Tailoring molecularly imprinted polymer on titanium-multiwalled carbon nanotube functionalized gold electrode for enhanced chlorophyll determination in microalgae health assessment.

A unique method for determining chlorophyll content in microalgae is devised employing a gold interdigitated electrode (G-IDE) with a 10-µm gap, augmented by a nano-molecularly imprinted polymer (nano-MIP) and a titanium dioxide/multiwalled carbon nanotube (TiO2/MWCNT) nanocomposite. The nano-MIP, produced using chlorophyll template voids, successfully trapped chlorophyll, while the TiO2/MWCNT nanocomposite, synthesized by the sol-gel technique, exhibited a consistent distribution and anatase crystalline structure. The rebinding of procured chlorophyll powder, which was used as a template for nano-MIP synthesis, was identified with a high determination coefficient (R2 = 0.9857). By combining the TiO2/MWCNT nanocomposite with nano-MIP, the G-IDE sensing method achieved a slightly better R2 value of 0.9892 for detecting chlorophyll in microalgae. The presented G-IDE sensor showed a significant threefold enhancement in chlorophyll detection compared with commercially available chlorophyll powder. It had a detection limit of 0.917 mL (v/v) and a linear range that spanned from 10-6 to 1 mL. The effectiveness of the sensor in detecting chlorophyll in microalgae was confirmed through validation of its repeatability and reusability.

A new Febuxostat-Telmisartan Drug-Drug Cocrystal for Gout-Hypertension Combination Therapy.

Drug-drug cocrystalllization is a novel mechanism for effective pharmacological combination therapy. In this work, we have demonstrated the preparation of a drug-drug cocrystal of a hypertension drug (Telmisartan; TEL) with a hyperuricemia drug (Febuxostat; FEB) in 1:1 molar ratio using a solvent evaporation method for the first time. Generally, a multi-component system may yield either a eutectic, salt, and/or a cocrystal. This study adopted a methodical orthogonal framework to analyze the final solid form. A single crystal X-ray structural investigation revealed the formation of a heterosynthon with carboxylic and benzimidazole groups of FEB and TEL, respectively, in the triclinic P-1 space group. ΔpKa of the heterosynthon is ∼1.5, hence, based on the empirical rules, a salt-cocrystal continuum is hypothesized. Further, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy were employed to corroborate the hydrogen bond formation in the heterosynthon (-N---H-O-), which confirmed the propensity for cocrystal formation. An accelerated stability study and an in vitro biorelevant dissolution study of the cocrystal were performed, which demonstrated that it is physiochemically stable, but it resulted in a slower dissolution rate when compared with plain drugs.

Fabrication of High Performance PVDF Hollow Fiber Membrane Using Less Toxic Solvent at Different Additive Loading and Air Gap.

Existing toxic solvents in the manufacturing of polymeric membranes have been raising concerns due to the risks of exposure to health and the environment. Furthermore, the lower tensile strength of the membrane renders these membranes unable to endure greater pressure during water treatment. To sustain a healthier ecosystem, fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) hollow fiber membrane using a less toxic solvent, triethyl phosphate (TEP), with a lower molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) (0-3 wt.%) additive were experimentally demonstrated via a phase inversion-based spinning technique at various air gap (10, 20 and 30 cm). Membrane with 2 wt.% of PEG 400 exhibited the desired ultrafiltration asymmetric morphology, while 3 wt.% PEG 400 resulting microfiltration. The surface roughness, porosity, and water flux performance increased as the loading of PEG 400 increased. The mechanical properties and contact angle of the fabricated membrane were influenced by the air gap where 20 cm indicate 2.91 MPa and 84.72°, respectively, leading to a stronger tensile and hydrophilicity surface. Lower toxicity TEP as a solvent helped in increasing the tensile properties of the membrane as well as producing an eco-friendly membrane towards creating a sustainable environment. The comprehensive investigation in this study may present a novel composition for the robust structure of polymeric hollow fiber membrane that is suitable in membrane technology.

Solid-State Limited Nucleation of NiSi/SiC Core-Shell Nanowires by Hot-Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition.

This work demonstrated a growth of well-aligned NiSi/SiC core-shell nanowires by a one-step process of hot-wire chemical vapor deposition on Ni-coated crystal silicon substrates at different thicknesses. The NiSi nanoparticles (60 to 207 nm) acted as nano-templates to initially inducing the growth of these core-shell nanowires. These core-shell nanowires were structured by single crystalline NiSi and amorphous SiC as the cores and shells of the nanowires, respectively. It is proposed that the precipitation of the NiSi/SiC are followed according to the nucleation limited silicide reaction and the surface-migration respectively for these core-shell nanowires. The electrical performance of the grown NiSi/SiC core-shell nanowires was characterized by the conducting AFM and it is found that the measured conductivities of the nanowires were higher than the reported works that might be enhanced by SiC shell layer on NiSi nanowires. The high conductivity of NiSi/SiC core-shell nanowires could potentially improve the electrical performance of the nanowires-based devices for harsh environment applications such as field effect transistors, field emitters, space sensors, and electrochemical devices.