Exploring the potential of intranasally administered naturally occurring quercetin loaded into polymeric nanocapsules as a novel platform for the treatment of anxiety.

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent forms of psychopathology that affects millions worldwide. It gained more importance under the pandemic status that resulted in higher anxiety prevalence. Anxiolytic drugs such as benzodiazepines have an unfavorable risk/benefit ratio resulting in a shift toward active ingredients with better safety profile such as the naturally occurring quercetin (QRC). The delivery of QRC is hampered by its low water solubility and low bioavailability. The potential to enhance QRC delivery to the brain utilizing polymeric nanocapsules administered intranasally is investigated in the current study. Polymeric nanocapsules were prepared utilizing the nanoprecipitation technique. The best formula displayed a particle size of 227.8 ± 11.9 nm, polydispersity index of 0.466 ± 0.023, zeta potential of - 17.5 ± 0.01 mV, and encapsulation efficiency % of 92.5 ± 1.9%. In vitro release of QRC loaded polymeric nanocapsules exhibited a biphasic release with an initial burst release followed by a sustained release pattern. Behavioral testing demonstrated the superiority of QRC loaded polymeric nanocapsules administered intranasally compared to QRC dispersion administered both orally and intranasally. The prepared QRC loaded polymeric nanocapsules also demonstrated good safety profile with high tolerability.

Insight into chitosan/zeolite-A nanocomposite as an advanced carrier for levofloxacin and its anti-inflammatory properties; loading, release, and anti-inflammatory studies.

Chitosan/zeolite-A nanocomposite (CH/ZA) was synthesized as a potential carrier for levofloxacin (LVOX) of enhanced technical properties. The CH/ZA composite displayed enhanced loading capacity (425 mg/g) as compared to chitosan (188.8 mg/g) and zeolite-A (234.6 mg/g). The loading behavior follows Pseudo-Second-order and Langmuir as kinetic and isotherm models. The equilibrium studies, Gaussian energy (8.15 KJ/mol), and thermodynamic parameters demonstrate homogenous and monolayer loading by complex chemical and physical reactions that are of spontaneous and exothermic nature. The CH/ZA composite is of slow and continuous release profile (200h) with 94.3% as the maximum release percentage. The release reactions are of non-Fickian behavior involving both diffusion and erosion mechanisms. The loading of LVOX into CH/ZA induced its anti-inflammatory effect against the cytokine production (IL-6 and IL-8) within the human bronchial epithelia cells (NL20). The cytotoxicity studies on the normal cells demonstrated a high safety value for the composite.

Instantaneous Adsorption of Synthetic Dyes from an Aqueous Environment Using Kaolinite Nanotubes: Equilibrium and Thermodynamic Studies.

Innovative kaolinite nanotubes (KNTs) are synthesized utilizing a simple technique involving a sonication-induced exfoliation process, followed by chemical scrolling reactions. The KNTs as a material have high reactivity and promising surface area to be used in the purification of water from cationic dyes (safranin (SF) and malachite green (MG)) and anionic dyes (methyl orange (MO) and Congo red (CR)). The kinetic studies of the four dyes SF, MG, CR, and MO show an equilibration time interval of 240 min. The SF, MG, CR, and MO dyes' uptake reactions are in agreement with the kinetic behavior of the pseudo-first-order model and the equilibrium properties of the Langmuir model. Such modeling results, in addition to the Gaussian energies from the Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) model (SF (1.01 kJ/mol), MG (1.08 kJ/mol), CR (1.11 kJ/mol), and MO (1.65 kJ/mol)), hypothesize monolayer adsorption of the four dyes by physical reactions. The KNTs show theoretical q max values of 431.6, 489.9, 626.2, and 675.5 (mg/g) for SF, MG, CR, and MO, respectively. The thermodynamic examination of SF, MG, CR, and MO adsorption reactions using KNTs verifies their adsorption by exothermic and spontaneous reactions. The KNT adsorbents achieve promising adsorption results in the presence of different coexisting ions and show significant recyclability properties. Therefore, the production of KNTs from kaolinite shows a strong effect on inducing the textural, physicochemical, and adsorption properties of clay layers as well as their affinity for different species of synthetic dyes.

Effective decontamination of As(V), Hg(II), and U(VI) toxic ions from water using novel muscovite/zeolite aluminosilicate composite: adsorption behavior and mechanism.

Muscovite/phillipsitic zeolite was introduced as a novel inorganic composite of stunning adsorption properties. The composite was investigated in the uptake reactions of Hg(II), As(V), and U(VI) as highly toxic water contaminants considering different adsorption factors. The adsorption properties of muscovite/phillipsitic zeolite are highly dependent on the pH values and the best decontamination percentages can be obtained at pH 4, pH 5, and pH 5 for Hg(II), As(V), and U(VI), respectively. The kinetic studies demonstrated adsorption equilibrium for Hg(II), As(V), and U(VI) after 360 min, 300 min, and 360 min, respectively. The equilibrium modeling suggested monolayer uptake for all the metals and represented mainly by the Langmuir model considering both the values of determination coefficient and chi-squared (χ2). The estimated maximum capacities are 117 mg/g (Hg(II)), 122.5 mg/g (As(V)), and 138.5 mg/g (U(VI)) which are higher values than several studied adsorbents. The Dubinin-Radushkevich adsorption energies of Hg(II) (19.4 kJ/mol), As(V) (25.6 kJ/mol), and U(VI) (26.47 kJ/mol) signify chemical adsorption mechanisms and close to the obtained values for the ion-exchange process. Additionally, the composite is of high reusability properties and was applied effectively for five decontamination cycles. Graphical abstract.

Effective decontamination of phosphate and ammonium utilizing novel muscovite/phillipsite composite; equilibrium investigation and realistic application.

Novel muscovite/synthetic zeolitic phillipsite composite (Mu/Ph) was synthesized and inspected by different analytical techniques as a hybrid product of enhanced physicochemical properties and adsorption capacities for phosphate and ammonium. Mu/Ph adsorption systems for phosphate and ammonium were inspected considering the kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies as well as the controlling mechanisms. The kinetic behaviors of Mu/Ph for both phosphate and ammonium were remarkably described by Pseudo-second order model and the equilibration times were attained after 720 min and 480 min, respectively. The equilibrium curves for both ions were categorized as L-type isotherms which assigned mainly to systems of high affinity between the inspected adsorbents and the target dissolved ions. Additionally, the uptake results of both ions displayed slight preferences to be described by the Langmuir model. The thermodynamic studies revealed endothermic and exothermic nature for phosphate and ammonium, respectively. Moreover, the calculated parameters indicated physisorption of them by spontaneous reaction involved ion exchange processes controlled mainly by electrostatic interactions rather than ionic or covalent binding. The composite showed promising reusability properties to be applied in the reduction of phosphate and ammonium six times. The novel synthetic Mu/Ph exhibits higher capacities than numerous studied adsorbents and was applied in decontamination of phosphate and ammonium from real sewage water achieving exceptional results.