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Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Jun 2024Piezocatalysis has emerged as a sustainable alternative for hydrogen peroxide production. However, the current development of efficient piezocatalysts is predominantly...
Piezocatalysis has emerged as a sustainable alternative for hydrogen peroxide production. However, the current development of efficient piezocatalysts is predominantly focusing on those conventional piezoelectric ceramic oxides with high permittivity and limited catalytic activities. Therefore, innovative approaches to develop novel piezocatalysts in particular from these outstanding paraelectric semiconductors are highly required. In this work, by employing a feasible doping strategy, robust piezoelectric property is created on the BaNbFeO double perovskite oxides, typically characterized by a stable paraelectric cubic structure. Optimum Fe doping not only intensifies the double perovskite phase but also inspires a phase transition from a centrosymmetric cubic to a piezoelectric tetragonal phase, thereby achieving desirable piezoelectricity and enabling a series of favorable physical properties including redox activity, active sites of anion defects, reduced bandgap, and increased free charge density. All these are important factors to enhance piezocatalytic activity. As a result, BaNbFeO achieved by the optimum Fe doping demonstrated exceptional piezocatalytic HO yield of 512 and 690 µmol g h under atmosphere and oxygen-purging conditions, respectively, without the presence of any sacrificial agents. Mechanistic investigations reveal that both water oxidation and oxygen reduction involve in the HO production, wherein piezopotential plays a critical role not only in facilitating the charge carrier separation and transportation but also in modulating the band structure to enhance the catalyst redox capacity. This study offers a feasible and universal strategy for the design of novel piezocatalysts, expanding the windows for catalyst selection for piezocatalysis.
PubMed: 38936082
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.06.179 -
PloS One 2024Geotextiles are excellent anti-filtration materials commonly used in the field of water conservancy engineering; however, the factors affecting the water permeability...
Geotextiles are excellent anti-filtration materials commonly used in the field of water conservancy engineering; however, the factors affecting the water permeability performance of geotextiles under stressed states during operation have not been fully identified. To investigate the effect of unidirectional stretching on the water permeability of geotextiles, a unidirectional rheological head infiltration test was conducted on the geotextiles using a self-developed test apparatus. In addition, the water permeability of geotextiles with different thicknesses and tensile states was calculated using a set of water permeability calculation methods based on the nonlaminar flow state of geotextiles. The results showed that the water permeability of the W120 geotextile samples initially decreased and then increased under warp stretching and gradually increased under weft stretching. However, the water permeability of the W200 geotextile samples initially decreased and then increased under both warp and weft stretching. Therefore, the thickness of the geotextile affected its permeability properties.
Topics: Permeability; Water; Tensile Strength; Rheology; Materials Testing
PubMed: 38935683
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306057 -
Indian Journal of Public Health Oct 2023LAMP assay is widely used for detecting pathogens. We observed that the conventional and gradient polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could not detect the extracted...
Electrophoresis of Amplicons is a Better Method to Understand the Performance of Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Screening the Presence of Escherichia coli in Water.
LAMP assay is widely used for detecting pathogens. We observed that the conventional and gradient polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could not detect the extracted Escherichia coli DNA; real-time PCR was able to detect up to a certain limit (10-8 bacterial dilution). At the same time, the LAMP assay could detect the bacteria at a much lower concentration (10-14 dilution). The results of the LAMP assay were evaluated using agarose gel electrophoresis and DNA binding dye (PicoGreen), but only gel electrophoresis gave reliable results. Therefore, we propose using electrophoresis-based amplicon detection to overcome the limitations of dye-based detection. We believe that this amplicon detection will go a long way in the screening of potable drinking water.
Topics: Escherichia coli; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; Water Microbiology; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Humans; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; DNA, Bacterial; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Drinking Water
PubMed: 38934812
DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_1628_22 -
Indian Journal of Dental Research :... Jan 2024Wet oral environment may have deleterious effects on performance of the composites due to influences of water sorption and solubility. The study evaluated the hydrolytic...
INTRODUCTION
Wet oral environment may have deleterious effects on performance of the composites due to influences of water sorption and solubility. The study evaluated the hydrolytic degradation caused because of water sorption and solubility of silorane and methacrylate-based dental composites.
METHODS
Ten disc samples (2 mm × 10 mm) were prepared. Samples were analyzed for water solubility and sorption according to ISO 4049:2000 regulations and tested for mass gain or loss following immersion in water or in artificial saliva at 1 day, 15 days, and 30 days period. Student's 't' test, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey's post-hoc tests determined statistical significance of the experimental results with global significance set at P = 0.05.
RESULTS
Considerable sorption and solubility was observed with time in both materials on immersion. Silorane composites showed lower water sorption and solubility than methacrylate-based composite (MBC). Artificial saliva demonstrated higher sorption and solubility compared to distilled water.
CONCLUSION
Silorane composites display enhanced hydrolytic stability even after a month of immersion in contrast to conventional methacrylate-based composites (MBCs), making it a better alternative to MBC resins clinically.
Topics: Solubility; Methacrylates; Composite Resins; Water; Silorane Resins; Saliva, Artificial; Materials Testing; Hydrolysis; Dental Materials
PubMed: 38934754
DOI: 10.4103/ijdr.ijdr_195_23 -
Frontiers in Chemistry 2024Development of low temperature catalytic pyrolysis technology for heated tobacco sheets is expected to increase the aroma of heated tobacco products and improve their...
Development of low temperature catalytic pyrolysis technology for heated tobacco sheets is expected to increase the aroma of heated tobacco products and improve their overall smoking quality. In this study, the low temperature pyrolysis performances of heated tobacco sheets catalyzed by various anionic sodium salts were investigated using TG-DTG, Py-GC-MS technology and smoke routine chemical composition analysis. The results showed that the total weight loss between 100°C and 300°C increased by 7.8%-13.15% after adding various anionic sodium salts, among which, sodium acetate and sodium tartrate showed a relatively higher weight loss. The relative content of free hydroxyacetone, furfuryl alcohol, butyrolactone and megastigmatrienone in the pyrolysis gas increased, while the relative content of free nicotine decreased. With the change of anionic species, the catalytic decomposition ability of cellulose, lignin, and other substances may change, resulting in the distribution alteration of compounds in the pyrolysis gas. After adding sodium acetate and sodium citrate, the release of total particulate matter (TPM), glycerol, and nicotine in flue gas increased. Overall, the addition of sodium acetate and sodium citrate showed a higher low temperature pyrolysis performance of heated tobacco sheets. The research results in this paper provide data support for changing the low temperature catalytic pyrolysis performance of heated tobacco sheets by adjusting the type of anions in sodium salts.
PubMed: 38933929
DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1425244 -
ACS Catalysis May 2024Electrochemical ozone production (EOP), a six-electron water oxidation reaction, offers promising avenues for creating value-added oxidants and disinfectants. However,...
Electrochemical ozone production (EOP), a six-electron water oxidation reaction, offers promising avenues for creating value-added oxidants and disinfectants. However, progress in this field is slowed by a dearth of understanding of fundamental reaction mechanisms. In this work, we combine experimental electrochemistry, spectroscopic detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxygen-anion chemical ionization mass spectrometry, and computational quantum chemistry calculations to determine a plausible reaction mechanism on nickel- and antimony-doped tin oxide (Ni/Sb-SnO, NATO), one of the most selective EOP catalysts. Antimony doping is shown to increase the conductivity of the catalyst, leading to improved electrochemical performance. Spectroscopic analysis and electrochemical experiments combined with quantum chemistry predictions reveal that hydrogen peroxide (HO) is a critical reaction intermediate. We propose that leached Ni cations catalyze hydrogen peroxide into solution phase hydroperoxyl radicals (OOH); these radicals are subsequently oxidized to ozone. Isotopic product analysis shows that ozone is generated catalytically from water and corrosively from the catalyst oxide lattice without regeneration of lattice oxygens. Further quantum chemistry calculations and thermodynamic analysis suggest that the electrochemical corrosion of tin oxide itself might generate hydrogen peroxide, which is then catalyzed to ozone. The proposed pathways explain both the roles of dopants in NATO and its lack of stability. Our study interrogates the possibility that instability and electrochemical activity are intrinsically linked through the formation of ROS. In doing so, we provide the first mechanism for EOP that is consistent with computational and experimental results and highlight the central challenge of instability as a target for future research efforts.
PubMed: 38933735
DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.4c01317 -
RSC Advances Jun 2024Delivering macromolecules across the skin poses challenges due to the barrier properties of stratum corneum. Different strategies have been reported to cross this...
Delivering macromolecules across the skin poses challenges due to the barrier properties of stratum corneum. Different strategies have been reported to cross this barrier, such as chemical penetration enhancers and physical methods like microneedles, sonophoresis, electroporation, laser ablation, Herein, we explored a cationic lipo-polymeric nanocarrier to deliver a model protein across the skin. A cationic amphiphilic lipo-polymer was used to prepare blank nanoplexes, which were subsequently complexed with anionic fluorescein-tagged bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA). Blank nanoplexes and FITC-BSA complexed nanoplexes showed sizes of 93.72 ± 5.8 (PDI-0.250) and 145.9 ± 3.2 nm (PDI-0.258), respectively, and zeta potentials of 25.6 ± 7.0 mV and 9.17 ± 1.20 mV. cell culture, and toxicity studies showed optimal use of these nanocarriers, with hemocompatibility data indicating non-toxicity. skin permeation analysis showed a skin permeation rate of 33% after 24 h. The optimized formulation was loaded in a carbopol-based gel that exhibits non-Newtonian flow characteristics with shear-thinning behavior and variable thixotropy. The nanoplexes delivered gel demonstrated skin permeation of 57% after 24 h in mice skin . skin toxicity testing confirmed the low toxicity profile of these nanocarriers. These results are promising for the transdermal/dermal delivery of macromolecules, such as protein therapeutics, using nanoplexes.
PubMed: 38932980
DOI: 10.1039/d4ra02337d -
Polymers Jun 2024Functional polymers play an important role in various biomedical applications. From many choices, poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) (PIPOx) represents a promising reactive... (Review)
Review
Functional polymers play an important role in various biomedical applications. From many choices, poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) (PIPOx) represents a promising reactive polymer with great potential in various biomedical applications. PIPOx, with pendant reactive 2-oxazoline groups, can be readily prepared in a controllable manner via several controlled/living polymerization methods, such as living anionic polymerization, atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), reversible addition-fragmentation transfer (RAFT) or rare earth metal-mediated group transfer polymerization. The reactivity of pendant 2-oxazoline allows selective reactions with thiol and carboxylic group-containing compounds without the presence of any catalyst. Moreover, PIPOx has been demonstrated to be a non-cytotoxic polymer with immunomodulative properties. Post-polymerization functionalization of PIPOx has been used for the preparation of thermosensitive or cationic polymers, drug conjugates, hydrogels, brush-like materials, and polymer coatings available for drug and gene delivery, tissue engineering, blood-like materials, antimicrobial materials, and many others. This mini-review covers new achievements in PIPOx synthesis, reactivity, and use in biomedical applications.
PubMed: 38932057
DOI: 10.3390/polym16121708 -
Polymers Jun 2024As increasing fiber hydrophobicity can significantly improve the paper dewatering process, we found that replacing SBKP and HBKP with 0.5% superhydrophobic CPGMA can...
As increasing fiber hydrophobicity can significantly improve the paper dewatering process, we found that replacing SBKP and HBKP with 0.5% superhydrophobic CPGMA can significantly improve the dewatering of paper sheets. Therefore, it can be concluded that if CPGMA has little effect on paper properties, it will have potential industrial value in the papermaking industry. Consequently, it is necessary to further study the effect of the CPGMAs@CPAM/SiO/APAM system on paper properties. To evaluate the application potential of the system in the papermaking industry, we investigated the effects of CPGMAs, which replaced the fibers in the stocks, on the paper properties in the CPAM/SiO/APAM system. The findings demonstrate that as the CPGMA replacement increased, the paper's tensile strength, bursting strength, tear resistance, and folding endurance all declined. The trend can be segmented into two phases: a rapid decrease for substitution amounts below 0.5% and a gradual decline for substitution amounts exceeding 0.5%. When replaced with a small amount of CPGMAs, there was a negligible effect on these properties. Second, the paper air permeability increased with the CPGMA substitution amount in the stock. Furthermore, the trend of paper air permeability can be divided into two stages-a rapid stage with a substitution amount of <0.5% and a slow stage with a substitution amount of >0.5%. A small amount of CPGMAs could distinctly improve the paper's air permeability. Third, CPGMAs, which replaced fibers in the stock, minutely affected the paper formation. A small amount of CPGMAs substantially boosted the efficacy of the process of paper manufacture and certain characteristics of the paper, and it had a negligible impact on the strength of paper. The CPGMAs@CPAM/SiO/APAM technology has the potential to improve the retention and filtration performance of CPAM/SiO/APAM.
PubMed: 38932028
DOI: 10.3390/polym16121678 -
Pharmaceutics Jun 2024Zastaprazan (JP-1366), a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, is a new drug for the treatment of erosive esophagitis. JP-1366 is highly metabolized in human, mouse,...
Zastaprazan (JP-1366), a novel potassium-competitive acid blocker, is a new drug for the treatment of erosive esophagitis. JP-1366 is highly metabolized in human, mouse, and dog hepatocytes but moderately metabolized in rat and monkey hepatocytes when estimated from the metabolic stability of this compound in hepatocyte suspension and when 18 phase I metabolites and 5 phase II metabolites [i.e., -dearylation (M6), hydroxylation (M1, M19, M21), dihydroxylation (M7, M8, M14, M22), trihydroxylation (M13, M18), hydroxylation and reduction (M20), dihydroxylation and reduction (M9, M16), hydrolysis (M23), hydroxylation and glucuronidation (M11, M15), hydroxylation and sulfation (M17), dihydroxylation and sulfation (M10, M12), -dearylation and hydroxylation (M3, M4), -dearylation and dihydroxylation (M5), and -dearylation and trihydroxylation (M2)] were identified from JP-1366 incubation with the hepatocytes from humans, mice, rats, dogs, and monkeys. Based on the cytochrome P450 (CYP) screening test and immune-inhibition analysis with CYP antibodies, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 played major roles in the metabolism of JP-1366 to M1, M3, M4, M6, M8, M9, M13, M14, M16, M18, M19, M21, and M22. CYP1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, and 2D6 played minor roles in the metabolism of JP-1366. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7 and UGT2B17 were responsible for the glucuronidation of M1 to M15. However, JP-1366 and active metabolite M1 were not substrates for drug transporters such as organic cation transporter (OCT) 1/2, organic anion transporter (OAT) 1/3, organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP)1B1/1B3, multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE)1/2K, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and breast cancer-resistant protein (BCRP). Only M1 showed substrate specificity for P-gp. The findings indicated that drug-metabolizing enzymes, particularly CYP3A4/3A5, may have a significant role in determining the pharmacokinetics of zastaprazan while drug transporters may only have a small impact on the absorption, distribution, and excretion of this compound.
PubMed: 38931920
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060799