Reduction In Zeta Potential Research Articles

Overlooked role of long capping time and environmental factors in the plateau lake for impairing lanthanum-modified-bentonite's immobilization to phosphate

Lanthanum-modified-bentonite(LMB) has been applied for eutrophication management as a phosphate(P)-binding agent in many lakes. However, re-eutrophication took place several years or decades later after the first practice of capping due to dynamic environmental factors in the plateau lake. Here, we investigated the effect of long-term capping and integrated environmental factors in the plateau lake including alkalinity, organic matter, disturbance and photodegradation to the LMB immobilization. Long-term LMB immobilization exhibited C accumulation(82.3%), La depletion(53.5%) and lager size effect in the sediment particle, indicating the breakage of La-O-P bonds and the formation of La-O-C bonds over immobilization time. Additionally, pH(8-10) in the plateau lake could enhance the P desorption and decrease P adsorption through electrostatic repulsion enhancement with the zeta potential reduction(7.2mV). Further disturbance experiment indicated a significant releasing trend of active P and DGT-labile P from the solid phase, pore water to the overlying water after disturbances due to resuspend releasing, particle size and amorphous Fe, Mn and Al's redistribution. Moreover, 31P NMR and EPR results indicated photodegradation after disturbance converted diester phosphate into orthophosphate with long-term LMB immobilization via the oxidation of ·OH in the sediment of the plateau lake. Therefore, management issues for Xingyun Lake may apply to other plateau lakes with low external P input, intermediate depth and intense disturbance.

Tannin removal from Persian gum and investigation of physicochemical properties: Comparing different methods

Persian gum (PG) is a novel natural exudate gum and the main challenge regarding PG is tannin content of gum which limits its application in food and pharmaceutical industries. In fact, tannins are known as anti-nutrient compounds because they limit bioavailability of proteins and minerals. Hence, in this study, the effect of microwave radiation (180, 450, 600 W for 5 min), autoclaving (121 °C for 20 min), boiling (5, 10 and 15 min) and soaking either in water or saline solutions (mono- and divalent salts) was evaluated to remove tannins from Persian gum. Moreover, the effect of tannin removal on the physicochemical properties was investigated by evaluation of rheological properties (flow behavior and viscoelastic tests), zeta potential and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) data. Our outcomes demonstrated that the highest tannin removal efficiency found to be 75.67 ± 0.25, 74.32 ± 0.54 and 67.08 ± 0.19 % which belonged to soaking in water (180 min), soaking in CaCl2 solution (1% w/v, 90 min) and boiling (15 min) treatments of brownish PG granules, respectively (p < 0.05). Interestingly, removal of tannin increased apparent viscosity of PG dispersion. Based on oscillatory tests, boiling treatment caused exhibition of solid-like behavior, in contrast to control sample. Tannin removal reduced zeta potential and the lowest reduction belonged to the gums soaked in water (from -32.3 to -28.7 mV); however, formation of ion-bridging in the presence of CaCl2 caused a remarkable decrease. FTIR analysis declared that in the boiled sample, a decrease was detected in vibration intensity within the range of 3200–3500 cm−1 (-OH groups) which can be due to heat degradation. Findings of the present research confirmed that soaking in water is a low-cost and practical method for tannin removal of PG, which almost had no negative effect on physiochemical properties of gum.

Mitigation of fouling in membrane bioreactor using the integration of electrical field and nano chitosan adsorbent

The application of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) has emerged as an impressive solution to water scarcity. One of the main obstacles for MBR application is membrane fouling. This work studied the effect of the novel simultaneous application of electric field and positively-charged nano chitosan on membrane fouling. Four MBRs of 1 (control bioreactor), 2 (control bioreactor + electric filed), 3 (control bioreactor + nano chitosan) and 4 (control bioreactor + electric filed + nano chitosan) were evaluated. The results indicated that the concurrent use of voltage and nano chitosan better reduced the membrane fouling, decreased flux decline, and enhanced recovery ratios and membrane bioreactor performance index by nearly 43 % and 84 %, respectively. Meanwhile, the contents of soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were reduced from MBR1 to MBR4, respectively. Reduced zeta potential and increased particle sizes led to the change in the cake layer and fouling mitigation from MBR1 to MBR4, as observed through scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. Excitation-emission matrix (EEM) analysis showed that humic acid was adsorbed by both electro-coagulants and nano adsorbents, resulting in a substantial (approximately 97 %) reduction in membrane pore fouling for MBR4. The combination of electrocoagulation, electro-oxidation, and electrophoresis processes, along with adsorption by positively charged nano chitosan, effectively mitigated membrane fouling. The cathode induced a negative charge on sludge particles, subsequently facilitating their adsorption by the positively charged nano chitosan adsorbents. The results demonstrated that combining electric field and nano chitosan effectively suppresses membrane fouling, with relevance for forthcoming technological advancements.

Mild alkalinity preheating treatment regulates the heat and ionic strength co-tolerance of whey protein aggregates

A major obstacle to the use of whey protein in protein-enriched sports beverages is the heat-induced gelation of the protein in the presence of salt. In this study, whey protein soluble aggregates (WPSAs) with high tolerance to NaCl and heat were successfully generated by preheating whey protein isolate (WPI) at a low concentration (1 % w/v) and pH 8.5. The suspension of WPSAs (5 % w/v) with 100 mM NaCl maintained clarity, transparency, and good flowability even after 30 min of heating at 100 °C. However, suspensions prepared by untreated WPI turned into milky white gels. WPSAs had a reduced Zeta potential at pH 7 compared to WPI, making them more resistant to the electrostatic screening caused by NaCl. Additionally, WPSAs exhibited reduced sensitivity to heat treatment due to a more compact structure achieved through preheating modification. In light of these findings, a straightforward and effective method was presented for regulating the heat and ionic strength tolerance of whey protein aggregates.

Conformational changes induced by selected flavor compounds from spices regulate the binding ability of myofibrillar proteins to aldehyde compounds

Interactions among flavor compounds from spices (FCS) and myofibrillar proteins (MP) were investigated. Fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions were the main binding forces between FCS and MP. The FCS increased the particle size and SH content of MP and caused a reduction of zeta potential from −5.23 to −6.50 mV. Furthermore, FCS could modify the binding ability of MP and aldehydes. Eugenol reduced the ability of MP to bond with aldehydes by 22.70–47.87 %. Molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that eugenol may combat nonanal to attain binding site of amino acid residue (PHE165) and induce protein conformational changes. Electrostatic interactions and van der Waals forces within myosin-nonanal may be disrupted by these alterations, which could reduce stability of complex and cause release of nonanal. This study could provide new insights into regulating the ability of proteins to release and hold flavors.

Dielectric properties of human macrophages are altered by Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

The analysis of cell electrophysiology for pathogenic samples at BSL3 can be problematic. It is virtually impossible to isolate infected from uninfected without a label, for example green fluorescent protein, which can potentially alter the cell electrical properties. Furthermore, the measurement of highly pathogenic organismsoften requires equipment dedicated only for use with these organisms due to safety considerations. To address this, we have used dielectrophoresis to study the electrical properties of the human THP-1 cell line and monocyte-derived macrophages before and after infection with non-labelled Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Infection with these highly pathogenic bacilli resulted in changes including a raised surface conductance (associated with reduced zeta potential) and increased capacitance, suggesting an increase in surface roughness. We have also investigated the effect of fixation on THP-1 cells as a means to enable study on fixed samples in BSL1 or 2 laboratories, which suggests that the properties of these cells are largely unaffected by the fixation process. This advance results in a novel technique enabling the isolation of infected and non-infected cells in a sample without labelling.

Surface characterization and Remazol Red adsorption by asymmetric polyethersulfone membranes modified by polyelectrolyte complexes

AbstractPolyethersulfone (PES) membranes containing 4‐fluorophenyl sulfone‐terminated poly(diallylpiperidinium hexafluorophosphate)‐sulfonated poly(ethylene terephthalate) polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) were obtained via phase inversion using three different methods that enabled the complexation of polyelectrolytes (PELs) to occur before, after, and during membrane formation. Atomic force microscopy‐infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed varying concentrations of the polyanion depending on the preparation method and confirmed the presence of PECs in the membranes, highlighting an increase in surface roughness. Zeta potential measurements demonstrated positive surface charges for the membrane comprising PES and the polycation. The reduction in zeta potential in PEC membranes corresponded with the neutralization of positive groups by sulfonated poly(ethylene terephthalate. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs depicted surface imperfections in PEC membranes, emphasizing the influence of PECs on membrane surfaces. The water contact angle decreased, indicating increased hydrophilicity in PEC membranes. Additionally, dye adsorption results showcased significant adsorption, with the membranes absorbing at least 60% of Remazol Red from an aqueous solution. Notably, the Blend membrane outperformed others, exhibiting an exceptional adsorption rate exceeding 92%.

Enhanced chlorobenzene removal by internal magnetic field through initial cell adhesion and biofilm formation.

Magnetic fields (MF) have been proven efficient in bioaugmentation, and the internal MFs have become competitive because they require no configuration, despite their application in waste gas treatment remaining largely unexplored. In this study, we firstly developed an intensity-regulable bioaugmentation with internal MF for gaseous chlorobenzene (CB) treatment with modified packing in batch bioreactors, and the elimination capacity increased by up to 26%, surpassing that of the external MF. Additionally, the microbial affinity to CB and the packing surface was enhanced, which was correlated with the ninefold increased secreted ratio of proteins/polysaccharides, 43% promoted cell surface hydrophobicity, and half reduced zeta potential. Furthermore, the dehydrogenase content was promoted over 3 times, and CB removal steadily increased with the rising intensity indicating enhanced biofilm activity and reduced CB bioimpedance; this was further supported by kinetic analysis, which resulted in improved cell adhesive ability and biological utilisation of CB. The results introduced a novel concept of adjustable magnetic bioaugmentation and provided technical support for industrial waste gas treatments. KEY POINTS: • Regulable magnetic bioaugmentation was developed to promote 26% chlorobenzene removal • Chlorobenzene mineralisation was enhanced under the magnetic field • Microbial adhesion was promoted through weakening repulsive forces.

Charge neutralized poly(β-amino ester) polyplex nanoparticles for delivery of self-amplifying RNA.

Therapeutic self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) is a promising approach for disease treatment, as it can be administered in lower doses than messenger RNA (mRNA) to achieve comparable protein production levels. However, saRNA requires an appropriate delivery vehicle to protect it during transit and facilitate its transfection. A widely-adopted approach has been to use polycations to condense these large anionic macromolecules into polyplex nanoparticles, however their high charge density often elicits cytotoxic effects. In this study we postulated that we could improve the potency and tolerability of such delivery vehicles by co-formulating poly(β-amino ester)s saRNA polyplexes with a non-toxic anionic polymer, γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) to neutralize partially this positive charge. Accordingly, we prepared a poly(β-amino ester) from 1,6-hexanedioldiacrylate (HDDA) and 4-aminobutanol (ABOL) and initially evaluated the physicochemical properties of the binary polyplexes (i.e. formed from polymer and saRNA only). Optimised binary polyplex formulations were then taken forward for preparation of ternary complexes containing pHDDA-ABOL, saRNA and γ-PGA. Our findings demonstrate that γ-PGA integration into polyplexes significantly enhanced transfection efficacy in HEK293T and A431 cells without affecting polyplex size. Notably, γ-PGA incorporation leads to a pronounced reduction in zeta potential, which reduced the toxicity of the ternary complexes in moDC, NIH3T3, and A431 cells. Furthermore, the presence of γ-PGA contributed to colloidal stability, reducing aggregation of the ternary complexes, as evidenced by insignificant changes in polydispersity index (PDI) after freeze-thaw cycles. Overall, these results suggest that incorporating the appropriate ratio of a polyanion such as γ-PGA with polycations in RNA delivery formulations is a promising way to improve the in vitro delivery of saRNA.

Physicochemical and Emulsifying Properties of Melia azedarach Gum.

Naturally occurring hydrophilic colloids are versatile excipients in drug delivery systems. They are often used as coating materials, disintegrating agents, binders, emulsion stabilizers, and other applications. This study sought to investigate the physicochemical and emulsifying properties of gum extracted from Melia azedarach (MA). The gum was harvested, authenticated, and purified using ethanol precipitation. Physicochemical, microbial, and proximate analyses were performed on the purified gum. Oil of olive emulsions containing different amounts (5-15%w/v) of the gum as emulsifiers were prepared by homogenization. The zeta potential, creaming index, and average droplet size of products were assessed. The effects of pH changes, temperature, and monovalent and divalent electrolytes on the stability of the emulsions were also investigated. The yield of the gum after purification was 68.3%w/w. The gum has low moisture content and good swelling properties. Lead, copper, cadmium, and mercury were not detected. Emulsions containing 15%w/v of acacia or MA gum had the smallest average (Z-average) droplet size (acacia: 1.837 ± 0.420 μm; MA gum: 2.791 ± 0.694 μm) and the highest zeta potential (acacia: -30.45 mV; MA gum: -32.867 mV). Increasing the concentration of the gums increased the emulsion viscosity with MA gum emulsions being more viscous than corresponding acacia emulsions. MA gum emulsions had higher emulsion capacity and stability but lower creaming index relative to acacia gum emulsions of similar concentrations. Potassium chloride (KCl) reduced zeta potential but increased Z-average for emulsions prepared with either gum. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) produced a similar but more pronounced effect. When the pH was decreased from 10 to 2, the zeta potential of the droplets was reduced, but the droplet size of emulsions prepared from either gum was increased. Increasing temperature from 25 to 90°C produced no significant (p value >0.9999) change in droplet size. These findings suggest that MA gum is a capable emulsifying agent at 15%w/v.

Development of High-Loading Trastuzumab PLGA Nanoparticles: A Powerful Tool Against HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Cells.

Trastuzumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody directed against HER2, is routinely used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer with a good response rate. However, concerns have arisen in the clinical practice due to adverse side effects. One way to overcome these limitations is to encapsulate trastuzumab in nanoparticles to improve cytotoxic activity, increase intracellular drug concentrations, escape the immune system and avoid systemic degradation of the drug in vivo. A double emulsion method was used to encapsulate trastuzumab into poly(lactic-co-glycolic) nanoparticles, effective for their biocompatibility and biodegradability. These nanocarriers, hereafter referred to as TZPs, were characterised in terms of size, homogeneity, zeta potential and tested for their stability and drug release kinetics. Finally, the TZPs cytotoxicity was assessed in vitro on the HER2 positive SKBR3 breast cancer cell line and compared to free trastuzumab. The TZPs were stable, homogeneous in size, with a reduced zeta potential. They showed higher encapsulation efficiency and drug loading, a prolonged trastuzumab release kinetics that retained its physicochemical properties and functionality. TZPs showed a stronger cytotoxicity and increased apoptosis than similar doses of free trastuzumab in the cell line analysed. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry assessed TZPs and trastuzumab cellular uptake while Western blot evaluated downstream signalling, overall HER2 content and shedding. TZPs exert more robust effects than free trastuzumab via a dual mode of action: TZPs are taken up by cells through an endocytosis mechanism and release the drug intracellularly for longer time. Additionally, the TZPs that remain in the extracellular space release trastuzumab which binds to the cognate receptor and impairs downstream signalling. This is the sole modality used by free trastuzumab. Remarkably, half dose of TZPs is as efficacious as the highest dose of free drug supporting their possible use for drug delivery in vivo.

Functionalized chitosan based nanotherapeutics to combat emerging antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogen

Ineffectiveness of conventional antibiotics due to antimicrobial resistance and microbial adaptations has led to the exploration of alternative or complementary therapeutics. In the present study, surface engineered nanosystems (SENS) were developed by conjugation of chitosan with rhamnolipids (RL) through amide linkage. Subsequently, FTIR and NMR analyses affirmed covalent immobilization of RL. SENS exhibited an increase in the particle size and reduction in zeta potential as compared to chitosan nanosystems (CNS). In parallel, first-line antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) was encapsulated in SENS and CNS for augmenting their antimicrobial potential against drug-resistant Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Typhi. Drug entrapment efficiency for AB-SENS (64 ± 2 %) was higher than AB-CNS. Furthermore, bacterial growth kinetics assay along with colony forming unit (CFU) assay revealed that AB-SENS inhibited the growth of Salmonella sp. even at ½ MIC with restoration of the antibiotic activity. Due to enhanced biofilm penetration ability, the diffusion of entrapped drug from AB-SENS resulted in an effective biofilm disruption to control drug-resistant Salmonella sp. Release kinetics study demonstrated a pH dependent drug release from AB-SENS in simulated gastric fluid (14.2 ± 2 %) and simulated intestinal fluid (28.4 ± 3 %). Hence, our findings suggest that void or drug-loaded SENS can be a versatile synergistic tool to revive the conventional antibiotics for improved treatment outcomes against resistant pathogens.

Extrinsic compensation on separation performance of layer-by-layer nanofiltration membranes

Extrinsic compensation, the adsorption of counter ions to the excessive charges in layer-by-layer (LBL) nanofiltration (NF) membrane, has been proposed as an important factor in determining the NF separation performance. This paper reported the evidence of extrinsic compensation of positively overcompensated poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS)/poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) LBL NF membranes by phosphoric anions. Direct observation of phosphorous (P) element by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in LBL membrane after being soaked in H3PO4 was accompanied by reduced zeta potential from positive to negative (pH = 7) and the consequently improved rejection to Na2SO4 with no discernable alteration in pore size. Similar changes of LBL membrane performance were observed after soaking in other strong acids including H2SO4, HNO3 and HCl. This result opens a new concept for understanding the ion-membrane interaction in determining the separation performance of nanofiltration. Systematic elaboration of this factor in LBL membrane design is needed in future study.

Nanoparticle-Surfactant Stabilized Strong Foam for Enhanced Oil Recovery in High-Salinity Fractured Carbonate Reservoirs

Summary Foam flooding can minimize bypassing in gasfloods in fractured reservoirs. Finding a foam formulation effective in high-salinity brine is challenging, especially with divalent cations, e.g., American Petroleum Institute (API) brine (8% NaCl with 2% CaCl2). When formulating with nanoparticles, the colloidal dispersion stability is difficult due to the dramatic reduction in zeta potential and the Debye length at high salinity. The aim of this work was to develop a strong foam in API brine at the ambient temperature, using a nonionic surfactant and ethyl cellulose nanoparticles (ECNP), for gasflooding in fractured carbonate reservoirs. ECNPs was synthesized and dispersed in API brine using a nonionic surfactant (also denoted as SF). SF and SF/ECNP foams were generated, and their stability was studied at atmospheric pressure and 950 psi. Foam mobility was measured in a sandpack at high pressure. Foam flood experiments were conducted in oil-saturated fractured carbonate cores. The nonionic surfactant proved to be a good dispersion agent for ECNP in API brine. The SF/ECNP mixture stabilized foam in API brine, even in the presence of oil. Injecting a partially miscible gas (below its minimum miscibility pressure) as an SF foam into a fractured core more than doubles the oil recovery over injection of the gas alone. The injection of the strong foam (SF/ECNP) further improves the oil recovery over that of the SF foam, indicating the synergy between ECNP and surfactant. ECNP accumulates in the foam lamella and induces larger pressure gradients in the fracture to divert more gas into the matrix for oil displacement.

Improving electrochemical characteristics of plant roots by biochar is an efficient mechanism in increasing cations uptake by plants

Electrochemical properties of roots such as zeta potential and cation exchange capacity are important factors that play a critical role in the absorption of nutrients by plants. Adding biochar to the soil may improve the electrochemical properties of the roots and thereby increase absorption of nutrients by plants. Thus, this research was laid out under greenhouse condition to evaluate the possible effects of biochar addition to soil (25 g biochar kg−1 soil) on changing electrochemical properties of roots, nutrients absorption, and growth parameters of safflower (with a deep root system) and mint (with a shallow root system) plants. Biochar noticeably increased pH and cation exchange capacity of soil, safflower and mint growth, calcium, magnesium and iron contents in roots and maximum sorption capacity of these nutrients by plant roots. Electrochemical measurements reveled that biochar application increases negative charges on root surface area (by about 30% and 36% in safflower and mint roots, respectively), cation exchange capacity of roots and root activity in both plants. On the other hand, biochar reduced zeta potential in plant roots (more negative potential). Reduction of zeta potential by biochar application were about 31% and 42% in safflower and mint roots, respectively. The cation-exchange groups (hydroxycinnamic acid + carboxyl groups) were increased due to biochar treatment by about 30% in safflower and 32% in mint roots. As an annual plant with deep roots, safflower roots had more functional groups, cation exchange capacity and root activity than mint plant in both biochar and control conditions. Results of this research showed that biochar not only adjusts physicochemical properties of rhizosphere, but also improves electrochemical specification of plant roots via increasing number of functional groups on root cell walls, which enhances maximum sorption capability of plant roots.

Chitosan-coated nanoliposomes for efficient delivery of betanin with enhanced stability and bioavailability

Betanin is a high-value health-promoting food ingredient. However, the bioavailability of betanin is constrained by its low stability. In this study, for the first time, betanin was stabilized and delivered using chitosan-coated nanoliposomes (CC-NLs). The CC-NLs were firstly synthesized and characterized. The results showed that increasing chitosan concentration from 0% to 1.0% increased particle size of CC-NLs from 156.4 nm to 217.2 nm. With the use of CC-NLs prepared with 0.6% chitosan, it was found that increasing pH from 1.5 to 9.0 reduced zeta potential of CC-NLs from 8.62 mv to-9.65 mv while the average size of CC-NLs of 221.40 nm peaked at pH 5.5. In aqueous solution, 29.0% of loaded betanin was released from NLs compared to 15.8% from CC-NLs. The in vitro digestion analysis indicated that uncoated NLs and CC-NLs had similar stabilities and relatively stable in oral and gastric fluids. However, in intestinal fluid, the average size of both NLs and CC-NLs were significantly reduced due to bile salt and trypsin. Furthermore, in vitro antioxidant activity assay results showed that betanin delivered by CC-NLs had the highest ORAC and PSC values. This study demonstrated that betanin could be efficiently delivered by CC-NLs with improved stability and bioavailability. The information generated from this study is very useful for the applications of betanin in functional food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. • Betanin was succussfully loaded on chitosan-coated nanoliposomes (CC-NLs). • Controlled release of betanin from CC-NLs was achieved. • CC-NLs were stable in simulated salivary and gastric fluids and were digested in simulated intestinal fluid. • Betanin delivered by CC-NLs had the highest in vitro and cellular antioxidant activities.

Enhanced sucrose-mediated cryoprotection of siRNA-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles

The present study aimed to determine the effects of sucrose on the physical stability, cellular entry pathways and functional efficacy of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (PLGA-NPs). PLGA-NPs were synthesized in the absence or presence of 10 % sucrose, using HEI-101, an unmodified small interfering RNA (siRNA), as a drug model. The newly synthesized HEI-101-loaded PLGA-NPs (HEI-101-NPs) were exposed to repeated freeze-thaw cycles and iteratively tested over a six-month evaluation period. The effect of sucrose stabilization on HEI-101-NPs was independently tested in vitro for biocompatibility and cellular uptake in IMO-2B1 cells. Data analyses suggest that, without sucrose, freeze-thaw cycles of HEI-101-NPs resulted in increased particle diameter, increased polydispersity index, and reduced zeta potential. In contrast, a substantial improvement in the physical stability of HEI-101-NPs was observed in the presence of 10 % sucrose. The data revealed that the release of HEI-101 from the PLGA-NPs was governed by polymer erosion and drug diffusion. Data from cellular uptake study in IMO-2B1 cells demonstrated that, 10 % sucrose significantly reduced the inhibitory effect of nocodazole on the microtubule-dependent uptake of PLGA-NPs. In addition, the presence of 10 % sucrose seemed to lessen the inhibitory effect of sodium azide on the energy-dependent uptake of PLGA-NPs. Overall, the current data suggest that the cellular internalization of PLGA-NPs occurred through the polymerization of actin filaments under the control of the microtubules. Our findings reveal cryoprotective effect of 10 % sucrose on HEI-101-NPs that confers marked improvements in the stability, cellular uptake and efficiency for the delivery of biomolecules to inner ear cells.

Improving sludge dewaterability by free nitrous acid and lysozyme pretreatment: Performances and mechanisms

Reducing the water content of waste activated sludge (WAS) is critical for sludge treatment and disposal in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In this study, a new combined conditioning processes by using lysozyme (LZM) and free nitrous acid (FNA) were proposed and demonstrated to enhance the dewaterability of WAS. The water content of sludge cake dropped from 82.82 % to 68.42 % (1 h FNA treatment + 1 h LZM treatment) and 69.52 % (6 h FNA treatment + 1 h LZM treatment) with the combined FNA and LZM treatment; and the corresponding capillary suction time (CST) reduction efficiency increased 49.29 % (1 h FNA treatment + 1 h LZM treatment) and 52.98 % (6 h FNA treatment + 1 h LZM treatment). A comprehensive investigation conducted in this study revealed the underlying mechanism of dewaterability improvement lies in the transformations of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The combined conditioning led to enhanced hydrophobicity in the sludge, as suggested by FTIR protein secondary structure and interfacial free energy. The reduced zeta potential and the potential barrier indicated the reduction of the repulsive force of sludge particles and the bound water content in the conditioned floc. The hydrophobicity, flow permeability and flocculability were enhanced after combined treatment, leading to the release of bound water.

Revealing the Main Mechanism of Reversible Synthetic Blood Coagulation by Atmospheric Cold Plasma

Background, cold plasma has some unique properties that enabled it to achieve its desired goals in blood coagulations. However, the coagulation mechanism activated by cold plasma remains elucidated. Aims, this study aims at revealing the mechanism of blood coagulations stimulated by cold plasma. Methods, different blood samples with different anticoagulant as well as without anticoagulant were collected from healthy volunteers. Whole blood samples were divided into two groups: 1) control group and 2) group was exposed to cold plasma until clotting. Clotting factors including fibrinogen, prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) as well as full blood count were analyzed for each sample. Scanning electron microscopic and light microscopic analyses were performed for platelets and red blood cells (RBCs), respectively. Also, zeta potential was measured for all blood as well as plasma-activated water (PAW) samples. Additionally, particles size was measured for PAW samples. Results, all blood samples with different anti-coagulant, as well as serum were coagulated after exposure to cold plasma. Moreover, the levels of clotting factors and blood cells’ count show no significant differences before and after plasma exposure. Interestingly, the morphology of both RBCs and platelets were not affected by cold plasma exposure. Meanwhile, there were a highly-significant reduction in zeta potential of blood samples; 96.4% (from −2.91 to −0.105 mV) after plasma exposure. In addition, there were highly significant increases in particles size of PAW as compared with the control sample. In conclusion, for the first time the current study revealing that, blood coagulation by cold plasma is reversible synthetic blood coagulation and neither the clotting factors nor the platelets are the main players during blood coagulation by cold plasma.

Magnetic Hyperbranched Molecular Materials for Treatment of Oily Sewage Containing Polymer in Oilfield Compound Flooding.

With the continuous improvement in oilfield development and the application of tertiary oil recovery technology, the water content of oilfield-produced fluids has gradually increased, and a large number of oilfield sewage with complex components has also been produced after oil–water separation, and effective treatment is urgently needed. ASP flooding sewage contains alkali, various surfactants, polymers, microemulsion oil droplets, and solid impurities, which are difficult to be effectively treated by traditional water treatment agents and methods. In this study, aminopropyl triethoxysilane (APTES) was used to modify the nano-Fe3O4 coated with tetraethyl silicate (TEOS). The product was used as the ferromagnetic nano-core for the iterative reaction of Michael addition and ester amidation to synthesize a magnetic hyperbranched polyamide amine, and its performance in the treatment of ASP flooding wastewater was evaluated experimentally. For the preparation of APTES-modified Fe3O4@SiO2 (FOSN) product, TEOS was coated over Fe3O4 in an ethanol aqueous solution environment and then APTES was added dropwise. The first-generation branched product (1-FSMN) was obtained by the reaction of FOSN and methyl acrylate graft product (FOSN-M) with ethylenediamine, and the highest yield was 93.7%. The highest yield of the second-generation branched product (2-FSMN) was 91.6%. In this study, a composite flooding wastewater sample from a block in the Bohai oilfield was taken. The suspended solids content was 143 mg/L, the oil content was 921.09 mg/L, the turbidity was 135 NTU, and the zeta potential was −47 mV. The third-generation hyperbranched polymer (3-FSMN) and its quaternary ammonium salt (3-FSMN-Q) performed best in the appropriate dosage range, with the highest oil removal rate of 97%, suspended solid removal rate of 90.3%, turbidity reduction rate of 86.6% and zeta potential reduction rate of 88%. For 3-FSMN and its quaternary ammonium salt, the gravity/magnetic PAC compound treatment experiment was carried out. In the settlement time of only 5 min, 3-FSMN/PAC and 3-FSMN-Q/PAC can achieve the maximum oil removal rate of 87.1% and suspended solids removal rate of 87.3% for polymer containing wastewater from ASP flooding, and 86.3 and 86.0% for 120 mg/L. Its treatment capacity was much better than that of common treatment agent combination (CPAM/PAC).