Magnetic engineering nanoparticles: Versatile tools revolutionizing biomedical applications.

The use of nanoparticles has increased significantly over the past few years in a number of fields, including diagnostics, biomedicine, environmental remediation, and water treatment, generating public interest. Among various types of nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as an essential tool for biomedical applications due to their distinct physicochemical properties compared to other nanoparticles. This review article focuses on the recent growth of MNPs and comprehensively reviews the advantages, multifunctional approaches, biomedical applications, and latest research on MNPs employed in various biomedical techniques. Biomedical applications of MNPs hold on to their ability to rapidly switch magnetic states under an external field at room temperature. Ideally, these MNPs should be highly susceptible to magnetization when the field is applied and then lose that magnetization just as quickly once the field is removed. This unique property allows MNPs to generate heat when exposed to high-frequency magnetic fields, making them valuable tools in developing treatments for hyperthermia and other heat-related illnesses. This review underscores the role of MNPs as tools that hold immense promise in transforming various aspects of healthcare, from diagnostics and imaging to therapeutic treatments, with discussion on a wide range of peer-reviewed articles published on the subject. At the conclusion of this work, challenges and potential future advances of MNPs in the biomedical field are highlighted.

Nano-enabled gas separation membranes: Advancing sustainability in the energy-environment Nexus.

Gas separation membranes serve as crucial to numerous industrial processes, including gas purification, energy production, and environmental protection. Recent advancements in nanomaterials have drastically revolutionized the process of developing tailored gas separation membranes, providing unreachable levels of control over the performance and characteristics of the membrane. The incorporation of cutting-edge nanomaterials into the composition of traditional polymer-based membranes has provided novel opportunities. This review critically analyses recent advancements, exploring the diverse types of nanomaterials employed, their synthesis techniques, and their integration into membrane matrices. The impact of nanomaterial incorporation on separation efficiency, selectivity, and structural integrity is evaluated across various gas separation scenarios. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms behind nanomaterial-enhanced gas transport are examined, shedding light on the intricate interactions between nanoscale components and gas molecules. The review also discusses potential drawbacks and considerations associated with nanomaterial utilization in membrane development, including scalability and long-term stability. This review article highlights nanomaterials' significant impact in revolutionizing the field of selective gas separation membranes, offering the potential for innovation and future directions in this ever-evolving sector.

Cellulose acetate, a source from discarded cigarette butts for the development of mixed matrix loose nanofiltration membranes for selective separation.

This study presents an environmentally friendly method for extracting cellulose acetate (CA) from discarded cigarette filters, which is then utilized in the fabrication of cellulose-based membranes designed for high flux and rejection rates. CA membranes are likeable to separate dyes and ions, but their separation efficiency is exposed when the contaminant concentration is very low. So, we have integrated graphene oxide (GO) and carboxylated titanium dioxide (COOH-TiO2) in CA to develop mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) and studied them against dyes and most used salts. The CA has been extracted from these butts and added GO and COOH-TiO2 nanoparticles to develop MMMs. The present work administers the effective separation of five dyes (methyl orange, methyl violet, methylene blue, cresol red, and malachite green) and salts (NaCl and Na2SO4) along with the high efficiency of water flux by prepared CA membranes. The prepared membranes rejected up to 94.94 % methyl violet, 91.28 % methyl orange, 88.28 % methylene blue, 89.91 % cresol red, and 91.70 % malachite green dye. Along with the dyes, the membranes showed ∼40.40 % and âˆ¼ 42.97 % rejection of NaCl and Na2SO4 salts, respectively. Additionally, these membranes have tensile strength up to 1.54 MPa. Various characterization techniques were performed on all prepared CA membranes to comprehend their behaviour. The antibacterial activity of MMMs was investigated using the Muller-Hinton-Disk diffusion method against the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli). We believe the present work is an approach to utilizing waste materials into valuable products for environmental care.

Biogenic Synthesis of Nanoparticles from the Edible Plant Polygonum microcephalum for Use in Antimicrobial Fabric.

With increasing demand of the public toward antimicrobial textiles, there should be the proper fabrication of such types of clothes, and it is possible with biogenically synthesized metal nanoparticles (NPs). It is necessary to find cheap and eco-friendly resources for such synthesis. In this work, we used Polygonum microcephalum from Assam, India, to synthesize copper and silver (Ag) NPs. As far as we know, this is the first report on the synthesis of AgNPs and copper oxide NPs (CuONPs) from P. microcephalum The synthesis was done from the aqueous leaf extract. The AgNPs and CuONPs formation was observed by the change in the color of the solution and was confirmed by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Characterization of NPs was done with various physicochemical characterization techniques. The synthesized spherical-shaped AgNPs were found to be effective against the representative bacteria, Gram +ve (Staphylococcus Aureus) and Gram -ve (Escherichia Coli and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa), but the flake-shaped CuONPs were not effective due to their bigger size (>200 nm). The results clearly show that the AgNPs used in this study were toxic against three pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of AgNPs for S. aureus and E. coli were 32 µg/mL. The uptake analysis of AgNPs for both pathogens demonstrates the mechanism of toxic effects. The present study confirms that P. microcephalum leaf extract is effective in AgNP synthesis, and it could be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly resource for the green synthesis of AgNPs.

One-Pot Extraction of Bioresources from Human Hair via a Zero-Waste Green Route.

In recent years, the extraction of bioresources from biowaste via green chemistry and their utilization for the production of materials has gained global momentum due to growing awareness of the concepts of sustainability. Herein, we report a benign process using an ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl), for the simultaneous extraction of keratin and melanin from human hair. Chemical characterization, secondary structure studies, and thermal analysis of the regenerated protein were performed thoroughly. Hemolytic potential assays demonstrated hemocompatibility of the keratin, and thus, it can be used in blood-contacting biomaterials such as sealants, catheters, hemostats, tissue engineering scaffolds, and so on. Scanning electron microscopy showed retention of the ellipsoidal morphology of melanin after the extraction procedure. The pigment demonstrated the ability to reduce 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl indicative of its free-radical scavenging activity. Notably, the IL could be recovered and recycled from the dialysis remains which also exhibited conductivity and can be potentially used for bioelectronics. Altogether, this work investigates an extraction process of biopolymers using green chemistry from abundantly available biowaste for the production of biomaterials and does not produce any noxious waste matter.

Development of Antifouling Thin-Film Composite/Nanocomposite Membranes for Removal of Phosphate and Malachite Green Dye.

Nowadays polymer-based thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane technologies are showing key interest to improve the separation properties. TFN membranes are well known in diverse fields but developing highly improved TFN membranes for the removal of low concentration solutions is the main challenge for the researchers. Application of functional nanomaterials, incorporated in TFN membranes provides better performance as permeance and selectivity. The polymer membrane-based separation process plays an important role in the chemical industry for the isolation of products and recovery of different important types of reactants. Due to the reduction in investment, less operating costs and safety issues membrane methods are mainly used for the separation process. Membranes do good separation of dyes and ions, yet their separation efficiency is challenged when the impurity is in low concentration. Herewith, we have developed, UiO-66-NH2 incorporated TFN membranes through interfacial polymerization between piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) for separating malachite green dye and phosphate from water in their low concentration. A comparative study between thin-film composite (TFC) and TFN has been carried out to comprehend the benefit of loading nanoparticles. To provide mechanical strength to the polyamide layer ultra-porous polysulfone support was made through phase inversion. As a result, outstanding separation values of malachite green (MG) 91.90 ± 3% rejection with 13.32 ± 0.6 Lm-2h-1 flux and phosphate 78.36 ± 3% rejection with 22.22 ± 1.1 Lm-2h-1 flux by TFN membrane were obtained. The antifouling tendency of the membranes was examined by using bovine serum albumin (BSA)-mixed feed and deionized water, the study showed a good ~84% antifouling tendency of TFN membrane with a small ~14% irreversible fouling. Membrane's antibacterial test against E. coli. and S. aureus. also revealed that the TFN membrane possesses antibacterial activity as well. We believe that the present work is an approach to obtaining good results from the membranes under tricky conditions.

A Novel Approach for the Development of Low-Cost Polymeric Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membranes for the Biomacromolecule Separation.

The separation of biomacromolecules, mainly proteins, plays a significant role in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Among the membranes' techniques, thin-film nanocomposite nanofiltration membranes are the best choice due to their high energy efficiency, excellent productivity, cost-effective and tuneable properties that have captured the attention of the efficient separation of biomacromolecules, especially from the industrial perspective. The present work directs the efficient separation study of proteins, namely, lysozyme, trypsin, pepsin, bovine serum albumin (BSA), and cephalexin, using a thin-film nanocomposite membrane integrated with Arg-MMT (arginine-montmorillonite) clay nanoparticles. The surface morphology and cross-section images of the TFN membranes were studied using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM). The thermal stability and hydrophilicity of the membranes were examined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and contact angle, respectively. The surface chemistry of the selective layer has different functional groups that were analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. The performance of the membranes was studied at different trans-membrane pressures and permeation times. The effect of monomer concentration on the separation performance of the membranes was also studied at different permeation times. The membranes' antibacterial activity was evaluated using the Muller-Hinton disk diffusion method using gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. The highest rejection was achieved for BSA up to 98.92 ± 1%, and the highest permeation was obtained against lysozyme feed solution up to 26 L m-2 h-1 at 5 bar pressure. The membrane also illustrated excellent rejection of cephalexin antibiotics with a rejection of 98.17 ± 1.75% and a permeation flux of 26.14 L m-2 h-1. The antifouling study performed for the membranes exhibited a flux recovery ratio of 86.48%. The fabricated thin-film nanocomposite membrane demonstrated a good alternative for the separation of biomacromolecules and has the potential to be used in different sectors of industry, especially the pharmaceutical and food industry.

Nanocomposite and bio-nanocomposite polymeric materials/membranes development in energy and medical sector: A review.

Nanocomposite and bio-nanocomposite polymer materials/membranes have fascinated prominent attention in the energy as well as the medical sector. Their composites make them appropriate choices for various applications in the medical, energy and industrial sectors. Composite materials are subject of interest in the polymer industry. Different kinds of fillers, such as cellulose-based fillers, carbon black, clay nanomaterials, glass fibers, ceramic nanomaterial, carbon quantum dots, talc and many others have been incorporated into polymers to improve the quality of the final product. These results are dependent on a variety of factors; however, nanoparticle dispersion and distribution are major obstacles to fully using nanocomposites/bio-nanocomposites materials/membranes in various applications. This review examines the various nanocomposite and bio-nanocomposite materials applications in the energy and medical sector. The review also covers the variety of ways for increasing nanocomposite and bio-nanocomposite materials features, each with its own set of applications. Recent researches on composite materials have shown that polymeric nanocomposites and bio-nanocomposites are promising materials that have been intensively explored for many applications that include electronics, environmental remediation, energy, sensing (biosensor) and energy storage devices among other applications. In this review, we studied various nanocomposite and bio-nanocomposite materials, their controlling parameters to develop the product and examine their features and applications in the fields of energy and the medical sector.

Use of activated bentonite-alginate composite beads for efficient removal of toxic Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions from aquatic environment.

The toxic heavy metals contamination in water bodies is one of the major concerns in many countries. Copper and lead are the two common toxic metals present in aquatic environments due to their extensive usage in various industries for diverse applications. The present study deals with the removal of these two toxic heavy metal ions using activated bentonite-alginate (ABn-AG) composite beads which are easily separated and recovered after adsorption reaction. Composite beads were prepared by adapting the ionic gelation method and the materials; i.e., raw bentonite (BnR), activated bentonite (ABn) and ABn-AG were characterized by XRD, BET surface area, TGA-DTA, FT-IR, SEM analyses. The nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm obtained for the materials were the type IV isotherm with characteristics H3 hysteresis loops indicating the presence of mesopores with slit-shaped pores. Batch experiments showed that reasonably high percent removal was achieved even at highly acidic conditions, i.e., 58% of Cu2+and 77% of Pb2+were removed at pH 2.0. The removal was fast during the initial contact time and the adsorption data obtained at various contact time were fit well to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The maximum sorption capacity for Cu2+ was found to be 17.30 mg/g whereas Pb2+ was found to be 107.52 mg/g. The presence of MgCl2, NaCl and KCl did not cause significant influence on the removal of Cu2+ and Pb2+ using ABn-AG. Binary adsorption study suggested that Cu2+ and Pb2+ were removed through different binding sites present in ABn-AG. Reusability test showed that removal of Cu2+ and Pb2+ decreased by 10% only after the same material was reused for 5 times indicating that ABn-AG is a highly robust material and can be reuse for several times without losing its efficiency. Thus, this study suggested that ABn-AG composite beads can be employed as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of Cu2+ and Pb2+ from aqueous waste.

Montmorillonite-alginate nanocomposites as a drug delivery system: intercalation and in vitro release of vitamin B1 and vitamin B6.

Sustained intestinal delivery of thiamine hydrochloride (Vitamin B(1); VB(1)) and pyridoxine hydrochloride (Vitamin B(6); VB(6)) seems to be a feasible alternative to existing therapy. The vitamins (VB(1)/VB(6)) intercalated in montmorillonite (MMT) and intercalated VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT hybrid is further used for synthesis of VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT-alginate nanocomposite beads by gelation method and in vitro release in the intestinal environment. The structure and surface morphology of the synthesized VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT hybrid, VB(1)/VB(6)-alginate and VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT-alginate nanocomposite beads were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TGA and SEM. In vitro release experiments revealed that the VB(1)/VB(6) releases suddenly from VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT hybrid and is pH dependent. The controlled release of VB(1)/VB(6) from VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT-alginate nanocomposite beads was observed to be controlled as compared to their release from VB(1)/VB(6)-MMT hybrid and VB(1)/VB(6)-alginate beads.

An efficient protocol for the synthesis of 2-amino-4,6-diphenylpyridine-3-carbonitrile using ionic liquid ethylammonium nitrate.

Chalcones on condensation with malononitrile and ammonium acetate in the presence of ionic liquid ethylammonium nitrate affords the corresponding 2-amino-4, 6-diphenylpyridine-3-carbonitrile in excellent yield. The ionic liquid is recycled and reused several times.