Suitable Surfactant Research Articles

Optimization of preparation parameters and testing verification of carbon nanotube suspensions used in concrete

Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have received extensive attention due to their exceptional properties and wide range of applications. However, the agglomeration of CNTs in aqueous solutions and organic solvents significantly limits their large-scale application. In this study, the microscopic morphology and dispersion stability of the CNT suspensions were analyzed, and the most suitable surfactant in this study was selected. The preparation parameters of the CNT suspensions were optimized, and uniaxial compression tests were conducted on carbon nanotube concrete (CNTC) prepared using the optimized parameters. Scanning electron microscope analysis was used to investigate the improvement in the microstructure of the concrete by CNTs. Transmission electron microscope micrographs of the polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)-CNT suspensions exhibited a uniformly distributed CNT cross-linked network. The absorbance reduction ratio of PVP-CNT suspensions after standing for 90 days was 13.75 and 22.41%, respectively. The absorbance reduction ratio of the suspensions first increased and then decreased with increasing dispersant ratio and ultrasonic dispersion time and increased with increasing ultrasonic power ratio. Compared with that of plain concrete, the uniaxial compressive strength of CNTC significantly improved, with a maximum increase of 18.15% when the content was 0.10%, and the failure mode exhibited typical shear failure characteristics. The optimized preparation parameters for the CNT suspensions were a PVP-to-multiwalled carbon nanotube mass ratio of 4:1, an ultrasonic dispersion time of 20 min, and an ultrasonic power of 60%. These optimized parameters are ideal choices for preparing CNT cement-based composite suspensions.

DEVELOPMENT, SCREENING AND OPTIMIZATION OF ROSUVASTATIN LOADED NANOSTRUCTURED LIPID CARRIERS FOR IMPROVED THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY

Objective: the aim of the current study was to be screening of the formulation components, prepare ROS-NLCs by hot homogenization–ultrasonication technique and optimized by Full factorial design then formulations prepared were further characterized. Methods: The screening experiments were carried out to select the most suitable solid lipids, liquid lipids, and surfactants. Moreover, physical compatibility between the solid lipids and liquid lipids, along with their proportions, was evaluated. Additionally, characterization and optimization of the developed formulations were outlined and identified. Primarily, the solubility of ROS-Ca in various solid lipids and liquid lipids is the key factor for choosing the optimal one. Results: Stearic acid, Glyceryl Monostearate (GMS), and Compritol®888 ATO exhibited a higher ability to solubilize ROS-Ca, with solid lipid values per 10 mg of ROS-Ca (w/w) recorded as 750±3.56 mg, 1250±4.36 mg, and 1750±5.16 mg, respectively. In the systematic screening of different liquid lipids, Transcutol® HP (98.41 mg/ml), CapryolTM90 (78.64 mg/ml), and Labrafac MC60 (64.36 mg/ml) demonstrated a good affinity for the drug. The (Stearic acid-Transcutol® HP) mixture showed phase separation with oil droplet residue on filter paper, whereas the (GMS-Transcutol® HP) mixture showed no separation and left no oil droplet residue on filter paper. The optimized NLC formulations composed of glyceryl monostearate GMS (solid lipid) and Transcutol® HP (liquid lipid) as lipid phase, poloxamer 188 and Tween 80 (1:1 ratio) as surfactants. Conclusions: Study concludes the ability of NLCs to improve the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs by enhancing solubilization and dissolution rates in the gastrointestinal tract is well-recognized. Peer Review History: Received 11 July 2024; Reviewed 15 September 2024; Accepted 22 October; Available online 15 November 2024 Academic Editor: Dr. Asia Selman Abdullah, Pharmacy institute, University of Basrah, Iraq, asia_abdullah65@yahoo.com Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Antonio José de Jesus Evangelista, Federal University of Ceará, UFC, Brazil, tony_biomed@hotmail.com Asmaa Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed Khalifa, Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt, asmaa.khalifa@pua.edu.eg

Antifeedant Nanosuspension Formula of <i>Tithonia diversifolia</i> Leaf Extract by Emulsion Inverse Method to Control <i>Crocidolomia pavonana</i> Cabbage Pest Insect

The leaf extract from Tithonia diversifolia is recognized for its ability to deter feeding in various Lepidoptera insect pests, including the larvae of Crocidolomia pavonana. Presently, transformation efforts from conventional formulations into nano-based formulations for biopesticides exhibit enhanced effectiveness and efficiency. Utilizing a low-energy process, an inversion emulsion facilitates the dispersion of the extract suspension in an organic solvent into a water-immiscible solvent using a suitable surfactant. The forming nano-size droplets in water (t1, t2, t3, t4) are influenced by the ratio of surfactant and organic suspension (Water: Tween 80: Organic suspension). The emulsification method successfully formulated T. diversifolia leaf extract, into dispersed nano-size and submicron suspensions in water. The t3 formula exhibits the smallest nano-size dispersed in water (D=23.6 ± 39.6 nm; polydispersity index IP=0.702) and enhanced wettability, evident in the lower contact angle of the droplet on the cabbage leaf surface (49.4°) compare with the control group. The Phytochemicals confirmed by IR-spectra analysis identified the phenols, alkaloids, and steroids constituents of leaf extract, which are known to have antifeedant properties. The enhanced antifeedant properties of T. diversifolia nanosuspension against C. pavonana third-instar larvae demonstrated by the antifeedant test results showing that t3 is the most successful deterrent larvae feeding activity compared to the control (P<0.05), due to the highest total antifeedant coefficient (74.27%) in a category medium antifeedant activity, while the non-emulsification displayed the lowest antifeedant coefficient (25.36%) in a category as low antifeedant activity. T. diversifolia leaf extract with a nano-based formula succeeded resulting in dispersed nano-size and submicron suspension in aqueous media, thereby reducing surface tension and enhancing wettability on the leaf surface during application. The improved dispersion of antifeedant nanosuspension on the leaf surface results in more effective delivery to target insects.

Optimization of Glibenclamide Loaded Thermoresponsive SNEDDS Using Design of Experiment Approach: Paving the Way to Enhance Pharmaceutical Applicability.

Thermoresponsive self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (T-SNEDDS) offer a promising solution to the limitations of conventional SNEDDS formulations. Liquid SNEDDS are expected to enhance drug solubility; however, they are susceptible to leakage during storage. Even though solid SNEDDS offers a solution to this storage instability, they introduce new challenges, namely increased total dosage and potential for drug trapping within the formulation. The invented T-SNEDDS was used to overcome these limitations and improve the dissolution of glibenclamide (GBC). Solubility and transmittance studies were performed to select a suitable oil and surfactant. Design of Experiments (DoE) software was used to study the impact of propylene glycol and Poloxamer 188 concentrations on measured responses (liquefying temperature, liquefying time, and GBC solubility). The optimized formulation was subjected to an in vitro dissolution study. The optimized T-SNEDDS consisted of Kolliphor EL and Imwitor 308 as surfactants and oil. The optimized propylene glycol and Poloxamer 188 concentrations were 13.7 and 7.9% w/w, respectively. It exhibited a liquefying temperature of 35.0 °C, a liquefying time of 119 s, and a GBC solubility of 5.51 mg/g. In vitro dissolution study showed that optimized T-SNEDDS exhibited 98.8% dissolution efficiency compared with 2.5% for raw drugs. This study presents a promising approach to enhance pharmaceutical applicability by resolving the limitations of traditional SNEDDS.

Role of ionic nature of surfactants on zinc stannate nanostructure and their application towards supercapacitors

This work demonstrates the role of cationic, anionic, and non-ionic surfactants [ethylene diamine (EDA), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and triton X100 (TX100)] in synthesizing the phase pure zinc stannate (ZTO) nanostructures via hydrothermal technique. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern reveals that EDA is a suitable surfactant for fabricating high crystalline ZTO nanostructures. The nature of surfactants alters the size and shape of the ZTO nanostructures, as evidenced by the FESEM micrographs. Specifically, hemi-pyramid embedded with fine spherical particles (EDA-assisted) and sphere-like particles (non and other surfactants) morphological features are observed. Their energy storage performance is evaluated through a three-electrode system. EDA-assisted ZTO delivered the specific capacitance value of 31 F/g at 1 A/g current density, slightly higher than that of the non-surfactant ZTO (27 F/g @ 1 A/g) electrode. Furthermore, the role of calcination is investigated, and it was found that the specific capacitance value is increased to 77 F/g (from 31 F/g) for the EDA-ZTO sample calcined at 600 °C for 3 h in an ambient atmosphere.Graphical abstract

Experimental investigations on strength and microstructural characteristics of air-cell impregnated light weight concrete

Concrete structures have high massive building materials than steel structures and possess very low thermal conductivity and high specific heat capacity. However, an efficient approach to reducing high production cost and structural weight of concrete elements without impacting their strength evolve as a growing necessity that leads to innovation in the Light weight concrete (LWC) fields such as aerated concrete and foamed concrete. Those large bubbles seem highly likely to get a break, move upwards through buoyancy and may get lost, while concrete has been mixed, transported, placed and vibrated. Hence to prevent increased bubble spacing, and air loss and to increase concrete durability, a sort of micron-sized air-cells could be generated in aerosol form, by passing out compressed air to dense form generating surfactants. Therefore to circumvent certain drawbacks of conventional LWC, the study delineated to bring out an innovative air-cell impregnated concrete (AIC) material, with homogenous mixing of cement, sand, water and uniformly distributed micron-sized air-cells wherein course-aggregates were replaced with air-cells. This uniform air-cell distribution creates durable concrete with unique feature characteristics since the micron-sized air-cells will be stable and does not collapse. The suitable surfactant towards contributing the strength and durability of proposed AIC structure are assessed, based on results.

Reconfigurable All-Oil Microfluidic Devices by 3D Printing.

Nanoparticle surfactants have been widely used to construct structured liquids in oil-water systems. Less attention, though, has been given in non-aqueous systems, for example, oil-oil systems, mainly due to the lack of suitable surfactants. Here, by using newly developed molecular brush surfactants (MBSs) that form at the DMSO-silicone oil interface, the construction of all-oil microfluidic devices is reported with advanced functions. Due to the high interfacial activity of MBSs, Plateau-Rayleigh instabilities of liquid jets can be completely suppressed, leading to the production of liquid threads with jammed MBSs at the interface. Taking advantage of the 3D printing technique, all-oil microfluidic devices with complex structures can be constructed, showing promising applications in mass transmission, chemical separation, and material synthesis.

Magnetically Separable Chiral Poly(ionic liquid) Microcapsules Prepared Using Oil-in-Oil Emulsions.

This article presents a method for producing chiral ionic liquid-based polyurea microcapsules that can be magnetically separated. The method involves entrapping hydrophilic magnetic nanoparticles within chiral polyurea microspheres. The synthetic process for creating these magnetic polyurea particles involves oil-in-oil (o/o) nano-emulsification of an ionic liquid-modified magnetite nanoparticle (MNPs-IL) and an ionic liquid-based diamine monomer, which comprises a chiral bis(mandelato)borate anion, in a nonpolar organic solvent, toluene, and contains a suitable surfactant. This is followed by an interfacial polycondensation reaction between the isocyanate monomer, polymethylenepolyphenyl isocyanate (PAPI 27), and the chiral diamine monomer, which generates chiral polyurea microcapsules containing magnetic nanoparticles within their cores. The microcapsules generated from the process are then utilized to selectively adsorb either the R or S enantiomer of tryptophan (Trp) from a racemic mixture that is dissolved in water, in order to evaluate their chiral recognition capabilities. During the experiments, the magnetically separable chiral poly(ionic liquid) microcapsules, which incorporated either the R or S isomer of chiral bis(mandelato)borate, exhibited exceptional enantioselective adsorption performance. Thus, the chiral polymeric microcapsules embedded with the R-isomer of the bis(mandelato)borate anion demonstrated significant selectivity for adsorbing L-Trp, yielding a mixture with 70% enantiomeric excess after 96 h. In contrast, microcapsules containing the S-isomer of the bis(mandelato)borate anion preferentially adsorbed D-Trp, achieving an enantiomeric excess of 73% after 48 h.

Mechanisms of surfactant improving water injection huff and puff efficiency in tight reservoir

Water injection huff and puff is an economical and effective method to enhance the recovery of tight oil reservoir, in which the addition of suitable surfactants is critical, but its mechanism needs to be further studied. In this paper, the huff and puff process is divided into replenishment, imbibition and water flooding stages. This study compared and analyzed the effects of various surfactants on interfacial tension, wettability, flow resistance, and oil washing efficiency, using mineralized water as the control group. The relationships between different surfactants and imbibition recovery efficiency, water flooding recovery efficiency, and flooding pressure were investigated. The mechanisms by which surfactants influence the imbibition and flooding processes were also explored. The results show that, the effect of permeability on imbibition and water flooding recovery efficiency in natural cores can be ignored. During the imbibition stage, the maximum recovery efficiency with mineralized water is 18.33 %, while with surfactants it is 21.40 %. In the water flooding stage, the maximum recovery efficiency with mineralized water is 3.89 %. The addition of surfactants significantly increases the water flooding recovery efficiency to 19.82 %. Furthermore, surfactants can reduce the water flooding pressure by approximately 7.00 MPa and increase the total recovery rate by about 5.00 %. The primary mechanisms by which surfactants improve the water injection huff and puff effect include reducing interfacial tension, altering wettability, facilitating crude oil detachment from rock surfaces, and enhancing oil washing efficiency. Reduction of flow resistance, leading to a decrease in the pressure required for flooding. The research results provide a theoretical basis for the practical application of surfactants in water injection huff and puff in tight reservoirs.

Impact mechanisms of various surfactants on the biodegradation of phenanthrene in soil: Bioavailability and microbial community responses

The present study was conducted to systematically explore the mechanisms underlying the impact of various surfactants (CTAB, SDBS, Tween 80 and rhamnolipid) at different doses (10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg) on the biodegradation of a model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) by indigenous soil microorganisms, focusing on bioavailability and community responses. The cationic surfactant CTAB inhibited the biodegradation of phenanthrene within the whole tested dosage range by decreasing its bioavailability and adversely affecting soil microbial communities. Appropriate doses of SDBS (1000 mg/kg), Tween 80 (100, 1000 mg/kg) and rhamnolipid at all amendment levels promoted the transformation of phenanthrene from the very slow desorption fraction (Fvslow) to bioavailable fractions (rapid and slow desorption fractions, Frapid and Fslow), assessed via Tenax extraction. However, only Tween 80 and rhamnolipid at these doses significantly improved both the rates and extents of phenanthrene biodegradation by 22.1–204.3 and 38.4–76.7 %, respectively, while 1000 mg/kg SDBS had little effect on phenanthrene removal. This was because the inhibitory effects of anionic surfactant SDBS, especially at high doses, on the abundance, diversity and activity of soil microbial communities surpassed the bioavailability enhancement in dominating biodegradation. In contrast, the nonionic surfactant Tween 80 and biosurfactant rhamnolipid enhanced the bioavailability of phenanthrene for degradation and also that to specific degrading bacterial genera, which stimulated their growth and increased the abundance of the related nidA degradation gene. Moreover, they promoted the total microbial/bacterial biomass, community diversity and polyphenol oxidase activity by providing available substrates and nutrients. These findings contribute to the design of suitable surfactant types and dosages for mitigating the environmental risk of PAHs and simultaneously benefiting microbial ecology in soil through bioremediation.

Investigating the Impact of Surfactant and Cosolvent on the Polyphenolic Content in Arumanis Mango Leaf Extract (Mangifera indica L.)

The leaf of Mangifera indica L. contains flavonoids and mangiferin which showed positive effects on wound healing of diabetic ulcer. The used of suitable surfactant and co-solvent is required to ensure the high solubility of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), thereby optimizing the efficacy. This study aims to determine the ideal surfactant and cosolvent for a thermosensitive hydrogel formula of Mangifera indica leaf ethanol extract. The leaf was fextracted by maceration using 70% ethanol then determined for moisture content. The extract was prepared for solubility tests of flavonoid and mangiferin on surfactants (Kolliphor® EL, Tween® 20, Tween® 80, Miranol® C2M) and co-solvents (Glycerin, PEG 400, and transcutol). Methods for total flavonoids content were Spectrophotometry UV-Vis and mangiferin with RP-HPLC method. The moisture content in the extract is 8.590 ± 0.754%. The surfactant demonstrating the highest capability in flavonoid dissolution is Tween 20 (1863.750 ± 0.838 µgQE/g extract), followed by Tween 80, Kolliphor EL, and Miranol C2M. In the context of co-solvents, PEG 400 (1309.583 ± 0.292 µgQE/g extract) show superior flavonoid dissolution capability, with glycerin and Transcutol following in descending order. Tween 20 and Tween 80 exhibite comparable efficacy in mangiferin dissolution, followed by Miranol C2M and Kolliphor EL. Among co-solvents, Transcutol demonstrate the highest aptitude for mangiferin dissolution, succeeded by PEG 400 and glycerin. This study indicates Tween 20 is a preferable surfactant and PEG 400 was considered as co-solvent to be further used in a thermosensitive gel formula for diabetic ulcer.Â

Effect of surface modification on the thermophysical properties of ethylene glycol dispersed with Al2O3 nanoparticles for solar thermal applications

This study focuses on investigating the effects of surface modification on the stability and thermal conductivity of ethylene glycol dispersed with aluminium oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles. Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles were dispersed in ethylene glycol after surface modification with the surfactant Cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) at concentrations of 1, 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125 mass percent. The thermal conductivity and dynamic viscosity at various concentrations were evaluated in the temperature range from 20°C to 170°C, in contrast to prior studies in which the properties were determined in the range from 20°C to 60°C. The stability of the suspension dispersed with CTAB proved to be excellent, and the nanofluids remained stable for one month due to its excellent electrostatic interaction with the surface of Al2O3 nanoparticles. The addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles to ethylene glycol led to a significant improvement in thermal conductivity, which is between 15% and 25%. The influence of the surfactant is clear from the results, and it shows that CTAB is the most suitable surfactant for metal oxide nanoparticles. The experimental data are compared with the data available in the literature in the temperature range from 30°C to 60°C and are found to be in good agreement.

INVESTIGATION OF ADSORPTION OF BENTONITE SAMPLES WITH IONOGENIC OLIGOMER BY PHYSICO-CHEMICAL METHODS

The adsorption process of natural and modified Co+2-, Ni+2-bentonite samples taken from Dash-Salahli field with ionogenic oligomer modifiers was carried out and studied by x-ray and infrared spectral analysis methods. Important components that ensure the stability of bentonite suspensions are polymers, ions and surfactants. The main goal of the work is to obtain an organic mineral sorbent using an ionogenic oligomer modifier to stabilize polymer-dispersed systems. The most suitable surfactants are substances with a hydrophilic and hydrophobic statistical distribution in the molecule. The prepared sorbent has both cationic and anionic properties and can adsorb various harmful organic substances. As a result of the research, certain changes were observed in the structure of the sorbents. Depending on the ionic radii of substituted metal ions in natural bentonite, weak, medium. strong intensities are observed

Dispersion stability analysis of vegetable oil-based ionanolubricants

Recently, environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) developed from vegetable oils are more widely used in the field of lubrication technology as an alternative to mineral and synthetic oils. The homogeneous and long-term stability of additives in base lubricants is a crucial requirement for potential applications of vegetable oil-based ionanolubricants (INLs). In this study, the INLs have been formulated with two vegetable oils, rice bran oil and sesame oil containing TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and two ionic liquids IL1, 1-ethyl 3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide [EMIM][DCN] and IL2, trihexyltetradecylphosphonium bis(24,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinate ([P66614][BTMPP]) with surfactants. The main objective is to find the suitable surfactant among sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Tween 20 (T-20), and Triton X-100 (TX-100) and its optimum additives to surfactant ratio. Dispersion stability of INLs has been investigated by using visual monitoring and dynamic light scattering. The analysis showed that additives start agglomeration and make larger clusters on the 10th and 20th days of formulation, respectively. On the 30th day of formulation, the larger clusters settle down in the bottom due to gravity. However, in spite of this pattern, the additives remain stable in vegetable oils at particular optimum additives to surfactant ratio. Four stable samples were recorded on the basis of dispersion stability analysis. Rice bran oil and IL1-based INLs having additives to TX-100 of 1:2 have found long-term stability. Additives to SDS ratios of 1:6 was found optimum for rice bran oil and IL2-based INLs. Similarly, for sesame oil-based INLs, the additives to T-20 ratios of 1:4 and 1:2 are found optimum for IL1 and IL2, respectively.

Water-Based Bi2S3 Nano-Inks Obtained with Surfactant-Assisted Liquid Phase Exfoliation and Their Direct Processing into Thin Films

Bi2S3 has gained considerable attention as a semiconductor for its versatile functional properties, finding application across various fields, and liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) serves as a straightforward method to produce it in nano-form. Till now, the commonly used solvent for LPE has been N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone, which is expensive, toxic and has a high boiling point. These limitations drive the search for more sustainable alternatives, with water being a promising option. Nonetheless, surfactants are necessary for LPE in water due to the hydrophobic nature of Bi2S3, and organic molecules with amphoteric characteristics are identified as suitable surfactants. However, systematic studies on the use of ionic surfactants in the LPE of Bi2S3 have remained scarce until now. In this work, we used sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) and sodium hexadecyl sulfonate (SHS) as representative species and we present a comprehensive investigation into their effects on the LPE of Bi2S3. Through characterizations of the resulting products, we find that all surfactants effectively exfoliate Bi2S3 into few-layer species. Notably, SDBS demonstrates superior stabilization of the 2D layers compared to the other surfactants, while SHS becomes the most promising surfactant for obtaining products with high yield. Moreover, the resulting nano-inks are used for fabricating films using spray-coating, reaching a fine tuning of band gap by controlling the number of cycles, and paving the way for the utilization of 2D Bi2S3 in optoelectronic devices.

Recognizing Functional Groups of MES/APG Mixed Surfactants for Enhanced Solubilization toward Benzo[a]pyrene.

Benzo[a]pyrene is difficult to remove from soil due to its high octanol/water partition coefficient. The use of mixed surfactants can increase solubility but with the risk of secondary soil contamination, and the compounding mechanism is still unclear. This study introduced a new approach using environmentally friendly fatty acid methyl ester sulfonate (MES) and alkyl polyglucoside (APG) to solubilize benzo[a]pyrene. The best result was obtained when the ratio of MES/APG was 7:1 under 6 g/L total concentration, with an apparent solubility (Sw) of 8.58 mg/L and a molar solubilization ratio (MSR) of 1.31 for benzo[a]pyrene, which is comparable to that of Tween 80 (MSR, 0.95). The mechanism indicates that the hydroxyl groups (-OH) in APG form "O-H···OSO2-" hydrogen bonding with the sulfonic acid group (-SO3-) of MES, which reduces the electrostatic repulsion between MES molecules, thus facilitating the formation of large and stable micelles. Moreover, the strong solubilizing effect on benzo[a]pyrene should be ascribed to the low polarity of ester groups (-COOCH3) in MES. Functional groups capable of forming hydrogen bonds and having low polarity are responsible for the enhanced solubilization of benzo[a]pyrene. This understanding helps choose suitable surfactants for the remediation of PAH-contaminated soils.

Metal-organic framework/polyurea composite microreactors prepared in oil-in-oil emulsions

A new technique was developed to create composite microcapsules consisting of metal–organic framework (MOF) and polyurea. This method employs oil-in-oil (O/O) emulsion as a template for forming these microcapsules. It involves emulsifying a polar solvent containing MOF reagents within a nonpolar phase containing a suitable surfactant and an isocyanate monomer. Subsequently, the addition of the amine monomer initiates two simultaneous processes: the formation of MOF crystals in the core of polar droplets and the interfacial polymerization to create polyurea shell. Optimization of the method involved adjusting various parameters affecting the composite microcapsules' structure and morphology. These parameters include the surfactant’s type and concentration, the emulsion phases’ type and concentration, and quantity of the MOF component.This method was applied to create palladium-based MOF/polyurea microreactors by encapsulating sodium tetrachloropalladate and then reducing the palladium salt with hydrogen to generate reactive palladium species. The produced catalysts were utilized in the selective hydrogenation of terminal alkynes. It was observed that the selectivity of the catalyst is influenced by the quantity of encapsulated MOF, the amount of encapsulated palladium, and the solvent type used for the reaction.

Expression and functional analysis of a recombinant aquaporin Z from Antarctic Pseudomonas sp. AMS3.

Aquaporin (AQP) is a water channel protein from the family of transmembrane proteins which facilitates the movement of water across the cell membrane. It is ubiquitous in nature, however the understanding of the water transport mechanism, especially for AQPs in microbes adapted to low temperatures, remains limited. AQP also has been recognized for its ability to be used for water filtration, but knowledge of the biochemical features necessary for its potential applications in industrial processes has been lacking. Therefore, this research was conducted to express, extract, solubilize, purify, and study the functional adaptations of the aquaporin Z family from Pseudomonas sp. AMS3 via molecular approaches. In this study, AqpZ1 AMS3 was successfully subcloned and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) as a recombinant protein. The AqpZ1 AMS3 gene was expressed under optimized conditions and the best optimized condition for the AQP was in 0.5 mM IPTG incubated at 25°C for 20 h induction time. A zwitterionic mild detergent [(3-cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate was the suitable surfactant for the protein solubilization. The protein was then purified via affinity chromatography. Liposome and proteoliposome was reconstituted to determine the particle size using dynamic light scattering. This information obtained from this psychrophilic AQP identified provides new insights into the structural adaptation of this protein at low temperatures and could be useful for low temperature application and molecular engineering purposes in the future.

Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel and Their Nanobiodiesel Blends Infused with Reduced Graphene Oxide (RGO) Nanoparticles for Diesel Engine Applications

This work focusses on the potential application of waste cooking oil (WCO) as alternative to diesel as it is abundantly, locally available. The oil is subsequently converted into its biodiesel called waste cooking biodiesel (WCOBD). GCMS studies of the waste cooking oil and its biodiesel is carried out to determine the fatty acid composition. Further WCOBD is blended with diesel to produce its WCOBD B20 blend. The physio-chemical properties of the WCO, WCOBD, WCOBD B20 and their nano-biodiesel blends were determined and were compared with diesel. These properties of WCOBD B20 are in good agreement with diesel. This B20 blend can successfully provide 20% substitute to fossil diesel and save foreign exchange besides providing energy security to India. The fuel properties of the WCOBD B20 blends are further modified by adding carbon derived nanoparticles of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) to prepare nano-biodiesel blends. The percentage of RGO nanoparticles were varied from 20% to 100 % by volume insteps of 20% using suitable SDS surfactants. The stability of these nano-biodiesel blends is determined by using zeta potential method. The stability of decreased with increase in the nano-particle dosage in base biodiesel blends. Accordingly, the blends with dosage beyond 80% showed lower stability in terms of lower zeta potential values. The nano-biodiesel blends showed improvement in calorific value and self-ignition temperature compared to the B20 biodiesel blend. Among the Nano-biodiesel blends considered WCOME B20 RGO80 showed comparatively higher BTE (11.67%), reduced emissions of smoke opacity (14.63%), HC (21.42%), CO (16.67%), ID (10%), CD (16.67%) and increased NOx (2.5%), and PP (15.38%) respectively when compared to the WCOBD B20 blend.

TPGS-mediated Transethosomes Enhance Transdermal Administration of Curcumin via Effects on Deformability and Stability.

Adding a suitable surfactant can enhance the transdermal permeability of transethosomes while also leveraging its functionality as a functional material. In this study, transethosomes were prepared using D-α-tocopherol acid polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) as edge activators for transdermal delivery of curcumin (Cur). The TPGS-mediated curcumin-loaded transethosomes (Cur@TES) were prepared and formulated optimally, and the optimized formulations were characterized for their morphology, particle size, entrapment efficiency (EE) and drug loading (DL). The stability and deformability of Cur@TES were investigated, while the transdermal delivery of Cur@TES was investigated through in vitro transdermal assays and fluorescence imaging. A mouse ear swelling model was performed to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of Cur@TES. Cur@TES appeared round or elliptical in shape. The particle size, EE and DL for the optimized formulation were observed as 131.2 ± 7.2 nm, 97.68 ± 2.26%, and 6.58 ± 0.62%, respectively. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of disordered structures in the inner core of the vesicles. Moreover, Cur@TES system demonstrated better stability and deformability compared to the curcumin-loaded ethosomes (Cur@ES). In-vitro transdermal experiments demonstrated that Cur@TES significantly increased the amount of drug retained in the skin (P＜0.05). Fluorescence imaging confirmed that the skin distribution were distinctly enhanced with the delivery by TPGS mediated transethosomes. In addition, Cur@TES showed a significant inhibitory effect on Inflammatory swelling in the mouse ear-swelling model. TPGS-mediated transethosomes exhibit significant transdermal advantages and enhanced anti-inflammatory effects, providing a new perspective for the transdermal delivery of curcumin.