Review
Environmental Sciences
Shahid Nawaz, Ehsan Ullah Rashid, Ahmad Reza Bagheri, Nahal Aramesh, Pankaj Bhatt, Nisar Ali, Tuan Anh Nguyen, Muhammad Bilal
Summary: Environmental contamination is currently a major concern among researchers, prompting the urgent need for eco-friendly approaches to mitigate the effects of toxic pollutants. Magnetically responsive composite-based sorbents, with their high specific surface area, superior adsorption capacity, and magnetic properties, are popular materials for pollutant abatement. This study identifies gaps in coping with contamination and provides a comprehensive outlook on pollutant treatment using magnetic composites.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Sun Guo, Fang Xiao, Huang Shuqi, Yang Pengfei
Summary: The composite material of magnetic hydrothermal carbonization tea waste (MTW) was successfully prepared by hydrothermal carbonization and chemical co-precipitation method, which exhibited significantly improved adsorption capacity for uranyl ions. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation, and the adsorption isotherm conformed to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption was a spontaneous endothermic process.
JOURNAL OF RADIOANALYTICAL AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Fatima Jesus, Ana Luisa Patricio Silva, Joana L. Pereira, Ana Re, Isabel Campos, Fernando J. M. Goncalves, Antonio J. A. Nogueira, Nelson Abrantes, Dalila Serpa
Summary: This study investigated the toxicity of lead and nickel to benthic species and the effects of their mixture exposure on the second generation. The results showed that lead and nickel at environmentally relevant concentrations can alter the structure of C. riparius populations, potentially affecting the dynamics and functioning of freshwater ecosystems.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Khattapan Jantawongsri, Rasmus Dyrmose Norregaard, Lis Bach, Rune Dietz, Christian Sonne, Kasper Jorgensen, Syverin Lierhagen, Tomasz Maciej Ciesielski, Bjorn Munro Jenssen, James Haddy, Ruth Eriksen, Barbara Nowak
Summary: The study validated the effects of lead on wild shorthorn sculpin by controlled laboratory exposure, showing that lead exposure had different impacts on various organs in fish, and blood was found to be suitable for assessing lead accumulation in sculpins.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yi-Chin Hsieh, Edward Suhendra, Chih-Hua Chang, Wen-Che Hou
Summary: This study investigates the dissolution kinetics and equilibrium of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) in environmentally relevant low concentrations (50-200 μg/L) of water samples. The results showed that the dissolution levels of ZnONPs were strongly dependent on the water chemistry, and carbonate alkalinity played a controlling role. The study highlights the importance of measuring and deriving representative dissolution parameters of nanomaterials using environmentally relevant concentrations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrew Kataba, Tarryn L. Botha, Shouta M. M. Nakayama, Yared B. Yohannes, Yoshinori Ikenaka, Victor Wepener, Mayumi Ishizuka
Summary: The study found that environmentally relevant levels of lead can have negative impacts on the development and survival of zebrafish embryos, affecting embryo activity, cardiovascular effects, neuromuscular effects, and antioxidant system dysregulation.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Geetika Bhagwat, Thi Kim Anh Tran, Dane Lamb, Kala Senathirajah, Ian Grainge, Wayne O'Connor, Albert Juhasz, Thava Palanisami
Summary: This study compared the adsorption capacity of naturally aged, biofilm-covered microplastic fibers (BMFs) for perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and lead (Pb) at environmentally relevant concentrations. Results showed that aged MFs exhibited higher surface areas due to biomass accumulation and had higher concentrations of adsorbed Pb and PFOS, with variations among polymer types. The increased contaminant adsorption was linked with altered surface area and hydrophobic/hydrophilic characteristics of the samples.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Cecily Szady, Grace Picarillo, Emily J. J. Davis, Donata Drapanauskaite, Kristina Buneviciene, Jonas Baltrusaitis, Juan G. G. Navea
Summary: Combustion particles, such as ash from power plants, can accumulate and become environmental concerns. In this study, iron dissolution from two types of combustion particles was compared. The results showed that the solubility of iron is influenced by the particle's surface properties and can provide iron micronutrients under different acidic conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pooja Moni Baruah, Kuntala Sarma Bordoloi, Sarvajeet Singh Gill, Niraj Agarwala
Summary: This study identified circRNAs and explored their evolution and potential functions during winter dormancy and spring bud flushing in tea plants. The results revealed that circRNAs are associated with the leaf traits of dormant and flushing leaves and co-express with transcription factors and genes related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wei Huang, Jiaqin Deng, Jie Liang, Xinghui Xia
Summary: This study compared the adsorption behavior of lead (Pb(II)) onto environmentally-relevant tire wear particles (TWP), ultraviolet-aged polylactic acid microplastics (UV-PLA), and ultraviolet-aged polystyrene microplastics (UV-PS). The results showed that aging processes significantly improved the adsorption capacity of Pb(II), with TWP having the highest adsorption amount. The mechanisms of adsorption differed for each type of microplastic, with electrostatic interaction and complexation playing important roles. Furthermore, the presence of humic acid affected the adsorption capacity, and the desorption ability of Pb(II) varied among the different microplastics.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vittoria Chimisso, Simona Conti, Phally Kong, Csaba Fodor, Wolfgang P. Meier
Summary: Anionic poly(vinylcaprolactam-co-itaconicacid-co-dimethylitaconate) microgels were synthesized and investigated for their responsiveness towards divalent cations. The microgels can bond and release ions over multiple cycles without loss of functionality, with a good selectivity in trapping Fe3+ compared to other divalent cations.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Nermeen Ashraf, Milada Vitova, Peter Cloetens, Ana Mijovilovich, Syed Nadeem Hussain Bokhari, Hendrik Kupper
Summary: The research revealed that the effects of lanthanum on Desmodesmus quadricauda ranged from filling cells at sublethal concentrations to releasing other ions at lethal concentrations, leading to inhibition of photosynthesis and significant decrease in cell counts.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xuesong Hui, Yanqiong Wang, Huan Zhang, Wenjun Fang, Huiling Liu, Xiaohu Dai
Summary: A green novel approach using tea polyphenols as the polyphenol donor was established to remove kanamycin. The results showed that kanamycin could be effectively removed under alkaline conditions with tea polyphenols, with a highest removal efficiency of 99.9%.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dandan Rao, Jie Chen, Hongyu Dong, Junlian Qiao, Baoxue Zhou, Yuankui Sun, Xiaohong Guan
Summary: Using calcium sulfite as a slow-release source of sulfur dioxide, the effective working pH range of permanganate activation by sodium sulfite was extended from <= 7.0 to <= 9.0. The presence of calcium ions in the system led to enhanced precipitation of manganese dioxide, resulting in very low residual manganese levels. The Mn(VII)/CaSO3 system demonstrated a unique two-stage oxidation process with improved understanding of reaction kinetics and reactive oxidants.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Luke T. Townsend, Kurt F. Smith, Ellen H. Winstanley, Katherine Morris, Olwen Stagg, J. Frederick W. Mosselmans, Francis R. Livens, Liam Abrahamsen-Mills, Richard Blackham, Samuel Shaw
Summary: Neptunium (Np-237) is an important radionuclide in the nuclear fuel cycle, and its mobility can be significantly affected by various chemical processes. In this study, Np interactions with key iron minerals were investigated using X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, revealing that Np may undergo different speciation changes in different systems.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dana Al Sulaiman, Sarah J. Shapiro, Jose Gomez-Marquez, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: This research demonstrates the ability to synergistically combine hydrogels and fibrous substrates into a portable biosensing platform using projection lithography, offering a versatile and multiplex detection method for multiple biomarkers, particularly suitable for early cancer detection.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rajesh Kumar Sharma, Ishita Agrawal, Liang Dai, Patrick Doyle, Slaven Garaj
Summary: Researchers found that DNA knots can undergo isomorphic translocation in nanopores, maintaining their equilibrium morphology by rapidly compressing in a lateral direction to fit the constriction. Even for single-digit nanopores, there was no evidence of knot tightening or jamming observed.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Arif Z. Nelson, Jiaxun Xie, Saif A. Khan, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: Embedded droplet printing is a promising technique for generating and processing droplets within yield-stress fluids, with applications in sensitive processes like pharmaceutical crystallization. While current methods have improved on conventional microfluidic technologies, they are limited to batch processes, reducing overall utility. A new platform enabling continuous production of embedded droplets has been introduced, expanding capabilities and allowing for applications in continuous materials discovery, screening, and manufacturing.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liang-Hsun Chen, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: This study successfully developed a new thermogelling nanoemulsion and a thermal dripping method for efficient preparation of composite particles with a methylcellulose (MC) matrix embedded with precisely controlled API nanocrystals. By combining a fast-eroding MC matrix and fast-dissolving API nanocrystals, a fast and tunable release performance was achieved. The versatile thermal processing approach allows for the easy formulation of a wide variety of dosage forms, showing great promise for more efficient formulation of oral drug products with high quality and tunable fast release.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Dana Al Sulaiman, Nidhi Juthani, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: This study demonstrates the development and application of a method for quantitative and multiplex detection of EV-miRNA, which avoids the bias and losses associated with standard RNA extraction techniques. The method offers a large dynamic range, ease of multiplexing, and shows utility in clinical applications based on liquid biopsy tests.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Meghali Bora, Myat Noe Hsu, Saif A. Khan, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: In this study, a hydrogel-templated anti-solvent crystallization method is introduced for the fabrication of microparticles containing dispersed nanocrystals of poorly soluble API. The method allows for controllable drug loading and tailored dissolution profiles by altering the template particle size.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Devashish Gokhale, Ian Chen, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: This study introduces a hydrogel-based polymeric absorbent with immobilized micelles for efficient removal of hydrophobic micropollutants from water. The absorbent, prepared by synthesizing surfactant micelles and incorporating them into hydrogels, showed faster adsorption rates compared to a commercially available activated carbon. Furthermore, a sustainable and facile method for regenerating the spent absorbent was demonstrated.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Liang-Hsun Chen, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: The developed thermogelling nanoemulsions provide a new approach for the development of oral films, effectively improving the water solubility of drugs and increasing drug loading capacity. This new method can prevent irreversible nanoparticle aggregation, providing a more efficient and controllable solution for the preparation of oral films.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hui Ling Chan, Darrel Po Rong Len, Shuying Cheng, Jin Wang Kwek, Valerio Isoni, Beng Joo Reginald Thio
Summary: This study provides an alternative method to analyze surface fouling and cleaning in pharmaceutical manufacturing processes using quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that different surfaces have different performances in terms of drug adsorption and desorption.
Article
Mechanics
Mary A. A. Joens, Patrick S. S. Doyle, Gareth H. H. McKinley, James W. W. Swan
Summary: This study investigates the motion of a small rotating spherical particle in a two-dimensional trajectory through a viscoelastic fluid using the Giesekus model. The study analyzes both steady-state and time-dependent flows, quantifying the relative unsteadiness and nonlinearity of the flows. The impact of changing dimensionless parameters on the flow characteristics is discussed.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Purnima N. Manghnani, Luke Schenck, Saif A. Khan, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: The commercialization of promising active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is hindered by poor bioavailability and challenging physical properties. This study presents a method to improve API physical properties by performing reactive crystallization of an API salt in the presence of a hydrogel microparticle. The use of spherical template hydrogel microparticles leads to composites loaded with micronized crystals, enhancing API physical properties without affecting bioavailability.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Lucas Attia, Liang-Hsun Chen, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: A novel dual-responsive gelation process that combines thermo-responsive and ion-responsive gelations is introduced in this study. This process synthesizes core-shell hydrogel particles and encapsulates drug-laden nanoemulsions, allowing in situ crystallization of drug nanocrystals in the polymeric core and templating of a kinetically stable amorphous solid dispersion in the shell. The study demonstrates programmable drug release for various therapeutic applications and independent control over drug loading between the shell and the core. This flexible formulation approach offers biocompatible materials, facile synthesis, and precise drug release performance.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Indresh Yadav, Dana Al Sulaiman, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: The molecular topology of polymers has a significant impact on their physical properties. In this study, the effects of topology on the static and dynamic properties of a 2D network of DNA rings called a kinetoplast were investigated. By selectively cutting and removing rings from the network using restriction enzymes, the molecular topology was modified while maintaining the overall structural integrity. It was found that topology had minimal effects on the spatial extension of the network but significantly influenced its relaxation behavior.
PHYSICAL REVIEW RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sima Asadi, Arif Z. Nelson, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: Non-spherical hydrogel particles with various shapes can be synthesized by leveraging the yield stress property of viscoplastic fluids. The shape-engineered alginate particles can be controlled by tuning the yield stress of the solution and the nozzle tip orientation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Devashish Gokhale, Ian Chen, Patrick S. Doyle
Summary: This study presents a novel coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations framework for the rapid identification of surfactants for use in immobilized micelle systems. The results show that there are stronger interactions between micelles and small hydrophobic molecules in immobilized systems compared to unconstrained systems, which have important implications for the design of new micelle-based extraction and delivery processes.
