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Nanotechnology Jul 2023Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is well known nonselective and broad-spectrum herbicide that has been extensively used in agricultural areas around the world to...
Glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine) is well known nonselective and broad-spectrum herbicide that has been extensively used in agricultural areas around the world to increase agricultural productivity. However, the utilization of glyphosate can cause environmental contamination and health problems. Therefore, the detection of glyphosate with a fast, low-cost, and portable sensor is still important. In this work, the electrochemical sensor has been developed by modifying of working surface on the screen-printed silver electrode (SPAgE) with a mixtures solution between zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) by the drop-casting process. The ZnO-NPs have been prepared based on a sparking method by using pure zinc wires. The ZnO-NPs/PDDA/SPAgE sensor shows a wide range of glyphosate detection (0M-5 mM). The limit of detection of ZnO-NPs/PDDA/SPAgE is 2.84M. The ZnO-NPs/PDDA/SPAgE sensor exhibits high selective towards glyphosate with minimal interference from other commonly used herbicides including paraquat, butachlor-propanil and glufosinate-ammonium. Furthermore, the ZnO-NPs/PDDA/SPAgE sensor demonstrates a good estimation of glyphosate concentration in real samples such as green tea, corn juice and mango juice.
PubMed: 37402361
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ace3cc -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2023A sensitive and robust electrochemical cholinesterase-based sensor was developed to detect the quaternary ammonium (QAs) biocides most frequently found in agri-food...
A sensitive and robust electrochemical cholinesterase-based sensor was developed to detect the quaternary ammonium (QAs) biocides most frequently found in agri-food industry wash waters: benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC). To reach the maximum residue limit of 28 nM imposed by the European Union (EU), two types of cholinesterases were tested, acetylcholinesterase (AChE, from ) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE, from horse serum). The sensors were designed by entrapping AChE or BChE on cobalt phthalocyanine-modified screen-printed carbon electrodes. The limits of detection (LOD) of the resulting biosensors were 38 nM for DDAC and 320 nM for BAC, using, respectively, AChE and BChE. A simple solid-phase extraction step was used to concentrate the samples before biosensor analysis, allowing for the accurate determination of DDAC and BAC in tap water with limits of quantification (LOQ) as low as 2.7 nM and 5.3 nM, respectively. Additional assays demonstrated that the use of a phosphotriesterase enzyme allows for the total removal of interferences due to the possible presence of organophosphate insecticides in the sample. The developed biosensors were shown to be stable during 3 months storage at 4 °C.
PubMed: 38201162
DOI: 10.3390/foods13010133 -
Foods (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Antimicrobial tolerance is a significant concern in the food industry, as it poses risks to food safety and public health. To overcome this challenge, synergistic...
Antimicrobial tolerance is a significant concern in the food industry, as it poses risks to food safety and public health. To overcome this challenge, synergistic combinations of antimicrobials have emerged as a potential solution. In this study, the combinations of two essential oil constituents (EOCs), namely carvacrol (CAR) and eugenol (EUG), with the quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects against and , two common foodborne bacteria. The checkerboard assay was employed to determine the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) and the fractional bactericidal concentration index (FBCI), indicating the presence of bactericidal, but not bacteriostatic, synergy in all QAC-EOC combinations. Bactericidal synergism was clearly supported by Bliss independence analysis. The bactericidal activity of the promising synergistic combinations was further validated by time-kill curves, achieving a >4-log reduction of initial bacterial load, which is significant compared to typical industry standards. The combinations containing DDAC showed the highest efficiency, resulting in the eradication of bacterial population in less than 2-4 h. These findings emphasize the importance of considering both bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects when evaluating antimicrobial combinations and the potential of EOC-QAC combinations for sanitization and disinfection in the food industry.
PubMed: 38928773
DOI: 10.3390/foods13121831 -
The Science of the Total Environment Aug 2023During the pandemic of COVID-19, the amounts of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) used to inactivate the virus in public facilities, hospitals and households...
During the pandemic of COVID-19, the amounts of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) used to inactivate the virus in public facilities, hospitals and households increased, which raised concerns about the evolution and transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Although QACs may play an important role in the propagation of antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs), the potential contribution and mechanism remains unclear. Here, the results showed that benzyl dodecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDBAC) and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC) significantly promoted plasmid RP4-mediated ARGs transfer within and across genera at environmental relevant concentrations (0.0004-0.4 mg/L). Low concentrations of QACs did not contribute to the permeability of the cell plasma membrane, but significantly increased the permeability of the cell outer membrane due to the decrease in content of lipopolysaccharides. QACs altered the composition and content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and were positively correlated with the conjugation frequency. Furthermore, transcriptional expression levels of genes encode for mating pairing formation (trbB), DNA replication and translocation (trfA), and global regulators (korA, korB, trbA) are regulated by QACs. And we demonstrate for the first time that QACs decreased the concentration of extracellular AI-2 signals, which was verified to be involved in regulating conjugative transfer genes (trbB, trfA). Collectively, our findings underscore the risk of increased disinfectant concentrations of QACs on the ARGs transfer and provide new mechanisms of plasmid conjugation.
Topics: Humans; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Ammonium Chloride; COVID-19; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Genes, Bacterial; Plasmids
PubMed: 37149193
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163781 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 2024Calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stones are widely acknowledged as the most prevalent type of urinary stones, with high incidence and recurrence rates. Incarvillea diffusa...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Calcium oxalate (CaOx) kidney stones are widely acknowledged as the most prevalent type of urinary stones, with high incidence and recurrence rates. Incarvillea diffusa Royle (ID) is a traditionally used medicinal herb in the Miao Minzu of Guizhou province, China, for treating urolithiasis. However, the active components and the underlying mechanism of its pharmacodynamic effects remain unclear.
AIM OF THE STUDY
This study aimed to investigate the potential inhibitory effect of the active component of ID on the formation of CaOx nephrolithiasis and elucidate the underlying mechanism.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In vivo, a CaOx kidney stone model was induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats using an ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride protocol for four weeks. Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n = 8): blank group, model group, apocynin group, and low, medium, and high dose of ID's active component (IDW) groups. After three weeks of administration, rat urine, serum, and kidney tissues were collected. Renal tissue damage and crystallization, Ox, BUN, Ca, CRE, GSH, MDA, SOD contents, and levels of IL-1β, IL-18, MCP-1, caspase-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in urine, serum, and kidney tissue were assessed using HE staining and relevant assay kits, respectively. Protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1, p38, p65, and Toll-4 in kidney tissues was quantified via Western blot. The antioxidant capacities of major compounds were evaluated through DPPH, O, and ·OH radical scavenging assays, along with their effects on intracellular ROS production in CaOx-induced HK-2 cells.
RESULTS
We found that IDW could significantly reduce the levels of CRE, GSH, MDA, Ox, and BUN, and enhancing SOD activity. Moreover, it could inhibit the secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-18, MCP-1, caspase-1, and decreased protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1, p38, p65, and Toll-4 in renal tissue. Three major compounds isolated from IDW exhibited promising antioxidant activities and inhibited intracellular ROS production in CaOx-induced HK-2 cells.
CONCLUSIONS
IDW facilitated the excretion of supersaturated Ca and decreased the production of Ox, BUN in SD rat urine, and mitigated renal tissue damage by regulating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Importantly, the three major compounds identified as active components of IDW contributed to the inhibition of CaOx nephrolithiasis formation. Overall, IDW holds significant potential for treating CaOx nephrolithiasis.
Topics: Rats; Male; Animals; Calcium Oxalate; Reactive Oxygen Species; Interleukin-18; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Antioxidants; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Nephrolithiasis; Kidney; Superoxide Dismutase; Caspases
PubMed: 38272103
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117619 -
Environmental Science and Pollution... Mar 2024Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are environmentally persistent, bioaccumulating, and toxic compounds that have attracted global attention. It is...
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are environmentally persistent, bioaccumulating, and toxic compounds that have attracted global attention. It is challenging to reduce the residual concentrations of these compounds to safe discharge limits. In this study, batch experiments were performed to evaluate natural clinoptilolite and clinoptilolites modified (MC) with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC-MC), didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB-MC), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA-MC), and tetramethylammonium chloride (TMA-MC) as cost-effective aqueous PFAS adsorbents. The removal capacities of the adsorbents for the majority of the PFASs decreased in the following order: DDAB-MC > CPC-MC ≫ modified natural clinoptilolite with hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (HDTMA-MC) ≫ modified natural clinoptilolite with tetramethylammonium chloride (TMA-MC) ≈ natural clinoptilolite modified with NaCl (NC). In particular, CPC-MC and DDAB-MC reduced PFASs concentration in 50 μg/L by up to 98% for perfluorooctane sulphonate. Within 30 min, CPC-MC (30.5 μg/L) and DDAB-MC (32.1 μg/L) met the PFOS water quality criterion of 36 μg/L in inland surface waters. Both adsorbents met this criterion at the highest solution volume (40 mL) and 0.125 g/L (solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:8). PFASs with short hydrocarbon chains competed more for adsorption. PFASs with sulphonate functional groups were also adsorbed more than carboxyl groups in single- and multi-PFAS solutions. The modified surfaces of clinoptilolites controlled PFAS adsorption through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. PFAS removal with surfactant-modified clinoptilolites is cost-effective and protects aquatic environments by using surplus natural materials.
Topics: Surface-Active Agents; Lipoproteins; Adsorption; Fluorocarbons; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Zeolites
PubMed: 38329667
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-32194-4 -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry... Nov 2023In this report, an ammonium metatungstate (AMT) and ferrous chloride [Fe(II)Cl] electrochromic liquid (ECL) was synthesized using a hydrothermal method, with DO used as...
In this report, an ammonium metatungstate (AMT) and ferrous chloride [Fe(II)Cl] electrochromic liquid (ECL) was synthesized using a hydrothermal method, with DO used as the solvent instead of HO. The results show that the use of DO can improve the stability and performance of ECLs. The hydrogen evolution process in electrochromic devices (ECDs) filled with ECL becomes more difficult, while the material exchange process becomes easier. The ECD exhibits a color modulation amplitude of 58%@680 nm at 2 V. After 500 cycles, the device's performance remains above 95% at a current density of 1.5 mA/cm. Hydrogen bonds in DO solutions are expected to exhibit stronger forces compared to those in regular HO solutions. Therefore, we hypothesize that enhancing the strength of hydrogen bonds in HO solutions is an effective approach for improving the performance and stability of electrochromic solutions.
PubMed: 37870981
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02288 -
Water Research Oct 2023Magnesium galvanic process (MGP) can be applied to recover phosphate from source-separated urine. However, information on how the urine matrix affects MGP performance is...
Magnesium galvanic process (MGP) can be applied to recover phosphate from source-separated urine. However, information on how the urine matrix affects MGP performance is limited. Therefore, this study investigated the mechanism of phosphate recovery by MGP in synthetic and real urine matrixes. Our results showed that the major components in urine (i.e., NH, Cl, and HCO) all exhibited acceleration effects on corrosion of Mg plate. However, the underlying action mechanism of each component was distinct. Ammonium facilitated the conversion from MgO to Mg(OH), chloride complexed with Mg ions, and bicarbonate led to complexation as well as formation of MgCO. Furthermore, our results revealed an interesting aspect where although bicarbonate alone accelerated the corrosion of Mg plate, its coexistence with other ions inhibited overall performance due to the blocking effect of formed MgCO on chloride penetration and reduction in free magnesium ion concentration. After elucidating the interaction of NH, Cl, and HCO on the passive layer of the Mg plate, we proposed to pretreat urine with HCl, which resulted in a significant enhancement in current production and phosphate recovery. This improved MGP was further tested in a continuous flow reactor, which recovered over 95% of phosphate in real urine for more than 1 h. The phosphate precipitates were confirmed as high purity struvite. Generally, the improved MGP, which simultaneously produced Mg, dihydrogen, and electricity with no energy input, is a promising sustainable and green alternative for phosphate recovery from source-separated urine.
PubMed: 37776592
DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120669 -
Urolithiasis Apr 2024Urolithiasis is a prevalent urological disorder that contributes significantly to global morbidity. This study aimed to assess the anti-urolithic effects of Cymbopogon...
Cymbopogon proximus and Petroselinum crispum seed ethanolic extract/Gum Arabic nanogel emulsion: Preventing ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride-induced urolithiasis in rats.
Urolithiasis is a prevalent urological disorder that contributes significantly to global morbidity. This study aimed to assess the anti-urolithic effects of Cymbopogon proximus (Halfa Bar) and Petroselinum crispum (parsley) seed ethanolic extract /Gum Arabic (GA) emulsion, and its nanogel form against ethylene glycol (EG) and ammonium chloride (AC)-induced experimental urolithiasis in rats. Rats were divided into four groups: group 1 served as the normal control, group 2 received EG with AC in drinking water for 14 days to induce urolithiasis, groups 3 and 4 were orally administered emulsion (600 mg/kg/day) and nanogel emulsion (600 mg/kg/day) for 7 days, followed by co-administration with EG and AC in drinking water for 14 days. Urolithiatic rats exhibited a significant decrease in urinary excreted magnesium, and non-enzymic antioxidant glutathione and catalase activity. Moreover, they showed an increase in oxalate crystal numbers and various urolithiasis promoters, including excreted calcium, oxalate, phosphate, and uric acid. Renal function parameters and lipid peroxidation were intensified. Treatment with either emulsion or nanogel emulsion significantly elevated urolithiasis inhibitors, excreted magnesium, glutathione levels, and catalase activities. Reduced oxalate crystal numbers, urolithiasis promoters' excretion, renal function parameters, and lipid peroxidation while improving histopathological changes. Moreover, it decreased renal crystal deposition score and the expression of Tumer necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cleaved caspase-3. Notably, nanogel emulsion showed superior effects compared to the emulsion. Cymbopogon proximus (C. proximus) and Petroselinum crispum (P. crispum) seed ethanolic extracts/GA nanogel emulsion demonstrated protective effects against ethylene glycol induced renal stones by mitigating kidney dysfunction, oxalate crystal formation, and histological alterations.
Topics: Animals; Rats; Petroselinum; Ammonium Chloride; Cymbopogon; Gum Arabic; Emulsions; Catalase; Drinking Water; Magnesium; Nanogels; Urolithiasis; Kidney Calculi; Seeds; Antioxidants; Ethanol; Glutathione; Oxalates; Ethylene Glycols; Plant Extracts; Polyethylene Glycols; Polyethyleneimine
PubMed: 38564033
DOI: 10.1007/s00240-024-01559-2 -
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Aug 2023Manganese and phosphorus co-doped, graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) nanosheet (Mn/P-g-CN) is prepared by facile and green calcination process of melamine (CHN), manganese...
A facile and green synthesis of Mn and P functionalized graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for spintronics devices and enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible-light.
Manganese and phosphorus co-doped, graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) nanosheet (Mn/P-g-CN) is prepared by facile and green calcination process of melamine (CHN), manganese chloride tetrahydrate (MnCl·4HO), and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate ((NH)HPO). The Mn/P co-doping significantly enhances magnetic values compared to pristine-g-CN, phosphorus-doped g-CN (P-g-CN), and manganese-doped g-CN (Mn-g-CN). We find that Mn/P-g-CN is a half-metallic ferromagnetic material having a magnetic moment and Curie temperature of 4.51 μ and ∼ 800 K, respectively. The ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption spectrum of Mn/P-g-CN reveals superior absorption in broader wavelength compared to pristine-g-CN, P-g-CN, and Mn-g-CN. The methyl orange degradation efficiency of Mn/P-g-CN photocatalyst is 94 %, which is three times more than that of pristine-g-CN (29 %) and more significant than the P-g-CN (46 %) and Mn-g-CN (58 %). Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculation explains the origin of high magnetic behavior, the boosted photocatalytic efficiency of Mn/P-g-CN, and the essential material properties like structure, bandgap, the density of states (DOS), and atomic level interaction. This work may be helpful for reasonably designing ferromagnetic material for spintronics devices and boosting visible-light (VL) photocatalytic performance for environmental remediation.
PubMed: 37126890
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.04.057