and valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis supported these findings. Electronic band structure calculations showed a substantial conduction band minimum and a positive valence band maximum, essential for promoting oxygen reduction and oxidation reactions, respectively, which are crucial for photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the synthesized DyCrO3 NPs demonstrated significant potential as efficient photocatalysts, effectively decomposing the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) under solar light. Notably, the DyCrO3 NPs achieved 83 % degradation of CIP within 240 min of solar irradiation. Similarly, under identical conditions, the DyCrO3 NPs photocatalyst showed promise in degrading 70 % of the colored organic pollutant methylene blue (MB). Interestingly, during the first 120 min, the degradation of CIP was approximately 25 % greater than that of MB. The ability of DyCrO3 NPs to efficiently degrade both colored and colorless pollutants highlights the catalyst’s inherent photocatalytic nature, rather than merely relying on dye-sensitization effects. Furthermore, the presence of DyCrO3 NPs reduced the activation energy for CIP degradation from 31.657 kJ mol−1 K−1 to 20.846 kJ mol−1 K−1, providing additional evidence of their true catalytic efficacy. Apparent quantum yield values of 40 % for CIP and 35 % for MB degradation further illustrate their superior solar energy harvesting ability. A comprehensive mechanism was developed to explain the impressive photocatalytic performance of the synthesized NPs, highlighting their potential in degrading pharmaceutical antibiotics.

Tree-like 3D GNP-rPN composite structure for solar-thermal evaporation and photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic wastewater

To realize high-yield and long-term purification of wastewater containing antibiotic ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP) and seawater, a tree-like 3D GNP-rPN solar-driven water evaporation and photocatalysis evaporator is developed by preparing and assembling GO/NPDI/PVA (GNP) hydrogel (canopy) and rGO/PU/NPDI (rPN) foam (trunk). The “tree-like” evaporation and photocatalysis evaporator design in this work has the following three characteristics: First of all, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets broaden the light absorption range of the photocatalyst perylene imide nanowires (NPDI), which facilitates absorption of more sunlight; secondly, GO and rGO adsorb pollutants in water and provide them to NPDI for catalytic degradation under sunlight irradiation because of their huge specific surface area; thirdly, the excellent photothermal conversion ability of GO and rGO converts solar energy into heat energy, thus facilitating the catalytic degradation of CIP by NPDI. Thanks to the reduced enthalpy of water evaporation by GNP hydrogel, the sufficient top-down water supply, the superior photocatalytic performance of NPDI nanowires, and the efficient solar light absorption and solar-thermal energy conversion of the GO sheets and NPDI nanowires, the resultant GNP-rPN evaporation and photocatalysis system achieves an average water evaporation rate of 2.84 kg m−2 h−1 and a CIP degradation efficiency of 74.04 % within 1 h under 1-sun irradiation. The GNP-rPN system exhibits an optimal degradation efficiency of 74.04 % for a CIP solution with an initial concentration of 10 mg/L within 1 h of irradiation, reaching a degradation efficiency of 96.37 % after 4 h, demonstrating its effectiveness in purifying antibiotic-laden wastewater.

Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Jumbo Phage HPP-Temi Infecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pa9 and Increasing Host Sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacteria responsible for many hospital-acquired infections. Phages are promising alternatives for treating P. aeruginosa infections, which are often intrinsically resistant. The combination of phage and antibiotics in clearing bacterial infection holds promise due to increasing reports of enhanced effectiveness when both are used together. The aim of the study is to isolate and characterize a novel P. aeruginosa phage and determine its effectiveness in in vitro combination with antibiotics in controlling P. aeruginosa. In this study, a novel jumbo myophage HPP-Temi infecting P. aeruginosa Pa9 (PP334386) was isolated from household sewage. Electron micrographs of the phage were obtained to determine the morphological features of HPP-Temi virions. Complete genome analysis and a combination of Pseudomonas phage HPP-Temi with antibiotics were examined. The phage HPP-Temi was able to productively infect P. aeruginosa ATCC 9027 but was unable to infect a closely related genus. The phage was stable at 4-37 °C, 0.5% NaCl, and pH 8 for at least one hour. The HPP-Temi genome is a 302,719-bp-long dsDNA molecule with a GC content of 46.46%. The genome was predicted to have 436 ORFs and 7 tRNA genes. No virulence factor-related genes, antimicrobial resistance, or temperate lifestyle-associated genes were found in the phage HPP-Temi genome. Phage HPP-Temi is most closely related to the known or tentative representatives of the Pawinskivirus genus and can be proposed as a representative for the creation of a novel phage species in that genus. The phage and antibiotics (Ciprofloxacin) combination at varying phage titers (103, 106, 109) were used against P. aeruginosa Pa9 (PP334386) at 3.0 × 108 CFU/mL, which was carried out in triplicate. The result showed that combining antibiotics with phage significantly reduced the bacteria count at 103 and 106 titers, while no growth was observed at 109 PFU/mL. This suggests that the effect of phage HPP-Temi in combination with antibiotics is a potential and promising agent for the control of P. aeruginosa infections.

Fabrication of mesoporous Sm-Nd2O3/Thymine doped gC3N4 nanocomposite for the adsorption and photodegradation of ciprofloxacin under visible light

The ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic was degraded using Sm-Nd2O3 decorated Thymine doped gC3N4 (Sm-Nd2O3/T-gC3N4) nanocomposite under visible light irradiation. The oxygen-containing component like thymine doped in the gC3N4 significantly improves the active sites of the catalyst and its ability to absorb light, which highly influences the adsorption and photocatalytic activity. The chemical and morphological analysis of the nanocomposite were studied utilizing the XRD, FTIR, HRSEM, HRTEM, EDAX, UV-DRS, XPS, BET, and PL. The photocatalytic activity was investigated under several factors such as pH, initial concentration of CIP, catalyst dosage, inorganic anions, and real lake water sample, to optimize and enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of Sm-Nd2O3/T-gC3N4 nanocomposite, as a result, the degradation efficiency achieved to 99.65 % within 120 min with the rate constant of 0.0472 min−1. The Z-scheme mechanism of the Sm-Nd2O3/T-gC3N4 photocatalyst was proposed based on the Mott-Schottky and trapping experiments. Further, the degradation pathway of CIP was postulated based on the intermediates, identified by the LC-MS analysis.