Optimization of fenugreek seed mucilage extraction for the synthesis of a novel bio-nano composite for efficient removal of cadmium ions from aqueous environments.

This research investigates the application of an innovative bio-nanocomposite, Fenugreek seed mucilage/silicon carbide (FSM/SiC), as an exceptionally effective adsorbent for eliminating cadmium ions from aqueous solutions. Optimization of fenugreek mucilage extraction involved ultrasonic methods, establishing ideal conditions with a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:55, 50 °C temperature, 37 kHz frequency, 100 % power, and 30 min processing time. Comprehensive characterization through FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, imaging, DLS, and SEM confirmed the preservation of crucial adsorption-related characteristics. Enhanced adsorption efficiency was achieved by systematically adjusting pH, temperature, adsorbent concentration, pollutant concentration, and contact time, identifying optimal conditions at pH 6, 0.03 g adsorbent dosage, 35 min contact time, and 30 mg/L initial cadmium concentration at 30 °C. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model, while the Langmuir isotherm fit suggested monolayered adsorption. Thermodynamic analysis indicated exothermic and spontaneous Cd2+ ion adsorption onto FSM/SiC. Remarkably, FSM/SiC demonstrated exceptional regeneration potential, positioning it as a promising solution for water decontamination and environmental remediation. This research showcases FSM/SiC's potential with a maximum adsorption capacity of 41.6 mg/g for cadmium ions, highlighting its significance in addressing cadmium contamination.

Assessment of the effective parameters for the enhancement of light-harvesting power in the photoelectrochemical microbial fuel cell.

Photo-assisted microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) are novel bioelectrochemical systems that employ light to harvest bioelectricity and efficient contaminant reduction. In this study, the impact of different operational conditions on the electricity generation outputs in a photoelectrochemical double chamber configuration Microbial fuel cell using a highly useful photocathode are evaluated and their trends are compared with the photoreduction efficiency trends. As a photocathode, a binder-free photo electrode decorated with dispersed polyaniline nanofiber (PANI)-cadmium sulphide Quantum Dots (QDs) is prepared here to catalyse the chromium (VI) reduction reaction in a cathode chamber with an improvement in power generation performance. Bioelectricity generation is examined in various process conditions like photocathode materials, pH, initial concentration of catholyte, illumination intensity and time of illumination. Results show that, despite the harmful effect of the initial contaminant concentration on the reduction efficiency of the contaminant, this parameter exhibits a superior ability for improving the power generation efficiency in a Photo-MFC. Furthermore, the calculated power density under higher light irradiation intensity has experienced a significant increase, which is due to an increment in the number of photons produced and an increase in their chance of reaching the electrodes surface. On the other hand, additional results indicate that the power generation decreases with the rise of pH and has witnessed the same trend as the photoreduction efficiency.

Evaluation of the Spiral Chest CT Scan Findings in Patients with Multiple Trauma.

Objective: To evaluate the spiral chest computed tomography (CT) scan findings in patients with multiple trauma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This retrospective study was performed on multiple trauma patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in the north of Iran in 2020. All patients with multiple trauma who had undergone a chest spiral CT were included in this study. Furthermore, the data analysis was performed through descriptive and analytical statistics using SPSS software. Results: A total of 600 patients were included over the study period. The mean age of patients was 48.2±20.3 years. Of the total, 496 (65.3%) patients had blunt chest injuries, and 104 (34.7%) had penetrating chest injuries. Falling was the most common mechanical cause of chest trauma in 270 patients (45%). Surgical interventions were performed in 110 (18.3%) patients. A total of 276 (46%) patients had chest injuries identified by CT scans. Many patients (15.6%) had ground-glass lung opacity in the CT scan reports. Lung consolidation, pneumothorax, lung contusion, hemothorax, and rib fractures were the most common. Conclusion: Due to the high frequency of typical findings in spiral CT scan examinations, obtaining a reliable history of trauma severity, injury mechanism, and a detailed physical examination is recommended before prescribing a CT scan for patients.

Synthesis of ZnFe2O4@Uio-66 nanocomposite for the photocatalytic degradation of metronidazole antibiotic under visible light irradiation.

In this study, the application of ZnFe2O4, Uio-66 nanoparticles and ZnFe2O4@Uio-66 photocatalytic nanocomposites, with different ratios of each component was synthesized and applied for the photocatalytic degradation of metronidazole (MNZ) antibiotic. The samples were characterized with (FTIR), (XRD), (SEM), (DLS), (VSM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic process was performed under visible light in an aqueous solution. The optical studies revealed that the addition of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles could stimulate the activation wavelength of the nanocomposite, effectively shifting it to the visible light region, and correspondingly reduce the bandgap. To evaluate the ability of ZnFe2O4@Uio-66 magnetic nanocatalyst to degrade metronidazole, effective parameters such as the initial concentration of MNZ in aqueous solution(10-90 mg/L), pH(2-10), the illumination and darkness time and photocatalyst dosage(0.01-0.05 g) were investigated and optimized. It was observed that when ZnFe2O4 concentration was twice that of Uio-66, the degradation efficiency increased. The optimum degradation conditions, at which 93.7% degradation efficiency was achieved, were determined at 120 min brightness, 40 min darkness, pH = 8, initial concentration of 10 ppm, and photocatalyst content of 0.03 g. Based on the results of photocatalytic degradation kinetics, all the samples followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood pseudo-first-order kinetics model. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-021-00713-x.

Separation of copper ions by nanocomposites using adsorption process.

In this research, a novel nanocomposite adsorbent, graphene oxide modified with magnetite nanoparticles and Lauric acid containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (GFLE) has been applied for the eliminate of Cu2+ ions. Adsorption performance was considered as a function of solution pH, Cu2+ ions concentration (C Cu2+), and temperature (T) and contact time (t). The levels of each variable were statistically optimized by Central Composite Design (CCD) and the response surface methodology (RSM) procedure to enhance the yield of system design. In these calculations, Y was measured as the response (the secondary concentration of Cu2+ ions in mg L-1). Highest copper adsorption occurred at time of 105 min, temperature of 40 °C, the initial concentration of 280 mg L-1, and pH = 1. The sorption equilibrium was well demonstrated using the Freundlich isotherm model. The second-order kinetics model suggested that the sorption mechanism might be ion exchange reactions. Thermodynamic factors and activation energy values displayed that the uptake process of Cu2+ ions was spontaneous, feasible, endothermic and physical in nature. Regeneration studies also revealed that GFLE could be consistently reused up to 3 cycles.

Synthesis and modification of crystalline SBA-15 nanowhiskers as a pH-sensitive metronidazole nanocarrier system.

Clinical resistance to drugs and diminution in their side effects have become great issues for pharmacologists. In veterinary medicine, parasites like Trichomonas gallinae are of veterinary, hygienic and economic importance and can be treated by metronidazole. Unfortunately, scientific evidence has been reported about its resistance and serious side effects in trichomoniasis. In this research, it was attempted to introduce a new procedure to lower side effects of the drug molecules and also, enhance the treatment of disease. Whisker-formed SBA-15 nanoparticles were utilized for the first time in this issue. They had mesoporous structures which metronidazole molecules could be trapped in them. Additionally, these crystalline nanowhiskers were modified with tannic acid to make the release process better. The branches of tannic acid covered the opening of pores in crystalline SBA-15 nanowhiskers and restricted the drug from fast release. It caused a controlled metronidazole release in the smart drug delivery. These nanocarriers were completely tested by several experiments. Whisker-like SBA-15 nanocrystals had a mesopore volume of 0.5931 cm3/g, pore diameter of 6.06 nm and surface area of 491.38 m2/g. Based on TGA analysis, 10% of tannic acid was coated on the crystalline nanowhiskers during the modification. The metronidazole content and entrapment efficiency of final nanocarriers was 28.56% and 71.40%, respectively. The decomposition of tannic acid in lower pHs made whisker-like SBA-15@tannic acid nanocrystals be pH-responsive which can be used for other applications in the pharmacology. In-vitro study revealed that the minimal lethal concentration of nanocarriers was 0.5 mg/mL for 180 min.

Facile synthesis of smartaminosilane modified- SnO2/porous silica nanocomposite for high efficiency removal of lead ions and bacterial inactivation.

The aim of the present study is to synthesize a new and proficient nanoadsorbent for rapid removal of heavy metals and disinfection of microorganisms. The proposed nanoadsorbent was fabricated using SnO2 nanoparticles as the core, coated with mesoporous silica and further modified with 3-Aminopropyl triethoxysilane to render SnO2/PSi/NH2 nanocomposite. The nanocomposite was characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. The potential of the resultant SnO2/PSi/NH2 nanocomposite for the convenient removal of Lead ions in a batch systems was investigated as a function of solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, temperature and metal ion concentration. The adsorption behavior was in good agreement with Sips and Langmuir isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity of SnO2/PSi/NH2 was 653.62 mg g-1. Furthermore, the desorption experiments demonstrated that the proposed nanocomposite could be used frequently for at least three consecutive cycles with minor losses in adsorption performance. The bacterial inactivation ability of SnO2/PSi/NH2 toward E-Coli and S. aureus bacteria was also evaluated using disk diffusion and linear cultivation tests, according to which the SnO2/PSi/NH2 nanocomposite possessed exceptional disinfection ability toward both bacteria, specifically S. aureus.

The application of response surface methodology on the synthesis of conductive polyaniline/cellulosic fiber nanocomposites.

The chemical oxidation polymerization was used in situ aimed at preparing polyaniline/cellulosic fiber nanocomposites that are highly intrinsic and conductive in nature. The prepared composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) thermal Gravimetric analysis (TGA), and their morphology was investigated using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) to elucidate the mechanism of conductivity decay of the paper nanocomposite. Box-Behnken experimental design method was applied to determine the optimum synthesis parameters. The optimum conditions were found to be surfactant type: cationic, mass ratio of fibers/aniline: 0.5, and time of polymerization: 12 h. The result of the subsequent investigation of the properties which are mechanical and related to the paper sheets revealed that adding PANi decreases the amounts of breaking length, and tear and burst factors.

Experimental design data for the zinc ions adsorption based on mesoporous modified chitosan using central composite design method.

In the present study, new generation of silica-based mesoporous adsorbents were introduced for the removal of heavy metals with the aim of developing new adsorption technologies in water treatment. The magnetic nanoadsorbent, prepared by modification of SBA-15 with [3-(2-Aminoethylamino) propyl] trimethoxysilane (AEAPTMS)-functionalized chitosan, was applied for the removal of Zn2+ from aqueous solution. The synthesized Fe2O3@SBA-15-CS-AEAPTMS nanoadsorbent was thoroughly characterized using XRD, TEM, FTIR and BET analysis. In order to determine the optimum condition of Zn2+ adsorption on Fe2O3@SBA-15-CS-AEAPTMS (3 ml), the experiments were performed based on central composite design in a response surface methodology method. The obtained results were further studied using adsorption kinetic, isotherm and thermodynamic relations which revealed that Zn2+ adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic with enhanced adsorption efficiency achieved for higher contents of functional groups. In addition, according to the results, the adsorption process was best conformed to Langmuir isotherm (with R2 > 0.99 and qmax = 107.21 mg g-1) and pseudo second-order kinetic model (with R2 > 0.999). The values of standard entropy (DS°) and activation energy (Ea) reduced as the initial concentration was increased and the dominant mechanism was found to be chemisorption.

Fabrication of NiFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon as novel nanoadsorbent for Direct Red 31 and Direct Blue 78 adsorption.

In this research, magnetic nickel ferrite NiFe2O4/hazelnut-shell-based activated carbon (NiFe2O4/AC) was used to eliminate anionic dyes (Direct Red 31(DR31) and Direct Blue 78 (DB78)) from aqueous solution. The morphological, structural, particle size and surface charge properties of as-prepared nanoadsorbent were characterized. TEM (Transmission electron microscopy) images revealed that the size of NiFe2O4 particles in the structure of AC was in the range of 8-12 nm, which is compatible with the results obtained by the analysis of DLS (Dynamic light scattering). The results of the BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis indicated that the surface area, the pore volume and average pore diameters of the NiFe2O4 were 288 m2/g, 0.3338 cm3/g and 5.05nm, respectively. The as-prepared nanocomposite showed excellent adsorption capacity for DR31 and DB78 dyes with the highest adsorption capacity obtained at pH=2.0 and rapid dye adsorption equilibrium attained after 20 and 25 min for DR31 and DB78, respectively. The equilibrium study showed the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 299.67 mg/g and 209.13 mg/g for DR31 and DB78, respectively. In addition, thermodynamic study revealed the endothermic and spontaneous nature of adsorption process. The adsorption of DR31 and DB78 onto the NiFe2O4/AC is a physisorption process, during which electrostatic adsorption was the main driving force.

Surface modified polythiophene nanocomposite using HPC and DBSNa for heavy metal ion removal.

In the present work, surface modified nanocomposite adsorbents polythiophene (PTh)/rice husk ash (RHA) have successfully been synthesized in the presence of hydroxyl propyl cellulose (HPC) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (DBSNa) as surfactants. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the synthesized nanocomposite adsorbents were applied as an efficient sorbent for Pb(II) ion removal from contaminated water and the removal efficiency was compared to pure PTh/RHA composite. Several variables affecting the extraction efficiency of the nanoadsorbent i.e., adsorbent dosage, metal ion concentration, extraction time, and adsorption conditions were investigated. The highest efficiency of adsorption (98.12%) was achieved with 0.05 g of PTh/RHA/HPC nanocomposite adsorbent in 50 mL of 10 mg/L Pb(II) solution. Equilibrium studies were also performed with known linear and non-linear adsorption isotherms including Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips from which the best result was achieved with Freundlich and Sips isotherms representing multilayer adsorption on heterogeneous structure of the adsorbent. The pseudo-first-order model and the pseudo-second-order model were adopted to analyze the adsorption kinetics of Pb(II) on PTh/RHA/HPC and PTh/RHA/DBSNa. The consistency of the experimental adsorption capacity with the ones calculated from the pseudo-second-order kinetic model illustrated that the adsorption of Pb(II) onto both adsorbents at initial concentration of 50 mg/L was probably controlled by chemical adsorption.

In vivo evaluation of toxicity and antiviral activity of polyrhodanine nanoparticles by using the chicken embryo model.

Evaluation of the potential cytotoxicity of polyrhodanine nanoparticles is an important factor for its biological applications. In current study, for the first time histopathological and biochemical analysis of polyrhodanine besides of its antiviral activity against Newcastle disease virus (NDV) were examined on chicken embryo model. Polyrhodanine was synthesized by the chemical oxidative polymerization method. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). Different doses of polyrhodanine nanoparticles were injected into the albumen in 4-day-old embryonic eggs for groups: (0.1ppm, 1ppm, 10ppm and 100ppm), while the Control group received only normal saline. The gross examination of chicks revealed no abnormality. No pathological changes were detected in microscopical examination of the liver, kidney, spleen, heart, bursa of Fabricius and central nervous system tissues. Blood serum biochemical indices showed no significant differences between control and treatment groups. Interestingly, polyrhodanine nanoparticles showed strong antiviral activity against NDV in ovo. These preliminary findings suggest that polyrhodanine nanoparticles without any toxicity effect could be utilized in controlling Newcastle disease in chickens.

Synthesis of a smart pH-responsive magnetic nanocomposite as high loading carrier of pharmaceutical agents.

To create facile external controlled drug delivery system, a magnetic porous carrier based on Tin oxide nanoparticles was synthesized by an inexpensive and versatile hydrothermal strategy and used for in-vitro process. Magnetic nanocomposites were qualified by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Vibrational Sample Magnetometer (VSM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Results showed that nanoparticles were synthesized successfully with good dispersion of magnetic nanoparticles in cavity, uniform particle size distribution with average size of 65nm and high magnetization of 33.75 emu/mg. Furthermore, the nano-porosity and magnetism allowed high efficiency and remote controlled drug release. In this study, anti-migraine Sumatriptan was used as drug sample and the effect of drug concentration, Fe/Sn ratio and loading time on drug absorption were investigated. The best result was checked for stability at body temperature and different body pH. The sample with drug concentration of 0.25(mg/ml), Fe/Sn=0.22 and loading time of 1.5h had the highest drug efficiency (70%). Finally, in order to simulate the in vivo process for in-vitro step, Amnion was used and drug diffusion rate was measured in different intervals and different pH values. The result illustrated that after 25h, diffusion reached 65% at pH=2 and 56% at pH=7, and then became constant. Based on the above mentioned results, the carrier has an acceptable in vitro yield and therefore could be chosen for future in vivo researches.

Thermal stability enhancement of modified carboxymethyl cellulose films using SnO2 nanoparticles.

In this study, in-situ and ex-situ hydrothermal synthesis procedures were applied to synthesize novel CMC/porous SnO2 nanocomposites from rice husk extracted carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) biopolymer. In addition, the effects of SnO2 nanoparticles on thermal stability of the prepared nanocomposite were specifically studied. Products were investigated in terms of morphology, particle size, chemical structure, crystallinity and thermal stability by using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. Presence of characteristic bands in the FTIR spectra of samples confirmed the successful formation of CMC and CMC/SnO2 nanocomposites. In addition, FESEM images revealed four different morphologies of porous SnO2 nanoparticles including nanospheres, microcubes, nanoflowers and olive-like nanoparticles with hollow cores which were formed on CMC. These nanoparticles possessed d-spacing values of 3.35Å. Thermal stability measurements revealed that introduction of SnO2 nanoparticles in the structure of CMC enhanced stability of CMC to 85%.

Mitral valve surgery in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Valvular heart disease is the common cardiac manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with a tendency for mitral valve regurgitation. In this study we report a case of mitral valve replacement for mitral stenosis caused by Libman-Sacks endocarditis in the setting of SLE. In addition, we provide a systematic review of the literature on mitral valve surgery in the presence of Libman-Sacks endocarditis because its challenge on surgical options continues. Surgical decision depends on structural involvement of mitral valve and presence of active lupus nephritis and antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Review of the literature has also shown that outcome is good in most SLE patients who have undergone valvular surgery, but association of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome with SLE has negative impact on the outcome.