Application of polysaccharide-based metal organic framework membranes in separation science

Application of polysaccharide-based metal organic framework membranes in separation science.

This review focuses on the biomedical application of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), mainly focusing on the therapeutic application of MSNs for cancer treatment and specifically on overcoming the challenges of currently available anthelmintics (e.g., low water solubility) as repurposed drugs for cancer treatment. MSNs, due to their promising features, such as tunable pore size and volume, ability to control the drug release, and ability to convert the crystalline state of drugs to an amorphous state, are appropriate carriers for drug delivery with the improved solubility of hydrophobic drugs. The biomedical applications of MSNs can be further improved by the development of MSN-based multimodal anticancer therapeutics (e.g., photosensitizer-, photothermal-, and chemotherapeutics-modified MSNs) and chemical modifications, such as poly ethyleneglycol (PEG)ylation. In this review, various applications of MSNs (photodynamic and sonodynamic therapies, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy) and, in particular, as the carrier of anthelmintics for cancer therapy have been discussed. Additionally, the issues related to the safety of these nanoparticles have been deeply discussed. According to the findings of this literature review, the applications of MSN nanosystems for cancer therapy are a promising approach to improving the efficacy of the diagnostic and chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, the MSN systems seem to be an efficient strategy to further help to decrease treatment costs by reducing the drug dose.

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Application of Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Cancer Therapy and Delivery of Repurposed Anthelmintics for Cancer Therapy

In this study, we propose an intercalated surface modification strategy that combines three important functionalities in thin-film composite (TFC) membranes: 1) resistance to the deposition of organic fouling, 2) anti-biofouling properties in static and cross-flow conditions, and 3) an improved self-cleaning property that reflects the membranes' ability to easily release attached bacteria cells. The membrane functionalization strategy consists of immobilizing a polydopamine (PDA) layer, followed by the intercalation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and poly (sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) zwitterionic brushes (PDA–Ag–PSBMA TFC). The presence of zwitterionic PSBMA brushes shields the membrane surface against the non-specific adsorption of fluorescent bovine serum albumin (BSA), demonstrating a superior anti-fouling property. Moreover, the PSBMA brushes impart the TFC membranes with an excellent ability to release attached cells under gentle agitation. AgNPs intercalated between PDA and PSBMA layers, on the other hand, enabled a prolonged anti-biofouling property by efficiently inactivating ∼90% of the attached Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells. Dynamic biofouling experiments under a cross-flow condition and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) imaging show reduced flux decline and inhibition of biofilm formation for PDA–Ag–PSBMA TFC membranes, respectively, confirming the effectiveness of our intercalated surface modification strategy for simultaneous control of organic fouling and biofouling.

Enhancing the anti-fouling and fouling removal properties of thin-film composite membranes through an intercalated functionalization method

This Special Issue (SI), “Recyclable Materials for Ecofriendly Technology”, has been proposed and organized as a means to present recent developments in the field of environmentally friendly designed construction and building materials. For this purpose, dozens of articles were included or considered for inclusion in this SI, covering various aspects of the topic. A comparison of these articles with other modern articles on this topic is carried out, which proves the prospects and relevance of this SI. Furthermore, per the editorial board’s journal suggestion, the second volume of this successful SI is being organized, in which authors from various countries and organizations are invited to publish their new and unpublished research work.

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Recyclable Materials for Ecofriendly Technology

Chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG-600) membranes were synthesized and crosslinked with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The main purpose of this research work is to synthesize RO membranes which can be used to provide desalinated water for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes. Hydrogen bonding between chitosan and PEG was confirmed by displacement of the hydroxyl absorption peak at 3237 cm−1 in pure chitosan to lower values in crosslinked membranes by using FTIR. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that PEG lowers Tg of the modified membranes vs. pure chitosan from 128.5 °C in control to 120 °C in CS-PEG5. SEM results highlighted porous and anisotropic structure of crosslinked membranes. As the amount of PEG was increased, hydrophilicity of membranes was increased and water absorption increased up to a maximum of 67.34%. Permeation data showed that flux and salt rejection value of the modified membranes was increased up to a maximum of 80% and 40.4%, respectively. Modified films have antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli as compared to control membranes.

Effect of Varying Amount of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG-600) and 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane on the Properties of Chitosan based Reverse Osmosis Membranes.

Advanced materials-based strategies are proving to be promising in solving the major problems of oral drug delivery. Herein, Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-functionalized porous silicon nanoparticles (pSiNPs) containing meropenem (MER) are proposed as a strategy to increase its transport across the intestinal epithelium, while maintaining its antibacterial activity. After surface conjugation of pSiNPs with TPGS (d-α-Tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate) and NH2-PEG4-PA (amine PEG4 propionic acid), MER, a last-resort antibacterial drug, was loaded into these NPs with a loading capacity of 27–28.9 wt%. Cellular uptake results in LS174T cells demonstrate efficient cellular uptake of nanoparticles and show their potential to enable transcellular delivery of MER. The bioavailability of MER was significantly improved by all the prepared formulations (i.e., increased absorptive transport and reduced secretory transport). The MER-pSi-TPGS showed the best performance with an efflux ratio (i.e., secretory transport/absorptive transport) of 0.40 which is 5.5 folds less than pure MER (2.62). The in-vitro antibacterial assay showed that these formulations could retain MER's antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Lastly, results from a modified Caco-2 monolayer model showed that both MER and MER-pSi-TPGS killed the bacteria after permeation, the rate of killing of MER-pSi-TPGS was rapid as compared to MER. 

Influence of PEGylated porous silicon nanoparticles on permeation and efflux of an orally administered antibiotic

Traffic delays are not wholly new and are a well-known problem that impacts many of the world’s populations through disruptions and pollution. The rising urbanization and quantity of powered road vehicles necessitate a greater traffic control demand to maintain flow and avoid jams. In order to understand the notion of sustainable transportation, this study first examined sustainable transportation systems. This research then assessed Pakistan’s present transportation infrastructure and urban transportation to find the most reasonable and sustainable alternative to reduce congestion. The Taxila intersection was utilized as a pilot study area because of its vicinity to Pakistan’s leading economic hubs (i.e., industrial estates and the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi). The study used multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques, including the fuzzy AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR, and traffic simulation software, to determine the optimal solution for a more sustainable transportation system, and reducing traffic congestion. A pairwise comparison of the criteria and alternatives was made using a survey. This survey was used to look into the perspectives of various stakeholders and experts. The outcomes of the fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS and fuzzy AHP-VIKOR revealed that a flyover is the best alternative. In contrast, the best alternative, according to the software was a parking area. Ultimately, we assessed our results using the literature, and site observation, and concluded that a parking area would be the most sustainable alternative in the Taxila intersection.

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Evaluation of a Sustainable Urban Transportation System in Terms of Traffic Congestion—A Case Study in Taxila, Pakistan

To enhance the moisture damage performance of hot mix asphalt (HMA), treating the aggregate surface with a suitable additive was a more convenient approach. In this research, two types of aggregate modifiers were used to study the effect of moisture damage on HMA. Three different aggregate sources were selected based on their abundance of use in HMA. To study the impact of these aggregate modifiers on moisture susceptibility of HMA, the indirect tensile strength test and indirect tensile modulus test were used as the performance tests. Moisture conditioning of specimens was carried out to simulate the effect of moisture on HMA. The prepared samples’ tensile strength ratio (TSR) and stiffness modulus (Sm) results indicated a decrease in the strength of the HMA after moisture conditioning. After treating the aggregate surface with additives, an improvement was seen in dry and wet strength and stiffness. Moreover, an increasing trend was observed for both additives. The correlation between TSR and strength loss reveals a strong correlation (R2 = 0.7219). Also, the two additives indicate increased wettability of asphalt binder over aggregate, thus improving the adhesion between aggregate and asphalt binder.

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Evaluation of Moisture Damage Potential in Hot Mix Asphalt Using Polymeric Aggregate Treatment

Synthesis and investigation of desalinating, antibacterial, and mechanical properties of tetraethylorthosilicate crosslinked chitosan/polyethylene glycol (PEG‐300) membranes for reverse osmosis

Arsalan Raza

Papers

Effect of Varying Amount of Polyethylene Glycol (PEG-600) and 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane on the Properties of Chitosan based Reverse Osmosis Membranes.

Influence of PEGylated porous silicon nanoparticles on permeation and efflux of an orally administered antibiotic

Evaluation of a Sustainable Urban Transportation System in Terms of Traffic Congestion—A Case Study in Taxila, Pakistan

Evaluation of Moisture Damage Potential in Hot Mix Asphalt Using Polymeric Aggregate Treatment

Synthesis and investigation of desalinating, antibacterial, and mechanical properties of tetraethylorthosilicate crosslinked chitosan/polyethylene glycol (PEG‐300) membranes for reverse osmosis