Imidazolium salt's toxic effects in larvae and cells of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are the main vectors of arboviruses such as Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, causing a major impact on global economic and public health. The main way to prevent these diseases is vector control, which is carried out through physical and biological methods, in addition to environmental management. Although chemical insecticides are the most effective strategy, they present some problems such as vector resistance and ecotoxicity. Recent research highlights the potential of the imidazolium salt "1-methyl-3-octadecylimidazolium chloride" (C18MImCl) as an innovative and environmentally friendly solution against Ae. aegypti. Despite its promising larvicidal activity, the mode of action of C18MImCl in mosquito cells and tissues remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate its impacts on Ae. aegypti larvae and three cell lines of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, comparing the cellular effects with those on human cells. Cell viability assays and histopathological analyses of treated larvae were conducted. Results revealed the imidazolium salt's high selectivity (> 254) for mosquito cells over human cells. After salt ingestion, the mechanism of larval death involves toxic effects on midgut cells. This research marks the first description of an imidazolium salt's action on mosquito cells and midgut tissues, showcasing its potential for the development of a selective and sustainable strategy for vector control.

α-Fe2O3/, Co3O4/, and CoFe2O4/MWCNTs/Ionic Liquid Nanocomposites as High-Performance Electrocatalysts for the Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in a Neutral Medium.

Transition metal oxides are a great alternative to less expensive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts. However, the lack of conductivity of these materials requires a conductor material to support them and improve the activity toward HER. On the other hand, carbon paste electrodes result in a versatile and cheap electrode with good activity and conductivity in electrocatalytic hydrogen production, especially when the carbonaceous material is agglomerated with ionic liquids. In the present work, an electrode composed of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and cobalt ferrite oxide (CoFe2O4) was prepared. These compounds were included on an electrode agglomerated with the ionic liquid N-octylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (IL) to obtain the modified CoFe2O4/MWCNTs/IL nanocomposite electrode. To evaluate the behavior of each metal of the bimetallic oxide, this compound was compared to the behavior of MWCNTs/IL where a single monometallic iron or cobalt oxides were included (i.e., α-Fe2O3/MWCNTs/IL and Co3O4/MWCNTs/IL). The synthesis of the oxides has been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), RAMAN spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FE-SEM), corroborating the nanometric character and the structure of the compounds. The CoFe2O4/MWCNTs/IL nanocomposite system presents excellent electrocatalytic activity toward HER with an onset potential of -270 mV vs. RHE, evidencing an increase in activity compared to monometallic oxides and exhibiting onset potentials of -530 mV and -540 mV for α-Fe2O3/MWCNTs/IL and Co3O4/MWCNTs/IL, respectively. Finally, the system studied presents excellent stability during the 5 h of electrolysis, producing 132 µmol cm-2 h-1 of hydrogen gas.

The use of green protic ionic liquids in the crystallization of isoniazid: Evaluation of physicochemical and biological properties of drug.

This study evaluated the synthesis of protic ionic liquids (PILs), 2-hydroxy ethylammonium formate (2-HEAF) and 2-hydroxy ethylammonium acetate (2-HEAA), and their applicability in the crystallization process of the active pharmaceutical ingredient isoniazid (INH) as anti-solvent. Isoniazid is an antibiotic used in the treatment of tuberculosis infections, being used as a first-line chemotherapeutic agent against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Futhermore, this investigation was conducted in order to evaluate how these PILs can influence the habit, solubility, stability, and therapeutic efficiency of the obtained isoniazid crystals. The 2-HEAF and 2-HEAA PILs were easily formed in reactions between ethanolamine and carboxylic acids (formic or acetic acid), and they have no toxicity against Artemia salina. The PILs were able to crystallize isoniazid, influencing the crystal habit and size. The greatest variations in the hydrogen signals of the NH2 and NH groups of the amine and low variations in the chemical shifts of the hydrogens of the cation of the ethanolamine group from 2-HEAA and 2-HEAF indicate that PILs establish possibly weak interactions with INH. The obtained crystals were amorphous and showed higher solubility in water than standard INH. Moreover, these crystals showed therapeutic efficiency inantimycobacterial activity to inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The INH:2-HEAF only degraded 5.1 % (w/w), however, INH:2-HEAA degraded 32.8 % (w/w) after 60 days in an accelerated atmosphere. Then, the 2-HEAA and 2-HEAF were able to crystallize isoniazid, being a new application for these PILs. The used PILs also influenced the characteristics of isoniazid crystals.

A mechanistic study on conversion of carbon dioxide into formic acid promoted by 1-ethyl-2, 3-dimethyl-imidazolium nitrite.

CONTEXT: The conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to formic acid (FA) through hydrogenation using 1-ethyl-2,3- dimethyl imidazolium nitrite (EDIN) ionic liquid was studied to understand the catalytic roles within EDIN. CO2 hydrogenation in various solvents has been explored, but achieving high efficiency and selectivity remains challenging due to the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inertness of CO2. This study explored two mechanistic pathways through theoretical calculations, revealing that the nitrite (NO2-) group is the most active site. The oxygen site on nitrite favorably activates H2, while the nitrogen site shows a minor activation barrier of 108.90 kJ/mol. The Gibbs energy variation indicates stable FA formation via EDIN, suggesting effective hydrogen (H2) activation and subsequent CO2 conversion. These insights are crucial for developing improved catalytic sites and processes in ionic liquid catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation. METHODS: Quantum chemical calculations were conducted using the ORCA software package at the Restricted Hartree-Fock (RHF) and density functional theory (DFT) levels. The RHF method, known for its predictive abilities in simpler systems, provided a baseline description of electronic structures. In contrast, DFT was employed for its effectiveness in complex interactions involving significant electron correlation. A valence triple-zeta polarization (def2-TZVPP) basis set was employed for both RHF and DFT, ensuring accurate and correlated calculations. The B3LYP functional was utilized for its rapid convergence and cost-efficiency in larger molecules. Dispersion corrected functionals (DFT-D) addressed significant dispersion forces in ionic liquids, incorporating Grimme's D2, D3, and D4 corrections. Geometry optimizations, kinetics, and thermodynamic calculations were performed in the gas phase. The Nudged Elastic Band Transition State (NEB-TS) approach, combining Climbing Image-NEB (CINEB) and Eigenvector-Following (EF) methods, was used to find the minimum energy path (MEP) between reactants and products. Thermochemical analyses based on vibrational frequency calculations evaluated properties such as Enthalpy, Entropy, and Gibbs energy using ideal gas statistical mechanics.

Alternative green solvents associated with ultrasound-assisted extraction: A green chemistry approach for the extraction of carotenoids and chlorophylls from microalgae.

This study proposes a method for the ultrasonic extraction of carotenoids and chlorophyll from Scenedesmus obliquus and Arthrospira platensis microalgae with green solvents. Ethanol and ethanolic solutions of ionic liquids were tested with a variety of extraction parameters, including number of extractions, time of extraction, and solid-liquid ratio R(S/L), to determine the optimal conditions. After selecting the most effective green solvent (ethanol), the process conditions were established: R(S/L) of 1:10, three extraction cycles at 3 min each), giving an extraction yield of 2602.36 and 764.21 µgcarotenoids.gdried biomass-1; and 22.01 and 5.81 mgchlorophyll.gdried biomass-1 in S. obliquus and A. platensis, respectively. The carotenoid and chlorophyll extracts obtained using ethanol were shown to be potent scavengers of peroxyl radical, being 5.94 to 26.08 times more potent α-tocopherol. These findings pave the way for a green strategy for valorizing microalgal biocompounds through efficient and environmentally friendly technological processes.

CO2 capture using silica-immobilized dicationic ionic liquids with magnetic and non-magnetic properties.

The need to find alternative materials to replace aqueous amine solutions for the capture of CO2 in post-combustion technologies is pressing. This study assesses the CO2 sorption capacity and CO2/N2 selectivity of three dicationic ionic liquids with distinct anions immobilized in commercial mesoporous silica support (SBA- 15). The samples were characterized by UART-FTIR, NMR, Raman, FESEM, TEM, TGA, Magnetometry (VSM), BET and BJH. The highest CO2 sorption capacity and CO2/N2 selectivity were obtained for sample SBA@DIL_2FeCl4 [at 1 bar and 25 °C; 57.31 (±0.02) mg CO2/g; 12.27 (±0.72) mg CO2/g]. The results were compared to pristine SBA-15 and revealed a similar sorption capacity, indicating that the IL has no impact on the CO2 sorption capacity of silica. On the other hand, selectivity was improved by approximately 3.8 times, demonstrating the affinity of the ionic liquid for the CO2 molecule. The material underwent multiple sorption/desorption cycles and proved to be stable and a promising option for use in industrial CO2 capture processes.

Biodegradable Electrospun Conduit with Aligned Fibers Based on Poly(lactic-co-glycolic Acid) (PLGA)/Carbon Nanotubes and Choline Bitartrate Ionic Liquid.

Functionally active aligned fibers are a promising approach to enhance neuro adhesion and guide the extension of neurons for peripheral nerve regeneration. Therefore, the present study developed poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)-aligned electrospun mats and investigated the synergic effect with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and Choline Bitartrate ionic liquid (Bio-IL) on PLGA fibers. Morphology, thermal, and mechanical performances were determined as well as the hydrolytic degradation and the cytotoxicity. Results revealed that electrospun mats are composed of highly aligned fibers, and CNTs were aligned and homogeneously distributed into the fibers. Bio-IL changed thermal transition behavior, reduced glass transition temperature (Tg), and favored crystal phase formation. The mechanical properties increased in the presence of CNTs and slightly decreased in the presence of the Bio-IL. The results demonstrated a decrease in the degradation rate in the presence of CNTs, whereas the use of Bio-IL led to an increase in the degradation rate. Cytotoxicity results showed that all the electrospun mats display metabolic activity above 70%, which demonstrates that they are biocompatible. Moreover, superior biocompatibility was observed for the electrospun containing Bio-IL combined with higher amounts of CNTs, showing a high potential to be used in nerve tissue engineering.

Optimization of cost-effective enzymatic saccharification using low-cost protic ionic liquid as pretreatment agent in Agave bagasse.

This work studied the optimization of enzymatic saccharification of Agave tequilana bagasse (ATB) pretreated with the low-cost protic ionic liquid (PIL) ethanolamine acetate ([EOA][OAc]) using the highly available and cost-effective mixture of the enzymatic cocktails Celluclast 1.5L-Viscozyme L. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to maximize the sugars concentration and yield. The RSM optimization conditions of the enzymatic saccharification of pretreated ATB that achieved the maximum reducing sugars (RS) concentration were: 11.50 % w/v solids loading, 4.26 pH with 0.76 and 1.86 mg protein/mL buffer of Viscozyme L and Celluclast 1.5L, respectively. Similarly, the conditions that maximize the sugar yield (SY) were solids loading of 5.62 % w/v, and 4.51 pH as well as 1.07 and 2.03 mg protein/mL buffer of Viscozyme L and Celluclast 1.5L, respectively. Saccharification performance of the first-generation and low-cost enzyme mixture Celluclast 1.5L-Viscozyme L was compared with that reached by a second-generation and higher-cost CTec2, where Celluclast 1.5L-Viscozyme L achieved 60.86 ± 2.66 % y 79.25 ± 3.34 % of the sugars released by CTec2 at the same hydrolysis time (12 h) for the sugar concentration and yield models, respectively. These results are encouraging since they positively contribute to cost reduction and availability issues, which are key parameters to consider when thinking about scaling-up the process.

Changing Despicable Me: Potential replacement of azo dye yellow tartrazine for pequi carotenoids employing ionic liquids as high-performance extractors.

Color is a crucial sensory attribute that guides consumer expectations. A high-performance pequi carotenoid extraction process was developed using ionic liquid-based ethanolic solutions and a factorial design strategy to search for a potential substitute for the artificial azo dye yellow tartrazine. All-trans-antheraxanthin was identified with HPLC-PAD-MSn for the first time in pequi samples. [BMIM][BF4] was the most efficient ionic liquid, and the maximization process condition was the solid-liquid ratio R(S/L) of 1:3, the co-solvent ratio R(IL/E) of 1:1 ([BMIM][BF4]: ethanol), and three cycles of extraction with 300 s each and yielded 107.90 µg carotenoids/g of dry matter. The ionic liquid-ethanolic solution recyclability was accomplished by freezing and precipitating with an average recovery of 79 %. In CIELAB parameters, pequi carotenoid extracted with [BMIM][BF4] was brighter and yellower than the artificial azo dye yellow tartrazine. A color change of 11.08 and a hue* difference of 1.26° were obtained. Furthermore, carotenoids extracted with [BMIM][BF4] showed antioxidant activity of 35.84 µmol of α-tocopherol. These findings suggest the potential of employing the pequi carotenoids to replace the artificial azo dye yellow tartrazine in foods for improved functional properties.

High-performance acetosolv lignin-incorporated DGEBA cured with aprotic imidazolium-based ionic liquid: Polymerization, chemical, thermal and combustion aspects of the thermosetting materials.

The lignin valorization constitutes a chemical platform for several segments of chemical industry. The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of acetosolv coconut fiber lignin (ACFL) as an additive to DGEBA, curing it using an aprotic IL ([BMIM][PF6]) and analyze the properties of the obtained thermosetting materials. ACFL was obtained by mixing coconut fiber with 90 % acetic acid and 2 % HCl at 110 °C during 1 h. ACFL was characterized by FTIR, TGA and 1H NMR. The formulations were fabricated by mixing DGEBA and ACFL at different concentrations (0-50 % wt.). The curing parameters and [BMIM][PF6] concentrations were optimized by DSC analyses. The cured ACFL-incorporated epoxy resins were characterized by gel content (GC), TGA, MCC and chemical resistance in different media. ACFL undergone a selective partial acetylation that favored its miscibility with DGEBA. High GC values were obtained at high curing temperatures and ACFL concentration. The crescent ACFL concentration did not affect the Tonset of the thermosetting materials significantly. ACFL has increased the resistance of DGEBA to combustion and different chemical media. ACFL has shown a great potential to be used as a bio-additive for enhancing the chemical, thermal and combustion properties of high-performance materials.

Imidazolium Salts for Candida spp. Antibiofilm High-Density Polyethylene-Based Biomaterials.

The species of Candida present good capability to form fungal biofilms on polymeric surfaces and are related to several human diseases since many of the employed medical devices are designed using polymers, especially high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Herein, HDPE films containing 0; 0.125; 0.250 or 0.500 wt% of 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C16MImCl) or its analog 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (C16MImMeS) were obtained by melt blending and posteriorly mechanically pressurized into films. This approach resulted in more flexible and less brittle films, which impeded the Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis biofilm formation on their surfaces. The employed imidazolium salt (IS) concentrations did not present any significant cytotoxic effect, and the good cell adhesion/proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells on the HDPE-IS films indicated good biocompatibility. These outcomes combined with the absence of microscopic lesions in pig skin after contact with HDPE-IS films demonstrated their potential as biomaterials for the development of effective medical device tools that reduce the risk of fungal infections.

New water-based nanocapsules of poly(diallyldimethylammonium tetrafluoroborate)/ionic liquid for CO2 capture.

Encapsulated ionic liquids as green solvents for CO2 capture are reported in this work. We present a novel combination of water-based poly(ionic liquid) and imidazolium-based ionic liquids (Emim[X]). Poly(diallyldimethylammonium tetrafluoroborate)/Emim[X] capsules were developed for the first time using Nano Spray Dryer B-90. Capsules were characterized by FTIR, SEM/EDX, TEM, TGA, DSC, CO2 sorption, and CO2/N2 selectivity, CO2 sorption kinetic and recycling were also demonstrated. Comparing the capsules reported in this work, the combination of poly(diallyldimethylammonium tetrafluoroborate) and the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (P[DADMA]/BF4) showed great potential for CO2 capture and CO2/N2 separation, providing higher results (53.4 mg CO2/g; CO2/N2 selectivity: 4.58).

Alternative Ecosorbent for the Determination of Trihalomethanes in Aqueous Samples in SPME Mode.

A new sorbent material based on modified clay with ionic liquid immobilized into an agarose film was developed as part of this study. It was applied to determine organochlorine pollutants, like disinfection byproducts, through headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-electron capture detection (HS-SPME-GC-ECD). The disinfection byproducts determined in this study were used as model molecules because they were volatile compounds, with proven severe effects on human health. Their presence in aquatic environments is in trace concentrations (from pg L-1 to mg L-1). They are classified as emergent pollutants and their determination is a challenge for analytical chemists. The parameters which affected the extraction efficiency, i.e., number and distance between SPME discs, salt concentration, the temperature of extraction, extraction time, and desorption time, were optimized. A wide linear dynamic range of 10-1000 ng mL-1 and coefficients of determination better than 0.997 were achieved. The limits of detection and the limits of quantitation were found in the ranges of (1.7-3.7) ng mL-1 and (5.6-9.9) ng mL-1, respectively. The precision, expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD), was better than 8%. The developed sorbent exhibits good adsorption affinity. The applicability of the proposed methodology for the analysis of trihalomethanes in environmental and water samples showed recoveries in the range of 86-95%. Finally, the newly created method fully complied with the principles of green chemistry. Due to the fact that the sorbent holder was made of agarose, which is a wholly biodegradable material, sorbent clay is a widespread material in nature. Moreover, the reagents intercalated into the montmorillonite are new green solvents, and during the whole procedure, low amounts of organic solvents were used.

Green Synthesis of Spiro Compounds with Potential Anticancer Activity through Knoevenagel/Michael/Cyclization Multicomponent Domino Reactions Organocatalyzed by Ionic Liquid and Microwave-Assisted.

In this work a microwave-assisted Knoevenagel/Michael/cyclization multicomponent domino methodology, using ethanol as solvent and the ionic liquid 1-methylimidazolium chloride as catalyst was developed for the synthesis of spiro compounds. The reaction conditions considered ideal were determined from a methodological study varying solvent, catalyst, amount of catalyst, temperature, and heating mode. Finally, the generality of the methodology was evaluated by exploring the scope of the reaction, varying the starting materials (isatin, malononitrile, and barbituric acid). Overall, the twelve spiro compounds were synthesized in good yields (43-98%) and the X-ray structure of compound 1b was obtained. In addition, the in vitro antiproliferative activities of the spirocycles against four types of human cancer cell lines including HCT116 (human colon carcinoma), PC3 (prostate carcinoma), HL60 (promyelocytic leukemia), and SNB19 (astrocytoma) were screened by MTT-based assay. It is noteworthy that spiro compound 1c inhibited the four cell lines tested with the lowest IC50 values: 52.81 µM for HCT116, 74.40 µM for PC3, 101 µM for SNB19, and 49.72 µM for HL60.

Multifunctional Characteristics of Carbon Fibers Modified with Imidazolium Ionic Liquids.

A multifunctional designing approach is of great importance for advanced composite applications. This study assessed the use of ionic liquids (ILs) to modify the surface of carbon fiber (CF) and impart multifunctional characteristics to it. For that, ethanolic solutions of different ILs, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride and 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride, at different concentrations, were used to treat the CF. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of IL on the CF surface. The contact angle for 1% w/v IL-treated CF and DGEBA epoxy decreased by up to 35%, corresponding to an increase in surface energy of fiber, accompanied by an increase of 91% in interfacial shear strength. These enhancements were achieved with the hydroxy-functionalized IL, showing the tunability of CF properties through the N-imidazolium substituent. An increase in crystallite size along the basal plane was also found due to the ordering of the graphitic structure on the surface. Moreover, there was a decrease in electrical resistivity of 77%. In all, the imidazolium ILs were considered a promising approach to induce multifunctional characteristics, namely enhanced interfacial strength and electrical conductivity, to unsized CF, which can also be beneficial for recycled fibers without deteriorating their inherent surface properties.

Emulsion Polymerization Using an Amphiphilic Oligoether Ionic Liquid as a Surfactant.

We investigate the use of an ionic liquid (IL) as a surfactant in emulsion polymerization (EP) reactions. ILs have been proposed as surfactants for micellar dispersions, emulsions, micro-emulsions and suspensions. Thus, it is important to acquire knowledge of the application of ILs in heterogeneous polymerizations. We selected the amphiphile cationic oligoether IoLiLyte C1EG™ as an IL for this purpose and compared its performance to that of the conventional surfactant dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) in the EP of methyl methacrylate and styrene. After we found the proper concentration range of the IL, this amphiphile showed similar polymerization rates to those observed with DTAB for both monomers. The evolution of monomer conversion and the final average diameter of formed polymeric particles were similar for both evaluated surfactants, demonstrating their capability to stabilize the EPs of the investigated monomers. We simulated the evolution of monomer conversion and particle size using a conventional model for emulsion polymerization, which showed good agreement with the experimental data, suggesting that the EP with this IL follows Smith-Ewart kinetics.

Boosting photovoltaic performance for Sb2S3solar cells by ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal synthesis.

Bulk and surface trap-states in the Sb2S3films are considered one of the crucial energy loss mechanisms for achieving high photovoltaic performance in planar Sb2S3solar cells. Because ionic liquid additives offer interesting physicochemical properties to control the synthesis of inorganic material, in this work we propose the addition of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (BMIMHS) into a Sb2S3hydrothermal precursor solution as a facile way to fabricate low-defect Sb2S3solar cells. Lower presence of small particles on the surface, as well as higher crystallinity are demonstrated in the BMIMHS-assisted Sb2S3films. Moreover, analyses of dark current density-voltageJ-Vcurves, surface photovoltage transient and intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy have suggested that adding BMIMHS results in high-quality Sb2S3films and a successful defect passivation. Consequently, the best-performing BMIMHS-assisted device exhibits a 15.4% power conversion efficiency enhancement compared to that of control device. These findings show that ionic liquid BMIMHS can effectively be used to obtain high-quality Sb2S3films with low-defects and improved optoelectronic properties.

Ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents as sustainable alternatives for efficient extraction of phenolic compounds from mate leaves.

Mate leaves are highly appreciated in south and central America as food ingredient for tea preparation. Their nutritional importance, due to their high content of polyphenols and other nutraceuticals, has been drawing attention worldwide, especially to produce extracts and biopharmaceuticals. However, the extraction of such nutraceuticals using conventional processes/solvents might impact their profile/concentration. Ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been recognized as green solvents, and more recently the naturally-derived have stood out. In this work, we investigated the use of bioethanol, cholinium chloride ([Ch]Cl), Ch-based DES and less expensive protic ILs derived from acetic acid, in aqueous systems at different concentrations, as potential sustainable alternatives over conventional solvents and more expensive aprotic ILs for the extraction of polyphenols from mate leaves. Simply adding the [Ch]Cl in aqueous-ethanolic mixtures at 50% improved extraction efficiency (∼35 mg/g) in comparison to conventional solvents (∼7-29 mg/g). However, IL (∼41-66 mg/g) and DES (∼47-55 mg/g) systems presented better performance, being the former presenting the best results at 75% (∼66 mg/g). The extraction yield was also related to water concentration, which is interesting to reduce viscosity and IL/DES cost for a more cost-efficient extraction and was also supported by results obtained using COSMO-SAC. Therefore, the low-cost protic IL and DES are promising sustainable solvent alternatives over conventional solvents/ILs for extraction of polyphenols from mate leaves.

Transdermal permeation of curcumin promoted by choline geranate ionic liquid: Potential for the treatment of skin diseases.

The transdermal permeation of curcumin aided by choline and geranic acid ionic liquid (CAGE-IL) was addressed as a potential treatment for skin diseases. An in-depth analysis of the effect of CAGE-IL concentration in the enhancement of transdermal permeation of curcumin was performed, and the results were modelled via nonlinear regression analysis. The results obtained showed that a low percentage of CAGE-IL (viz. 2.0%, w/w) was effective in disrupting the skin structure in a transient fashion, facilitating the passage of curcumin dissolved in it.

Antifungal Activity and Stability of Fluconazole Emulsion Containing Ionic Liquids Explained by Intermolecular Interactions.

This research reports accelerated stability experiments, the evaluation of intermolecular interactions, and antifungal assays for fluconazole emulsions prepared using ultrasound (US) and magnetic stirring (MS) in the presence of ionic liquids derived from 1,n-(3-methylimidazolium-1-yl)alkane bromide ([CnMIM]Br; n = 12 or 16). The goals of the investigation are to quantify the stability, identify the forces that drive the formation and stability, and determine the antifungal activity of fluconazole-containing emulsions, and corroborate the data from our previous results that indicated that the emulsion based on [C16MIM]Br seemed to be more stable. In this study, accelerated stability experiments evidenced a considerable stability for the [C16MIM]Br emulsions at two temperatures (25 and 37 °C)­the instability index increased in the following order: US40% < US20% < MS. The 1H NMR data showed that the ILs interacts differently with medium-chain triglycerides (MCT). Two distinct interaction mechanisms were also observed for [C12MIM]Br and [C16MIM]Br with fluconazole, in which the latter formed more compact mixed aggregates than the former. The result was corroborated by diffusion data, which showed that ILs suffered a decrease in diffusion in the presence of fluconazole. The antifungal assay showed that emulsions containing ILs displayed superior activity compared with fluconazole alone. The emulsions also showed potent activity in inhibiting a resistant species (C. glabrata­CG34) to FLZ. All emulsions showed weak irritant potential in HET-CAM assay.