Potential Membrane Research Articles

Advancing water treatment sustainability: Investigating electrified Ti3C2Tx composite membranes for minimizing microplastic fouling

The overuse of plastics has led to a large influx of microplastics (MPs) in water bodies and water/wastewater treatment plants. Coupled with the ongoing water crisis, this poses a threat to freshwater availability as MPs disrupt the operation of these plants. MPs cause severe fouling of low-pressure membrane technologies such as ultrafiltration (UF) due to the strong adhesion between MPs and the membrane surface. An electrified membrane-based technology is suggested as an alternative MP fouling mitigation strategy. In this study, composite membranes of sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES)/MXene (Ti3C2Tx) were fabricated and evaluated as a promising candidate for mitigating fouling of MPs. The described SPES/Ti3C2Tx composite membrane was designed to improve important physiochemical properties such as conductivity without affecting water flux. The membranes were tested under different electrical potentials to find an optimal strategy to reduce MP fouling. The performance tests showed that the flux increased from 42 L m−2. h−1 at 0 V to 49 L m−2. h−1 at 2 V due to electrostatic repulsion when 5 wt% Ti3C2Tx was used as a result of the applied electric potential. In addition, it was shown that intermittent applied voltage using “30 min ON: 60 min OFF” mode resulted in more stable water flux due to in-situ coagulant formation and cleaning. This study illustrates the potential of MXene-based membranes for mitigating MP fouling and paves the way for future research on membrane materials that can enhance system performance.

Optimization and Characterization of a Novel Antioxidant Naringenin-Loaded Hydrogel for Encouraging Re-Epithelization in Chronic Diabetic Wounds: A Preclinical Study.

Nonhealed wounds are one of the most dangerous side effects of type-2 diabetes, which is linked to a high frequency of bacterial infections around the globe that eventually results in amputation of limbs. The present investigation aimed to explore the drug-loaded (naringenin) hydrogel system for chronic wound healing. The hydrogel membranes comprising Na-alginate with F-127 and poly(vinyl alcohol) were developed to treat chronic wounds using the quality-by-design (QbD) approach. The optimized formulation was tested for various parameters, such as swelling, gel fraction, water vapor transition rate (WVTR), etc. In vitro evaluation indicated that a drug-loaded hydrogel displayed better tissue adhesiveness and can release drugs for a prolonged duration of 12 h. Scratch assay performed on L929 cell lines demonstrated good cell migration. The diabetic wound healing potential of the hydrogel membrane was assessed in streptozotocin-induced male Wistar rats (50 mg/kg). Higher rates of wound closure, re-epithelialization, and accumulation of collagen were seen in in vivo experiments. Histopathologic investigation correspondingly implied that the drug-loaded hydrogel could enhance dermal wound repair. The improved antimicrobial and antioxidant properties with expedited healing indicated that the drug-loaded hydrogel is a perfect dressing for chronic wounds.

Fabrication of a novel composite nanofiltration membrane with effective treating dye wastewater via integration of phase inversion and interfacial polymerization

In this work, we proposed using the combination of nonsolvent induced phase separation (NIPS) technology and interfacial polymerization (IP) process upon polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) substrate as a novel and simple method for preparing high-flux composite nanofiltration membranes. The surface chemical properties, physical structure, hydrophilicity, zeta potential, and permeation experiments of the composite membranes that were prepared with graphene oxide (GO), cyclodextrin (CD), or GO@CD as aqueous monomers were studied. The results indicated that the selective polyester active layer successfully covered the PVDF substrate, and the optimal GO@CD50/PVDF membrane was fabricated using the modification conditions of 1.0 wt% of GO@CD50, 5 min of phase transition time, 0.2 wt% of TMC, and 60 min of IP reaction time, which achieved a high pure water flux (84.8 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) and dye permeation flux (48.7 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 for Rose Bengal); in addition, the dye rejection rate was also high (e.g., 99.6 % for Rose Bengal). Besides, CD nanomaterials can be effectively inserted into the GO lamella to increase the layer spacing of GO sheets and expose more oxygen-containing functional groups; this, in turn, enhances the long-term stability and permeability of the membrane. This study provides practical ways to treat dyes wastewater.

Nanofiltration Membranes for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solutions: Preparations and Applications.

Water shortages are one of the problems caused by global industrialization, with most wastewater discharged without proper treatment, leading to contamination and limited clean water supply. Therefore, it is important to identify alternative water sources because many concerns are directed toward sustainable water treatment processes. Nanofiltration membrane technology is a membrane integrated with nanoscale particle size and is a superior technique for heavy metal removal in the treatment of polluted water. The fabrication of nanofiltration membranes involves phase inversion and interfacial polymerization. This review provides a comprehensive outline of how nanoparticles can effectively enhance the fabrication, separation potential, and efficiency of NF membranes. Nanoparticles take the form of nanofillers, nanoembedded membranes, and nanocomposites to give multiple approaches to the enhancement of the NF membrane's performance. This could significantly improve selectivity, fouling resistance, water flux, porosity, roughness, and rejection. Nanofillers can form nanoembedded membranes and thin films through various processes such as in situ polymerization, layer-by-layer assembly, blending, coating, and embedding. We discussed the operational conditions, such as pH, temperature, concentration of the feed solution, and pressure. The mitigation strategies for fouling resistance are also highlighted. Recent developments in commercial nanofiltration membranes have also been highlighted.

Enhancing ultrafiltration membrane permeability and antifouling performance through surface patterning with features resembling feed spacers

This study investigates the potential of surface-patterned membranes in replacing the conventional feed spacer-assisted filtration process. Two types of surface patterns, namely diamond (D) and honeycomb (HC), were utilized in the fabrication of the surface-patterned membranes. These membranes showed larger effective membrane area and higher average porosity when compared to the flat PES membrane. The D-Patterned and HC-Patterned membranes achieved pure water flux of 76.6 ± 16.9 and 88.3 ± 17.4 L m−2 h−1, respectively, which was higher than the flat PES membrane with and without the use of feed spacers. Furthermore, the patterned membranes reported lower natural organic matter (NOM) fouling in short and long-term filtration experiments and higher flux recovery ratio (FRR), indicating their superior anti-fouling performance over the PES membrane when using feed spacers. Overall, the simple fabrication technique, higher permeability, and excellent anti-fouling performance of the surface-patterned membranes render them suitable for potentially replacing the current configuration used in spacer-assisted filtration processes.

Robust ceramic-based graphene membrane for challenging water treatment with enhanced fouling and scaling resistance.

Membrane fouling and scaling are two challenges for efficient treatment of hypersaline wastewater, greatly hindering separation performance and operation stability of desalination membranes. In this work, we report a smooth ceramic-based graphene desalination membrane, exhibiting enhanced anti-fouling and anti-scaling ability and operational performance for efficient treatment of both synthetic and real industrial wastewaters, outperforming polypropylene (PP) membrane. For treatment of hypersaline waters containing organic or inorganic substance, we demonstrate that the graphene membrane exhibits more stable water flux and almost complete salt rejection (>99.9%) during constant operation. Enhanced anti-fouling and desalination performance of graphene membrane could be attributed to the lower attractive interaction force with foulant (-4.65 mJ m-2), lower surface roughness (Ra=2.2±0.1nm) and higher affinity with water than PP membrane. Furthermore, an anti-scaling mechanism enabled by graphene membrane is evidenced, with a highlight on the roles of smooth graphene surface with lower roughness, less nucleation sites and lower binding force with scaling crystals. Importantly, even for industrial petrochemical wastewater, such a graphene membrane also exhibits relatively more stable water flux and promising oil and ions rejection during long-term operation, outperforming PP membrane. This study further confirms a promising practical application potential of robust ceramic-based graphene membrane for efficient treatment of more challenging hypersaline wastewater with complicated compositions, which is not feasible by conventional desalination membranes.

Carbon dots embedded bacterial cellulose membrane as active packaging: Toxicity, in vitro release and application in minced beef packaging

Antimicrobial bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes incorporated with carbon dots (CDs) were developed to improve the shelf life and ensure the safety of minced beef during 9 days of storage at 4 °C. An ex-situ method was used to develop BC-CDs with different CDs loading capacities (16.50, 22.50, and 38.50 mg/cm3). Only BC-CDs38.50 membrane exhibited toxicity in human embryonic kidney cells, and BC-CDs membranes had the slowest release rate of CDs in 95% ethanol. Significant differences were noted in the chemical and sensory attributes of samples packaged with BC-CDs16.50 and BC-CDs22.50, compared to the control. The microbial counts in samples with BC-CDs were significantly lower than those in samples with pristine BC membranes or the control. Notably, the BC-CDs22.50 membrane exhibited a substantial reduction (4.7 log10 CFU/g) in Escherichia coli counts by the end of storage. These findings highlight the potential of BC-CDs membranes as effective antimicrobial materials in meat packaging.

Enhancing the antifouling and chlorine resistance capabilities of thin-film composite reverse osmosis via surface grafting of dipeptide

There has been constant progress in the development of innovative polyamide (PA) thin-film composite (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membranes to address limitations in fouling potential, chlorine resistance, salt rejection and water flux trade-offs. In this work, dipeptide of zwitterionic amino acid L-arginine, i.e., arginyl-arginine (Arg-Arg), was grafted on the surface of PA TFC RO membrane in order to simultaneously improve the antifouling properties, chlorine resistance, and separation performance. The interactions between the Arg-Arg dipeptide and PA layer were evidenced by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which have indicated the distinguished chemical grafting of Arg-Arg dipeptide on the RO membrane surface. The grafting of Arg-Arg dipeptide led to a thinner, smoother, more hydrophilic, and less negatively charged PA surface. The surface-modified membranes simultaneously exhibited enhanced desalination performances, antifouling and chlorine resistance properties. Compared to the neat TFC membrane, the water flux of Arg-Arg dipeptide-modified membrane was improved by 26.19%. The salt rejection also slightly increased from 96.25% to 98%. The roles of Arg-Arg dipeptide in altering the surface chemistry and the structure of the membranes are discussed to highlight the potential of surface-modified membranes in heightening the desalination performances of RO TFC membranes.

Facile synthesis and exfoliation of micro‐sized LDH to fabricate 2D membranes towards Mg/Li separation

AbstractTwo‐dimensional (2D) membranes have demonstrated potential for molecular separation; however, their applicability for Li/Mg ion separation has been restricted by their negatively‐charged and easily‐swellable properties in water. Moreover, their practical application has been hindered by the challenge of producing significant quantities of single‐layer nanosheets. To overcome these challenges, we have developed a scalable method for synthesizing micro‐sized nitrate ZnAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) and subsequent exfoliating to yield monolayer nanosheets for the construction of 2D membranes. The sub‐nanometer channels of the LDH membrane is positively charged, which prevents the passage of magnesium ions. These channels also impede the flow of magnesium ions that are more difficult to dehydrate. As a result, the LDH membranes exhibit robust lithium–magnesium separation ability, with a separation ratio of 6 (Li/Mg). This work provides a method for producing high‐quality LDH nanosheets and validates the enormous potential of LDH membranes in the field of lithium–magnesium separation.

Evaluating the potential of nanofiltration membranes for removing ammonium, nitrate, and nitrite in drinking water sources

Advanced drinking water treatment process using nanofiltration (NF) membranes has gained attention recently because it removes many challenging constituents in contaminated surface waters, such as dissolved organics and heavy metals. However, much literature has reported high variations and uncertainties of NF membranes for removing nitrogen compounds in the contaminated water—ammonium (NH4+), nitrates (NO3−), and nitrites (NO2−). This study aimed to identify the ability of commercial NF membranes to remove NH4+, NO2−, and NO3− and clarify the mechanisms underlying their transport through NF membranes. This was examined by evaluating their rejection by three commercial NF membranes using artificial and actual river waters under various conditions (variable permeate flux, temperature, pH, and ionic strength). Ammonium commonly showed the highest removal among the three nitrogen compounds, followed by nitrites and nitrates. Interestingly, ammonium removal varied considerably from 6% to 86%, depending on the membrane type and operating conditions. The results indicated that the selected nitrogen compounds (NH4+, NO2−, and NO3−) could be highly rejected depending on the clearance between their hydrated radius and the membrane's pore walls. Further, the rejection of the lowest molecular-weight nitrogen compound (NH4+) could be higher than NO2− and NO3− due to its highest energy barrier and larger hydrated radius. This study suggests that compliance with the drinking water regulations of NH4+, NO2−, and NO3− can be reliably achieved by selecting appropriate membrane types and predicting the range of their removal under various feed water quality and operating conditions.

Unveiling the potential of composite water-swollen spiral wound membrane for design of low-cost raw biogas purification

The present study aims to verify a novel purification method for raw biogas using water-swollen composite membranes. In two module configurations, we generated water-swollen polymer gel layers on thin-film composite membranes to separate methane from other biogas species. The primary driving force of the biogas separation is the solubility differences between major biogas species. The carbon dioxide solubility, many times higher than methane, effectively rejected methane from the water-swollen membranes and resulted in the retentate concentration of 97 vol% methane for raw biogas and 98 vol% for synthetic gas. Two membrane modules connected in parallel increased the methane recovery ratio up to 58 %. At a pressure of 3 bar the water-swollen membrane proved efficient in desulfurizing feed biogas producing an outlet stream containing a low concentration of H2S of an order of 10 ppmv.

Potential of milk fat globule membrane's phospholipids and anhydrous milk fat based nanostructured lipid carriers for enhanced bioaccessibility of vitamin D3

Novel nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were engineered using anhydrous milk fat (AMF) as vitamin-D3 (VD3) carrier and milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) phospholipids (PLs) as surfactants. Significantly higher encapsulation efficiency of VD3 was obtained (96 ± 2.5%) in AMF-MFGM-PLs NLCs. Void and VD3 loaded NLCs had diameters of 150 ± 0.2 nm and 167 ± 2 nm and ζ-potentials of −15.5 ± 1.6 mV and −15.9 ± 0.3 mV, respectively. NLCs had spherical morphology; VD3 was distributed in the lipid core of NLCs via weak electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions. Physical stability in terms of particle size and homogeneity of particles was attained for a three-week storage period. Biphasic in-vitro controlled release kinetics was observed, i.e., burst release followed by sustained release up to 21 days. VD3 exhibited effective chemical stability (48.3 ± 3.4%) and significantly higher bioaccessibility (88 ± 2.6%) after complete simulated in-vitro digestion. VD3 loaded NLCs are promising natural vehicles for the effective delivery of less-bioaccessible vitamins to overcome micronutrient deficiency.

Potential of liposomes and lipid membranes for the separation of β-blockers by capillary electromigration and liquid chromatographic techniques

β-Blockers belong to a frequently used class of drugs primarily used to treat heart and circulatory conditions. Here we describe the use of lipid vesicles and liposomes as cell membrane biomimicking models in capillary electromigration (CE) and liquid chromatography (LC) techniques for the investigation of interactions between lipid membranes and β-blockers. In addition to liposomes, the use of commercial intravenous lipid emulsions, and their interactions with β-blockers are also discussed. Different CE and LC instrumental techniques designed for these purposes are introduced. Other methodologies for studying interactions between β-blockers and lipid membranes are also briefly discussed, and the different methodologies are compared. The aim is to give the reader a good overview on the status of the use of liposomes and lipids in CE and LC for studying β-blocker interactions.

Polyethyleneimine-confined halloysite nanotubes for poly(2,5-benzimidazole) composite membranes with phosphoric acid retention and proton conductivity via ion pairs for wide-temperature PEMFCs

To prevent phosphoric acid (PA) from leaching and harming traditional polybenzimidazole-based proton exchange membranes, polyethyleneimine-confined halloysite nanotubes (PEI@HNTs) were embedded in poly (2,5-benzimidazole) membranes to construct rich ion pairs that stably conducted protons. With the aid of supercritical carbon dioxide, PEI oligomers with basic groups were confined in HNTs. Then, through in-situ synthesis, highly-dispersed PEI@HNT enhanced the mechanical stability of composite membranes, whose basicity improved the absorption and retention capacity of PA. The PEI@HNTs/ABPBI composite membrane exhibited excellent mechanical strength and electrical performance over a temperature range of 40–180 °C. The through-plane proton conductivity of the 5%PEI@HNTs/ABPBI composite membrane was 0.061 S cm−1 at 98% relative humidity and 90 °C and 0.049 S cm−1 under anhydrous conditions at 180 °C. This performance was attributed to strong hydrogen bonding between PEI and PA, as well as the excellent retention of bound water within the HNTs. The peak power density of PA-doped 5%PEI@HNTs/ABPBI composite membrane reached 0.235 W cm−2 and 0.418 W cm−2 at 120 °C and 180 °C under anhydrous conditions, respectively, which were 1.68 and 1.96 times higher than those obtained with the pristine PA-ABPBI membrane. These results highlight the potential of this composite membrane for applications requiring a wide temperature range.

Clarification of the Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus) Blanching Wastewater by Ultrafiltration—Study of Membrane Fouling and Flux Recovery after Chemical Cleaning

This study focused on the clarification of real blanching wastewaters from the industrial processing of cardoon, a plant rich in polyphenols and belonging to the artichoke family (Cynara cardunculus). The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of ultrafiltration (UF) as an initial clarification step prior to a subsequent nanofiltration treatment for the recovery and fractionation of polyphenols from these wastewaters. In this UF process, three commercial UF membranes with different pore sizes: 3 kDa, 15 kDa, and 50 kDa. The assessment of the clarification process was based on two key factors: permeate flux and the concentration of phenolic compounds. The membrane with a MWCO of 3 kDa was excluded as a potential UF membrane due to its limited performance in terms of permeate flux. The 15 kDa membrane showed comparable results in terms of cumulative flux to the 50 kDa membrane. However, further evaluation based on fouling index and water permeability recovery favored the 15 kDa membrane, indicating better performance. To gain insights into the flux decline mechanisms and understand membrane fouling, a study was conducted on the 15 kDa and 50 kDa membranes. The analysis revealed that the cake filtration model provided the best fit for both membranes. The study highlights the potential of UF membranes, specifically the 15 kDa membrane, for the clarification of cardoon blanching wastewater.

Resting membrane state as an interplay of electrogenic transporters with various pumps.

In this study, a new idea that electrogenic transporters determine cell resting state is presented. The previous assumption was that pumps, especially the sodium one, determine it. The latter meets difficulties, because it violates the law of conservation of energy; also a significant deficit of pump activity is reported. The amount of energy carried by a single ATP molecule reflects the potential of the inner mitochondrial membrane, which is about -200 mV. If pumps enforce a resting membrane potential that is more than twice smaller, then the majority of energy stored in ATP would be dissipated by each pump turning. However, this problem could be solved if control is transferred from pumps to something else, e.g., electrogenic transporters. Then pumps would transfer the energy to the ionic gradient without losses, while the cell surface membrane potential would be associated with the reversal potential of some electrogenic transporters. A minimal scheme of this type would include a sodium-calcium exchanger as well as sodium and calcium pumps. However, note that calcium channels and pumps are positioned along both intracellular organelles and the surface membrane. Therefore, the above-mentioned scheme would involve them as well as possible intercellular communications. Such schemes where various kinds of pumps are assumed to work in parallel may explain, to a great extent, the slow turning rate of the individual members. Interaction of pumps and transporters positioned at distant biological membranes with various forms of energy transfer between them may thus result in hypoxic/reperfusion injury, different kinds of muscle fatigue, and nerve-glia interactions.

Autocatalytic one-step high-temperature synthesis of carboxylated polyimides for in-situ high performance applications

Carboxylated polyimides (CxPIs) represent a great potential for gas separation membranes, highly thermostable coatings and fibers, ion-conducting materials, aerogels, (nano)composites, etc. However a prolonged and expensive two-stage method proceeding through the formation of an unstable poly(amic acid) and subsequent thermal or chemical imidization is traditionally used for the synthesis of CxPIs. Herein a new strategy consisting in one-step high-temperature synthesis of CxPIs based on 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid (DABA), the carboxyl groups of which provide an autocatalytic effect, in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is presented. The effect of DABA content on the formation and properties of CxPIs is studied. It is established that high-molecular-weight CxPIs (Mw = 158–356 kDa) with five- and more stable six-membered imide rings from various dianhydrides of aromatic tetracarboxylic acids and diamines as comonomers are synthesized within 1–4 h of the reaction even with 25 mol% of DABA content. Additional catalyst-free synthesis of CxPIs in NMP allows to use the solutions obtained in situ for the production of various materials. In particular, CxPI-varnishes form the primary protective coating of the optical fiber superior to the commercial analogue in terms of its manufacturing technology, thermal and hydrolytic stability, which provides more reliable and long-term operation.

Polyamide⊥TpPa-PVDF membranes for aliphatic-aromatic solvent separations

To achieve net-zero emissions, the petrochemical industry requires energy-efficient processes for solvent recovery, and traditional distillation technologies may not be adequate. Membrane separations with 2D COFs (covalent organic frameworks) have shown potential due to their tunable pore sizes and modifiable properties. However, the large pores of the COFs have provided challenges in fabricating 2D COF membranes for solvent separation. Recent research has been focused on improving the selectivities and permeation fluxes for solvent mixtures, and to achieve long-term operation, the membranes must have high chemical and mechanical stabilities. To address the issue of large pores, our research group cross-linked the Tp (2,4,6-triformylphloroglucinol) and Pa (p-phenylenediamine) monomers of the COF with TMC (trimesoyl chloride), a monomer used traditionally for reverse osmosis interfacial polymerization, which resulted in COF(TpPa) with TMC cross-linking and small pore sizes for solvent separation. Polyamide⊥TpPa-PVDF membranes were fabricated for the first time with this method, and the TMC cross-linked COF membrane successfully rejected salts and separated aromatic/alkane solvents; a toluene/benzene mixture showed a higher separation factor than methanol/isopropanol. Use of the 2D materials for reverse osmosis at 20 bar enhanced the potential of the energy-efficient membranes for use in future petrochemical industrial applications.

Impact of common face mask regeneration processes on the structure, morphology and aerosol filtration efficiency of porous flat sheet polysulfone membranes fabricated via nonsolvent-induced phase separation (NIPS)

The potential of flat sheet polymeric membranes as a sustainable solution for reusable facemask filters was investigated by analyzing the effect of common face mask regeneration processes on polysulfone (PSf) membranes’ structure, morphology, and aerosol filtration efficiency. The impact of regeneration processes, such as isopropanol (IPA), detergent and bleach washes, and ultraviolet light exposure, was for the first time compared between surgical masks, N95 masks and flat sheet PSf membranes. The PSf membranes were fabricated via non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS), and demonstrated a higher particulate filtration efficiency (99.06 ± 1.38%) for PM0.3 i.e., particulate matter of 0.3 µm aerodynamic diameter compared to surgical mask (70.93 ± 2.82%) and N95 (N95-1: 97.09 ± 7.37%; N95-2: 91.46 ± 1.45%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed no significant changes in morphology of treated membrane pores. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle goniometry, and Xray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses revealed retained membrane surface composition, hydrophobicity, and showed no residual elements from sterilizing chemicals after rinsing for 30 min. Statistically insignificant differences in treated and untreated PSf membrane pore size, porosity, and mechanical strength obtained in this work suggest the absence of chain scission due to radical formation, which can arise from polymer chains exposure to UV and bleach (NaClO), and change in polymer chain conformation. Treatment with IPA and detergent, which resulted in 46.7 ± 5.5% and 64.3 ± 12.9 % reduction of 0.3 µm aerosol filtration efficiency, respectively, for commercially available face masks, showed an insignificant decrease in PSf membrane filtration performance, which was attributed to dissipation of electrostatic charges responsible for the high filtration efficiency of non-woven face masks.

New phosphorylated 5-(hydroxyalkylamino)-1,3-oxazoles as potential anticancer agents

Eight new phosphorylated 5-(hydroxyalkylamino)-1,3-oxazoles were designed and tested for their ability to inhibit cancer cell growth. These compounds were evaluated against complete human tumor cell lines NCI-60. Only three compounds showed antitumor activity in the single dose assay, which were taken in the five dose assay. Compounds 7 and 8 showed the same average antiproliferative activity and cytotoxicity against sensitive cell lines of the general panel. However, compound 8 showed cytotoxicity to more lines than 7. By all parameters, these compounds were more active than compounds 5. Compounds 7 and 8 also showed high and similar antiproliferative activity in the concentration range GI50: 1-6 and TGI: 6-14 μM against all subpanels. Their cytotoxicity was in the concentration range of 25-54 μM. Compound 5 showed the same activity, with the exception of the leukemia, non-small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer subpanels against which their activity was lower. When analyzing the structure-activity, it turned out that among the phosphorylated oxazole derivatives, only compounds containing the triphenylphosphonium cation (TPP+) in the 4th position of the oxazole ring exhibit antitumor activity. Moreover, the replacement of the phenyl radical in the 2nd position of the oxazole scaffold with a methyl radical led to the disappearance of the activity. The COMPARE algorithm reveals a high correlation of the antiproliferative activity of the tested compounds with the antitumor agents phyllantoside and chromomycin A3 in the GI50 vector and moderate with phyllantoside in the TGI vector. The target of all standard drugs that correlate with the cytotoxicity of the studied compounds, with the exception of didemnin, is DNA. Unlike standard compounds, synthesized active compounds carry a delocalized TPP+, which delivers them predominantly to mitochondria due to a much more hyperpolarized potential of the mitochondrial membrane in cancer cells than in normal ones. Therefore, their anticancer activity is most likely due to a disturbation of the structural and functional state of the latter due to interference with their intrinsic protein-synthesizing apparatus of mitochondria. The data obtained allow us to consider 5-(hydroxyalkylamino)-1,3-oxazoles loaded with TPP+ as leading compounds for further in-depth study and synthesis of new TPP+-containing 1,3-oxazole derivatives with antitumor activity