ABSTRACT
CNTs/Fe-BTC composite materials were synthesized with the one-step solvothermal method. MWCNTs and SWCNTs were incorporated in situ during synthesis. The composite materials were characterized by different analytical techniques and used in the CO2-photocatalytic reduction to value-added products and clean fuels. In the incorporation of CNTs into Fe-BTC, better physical-chemical and optical properties were observed compared to Fe-BTC pristine. SEM images showed that CNTs were incorporated into the porous structure of Fe-BTC, indicating the synergy between them. Fe-BTC pristine showed to be selective to ethanol and methanol; although, it was more selective to ethanol. However, the incorporation of small amounts of CNTs into Fe-BTC not only showed higher production rates but changes in the selectivity compared with the Fe-BTC pristine were also observed. It is important to mention that the incorporation of CNTs into MOF Fe-BTC allowed for increasing the mobility of electrons, decreasing the recombination of charge carriers (electron/hole), and increasing the photocatalytic activity. In both reaction systems (batch and continuous), composite materials showed to be selective towards methanol and ethanol; however, in the continuous system, lower production rates were observed due to the decrease in the residence time compared to the batch system. Therefore, these composite materials are very promising systems to convert CO2 to clean fuels that could replace fossil fuels soon.
ABSTRACT
Biliary tract cancer (BTC) is comprised of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHC) and gallbladder cancer (GBC). These tumors arise in the biliary epithelium, share histological characteristics and are associated with grim prognosis even when diagnosed at early stages. Moreover, its relatively low incidence in developed countries has precluded the development of clinical trials addressing specific differences among BTC subgroups in terms of their biology, treatment response and clinical outcomes. In this scenario, the development of effective treatment strategies for patients has been rather modest. To date, the combination of cisplatin plus gemcitabine remains as the standard first line therapy in advanced disease and after progression to this regimen there are limited treatment options. Next generation sequencing (NGS) studies have assessed the distribution of driver genes and potentially actionable genomic alterations among ICC, EHC and GBC. Here, we outline genomic differences among these subsets and describe key milestones in order to develop novel targeted drugs against BTCs. Although the early results of several studies are promising, international collaboration is critical to conduct adequately-powered trials, enrolling patients from high-incidence countries.
Subject(s)
Biliary Tract Neoplasms/genetics , Genomics/methods , Biliary Tract Neoplasms/pathology , Humans , Prognosis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
A Metal-Organic Framework (MOF), iron-benzenetricarboxylate (Fe(BTC)), has been studied for the adsorptive removal of azo-dye Orange II from aqueous solutions, where the effect of various parameters was tested and isotherm and kinetic models were suggested. The adsorption capacities of Fe(BTC) were much higher than those of an activated carbon. The experimental data can be best described by the Langmuir isotherm model (R² > 0.997) and revealed the ability of Fe(BTC) to adsorb 435 mg of Orange II per gram of adsorbent at the optimal conditions. The kinetics of Orange II adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating the coexistence of physisorption and chemisorption, with intra-particle diffusion being the rate controlling step. The thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption of Orange II was feasible, spontaneous and exothermic process (-25.53 kJ·mol-1). The high recovery of the dye showed that Fe(BTC) can be employed as an effective and reusable adsorbent for the removal of Orange II from aqueous solutions and showed the economic interest of this adsorbent material for environmental purposes.