Small Particle Size Research Articles

Platinum nanozyme embedded in hyaluronate with multifunctional attributes synergistically promoting tracheal fistula healing.

Respiratory tract fistulas, including tracheal and bronchial fistulas, usually cause prolonged hospitalization with developed complications and even death, while respiratory tract fistula healing remains challenging. Exploring effectiveness and mechanism in animal systems using well-designed bio-nanomaterials will improve our understanding of fistula management. Hyaluronate (hyaluronan or hyaluronic acid) has been widely studied as a promising coating material for bio-nanomaterials in treatment applications. Herein, by combining the intrinsic bioactivities of sodium hyaluronate (SHA) and the enzyme-like activities of platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs), obtained SHA-PtNPs defined as nanozymes (Enzyme-like nanomaterials) have been proposed to treat tracheal fistulas. Results reveal that introducing SHA endows the fabrication of PtNPs with dispersibility, small particle size (3.7 nm), stability, etc. On the other hand, SHA-PtNPs present high catalase-like (3320 U/g), superoxide dismutase-like activities (129,000 U/g), and hydroxyl radicals elimination capacity, thereby exerting excellent reactive oxide species scavenging ability. We have systematically verified the above properties of SHA-PtNPs in vitro. SHA-PtNPs show outstanding biocompatibility, promote cell proliferation and migration, and have considerable hemocompatibility and hemostasis. Afterward, rabbit tracheal fistula models that were treated with SHA-PtNPs in vivo showed a significant improvement in the closure of the fistulas and an increase in quality. This was evident through a substantial decrease in inflammation, increased angiogenesis, stimulation of re-epithelialization, and highly ordered alignment of collagen fibers. No significant side effects were observed. In summary, this work initiates an in vivo treatment for tracheal fistula models by taking advantage of both naturally sourced polysaccharides and nanozymes.

Bifunctional Oxaliplatin (IV) Prodrug Based pH-Sensitive PEGylated Liposomes for Synergistic Anticancer Action Against Triple Negative Breast cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibits higher susceptibility towards oxaliplatin (OXA) due to a faulty DNA damage repair system. However, the unfavorable physicochemical properties and risk of toxicities limit the clinical utility of OXA. Therefore, to impart kinetic inertness, site-specific delivery, and multidrug action, an octahedral Pt(IV) prodrug was developed by using chlorambucil (CBL) as a choice of ligand. The combination of OXA and CBL exhibited synergistic anti-cancer action in TNBC cell lines. Further, to maximize tumor-specific delivery, intracellular accumulation, and in-vivo performance, the developed prodrug (OXA-CBL) was encapsulated in pH-sensitive PEGylated liposomes into (OXA-CBL/PEG-Liposomes). The fabricated liposomes had smaller particle size < 200nm and higher drug loading (~ 4.26 ± 0.18%). In-vitro release displayed pH-dependent sustained release for up to 48h. Cellular internalization revealed maximal uptake via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. The cytotoxicity assay showed reduced IC50 in the 4T1 (~ 1.559-fold) and MDA-MB-231 (~ 1.539-fold) cell lines than free OXA-CBL. In-vivo efficacy in 4T1-induced TNBC model revealed a marked increase in % tumor inhibition rate, while diminished % tumor burden in OXA-CBL/BSA-NPs treated animals. Toxicity assessment displayed no signs of systemic and hemolytic toxicity. Overall, delivery of Pt (IV) prodrug as a pH-sensitive PEGylated liposomes offers a safer and efficient system to manage TNBC.

Aerosol Fluorescent Labeling via Probe Molecule Volatilization.

The physicochemical properties of aerosols, including hygroscopicity, phase state, pH, and viscosity, influence important processes ranging from virus transmission and pulmonary drug delivery to atmospheric light scattering and chemical reactivity. Despite their importance, measurements of these key properties in aerosols remain experimentally challenging due to small particle sizes and low mass densities in air. Fluorescence probe spectroscopy is one of the only analytical techniques that is capable of experimentally determining these properties in situ in a nondestructive and minimally perturbative manner. However, the application of fluorescence probe spectroscopy to important classes of aerosols including exhaled respiratory and ambient atmospheric aerosols has been limited due to a typical reliance on premixing the probe molecule with particle constituents prior to particle generation, which is not always possible. Here, a method for aerosol fluorescent labeling based on probe molecule volatilization is developed. The method is first applied to label model polyethylene glycol (PEG) aerosols with two different polarity-sensitive probes, Nile red and Prodan. The similarity of the relative humidity-dependent fluorescent emission of each probe between prelabeled and volatilized-probe PEG particles validated the methodology. A preliminary application of the technique to indicate the hygroscopicity of artificial saliva respiratory particles and model atmospheric secondary organic aerosol particles is demonstrated. The methodology developed here paves the way for future studies applying powerful fluorescent probe-based analytical techniques to study exhaled or natural aerosols for which fluorescent prelabeling is not possible.

Properties optimisation of nanostructures via machine learning: Progress and perspective

Nanostructures play a vast role in the current Internet of NanoThings (IoNT) era due to remarkable properties and features that precisely impart their desired application functions in catalysis, energy and other fields. The exploration in understanding their minute features caused by the flexibility of compositional and complex atomic arrangement from the synthesis reaction widely opens for the in-depth discovery of their search space such as particle size, morphology and structures that controlled the characteristics. A wide range of possible compositions and various lattice atomic arrangements combined with small particle size distribution and large surface area create grand challenges to copy/differentiate their corresponding specific properties. Thus, the employment of machine learning (ML)-based strategies using the closed-loop experimental data from the nanostructure synthesis to help navigate and optimise for the large classes of data attributes related to the size, morphology and other properties from the trained model are reviewed. The data attributes are assisted by discussions of the selected case studies from the recent literature that highlight different condition nanostructures. The review concludes with a discussion of perspectives on the major challenges in the implementation of ML data-driven design in the field of nanostructure synthesis.

Synthesis and Characterization of Lithium Phosphate (Li3PO4) as a Solid Electrolyte

Due to its high thermal stability, environmental friendliness, and safety, lithium phosphate (Li3PO4) is used as a solid electrolyte in battery applications, but it is usually used with dopants due to its lower ionic conductivity, which is required for ion transport. However, due to its stability and environmentally friendly aspect, lithium phosphate is still a hot topic among suitable energy materials that need further research to improve its electrochemical properties. In the current work, a novel synthesis of lithium phosphate was proposed from the raw materials lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) and trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (Na3PO4*12H2O) under suitable stoichiometric conditions using the co-precipitation method. In the set of synthesized samples, a single-phase β-Li3PO4 (named LPO-4) with 99.7% purity and 93.49% yield was successfully prepared under appropriate stoichiometric conditions and pH 13 at 90 °C. The average particle size was 10 nm with a large surface area of 9.02 m2g−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of LPO-4 revealed a conductivity of 7.1 × 10−6 S.cm−1 at room temperature and 2.7 × 10−5 S.cm−1 at 80 °C with a low activation energy of 0.38 eV. This performance is attributed to the morphology of the nanotubes and the smaller particle size, which enlarge the reaction interfaces and shorten the diffusion distance of lithium ions. The kinetic and thermodynamic key parameters showed that the β-Li3PO4 exhibits thermal stability in the room temperature range up to 208.8 °C. All these property values indicate a promising application of lithium phosphate as a solid electrolyte in solid-state batteries and a new route for further investigation.

Effect of the Physicochemical Properties of PVdF on Dry-Sprayed Graphite Electrodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicle Applications

Abstract We investigated the fabrication of graphite/PVdF anodes using electrostatic dry spray-coating, employing two different PVdF binders with different physicochemical properties such as primary particle size, crystallinity, melting temperature, and viscosity. We examine and compare the morphological, mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical properties of the dry-sprayed electrodes (DSEs). Significant differences were observed, particularly in terms of adhesion/cohesion, electrical resistivity, tortuosity, and electrochemical performance, with the PVdF binder characterized by a smaller particle size (178 nm) and a slightly higher melting temperature range (165–172°C), demonstrating superior long-term cycling stability. Specifically, the best electrode made with this binder achieved 188.3 mAh g-1 with over 94.9% capacity retention after 200 cycles. In contrast, the best electrode made with the PVdF binder with a larger particle size (270 nm) and a lower melting temperature range (155–172°C), showed a performance of 173.9 mAh g-1 with 88.3% capacity retention under the same conditions. Our findings highlight the necessity of adjusting fabrication conditions according to the specific characteristics of each PVdF binder to optimize the overall performance of the DSEs.

The effect of filler particle size on API homogeneity of controlled release formulations via continuous twin-screw wet granulation.

Previous research has shown that controlled release (CR) formulations with hydrox- ypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as hydrophilic matrix former produced via twin-screw wet granulation (TSWG) yield granules with an inhomogeneous active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) distribution (Denduyver et al., 2024). This was attributed to the fast hydration and swelling behaviour of HPMC upon addition of granulation liquid, limiting granule breakage and continuous exchange of particles during granule growth. Altering the liquid-to-solid ratio (L/S-ratio), using a more aggressive screw configuration or using fillers with different sol- ubility did not yield granules with a homogeneous API distribution. Therefore, the effect of the filler particle size on the content uniformity and granule growth mechanism of CR granules was studied using filler grades with a smaller and larger particle size distribution (PSD) than the API. As granule growth in TSWG occurs spatially along the granulator unit, a compartmental analysis was performed to collect granules from each zone. The small particle size fillers yielded a more homogeneous API distribution compared to the large particle size fillers in each compartment throughout the granulator unit. However, for lactose-, mannitol- and dicalcium phosphate (DCP)-based formulations, underdosing in the fines fraction (<150 µm) was observed. The small particle size microcrystalline cellulose (MCC)-based formulation yielded a homogeneous API distribution. The inter- play of the swelling behavior of MCC and the smaller particle size facilitated wetting, favoring the homogeneous API distribution over the granule sieve fractions.

Investigation of Spray Drying Parameters to Formulate Novel Spray-Dried Proliposome Powder Formulations Followed by Their Aerosolization Performance

Background: Spray drying, whilst a popularly employed technique for powder formulations, has limited applications for large-scale proliposome manufacture. Objectives: Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate spray drying parameters, such as inlet temperature (80, 120, 160, and 200 °C), airflow rate (357, 473, and 601 L/h) and pump feed rate (5, 15, and 25%), for individual carbohydrate carriers (trehalose, lactose monohydrate (LMH), and mannitol) for 24 spray-dried (SD) formulations (F1–F24). Methods: Following optimization, the SD parameters were trialed on proliposome formulations based on the same carriers and named as spray-dried proliposome (SDP) formulations. Drug delivery of the formulations was assessed using a dry powder inhaler (DPI) in combination with a next-generation impactor (NGI). Results: Upon analysis, formulations F6 (SD-mannitol), F15 (SD-trehalose), and F20 (SD-LMH) demonstrated high production yields (84.01 ± 3.25, 72.55 ± 5.42, and 70.03 ± 3.39%, respectively), small particle sizes (2.96 ± 1.42, 4.55 ± 0.46, and 5.16 ± 1.32 µm, respectively) and low moisture contents (0.25 ± 0.03, 3.76 ± 0.75, and 1.99 ± 0.77%). These SD optimized parameters were then employed for SDP formulations employing dimyristoly phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) as a phospholipid and beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) as the model drug. Upon spray drying, SDP-mannitol provided the highest production yield (82.45%) and smallest particle size (2.64 µm), as well as high entrapment efficiency (98%) and a high fine particle dose, fine particle fraction, and respirable fraction (285.81 µg, 56.84%, 86.44%, respectively). Conclusions: The study results are a promising step in the optimization of the large-scale manufacture of proliposome formulations and highlight the versatility of the instrument and variability of formulation properties with respect to the carriers employed for targeting the pulmonary system using dry powder inhalers.

Porous polymers embedded with iron carbon enhanced densified activated sludge formation and wastewater treatment

Municipal wastewater treatment plants in China face significant challenges in effectively removing pollutants from low-strength wastewater with a low carbon-to-nitrogen (COD/N) ratio. This study proposes a novel approach incorporating porous polymers embedded with iron-carbon (PP-IC) into an activated sludge system to enhance treatment. The PP-IC accelerated the formation of densified activated sludge (DAS), characterized by small particle sizes (<200 μm), excellent settleability (sludge volume index: 61 mL/g), and improved pollutant removal efficiency, with total nitrogen and total phosphorus removal rates increasing by 14.4 % and 57.4 %, respectively. DAS formation was achieved within 7 days and stabilized after 42 days. The enrichment of microorganisms, including unclassified_f_Caldilineaceae, Dechloromonas, and Candidatus Accumulibacter, further enhanced pollutant removal. Additionally, Fe2+, Fe3+ and hydroxyl radical (·OH) produced by iron-carbon micro-electrolysis supported DAS formation. Microbial interactions with the iron shavings sustained the long-term stability of the micro-electrolysis process. This synergistic mechanism significantly improved pollutant removal in wastewater treatment.

High-performance copper terephthalic acid metal-organic framework/gum Arabic/carrageenan composite beads for efficient lead(II) removal from aqueous solutions

Lead (Pb(II)) contamination poses a significant threat to human health and the environment. This study investigates a new approach for Pb(II) removal from polluted water using copper terephthalic acid metal-organic framework/gum Arabic/potassium carrageenan (MGC) composite beads. We synthesized copper terephthalic acid MOF, potassium carrageenan beads, and MGC composite beads to evaluate their adsorption potential. Characterization of the synthesized adsorbents was performed using TGA, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, ATR-FTIR, zeta potential, SEM, and TEM analyses, revealing that MOF > MGC > KG in thermal stability. The MGC composite exhibited a high specific surface area (398.03 m2/g) with mesopores and diverse functional groups, alongside a pH of zero point charge (pHpzc) of 6.8 and a small particle size (20 nm). The maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity for Pb(II) removal by MGC reached 374.7 mg/g under optimized conditions (20 °C, pH 5, 60 min shaking time, 3.0 g/L adsorbent dosage). The adsorption data fit well with the Pseudo-First-Order kinetic model and Langmuir and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. The adsorption process was physical, favorable, and endothermic. EDTA was used as a desorption agent, showing that the composite beads retained 97 % efficiency after ten cycles, highlighting MGC's potential as a sustainable strategy for Pb(II) remediation.

Preparation and evaluation of Puerarin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles for improving oral bioavailability in SD rats

BackgroundPuerarin (Pue) is an isoflavone compound with significant therapeutic effect on cardiovascular diseases, but its poor water solubility and low oral bioavailability limit clinical application. MethodsIn this study, Pue was prepared into PLGA nanoparticles (Pue-PLGA NPs) by emulsion solvent volatilization method. The morphology, particle size, Zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) of the NPs were characterized. Additionally, their stability and in vitro release were evaluated. SD rats were orally administered wtih Pue and Pue-PLGA NPs, and a high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was established to determine the concentration of blood samples and to investigate the pharmacokinetic behaviour of Pue and Pue-PLGA NPs in rats. ResultsThe NPs were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as regular spheroids and uniformly dispersed. The average particle size of the NPs was (167.1±5.26）nm, the Zeta potential was (-29.88±2.46)mV, the encapsulation rate was (83.12 %±4.73 %) and the drug loading capacity was (7.75 %±1.81 %). The results of in vitro release showed that the drug was released slowly and continuously from the NPs, reaching the release platform in 24 h, and the cumulative release amount was (88.55±2.86) %. The pharmacokinetic results showed that the AUC0–24, AUC0-∞, Cmax, Tmax, t1/2, MRT0–24 and MRT0-∞ of Pue-PLGA NPs were 2.196, 1.978, 1.327, 1.5, 1.385, 3.915 and 3.140 times of Pue, respectively. The relative bioavailability was (197.82±25.28) %. ConclusionThese results indicated that the prepared nanoparticles had small particle size, high encapsulation rate, drug loading capacity and good slow-release effect, and could significantly improve the oral bioavailability of Pue in rats.

A novel neutralization process for improving dehydration performance of industrial by-product gypsum

By-product gypsum, produced through the traditional neutralization precipitation method for treating industrial acidic wastewater, is difficult to recycle due to its high moisture content. In this study, we proposed a novel neutralization process i.e. the two-stage neutralization method. By-product gypsum was used as an alkaline neutralizer and recycled as seed crystals for the first time. The original by-product gypsum has the poor dehydration performance due to its small particle size and the presence of colloids on its surface. After adding the by-product gypsum to the acidic wastewater, the ratio of CaO/SO3 in the system descended and colloids were dissociated. On the one hand, the alkaline component of the incomplete reaction continues to play a neutralizing role. On the other hand, CaSO4·2H2O particles act as seed crystals, promoting rapid growth of new crystals along their surface, which effectively improved crystallization performance and dehydration performance of the neutralization slag (outward discharge of slag). Compared with the original method, the wet weight of the neutralization slag is decreased from 186.0 g/L to 88.8 g/L, and the water cut is declined from 64.5% to 34.1%. The utilization ratio of the carbide slag augmented from 63.0% to 99.47%.

Encapsulation of Monascus pigments in gel in oil in water (G/O/W) double emulsion system based on sodium caseinate and guar gum

In this study, a gel in oil in water (G/O/W) double emulsion system was developed with the objective of effectively encapsulating Monascus pigments and enhancing its stability. To this end, various formulations were prepared using guar gum co-dissolved with Monascus pigments in the internal phase and sodium caseinate as an outer phase surfactant. Different parameters were examined, including emulsion stability, encapsulation efficiency, rheological and tribological properties, as well as the light and thermal stability of the encapsulated Monascus pigments. The results demonstrated that Monascus pigments were effectively encapsulated in the G/O/W, with an encapsulation efficiency exceeding 90 %. The formulated system exhibited a relatively small particle size, which decreased with increasing guar gum and the external emulsifier contents. This resulted in an increase in viscosity accompanied by the formation of a gel-like structure and improved tribological properties, thereby enhancing the system's stability. The system with 1–1.25 % guar gum and 2.5 % sodium caseinate exhibited the highest stability for Monascus pigments, making them more resistant to heat and light. These findings have the potential to expand applications of Monascus pigments by providing a stable and effective encapsulation and delivery system that can also be utilized in the development of healthier food products.

Small-Scale Aqueous Suspension Preparation using Dual Centrifugation: The Effect of Process Parameters on the Sizes of Drug Particles

The dual centrifugation approach has in the recent years emerged as a powerful milling tool to prepare pharmaceutical suspensions in submicron range with a fast-milling capacity by milling 40 samples simultaneously in 2 mL vials. While there is some standardized milling conditions described in the literature when preparing aqueous suspensions with dual centrifugation, a more systematic and experimental understanding of the milling process to evaluate the impact of different process variables in the dual centrifuge on the final sizes of the suspended drug particles independent of the drug compound used. Overall, the present study demonstrated the applicability of the dual centrifuge for small-scale screening purposes and showed the impact of process parameters on the physical attributes of prepared suspensions. In the present work, the rate of size reduction on three different model compounds, i.e., cinnarizine, haloperidol, and indomethacin, was found to be mostly influenced by the milling speed, size of milling beads, and the bead loading during milling, whereas the rotor temperature did not affect the particle size profiles when stabilized with polysorbate 20 during milling with dual centrifugation. Smaller particle sizes were in general obtained at the highest milling intensity, i.e., 1500 rpm, smallest bead size, i.e., 0.2 mm, and higher bead loadings (42%, 56%, and 83%). The grinding limit of approximately 0.50 µm, 0.70 µm, and 0.35 µm for cinnarizine, haloperidol, and indomethacin, respectively, was achieved relatively fast, i.e., 30 minutes of milling at the specified conditions, compared to when suspensions were milled with larger bead sizes (i.e., 1.0 mm), lower milling intensities (e.g., 1000 rpm), and lower bead loadings (e.g., 14 or 28%). The study further confirmed that a higher milling intensity was necessary during milling of haloperidol suspensions probably due to the compounds predominantly plastic properties. Sizes of indomethacin particles increased with longer milling runs up to 240 minutes and also higher bead loadings of 56% and 83%. These observations were further supported by the color conversion from white to yellow of indomethacin suspensions which indicated generation of small quantities of amorphic material after milling with a high milling intensity. Upscale investigations showed comparable particle size profiles for all three model compounds while milling at 1500 rpm for five minutes.

Influence of particle morphology on solar thermal conversion performance and sensible heat storage capacity: A case study of TiO2@Go binary nanofluid

Photothermal catalytic hydrogen production driven by the full spectrum of outdoor solar radiation, represents a highly promising and efficient approach for hydrogen generation. This method is widely anticipated by researchers due to its potential to enhance photon utilization efficiency at the reaction source. However, limited attention has been devoted to the variations in photothermal conversion performance of particle reaction suspensions caused by objective fluctuations of solar irradiation, especially when the morphology of the nanostructure changes, which is a crucial factor for practical applications in hydrogen production. Based on this bottleneck, we prepared the typical photo-responsive TiO2@Go composite with varied dimensions (i.e., nanosphere TiO2@Go, nanorod TiO2@Go, nanosheet TiO2@Go) as research models, and systematically investigated their thermal conversion and sensible heat conversion performance under different working conditions. The results showed that at low nanofluid concentration, nanosphere TiO2@Go and nanosheet TiO2@Go exhibit better sensible heat conversion. As the particle concentration increases, the sensible heat conversion efficiency of all nanofluids decreases. It can also be found that the latent heat conversion efficiency tends to increase with the increase of concentration, but the nanorod TiO2@Go show the opposite, which should be closely related to the uniformity of the particle size in different directions. In addition, for the sensible heat storage properties of nanofluids, smaller particle size and abundant porosity due to particles aggregation were found to be more beneficial for varied shapes. The underlying functional mechanisms were elucidated associated with the analysis of particle structures, interfacial properties, and optical characteristics. We contend that our research could provide valuable insights for the large-scale implementation of solar photothermal hydrogen production and a reasonable selection of photothermal material morphology for outdoor working conditions.

Construction and characterization of Laminaria polysaccharide functionalized selenium nanoparticles based on an activity-oriented approach

Laminaria polysaccharides (LP) have been shown to effectively stabilize selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), forming LP–SeNP complexes with enhanced bioactivity. However, the correlation between their bioactivity and physicochemical properties remains inadequately explored. This study used chemical reduction with LP as stabilizer to investigate how LP-to-selenium mass ratio (LPSMR), reaction time, and temperature influence particle size, selenium content, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of LP–SeNPs. The results showed that enhanced DPPH scavenging correlated with higher selenium content and smaller particle size, primarily modulated by LPSMR and temperature. Under optimal conditions (LPSMR of 1; temperature of 25°C), the resulting LP–SeNPs exhibited uniform morphology with a particle size of 81.41nm and selenium content of 653.91mg/g. This stability was achieved through non-covalent interactions between LP and SeNPs, providing superior light and acid resistance compared to unmodified SeNPs. Notably, LP–SeNPs showed synergistic antioxidant effects, with lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for scavenging DPPH, hydroxyl, and superoxide anion radicals than LP or SeNPs alone, and enhanced hypoglycemic activity. Cytotoxicity assays confirmed LP–SeNPs had reduced toxicity compared to Na2SeO3 and selenopeptide. These findings provide insights into the structure-activity relationships of LP–SeNPs and support their potential application as antioxidant and hypoglycemic agents.

Spanlastic Nano-Vesicles: A Novel Approach to Improve the Dissolution, Bioavailability, and Pharmacokinetic Behavior of Famotidine

Background/Objectives: Drugs exhibiting poor aqueous solubility present a challenge to efficient delivery to the site of action. Spanlastics (a nano, surfactant-based drug delivery system) have emerged as a powerful tool to improve solubility, bioavailability, and delivery to the site of action. This study aimed to better understand factors affecting the physicochemical properties of spanlastics, quantify their effects, and use them to enhance the bioavailability of famotidine (FMT), a model histamine H2 receptor antagonist (BCS class IV). Methods: FMT was incorporated into nano-spanlastics drug delivery system. The ethanol injection method, Box–Behnken design, and mathematical modeling were utilized to fabricate famotidine-loaded nano-spanlastics and optimize the formula. Spanlastics were characterized for their particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, drug loading, compatibility of the excipients (using DSC), in vitro drug release, and in vivo pharmacokinetics. Results: Span 60 (the non-ionic surfactant) and tween 60 (the edge activator) gave rise to spanlastics with the best characteristics. The optimal spanlastic formulation exhibited small particle size (&lt;200 nm), appropriate polydispersity index (&lt;0.4), and zeta potential (&gt;−30 mV). The entrapment efficiency and drug loading of the optimum formula assured its suitability for hydrophobic drug entrapment as well as practicability for use. DSC assured the compatibility of all formulation components. The drug release manifested a biphasic release pattern, resulting in a fast onset and sustained effect. Spanlastics also showed enhanced Cmax, AUC0–24, and bioavailability. Conclusions: Spanlastics manifested improved FMT dissolution, drug release characteristics, membrane permeation, and pharmacokinetic behavior.

Low-defect potassium vanadyl hexacyanoferrate cathode material with high specific capacity for aqueous zinc ion batteries

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) are considered to be one of the most promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc-ion batteries (AZIBs). However, the low specific capacity due to defects and low activity has become the major problem limiting their application. In this work, a potassium vanadyl hexacyanoferrate K0.37VO[Fe(CN)6]0.61·2.6H2O was synthesized by ethanol-assisted co-precipitation. Controlled growth by ethanol addition results in smaller particle size and fewer defects in K0.37VO[Fe(CN)6]0.61·2.6H2O, leading to excellent zinc ion storage properties. The K0.37VO[Fe(CN)6]0.61·2.6H2O cathode material exhibits a high specific capacity of 190 mAh·g−1 at 0.1 A·g−1 and an outstanding rate performance of 160 mAh·g−1 at 2 A·g−1. Ex-situ characterization technologies reveal that the zinc-ion storage process is involve with redox reaction of Fe2+/Fe3+ and V3+/V4+/V5+, as well as phase transition.

Preparation of water-soluble CdSeS alloy quantum dots with small particle size and high fluorescence lifetime by using hydrodynamic cavitation technology and their application in Ag+ detection

In this study, hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) is used as a novel and simple large-scale preparation technique. Water-soluble CdSeS alloy quantum dots (QDs) were successfully prepared by using Cd(NO3)2·4H2O, Na2S·9H2O and selenium powder as cadmium, sulfur and selenium sources. The effects of cycle time, reaction temperature, inlet pressure and Se/S molar ratio on the morphology, size and optical properties of CdSeS QDs were investigated. The prepared CdSeS QDs were characterized by X-ray diffractometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV–vis absorption spectra, fluorescence emission spectra and fluorescence attenuation curves. Finally, under the conditions of 12 h cycle time, 3.0 bar inlet pressure, 60 °C reaction temperature and 0.5/0.5 Se/S molar ratio, the ternary alloy CdSeS QDs with 2.62 nm average particle size and 482.62 ns fluorescence lifetime was obtained. Furthermore, a mechanism of preparing CdSeS QDs by using the HC method was proposed to explain the process of CdSeS precipitates conversion to CdSeS QDs. In addition, it is also found that Ag+ has a quenching effect on the prepared CdSeS QDs, which means that CdSeS QDs can be used as a fluorescence probe to specifically detect Ag+. This work not only provides a new possibility for large-scale preparation of high-performance QDs but also helps to understand the mechanism of CdSeS QDs as a metal ion selective fluorescence probe.

New insights into adlay seed bran polysaccharides: Effects of enzyme-assisted Aspergillus niger solid-state fermentation on its structural features, simulated gastrointestinal digestion, and prebiotic activity

Adlay seed bran, typically discarded or used as animal feed, represents a significant resource waste. This study investigates the structural and physicochemical properties, in vitro digestive behavior, and fecal fermentation profiles of adlay seed bran polysaccharides (ASBPs) prepared using different methods. These methods include hot water extraction, Aspergillus niger solid-state fermentation (SSF), and enzyme-assisted SSF with β-glucosidase, cellulase, and xylanase, referred to as ASBP, ASBP-F, ASBP-GF, ASBP-CF, and ASBP-XF, respectively. Results showed that enzyme-assisted SSF with A. niger improved extraction efficiency and uniformity of ASBPs, increasing total neutral sugars, uronic acids, mannose, and galactose while reducing glucose content, molecular weight, and particle size. ASBP-CF had the best extraction rate, sugar content, lowest molecular weight, finest uniformity, and smallest particle size. In simulated digestion tests, all ASBP variants were stable in stomach and small intestine conditions but degradable by human fecal microbiota, showing varying fermentability levels. ASBPs increased Bacteroidetes populations, inhibited Proteobacteria growth, and enhanced short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) production, with ASBP-CF showing the highest fermentability and prebiotic efficacy. ASBP-CF was particularly effective in promoting beneficial bacteria like Bacteroides and restraining harmful bacteria such as Escherichia_Shigella, producing more SCFAs during fermentation. These findings suggest that ASBP-CF has potential as a dietary supplement to improve gut health, presenting a high-value utilization strategy for adlay seed bran.