Selective cytotoxic effects of nitrogen-doped graphene coated mixed iron oxide nanoparticles on HepG2 as a new potential therapeutic approach.

New selective therapeutics are needed for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the 7th most common cancer. In this study, we compared the cytotoxic effect induced by the release of pH-dependent iron nanoparticles from nitrogen-doped graphene-coated mixed iron oxide nanoparticles (FexOy/N-GN) with the cytotoxic effect of nitrogen-doped graphene (N-GN) and commercial graphene nanoflakes (GN) in Hepatoma G2 (HepG2) cells and healthy cells. The cytotoxic effect of nanocomposites (2.5-100 ug/ml) on HepG2 and healthy fibroblast (BJ) cells (12-48 h) was measured by Cell Viability assay, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was calculated. After the shortest (12 h) and longest incubation (48 h) incubation periods in HepG2 cells, IC50 values of FexOy/N-GN were calculated as 21.95 to 2.11 µg.mL-1, IC50 values of N-GN were calculated as 39.64 to 26.47 µg.mL-1 and IC50 values of GN were calculated as 49.94 to 29.94, respectively. After 48 h, FexOy/N-GN showed a selectivity index (SI) of 10.80 for HepG2/BJ cells, exceeding the SI of N-GN (1.27) by about 8.5-fold. The high cytotoxicity of FexOy/N-GN was caused by the fact that liver cancer cells have many transferrin receptors and time-dependent pH changes in their microenvironment increase iron release. This indicates the potential of FexOy/N-GN as a new selective therapeutic.

Flow-through electrosorption process for removal of 2,4-D pesticide from aqueous solutions onto activated carbon cloth fixed-bed electrodes.

Wastewater treatment systems have great importance in dealing with increasing environmental pollution. In this study, a specially designed and constructed flow-through electrochemical cell was used to enhance the electrosorptive removal capacity of 2,4-Dichlorofenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) pesticide from aqueous solutions onto high area activated carbon cloth (ACC) fixed-bed electrodes. The change in concentration of 2,4-D during the electrosorption process was followed by an online UV-Vis spectrophotometric system. Effects of operational parameters such as volumetric flow rate, applied potential and existence of Na2SO4 salt on electrosorption of 2,4-D were examined. Optimum values were found to be 10 mL·min-1 for volumetric flow rate and +900 mV for the applied potential to polarize ACC. Maximum capacity of 729 mg·gACC-1 has been achieved for removal of 2,4-D pesticides.

Electrochemically enhanced removal of polycyclic aromatic basic dyes from dilute aqueous solutions by activated carbon cloth electrodes.

Open-circuit (OC) adsorption and electrosorption behaviors of three polycyclic aromatic dyes from dilute aqueous solutions onto activated carbon cloth (ACC) were investigated. The selected dyes were crystal violet (BB-3), basic blue7 (BB-7), and basic blue11 (BB-11). OC adsorption and electrosorption processes were monitored by in situ UV-visible spectrophotometry. Electrosorption was carried out by polarization of an ACC electrode, galvanostatically. Considerable enhancements in removal capacity and duration of the dyes were achieved upon polarization of ACC. Kinetic data for OC adsorption and electrosorption were successfully treated according to pseudo-first-order law, and rate constants were determined. Adsorption isotherms were derived, and the data were treated according to Langmuir and Freundlich equations. Both the rate and extent of adsorption and electrosorption of dyes were found to increase in the order of BB-7 < BB-11 < BB-3. This order was discussed in terms of correlation between sizes of dye species and of ACC pores. Electrodesorption experiments were carried out to explore possibilities of regeneration of ACC.

Adsorption/electrosorption of catechol and resorcinol onto high area activated carbon cloth.

Removal of catechol and resorcinol from aqueous solutions by adsorption and electrosorption onto high area activated carbon cloth (ACC) was investigated. Kinetics of both adsorption and electrosorption were followed by in-situ UV-spectroscopic method and the data were treated according to pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. It was found that the adsorption and electrosorption of these compounds onto ACC follows pseudo-second-order model. pH changes during adsorption and electrosorption were followed and discussed with regard to the interaction between ACC and adsorbate molecules, utilizing the pH(pzc) value of ACC. An electrodesorption experiment was conducted to explore the possibility of regeneration of ACC. Adsorption isotherms were derived at 25 degrees C on the basis of batch analysis. The fits of experimental isotherm data to the well-known Freundlich, Langmuir and Tempkin models were examined.

Kinetic and equilibrium studies on the removal of acid dyes from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto activated carbon cloth.

Removal of acid dyes Acid Blue 45, Acid Blue 92, Acid Blue 120 and Acid Blue 129 from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto high area activated carbon cloth (ACC) was investigated. Kinetics of adsorption was followed by in situ UV-spectroscopy and the data were treated according to pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. It was found that the adsorption process of these dyes onto ACC follows the pseudo-second-order model. Adsorption isotherms were derived at 25 degrees C on the basis of batch analysis. Isotherm data were treated according to Langmuir and Freundlich models. The fits of experimental data to these equations were examined.

Adsorption of phthalic acid and its esters onto high-area activated carbon-cloth studied by in situ UV-spectroscopy.

The adsorption behavior of phthalic acid and its three esters dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate and diallyl phthalate onto high-area activated carbon-cloth was studied by in situ UV-spectroscopic technique. The effect of ionization of phthalic acid on its adsorption was examined by carrying out the adsorption process in three media; water, 1 M H(2)SO(4) and 0.005 M NaOH. Maximum adsorption was observed in 1 M H(2)SO(4) and almost no adsorption in 0.005 M NaOH. These results were discussed in terms of electrostatic and dispersion interactions between the adsorbate species and the carbon-cloth surface taking the point of zero charge (pH(pzc)) of the carbon-cloth into account. The adsorption process for the phthalate species studied was found to follow the first-order rate law, and the rate constants were determined. The isotherm data for the adsorption of phthalic acid and its esters were derived experimentally and fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm equations. Both equations were found to represent the experimental isotherm data almost equally well.

Adsorption of benzoic acid onto high specific area activated carbon cloth.

The adsorption of benzoic acid from aqueous solution onto high area carbon cloth at different pH values has been studied. Over a period of 125 min the adsorption process was found to follow a first-order kinetics and the rate constants were determined for the adsorption of benzoic acid at pH 2.0, 3.7, 5.3, 9.1, and 11.0. The extents of adsorption and the percentage coverage of carbon cloth surfaces were calculated at 125 min of adsorption. Adsorption isotherms at pH values of 2.0, 3.7, and 11.0 were derived at 25 degrees C. Isotherm data were treated according to Langmuir and Freundlich equations and the parameters of these equations were evaluated by regression analysis. The fit of experimental isotherm data to both equations was good. It was found that both the adsorption rate and the extent of adsorption at 125 min were the highest at pH 3.7 and decreased at higher or lower pH values. The types of interactions governing in the adsorption processes are discussed considering the surface charge and the dissociation of benzoic acid at different pH values.