Tailoring magnetic Sn-MOFs for efficient amoxicillin antibiotic removal through process optimization.

This study investigated the efficacy of magnetic Sn metal-organic frameworks (MSn-MOFs) in removing the insecticide amoxicillin (AMX) from aqueous solutions. Our thorough experimental investigation showed that MSn-MOFs were an incredibly effective adsorbent for removing AMX. Several methods were used to characterize the material. BET investigation of the data displayed a significant surface area of 880 m2 g-1 and a strong magnetic force of 89.26 emu g-1. To identify the point of zero charge, surface characterization was carried out and the value was 7.5. This shows that the adsorbent carries a positive and negative charge below and above this position, respectively. Moreover, the impact of pH on adsorption equilibrium was explored. The results of kinetic models to explore the adsorption of AMX on MSn-MOFs supported the pseudo-second-order, and the adsorption complied well with the Langmuir isotherm. The results revealed that the overall adsorption mechanism may entail chemisorption via an endothermic spontaneous process with MSn-MOFs. The precise modes by which MSn-MOFs and AMX interacted may involve pore filling, H-bonding, π-π interaction, or electrostatic interaction. Determining the nature of this interaction is essential in understanding the adsorption behavior of the MOFs and optimize the adsorbent design for real-world applications. The use of the MSn-MOF adsorbent provides a straightforward yet efficient method for the filtration of water and treatment of industrial effluents. The results showed 2.75 mmol g-1 as the maximum capacity for adsorption at pH = 6. Additional tests were conducted to assess the adsorbent regeneration, and even after more than six cycles, the results demonstrated a high level of efficiency. The adsorption results were enhanced by the application of the Box-Behnken design.

Terbium Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a In2O3 Nanoadsorbent and Arthrospira platensis Biomass.

Terbium is a rare-earth element with critical importance for industry. Two adsorbents of different origin, In2O3 nanoparticles and the biological sorbent Arthrospira platensis, were applied for terbium removal from aqueous solutions. Several analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, were employed to characterize the adsorbents. The effect of time, pH, and terbium concentration on the adsorption efficiency was evaluated. For both adsorbents, adsorption efficiency was shown to be dependent on the time of interaction and the pH of the solution. Maximum removal of terbium by Arthrospira platensis was attained at pH 3.0 and by In2O3 at pH 4.0-7.0, both after 3 min of interaction. Several equilibrium (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin) and kinetics (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and Elovich) models were applied to describe the adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity was calculated from the Langmuir model as 212 mg/g for Arthrospira platensis and 94.7 mg/g for the In2O3 nanoadsorbent. The studied adsorbents can be regarded as potential candidates for terbium recovery from wastewater.

Recent Progress in the Development of Organic Chemosensors for Formaldehyde Detection.

Formaldehyde has become a prominent topic of interest because of its simple molecular structure, release from various compounds in the near vicinity of humans, and associated hazards. Thus, several researchers designed sophisticated instrumentations for formaldehyde detection that exhibit real-time sensing properties and are cost-effective and portable with high detection limits. On these grounds, this review is centered on an analysis of optical chemosensors for formaldehyde that specifically fall under the broad spectrum of organic probes. In this case, this review discusses different organic functionalities, including amines, imines, aromatic pillar arenes, ß-ketoesters, and ß-diketones, taking part in various reaction mechanisms ranging from aza-Cope rearrangement and Schiff base and Hanztch reactions to aldimine condensation. In addition, this review distinguishes reaction mechanisms according to photophysical phenomena, that is, aggregation-induced emission, photoinduced electron transfer, and intramolecular charge transfer. Furthermore, it addresses the instrumentation involved in gas-based and liquid formaldehyde detection. Finally, it discusses the gaps in existing technologies followed by a succinct set of recommendations for future research.

Echinops spinosus effect against diabetes and its hepatorenal complications: total extract and flavonoids fraction.

The perennial plant Echinops spinosus (ES) grows in the Hail area of Saudi Arabia, and its traditional formulations are often employed in folk medicine. The goal of this study is to identify the active components present in Hail Echinops spinosus and to investigate the anti-diabetic properties of both ES total extract (ESTE) and its high flavonoids fraction (ESHFF) in experimental diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection in rats. Forty-two rats were divided into six groups. Diabetes was induced using STZ (55 mg/kg). Seven days after STZ administration, the diabetic animals were treated daily with ESTE, ESHFF, or metformin (MET) as a standard anti-diabetic drug for 28 days. Blood and tissues samples were collected for biochemical, molecular, and histological investigations. Both ESTE and ESHFF demonstrated anti-diabetic properties, as evidenced by lowering glucose levels and increasing the levels of insulin, insulin receptor expression rate, and glycogen synthesis. Additionally, ESTE as well as ESHFF alleviated diabetic complications in the kidneys and liver by decreasing oxidative stress, modulating inflammatory mediators, and suppressing the apoptotic cascade along with correcting diabetic dyslipidemia. It could be deduced that Hail ES extracts could play a role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related lesions as well as oxidative damage in hepatic and renal tissues.

Antitumor Activity of Zinc Nanoparticles Synthesized with Berberine on Human Epithelial Colorectal Adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) Cells through Acting on Cox-2/NF-kB and p53 Pathways.

BACKGROUND: Drawbacks and side effects of currently available therapies to colorectal cancer (CRC) have compelled researchers to search for new therapeutic strategies. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of zinc nanoparticles biosynthesized with berberine (ZnNPs-BER) on Caco-2 cells compared to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and explore the possible underlying pathways. METHODS: Caco-2 and Vero cells were treated with 5-FU, BER, or ZnNPs-BER for 24 h. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Oxidative stress and apoptotic markers and cell cycle were determined. Additionally, Cox-2 and NF-kB levels were also measured. RESULTS: The IC50 values of 5-FU, BER, and ZnNPs-BER on Caco-2 cells were found to be 34.65 µM, 19.86 µg/ml and 10.49 µg/ml, respectively by MTT assay. The IC50 value for 5-FU in Vero cells was 21.7 µg/ml, however, BER and BER-ZnNPs treatment showed non-toxic effects on the Vero cells. Further, ZnNPs-BER exerted significant induction of ROS besides exhaustion of the antioxidant capacity of tumor cells indicated by a decline in GSH and elevated NO and MDA contents. Marked increments in levels of Bax and caspase-3 were detected together with declines in Bcl- 2 levels in Caco-2 cells subjected to BER-ZnNPs therapy. On the molecular basis, upregulation in mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, caspase-3, and tumor suppressor gene p53) along with downregulation in the anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2) were observed in ZnNPs-BER treated Caco-2 cells. Furthermore, ZnNPs-BER showed more pronounced effects on apoptosis increased cell percentage in the S and subG1 phases. In addition, green synthesis of ZnNPs with BER showed notable induction of Cox2 and NF-kB in Caco-2 cells. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the antitumor potential of ZnNPs-BER in colon cancer cells may be endorsed for induction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptotic changes in tumor cells. Our study documents the therapeutic potential of Zn nanoparticles conjugated with BER, which may be a new option for combined chemotherapy.

Green-synthetized selenium nanoparticles using berberine as a promising anticancer agent.

OBJECTIVE: The chemo-preventative and therapeutic properties of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have been documented over recent decades and suggest the potential uses of SeNPs in medicine. Biogenic SeNPs have higher biocompatibility and stability than chemically synthesized nanoparticles, which enhances their medical applications, especially in the field of cancer therapy. This study evaluated the potential of green-synthetized SeNPs by using berberine (Ber) as an antitumor agent and elucidated the mechanism by which these molecules combat Ehrlich solid tumors (ESTs). METHODS: SeNPs containing Ber (SeNPs-Ber) were synthesized using Ber and Na2SeO3 and characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Sixty male Swiss albino mice were then acclimatized for one week, injected with Ehrlich ascites tumor cells, and divided into four groups: EST, EST + cisplatin (5 mg/kg), EST + Ber (20 mg/kg), and EST + SeNPs-Ber (0.5 mg/kg). At the end of a 16-day observation period, 12 mice from each group were euthanized to analyze differences in the body weight, tumor size, gene expression, and oxidative stress markers in the four groups. Three mice from each group were kept alive to compare the survival rates. RESULTS: Treatment with SeNPs-Ber significantly improved the survival rate and decreased the body weight and tumor size, compared to the EST group. SeNPs-Ber reduced oxidative stress in tumor tissue, as indicated by a decrease in the lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide levels and an increase in the glutathione levels. Moreover, SeNPs-Ber activated an apoptotic cascade in the tumor cells by downregulating the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) expression rate and upregulating the Bcl-2-associated X protein and caspase-3 expression rates. SeNPs-Ber also considerably improved the histopathological alterations in the developed tumor tissue, compared to the EST group. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a new insight into the potential role of green-synthesized SeNPs by using Ber as a promising anticancer agent, these molecules could be used alone or as supplementary medication during chemotherapy.

Hepatorenal protective efficacy of flavonoids from Ocimum basilicum extract in diabetic albino rats: A focus on hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities.

Plant derived phytochemical therapy is a bright candidate for treatment of diabetes and its associated complications. Ocimum baslicum is used as an anti-diabetic traditional medicine. Hence, the present study investigated the effect of Hail Ocimum extract (HOE) and its total flavonoids (HOETF) against hepatorenal damage in experimental diabetes induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and injection of streptozotocin (STZ) in rats. Diabetic animals were co-treated daily with HOE, HOETF or metformin (MET) as a standard anti-diabetic drug for four weeks. Compared to controls, HFD/STZ-treatment lead to significant increases in fasting blood glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR levels. Furthermore, diabetic rats had elevated hepatic (ALT and ALP) and kidney functions (urea and creatinine) biomarkers together with disturbed lipid profile and decreased PPAR-γ gene expression. Higher levels of hepatic and renal LPO and NO paralleled with lower levels of GSH and activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx and GR) after HFD/STZ treatment. Additionally, noteworthy inflammatory and apoptotic responses were evident in both organs of diabetic rats as witnessed by augmented levels of TNF-α, IL-1b and Bax levels with declined levels of Bcl-2. Moreover, histological examination of hepatic, renal and pancreatic tissues validated the biochemical findings. On contrary, co-treatment of diabetic animals with HOE or HOETF could decrease glucose and insulin levels together with improvement of lipid markers and alleviation of hepatorenal dysfunction, oxidative injury, inflammatory and apoptotic events. Conclusively, HOE or HOETF could be a promising complementary therapeutic option for the management of diabetic hepatorenal complication owing to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory; anti-apoptotic properties.

Molecular modeling analyses for graphene functionalized with Fe3O4 and NiO.

Graphene has attracted great concern in recent years as one of the potential 2D materials in various applications. This work is devoted for assessing the feasibility of functionalizing 2D graphene sheets with ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic metal oxides namely magnetite (Fe3O4) and nickel oxide (NiO). Molecular models of the proposed candidates are exposed to energy calculations at DFT level, in addition to geometry optimization processes at PM6 method. HOMO/LUMO orbitals, MESP maps and QSAR descriptors are calculated. Results ensure that graphene doped with NiO has the highest reactivity since it possesses the largest TDM and the smallest HOMO/LUMO band gap. MESP maps illustrate that the benzene rings of graphene are most probable to undergo nucleophilic interactions. Addition of Fe3O4 creates new negatively charged active sites that are ready for nucleophilic interactions. The calculated QSAR parameters demonstrate a hydrophobic nature for pure and modified graphene suggesting that they need further modification with further groups for usage in biological applications.