Microwave-Assisted Catalytic Deconstruction of Plastics Waste into Nanostructured Carbon and Hydrogen Fuel Using Composite Magnetic Ferrite Catalysts.

Finding new catalysts and pyrolysis technologies for efficiently recycling wasted plastics into fuels and structured solid materials of high selectivity is the need of time. Catalytic pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that cracks the feedstock in an inert gas environment into gaseous and liquid fuels and a residue. This study is conducted on microwave-assisted catalytic recycling of wasted plastics into nanostructured carbon and hydrogen fuel using composite magnetic ferrite catalysts. The composite ferrite catalysts, namely, NiZnFe2O4, NiMgFe2O4, and MgZnFe2O4 were produced through the coprecipitation method and characterized for onward use in the microwave-assisted valorization of wasted plastics. The ferrite nanoparticles worked as a catalyst and heat susceptor for uniformly distributed energy transfer from microwaves to the feedstock at a moderate temperature of 450°C. The type of catalyst and the working parameters significantly impacted the process efficiency, gas yield, and structural properties of the carbonaceous residue. The tested process took 2-8 minutes to pulverize feedstock into gas and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), depending on the catalyst type. The NiZnFe2O4-catalyzed process produced CNTs with good structural properties and fewer impurities compared to other catalysts. The NiMgFe2O4 catalyst performed better in terms of hydrogen evolution by showing 87.5% hydrogen (H2) composition in the evolved gases. Almost 90% of extractable hydrogen from the feedstock evolved during the first 2 minutes of the reaction.

Reply to Mangindaan, D. Comment on "Altaf et al. Non-Thermal Plasma Reduction of Ag+ Ions into Silver Nanoparticles in Open Atmosphere under Statistically Optimized Conditions for Biological and Photocatalytic Applications. Materials 2022, 15, 3826".

The authors of the mentioned paper are highly thankful to Dr [...].

Study of Cation Distribution and Photocatalytic Activity of Nonthermal Plasma-Modified NiZnFe2O4 Magnetic Nanocomposites.

In this study, NiZnFe2O4 composite was synthesized using a sol-gel route and subjected to nonthermal plasma treatment for tailoring their cations' distribution and physicochemical, magnetic, and photocatalytic properties. Microwave plasma treatment was given to the composites for 60 min in support of postsynthesis sintering at 700 °C for 5 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was conducted on pre- and postplasma-modified ferrite composites to identify phase-pure cubic spinel structure and cations' distribution. The cation distributions were measured from the ratio of XRD intensity peaks corresponding to (220), (311), (422) and (440) planes. The intensity ratio of plasma-treated ferrite composites decreased compared to that of pristine composites. The crystallite size and lattice constant were increased on plasma treatment of the composite. The morphological analysis showed nanoflower-like structures of the particles with an increased surface area in the plasma-treated composites. The plasma oxidation and sputtering effects caused a reduction in the nanoflower size. The energy bandgap increased with a decrease in particle size due to plasma treatment. The rhodamine B dye solution was then irradiated with a light source in the presence of the nanocomposites. The dye degradation efficiency of the composite photocatalyst increased from 80 to 96% after plasma treatment.

Study of Kinetics and the Working Mechanism of Silica-Coated Amino-Functionalized CoFe2O4 Ferrite Nanoparticles to Treat Wastewater for Heavy Metals.

This study used a simple coprecipitation method to produce pristine, silica-coated, and amino-functionalized CoFe2O4 nanoadsorbents. Amino-functionalization was done to increase the active surface area and metal ion removal efficiency. Both pristine and functionalized adsorbents were employed to recover Pb(II), Zn(II), and Cu(II) ions from wastewater. The adsorption tests were performed by varying the initial concentration of metal ions and contact time at a fixed pH of 6.5. Atomic adsorption spectroscopy was utilized to detect the proportion of metals removed from water. Additionally, the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Freundlich, and Langmuir models were employed to compute the kinetic and isothermic data from metal ion adsorption onto the adsorbents. The amino-functionalized adsorbent showed adsorption capacities of 277.008, 254.453, and 258.398 mg/g for Cu(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) ions, respectively. According to the adsorption results, the Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-second-order model best suit the data. The best fitting of the pseudo-second-order model with the data indicates that coordinative interactions between amino groups and metal ions are responsible for chemisorption. The metal ions bind with -NH2 groups on the adsorbent surface through chelate bonds. Chelate bonds are extremely strong and stable, indicating the effectiveness of the CoFe2O4@SiO2-NH2 adsorbent in adsorbing heavy-metal ions. The tested adsorbent exhibited good performance, batter stability, and good reusable values around 77, 81, and 76% for Cu(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) ions, respectively, after five adsorption cycles.

Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Processing and Sr-Doped ZnO/CNT Photocatalyst Decoration of Cotton Fabrics for Self-Cleaning Application.

Nonthermal plasma processing is a chemical-free and environmentally friendly technique to enhance the self-cleaning activity of nanoparticle-coated cotton fabrics. In this research, Sr-doped ZnO/carbon nanotube (CNT) photocatalysts, namely, S10ZC2, S15ZC2, and S20ZC2 with different Sr doping concentrations, were synthesized using the sol-gel method and coated on plasma-functionalized fabric to perform the self-cleaning tests. The fabrics were treated with dielectric barrier discharge plasma in an open environment for 3 min to achieve a stable coating of nanoparticles. The energy band gap of the photocatalyst decreased with an increase in the level of Sr doping. The band gap of S10ZC2, S15ZC2, and S20ZC2 photocatalysts was estimated to be 2.85, 2.78, and 2.5 eV, respectively. The hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO was observed on the fabric surface composited with CNTs and Sr. The S20ZC2 photocatalyst showed better homogeneity and photocatalytic response on the fabric when compared with S10ZC2- and S15ZC2-coated fabrics. The S20ZC2 photocatalyst showed 89% dye degradation efficiency after 4 h of light exposure in methylene blue solution, followed by S15ZC2 (84%) and S10ZC2 (80%) photocatalysts.

Statistically Analyzed Heavy Metal Removal Efficiency of Silica-Coated Cu0.50Mg0.50Fe2O4 Magnetic Adsorbent for Wastewater Treatment.

Even low concentrations of pollutants in water, particularly heavy metals, can significantly affect the ecosystem and human health. Adsorption has been determined to be one of the most effective techniques of removing pollution from wastewater among the various strategies. To remove heavy metals such as Zn2+ and Pb2+, we prepared a silica-coated CuMgFe2O4 magnetic adsorbent using sol-gel method and tested it for wastewater treatment. X-ray diffraction investigation validated the creation of cubic spinel structure, while morphological analysis showed that silica coating reduces the particle size but boosts the surface roughness of the nanoparticles and also reduces the agglomeration between particles. UV-visible spectroscopy indicates a rise in bandgap and magnetic characteristics analysis indicates low values of magnetization due to silica coating. The kinetic and isotherm parameters for heavy metal ions adsorption onto silica-coated Cu0.50Mg0.50Fe2O4 nanoparticles are calculated by applying pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Langmuir and Freundlich models. Adsorption kinetics revealed that the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models are the best fit to explain adsorption kinetics. Synthesized adsorbent revealed 92% and 97% removal efficiencies for Zn2+ and Pb2+ ions, respectively.

Dual S-Scheme Heterojunction CdS/TiO2/g-C3N4 Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Production and Dye Degradation Applications.

This study investigated a ternary CdS/TiO2/g-C3N4 heterojunction for degrading synthetic dyes and hydrogen production from aqueous media through visible light-initiated photocatalytic reactions. CdS, TiO2, and g-C3N4 were combined in different mass ratios through a simple hydrothermal method to create CdS/TiO2/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts. The prepared heterojunction catalysts were investigated by using FTIR, XRD, EDX, SEM, and UV-visible spectroscopy analysis for their crystal structures, functional groups, elemental composition, microtopography, and optical properties. The rhodamine B dye was then degraded by using fully characterized photocatalysts. The maximum dye degradation efficiency of 99.4% was noted in these experiments. The evolution rate of hydrogen from the aqueous solution with the CdS/TiO2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst remained 2910 µmol·h-1·g-1, which is considerably higher than those of g-C3N4, CdS, CdS/g-C3N4, and g-C3N4/TiO2-catalyzed reactions. This study also proposes a photocatalytic activity mechanism for the tested ternary CdS/TiO2/g-C3N4 heterojunctions.

Optimal Architecture of a Dual S-Scheme ZnIn2S4-ZnO-Al2O3 Heterosystem with High H2 Evolution Rate under Visible Light.

In this study, dual S-scheme ZnIn2S4-Al2O3-ZnO (ZIS-Al-Zn) heterojunctions were produced by a facile, low cost, and rapid combustion technique. These heterojunctions accelerated the photocatalytic hydrogen production due to the multi-channel-promoted separation of photocarriers. By optimizing the content of the components, the synthesized ZIS-Al-Zn composite with 20 wt% of ZnIn2S4 and 30 wt% of Al2O3 in the ZIS-Al-Zn composite demonstrated the highest hydrogen production rate of 54.2 mmol g-1 h-1, which was nearly 11 and 8.30 times better than ZnO-Al2O3 and ZnO-ZnIn2S4 composites, respectively. The results of DRS, PL, EIS, LSV, and CV techniques showed the highest shift in the light absorption, rapid interfacial transfer, and quenched recombination of photocarriers over the ternary ZIS-Al-Zn composite than single and binary catalysts. The obtained results revealed the formation of a dual S-scheme mechanism of transfer of photocarriers in ZIS-Al-Zn heterojunctions, contributing to better hydrogen production efficiency. The optimized ZIS-Al-Zn composite also exhibited good stability and reusability.

Testing of Sr-Doped ZnO/CNT Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution from Water Splitting under Atmospheric Dielectric Barrier Plasma Exposure.

Nonthermal plasma is a well-recognized environmentally advantageous method for producing green fuels. This work used different photocatalysts, including PZO, SxZO, and SxZCx for hydrogen production using an atmospheric argon coaxial dielectric barrier discharge (DBD)-based light source. The photocatalysts were produced using a sol-gel route. The DBD discharge column was filled with water, methanol, and the catalyst to run the reaction under argon plasma. The DBD reactor was operated with a 10 kV AC source to sustain plasma for water splitting. The light absorption study of the tested catalysts revealed a decrease in the band gap with an increase in the concentration of Sr and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the Sr/ZnO/CNTs series. The photocatalyst S25ZC2 demonstrated the lowest photoluminescence (PL) intensity, implying the most quenched recombination of charge carriers. The highest H2 evolution rate of 2760 µmol h-1 g-1 was possible with the S25ZC2 catalyst, and the lowest evolution rate of 56 µmol h-1 g-1 was observed with the PZO catalyst. The photocatalytic activity of S25ZC2 was initially high, which decreased slightly over time due to the deactivation of the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic activity decreased from 2760 to 1670 µmol h-1 g-1 at the end of the process.

Production of combustible fuels and carbon nanotubes from plastic wastes using an in-situ catalytic microwave pyrolysis process.

This study performed in-situ microwave pyrolysis of plastic waste into hydrogen, liquid fuel and carbon nanotubes in the presence of Zeolite Socony Mobil ZSM-5 catalyst. In the presented microwave pyrolysis of plastics, activated carbon was used as a heat susceptor. The microwave power of 1 kW was employed to decompose high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) wastes at moderate temperatures of 400-450 °C. The effect of plastic composition, catalyst loading and plastic type on liquid, gas and solid carbon products was quantified. This in-situ CMP reaction resulted in heavy hydrocarbons, hydrogen gas and carbon nanotubes as a solid residue. A relatively better hydrogen yield of 129.6 mmol/g as a green fuel was possible in this process. FTIR and gas chromatography analysis revealed that liquid product consisted of C13+ fraction hydrocarbons, such as alkanes, alkanes, and aromatics. TEM micrographs showed tubular-like structural morphology of the solid residue, which was identified as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) during X-ray diffraction analysis. The outer diameter of CNTs ranged from 30 to 93 nm from HDPE, 25-93 nm from PP and 30-54 nm for HDPE-PP mixure. The presented CMP process took just 2-4 min to completely pyrolyze the plastic feedstock into valuable products, leaving no polymeric residue.

Statistical prediction and sensitivity analysis of kinetic rate constants for efficient thermal valorization of plastic waste into combustible oil and gases.

Sensitivity analyses of rate constants for chemical kinetics of the pyrolysis reaction are essential for the efficient valorization of plastic waste into combustible liquids and gases. Finding the role of individual rate constants can provide important information on the process conditions, quality, and quantity of the pyrolysis products. The reaction temperature and time can also be reduced through these analyses. For sensitivity analysis, one possible approach is to estimate the kinetic parameters using MLRM (multiple linear regression model) in SPSS. To date, no research reports on this research gap are documented in the published literature. In this study, MLRM is applied to kinetic rate constants, which slightly differ from experimental data. The experimental and statistically predicted rate constants varied up to 200% from their original values to perform sensitivity analysis using MATLAB software. The product yield was examined after 60 min of thermal pyrolysis at a fixed temperature of 420 °C. The predicted rate constant "k(8)" with a slight difference of 0.02 and 0.04 from the experiment revealed 85% oil yield and 40% light wax after 60 min of operation. The heavy wax was missing from the products under these conditions. This rate constant can be utilized to maximize the commercial-scale extraction of liquids and light waxes from thermal pyrolysis of plastics.

A Cu medium designed Z-scheme ZnO-Cu-CdS heterojunction photocatalyst for stable and excellent H2 evolution, methylene blue degradation, and CO2 reduction.

Solar photocatalysis has emerged as a pollution-free and inexhaustible technique that has been extensively researched in the domains of environmental remediation and energy production. Herein, we have integrated ZnO and CdS nanoparticles through Cu as a solid-state electron mediator to design a ZnO-Cu-CdS Z-scheme heterosystem via a sol-gel route and further tested this as a photocatalyst for dye degradation, H2 evolution, and CO2 reduction. Within 60 min of visible light exposure, about 97% of methylene blue (MB) is degraded with a degradation rate constant of 0.042 min-1 for the ZnO0.45Cu0.1CdS0.45 catalyst. The MB degradation with this catalyst is 84, 21, 4.8, and 2 times as high as those of ZnO, CdS, ZnO0.5CdS0.5, and Cu0.1ZnO0.9 catalysts. The ZnO-Cu-CdS catalyst manifests an H2 evolution efficiency of 5579 µmol h-1 g-1, which is 169, 41, 3.9, and 3.5 times as high as those of ZnO, CdS, ZnO0.5CdS0.5, and Cu0.1ZnO0.9 catalysts. Using H2 as a reducing agent, the CO production rate over the ZnO0.45Cu0.1CdS0.45 catalyst reaches 770 µmol h-1 g-1, which is 3 and 1.8 times higher than those of ZnO0.5CdS0.5 and Cu0.1ZnO0.9 catalysts. Besides, the optimal CH4 production rate over ZnO0.45Cu0.1CdS0.45 reaches 890 µmol h-1 g-1. The improved photocatalytic response of the ZnO-Cu-CdS catalyst is assigned to the delayed recombination of photoexcited charge carriers through a Z-scheme charge transport mode, maintaining the photocarriers with strong redox potentials and the dual role of Cu to serve as a conductive bridge to accelerate the charge transfer rate and enhance the light absorption due to its SPR phenomenon. This research offers a promising strategy for developing binary/ternary Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic systems for different photocatalytic applications.

Sensitivity Analysis of Thermal Degradation of Plastic Waste Using Statistically Assumed Exponential Factors and Activation Energies.

The rise in the production of plastic waste has prompted the exploration of various recovery options instead of landfilling, burning, and other unethical ways of decomposing. The experimentally generated rate constants for the thermal processing of plastic waste do not yield enough liquid fuels and gases for commercial-scale usage. It is imperative to predict kinetic rate constants statistically using an appropriate combination of activation energies (E a) and frequency factors (A o) for the optimized thermal valorization of plastic waste. This approach also assists in controlling the selectivity and quantity of the pyrolysis products. A statistical kinetic model was tested to find the best combination of rate constants from different combinations of E a and A o to pyrolyze the high-density polyethylene. Two series of E a and A o were first assumed using R software. These series were then used to predict kinetic rate constants and analyze their sensitivity independently using MATLAB. The rate constants were varied from their originally predicted values during the sensitivity analysis. It was found that the rate constant k(7) dominated the other predicted rate constants where high oil and gas yields were concerned. The gas yield increased from lower to higher extreme positions in the range of 60%-74% with the first series and from 65% to 81% with the second series. The maximum oil content was found around 74% and 65% with the first series and second series, respectively.

Semiconductor photocatalysts: A critical review highlighting the various strategies to boost the photocatalytic performances for diverse applications.

The photocatalytic technology illustrates an eco-friendly and sustainable route to overcome environmental and energy issues. The successful construction of a photocatalyst depends on four key elements: light absorption ability, the density of active sites, redox capacity, and photoinduced electron-hole recombination rate. Sincemost of intrinsic semiconductor photocatalysts cannot meet all these requirements, they are often modified to boost their photocatalytic properties. Many strategies have been adopted to design novel and efficient photocatalysts for diverse applications. Herein, we review the most efficient of these strategies and methods focused on effectively overcoming the efficiency limitations of photocatalysts to promote their large-scale application. Subsequently, a particular aim is put on the most current studies for photocatalytic applications, including CO2 reduction, N2 fixation, H2 evolution, and pollutants degradation. Finally, key challenges and future perspectives in designing and implementing semiconductor photocatalysts for large-scale applications are discussed. Therefore, it is foreseen that this review will work as a guide for future research and provides a variety of strategies to develop novel and high-performance photocatalysts for various applications.

Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution from H2S Cracking over CrxZnS Catalyst in a Cylindrical Single-Layered Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Reactor.

The use of non-thermal plasma technology in producing green fuels is a much-appreciated environmentally friendly approach. In this study, an Al2O3-supported CrxZnS semiconductor catalyst was tested for hydrogen evolution from hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas by using a single-layered dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system. The Al2O3-supported CrxZnS catalyst (x = 0.20, 0.25, and 0.30) was produced by using a co-impregnation method and characterized for its structural and photocatalytic characteristics. The discharge column of the DBD system was filled with this catalyst and fed with hydrogen sulfide and argon gas. The DBD plasma was sustained with a fixed AC source of 10 kV where plasma produced species and UV radiations activated the catalyst to break H2S molecules under ambient conditions. The catalyst (hexagonal-cubic-sphalerite structure) showed an inverse relationship between the band gap and the dopant concentration. The hydrogen evolution decreased with an increase in dopant concentration in the nanocomposite. The Cr0.20ZnS catalyst showed excellent photocatalytic activity under the DBD exposure by delivering 100% conversion efficiency of H2S into hydrogen. The conversion decreased to 96% and 90% in case of Cr0.25ZnS and Cr0.30ZnS, respectively.

Enhancement of Magnetic and Dielectric Properties of Ni0.25Cu0.25Zn0.50Fe2O4 Magnetic Nanoparticles through Non-Thermal Microwave Plasma Treatment for High-Frequency and Energy Storage Applications.

Spinel ferrites are widely investigated for their widespread applications in high-frequency and energy storage devices. This work focuses on enhancing the magnetic and dielectric properties of Ni0.25Cu0.25Zn0.50 ferrite series through non-thermal microwave plasma exposure under low-pressure conditions. A series of Ni0.25Cu0.25Zn0.50 ferrites was produced using a facile sol-gel auto-ignition approach. The post-synthesis plasma treatment was given in a low-pressure chamber by sustaining oxygen plasma with a microwave source. The structural formation of control and plasma-modified ferrites was investigated through X-ray diffraction analysis, which confirmed the formation of the fcc cubical structure of all samples. The plasma treatment did not affect crystallize size but significantly altered the surface porosity. The surface porosity increased after plasma treatment and average crystallite size was measured as about ~49.13 nm. Morphological studies confirmed changes in surface morphology and reduction in particle size on plasma exposure. The saturation magnetization of plasma-exposed ferrites was roughly 65% higher than the control. The saturation magnetization, remnant magnetization, and coercivity of plasma-exposed ferrites were calculated as 74.46 emu/g, 26.35 emu/g, and 1040 Oe, respectively. Dielectric characteristics revealed a better response of plasma-exposed ferrites to electromagnetic waves than control. These findings suggest that the plasma-exposed ferrites are good candidates for constructing high-frequency devices.

Analysis of Statistically Predicted Rate Constants for Pyrolysis of High-Density Plastic Using R Software.

The surge in plastic waste production has forced researchers to work on practically feasible recovery processes. Pyrolysis is a promising and intriguing option for the recycling of plastic waste. Developing a model that simulates the pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as the most common polymer is important in determining the impact of operational parameters on system behavior. The type and amount of primary products of pyrolysis, such as oil, gas, and waxes, can be predicted statistically using a multiple linear regression model (MLRM) in R software. To the best of our knowledge, the statistical estimation of kinetic rate constants for pyrolysis of high-density plastic through MLRM analysis using R software has never been reported in the literature. In this study, the temperature-dependent rate constants were fixed experimentally at 420 °C. The rate constants with differences of 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 from empirically set values were analyzed for pyrolysis of HDPE using MLRM in R software. The added variable plots, scatter plots, and 3D plots demonstrated a good correlation between the dependent and predictor variables. The possible changes in the final products were also analyzed by applying a second-order differential equation solver (SODES) in MATLAB version R2020a. The outcomes of experimentally fixed-rate constants revealed an oil yield of 73% to 74%. The oil yield increased to 78% with a difference of 0.03 from the experimentally fixed rate constants, but light wax, heavy wax, and carbon black decreased. The increased oil and gas yield with reduced byproducts verifies the high significance of the conducted statistical analysis. The statistically predicted kinetic rate constants can be used to enhance the oil yield at an industrial scale.

Construction of 0D/2D Schottky Heterojunctions of ZnO and Ti3C2 Nanosheets with the Enriched Transfer of Interfacial Charges for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

The development of cost-effective co-catalysts of high photocatalytic activity and recyclability is still a challenge in the energy transformation domain. In this study, 0D/2D Schottky heterojunctions, consisting of 0D ZnO and 2D Ti3C2, were successfully synthesized by the electrostatic self-assembling of ZnO nanoparticles on Ti3C2 nanosheets. In constructing these heterojunctions, Ti3C2 nanosheets acted as a co-catalyst for enhancing the transfer of excitons and their separation to support the photocatalytic response of ZnO. The as-prepared ZnO/Ti3C2 composites demonstrate an abbreviated charge transit channel, a huge interfacial contact area and the interfacial electrons' transport potential. The extended optical response and large reactive area of the ZnO/Ti3C2 composite promoted the formation of excitons and reactive sites on the photocatalyst's surface. The ZnO/Ti3C2 Schottky heterojunction showed significantly high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production from a water-ethanol solution under the light illumination in the visible region. The hydrogen evolution overoptimized the ZnO/Ti3C2 composition with 30 wt.% of Ti3C2, which was eight times higher than the pristine ZnO. These findings can be helpful in developing 0D/2D heterojunction systems for photocatalytic applications by utilizing Ti3C2 as a low-cost co-catalyst.

Nanocarriers for Smart Therapeutic Strategies to Treat Drug-Resistant Tumors: A Review.

Combination therapy has become much more effective in treating cancer because it produces combinatorial anticancer results, lowers specific drug-related toxicities, and inhibits multidrug resistivity through several modes of action. Combined drug delivery (CDD) to cancerous tissues, primarily based on nanotechnology, has developed as a viable method in recent years, surpassing various biomedical, biophysical, and biological obstacles that the body erects to prevent antitumor drugs from reaching their target tissues. In a combined strategy, the prolonged, regulated, and targeted administration of chemotherapeutic medicines improves therapeutic anticancer benefits while reducing drug-related adverse effects. CDD systems have several advantages over traditional drug systems, such as improved solubility, higher permeability for traveling through biomembranes, a significantly longer half-life to expand the treatment time, and low cytotoxicity. CDDs are mostly used to treat neurological, cardiovascular, neoplastic, infectious, and inflammatory diseases. Many CDDs are designed to enhance hydrophilicity to improve transportation inside or across biomembranes, particularly the cornea and skin. CDDs could be delivered to particular cells, organs, or tissues, resulting in increased bioavailability. The most widely utilized nanocarriers for CDDs of anticancer medicines are summarized in this review. This study also covers the chemical or enzymatic decomposition of CDDs and their bioactivity and pharmacokinetics. Additional clinical trials will enhance the usefulness of CDDs in treating drug-resistant tumors.

Evaluation of Ultrasonically ZnO Loading Effect on Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning, UV Protection and Antibacterial Activity of Plasma/Citric Acid-Activated Cotton Fabric.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were loaded over non-thermal plasma (P1) and citric acid (P2)-functionalized cotton fabrics using a room temperature sonification process. The cotton samples were pretreated with dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma and citric acid to introduce some reactive moieties on the fabric to enhance the adhesion power of ZnO nanoparticles with an average particle size of 41 nm. The nanoparticles were dispersed homogeneously on the surface of the P1 sample, which enhanced the antibacterial, UV protection and photocatalytic self-cleaning characteristics of ZnO-loaded fabric. The self-cleaning efficiency of P1 and P2 samples was measured to be about 77% and 63%, respectively. The inhibition zones of 5.5 mm and 5.4 mm were produced by sample P1 against E. coli and S. aureusbacteria, respectively, which were slightly higher than the inhibition zones produced by sample P2. The inhibition zone of the samples roughly decreased by 17% after performing 10 wash cycles. The unloaded cotton fabric had a UPF value of 70.02 units and blocking percentage of 70.92% and 76.54% for UVA and UVB radiations, respectively. The UVA-blocking capacity of samples P1 and P2 was 95.27% and 91.22, respectively. Similarly, the UVB blocking capacity was 94.11% and 92.65%, respectively. The pre-coating plasma treatment was found to be helpful in improving the UV-blocking ability of ZnO-loaded cotton fabric.