Graphene quantum dots based on cannabis seeds for efficient wound healing in a mouse incisional wound model: Link with stress and neurobehavioral effect.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are promising biomaterials with potential applicability in several areas due to their many useful and unique features. Among different applications, GQDs are photodynamic therapy agents that generate single oxygen and improve antimicrobial activity. In the present study, and for the first time, GQD were isolated from the Cannabis sativa L. seeds to generate C-GQDs as a new biomaterial for antibacterial and wound healing applications. Detailed characterization was performed using FTIR, UV-vis, Raman spectra, photoluminescence, TEM examination, HRTEM, ζ-potential, and XRD. Our results revealed in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity of C-GQDs against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) with reduced minimal inhibitory concentration of 236 µg/mL for both strains. In addition, the C-GQDs confirmed the in vitro analysis and exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the level of neutrophils in blood and skin tissue. C-GQDs act by accelerating re-epithelization and granulation tissue formation. In addition, C-GQDs restored neurobehavioral alteration induced by incisional wounds by reducing oxidative stress, decreasing cortisol levels, increasing anxiolytic-like effect, and increasing vertical locomotor activity. The wound-healing effects of C-GQDs support its role as a potential therapeutic agent for diverse skin injuries.

Ultrasound-assisted adsorption of organic dyes in real water samples using zirconium (IV)-based metal-organic frameworks UiO-66-NH2 as an adsorbent.

The utilization of dye adsorption through metal-organic frameworks represents an eco-friendly and highly effective approach in real water treatment. Here, ultrasound assisted adsorption approach was employed for the remediation of three dyes including methylene blue (MB), malachite green (MG), and congo red (CR) from real water samples using zirconium(IV)-based adsorbent (UiO-66-NH2). The adsorbent was characterized for structural, elemental, thermal and morphological features through XRD, XPS, FTIR, thermogravimetric analysis, SEM, BET , and Raman spectroscopy. The adsorption capacity of adsorbent to uptake the pollutants in aqueous solutions was investigated under different experimental conditions such as amount of UiO-66-NH2 at various contact durations, temperatures, pH levels, and initial dye loading amounts. The maximum removal of dyes under optimal conditions was found to be 938, 587, and 623 mg g-1 towardMB, MG, and CR, respectively. The adsorption of the studied dyes on the adsorbent surface was found to be a monolayer and endothermic process. The probable mechanism for the adsorption was chemisorption and follows pseudo-second-order kinetics. From the findings of regeneration studies, it was deduced that the adsorbent can be effectively used for three consecutive cycles without any momentous loss in its adsorption efficacy. Furthermore, UiO-66-NH2 with ultrasound-assisted adsorption might help to safeguard the environment and to develop new strategies for sustainability of natural resources.

Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 based on magnetic solid phase extraction for determination of organic UV filters in environmental water samples.

In this work, a nanocomposite structured magnetic metal-organic framework named as Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 was prepared via a simple hydrothermal approach. The as-mentioned nanocomposite was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques. Using the Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2 as a nanosorbent, an easy and highly effective approach was developed to preconcentrate nine organic UV filters before gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Different conditions influencing the extraction efficiency encompassing the sorbent amount, nature and volume of desorption solvent, desorption time, pH of the sample, and extraction time, were examined. Under the optimal experimental parameters, the Fe3O4@UiO-66-NH2-based magnetic solid phase extraction and GC-MS (MSPE-GC-MS) demonstrated linearity in the range of 0.03-1500 ng/L (R2 ≥ 0.9974) and the reproducibility, expressed as RSD, was ≤7.5%. The limits of detection ranged between 0.01 and 0.07 ng/L and limits of quantification were in the range of 0.03-0.4 ng/L. Finally, the suggested approach was satisfactorily utilized to determine nine organic UV filters in different water samples (analytical recoveries between 86.5% and 104.2%).

Advances in surface plasmon resonance-based biosensor technologies for cancer biomarker detection.

Surface plasmon resonance approach is a highly useful option to offer optical and label-free detection of target bioanalytes with numerous advantages (e.g., low-cost fabrication, appreciable sensitivity, label-free detection, and outstanding accuracy). As such, it allows early diagnosis of cancer biomarkers to monitor tumor progression and to prevent the recurrence of oncogenic tumors. This work highlights the recent progress in SPR biosensing technology for the diagnosis of various cancer types (e.g., lung, breast, prostate, and ovarian). Further, the performance of various SPR biosensors is also evaluated in terms of the basic quality assurance criteria (e.g., limit of detection (LOD), selectivity, sensor response time, and reusability). Finally, the limitations and future challenges associated with SPR biosensors are also discussed with respect to cancer biomarker detection.

A multi-residue method for determining twenty-four endocrine disrupting chemicals in vegetables and fruits using ultrasound-assisted solid-liquid extraction and continuous solid-phase extraction.

In this work, we developed an analytical approach using an ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) followed by continuous solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detection in order to determine simultaneously 24 endocrine disrupting chemicals such as alkylphenols, organophosphorus pesticides, parabens, phenylphenols, triclosan and bisphenol A in vegetable and fruit samples. Different variables influencing UAE and SPE performance were optimized in order to maximize removal of the sample matrix and preconcentration of the analytes. The optimized extraction and GC-MS quantitation conditions provided acceptable sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and precision. Limits of detection spanned the range 0.6-25 ng kg-1, recoveries were near-quantitative and relative standard deviations ranged from 4.5 to 7.6%. The proposed method was used to analyse 11 vegetable samples and 7 fruit samples purchased at various Spanish and Moroccan supermarkets. Most samples contained more than three of the analytes, at levels between 5.8 and 580 ng kg-1.

Authentication of the Geographical Origin of Margarines and Fat-Spread Products from Liquid Chromatographic UV-Absorption Fingerprints and Chemometrics.

Fat-spread products are a stabilized emulsion of water and vegetable oils. The whole fat content can vary from 10 to 90% (w/w). There are different kinds, which are differently named, and their composition depends on the country in which they are produced or marketed. Thus, having analytical solutions to determine geographical origin is required. In this study, some multivariate classification methods are developed and optimised to differentiate fat-spread-related products from different geographical origins (Spain and Morocco), using as an analytical informative signal the instrumental fingerprints, acquired by liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) in both normal and reverse phase modes. No sample treatment was applied, and, prior to chromatographic analysis, only the samples were dissolved in n­hexane. Soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used as classification methods. In addition, several classification strategies were applied, and performance of the classifications was evaluated applying proper classification metrics. Finally, 100% of samples were correctly classified applying PLS-DA with data collected in reverse phase.

A multi-residue method for GC-MS determination of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals in fish and seafood from European and North African markets.

An integrated study was conducted to determine the presence of six types of endocrine disrupting chemicals (bisphenol A, triclosan, two alkylphenols, two phenylphenols, eleven organophosphorus pesticides and seven parabens) in the fish and seafood samples from Europe and North Africa. The proposed method involves ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by continuous solid-phase extraction prior to GC-MS analysis. Analytical quality parameters such as linearity, accuracy, precision, sensitivity and selectivity were all good. Limits of detections ranged from 0.5 to 20.0 ng/kg. The relative standard deviation was lower than 7.5% and recoveries ranged from 84 to 105%. The method was successfully used to determine the target analytes in 20 fish and seafood samples from different fish shops and supermarkets in Europe and North Africa. Analyte contents spanned the range 4.6-730 ng/kg and were all below the maximum legally allowed limits. EDCs most frequently found in the samples analysed were dichlorvos, 2-phenylphenol and nonylphenol.

Determination of residual pharmaceuticals in edible animal tissues by continuous solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A sensitive, reliable method using continuous solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed for the simultaneous determination of twenty pharmaceuticals including antibacterials, anti-epileptics, antiseptics, ß-blockers, lipid regulators, hormones and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories at trace levels in edible animal tissues. The procedure involves deproteination and delipidation of samples by precipitation/centrifugation/filtration, followed by sample enrichment and cleanup by continuous solid-phase extraction. The proposed method was validated with quite good analytical results including low limits of detections (0.4-2.7 ng kg(-1) for 2g of sample) and good linearity (r(2)>0.995) throughout the studied concentration ranges. In addition, the method is quite accurate (recoveries ranged from 92 to 101%) and precise (within-day and between-day RSD values were less than 7%), which allows the determination of residual pharmaceuticals in tissues from agricultural farm and fish hatchery animals (pig, veal, lamb and chicken muscle, kidney and liver; and salmon, sea bass and sole flesh). The analytes most frequently found in the studied samples were the hormones estrone and 17ß-estradiol, and the antibacterials florfenicol and pyrimethamine.

Simultaneous determination of 20 pharmacologically active substances in cow's milk, goat's milk, and human breast milk by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

This paper reports a systematic approach to the development of a method that combines continuous solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of 20 pharmacologically active substances including antibacterials (chloramphenicol, florfenicol, pyrimethamine, thiamphenicol), nonsteroideal anti-inflammatories (diclofenac, flunixin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, mefenamic acid, niflumic acid, phenylbutazone), antiseptic (triclosan), antiepileptic (carbamazepine), lipid regulator (clofibric acid), ß-blockers (metoprolol, propranolol), and hormones (17α-ethinylestradiol, estrone, 17ß-estradiol) in milk samples. The sample preparation procedure involves deproteination of the milk, followed by sample enrichment and cleanup by continuous solid-phase extraction. The proposed method provides a linear response over the range of 0.6-5000 ng/kg and features limits of detection from 0.2 to 1.2 ng/kg depending on the particular analyte. The method was successfully applied to the determination of pharmacologically active substance residues in food samples including whole, raw, half-skim, skim, and powdered milk from different sources (cow, goat, and human breast).

Metal organic frameworks assembled from Y(III), Na(I), and chiral flexible-achiral rigid dicarboxylates.

New chiral metal organic frameworks, assembled from Y(III), Na(I), and chiral flexible-achiral rigid dicarboxylate ligands, formulated as [NaY(Tart)(BDC)(H(2)O)(2)] (1) and [NaY(Tart)(biBDC)(H(2)O)(2)] (2) (H(2)Tart = Tartaric acid; H(2)BDC = Terephthalic acid; H(2)biBDC = Biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid), were obtained as single phases under hydrothermal conditions. Their structures were solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD), and characterized by (13)C CPMAS NMR, thermal analyses (thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)), and X-ray thermodiffractometry. Both compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic chiral space group C222(1) with a = 6.8854(2) A, b = 30.3859(7) A, c = 7.4741(2) A for 1, and a = 6.8531(2) A, b = 39.0426(8) A, c = 7.4976(2) A for 2. 1 and 2 are layered structures whose three-dimensional stability is ensured by strong hydrogen bond interactions. The dehydration of both compounds is accompanied by phase transformation, while the spontaneous rehydration process is characterized by different kinetics, fast in the case of 1 and slow for 2.