Crystal Particle Size Research Articles

High temperature co-processing of stainless-steel slag and red mud: Towards a selective Cr immobilization and harmless treatment

Stainless-steel slag and red mud are bulk metallurgical wastes, which are difficult to reuse due to the complex composition and high environmental risk. To realize their harmless and resource utilization, a collaborative treatment of the stainless-steel slag (AOD slag) and red mud at high temperature was proposed in this study. The influence of the stainless-steel slag to red mud ratio on spinel phase precipitation and crystallization, Cr enrichment and immobilization in the mixed slags were systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that when the stainless-steel slag to red mud ratio was 6:4, the enrichment degree of Cr in spinel phase was 94.12 wt%, and the precipitation amount of spinel reached the highest, 20.98 wt%. In this case, only small amounts of other mineral phases existed, the crystal particle size of spinel phase was larger, and the self-wrapped spinel phases were formed in the stage of cooling. The outer Cr-poor spinel could avoid the abrasion and erosion of the inner Cr-rich spinel in the subsequent physical separation process, thus reducing the risk of Cr6+ dissolution. In the toxic leaching test, the total Cr concentration leached from the mixed slag (stainless-steel slag to red mud ratio was 6:4) was far lower than the national leaching concentration limit of Cr-related ions. The Cr and Fe-rich spinel phases separated from the mixed slag of stainless-steel slag and red mud can be used as the raw material for the production of stainless steel, while the residual Cr-poor slag rich in Ca, Si and Al can be applied in the field of construction.

A novel sandwich ELISA method for quantifying CHI3L1 in blood serum and cerebrospinal fluid multiple sclerosis patients using sustainable photo-irradiated zero-valence gold nanoparticles

The widespread occurrence of chronic demyelinating MS presents a significant challenge for ongoing research aimed at comprehending its progression, diagnosis, and treatment. In our research, we have devised a novel approach to quantify CHI3L1 (Chitinase-3-like protein 1), which has emerged as a valuable biomarker in MS because of its involvement in inflammation, tissue remodeling, and immune response—crucial factors in regulating damaged nerve cells and preventing their accumulation in the brain, utilizing sandwich ELISA technology. This innovative method primarily depends on gold nanoparticles synthesized through a novel process of photo-irradiation with ultraviolet light. The crystal structure and particle size of sustainable zero-valent gold nanoparticles were measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD), which proved the cubic shape, with a cubic unit cell edge length of 4.0095 Å. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) demonstrated that the distribution of Au NPs is uniform, with an average diameter of 22 nm. The UV–Vis spectrum, displaying a pronounced absorbance peak at a wavelength of 548 nm, suggests the presence of Au NPs. The optimal conditions for the formation of the Au-biotinylated antibody-HRP complex were studied. The optimum pH was 7, the dilution ratio of AuNPs with biotinylated antibody-HRP was 1:3, and the concentration of nanogold was (1 × 10−3 mg/ml) to avoid increasing it. Then a standard curve was drawn for this method and compared to the traditional method, and it was found to be twice as sensitive as the traditional method, with a high accuracy of CV% (3–6 %) as well as a rapid color generation for measurement. This method, based on gold nanoparticles that are considered a carrier for biotinylated antibody-HRP, was applied for the first time to measure CHI3L1 in the sera and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis, and the results demonstrated the accuracy and sensitivity of the method. The method has the potential to be an excellent tool for evaluating CHI3L1 and may have applications in other diseases for rapid diagnosis and timely treatment.

Insights into the relationship between Nitrilotri(methylphosphonic acid) (NTMP) adsorption and physicochemical properties of iron oxides

Non-reactive phosphorus (e.g., phosphonate) contributes to eutrophication, while little attention has been paid to its control. The iron-based materials are highly efficient in orthophosphate removal from water, while the correlation between their physicochemical properties and selective phosphonate (e.g. Nitrilotri(methylphosphonic acid) (NTMP)) adsorption is still unclear. In this study, Fe3O4 (magnetite), FeOOH (goethite) and Fe2O3 (hematite) with different crystal structures, particle sizes and surface area were synthesized for NTMP adsorption. The physicochemical properties of the three kinds of iron oxides were characterized. The batch experiments were applied to explore the NTMP adsorption and desorption performance. The maximum adsorption capacity of NTMP on Fe3O4, FeOOH and Fe2O3 were 4.14, 1.91 and 0.99 mg-P/g, respectively. Results implied the crystal structure and surface area of iron oxides determined the maximum NTMP adsorption capacity. The NTMP adsorption on the three iron oxides was spontaneous, endothermic and randomness increase. The iron oxides showed high selectivity towards NTMP adsorption in water containing anions, while the co-existing Ca2+ and Mg2+ remarkably increased the adsorption capacity. The successive adsorption-desorption cycles suggested a favorable reusability of the above iron oxides and a high NTMP desorption efficiency. The specific NTMP adsorption capacity followed the sequence of FeOOH > Fe2O3 > Fe3O4, and was highly dependent on surface OH− proportion. The NTMP adsorption mechanism was mainly attributed to inner-sphere complexation. This study provides insights into the iron-based adsorbents design for selective phosphonate adsorption in the future.

Controllably Constructing morphology and structure of potassium chloride crystal by green supersaturation modulation

Controllable and green construction of morphology and structure in potassium chloride (KCl) crystals is necessary in the fields of pharmaceuticals, catalysis, minerals, and jewels design. Here, the work presented a lucid way for preparing KCl crystal with various morphology including hopper-, sphere- and hollow cube-like structure through green supersaturation modulation. Parameters including stirring speed, cooling range, cooling rate, and excess inorganic composing ions influenced the growth kinetics of hopper KCl crystal as well as the surficial morphology and structure: (1) Metastable region and stable conditions were beneficial for uniform growth of crystal; (2) Small size of crystal particles were obtained with high shear force; (3) Corner angle of crystal would be abraded in slow cooling rate; (4) Non-uniform crystal appeared in improper cooling range condition; (5) Additional composing ions might introduce deformed structure according to the basic crystal repeating unit with corresponding elements. Based on the above study of growth kinetics, hopper-, sphere- and hollow cube-like crystal were obtained. The morphology and structure properties of various crystal were researched by three-dimensional visualization, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) for optimized application such as higher exposing surface area of hopper-like crystal than original cubic crystal. The main exposed faces for smooth cubic, hollow cubic, and hopper structure exhibited were (200), (220), and (400) facet, respectively, which could be a consequence of the inner beveling. Surface of spherical structure was a circular arc with relative high roughness, being ascribed to the formation mechanism of spherical structure from cubic structure. Therefore, the work presented a strategy to controllably design KCl crystal with different structure and morphology in a green way.

A simple model for predicting the hydraulic conductivity of MICP-treated sand.

In this research paper, we introduce a novel and sustainable approach for forecasting the hydraulic conductivity of sand layers subjected to microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) to mitigate the diffusion of toxic pollutants. The proposed model uniquely integrates the impact of varying CaCO3 contents on the void ratio and estimates the average particle size of CaCO3 crystals through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. By incorporating these parameters into the K-C equation, a simplified predictive model is formulated for assessing the hydraulic conductivity of MICP-treated sand layers. The model's effectiveness is validated through comparison with experimental data and alternative models. The outcomes demonstrate a substantial reduction in hydraulic conductivity, with a decrease ranging between 93 and 97% in the initial assessment and a decrease between 67 and 92% in the follow-up assessment, both at 10% CaCO3 content. Notably, the hydraulic conductivity shows an initial sharp decrease followed by stabilization. These findings provide valuable insights into improving the prediction of hydraulic conductivity in MICP-treated sand layers, promoting a sustainable method for preventing pollution dispersion.

Effect of Additives on the Morphology of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Crystals.

The effect of surfactant, polymer, and tailor-made additives on the crystallization of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was studied in this work. Cooling crystallization of GABA in water yielded plate-like crystals. In the presence of sodium stearate, polyhedral block-like crystals of GABA were obtained. Hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) led to rod-like crystals, in which the morphology was associated with additive concentrations. Six kinds of amino acids were used as tailor-made additives, and they exhibit different influences on crystal shape and size. The induction time of GABA was determined in the absence and presence of additives. The results showed that sodium stearate promoted nucleation, while HEC, l-Lysine, l-histidine, and l-tyrosine inhibited nucleation. Crystal face indexing, Hirshfeld surface analysis, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation in aqueous solution-crystal systems were carried out to investigate the affecting factors of different crystal faces. The polymer additive was selected as an example during MD simulation to calculate intermolecular interactions between the crystal face and solvent or additive. The effect of the additive on the mobility of the solute in solution was also evaluated by mean-square displacement. The additive offers an effective approach for changing crystal morphology and particle size and adapting it to different production requirements.

Evaluation of lithium tetra borate glass-ceramics: Structural, physical and radiation safety properties using experimental and theoretical methods

By using the standard melt quenching method, samples of lithium borate glass-ceramics with a composition of 40Li2B4O7 + xLi2O +(50-x)NiO+5Gd2O3 + 5BaTiO3 (x = 10 (C1), 20 (C2), 30 (C3), 40 (C4) and 50 (C5) wt%) have been manufactured. The structural and physical characteristics of the prepared C1–C5 samples have been investigated. Using an Ultra Ge detector and a 133Ba (3 Ci) radioisotope source as well as theoretically using EpiXS software, the radiation shielding competence of the C1–C5 samples were examined. The XRD analysis showed large crystal particle sizes were formed in the C1 sample, where the amount of NiO in its structure was maximum and the amount of Li2O was minimum. The change in the NiO/Li2O ratio caused the crystal particle size in the structure to decrease. Additionally, it was observed that the particle size increased in the C4 structure. In addition, the C3 and C5 structures became completely amorphous. This doping in the structure caused the crystal structure of C3 and C5 to deteriorate. While increasing the amount of NiO in the structure gave positive results up to a certain value, increasing the Li2O structure disrupted the crystal structure. A range of 2.91–4.51 g/cm3 was observed in the density of the synthesized C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5 samples. The dense C1 sample proved to have the largest mass-attenuation coefficient (MAC). The results obtained from experiments agree with the theoretical ones. There are no differences in the trends of the MAC and linear attenuation (LAC) coefficient. For each given energy, the half-value layer (HVL) organized as (HVL)C5 > (HVL)C4 > (HVL)C3 > (HVL)C2 > (HVL)C1. Results revealed that glass-ceramics are one source of materials that can be used for radiation shielding.

Therapeutic potential of silver nanoparticles from Helianthemum lippii extract for mitigating cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity: liver function parameters, oxidative stress, and histopathology in wistar rats.

Introduction: This study explores the therapeutic potential of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) synthesized using a Helianthemum lippii extract in mitigating cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Given the increasing environmental and health concerns associated with cadmium exposure, novel and eco-friendly therapeutic strategies are essential. Methods: Ag NPs were characterized using X-ray diffraction, UV-Vis spectrometry, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy with scanning electron microscopy, confirming their formation with a cubic crystal structure and particle sizes ranging from 4.81 to 12.84nm. A sub-acute toxicity study of Ag NPs (2mg/kg and 10mg/kg) was conducted, showing no significant difference compared to untreated control rats (n = 3 animals/group). Subsequently, adult Wistar rats (n = 5/group) were divided into a control group and three experimental groups: Ag NPs alone, exposure to 50mg/kg CdCl2 in drinking water for 35days, and CdCl2 exposure followed by 0.1mg/kg/day Ag NPs intraperitoneally for 15days. Results: In the CdCl2-exposed group, there was a significant decrease in body weight and increases in alanine and aspartate transaminase levels (p < 0.05 vs. control), indicating hepatotoxicity. Additionally, antioxidant defenses were decreased, and malondialdehyde levels were elevated. Liver histology revealed portal fibrosis, inflammation, necrosis, sinusoid and hepatic vein dilation, and cytoplasmic vacuolations. Treatment with Ag NPs post-CdCl2 exposure mitigated several adverse effects on liver function and architecture and improved body weight. Discussion: This study demonstrates the efficacy of Ag NPs synthesized via a green method in reducing cadmium-induced liver damage. These findings support the potential of Ag NPs in therapeutic applications and highlight the importance of sustainable and eco-friendly nanoparticle synthesis methods. By addressing both toxicity concerns and therapeutic efficacy, this research aligns with the growing emphasis on environmentally conscious practices in scientific research and healthcare.

EMI shielding study of PVC-PT-Ag/ZnS nanocomposites in microwave region

Chemical oxidative polymerization and hydrothermal methods were employed to synthesize polythiophene (PT) and silver-doped zinc sulfide (Ag/ZnS) nanoparticles for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding applications. Composite films based on PVC were fabricated by incorporating these nanoparticles, both Ag/ZnS and PT-Ag/ZnS. Initially, X-ray diffraction and zetasizer technology were utilized to analyze the crystal structure and particle size of these nanoparticles. Subsequently, the nanocomposite films were assessed for various properties, including electrical conductivity and transmittance in the near-infrared wavelength range of 200–800 nm, as well as their effectiveness in shielding electromagnetic interference in the microwave frequency range of 0.1–20 GHz. The aforementioned features were investigated using DC conductivity, vector network analysis, and NIR spectroscopy. It was discovered that both conductance and shielding effectiveness increased to 0.029 S/cm and 54 dB, respectively, as the nanoparticle density increased. At 20 wt% PT-Ag/ZnS, the maximum attenuation value within the 0.1–20 GHz frequency band reached 54 dB, with transmittance below 0.5 %.

Effect of microwave, ultraviolet and ultrasonic treatment on crystal size and particle size of ZnS quantum dots as a working thin layer for solar cells

Effect of microwave, ultraviolet and ultrasonic treatment on crystal size and particle size of ZnS quantum dots as a working thin layer for solar cells

Comparative study on dynamic in vitro digestion characteristics of lotus seed starch-EGCG complex prepared by different processing methods

To study the effect of starch-polyphenol interaction induced by different processing methods on digestion characteristics, a dynamic in vitro human gastrointestinal system was employed to investigate the digestive characteristics of lotus seed starch–epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) complex (LS–EGCG) prepared by different processing methods. Digestion altered crystal structure, particle size, morphology, pH, starch hydrolysis, and EGCG content. Processing broke physical barriers, reducing particle size by enzyme erosion. Enzymatic hydrolysis gradually exposed EGCG, indicated by green fluorescence. Heat and high pressure treatments enhanced starch dissolution, increasing sugar accumulation and hydrolysis. However, ultrasonic-microwave and high pressure microfluidization treatments formed dense structures, decreasing hydrolysis rates. Overall, the complex formed by high pressure microfluidization showed better enzyme resistance. The results provide a scientific basis for the development of food with quality and functional properties.

In Situ Photodeposition of Gold Nanoparticles with Exposed High-Activity Crystal Facets under Different Sacrificial Agents.

In situ photodeposition presents a powerful approach for integrating noble metal co-catalysts onto semiconductor surfaces. However, achieving precise control over the microstructure of the deposited co-catalyst remains a major challenge. Au nanoparticles (NPs) are deposited onto H-KCNO using HAuCl4 in the presence of various sacrificial agents in this study. Notably, the choice of sacrificial agent decisively influences the exposed crystal facets, loaded content, and particle size of the deposited Au NPs. Importantly, in situ photodeposition under an ethanol solution facilitates the exposure of the highly active (111) and (220) crystal facets of Au. The introduction of Au NPs significantly enhances photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, achieving rates of 4.93, 57.88, and 15.44 μmol/h for H-KCNO/Au-(water, ethanol, and lactic acid), respectively. The observed photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution indicates that the exposure of the highly active planes emerges as critical for significant performance enhancement. Photoelectrochemical and photoluminescence measurements suggest that the highly active (111) and (220) crystal facets effectively segregate sites for redox reactions, thereby impeding the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.

Hierarchically, Low Band Gap Nanohybrid InVO4-CdS Heterojunction for Visible Light-Driven Toxic Organic Dye Degradations.

The synthesis of InVO4-CdS heterojunction photocatalysts has been achieved by a novel two-step approach, including a microwave-assisted technique, followed by a moderate hydrothermal method, marking the first successful instance of such a synthesis. X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, elemental color mapping, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Raman analysis, photoluminescence, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller were employed to investigate the crystal structures, surface morphologies and particle sizes, chemical compositions, and optical characteristics of the as-synthesized materials. The research results indicated that the heterojunction InVO4-CdS, as synthesized, consisted of InVO4 microrods with an average size of around 15 nm and cadmium sulfide (CdS) microflowers with a diameter of 1.5 μm. Furthermore, all of the heterojunctions had favorable photoabsorption properties throughout the visible-light spectrum. The photocatalytic efficiency of the samples obtained was thoroughly assessed by the degradation of acid violet 7 (AV 7) under visible light irradiation with a wavelength greater than 420 nm. The photocatalytic efficiency for the decomposition of AV 7 was greatly enhanced in the InVO4-CdS (IVCS) heterojunctions when compared to prepared bare InVO4 and CdS. Additionally, it was observed that the composite material consisting of IVCS 3 wt % InVO4 combined with CdS exhibited the most significant enhancement in catalytic effectiveness for the photodegradation of AV 7 dye. Specifically, the catalytic performance of this composite material was found to be around 69.4 and 76.2 times greater than that of pure InVO4 and CdS, respectively. Furthermore, the experimental procedure including active species trapping provided evidence that h+ and •O2- radicals were the primary active species involved in the photocatalytic reaction process. Additionally, a potential explanation for the improved photocatalytic activity of the InVO4-CdS heterojunction was presented, taking into account the determination of band positions.

Effect of Lattice Disorder on Exciton Dynamics in Copper-Doped InP/ZnSexS1-x Core/Shell Quantum Dots.

InP/ZnSexS1-x core/shell quantum dots (QDs) with varying Cu concentrations were synthesized by a one-pot hot-injection method. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy results indicate that Cu doping did not alter the crystal structure or particle size of the QDs. The optical shifts in UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence (PL) suggest changes in the electronic structure and induction of lattice disorder due to Cu doping. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) reveled that a higher Cu-doping level leads to faster charge carrier recombination, likely due to increased nonradiative decay from defect states. Time-resolved PL (TRPL) studies show longer average lifetimes of charge carriers with increased Cu doping. These findings informed the development of a kinetic model to better understand how Cu-induced disorder affects charge carrier dynamics in the QDs, which is important for emerging applications of Cu-doped InP/ZnSexS1-x QDs in optoelectronics.

Development of CuO nanoparticles modified electrochemical sensor for detection of salbutamol

Abstract Metal oxide structures are being utilized in an increasing variety of applications. This study used cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry techniques to investigate the possible utilization of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode (CPE) for the redox reactions of salbutamol (SAL). The electrochemical performance of the SAL analyte in a complex matrix environment in Ventolin was evaluated in order to assess the appropriateness of the proposed sensor in a real sample environment. CuO nanoparticles were produced via a straightforward, cost-effective and efficient sol–gel method, and characterization studies of synthesized CuO nanoparticles were performed by scanning electron microscopy, x-ray Diffraction (XRD), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The synthesized CuO nanoparticles had a spherical shape and particle size was found to be 74 nm. The crystal size of the CuO particles was calculated to be 21.79 nm using the Debye–Scherrer equation. Under optimal conditions, differential pulse voltammetry demonstrated a linear response in the 50 nM to 100 μM range, with a salbutamol detection limit of 50 nM (S/N = 3). The SAL concentration (R 2 = 0.9971) was found to have a good correlation coefficient. The reproducibility of the biosensor was investigated and evaluated with a relative standard deviation of 3% (n = 8). The storage stability of CuO modified CPE for two weeks was evaluated based on the response of DP current measured at intervals every two days. According to the measurement results, the modified electrode exhibited good stability and reproducibility while maintaining 80% of its stability. It is also a rapid and dependable sensor candidate with a measurement time of approximately 20 s. The developed electrode has been utilized successfully to determine doping material with improved performance.

Hydrothermal synthesis of hydroxyapatite crystals with and without seed crystals and surfactant

To the best of our knowledge for the first time the hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals were synthesized with different doses of HA seed crystals. HA crystals were synthesized from solutions containing the stoichiometric amounts of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and calcium hydroxide. The various interactions of the NH4H2PO4 concentrations (0.5–5.5 Molar), surfactant {amino tris (methylene phosphonic acid) [N(CH2PO3H2)3] (ATMP)} [ATMP] concentrations (0–100 ppm), and HA seed crystals doses (0–50%) were investigated and their effects on the HA mean diameter and hardness were studied using the Box-Behnken experimental statistical design. Results have shown that no correlations were obtained between the mean diameters of the HA crystals and the obtained HA hardness. HA synthesis in the absence of surfactant resulted in formation of HA rod-like and/or tabular crystals whereas agglomerated crystals were obtained with surfactant. The results indicate that with increasing the % of HA crystal seed dose, an increase in the HA mean diameter was obtained. Moreover, with increase of surfactant concentration, a high increase in HA hardness was achieved. HA crystal particle sizes were ranged from about 11–18 µm whereas the crystallite sizes were ranged from 22 to 46 nm.

Regulation of morphology and particle size of spinel LiMn2O4 induced by Fe-B co-doping for high-power lithium ion batteries

The spinel LiMn2O4 cathode material shows severe capacity degradation due to Jahn–Teller distortion and dissolution of Mn during the charge-discharge process. Herein, a series of single crystal truncated octahedral of LiFe0.03BxMn1.97−xO4 (0≤x≤0.10) were synthesized by simple solid-state combustion combined with Fe-B co-doping, morphology and particle size controlling strategy. Through Fe-B co-doping, not only the LiFe0.03Mn1.97O4 containing {111}, {100} and {110} planes are successfully controlled to the particles containing only {111} and {100} planes, but also the near-nanometer particles are controlled to bigger submicron sizes. It is found that Fe-B co-doping can enhance the stability of the crystal structure, inhibit Jahn-Teller distortion and reduce the dissolution of Mn. Among them, the optimized LiFe0.03B0.08Mn1.89O4 forms a truncated octahedral single crystal particle with good crystallization and only {111} and {100} crystal faces, and the particle size is around 349.3 nm, showing exceptional high rate capacity and long cycle life. The LiFe0.03B0.08Mn1.89O4 releases a high initial discharge capacity of 107.1 mAh/g with a capacity retention of 77.7% after 1000 cycles at 10 C, which is higher than that of the LiFe0.03Mn1.97O4 (58.8%). Even at 20 C, LiFe0.03B0.08Mn1.89O4 still achieves a high reversible specific capacity (90.4 mAh/g) and outstanding long-cycle stability (81.3%, 1000th). This work provides a scientific basis for the crystal surface control and particle size control of spinel LiMn2O4, which is of great significance for the development of the next generation of high-power lithium-ion batteries.

Growth, mechanical, thermal, electrical, linear, and nonlinear optical studies of urea resorcinol single crystals for NLO applications

Urea Resorcinol (UR) was synthesized and grown using the slow cooling technique to form a possible organic nonlinear optical crystal. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis was used to determine the shape and lattice characteristics of the generated UR crystals. The crystallinity was verified using a high-resolution X-ray diffraction examination. The emission and transparency of the formed crystal were revealed by optical studies including photoluminescence and UV–visible-NIR spectrum analyses. Through the use of an optical microscope and the Vickers microhardness tester, its mechanical behavior was investigated and the density of its etch pits was estimated. The investigations were also conducted on the UR crystal's microphysical properties, including its dielectric tensor, dielectric loss, and thermal analysis. An Nd:YAG laser was used to quantify the laser-induced surface damage and the results were connected to the grown crystal's specific heat capacity. By using the Kurtz and Perry technique, the efficiency of second harmonic generation was determined for different UR crystal particle sizes that have good phase matchability, and its SHG output was compared to urea.

Effects of the Allium jesdianum extract on calcium oxalate crystallization with purification and identification of its major compounds

Allium jesdianum, a plant utilized in traditional Iranian medicine, has been historically recognized for its efficacy in countering urolithiasis and alleviating kidney pain. In this study, we investigated the hydroalcoholic extract of A. jesdianum for its potential inhibitory effects on calcium oxalate crystallization (in vitro).The study employed spectrophotometric analysis and microscopic observation to quantify sodium oxalate-induced crystallization, nucleation, and aggregation. The extract of A. jesdianum at concentration of 32 mg/mL exhibited significant potential in inhibiting crystal growth, aggregation, and reducing crystal particle size. Phytochemical analysis of the extract disclosed the presence of three known phenolic and two identified steroid compounds, offering initial insights into its bioactive constituents. A. jesdianum emerges as a promising candidate for the development of plant-based oxalate anticrystallization drugs. The therapeutic mechanisms might be attributed to pain control and the presence of phenolic compounds acting as free radical scavengers, disrupting stone formation signaling pathways. However, further investigation is required to elucidate specific chemical structures related to these activities.

Synthesis of High-Precision Sub-Micron CaCO3 Anticancer Drug Carriers from Coral Remains

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) particles have attracted increasing attention as a promising material for drug delivery systems. In this study, coral remains were utilized as a raw material for a novel drug carrier. A series of pre-treatment and parameter experiments were conducted to synthesize sub-micron spherical CaCO3 particles. The CaCO3 particles exhibited uniform size distribution, with the minimum mean size being only 344 nm. The effects on the CaCO3 crystal phases and particle sizes were also discussed in this study. Drug loading experiments were also conducted to assess the feasibility of the CaCO3 drug carrier. We loaded TRITC-Dextran into CaCO3 particles for the simulation experiments. The loading capacity reached up to 9.6 wt.%, which was as high as common drug carriers such as liposomes. In this study, we aimed not only to tackle the local environmental issues caused by coral remains, but also to synthesize a suitable drug carrier for cancer therapy using the outstanding properties and low cost of CaCO3.