The potential application of cellulose acetate membrane for CO2 adsorbent.

Numerous countries have deployed significant efforts to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Carbon capture and storage is widely regarded as a mitigation technique that can significantly reduce CO2 emissions. A crucial stage in carbon capture and storage is CO2 adsorption using a membrane. Cellulose acetate has demonstrated excellent properties as a membrane material. In this study, we examined the potential of cellulose acetate membrane (CAM) for CO2 gas capture. Two forms of CAM were developed for this study, with and without the addition of glycerol. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), and CO2 adsorption analyses were used to characterise CAM in numerous ways. The analysis revealed that the addition of glycerol improved the gas adsorption properties of the material. The incorporation of glycerol into the cellulose acetate matrix resulted in an observed augmentation in both the diameter and pore size. The adsorption properties of CO2 are significantly influenced by the microscopic structure of the cellulose acetate membrane. The CAM can be viewed as a possible material for CO2 adsorbers.

Self-Assembled Reduced Albumin and Glycol Chitosan Nanoparticles for Paclitaxel Delivery.

Cancer continues to pose health problems for people all over the world. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a promising platform for effective cancer chemotherapy. NPs formed by the assembly of proteins and chitosan (CH) through noncovalent interactions are attracting a great deal of interest. However, the poor water solubility of CH and low stability of this kind of NP limit its practical application. Herein, the formation of reduced bovine serum albumin (rBSA) and glycol chitosan (GC) nanoparticles (rBG-NPs) stabilized by hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bonds was demonstrated for paclitaxel (PTX) delivery. The effects of the rBSA:GC mass ratio and pH on the particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), number of particles, and surface charge were evaluated. The formation mechanism and stability of the NPs were determined by compositional analysis and dynamic light scattering. Hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions were the driving forces for the formation of the rBG-NPs, and the NPs were stable under physiological conditions. PTX was successfully encapsulated into rBG-NPs with a high encapsulation efficiency (∼90%). PTX-loaded rBG-NPs had a particle size of ∼400 nm with a low PDI (0.2) and positive charge. rBG-NPs could be internalized by HeLa cells, possibly via endocytosis. An in vitro cytotoxicity study revealed that PTX-loaded rBG-NPs had anticancer activity that was lower than that of a Taxol-like formulation at 24 h but had similar activity at 48 h, possibly because of the slow release of PTX into the cells. Our study suggests that rBG-NPs could be used as a potential nanocarrier for hydrophobic drugs.

Genipin-stabilized caseinate-chitosan nanoparticles for enhanced stability and anti-cancer activity of curcumin.

Nanoparticles formed by the assembly of protein and polysaccharides are of great interest for the delivery of hydrophobic molecules. Herein, the formation of genipin-crosslinked nanoparticles from caseinate (CS) and chitosan (CH) is reported for the delivery of curcumin, a polyphenolic compound from turmeric, to cells. Genipin-crosslinked CS-CH nanoparticles (G-CCNPs) having a diameter of ∼250 nm and a low polydispersity index showed excellent stability over a wide pH range, as indicated by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopic measurements. Cellular uptake of curcumin loaded into G-CCNPs by HeLa cells was improved, as measured by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analysis. Cell proliferation assays indicated that G-CCNPs were nontoxic and that curcumin's anticancer activity in vitro was also improved by G-CCNPs. Stability of curcumin at neutral pH was enhanced by G-CCNPs. CLSM study revealed that G-CCNPs were poorly internalized by HeLa cells, possibly because of strong cell membrane interactions and a negative zeta potential. Overall, our results suggested that the enhanced curcumin cytotoxicity might be associated with the enhanced stability of curcumin by G-CCNPs and free curcumin released from G-CCNPs into the cell. These biocompatible NPs might be suitable carriers for enhancing curcumin's therapeutic potential.