Biomedical applications of biodegradable polycaprolactone-functionalized magnetic iron oxides nanoparticles and their polymer nanocomposites.

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have gained significant attention among several nanoscale materials during the last decade due to their unique properties. These properties make them successful nanofillers for drug delivery and a number of new biomedical applications. MNPs are more useful when combined with biodegradable polymers. In this review, we discussed the synthesis of polycaprolactones (PCL) and the various methods of synthesizing magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles. Then, the synthesis of composites that is made of PCL and magnetic materials (with special focus on iron oxide nanoparticles) were highlighted. In addition, we comprehensively reviewed their application in drug delivery, cancer treatment, wound healing, hyperthermia, and bone tissue engineering. Other biomedical applications of the magnetic PCL such as mitochondria targeting are highlighted. Moreover, biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles incorporated into other synthetic polymers apart from PCL are also discussed. Thus, great progress and better outcome with functionalized MNPs enhanced with polycaprolactone has been recorded with the biomedical applications of drug delivery and recovery of bone tissues.

The Versatility in the Applications of Dithiocarbamates.

Dithiocarbamate ligands have the ability to form stable complexes with transition metals, and this chelating ability has been utilized in numerous applications. The complexes have also been used to synthesize other useful compounds. Here, the up-to-date applications of dithiocarbamate ligands and complexes are extensively discussed. Some of these are their use as enzyme inhibitor and treatment of HIV and other diseases. The application as anticancer, antimicrobial, medical imaging and anti-inflammatory agents is examined. Moreover, the application in the industry as vulcanization accelerator, froth flotation collector, antifouling, coatings, lubricant additives and sensors is discussed. The various ways in which they have been employed in synthesis of other compounds are highlighted. Finally, the agricultural uses and remediation of heavy metals via dithiocarbamate compounds are comprehensively discussed.

Simultaneous removal of organics and heavy metals from industrial wastewater: A review.

The co-existence of heavy metals and organics in industrial effluents is a prevalent problem. These pollutants usually have dissimilar compositions and properties, making their complete removal very tedious even with the use of conventional methods. In some cases, organics and heavy metals usually exist in a mixed matrix in industrial wastes. This poses harmful health risks to humans, aquatic lives and the entire ecosystem, because majority of these mixed pollutants amass in water in concentrations which are more than the permissible discharge limits in the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to remove these pollutants in order to prevent them from contaminating both the surface and ground water. Although, the removal of organic compounds and heavy metals (such as Hg, Pb, Cd, As and Cr) could be easily achieved individually, however, these pollutants exist together in many industrial effluents and even in surface waters. Hence the complete removal of these pollutants concurrently in a polluted system is the focus of this study. Several technologies have been used for the simultaneous removal of organics and heavy metal pollutants from water, which includes adsorption, ion exchange, photocatalysis, and coagulation. The success of these techniques depends on the water matrices and the choice of water treatment media such as adsorbents, resins, photocatalysts, and coagulants. The advantages and limitations of these technologies together with their respective mathematical modelling is critically examined in this review. Finally, the effect of joint existence of organic pollutants and heavy metals on the removal efficiency were examined in addition to the mathematical models that discusses the mechanisms of their combine elimination.