Development of zirconia nanoparticles-decorated calcium alginate hydrogel fibers for extraction of organophosphorous pesticides from water and juice samples: Facile synthesis and application with elimination of matrix effects

[Methods of improving the mechanical properties of hydrogels and their research progress in bone tissue engineering]

OBJECTIVE

To review the methods of improving the mechanical properties of hydrogels and the research progress in bone tissue engineering.

METHODS

The recent domestic and foreign literature on hydrogels in bone tissue engineering was reviewed, and the methods of improving the mechanical properties of hydrogels and the effect of bone repair in vivo and in vitro were summarized.

RESULTS

Hydrogels are widely used in bone tissue engineering, but their mechanical properties are poor. Improving the mechanical properties of hydrogels can enhance bone repair. The methods of improving the mechanical properties of hydrogels include the construction of dual network structures, inorganic nanoparticle composites, introduction of conductive materials, and fiber network reinforcement. These methods can improve the mechanical properties of hydrogels to various degrees while also demonstrating a significant bone repair impact.

CONCLUSION

The mechanical properties of hydrogels can be effectively improved by modifying the system, components, and fiber structure, and bone repair can be effectively promoted.

Trace determination of antifungal drugs in biological fluids through a developed approach of hydrogel-based spin-column micro-solid-phase extraction followed by LC-MS/MS analysis

In the present research, a blended polyacrylamide-chitosan hydrogel was synthesized. For the first time, the prepared sorbent was efficiently employed in a hydrogel-based spin-column setup as a promising format. The proposed method was applied for monitoring the trace amounts of ketoconazole, clotrimazole, and miconazole in blood samples. Effective adsorption and desorption parameters were optimized using a central composite design and the one-variable-at-a-time method. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration curves were linear in the range of 15.0-1000.0, 1.0-1000.0, and 2.0-1000.0 ng mL^-1 for ketoconazole, clotrimazole, and miconazole, respectively, along with intra- and interday precision less than 8.4%. Limits of detection were obtained between 0.2 and 5.0 ng mL^-1 . The preconcentration factors were found in the range of 5.9-7.8. The introduced method was successfully applied for micro-solid-phase extraction of trace amounts of target antifungal drugs in blood samples, followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Satisfactory relative recoveries of 94.5-103.5% were obtained, implying method reliability. Overall, the proposed method provides good accuracy and repeatability, high reusability, and good applicability to determine antifungal drugs in complex biological matrices.

Glyphosate adsorption onto porous clay heterostructure (PCH): kinetic and thermodynamic studies

The synthesis of PCH from natural bentonite produces a porous heterostructure material effective for the adsorption of glyphosate from water. The adsorption process takes place through an interaction between the silanol group of montmorillonite and/or the PCH adsorbent with the functional groups of glyphosate. The glyphosate adsorption isotherms, recorded for all the studied samples, have been established to be of Langmuir type. The kinetic of the herbicide adsorption on the PCH was best described by the pseudo-second-order model. With the increase in temperature from 25 to 50 °C, the sorption capacities of the materials studied towards glyphosate increased. The process of glyphosate adsorption was found to be endothermic and spontaneous in nature, as indicated by positive values of ΔH and negative values of ΔG. According to the results obtained, the herbicide sorption was more effective in a basic environment. The maximum amount of adsorbed glyphosate is almost doubled with PCH from 13.5 mg/g of natural clay to 27.5 mg/g of PCH.

Graphic abstract

ZrO2 Nanoparticles and Poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-Doped Graphene Oxide Aerogel-Coated Stainless-Steel Mesh for the Effective Adsorption of Organophosphorus Pesticides

A novel sorbent based on the ZrO₂ nanoparticles and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)-modified graphene oxide aerogel-grafted stainless steel mesh (ZrO₂/PDDA-GOA-SSM) was used for the extraction and detection of organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs). Firstly, the PDDA and GO composite was grafted onto the surface of SSM and then freeze-dried to obtain the aerogel, which efficiently reduced the accumulation of graphene nanosheets. It integrated the advanced properties of GOA with a thin coating and the three-dimensional structural geometry of SSM. The modification of ZrO₂ nanoparticles brought a selective adsorption for OPPs due to the combination of the phosphate group as a Lewis base and ZrO₂ nanoparticles with the Lewis acid site. The ZrO₂/PDDA-GOA-SSM was packed into the solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge to extract OPPs. According to the investigation of different factors, the extraction recovery was mainly affected by the hydrophilic-hydrophobic properties of analytes. Effective extraction and elution parameters such as sample volume, sample pH, rate of sample loading, eluent, and eluent volume, were also investigated and discussed. Under the optimal conditions, the linearity of phoxim and fenitrothion was in the range of 1.0-200 μg L^-1, and the linearity of temephos was in the range of 2.5-200 μg L^-1. The limits of detection were ranged from 0.2 to 1.0 μg L^-1. This established method was successfully applied to detect OPPs in two vegetables. There was no OPP detected in real samples, and results showed that the matrix effects were in the range of 46.5%-90.1%. This indicates that the ZrO₂/PDDA-GOA-SSM-SPE-HPLC method could effectively extract and detect OPPs in vegetables.

Adsorption, degradation, and mineralization of emerging pollutants (pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals) by nanostructures: a comprehensive review

This review discusses a fresh pool of research findings reported on the multiple roles played by metal-based, magnetic, graphene-type, chitosan-derived, and sonicated nanoparticles in the treatment of pharmaceutical- and agrochemical-contaminated waters. Some main points from this review are as follows: (i) there is an extensive number of nanoparticles with diverse physicochemical and morphological properties which have been synthesized and then assessed in their respective roles in the degradation and mineralization of many pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, (ii) the exceptional removal efficiencies of graphene-based nanomaterials for different pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals molecules support arguably well a high potential of these nanomaterials for futuristic applications in remediating water pollution issues, (iii) the need for specific surface modifications and functionalization of parent nanostructures and the design of economically feasible production methods of such tunable nanomaterials tend to hinder their widespread applicability at this stage, (iv) supplementary research is also required to comprehensively elucidate the life cycle ecotoxicity characteristics and behaviors of each type of engineered nanostructures seeded for remediation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals in real contaminated media, and last but not the least, (v) real wastewaters are extremely complex in composition due to the mix of inorganic and organic species in different concentrations, and the presence of such mixed species have different radical scavenging effects on the sonocatalytic degradation and mineralization of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Moreover, the formulation of viable full-scale implementation strategies and reactor configurations which can use multifunctional nanostructures for the effective remediation of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals remains a major area of further research.

Toxicity, biodistribution and oxidative damage caused by zirconia nanoparticles after intravenous injection

Background: As a promising nanomaterial for biomedical applications, zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO₂) have aroused concern recently, but the toxicity of ZrO₂ in vivo has received little attention.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to demonstrate the systematic single dose toxicity, biodistribution and oxidative damage of ZrO₂ in vivo after intravenous injection in mice.

Materials and methods: Ten ICR mice were used at the high dose of ZrO₂ including 600, 500, 400 and 300mg/kg. Maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 150 nm ZrO₂ was determined as 500mg/kg. Hematology analysis and blood biochemical assay were determined for the evaluation of oxidative damage caused by ZrO₂. Biodistribution of ZrO₂ was investigated by ICP-OES and TEM.

Results: Mice treated with higher dose (500mg/kg) showed significant spread in white blood cell counts (p<0.05). Especially, the serum ALT levels of 500mg/kg groups increased significantly (p<0.05) compared with the control group. ZrO₂ particles would not induce any changes in appearance and micromorphology of liver at 100 and 350mg/kg. Spleen samples showed no significant changes in micromorphology of the lymphoid follicles and in the size of the red pulp after injection of ZrO₂ at all doses. The serum of ZrO₂-treated animals (350 and 500mg/kg) has reduced levels of SOD compared to the control group (p<0.05). ZrO₂ persists in membrane-enclosed vesicles called lysosomes in the liver and spleen macrophages without abnormal changes of ultrastructure.

Conclusion: These findings would contribute to the future development of ZrO₂-based drug delivery system and other biomedical applications.

Conductive collagen/polypyrrole-b-polycaprolactone hydrogel for bioprinting of neural tissue constructs

Bioprinting is increasingly being used for fabrication of engineered tissues for regenerative medicine, drug testing, and other biomedical applications. The success of this technology lies with the development of suitable bioinks and hydrogels that are specific to the intended tissue application. For applications such as neural tissue engineering, conductivity plays an important role in determining the neural differentiation and neural tissue regeneration. Although several conductive hydrogels based on metal nanoparticles (NPs) such as gold and silver, carbon-based materials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes and conducting polymers such as polypyrrole (PPy) and polyaniline were used, they possess several disadvantages. The long-term cytotoxicity of metal nanoparticles (NPs) and carbon-based materials restricts their use in regenerative medicine. The conductive polymers, on the other hand, are non-biodegradable and possess weak mechanical properties limiting their printability into three-dimensional constructs. The aim of this study is to develop a biodegradable, conductive, and printable hydrogel based on collagen and a block copolymer of PPy and polycaprolactone (PCL) (PPy-block-poly(caprolactone) [PPy-b-PCL]) for bioprinting of neural tissue constructs. The printability, including the influence of the printing speed and material flow rate on the printed fiber width; rheological properties; and cytotoxicity of these hydrogels were studied. The results prove that the collagen/PPy-b-PCL hydrogels possessed better printability and biocompatibility. Thus, the collagen/PPy-b-PCL hydrogels reported this study has the potential to be used in the bioprinting of neural tissue constructs for the repair of damaged neural tissues and drug testing or precision medicine applications.

Evaluation of Polyvinyl Alcohol/Pectin-Based Hydrogel Disks as Extraction Phase for Determination of Steroidal Hormones in Aqueous Samples by GC-MS/MS

A new extraction phase based on hydrogel disks of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) and pectin was proposed, characterized and evaluated for the extraction of six steroidal hormones (estriol, estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinylestradiol, progesterone, and testosterone) in aqueous samples with subsequent determination by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) after the derivatization procedure. The developed extraction procedure was based on the solid phase extraction (SPE) technique, but employed hydrogel as the sorbent phase. The effects of several parameters, including the amount and composition of the sorbent phase, pH, sample volume, flow rate, and gel swelling over the extraction efficiency, were evaluated. Gels with lower swelling indexes and larger amounts of sorbent ensured higher extraction yields of analytes. The main benefits of using the PVOH/pectin-based hydrogel as the extraction phase are the ease of synthesis, low-cost preparation, and the possibility of reusing the extraction disks. Limits of quantification of 0.5 μg L-1 for estrone and 17β-estradiol, and 1 μg L-1 for testosterone, 17α-ethinylestradiol, progesterone, and estriol were obtained. Accuracy values ranged from 80% to 110%, while the inter-assay precision ranged from 0.23% to 22.2% and the intra-assay from 0.55% to 12.3%. Since the sorbent phase has an amphiphilic character, the use of hydrogels is promising for the extraction of medium-to-high polarity compounds.

Incorporation of Conductive Materials into Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering Applications

In the field of tissue engineering, conductive hydrogels have been the most effective biomaterials to mimic the biological and electrical properties of tissues in the human body. The main advantages of conductive hydrogels include not only their physical properties but also their adequate electrical properties, which provide electrical signals to cells efficiently. However, when introducing a conductive material into a non-conductive hydrogel, a conflicting relationship between the electrical and mechanical properties may develop. This review examines the strengths and weaknesses of the generation of conductive hydrogels using various conductive materials such as metal nanoparticles, carbons, and conductive polymers. The fabrication method of blending, coating, and in situ polymerization is also added. Furthermore, the applications of conductive hydrogel in cardiac tissue engineering, nerve tissue engineering, and bone tissue engineering and skin regeneration are discussed in detail.

Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets as a fluorescent probe for chromium speciation

A fluorometric method was developed for simultaneous determination of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) ions using graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C₃N₄ NS) as a nanosized fluorescent indicator probe. The g-C₃N₄ NS were prepared using high-temperature carbonization of melamine followed by ultrasonication-assisted liquid exfoliation. The g-C₃N₄ NS display fluorescence with excitation/emission peaks located at 320 and 450 nm. The chromium speciation is based on the quenching of g-C₃N₄ NS fluorescence. The total concentration of chromium is determined after oxidation of Cr(III) to Cr(VI). The Cr(III) content was then calculated by subtracting the concentration of Cr(VI) from that of total chromium. The effects of pH value, probe amount, and contact time are optimized. Under optimum conditions, calibration plots are linear in the range in the 0.01 to 100 μM chromium concentration range. The limit of detection is 3 nM for for Cr(VI). The intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSD) of the assay are 3.6-7.5% and 4.1-8.5%, respectively. The indicator probe was applied to the determination of chromium species in spiked water and food samples, and recoveries were satisfactory (93.9-107.0%). Graphical abstract Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets are synthesized by melamine carbonization and employed for Cr speciation in water and food real samples. Total Cr(VI) and Cr(VI) are assessed based on the quenching of the fluorescence of nanosheets by Cr(VI).

A novel analytical approach for the determination of parathion methyl in water: quadrupole isotope dilution mass spectrometry-dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction using multivariate optimization

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction was coupled with quadruple isotope dilution mass spectrometry for the sensitive and accurate determination of parathion methyl in water.

Novel Biomimic Crystalline Colloidal Array for Fast Detection of Trace Parathion

A novel gold doped inverse opal photonic crystal (IO PC) was successfully fabricated with combination of molecularly imprinted technical for the fast determination of parathion. First, a closest silica array arrangement behaved as the 3D photonic crystal precursors to build the opal photonic crystal (O PC). Second, the parathion-containing polymeric solution with gold nanoparticles was drawn into the 3D array cracks. After polymerization, the well-designed O PC was treated with HF solution for the etching of the silica skeleton. Finally, the template parathion was removed and the Au-MIP IO PCs were obtained. The morphology of SiO₂ and Au NPs was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the eluted influence of the IO PCs was monitored by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cross-linking effect was well optimized according to the best spectrum signal of parathion. The as-synthesized Au-MIP IO PCs displayed the specificity toward parathion and the selectivity to other competitive pesticide molecules. The response time was only 5 min, and the parathion could be well detected from real water samples. The recoveries were between 95.5% and 101.5%.