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Development of a Xanthan Gum Based Superabsorbent and Water Retaining Composites for Agricultural and Forestry Applications. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28041952. [PMID: 36838941 PMCID: PMC9967022 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In this work, bio-based hydrogel composites of xanthan gum and cellulose fibers were developed to be used both as soil conditioners and topsoil covers, to promote plant growth and forest protection. The rheological, morphological, and water absorption properties of produced hydrogels were comprehensively investigated, together with the analysis of the effect of hydrogel addition to the soil. Specifically, the moisture absorption capability of these hydrogels was above 1000%, even after multiple dewatering/rehydration cycles. Moreover, the soil treated with 1.8 wt% of these materials increased the water absorption capacity by approximately 60% and reduced the water evaporation rate, due to the formation of a physical network between the soil, xanthan gum and cellulose fibers. Practical experiments on the growth of herbaceous and tomato plants were also performed, showing that the addition of less than 2 wt% of hydrogels into the soil resulted in higher growth rate values than untreated soil. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the use of the produced topsoil covers helped promote plant growth. The exceptional water-regulating properties of the investigated materials could allow for the development of a simple, inexpensive and scalable technology to be extensively applied in forestry and/or agricultural applications, to improve plant resilience and face the challenges related to climate change.
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Farooq M, Ihsan J, M K Mohamed R, Khan MA, Rehman TU, Ullah H, Ghani M, Saeed S, Siddiq M. Highly biocompatible formulations based on Arabic gum Nano composite hydrogels: Fabrication, characterization, and biological investigation. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:59-69. [PMID: 35364204 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.03.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
In the study, fabrication of Arabic gum (AG) hydrogels via reverse micellization method is reported. AG hydrogels were utilized as capping agents to encapsulate zinc sulphide (ZnS), and cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles via in-situ reduction. Pristine and nanocomposite hydrogels (AG-ZnS and AG-CdS) were characterized through SEM, EDX, TEM, XRD, FTIR, TGA, UV/Visible, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The hydrogels were subjected to multiple biological assays including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic formulation, in addition to biocompatibility test. The hydrogels were found to be more effective against bacterial and fungal strains. For instance, AG-ZnS exhibited excellent growth inhibition activity against Escherichia coli (ZoI: 12 ± 1.04 mm) and Candida albicans (35 ± 0.94 mm). Likewise, the nanocomposites hydrogel also displayed excellent DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging capacity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total reducing power (TRP) ability. Among the hydrogels, AG-ZnS demonstrated considerable α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibition potential. Above all, the hydrogels were found highly compatible with human red blood cells (hRBCs). Owing to remarkable antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and bio-compatible nature, the fabricated nanocomposites hydrogels have the potential to be explored in tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, and in environmentally friendly hygiene products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Farooq
- Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), 1-Constitution Avenue, G-5/2, Islamabad, Pakistan.
| | - Junaid Ihsan
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Rasha M K Mohamed
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Jouf University, P.O. Box: 2014, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, P.O. Box: 71515, Assiut, Egypt.
| | - Muhammad Aslam Khan
- Department of Biological Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIUI), Pakistan
| | - Talmeez Ur Rehman
- Department of Microbiology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Hidayat Ullah
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Marvi Ghani
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Doctoral School of Molecular Medicine, University of Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Shaukat Saeed
- Department of Chemistry, Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences (PIEAS), Islamabad 45650, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad Siddiq
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
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Arif M. Complete life of cobalt nanoparticles loaded into cross-linked organic polymers: a review. RSC Adv 2022; 12:15447-15460. [PMID: 35693224 PMCID: PMC9121440 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra01058e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthesis and use of Co nanoparticles loaded into cross-linked polymers for generation of hydrogen is discussed in detail. The factors affecting hydrogen production have been discussed briefly. The catalytic reduction of dyes and nitroarenes is also discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Arif
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
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