Polar Moieties Research Articles

Surfactant-Assisted Sulfonated Covalent Organic Nanosheets: Extrinsic Charge for Improved Ion Transport and Salinity-Gradient Energy Harvesting.

Charge-governed ion transport is the vital property of nanofluidic channels for salinity-gradient energy harvesting and other electrochemical energy conversion technologies. 2D nanofluidic channels constructed by nanosheets exhibit great superiority in ion selectivity, but a high ion transport rate remains challenging due to the insufficiency of intrinsic surface charge density in nanoconfinement. Herein, extrinsic surface charge into nanofluidic channels composed of surfactant-assisted sulfonated covalent organic nanosheets (SCONs), which enable tunable ion transport behaviors, is demonstrated. The polar moiety of surfactant is embedded in SCONs to adjust in-plane surface charges, and the aggregation of nonpolar moiety results in the sol-to-gel transformation of SCON solution for membrane fabrication. The combination endows SCON/surfactant membranes with considerable water-resistance, and the designable extrinsic charges promise fast ion transport and high ion selectivity. Additionally, the SCON/surfactant membrane, serving as a power generator, exhibits huge potential in harvesting salinity-gradient energy where corresponding output power density can reach up to 9.08W m-2 under a 50-fold salinity gradient (0.5m NaCl|0.01m NaCl). The approach to extrinsic surface charge provides new and promising insight into regulating ion transport behaviors.

Solubilization of α-tocopherol and curcumin by polyoxyethylene alkyl ether surfactants: Effect of alkyl chain structure

The effects of the structural characteristics of the alkyl chains of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether-type surfactants (Brij) on the solubilization of α-tocopherol and curcumin by surfactant micelles were investigated: Brij L23 (lauryl; C12:0); S20 (stearyl; C18:0); and Brij O20 (oleyl; C18:1). When α-tocopherol or curcumin were solubilized in Brij micelle solutions below their maximum solubilization concentrations (Cmax), the Brij L23 micelles exhibited the largest increase in dimensions due to the presence of the guest molecules. Above Cmax, excess α-tocopherol existed as microemulsion droplets whereas excess curcumin existed as insoluble crystals. Our results suggest that the guest molecules were preferentially located within the palisade layers of micelles, which can be attributed to the fact that they contained bother polar and non-polar moieties. These results may be important for the formulation of colloidal delivery systems to encapsulate and deliver oil-soluble vitamins and nutraceuticals.

Polar Phenol Detection in Plasma and Serum: Insights on Sample Pre-Treatment for LC/MS Analysis and Application on the Serum of Corinthian Currant-Fed Rats.

Analysis of plasma and serum provides valuable information on the amounts of polar phenols' circulating after ingestion. In the present study, protein precipitation (PPT), liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), solid phase extraction (SPE), enzymatic hydrolysis and their combinations were meticulously evaluated for the extraction of a variety of polar phenolic moieties from plasma and serum. The recovery values of the above methods were compared; satisfactory recoveries (>60%) were attained for most analytes. Polar phenol aglycones undergo degradation with enzymatic hydrolysis; however, their extended phase II metabolism makes enzymatic hydrolysis a mandated process for their analysis in such biofluids. Hence, enzymatic hydrolysis followed by LLE was used for the identification of polar phenols in rats' serum, after the long-term oral consumption of Corinthian Currant. Corinthian Currant is a Greek dried vine product rich in bioactive polar phenolics. Flavonoids and phenolic acids, detected as aglycones, ranged from 0.57 ± 0.08 to 181.66 ± 48.95 and 3.45 ± 1.20 to 897.81 ± 173.96 ng/mL, respectively. The majority of polar phenolics were present as phase II metabolites, representing their fasting state in the blood stream. This is the first study evaluating the presence of polar phenolics in the serum of rats following a long-term diet supplemented with Corinthian Currant as a whole food.

Surprising Hydrophobic Polymer Surface with a High Content of Hydrophilic Polar Groups.

The wetting property of a solid surface has been a hotspot for centuries, and many studies suggest that the hydrophobicity is highly related to the polar components. However, the underlying mechanism of polar moieties on the hydrophobicity remains unclear. Here, we tailor the surface polar moieties of epoxy resin (EP) by ozone modification and assess their wetting properties. Our results show that, for the modified EP with more (60.54%) polar moieties, the polar effect on hydrophobicity cannot be empirically observed. To reveal the underlying mechanism, the absorption parameters, including equilibrium distance, adsorption radius, and effective adsorption sites for water on EP before and after ozone treatment, are calculated on the basis of molecular simulations. After ozone modification, the equilibrium distance (from 1.95 to 1.70 Å), adsorption radius (from 3.80 to 4.50 Å), and effective adsorption sites (from 1 to 2) change slightly and the EP surface remains hydrophobic, although the polar groups significantly increase. Therefore, it is concluded that the wetting properties of solid surfaces are dominated by the equilibrium distance, adsorption radius, and effective adsorption sites for water on solids, and the nonlinear relationship between polar groups and hydrophilicity is clarified.

Oleochemical carbonates: A comprehensive characterization of an emerging class of organic compounds

Dialkyl carbonates (DAC) with short-medium alkyl length - oleochemical carbonates – are attracting attention because of their appealing properties, including low viscosity, flammability, toxicity, environmental impact and wide range of applications: lubricants, personal care, fuel additives etc. However, not much is known concerning their chemical physical properties and, more importantly, on the nature of microscopic correlations that eventually determine bulk performances. In view of this paucity, we present a large exploration of a series of chemical physical properties of a set of DACs ranging from dimethyl up to didodecyl carbonate. This study extends previously determined databases, thus providing a complete picture of the temperature dependence of chemical physical properties around room temperature. Furthermore, we explored the microscopic morphology of DACs, by synergic exploitation of X-ray scattering and Molecular Dynamics techniques. These tools allow detecting the existence of a distinct degree of mesoscopic spatial segregation between polar carbonate moieties and apolar alkyl chains domains. The role of first neighbour carbonate moieties in driving the corresponding molecules towards weak hydrogen bonding interactions and alkyl chain alignment is described. Such an effect is related to the overall mesoscopic segregation of alkyl tails that isolate small droplets formed by stacked carbonate groups. Such a highly compartmentalised morphology can explain and potentially suggest applications of DACs in fields as relevant as separation, catalysis, lubrication etc.

Heterosubstituted Derivatives of PtPFPP for O2 Sensing and Cell Analysis: Structure-Activity Relationships.

Biological applications of phosphorescent probes for sensing molecular oxygen (O2) and bioimaging have gained popularity, but their choice is rather limited. We describe a family of new heterosubstituted phosphorescent bioprobes based on the Pt(II)-tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtPFPP) dye. The probes are produced by simple click modification of its para-fluorine atoms with thiols, such as 1/2-thio-glucose, thio-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), or cysteamine. The probes were designed to have one cell-targeting moiety and three polar moieties forming a hydrophilic shell. Their chemical synthesis and purification were optimized to produce high reaction yields and easy scale-up. The ability to perform as cell-permeable or -impermeable probes was tuned by the polarity and molecular charge of the bioconjugate. The new PtPFPP derivatives were characterized for their spectral properties and cell-penetrating ability in the experiments with mammalian cell cultures, using a time-resolved fluorescence reader and PLIM imaging detection. Structure-activity relationships were established. Thus, the tri- and tetra-PEGylated structures showed low cell internalization allowing their use as extracellular probes, while cysteamine derivatives performed as efficient intracellular probes. No significant cytotoxicity was observed for all of the probes under the experimental conditions used.

Trehalose diesters containing a polar functional group-modified lipid moiety: Synthesis and evaluation of Mincle-mediated signaling activity

Mincle, a C-type lectin receptor (CLR), activates the innate immune system by recognizing certain complex lipid compounds. In this study, we designed and synthesized trehalose disteate (TDS) and dibehenate (TDB), containing a polar-functional group in the middle of fatty acid moieties, based on a model of the Mincle–glycolipids interaction. The modified fatty acids were prepared using hydroxy fatty acids as common intermediates, and conjugated with an appropriate trehalose moiety to synthesize the desired trehalose diesters. TDE derivatives containing the modified fatty acid have different Mincle-mediated signaling activities depending on the position of the functional group and the length of the lipids. The newly developed TDE derivatives exhibit signaling activity comparable or superior to that of TDS or TDB, and the results suggest that Mincle tolerates polar functional groups at a certain position of the lipid chain of TDE. The introduction of the polar functional groups into the lipid moiety of the glycolipids also resulted in improved solubility in polar solvents, which would be advantageous for various analyses and applications.

Predictive solubility of amino acids in deep eutectic solvents for chicken feather waste valorisation

Waste chicken feathers can be potentially utilized by its dissolution in deep eutectic solvents (DESs) to extract keratin. Keratin in chicken feathers is composed by a series of amino acids which can be categorized into negatively charged, positively charged, hydrophobic and hydrophilic natures. As the DESs are also composed by polar and non-polar moieties, their capability to dissolve amino acids needs to be investigated. In this study, the relative solubility of these amino acids in DESs were screened using Conductor-like Screening Method for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS). Five DESs were selected from literature as the targeted solvents, i.e., choline chloride:urea (ChCl:Ur (1:2)), choline chloride:oxalic acid (ChCl:OA (1:2)), choline chloride:ethylene glycol (ChCl:EG (1:2)), sodium acetate:urea (NaAc:Ur (1:2)) and urea:acetate (Ur:Ace (1:2)), to dissolve amino acids in keratin according to the reported compositions. Additionally, the performance of these DESs were benchmarked with other common volatile organic solvents. It was found that the hydrophobic amino acids, particularly cystine, are highly soluble in ChCl:Ur (1:2), ChCl:OA (1:2) and Ur:Ace (1:2). The selected DESs were also predicted to have good dissolution capacity towards the hydrophobic amino acids. It was concluded that the use of DESs in dissolution and extraction of keratin provides more flexible dissolving capability and more environmentally friendly compared to the conventional organic or acidic solvents. This study provides positive insights on the potential of valorising chicken waste feathers using DESs.

Design, Rational Repurposing, Synthesis, In Vitro Evaluation, Homology Modeling and In Silico Study of Sulfuretin Analogs as Potential Antileishmanial Hit Compounds

Direct growth inhibition of infectious organisms coupled with immunomodulation to counteract the immunosuppressive environment might be a beneficial therapeutic approach. Herein, a library of sulfuretin analogs were developed with potential capabilities to inhibit production of the immunosuppressive PGE2 and elicit direct growth inhibition against Leishmania donovani; the major causative agent of the fatal visceral leishmaniasis. Amongst explored library members bearing diverse methoxy and/or hydroxy substitution patterns at rings B and A, analog 1i retaining the C6-hydroxy moiety at ring-A, but possessing methoxy moieties in place of the polar dihydroxy moieties of sulfuretin ring-B, as well as analog 1q retaining the sulfuretin′s polar dihydroxy moieties at ring-B, but incorporating a C6-methoxy moiety instead of the C6-hydroxy moiety at ring-A, were the most promising hit compounds. Cytotoxicity evaluation suggested that analog 1i possesses a safety profile inducing the death of the parasite rather than host cells. In silico simulation provided insights into their possible binding with Leishmania donovani fumarate reductase. The current investigation presents sulfuretin analogs 1i and 1q as potential hit compounds for further development of multifunctional therapeutic agents against visceral leishmaniasis.

Impact of organic solutes on capillary phenomena in water-CO2-quartz systems

Hypothesis: The migration of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) injected into underground reservoirs as part of carbon capture and storage is influenced by organic contamination affecting mineral wettability. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of relevant systems that incorporate representative organic solutes allow detailed investigation of changes in fundamental interfacial and capillary properties. Experiments: We use MD simulations to explore the effects of four organic solutes (quinoline, decanoic acid, coronene, sorgoleone) on the wettability of quartz by water in the presence of scCO2. We examine the impacts of polar, alkyl, and aromatic moieties as well as fluid flow velocity at elevated temperatures and pressures. Findings: Organic molecules accumulate at the water-CO2 interface, where they distribute according to their size and functional groups. Certain organics penetrate the adsorbed water film at the quartz-CO2 interface, revealing two modes of hydrogen bonding between polar organic functional group, water, and quartz surface –OH groups. Interfacial energies and contact angles are minimally impacted by organic adsorption at the water-CO2 interface, possibly due to simultaneous CO2 desorption. Non-equilibrium MD simulations reveal that flow-induced redistribution of organic compounds modulates the radii of curvature of the advancing and receding water-CO2 interfaces. Our results indicate that organic adsorption on water surfaces is likely ubiquitous during multi-phase flow in soils and sedimentary rocks, with implications for the mobilization and transport of organic compounds.

Effects of zein modifying polar amino acids as surface stabilizers on the emulsification stability of milk cream diacylglycerol

It is important to improve the emulsification stability of oil-in-water emulsions by surface loading hydrophilic groups. l-Glutamic acid (Glu), l-Glutamine (Gln) and l-Arginine (Arg) were used to modify Zein-Chitosan lactate (CHL) as stabilizers to improve the emulsification stability of milk cream diacylglycerol (DAG). The mechanism of using polar amino acids to enhance the emulsification of DAG-in-water emulsion was explored. The results showed that the average droplet size of DAG emulsion was 48 μm by using Zein-CHL-Gln as surface stabilizer when the pH was 6.0, and the ratio of Gln and CHL was 1:1. Zein-CHL-Gln as surface stabilizer could improve the emulsion index by 25% compared with the control group after storage for 7 days. Hydrophobic interaction between L-Gln and zein played an important role in increasing the hydrophilic polar moiety on the emulsion surface. Zein-CHL modified with l-Glutamine was better surface stabilizer to improve the emulsification of oil-in-water emulsions.

Cyclic Octapeptides Composed of Two Glutathione Units Outperform the Monomer in Lead Detoxification.

A rationally‐designed scaffold of cyclic octapeptides composed of two units of the natural tripeptide glutathione (GSH) was optimized to strongly and selectively capture toxic lead ions (Pb(II)). Using state‐of‐the‐art computational tools, a list of eleven plausible peptides was shortened to five analogs based on their calculated affinity to Pb(II) ions. We then synthesized and investigated them for their abilities to recover Pb‐poisoned human cells. A clear pattern was observed from the in vitro detoxification results, indicating the importance of cavity size and polar moieties to enhance metal capturing. These, together with the apparent benefit of cyclizing the peptides, improved the detoxification of the two lead peptides by approximately two folds compared to GSH and the benchmark chelating agents against Pb poisoning. Moreover, the two peptides did not show any toxicity and, therefore, were thoroughly investigated to determine their potential as next‐generation remedies for Pb poisoning.

Nonane and Hexanol Adsorption in the Lamellar Phase of a Nonionic Surfactant: Molecular Simulations and Comparison to Ideal Adsorbed Solution Theory

Adsorption of n-nonane/1-hexanol (C9/C6OH) mixtures into the lamellar phase formed by a 50/50 w/w triethylene glycol mono-n-decyl ether (C10E3)/water system was studied using configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulations in the osmotic Gibbs ensemble. The interactions were described by the Shinoda-Devane-Klein coarse-grained force field. Prior simulations probing single-component adsorption indicated that C9 molecules preferentially load near the center of the bilayer, increasing the bilayer thickness, whereas C6OH molecules are more likely to be found near the interface of the polar and nonpolar moieties, swelling the bilayer in the lateral dimension. Here, we extend this work to binary C9/C6OH adsorption to probe whether the difference in the spatial preferences may lead to a synergistic effect and enhanced loadings for the mixture. Comparing loading trends and the thermodynamics of binary adsorption to unary adsorption reveals that C9-C9 interactions lead to the largest enhancement, whereas C9-C6OH and C6OH-C6OH interactions are less favorable for this bilayer system. Ideal adsorbed solution theory yields satisfactory predictions of the binary loading.

H1 helix of colicin U causes phospholipid membrane permeation.

In light of an increasing number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, it is essential to understand an action imposed by various antimicrobial agents on bacteria at the molecular level. One of the leading mechanisms of killing bacteria is related to the alteration of their plasmatic membrane. We study bio-inspired peptides originating from natural antimicrobial proteins colicins, which can disrupt membranes of bacterial cells. Namely, we focus on the α-helix H1 of colicin U, produced by bacterium Shigella boydii, and compare it with analogous peptides derived from two different colicins. To address the behavior of the peptides in biological membranes, we employ a combination of molecular simulations and experiments. We use molecular dynamics simulations to show that all three peptides are stable in model zwitterionic and negatively charged phospholipid membranes. At the molecular level, their embedment leads to the formation of membrane defects, membrane permeation for water, and, for negatively charged lipids, membrane poration. These effects are caused by the presence of polar moieties in the considered peptides. Importantly, simulations demonstrate that even monomeric H1 peptides can form toroidal pores. At the macroscopic level, we employ experimental co-sedimentation and fluorescence leakage assays. We show that the H1 peptide of colicin U incorporates into phospholipid vesicles and disrupts their membranes, causing leakage, in agreement with the molecular simulations. These insights obtained for model systems seem important for understanding the mechanisms of antimicrobial action of natural bacteriocins and for future exploration of small bio-inspired peptides able to disrupt bacterial membranes.

Validated HPLC-UV Method for Simultaneous Estimation of Paclitaxel and Doxorubicin Employing Ion Pair Chromatography: Application in Formulation Development and Pharmacokinetic Studies.

Though paclitaxel (PTX) and doxorubicin (DOX) are amongst the most widely used and investigated drug pair for combination chemotherapy but surprisingly, not a single validated HPLC-UV method is available to analyze PTX and DOX simultaneously. So, herein a HPLC-UV method is developed and validated for the same, filling an indispensable gap in the literature. As these two moieties have characteristically different polarities, resolving them under the common chromatographic conditions is a challenging task. Herein, the principle of ion pair chromatography is utilized to resolve these two moieties on a C18 column employing an isocratic mobile phase comprised of acetonitrile and octane sulfonic acid buffer (67 : 37) and detected simultaneously at 231 nm using a UV detector only. The retention time is 4.4 and 7.2 min for PTX and DOX, respectively, with a total analysis time of less than 10 minutes, suitable for the formulation development and research, while LOQ is less than 0.066 μg/ml for both the drugs, suitable for the therapeutic drug monitoring at preclinical and clinical research setup. To substantiate the applicability of the developed method, a nanoformulation coloaded with PTX and DOX was designed and analyzed using the developed protocol. The method is also applied successfully to study the plasma kinetic profile of both the moieties simultaneously in Balb/c mice. Further, the method is validated as per the ICH guidelines fulfilling the unmet need of a validated analytical tool to simultaneously estimate PTX and DOX. Moreover, the results suggest that the principal of common ion chromatography demonstrated here can also be applied further for the simultaneous chromatographic separation of other polar and nonpolar moieties too. Consequently, the reported method surely will advance the toolset required for the precision-based combination chemotherapy.

Perfluoroalkyl acids in sediment and water surrounding historical fire training areas at Barksdale Air Force Base.

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) are environmentally persistent components of surfactants that consist of fully fluorinated carbon chains and a terminal sulfonate or carboxylate polar head moiety. Due to their unique amphiphilic properties, PFAAs are used in the manufacturing of products such as aqueous film forming foams (AFFF). There is cause for concern for PFAA contamination resulting from runoff and groundwater infiltration of AFFF that were used during fire training. This study analyzed water and sediment samples that were collected over a 13-month sampling period from bayous upstream and downstream of two former fire training areas located near Barksdale Air Force Base (BAFB); the occurrence and magnitude of PFAAs supported an aquatic ecological risk assessment of potential impacts of PFAAs at the site. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used for determination of 6 PFAAs listed under the third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 3). Total PFAA concentrations in surface water and sediment samples ranged from 0 (ND) −7.1 ng/mL and 0 (ND) −31.4 ng/g, respectively. Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were the predominant PFAAs detected. In general, perfluorosulfonates were quantified more frequently and at higher concentrations than perfluorocarboxylates. The perfluoroalkyl chain length of PFAAs also showed significant influence on PFAA concentrations when analyzed by Spearman’s rank correlation analysis. Some contamination we observed in surface water and sediment samples from reference locations could be a result of local runoff from the use of commercial products containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), but AFFF appears to be the primary source given the close proximity of the historical fire training areas.

Rational Design, Chemical Syntheses, and Biological Evaluations of Peripherally Selective Mu Opioid Receptor Ligands as Potential Opioid Induced Constipation Treatment.

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is a common adverse effect of opioid analgesics. Peripherally acting μ opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) can be applied in the treatment of OIC without compromising the analgesic effects. NAP, a 6β-N-4-pyridyl-substituted naltrexamine derivative, was previously identified as a potent and selective MOR antagonist mainly acting peripherally but with some CNS effects. Herein, we introduced a highly polar aromatic moiety, for example, a pyrazolyl or imidazolyl ring to decrease CNS MPO scores in order to reduce passive BBB permeability. Four compounds 2, 5, 17, and 19, when administered orally, were able to increase intestinal motility during morphine-induced constipation in the carmine red dye assays. Among them, compound 19 (p.o.) improved GI tract motility by 75% while orally administered NAP and methylnaltrexone showed no significant effects at the same dose. Thus, this compound seemed a promising agent to be further developed as an oral treatment for OIC.

Co-sorption/co-desorption mechanism of the mixed chlorobenzenes by fresh bulk and aged residual biochar

Since little is known about the sorption/desorption behaviors of the mixed chlorobenzenes (CBs) on fresh and aged biochar, this study evaluated the co-sorption/co-desorption mechanism of the mixed monochlorobenzene (MCB), 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) and 1,2,4-tirchlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB) on the fresh bulk biochar derived from pinewood sawdust and corn straw under the heat treatment temperature (HTT) of 300 and 500 °C, and elucidated the aging-induced changes in the sorption/desorption of mixed CBs by biochar. The distinct sorption capacities of MCB< 1,2-DCB< 1,2,4-TCB were observed on all the tested biochar with the differences being further enhanced following the rise of HTT, as the main sorption mechanism was converted from phase partitioning to π-π interaction between graphitized biochar moieties and more hydrophobic aromatic chemicals. In comparison to the fresh biochar, the sorption suppression of the mixed CBs on the aged biochar was likely attributable to the reduction in accessibility to the aromatic carbon in biochar by introducing O-containing polar moieties on the biochar surfaces. Intriguingly, the kinetics of desorption was decreased with the aging of biochar may be caused by the increase in surface steric hindrance. These findings can provide new insights on understanding the co-sorption/co-desorption mechanism of the mixed CBs and help assess and manage the application of biochar on the treatment of contaminated soil and groundwater under field conditions.

Tail-group unsaturation tailors the surface and self-assembly behavior of C18-fatty acid-based glycolipids

Biosurfactants cover a wide variety of application in diverse fields as interfacial modifiers and drug delivery carriers. Narrow molecular diversity of biosurfactants especially limits their potential application. Herein, we synthesized eight bio-based glycolipids to ascertain the structure–property relationship via changing unsaturation degree of hydrophobic chain and polar glucosidic moiety. The surface parameters of these glycolipids are evaluated with surface tension (ST) and Langmuir Blodgett (LB) studies. The surface-active properties including foaming, wetting, emulsifying, and solubilizing studies were performed to derive the impact of unsaturation degree. Self-assembly properties including critical micelle concentration (CMC), micropolarity, microviscosity, aggregation number (Nagg), and size have been employed to explore impact of unsaturation degree. Studies on encapsulation and enzymatic release of hydrophobic bioactive (curcumin) from glycolipid self-assemblies revealed them as nano-carriers. Interestingly, glycolipids with oleyl chain exhibited excellent hydrophobic encapsulation capacity and release rates are depending on degree of unsaturation and size of headgroup. Results suggest that configuration of unsaturated tail can be tuned to manipulate the interfacial properties and encapsulation-release profile of hydrophobic bioactive.

Nonpolar Graphene Quantum Dot-Based Hydrophobic Coating from Microwave-Assisted Treatment of Styrofoam Waste

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), one of the most promising nanoforms of carbon, have shown exceptional physiochemical properties owing to their strong three-dimensional quantum confinement. By altering the band gap or edge functionalization in GQDs, the properties can be tuned to meet challenging demands of modern computational and quantum devices. GQDs have primarily been synthesized at the lab scale so far, by both top-down and bottom-up approaches, using various natural or synthetic carbon-rich precursors. Only a few milligrams of the precursor is typically used in the synthesis, and it also involves hazardous acids, bases, or other catalysts, which impose additional time, labor, and cost for their removal. GQDs made hitherto are also functionalized with polar moieties due to the use of acids or bases in the synthesis, resulting in insolubility of GQDs in nonpolar solvents. Herein, an acid/base-free, microwave-assisted pyrolytic process is developed where GQDs of controlled size without any polar functionalities are synthesized using Styrofoam waste as the precursor. The structure of GQDs is confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and other spectroscopic analysis, and it is found to be single layered with an average size of 5.5 ± 1.5 nm. A maximum yield of 15% is obtained by optimizing the pyrolysis temperature and exposure time of the precursor, and GQDs are found to be highly soluble in nonpolar solvents, including toluene and cyclohexane. The obtained GQDs were used as a promising agent to provide durable hydrophobicity and excellent self-cleaning property when coated on cotton fabric. The use of nonbiodegradable polymer waste such as Styrofoam to generate nonpolar GQDs of controlled dimensions provided a complete solution to not only curb deleterious effects of polymeric waste but also enable production of high value-added products for vast applications.