Magnetic Separation Research Articles

Separation of iron and carbon concentrates from thermal power plant solid waste using physical methods

This research study examined the physical enrichment processes of coal fly ash (CFA) from the 2nd thermal power plant in Almaty. Magnetic separator and flotation enrichment methods were used to separate the magnetite and carbon parts of coal fly ash, respectively. In the study, a laboratory magnetic separator separated hematite content from 4.49 to 5.57% by mass from ash residues of different fractions. Cheap and available kerosene and flotol-b were used as flotation reagents for flotation enrichment. The particle size of coal ash is 63-100 μm, and the amount of carbon concentrate is ~16.3% by weight. The remaining mineral of coal ash is an essential raw material for building materials.

Judicious combinations of gravity, magnetic, electrostatic separators and microwave heat energy on recovery of ilmenite from Humma lean grade beach placer deposit

Microwave heating is an eco-friendly and novel technique for sintering and heating minerals and materials as it has several advantages in terms of phase transformation, energy efficiency, enhancing speed, process simplicity, improved properties. Such heating provides the composite materials to absorb electromagnetic energy volumetrically and transform into heat and produces larger densities as compared to conventional heating. This study focuses on two main objectives: the recovery of ilmenite through a strategic combination of mineral processing equipment, including a spiral concentrator, followed by magnetic and electrostatic separation, and the enhancement of ilmenite concentrate using microwave heat energy on a cleaner magnetic product, followed by electrostatic separation. Continuous magnetic separation results indicate that among the dry high-intensity belt magnetic separator, box mag wet high-intensity magnetic separator and dry rare earth drum magnetic separators, the rare earth magnetic separator yielded the highest quality product. The application of microwave heat energy before the rare earth drum magnetic separator at 1.4 T, followed by high-tension separation, produced the best grade of ilmenite. The magnetic product obtained after microwave treatment contained 98.6% ilmenite, which was further upgraded to a 99.6% ilmenite concentrate through high-tension separation. Therefore, it is recommended that an effective combination of gravity separation, microwave heat energy, rare earth drum dry magnetic separation and high-tension separation be employed to achieve the highest grade of ilmenite concentrate.

Internal-driven DNA nanowindmill: Multi-fulcrum mediated amplified rolling nanomachine for fast and ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of tau

Inspired by the wind driving windmill rolling to generate electrical energy, we have fabricated a multi-fulcrum mediated amplified rolling nanomachine (MFN) for Tau detection with the internal drive. The MFN backbone is DNA nanowindmill (DM) self-assembled from DNA, which is initially ineffective and finally activated into an effective DM through interaction with Tau followed by the magnetic separation. The DM is introduced to the electrode interface where it continues rolling under the drive of the multi-fulcrum and signal probe to achieve signal amplification. On one hand, the modular design and DM rolling feeds the impediment of signal transduction and amplification due to spatial hindrance during protein detection. On the other hand, it endows fast response and high sensitivity. The proposed MFN electrochemical biosensor is successfully applied to detect Tau ranging from 10 pg/mL to 2 μg/mL with low detection limit of 127 fg/mL, which is much lower than the pathological state concentration of Tau ∼400 pg/mL. Furthermore, our findings proves that MFN can successfully differentiate normal individuals from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients based on clinical samples analysis.

Supraparticles from Cubic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Polymer Encapsulation, Functionalization, and Magnetic Properties.

Supraparticles (SPs) consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are of great interest for biomedical applications and magnetic separation. To enable their functionalization with biomolecules and to improve their stability in aqueous dispersion, polymer shells are grown on the SPs' surface. Robust polymer encapsulation and functionalization is achieved via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), improving the reaction control compared to free radical polymerizations. This study presents the emulsion-based assembly of differently sized cubic SPIONs (12-30 nm) into SPs with diameters ranging from ∼200 to ∼400 nm using dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) as the surfactant. The successful formation of well-defined spherical SPs depends upon the method used for mixing the SPION dispersion with the surfactant solution and requires the precise adjustment of the surfactant concentration. After purification, the SPs are encapsulated by growing surface-grafted polystyrene shells via activators generated by electron transfer (AGET) ATRP. The polymer shell can be decorated with functional groups (azide and carboxylate) using monomer blends for the polymerization reaction. When the amount of the monomer is varied, the shell thickness as well as the interparticle distances between the encapsulated SPIONs can be tuned with nanometer-scale precision. Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) reveals that cubic SPIONs form less ordered assemblies within the SPs than spherical SPIONs. As shown by vibrating sample magnetometer measurements, the encapsulated SPs feature the same superparamagnetic behavior as their SPION building blocks. The saturation magnetization ranges between 10 and 30 emu/g and depends upon the nanocubes' size and phase composition.

Kinetic study of dry magnetic separation based on Gauss-Maxwell magnetic stress tensor: A 3D finite element method (FEM)

In this paper, two artificial magnetic particles (1#, 2#) with known magnetic parameters were taken as the objects, a finite element model based on Gauss’s law was established for the calculation of the transient Maxwell magnetic stress tensor on the surfaces of particles and kinetic study, a high-speed camera was used to obtain the motion behaviors of magnetic particles in comparison with the simulation. According to the results of multiple simulation-experiment comparisons, the motion behaviors of magnetic particles in the finite element simulation were consistent with experimental phenomena under the identical conditions, indicated that the accuracy of the model is reliable. In the comparison of two kinds of magnetic force calculations, the magnetic force FM based on the Gaussian formula had a similar tendency to FD based on the kinetic calculations, and since the FM was obtained by converting the surface tension of particles, it more accurately reflected the overall magnetic force and magnetic torque acting on the particles. Kinetic analysis showed that the magnetic force acting on a particle was strictly dependent on its magnetization, dynamic and non-uniform magnetization caused the magnetic particle to be subjected to magnetic force and magnetic torque in the non-uniform magnetic field, resulting in displacements and flips. In addition, compared to the particle release attitude, the influence of the distribution of magnetic substance and the particle’s release position on the displacement was particularly significant. The 3D finite element model established for dry magnetic separation can be further used for the study of dynamic, non-uniform magnetization and the force of magnetic particle or grain groups, which is of certain significance for the kinetic study of magnetic separation and improving research of magnetic separation equipment.

Magnetic and visible light-induced novel green synthesized magnetic Co3O4 photocatalysts via sunflower seed meal extract for anionic and cationic dye removal by adsorption assisted photocatalytic degradation

This study was aimed at the preparation of m-Co3O4 NPs (magnetic Co3O4 nanoparticles) from sunflower seed meal (SFSM) which is the waste of sunflower seed oil factories, and their application as a photocatalyst for the adsorption assistant photocatalysis degradation of methylene blue (MB), and direct yellow-50 (DY-50) under the visible irradiations. Also, the photocatalytic performance of m-Co3O4 NPs was evaluated in synthetic wastewater. The produced m-Co3O4 NPs were ferromagnetic with a saturation magnetization value of 4.3 emu g−1 and the degradation of cationic MB and anionic DY-50 dyes by 100% and 93% in 20 min and 35 min, respectively, by adsorption-assisted photocatalytic process under visible light was achieved. The reactions were found to be pseudo-second-order equation for the adsorption-assisted photocatalytic process for both dyes. The photocatalytic activity of m-Co3O4 NPs decreased slightly even after five repeated cycles. These results show that the m-Co3O4 NPs can be used successfully in dye treatment in wastewater with their adsorption-assisted photocatalytic properties, activation by visible light, magnetic separability, and low-cost production.

Enhanced-electrochemiluminescence biosensor for detecting miRNA-21 based on a CuO-mediated click reaction and catalytic hairpin self-assembly

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are closely associated with cancer and have been considered cancer biomarkers. Herein, we propose an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for detecting miRNA-21 based on target-induced catalytic hairpin self-assembly (CHA) and CuO-mediated azide–alkyne cycloaddition. Two hairpin DNAs were employed: one was immobilized on magnetic beads (HP2) and another was labeled with CuO (HP1–CuO). HP1 and HP2 formed a duplex through CHA induced by miRNA-21, resulting in the immobilization of CuO on magnetic beads and in the recycling of miRNA-21. After magnetic separation, CuO was treated with hydrochloric acid to release Cu2+, which concentration is quantitatively proportional to the target concentration. Subsequently, Cu2+ was reduced to Cu+, which catalyzed the click reaction between Fc–C CH and SH-DNA-N3+ immobilized on a Au/g-C3N4 modified electrode. Thus, the ECL of Au/g-C3N4 was quenched by Fc, and miRNA-21 was indirectly detected through a change in ECL intensity. Benefiting from the amplification effect of CuO nanoparticle loading, CHA-based target recycling, and the catalytic effect of click reaction, the proposed ECL biosensor showed high sensitivity. Experimental results indicate that the ECL biosensor proposed for detecting miRNA-21 exhibits a wide linear range from 1 fM to 1 nM and a low detection limit of 0.26 fM (3σ/S). Furthermore, the ECL sensor was capable of measuring miRNA-21 in real serum with high selectivity, indicating its notable applicable potential in biomedicine and clinical diagnosis.

Calcium Carbonate as Dephosphorization Agent in Direct Reduction Roasting of High-Phosphorus Oolitic Iron Ore: Reaction Behavior, Iron Recovery, and Dephosphorization Mechanism

Calcium carbonate, renowned for its affordability and potent dephosphorization capabilities, finds widespread use as a dephosphorization agent in the direct reduction roasting of high-phosphorus oolitic hematite (HPOIO). However, its precise impact on iron recovery and the dephosphorization of iron minerals with phosphorus within HPOIO, particularly the mineral transformation rule and dephosphorization mechanism, remains inadequately understood. This study delves into the nuanced effects of calcium carbonate on iron recovery and dephosphorization through direct reduction roasting and magnetic separation. A direct reduction iron (DRI) boasting 95.57% iron content, 93.94% iron recovery, 0.08% phosphorus content, and an impressive 92.08% dephosphorization is achieved. This study underscores how the addition of calcium carbonate facilitates the generation of apatite from phosphorus in iron minerals and catalyzes the formation of gehlenite by reacting with silicon dioxide and alumina, inhibiting apatite reduction. Furthermore, it increases the liquid phase, enhancing the dissociation of metallic iron monomers during the grinding procedure, thus facilitating efficient dephosphorization.

Synthesis, structural transformation and magnetic properties of the Nd(III)-doped Fe3−x Nd x O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9): an analogue for actinicles immobilization

Abstract Magnetite (Fe3O4) is increasingly valued for its excellent performance on radioactive wastes disposal. Here, Fe3−x Nd x O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9) components are synthesized using a co-precipitation method to simulate the solidification capacity for trivalent actinides in Fe3O4. These components are characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman, demonstrating that with the increasement of Nd(III) content, the samples gradually transformed from inverse spinel to orthorhombic phase. And x ≤ 0.6, Nd(III) can be solidified to Fe3O4 lattice via replacing octahedron Fe(III). Furthermore, the vibrating sample magnetometer tests manifest that Fe3−x Nd x O4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9) components hold the capable of responding to external magnetic field, which makes magnetic separation feasible. Our findings are expected to provide a promising idea for radioactive wastes disposal.

"Explosive" CaCO3 microcapsules driven by EDTA combined with a "signal booster" semiconductor Zn0.995Ce0.005O SERS substrate for ultra-sensitive SERS detection of chloramphenicol

BackgroundChloramphenicol (CAP) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and its continuous use in human medicine, livestock has resulted disturbances in ecosystem stability. The complex background and low concentration of CAP in aquatic environments present significant scientific challenges for its sensitive detection. Currently detection techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are hindered by their complex procedures and high costs. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), due to its unique ability for fingerprint recognition, has emerged as a powerful tool for analysis and detection. However, it is often limited by the low kurtosis expression of the target. ResultThe water-soluble explosive polyethylenimide grafted calcium carbonate (PEI@CaCO3) microcapsule was utilized to encapsulate the signal probe Ag@4-NTP and combine it with a semiconductor SERS substrate Zn0.995Ce0.005O, enabling ultra-sensitive detection of CAP through a signal attenuation strategy. Moreover, magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIP) and nucleic acid aptamers were employed as capture probes for achieving rapid and direct magnetic separation, followed by layer-by-layer assembly to construct the sensor probe. In the presence of CAP, the aptamers and rMMIPs selectively recognized the target, forming a PEI@CaCO3@Ag@4-NTP@Apt@CAP@rMMIPs "sandwich" structure (Microcapsule@Apt@rMMIPs). After multiple magnetic separations, the "igniter" EDTA solution was added, causing the CaCO3 capsules to rapidly "explode" and release a significant amount of Ag@4-NTP. This was then applied to the "signal booster" semiconductor SERS substrate. Under optimal conditions, this method exhibited a detection range of 1.0 × 10−5 M to 1.0 × 10−15 M, with a detection limit of 6.84 × 10−16 M. SignificantThe unite of magnetic MIP and nucleic acid aptamer to form a “sandwich” structure, in combination with a semiconductor SERS substrate, not only enhances the sensor's sensitivity but also offers significant economic advantages. Moreover, this innovative technology holds great promise for accurate and highly sensitive detection of pollutants in complex environments.

Potential-resolved ratiometric electrochemiluminescence detection for prostate-specific antigen based on CdS nanocrystals modified on carbon nanotubes and luminol functionalized nanocomposites.

A ratiometric electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptamer-based sensing platform was fabricated for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) determination. Activated CdS nanocrystals/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CdS/MCNTs) and luminol-Pt/PAMAM nanocomposites (L-Pt/PAMAM NCs) were synthesized and used as cathodic and anodic ECL emitters, respectively. Amino group-modified aptamers were assembled on carboxylated magnetic beads, followed by hybridization with probe DNA functionalized L-Pt/PAMAM NCs. In the presence of PSA, the aptamer would bind specifically to the target PSA, thereby releasing L-Pt/PAMAM NCs. After magnetic separation, the separated L-Pt/PAMAM NCs would hybridize with capture DNA on CdS/MCNTs coated on glassy carbon electrode. This binding would lead to a decrease in cathodic ECL signal of CdS/MCNTs, due to the efficient energy transfer from CdS/MCNTs to L-Pt/PAMAM NCs. Meanwhile, L-Pt/PAMAM brought the anodic ECL signal from luminol. With the increase of PSA concentration, the ECL emission from luminol increased and the ECL emission from CdS/MCNTs decreased. The ratio of ECL intensity of luminol at 0.55V and CdS/MCNTs at - 1.25V could be used to quantify the concentration of PSA. This method enables sensitive and reliable detection of PSA over a wide range from 0.05 to 200ngmL-1, and the detection limit is 0.02ngmL-1.

Effective removal of Pb(II) ions using Fe3O4/MgO adsorbent: A comprehensive study  

The effective removal of heavy metal ions, particularly Pb(II), from contaminated water sources remains a pressing environmental concern. This study explores the potential of Fe3O4/MgO nanocomposites as an efficient adsorbent for selective Pb(II) removal. The Fe3O4/MgO nanocomposite was synthesized using a controlled sol-gel method and characterized using various techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of cubic MgO and cubic Fe3O4. Pb(II) adsorption induced a crystallographic transformation, forming hexagonal Mg(OH)2 crystals, indicating interaction with the adsorbent. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis revealed pyramid-like and irregular crystal morphologies. Pyramid-like structures provided a larger surface area and active sites for effective Pb(II) interaction, while irregular crystal particles, representing magnetic Fe3O4, contributed to stability and dispersibility. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) results confirmed superparamagnetic behaviour with a saturation magnetization of 32.02 emu g-1, indicating potential for magnetic separation and recovery in various wastewater treatment applications. Adsorption experiments utilized optimized conditions: an initial concentration of 600 mg L-1, adsorbent dosage of 0.25 g L-1, pH of 7, and 120 minutes of reaction time. The Fe3O4/MgO nanocomposite exhibited exceptional performance with a remarkable 99.98% removal efficiency and a high adsorption capacity of 2399.44 mg g-1. These impressive results underscore the outstanding adsorption potential of the nanocomposite. Adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model (R2 = 0.99), confirming suitability for Pb(II) removal. The Freundlich model indicated a heterogeneous surface with different adsorption sites. Overall, the Fe3O4/MgO nanocomposite exhibits potential as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly adsorbent for removing Pb(II) ions, providing a promising solution for water purification and environmental remediation.

Construction of visible-light-induced Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites for the enhanced degradation of organic dyes: Optimization of operative parameters

This research aims to develop the highly promising Fe2O3/g-C3N4 photocatalyst through hydrothermal techniques to cope with the elevated amounts of bromophenol blue (BPB) dye in wastewater. The morphological studies were carried out by SEM analysis, while the crystallinity, structural behavior, and oxidation states of the prepared materials were determined by XRD, FTIR, and XPS analysis. The hydrodynamic size, surface area, and magnetic characteristics of the constructed materials were assessed through DLS, BET, and VSM analysis. The effectivity of the synthesized Fe2O3 and Fe2O3/g-C3N4-30 photocatalysts was appraised by the abatement of BPB under visible light radiation for 48 min. The results have shown an excellent degradation efficacy of Fe2O3/g-C3N4-30 photocatalyst with 98.39 % of BPB removal and a rate constant of 0.0757 min−1, which was much higher than Fe2O3 photocatalyst with 79.64 % of removal and a rate constant of 0.0335 min−1 under optimum conditions. The enhancement in degradation efficiency of the Fe2O3/g-C3N4-30 was due to the large surface area of Fe2O3/g-C3N4-30 (106.94 m2/g) as a result of g-C3N4 inclusion in the material, while the pure Fe2O3 unveiled a surface area of 89.67 m2/g. The impact of different reaction parameters on BPB degradation was also investigated, while the contribution of free radicals was corroborated through radical trapping experiments. The Fe2O3/g-C3N4-30 exhibited tremendous stability for repeated applications, with a loss of 8.03 % in efficiency after five consecutive experiments because of its easy magnetic separation. The experimental results have shown that synthesized Fe2O3/g-C3N4-30 photocatalysts could be used for the effective degradation of BPB from wastewater.

Simultaneous Detection of Clenbuterol and Higenamine in Urine Samples Using Interference-Free SERS Tags Combined with Magnetic Separation.

Sports doping remains a significant challenge in competitive sports. Given that urine analysis is the standard for detecting doping, developing rapid, sensitive, accurate, and high-throughput methods for stimulant detection in urine is crucial. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) tag-based immunoassays have emerged as powerful analytical tools known for their high sensitivity and specificity, holding particular promise for stimulant detection in urine samples. However, both the Raman signals of typical SERS tags and sample matrices are within the Raman fingerprint region (<1800 cm-1), which could lead to spectrum overlap, potentially reducing detection accuracy and sensitivity. By recognizing this, we designed a competitive immunoassay that integrates two types of zero-background SERS tags and magnetic separation. These innovative SERS tags exhibit distinctive Raman peaks within the Raman-silent region (1800-2800 cm-1), effectively mitigating potential spectrum overlap with background sample signals. Moreover, magnetic separation not only enhances operational simplicity but also improves the system's anti-interference capability. Using clenbuterol (CL) and higenamine (HM) as model targets, the SERS-based competitive immunoassay demonstrated sensitive detection of individual CL or HM standards, with limits of detection (LODs) of 0.87 and 0.71 pg/mL, respectively. In multiplex mode, CL and HM can be simultaneously detected with LODs of 1.0 and 0.81 pg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, the recovery rates in urine samples ranged from 83 to 116% (relative standard deviation, RSD ≤ 6.4%) for CL and from 82 to 103% (RSD ≤ 5.1%) for HM, further confirming the reliability of the SERS-based immunoassay for practical applications.

A fluorescent platform integrated with a “one-pot” nicking endonuclease signal amplification and magnetic separation for simultaneous detection of tumor markers

Although Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been widely used for biomedical research, simultaneous sensitive and cost-effective detection of multiple biomarkers is challenging. Herein, we proposed a “one-pot” nicking endonuclease signal amplification (NESA)-based fluorescent aptasensor for simultaneous detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP). Firstly, two aptamers were synchronously immobilized on the surface of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) by coupling with two complementary DNA (cDNA). CEA and AFP specifically recognized the aptamers and then the released cDNA (ssDNA) from the double-strands (dsDNA) triggers NESA, further breaking two detection probes which were labeled with the fluorescent dye (FAM and ROX) and its quencher (BHQ1 and BHQ2) at the same time. Then, the fluorescence signal of FAM and ROX were restored separately. The results indicated that the fluorescence intensity at the emission wavelength of 518 nm and 610 nm had a positive correlation with CEA and AFP concentrations, respectively. Under the optimum conditions, wider liner range of 1–500 ng mL−1 to CEA and 5–800 ng mL−1 to AFP of this fluorescent aptasensor were successfully obtained, achieving a detection limit of CEA and AFP were 0.7 ng mL−1 and 2 ng mL−1, respectively. Hence, it turned out that the aptasensor strategy can be a promising candidate for developing a newly fluorescence assay for the simultaneous quantitative detection of multiple tumor markers in matrix samples by changing the corresponding sequences of aptamer and fluorescent signal probe, which has great potential for the screening of early cancer.

Synthesis of multifunctional NiFe2O4-Zns-Ag nanocomposite for sunlight driven photocatalytic dye degradation and solar cells applications: Structural, magnetic and optical properties

This article focuses on the fabrication and investigation of the novel multifunctional NiFe2O4-Zns-Ag core-bi-shell nanocomposite and their magnetic optical properties. The nanocomposite was prepared by a simple co-precipitation method and characterized using various techniques such as XRD, SEM, TEM, UV–Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and VSM. The results showed that the nanocomposite had a spinel cubic structure with an average crystallite size of 29 nm. The SEM and TEM images revealed that the nanocomposite had a spherical shape with an average particle size of 61 nm. The optical study demonstrated that the nanocomposite had high absorption in the visible region, indicating its potential for photocatalytic applications. The magnetic study showed that the nanocomposite was superparamagnetic in nature, which could be useful in magnetic separation processes. Furthermore, the potential application of the nanocomposite in solar cells was explored by studying its optical absorption properties. Finally, the photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite was evaluated using two different azoic dyes under sunlight irradiation. The results showed that the nanocomposite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity, with a degradation efficiency of 96.22 % within 90 min. Overall, this study provides insights into the potential use of NiFe2O4-Zns-Ag nanocomposite as an efficient photocatalyst for environmental remediation.

Nanozyme-Based Pump-free Microfluidic Chip for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis via Circulating Cancer Stem Cell Detection.

Circulating cancer stem cells (CCSCs) are subpopulations of cancer cells with high tumorigenicity, chemoresistance, and metastatic potential, which are also major drivers of disease progression. Herein, to achieve the prediction of tumor diagnosis and progression in colorectal cancer (CRC), a new, automated, and portable lateral displacement patterned pump-free (LP) microfluidic chip (LP-chip) with the CoPt3 nanozyme was established for CCSC capture and detection in peripheral blood and feces samples ex vivo. In this design, CoPt3@HA probes with functions of magnetic separation and colorimetric signal transduction by peroxidase-mimicking activity were applied for the capture of CCSCs and signal output in clinical samples. The generated colors of polydopamine (PDA) were quantifiable through the smartphone APP and visualizable by the naked eye in the test line (T line) and control line (C line) of the LP-chip. In the optimal experimental conditions, the CCSC concentration was sensitive to change in the range 0-105 cells mL-1, with a detection limit of 3 cells mL-1 (S/N = 3). Preliminary studies of clinical samples suggest that the platform has the potential for prediction of colorectal cancer progression and poor prognosis. Overall, the LP-chip provides potential strategies for timely diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and recurrence prediction to improve home-based patient care.

Profiling the differential phosphoproteome between breast milk and infant formula through a titanium (IV)-immobilized magnetic nanoplatform

Breast milk (BM) fulfills the nutritional needs of infants and sets the standard for infant formula (IF). However, profiling the differential phosphoproteome between BM and IF remains unclear. Herein, a titanium (IV) (Ti4+)-immobilized magnetic nanoplatform (Fe3O4@GO@PDA-Ti4+) was constructed by self-assembly polymerization of dopamine on magnetic graphene oxide, followed by immobilizing Ti4+ through chelation for phosphopeptide enrichment. Fe3O4@GO@PDA-Ti4+ possessed outstanding selectivity (1/1000, a molar ratio of β-casein digests to bovine serum albumin digests) and favorable sensitivity (2.5 fmol/μL), along with rapid magnetic separation. Excellent phosphopeptide capture efficiencies were obtained for BM and IF using Fe3O4@GO@PDA-Ti4+ as an adsorbent coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. There were 191 and 239 phosphopeptides found in BM and IF, respectively, with 36 phosphoproteins identified in both. However, BM and IF shared only 17 phosphopeptides and 4 phosphoproteins. The variation in the phosphoproteome between BM and IF provides valuable insights into the optimization of IF humanization.

Creation of self-aligning multisatellite planetary gears

In this study, we aim to identify shortcomings in the operation of multisatellite planetary gearboxes and to justify improved designs of planetary self-aligning mechanisms, which allow torque to be transmitted through all installed satellites. To that end, we studied a domestic planetary three-satellite MPZ gearbox installed on a magnetic separator, designed for wet separation of strongly magnetic ores and materials into magnetic and non-magnetic products, and a planetary gearbox of a special structure. 3D models of the classical three-satellite and single-sliding self-aligning gearboxes were constructed in the 3D module of the T-Flex CAD software. The performance of the mechanisms was evaluated by structural analysis and Chebyshev’s mobility formula. The constructed 3D models were used to study the engagement process of the classical three-satellite and single-sliding self-aligning gearbox. The latter is distinguished by the presence of two levers, which are introduced additionally to three satellites. During the research, the lateral clearance between the pairs of satellite teeth and center wheels was accepted according to GOST 1643–81. The conducted analysis of contacts at rotation of the central driving wheel by 30°, 110°, 200°, and 310° established further designing of the applied planetary gears to be inexpedient due to impossibility of realization of power transfer simultaneously through all satellites. The main disadvantage of the operation of multisatellite gearboxes was found to be the requirement for the side clearance selection, which should ensure the operability of the transmission at the moment of motion transfer. When designing multi-satellite single-slide selfaligning planetary mechanisms, additional levers should be introduced into the structure, the number of which should be equal to the number of satellites. Hence, the use of self-aligning planetary gears makes it possible to reduce the dimensions due to the uniform distribution of the transmitted torque, since the calculated value of the torque can be reduced by the number of satellites. This allows the gears to be adapted to the working loading conditions, which significantly improves the performance of the entire machine or unit.

Iron oxide nanoparticles as potential agents for combined radiotherapy

Background. Iron oxide nanoparticles (NP) represent a promising theranostic platform for combined radiotherapy: the reactivity of iron oxide enhances oxidative stress of tumor cells associated with irradiation while magnetic properties may provide additional feature as controlled delivery.Aim. To study the potency of heparinized iron oxide NP in experimental antitumor therapy.Materials and methods. The synthesis of iron oxide NP was carried out by chemical precipitation followed by magnetic separation, the resulting sol was stabilized with heparin. For each batch of newly synthesized particles, the hydrodynamic diameter was determined, IR spectrometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, and scanning electron microscopy were performed. The MX-7 tumor model of rhabdomyosarcoma chosen for the study was transplanted into female C3HA mice; NP were administered intratumorally or intravenously, once a day, according to the “5–2–5” scheme. Fractional irradiation (1–2 Gy / fraction; 1.3±0.15 Gy / min) was carried out after NP administration.Increasing life expectancy (ILE), the degree of tumor growth inhibition (TGI), a pathomorphological assessment of the lung, liver, spleen and tumor node was carried out for all experimental mice.Results. As a result of the study, it was found that when administered intratumorally, heparinized iron oxide NP are retained inside the tumor, providing a moderate additive effect, compared with isolated radiotherapy in the first week of irradiation (TGI = 40 % (day 6), TFD = 10 Gy, p &lt;0.05), however, with an increase in tumor volume by the end of the second week, the treatment regimen was not more effective than radiotherapy. with a combination of radiotherapy and intravenous administration of NP, the effect was observed within two weeks (TGI = 43 % (day 6), TGI = 29 % (day 14), TFD = 10 Gy; p &lt;0.05; ILE = 54 %, TFD = 20Gy; p &lt;0.05).Conclusion. The studied iron oxide nanopreparation enhanced capacity of radiation therapy to inhibit tumor growth when administered intravenouslyin experimental mice with rhabdomyosarcoma and irradiated subsequently.