Loading Of Nanoparticles Research Articles

Cooperative In Situ Impregnation of PEG and Au Nanoparticles into Expanded CNT Network Toward Composite Phase Change Fibers with High Storage Capacity and Photothermal Conversion

AbstractPhase change fibers with multifunctionalities are a promising material for thermal management applications, however, it is still challenging to simultaneously give the fiber high energy conversion and storage capacity. Here, a cooperative in situ impregnation strategy is reported, to introduce Au nanoparticles (NPs) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) together into carbon nanotube (CNT) network during the expansion process, resulting in a CNT/Au/PEG composite phase change fiber. The obtained composite fiber have the characteristics of high loading (up to 88.0–98.6%) and uniform distribution of Au NPs, and thus exhibits superior mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. The presence of Au NPs plays more important role in not only improving the PEG crystallinity and phase change enthalpy, but also enhancing the photothermal conversion efficiency (up to 88.2%). There is also a new feature of precise regulation of the phase change temperatures, e.g., from 9.5 to 20.5 °C for the solidification temperature. More importantly, due to the strong confinement of PEG and Au NPs inside the CNT network, the composite fiber also shows excellent thermal stabilities, including the anti‐leakage behavior and cycling phase change ability.

CPP10-targeted photoactivatable MOF nanosystem for combined photodynamic Therapy−Chemotherapy of cancer

The annual prevalence of gastric cancer has increased in recent years. Curcumin (CUR) has shown great potential in the treatment of gastric cancer; however, its low bioavailability and poor efficacy hinder its widespread clinical application. Additionally, CUR has been found to be excellent photosensitizer in photodynamic therapy. In this study, the Fe-based metal-organic framework (MOF) Fe Tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (Fe-TCPP，FT) was used as a photosensitizer and mononuclear agent. The natural anti-tumor active ingredient CUR was loaded as both a chemotherapeutic agent and photosensitizer to form the nanoparticles CUR@FT (CF). Finally, a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP10) was modified on the surface of the nanoparticles to construct a drug delivery system (named CPP10-PEG@CUR@FT, CCF) that could actively target tumor cells while exerting a synergistic therapeutic effect of chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy. This can improve the efficacy of CUR as a chemotherapeutic drug or photosensitizer, and the high drug load and pH sensitivity of FT nanoparticles provide an excellent carrier for the efficient delivery of CUR. The polyethene glycol (PEG)-conjugated CPP10 (PEG-CPP10) coating allows nanoparticles to specifically target gastric cancer cells, significantly improving the absorption of nanoparticles in vivo and in vitro and improving biosafety. We evaluated the thermal stability, drug loading capacity, and safety of FT as a drug delivery vehicle. We also assessed the in vitro photodynamic performance and toxicity of various nanoparticles and the targeting and biocompatibility of CPP10-PEG@CUR@FT. CPP10-PEG@CUR@FT could specifically target tumor cells, and its effect on killing gastric cancer cells (MKN45) under light was much stronger than that of free CUR. Its toxicity and side effects to other organs and tissues are low, offering good biosafety. The experimental results showed that FT and CUR exerted synergistic effects on photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy. In summary, our novel CUR-loaded targeted nano drug delivery system offers significant advantages by combining photodynamic therapy and chemotherapy for tumor treatment. This approach introduces a new concept for integrating chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy and targeted drug delivery, potentially providing a new strategy for the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.

Highly porous layered carbon nanocomposites from the self-assembly of a poly(amic acid) for efficient oxygen reduction reaction catalysis

Porous layered carbon nanomaterials play important role in the efficient loading of electroactive substances for high performance energy conversion techniques. Herein, an intramolecular cyclization induced self-assembly (ICISA) strategy is proposed to prepare three-dimensional highly porous layered carbon nanostructures (LCs) for efficient loading of various transition metal nanoparticles for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalysis. The amphiphilic alternating copolymer poly(amic acid) (PAA) is synthesized by the stepwise polymerization of hydrazine hydrate and pyromellitic dianhydride. Upon heating above 160 °C, the intramolecular cyclization reaction occurs, leading to the formation of rigid, crystalline and non-soluble polyimide segments in the backbone, which induces the self-assembly of the polymer to form dumbbell-shaped assemblies with a high solid content of 15%. After pyrolysis in a nitrogen atmosphere, LCs are obtained. Cobalt (Co), iron (Fe) and FeCo nanoparticles can be efficiently loaded, noted as Co@LCs, Fe@LCs and FeCo@LCs, respectively. The ORR catalytic performance of the catalysts is evaluated to give half wave potentials of 0.791, 0.787 and 0.812 V, and limit current densities of 4.92, 4.73 and 4.71 mA cm−2 for Co@LCs, Fe@LCs and FeCo@LCs, respectively. Overall, we propose an ICISA strategy to facilely prepare three-dimensional carbon nanomaterials with highly porous layered structure for efficient ORR catalysis.

Advances in MXene surface functionalization modification strategies for CO2 reduction.

MXenes, 2D transition metal carbides and nitrides, show great potential in electrocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction (ECO2RR) applications owing to their tunable structure, abundant surface functional groups, large specific surface area and remarkable conductivity. However, the ECO2RR has a complex pathway involving various reaction intermediates. The reaction process yields various products alongside a competitive electrolytic water-splitting reaction. These factors limit the application of MXenes in ECO2RRs. Therefore, this review begins by examining the functionalized modification of MXenes to enhance their catalytic activity and stability via the regulation of interactions between carriers and the catalytic centre. The review firstly covers the synthesis methods and characterisation techniques for functionalized MXenes reported in recent years. Secondly, it presents the methods applied for the functionalized modification of carriers through surface loading of single atoms, clusters, and nanoparticles and construction of composites. These methods regulate the stability, active sites, and metal-carrier electronic interactions. Finally, the article discusses the challenges, opportunities, pressing issues, and future prospects related to MXene-based electrocatalysts.

Sustainable and eco-friendly 3D printing filament fabricated from different recycled solid wastes and evaluate its impact on interior and furniture design

A designer's work is based on creativity, innovation, and fresh ideas therefore, they are constantly searching for creative designs, especially when it comes to furniture and internal design. Meanwhile, innovative materials and ideas are actively sought after by designers for usage in furniture and interior design. In this scope, our study explores the practical implications of using date palm fronds and plastic waste from drinking water bottle to create a composite with varying loadings of date palm frond nanoparticles (DPFNP) at 10, 20, and 30 wt % and its applications on furniture design. A desktop extruder was used to form the composites into filaments, which were subsequently used to create 3D-printed specimens. The impact of adding (DPFNP) on the composite's mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties was assessed. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking water bottle waste, and filament composites presented similar FTIR spectra; however, filament composites presented increased thermal stability and mechanical strength. The filament with 10 wt% DPFNP has been effectively printed with a 3D printer, demonstrating the practicality of employing the developed filaments and perhaps encouraging new uses in furniture and interior design. As a result, employing DPFNP in the recycled PET (RPET) matrix offers a cheap substitute for making filaments. It could increase the use of 3D printing in furniture and interior design by using more environmentally friendly materials. This result will be considered the first phase of future research investigation on a full-scale furniture prototype, examining its physical, thermal, and mechanical properties.

Novel CoFe2O4/Bi2WO6 S-scheme heterostructure photocatalyst for effective and rapid visible-light-driven reduction of toxic nitrobenzene into industrially valuable aniline

Photocatalytic transformation of toxic nitrobenzene (NB) into highly industrially valuable aniline (AN) has emerged as a promising and prospective strategy. In this work, mesoporous S-scheme CoFe2O4/Bi2WO6 (CFO/BWO) heterostructure photocatalysts were constructed using a simple surfactant-aided sol–gel technique for visible-light-induced reduction of NB into AN. The characterization findings demonstrated the successful loading of p-type CFO nanoparticles (NPs) on a 2D n-type BWO framework, forming a p-n heterostructure. The as-synthesized heterostructure exhibited enhanced visible light absorbance, with superior photosensitivity up to 564.43 nm, which surpassed the optical absorbance of bare BWO by ∼ 1.26 times. In addition, PL and photoelectrical measurements demonstrated significantly enhanced separation and kinetics for light-generated charge carriers for the constructed CFO/BWO heterostructures compared to bare specimens. Therefore, the CFO/BWO heterostructure photocatalysts exhibited superior efficacy compared to pristine CFO and BWO. The NB was reduced into AN with a conversion efficacy of 100.0 % within 40.0 min on the 12.0 % CFO/BWO with a reaction rate constant of ca. 0.07616 min−1, which outperformed the pure CFO and BWO by more than 3.5- and 4.2-folds, separately. This optimized heterojunction exhibited excellent repeatability (98 %) during five cycles. This superb photocatalytic effectiveness can be pinned to the effective growth of the S-scheme heterostructure between CFO and BWO, substantially accelerating the transmission of carriers and their spatial separation by forming an inherent electric field and band curving at the interface. Our contribution offers novel and distinct hot points for the design of scalable and highly effective S-scheme heterostructures for multiple promising photocatalytic purposes.

A novel photovoltaic-thermal system based on spectral splitting of nanoparticle suspensions for simultaneous hydrogen production and seawater desalination

Traditional photovoltaic-thermal systems achieve full-spectrum sunlight utilization while producing only low-grade heat. This study reports an efficient PVT system designed for simultaneous hydrogen production and seawater desalination, in addition to high-efficiency electrical output. Specifically, Ag@SiO2/CoSO4-PG nanoparticle suspensions with varied loadings were prepared for photothermal and photoelectric conversion. Here, desalinated seawater can be directly utilized for electrolytic hydrogen production driven by photoelectric conversion module. System performance was evaluated across a broad range of conditions. The system exhibits peak photothermal and photoelectric conversion efficiencies of 45.57 % and 15.39 % respectively, when the nanoparticle loading is 80.00 mg/L. Using an 80.00 mg/L nanoparticle suspension filter, the system achieves a peak exergy efficiency of 60.71 % and an economic value enhancement of 75.9 % compared to a PV only system, when the worth factor w is 3. Under optimal operational conditions, the photo-hydrogen conversion efficiency reached 7.82 %. This study demonstrates an effective strategy for full spectrum solar energy conversion to hydrogen using sea water and provides a valuable guidance for future study.

Microgravity as a platform to enhance drug loading efficiency in nanomaterials

Drug loading in nanoparticles, with their application in nanomedicine, finds potential benefits over free drugs with increased drug bioavailability, reduced side effects, improved targeted delivery, and controlled drug release. However, the current nanomaterial systems, including metallic, polymer, protein, lipids, and other nanoparticles, face severe challenges with poor drug loading efficiency. This limitation can affect the amount of drug that can be incorporated, potentially requiring higher doses or alternative strategies for certain medications. Several studies have been carried out to improve drug loading efficiency in nanomaterials. However, the process is labor-intensive, expensive, time-consuming, unscalable, and needs subject expertise, and the surface engineering process differs from material to material. Therefore, there is a need for the development of a common platform to enhance drug-loading efficiency for all the nanomaterials. In our research work, we have explored the potential of microgravity as a novel platform for enhancing drug-loading efficiency in nanomaterials. The drug loading efficiency was found to be increased more than two-fold in iron oxide nanoparticles (from 50.4 ± 2.3 % to 99 ± 0.05 % with sustained drug release for 120 h) and four-fold in liposomes (from 14.28 ± 0.4 % to 97.2 ± 1 % with sustained drug release for 12 h). We also confirmed that the microgravity-based drug-loaded nanomaterials exhibited excellent drug release, biocompatibility, and anticancer efficacies against breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. Our findings set the stage for exploring microgravity as a unique platform to enhance drug loading efficiency in nanomaterials, paving the way for innovative developments in drug delivery and space-based pharmaceutical research.

Magnetic hybrid micelles with controllable structures via interfacial instability-induced confined Co-assembly

Co-assembly of amphiphilic block copolymers (BCPs) and nanoparticles (NPs) is an encouraging route to produce shape-tunable functional hybrid micelles, which can integrate the excellent water stability of BCPs and the versatile functionalities of NPs. In this paper, we present an facile method to prepare magnetic hybrid micelles through confined co-assembly of polystyrene grafted Fe3O4@PS NPs and PS-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) induced by interfacial instability of emulsion droplets. The morphology of hybrid micelles can be regulated by varying the surfactant concentration, weight fraction of Fe3O4 NPs, and block ratio of PS-b-PEO. The distribution of NPs inside the micelles is determined by the ratio (d/L) of the NP diameter (d) to the thickness of PS domain of the micelles (L). When 0.49 ≤ d/L < 0.76, the NPs locate within the cylindrical micelles. When d/L ≥ 0.76, the NPs selectively locate in the spherical micelles. More interestingly, the size-selective loading of NPs in the micelles can be achieved, even mixture of NPs different in size is applied. Moreover, these magnetic hybrid micelles show good biocompatibility and morphology-dependent magnetic resonance responsiveness, which may find potential applications in magnetic resonance imaging.

Yeast β-glucan-based nanoparticles loading methotrexate promotes osteogenesis of hDPSCs and periodontal bone regeneration under the inflammatory microenvironment

The regeneration of absorbed alveolar bone and reconstruction of periodontal support tissue are huge challenges in the clinical treatment of periodontitis due to the limited regenerative capacity of alveolar bone. It is essential to regulate inflammatory reaction and periodontal cell differentiation. Based on the anti-inflammatory effect of baker's yeast β-glucan (BYG) with biosafety by targeting macrophages, the BYG-based nanoparticles loading methotrexate (cBPM) were fabricated from polyethylene glycol-grafted BYG through chemical crosslinking for treatment of periodontitis. In our findings, cBPM promoted osteogenesis of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) under inflammatory microenvironment, characterized by the enhanced expression of osteogenesis-related Runx2 and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/Erk) pathway in vitro. Animal experiments further demonstrate that cBPM effectively promoted periodontal bone regeneration and achieved in a better effect of recovery indicated by 19.2 % increase in tissue volume, 7.1 % decrease in trabecular separation, and a significant increase in percent bone volume and trabecular thickness, compared with the model group. Additionally, cBPM inhibited inflammation and repaired alveolar bone by transforming macrophage phenotype from inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2. This work provides an alternative strategy for the clinical treatment of periodontitis through BYG-based delivery nanoplatform of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Impact of antigen loading in tolerogenic nanoparticles to mitigate Th2-mediated allergic lung inflammation.

Allergic disease is a major global health concern that imposes significant life-altering and economic burdens on affected individuals. However, there is still no cure. Polymer-based nanoparticles (NP) have shown the potential to induce antigen (Ag)-specific immune tolerance in various Th1/17 and Th2-mediated immune disorders including autoimmunity and allergy. Common methods by which Ags are associated with NPs are through surface conjugation or encapsulation. However, these Ag delivery strategies can be associated with several caveats that dampen their effectiveness such as uncontrolled Ag loading, a high Ag burst release, and an increased immune recognition profile. We previously developed Ag-polymer conjugate NPs (acNPs) to overcome those noted limitations, while allowing for controlled delivery of precise quantities of Ag to innate immune cells for Ag-specific CD4 T cell modulation. Here, we utilized ovalbumin (OVA) protein-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) conjugate NPs (acNP-OVA) to elucidate the impact of Ag loading on the induction of Th2 tolerance using a prophylactic and therapeutic OVA/ALUM-induced mouse model of allergic lung inflammation (ALI) in comparison to Ag-encapsulated PLGA NPs (NP(Ag)). We demonstrate that acNP-OVA formulations reduced OVA-specific IgE and inhibited Th2 cytokine secretions in an Ag loading-dependent manner when administered prophylactically. Administration of acNP-OVA to pre-sensitized mice did not affect OVA-specific IgE and Th2 cytokines tended to be reduced, however, there was no clear Ag loading dependency. acNP-OVA with medium-to-low Ag loadings were well tolerated, while formulations with high Ag loadings, including NP(Ag) resulted in anaphylaxis. Overall, our results clarify the relationship between Ag loading and Ag-specific IgE and Th2 cytokine responses in a murine model of ALI, which provides insight useful for future design of tolerogenic NP-based immunotherapies.

Possible Therapeutic Effect of Chitosan Nanoparticles versus Pioglitazone Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles on Colitis Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease in Adult Male Albino Rat Model. Histological and Biochemical Study

Possible Therapeutic Effect of Chitosan Nanoparticles versus Pioglitazone Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles on Colitis Associated with Chronic Kidney Disease in Adult Male Albino Rat Model. Histological and Biochemical Study

Nano-etching of carbon nanofiber surface and subsequent Fe–N–C thin film coating for enhancement of oxygen evolution reaction

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is involved in many electrical–chemical energy conversion systems; however, the slow reaction rate of the OER leads to a high overpotential (η) and low energy efficiency. Recently, an extremely low-η OER phenomenon was observed at a carbonaceous Fe–N-doped thin film with enriched step edges on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite and the carbon fiber surface in an alkaline electrolyte, although the activity was limited. In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as substrates to utilize their high specific surface areas to develop an active OER catalyst. Nanoscale etching of the MWCNT surface was performed by Fe3O4 nanoparticle loading and subsequent heat treatment in an inert atmosphere, followed by acid washing. Afterwards, a carbonaceous thin film containing Fe and N was coated on the surface via sublimation, deposition, and pyrolysis of Fe phthalocyanine (Pc). A roughened surface was observed for the FePc-derived thin film coated on the nano-etched MWCNT, in contrast to the smooth surface observed for the film coated on the MWCNT without nano-etching. The combination of the nano-etching and the thin-film coating enhanced the OER, which was analyzed by parallel Tafel processes.

Optical Actuation of Nanoparticle-Loaded Liquid-Liquid Interfaces for Active Photonics.

Liquid-liquid interfaces hold the potential to serve as versatile platforms for dynamic processes, due to their inherent fluidity and capacity to accommodate surface-active materials. This study explores laser-driven actuation of liquid-liquid interfaces with and without loading of gold nanoparticles and further exploits the laser-actuated interfaces with nanoparticles for tunable photonics. Upon laser exposure, gold nanoparticles were rearranged along the interface, enabling the reconfigurable, small-aperture modulation of light transmission and the tunable lensing effect. Adapting the principles of optical and optothermal tweezers, we interpreted the underlying mechanisms of actuation and modulation as a synergy of optomechanical and optothermal effects. Our findings provide an analytical framework for understanding microscopic interfacial behaviors, contributing to potential applications in tunable photonics and interfacial material engineering.

Single-Particle Spectroscopic Chromatography Reveals Heterogeneous RNA Loading and Size Correlations in Lipid Nanoparticles.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) have emerged as pivotal delivery vehicles for RNA therapeutics. Previous research and development usually assumed that LNPs are homogeneous in population, loading density, and composition. Such perspectives are difficult to examine due to the lack of suitable tools to characterize these physicochemical properties at the single-nanoparticle level. Here, we report an integrated spectroscopy-chromatography approach as a generalizable strategy to dissect the complexities of multicomponent LNP assembly. Our platform couples cylindrical illumination confocal spectroscopy (CICS) with single-nanoparticle free solution hydrodynamic separation (SN-FSHS) to simultaneously profile population identity, hydrodynamic size, RNA loading levels, and distributions of helper lipid and PEGylated lipid of LNPs at the single-particle level and in a high-throughput manner. Using a benchmark siRNA LNP formulation, we demonstrate the capability of this platform by distinguishing seven distinct LNP populations, quantitatively characterizing size distribution and RNA loading level in wide ranges, and more importantly, resolving composition-size correlations. This SN-FSHS-CICS analysis provides critical insights into a substantial degree of heterogeneity in the packing density of RNA in LNPs and size-dependent loading-size correlations, explained by kinetics-driven assembly mechanisms of RNA LNPs.

Development of electrochemical sensors based on silver nanoparticles electrodeposited on gold screen-printed electrodes: application to nitrate trace analysis in water

Abstract. A simple, reusable and sensitive electrochemical sensor based on a gold screen-printed electrode modified with silver nanoparticles has been developed for the detection of nitrate in water. Scanning electron microscopy, square wave voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to characterize the modification of the electrode surface. The modified electrode with different silver nanoparticle loadings was also tested, as well as the influence of scan rate on the reduction of nitrate. The sensor exhibited a wide linear response to nitrate from 100 to 1500 µM and a detection limit of 7.7 µM, which is significantly less than the maximum contaminant level admitted in drinking water (800 µM). The reproducibility, repeatability and selectivity of the sensor have also been examined. The suitability of the proposed sensor for real sample detection was successfully demonstrated via recovery studies performed in spiked tap water samples. The proposed approach was used to determine nitrate in freshwater, and the results were in good agreement with those obtained from a commercial nitrate sensor. These advantages make the developed sensor a promising alternative approach for integration into an online monitoring system for water monitoring.

Significantly enhanced electrostatic energy storage performances of polyetherimide nanocomposites with ultralow loadings of barium titanate nanoparticles

Significantly enhanced electrostatic energy storage performances of polyetherimide nanocomposites with ultralow loadings of barium titanate nanoparticles

Preparation and anti-tumor effect in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment of AS1411 aptamer-targeted polyphyllin II-loaded PLGA nanoparticles

Polyphyllin II (PPII) has been proven to have significant anti-liver cancer activity, but its application is limited by poor solubility, low bioavailability, and systemic toxicity caused by non-selectivity. To address the above problem, PPII was encapsulated into the Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) by precipitation method (PPII-NPs) for hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. Subsequently, Box–Behnken design (BBD) with three variables-three levels (33) was utilized to optimize the PPII-NPs formulation. Under optimal conditions, the drug loading of nanoparticles reached 7.29 ± 0.08% and encapsulation efficiency was 80.98 ± 1.63%. Furthermore, aptamer AS1411 was adopted to enhance the tumor-targeting ability of nanoparticles (Apt/PPII-NPs). The drug loading of Apt/PPII-NPs was 6.25 ± 0.26%, had a spherical shape with a rough surface, a particle size of 252.3 ± 3.6 nm, and showed good slow-release performance and stability. In vitro, assays showed that the targeted modified nanoparticles had significant tumor selectivity and exerted efficient anti-tumor effects by inducing tumor cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and death‐receptor pathway. In vivo, anti-tumor evaluation further demonstrated Apt/PPII-NPs not only effectively inhibited the growth of tumors, but also reduced PPII damage to normal tissues. In summary, this report strongly illustrated the advantages of a targeted nanoparticle platform for providing a solution for the rational application of PPII and improving the therapeutic effect of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Enhancing Antimicrobial Performance of Gauze via Modification by Ag-Loaded Polydopamine Submicron Particles.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are known for their antibacterial properties and their ability to promote wound healing. By incorporating silver nanoparticles into medical gauze, the resulting composite material shows promise as an advanced wound dressing. However, clinical applications are hindered by challenges related to the stability of silver nanoparticle loading on the gauze as nanoparticle leaching can compromise antibacterial efficacy. In this study, silver nanoparticles were immobilized onto polydopamine (PDA) submicron particles, which were then used to modify medical gauze. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was employed to analyze the elemental distribution on the modified gauze, confirming successful surface modification. The antibacterial properties of the modified gauze were assessed using a laser scanning confocal microscope (CLSM). The results demonstrated a significant reduction in the adhesion rates of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) by 99.1% and 63%, respectively, on the PDA-Ag-modified gauze. Optical density (OD) measurements at 590 nm indicated that the modified gauze effectively inhibited biofilm formation, underscoring its potent antimicrobial capabilities. Further antibacterial efficacy was evaluated by diluting and plating co-cultured bacterial solutions with the modified dressing, followed by 24 h incubation and colony counting. The gauze exhibited an antibacterial efficiency of 99.99% against E. coli and 99.8% against S. aureus. Additionally, cell compatibility tests, involving the co-culture of PDA-Ag composites with human cells, demonstrated excellent biocompatibility. These findings suggest that PDA-Ag-modified medical gauze holds significant potential for the treatment of infected wounds, offering a promising solution to improve wound care through enhanced antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility.

Highly efficient oil-in-water emulsion separation based on innovative stannic oxide/polyvinylchloride (SnO2/PVC) microfiltration membranes

Global awareness has been raised to tackle the impact of produced water effluents from the oil and gas industries on the environment. In this work, innovative stannic oxide/polyvinylchloride (SnO2/PVC) microfiltration membranes were fabricated via the phase inversion method and their properties and performance were studied. Six membranes consisting of a fixed PVC concentration of 15 wt%, and varying loading of SnO2 nanoparticles (SnO2NPs) of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt% were cast. The results showed that embedding SnO2NPs outstandingly increased the pure water flux from 40.03 L/m2.h for the pristine PVC membrane to 104.06 L/m2.h for the 1 wt% SnO2NPs/PVC membrane when the oil in water feed concentration was 100 mg/L. This was attributed to enhancing the comprehensive porosity and hydrophilicity of the membranes as well as improving their grifted negative charge. Additionally, the maximum rejection of oil as COD and NTU removal percent achieved by the 1 wt% SnO2NPs/PVC membrane were around 99.6 % and 99.3 % respectively, compared to 83.29 % and 86.11 % using the pristine PVC membrane. Finally, the surface roughness decreased from 18.45 to 8.59 nm with adding SnO2NPs which positively improved the fouling resistance of the membranes as confirmed by obtaining low relative flux reduction and high flux recovery ratio.