New Amphiphilic Terpolymers of N-Vinylpyrrolidone with Acrylic Acid and Triethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate as Promising Drug Delivery: Design, Synthesis and Biological Properties In Vitro.

The terpolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone (VP) with acrylic acid and triethylene glycol methacrylate were synthesized with more than 90% yield by radical copolymerization in ethanol from monomeric mixtures of different molar composition (98:2:2, 95:5: 2 and 98:2:5) and their monomer composition, absolute molecular masses and hydrodynamic radii in aqueous media were determined. Using the MTT test, these terpolymers were established to be low toxic for non-tumor Vero cells and HeLa tumor cells. Polymer compositions of hydrophobic dye methyl pheophorbide a (MPP) based on studied terpolymers and linear polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) were obtained and characterized in water solution. Quantum-chemical modeling of the MPP-copolymer structures was conducted, and the possibility of hydrogen bond formation between terpolymer units and the MPP molecule was shown. Using fluorescence microscopy, the accumulation and distribution of polymer particles in non-tumor (FetMSC) and tumor (HeLa) cells was studied, and an increase in the accumulation of MPP with both types of particles was found.

One-step approach to fabricating amphoteric polymer fatliquors for chrome-free tanned leather eco-manufacturing.

The leather manufacturing industry is increasingly embracing chrome-free tanning methods to promote environmental sustainability. However, the transition to chrome-free tanning systems presents a notable obstacle: the incompatibility of traditional anionic wet finishing materials with chrome-free tanned leather due to differences in surface electrical behavior. Herein, an amphoteric polymer, referred to P(AA-co-DMAEMA-co-DA), was synthesized through a simple one-step free radical copolymerization using acrylic acid (AA), dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), and dodecyl acrylate (DA). Notably, the isoelectric point of P(AA-co-DMAEMA-co-DA) is 7.7, which contributes to improving the leather's positive electric property and enhancing the binding between the amphoteric polymer fatliquors (APF) and collagen fiber. The APF achieves a remarkable absorption rate of 96.2% and a dyeing uptake rate of 94.3% for anionic dyes, resulting in a uniformly bright surface color of the dyed leather and further significantly reducing the dye usage. Overall, the comprehensive properties of APF align with the electrical origins of organic chrome-free tanning leather, exhibiting a pronounced fatliquoring effect while reducing the dye content in the waste liquor. This contribution holds promise for advancing chrome-free tanning technology toward greener environmental practices.

Evaluation of a Covalent Library of Diverse Warheads (CovLib) Binding to JNK3, USP7, or p53.

Purpose: Over the last few years, covalent fragment-based drug discovery has gained significant importance. Thus, striving for more warhead diversity, we conceived a library consisting of 20 covalently reacting compounds. Our covalent fragment library (CovLib) contains four different warhead classes, including five α-cyanoacacrylamides/acrylates (CA), three epoxides (EO), four vinyl sulfones (VS), and eight electron-deficient heteroarenes with a leaving group (SNAr/SN). Methods: After predicting the theoretical solubility of the fragments by LogP and LogS during the selection process, we determined their experimental solubility using a turbidimetric solubility assay. The reactivities of the different compounds were measured in a high-throughput 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) DTNB assay, followed by a (glutathione) GSH stability assay. We employed the CovLib in a (differential scanning fluorimetry) DSF-based screening against different targets: c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3), ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), and the tumor suppressor p53. Finally, the covalent binding was confirmed by intact protein mass spectrometry (MS). Results: In general, the purchased fragments turned out to be sufficiently soluble. Additionally, they covered a broad spectrum of reactivity. All investigated α-cyanoacrylamides/acrylates and all structurally confirmed epoxides turned out to be less reactive compounds, possibly due to steric hindrance and reversibility (for α-cyanoacrylamides/acrylates). The SNAr and vinyl sulfone fragments are either highly reactive or stable. DSF measurements with the different targets JNK3, USP7, and p53 identified reactive fragment hits causing a shift in the melting temperatures of the proteins. MS confirmed the covalent binding mode of all these fragments to USP7 and p53, while additionally identifying the SNAr-type electrophile SN002 as a mildly reactive covalent hit for p53. Conclusion: The screening and target evaluation of the CovLib revealed first interesting hits. The highly cysteine-reactive fragments VS004, SN001, SN006, and SN007 covalently modify several target proteins and showed distinct shifts in the melting temperatures up to +5.1 °C and -9.1 °C.

Development of pH-Sensitive hydrogel for advanced wound Healing: Graft copolymerization of locust bean gum with acrylamide and acrylic acid.

Wounds pose a formidable challenge in healthcare, necessitating the exploration of innovative tissue-healing solutions. Traditional wound dressings exhibit drawbacks, causing tissue damage and impeding natural healing. Using a Microwave (MW)-)-assisted technique, we envisaged a novel hydrogel (Hg) scaffold to address these challenges. This hydrogel scaffold was created by synthesizing a pH-responsive crosslinked material, specifically locust bean gum-grafted-poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) [LBG-g-poly(AAm-co-AAc)], to enable sustained release of c-phycocyanin (C-Pc). Synthesized LBG-g-poly(AAm-co-AAc) was fine-tuned by adjusting various synthetic parameters, including the concentration of monomers, duration of reaction, and MW irradiation intensity, to maximize the yield of crosslinked LBG grafted product and enhance encapsulation efficiency of C-Pc. Following its synthesis, LBG-g-poly(AAm-co-AAc) was thoroughly characterized using advanced techniques, like XRD, TGA, FTIR, NMR, and SEM, to analyze its structural and chemical properties. Moreover, the study examined the in-vitro C-Pc release profile from LBG-g-poly(AAm-co-AAc) based hydrogel (HgCPcLBG). Findings revealed that the maximum release of C-Pc (64.12 ± 2.69 %) was achieved at pH 7.4 over 48 h. Additionally, HgCPcLBG exhibited enhanced antioxidant performance and compatibility with blood. In vivo studies confirmed accelerated wound closure, and ELISA findings revealed reduced inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α) within treated skin tissue, suggesting a positive impact on injury repair. A low-cost and eco-friendly approach for creating LBG-g-poly(AAm-co-AAc) and HgCPcLBG has been developed. This method achieved sustained release of C-Pc, which could be a significant step forward in wound care technology.

Design and fabrication of fluorous monoliths with tunable surface property for capillary liquid chromatography.

Hierarchically porous monoliths with satisfactory properties have been employed in diverse fields, especially separation. In this study, pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PFPA), pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (PETA) and trimethylolpropane tris(3-mercaptopropionate) (TTMP) were selected as precursors to fabricate a novel monolithic column by thermally initiated polymerization in the presence of a binary porogenic system containing tetrahydrofuran and 1-propanol. The fabricated poly(PFPA-co-PETA-co-TTMP) monolithic column revealed excellent permeability and mechanical stability. Additionally, baseline separation of the mixture of small molecules can be achieved, involving alkylbenzene and fluorobenzene in chromatographic assessment, and the theoretical plate number is up to 60,500 plates/m for butylbenzene with a linear velocity of 0.14 mm/s. Tryptic digest of HeLa as an analyte was used to investigate the possibility of the poly(PFPA-co-PETA-co-TTMP) monolith in biological separation by cLC-MS/MS. Moreover, benefiting from the existence of pentafluorophenyl groups, the cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]) could be modified on the prepared poly(PFPA-co-PETA-co-TTMP) monolith through host-guest interaction to obtain poly(PFPA-co-PETA-co-TTMP)-CB[8] monolith. It could be observed that significant changes in retention behavior of analytes appeared after immobilizing CB[8] on the monolith. It offered an innovative approach by utilizing host-guest interaction to fabricate monolithic columns with different chromatographic behaviors.

Overcoming Challenges of Incorporation of Biobased Dibutyl Itaconate in (Meth)acrylic Waterborne Polymers.

Polymeric derivatives of itaconic acid are gaining interest as biobased alternatives to petroleum-based monomers due to their versatility, renewable nature, commercial availability, and cost-effectiveness. Itaconate ester monomer's challenges incorporating in (meth)acrylic waterborne polymers are the low propagation rate, unfavorable reactivity ratios, and the depropagation process. To overcome these challenges, the seeded semibatch emulsion polymerization of 100% biobased dibutyl itaconate, methyl methacrylate, and butyl acrylate was investigated at different temperatures. Consequently, 30 wt % DBI was successfully incorporated within waterborne (meth)acrylates in short reaction times (4 h), obtaining high DBI incorporation (>90%). The results demonstrate that DBI incorporation influences the instantaneous monomer conversion, polymer's microstructure, and mechanical properties. By incorporating a biobased itaconate cross-linker, kinetics and mechanical characteristics of the polymers were improved. This combined approach can be implemented without altering industrial processes, resolving the commercialization dilemma for itaconate monomers to synthesize high-performance biobased polymers for adhesive and coating industries.

Development and validation of LC-MS/MS method for trace analysis of acrylamide, acrylic acid and N, N-methylene bis acrylamide in sandy loam soil.

Acrylamide and N, N-methylene bis acrylamide are most commonly used monomer and crosslinker compounds employed in synthesis of super absorbent hydrogels. When applied as soil conditioners, there are apprehensions that these hydrogels degrade over time and thus may release the toxic monomers in the soil. A method was thus developed using Liquid Chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the trace level quantification of acrylamide (AD), acrylic acid (AA) and N,N-methylene-bis-acrylamide (MBA) in sandy loam soil amended by two test hydrogels the Pusa Hydrogel and SPG 1118 hydrogel prepared using AD and MBA. The MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) transitions were optimized for both the compounds. Soil samples were extracted using dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE) with a modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) technique, employing acetonitrile. All analytes were quantified at trace levels within a five-minute run using UHPLC equipped with a C-18 column. Single laboratory validation of the developed method in soil matrix was conducted based on specificity, linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, precision, matrix effect and measurement of uncertainty. LC-MS/MS exhibited a linear response in the concentration range of 0.001 to 1 µg mL-1, with correlation coefficient >+0.99. Acceptable recovery (within 70-120 %) with repeatability (%RSD ≤20 %) was obtained at 0.01 to 1 µg g-1 fortification levels. LOQ (Limit of quantification) of the method for AD, AA and MBA in soil matrix were 0.05, 1 and 0.01 µg g-1, respectively. Both intra-laboratory repeatability and intermediate precision at LOQ suggested well acceptable precise (HorRat≈ 0.3) method for quantification. Matrix enhancement effect was observed in the order: AA>AD>MBA. The Expanded Uncertainty (EU) in soil matrix at LOQ was 21.64 %, 28 % and 19 % for AD, AA and MBA respectively. Groundnut and wheat grown with application of the hydrogels showed no detectable residues of monomers in soil samples (total n = 60) near the root zone at the time of crop harvesting.

Tailorable acrylate-endcapped urethane-based polymers for precision in digital light processing: Versatile solutions for biomedical applications.

Bioengineering seeks to replicate biological tissues exploiting scaffolds often based on polymeric biomaterials. Digital light processing (DLP) has emerged as a potent technique to fabricate tissue engineering (TE) scaffolds. However, the scarcity of suitable biomaterials with desired physico-chemical properties along with processing capabilities limits DLP's potential. Herein, we introduce acrylate-endcapped urethane-based polymers (AUPs) for precise physico-chemical tuning while ensuring optimal computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) mimicry. Varying the polymer backbone (i.e. poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) versus poly(propylene glycol) (PPG)) and photo-crosslinkable endcap (i.e. di-acrylate versus hexa-acrylate), we synthesized a series of photo-crosslinkable materials labeled as UPEG2, UPEG6, UPPG2 and UPPG6. Comprehensive material characterization including physico-chemical and biological evaluations, was followed by a DLP processing parametric study for each material. The impact of the number of acrylate groups per polymer (2 to 6) on the physico-chemical properties was pronounced, as reflected by a reduced swelling, lower water contact angles, accelerated crosslinking kinetics, and increased Young's moduli upon increasing the acrylate content. Furthermore, the different polymer backbones also exerted a substantial effect on the properties, including the absence of crystallinity, remarkably reduced swelling behaviors, a slight reduction in Young's modulus, and slower crosslinking kinetics for UPPG vs UPEG. The mechanical characteristics of DLP-printed samples showcased the ability to tailor the materials' stiffness (ranging from 0.4 to 5.3 MPa) by varying endcap chemistry and/or backbone. The in vitro cell assays confirmed biocompatibility of the material as such and the DLP-printed discs. Furthermore, the structural integrity of 3D scaffolds was preserved both in dry and swollen state. By adjusting the backbone chemistry or acrylate content, the post-swelling dimensions could be customized towards the targeted application. This study showcases the potential of these materials offering tailorable properties to serve many biomedical applications such as cartilage TE.

A flexible, stretchable and wearable strain sensor based on physical eutectogels for deep learning-assisted motion identification.

Physical eutectogels as a newly emerging type of conductive gel have gained extensive interest for the next generation multifunctional electronic devices. Nevertheless, some obstacles, including weak mechanical performance, low self-adhesive strength, lack of self-healing capacity, and low conductivity, hinder their practical use in wearable strain sensors. Herein, lignin as a green filler and a multifunctional hydrogen bond donor was directly dissolved in a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of acrylic acid (AA) and choline chloride, and lignin-reinforced physical eutectogels (DESL) were obtained by the polymerization of AA. Due to the unique features of lignin and DES, the prepared DESL eutectogels exhibit good transparency, UV shielding capacity, excellent mechanical performance, outstanding self-adhesiveness, superior self-healing properties, and high conductivity. Based on the aforementioned integrated functions, a wearable strain sensor displaying a wide working range (0-1500%), high sensitivity (GF = 18.15), rapid responsiveness, and excellent stability and durability (1000 cycles) and capable of detecting diverse human motions was fabricated. Additionally, by combining DESL sensors with a deep learning technique, a gesture recognition system with accuracy as high as 98.8% was achieved. Overall, this work provides an innovative idea for constructing multifunction-integrated physical eutectogels for application in wearable electronics.

On the design of lignin reinforced acrylic acid/hyaluronic acid adhesive hydrogels with conductive PEDOT:HA nanoparticles.

Hydrogels are of great importance in biomedical engineering. They possess the ability to mimic bodily soft tissues, and this allows exciting possibilities for applications such as tissue engineering, drug delivery and wound healing, however much work remains on stability and mechanical robustness to allow for translation to clinical applications. The work herein describes the synthesis and analysis of a biocompatible, versatile hydrogel that has tailorable swelling, high stability when swollen and thermal stability. The synthesis methods used produce a hydrogel with high elasticity, good mechanical properties and rapid crosslinking whilst displaying biocompatibility, adhesion, and conductivity. It has been shown that cell viability in the samples is above 80 % in all cases, a Young's Modulus of up to 85 kPa and high swelling degrees were achieved. These materials show potential for use in numerous applications such as adhesive sensors, skin grafts and drug delivery systems.

Antimalarial 9-methoxystrobilurin derivatives from cultures of the basidiomycete Favolaschia minutissima.

Investigation of cultures of the basidiomycete Favolaschia minutissima TBRC-BCC 19434 led to the isolation of two undescribed ß-methoxyacrylate metabolites, 9-methoxystrobilurins R (1) and S (2), and a degraded aldehyde derivative, favodehyde E (3). 9-Methoxystrobilurin derivatives 1 and 2 exhibited significant antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 (multidrug-resistant strain) with IC50 values of 0.12 and 0.21 µM, respectively.

Acrylated adhesive proteinic microneedle patch for local drug delivery and stable device implantation.

Microneedle patches have been developed as favorable platforms for delivery systems, such as the locoregional application of therapeutic drugs, and implantation systems, such as electronic devices on visceral tissue surfaces. However, the challenge lies in finding materials that can achieve both biocompatibility and stable fixation on the target tissue. To address this issue, utilizing a biocompatible adhesive biomaterial allows the flat part of the patch to adhere as well, enabling double-sided adhesion for greater versatility. In this work, we propose an adhesive microneedle patch based on mussel adhesive protein (MAP) with enhanced mechanical strength via ultraviolet-induced polyacrylate crosslinking and Coomassie brilliant blue molecules. The strong wet tissue adhesive and biocompatible nature of engineered acrylated-MAP resulted in the development of a versatile wet adhesive microneedle patch system for in vivo usage. In a mouse tumor model, this microneedle patch effectively delivered anticancer drugs while simultaneously sealing the skin wound. Additionally, in an application of rat subcutaneous implantation, an electronic circuit was stably anchored using a double-sided wet adhesive microneedle patch, and its signal location underneath the skin did not change over time. Thus, the proposed acrylated-MAP-based wet adhesive microneedle patch system holds great promise for biomedical applications, paving the way for advancements in drug delivery therapeutics, tissue engineering, and implantable electronic medical devices.

Environmental implications and nanotechnological advances in octocrylene-enriched sunscreen formulations: A comprehensive review.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major contributor to skin aging, cancer, and other detrimental health effects. Sunscreens containing FDA-approved UV filters, like avobenzone, offer protection but suffer from photodegradation and potential phototoxicity. Encapsulation, antioxidants, and photostabilizers are strategies employed to combat these drawbacks. Octocrylene, an organic UV filter, utilizes nanotechnology to enhance sun protection factor (SPF). This review examines recent literature on octocrylene-enriched sunscreens, exploring the interplay between environmental impact, nanotechnological advancements, and clinical trial insights. A critical focus is placed on the environmental consequences of sunscreen use, particularly the potential hazards UV filters pose to marine ecosystems. Research in the Mediterranean Sea suggests bacterial sensitivity to these filters, raising concerns about their integration into the food chain. This review aims to guide researchers in developing effective strategies for photostabilization of UV filters. By combining encapsulation, photostabilizers, and antioxidants, researchers can potentially reduce phototoxic effects and contribute to developing more environmentally friendly sunscreens.

Deriving a point of departure for assessing the skin sensitization risk of wearable device constituents with in vitro methods.

Wearable devices are in contact with the skin for extended periods. As such, the device constituents should be evaluated for their skin sensitization potential, and a Point of Departure (PoD) should be derived to conduct a proper risk assessment. Without historical in vivo data, the PoD must be derived with New Approach Methods (NAMs). To accomplish this, regression models trained on LLNA data that use data inputs from OECD-validated in vitro tests were used to derive a predicted EC3 value, the LLNA value used to classify skin sensitization potency, for three adhesive monomers (Isobornyl acrylate (IBOA), N, N- Dimethylacrylamide (NNDMA), and Acryloylmorpholine (ACMO) and one dye (Solvent Orange 60 (SO60)). These chemicals can be used as constituents of wearable devices and have been associated with causing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Using kinetic DPRA and KeratinoSens™ data, the PoDs obtained with the regression model were 180, 215, 1535, and 8325 µg/cm2 for IBOA, SO60, ACMO, and NNDMA, respectively. The PoDs derived with the regression model using NAMs data will enable a proper skin sensitization risk assessment without using animals.

Quality by design approach for fabrication of extended-release buccal films for xerostomia employing hot-melt extrusion technology.

The study endeavors the fabrication of extended-release adipic acid (APA) buccal films employing a quality by design (QbD) approach. The films intended for the treatment of xerostomia were developed utilizing hot-melt extrusion technology. The patient-centered quality target product profile was created, and the critical quality attributes were identified accordingly. Three early-stage formulation development trials, complemented by risk assessment aligned the formulation and process parameters with the product quality standards. Employing a D-optimal mixture design, the formulations were systematically optimized by evaluating three formulation variables: amount of the release-controlling polymer Eudragit® (E RSPO), bioadhesive agent Carbopol® (CBP 971P), and pore forming agent polyethylene glycol (PEG 1500) as independent variables, and % APA release in 1, 4 and 8 h as responses. Using design of experiment software (Design-Expert®), a total of 16 experimental runs were computed and extruded using a Thermofisher ScientificTM twin screw extruder. All films exhibited acceptable content uniformity and extended-release profiles with the potential for releasing APA for at least 8 h. Films containing 30% E RSPO, 10% CBP 971P, and 20% PEG 1500 released 88.6% APA in 8 h. Increasing the CBP concentration enhanced adhesiveness and swelling capacities while decreasing E RSPO concentration yielded films with higher mechanical strength. The release kinetics fitted well into Higuchi and Krosmeyer-Peppas models indicating a Fickian diffusion release mechanism.

Coordinative Compounds Based on Unsaturated Carboxylate with Versatile Biological Applications.

This review presents an overview of the biological applications of coordinative compounds based on unsaturated carboxylates accompanied by other ligands, usually N-based heterocyclic species. The interest in these compounds arises from the valuable antimicrobial and antitumor activities evidenced by some species, as well as from their ability to generate metal-containing polymers suitable for various medical purposes. Therefore, we describe the recently discovered aspects related to the synthesis, structure, and biological activity of a wide range of unsaturated carboxylate-containing species and metal ions, originating mostly from 3d series. The unsaturated carboxylates encountered in coordinative compounds are acrylate, methacrylate, fumarate, maleate, cinnamate, ferulate, coumarate, and itaconate. Regarding the properties of the investigated compounds, it is worth mentioning the good ability of some to inhibit the development of resistant strains or microbial biofilms on inert surfaces or, even more, exert antitumor activity against resistant cells. The ability of some species to intercalate into DNA strands as well as to scavenge ROS species is also addressed.

Soluble Fluorinated Cardo Copolyimide as an Effective Additive to Photopolymerizable Compositions Based on Di(meth)acrylates: Application for Highly Thermostable Primary Protective Coating of Silica Optical Fiber.

The development of photocurable compositions is in high demand for the manufacture of functional materials for electronics, optics, medicine, energy, etc. The properties of the final photo-cured material are primarily determined by the initial mixture, which needs to be tuned for each application. In this study we propose to use simple systems based on di(meth)acrylate, polyimide and photoinitiator for the preparation of new photo-curable compositions. It was established that a fluorinated cardo copolyimide (FCPI) based on 2,2-bis-(3,4-dicarboxydiphenyl)hexafluoropropane dianhydride, 9,9-bis-(4-aminophenyl)fluorene and 2,2-bis-(4-aminophenyl)hexafluoropropane (1.00:0.75:0.25 mol) has excellent solubility in di(met)acrylates. This made it possible to prepare solutions of FCPI in such monomers, to study the effect of FCPI on the kinetics of their photopolymerization in situ and the properties of the resulting polymers. According to the obtained data, the solutions of FCPI (23 wt.%) in 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA) and FCPI (15 wt.%) in tetraethylene glycol diacrylate were tested for the formation of the primary protective coatings of the silica optical fibers. It was found that the new coating of poly(BDDA-FCPI23%) can withstand prolonged annealing at 200 °C (72 h), which is comparable or superior to the known most thermally stable photo-curable coatings. The proposed approach can be applied to obtain other functional materials.

Design and preparation of reticular superabsorbent hydrogel material with nutrient slow-release and high shear strength for ecological remediation of abandoned mines with steep slopes.

In order to solve ecological remediation issues for abandoned mines with steep slopes, a kind of hydrogels with high cohesion and water-retaining were designed by inorganic mineral skeleton combining with polymeric organic network cavities. This eco-friendly hydrogel (MFA/HA-g-p(AA-co-AM)) was prepared with acrylic acid (AA)-acrylamide (AM) as network, which was grafted with humic acids (HA) as network binding point reinforcement skeleton and polar functional group donors, KOH-modified fly ash (MFA) as internal supporter. The maximum water absorption capacities were 1960 g/g for distilled water, which followed the pseudo-second-order model. This super water absorption was attributed to the first stage of 62 % fast absorption due to the high specific surface area, pore volume and low osmotic pressure, moreover, the multiple hydrophilic functional groups and network structure swell contributed to 36 % of the second stage slow adsorption. In addition, the pore filling of water in mesoporous channels contributed the additional 2 % water retention on the third stage. The high saline-alkali resistance correlated with the electrostatic attraction with MFA and multiple interactions with oxygen-containing functional groups in organic components. MFA and HA also enhanced the shear strength and fertility retention properties. After 5 cycles of natural dehydration and reabsorption process, these excellent characteristics of reusability and water absorption capacity kept above 97 %. The application of 0.6 wt% MFA/HA-g-p(AA-co-AM) at 15° slope could improve the growth of ryegrass by approximately 45 %. This study provides an efficient and economic superabsorbent material for ecological restoration of abandoned mines with steep slopes.

Enhanced sun protection factor of octocrylene with green tea and bhringraj extracts.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study of sun protection factor boosting effect sunscreen compositions with herbal extract and combination with octocrylene. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The standardized herbal extracts procured and studied their sun protection Factors. Camellia Sinensis (Green tea) leaf Extract, Eclipta prostrata (bhringraj) leaf extract are selected for the development of the herbal sunscreen composition along with octocrylene as synthetic sunscreen. The developed sunscreen composition contains defined concentration of herbal extracts and octocrylene were evaluated for their different physicochemical properties and stability. Sun protection factor boosting effect of herbal extracts is studied combination with octocrylene. RESULTS: Invitro SPF studied for herbal extract individually and combination with octocrylene. The results of Invitro SPF study revealed the presence of green tea extract and, Eclipta prostrata (bhringraj) leaf extract shows excellent sun protection factor (SPF) boosting value of sunscreen composition containing 5% concentration of herbal extract and octocrylene. The sunscreen formulation containing 5% herbal extracts are stable for 12 weeks in an oven (45 °C). CONCLUSION: The findings of this in-vitro SPF study revealed a sun protection boosting capacity of green tea extract and bhringraj extract confirmed. SUMMARY: The over exposure of human skin to Ultra-Violet Radiation (UVR) can trigger photodamage, UV burn, pigmentation, erythema, and enhance the chance of dermal carcinoma. UVR causes DNA damage, which leads to dermal cancer. Daily sunscreens protect the skin from the adverse effects of sun rays, especially UVB (290-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm). The ozone layer filters UVC (200-290 nm) radiation when it enters into atmosphere of the earth. UVB causes sunburn, photo damage and cause mutagenic changes in nucleic acids. UVA increases ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) accumulation. ROS is responsible for cell repair which leads to carcinogenesis, and the cause of photodamage. Herbal extracts contain polyphenols, and flavonoids act as a natural sunscreen that will filter Ultra-Violet (UVB) light and contain antioxidant characteristics to modulate the photo-oxidative damage that results from UV-induced Reactive Oxygen Species production. The UVR protection of most herbal extracts are required to attain the higher UV protection in the sun care products. The approaches for preparing sun care products with higher Sun Protection Factor (SPF) possible through Oil in water formulation with herbal extract combinations of octocrylene. The developed sunscreen composition containing different concentration of herbal extracts were evaluated for their other physicochemical properties and stability. Invitro SPF was studied for Camellia Sinensis (Green tea) Leaf Extract and Eclipta prostrata (bhringraj) leaf extract individually and in combination with octocrylene. The results of the Invitro SPF study revealed the Camellia Sinensis (Green tea) Leaf Extract with octocrylene shows better Sun protection factor than Eclipta prostrata (bhringraj) leaf extract with octocrylene. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) enhancement value of sunscreen compositions was compared to both sunscreen macroemulsion and nanoemulsion.

Synthesis of ultrathin hybrid membranes via the co-polymerization of acrylic acid, styrene and molybdenum disulfide and their high adsorption selectivity for lead(II) in the mixture of metal ions.

Lead(II) is a potential carcinogen of heavy-metal ions (HIs). With the wide application of Pb-bearing products including lead alloy products, and new-energy lead-ion batteries, lead pollution has become a tricky problem. To solve such a difficulty, novel ultrathin MoS2-vinyl hybrid membranes (MVHMs) with a "spring" effect were synthesized via co-polymerization of acrylic acid, styrene and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) and their adsorptions for HIs were explored. The "spring" effect derived from the interaction between the tendency of the short polyacrylic acid (PAA) chain connected with MoS2 to spread outward and the coulomb force between layers from MoS2 (s-MoS2), which enlarge the spacing of MoS2 layers without changing the number of layers after membrane formation, which changes the swelling membrane to a dense membrane and reduces the original thickness from 0.5 cm to 0.011 mm in the thickness direction. The adsorption experiment revealed that these MVHMs had super adsorption performance and high selectivity for Pb2+ by comparison with other five metal ions: Cu2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Cr3+ and Zn2+. Especially, the adsorption quantity of MVHMs for Pb2+ could approach 2468 mg/g and the maximum adsorption ratio of qe[Pb2+]/qe[Cu2+] can reach 10.909. These values were much larger than the data obtained with the adsorbents reported in the last decade. A variety of models are applied to evaluate the effect of ionic groups. It was confirmed that -COOH plays a key role in adsorption of HIs and s-MoS2 also has a certain contribution. Conversely, ion exchange plays only a minor role during the period of adsorption process. Effective diffusion coefficient (Deff) of Pb(II) had the largest values among these metal ions. Hence, these hybrid membranes are promising adsorbents for the removal of Pb2+ from water containing various ions.