Nanomagnetic polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes composite derived sulfur-containing adsorbents for effective elimination of hexavalent chromium and organic cationic dyes from water

Molecularly imprinted polymers for selective extraction/microextraction of cancer biomarkers: A review

Over recent years, great efforts have been extensively documented in top scientific journals on the development of methods for early diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of cancers which are prevalent critical diseases with a high mortality rate among men and women. The determination of cancer biomarkers using different optimum methodologies is one of the finest options for achieving these goals with more precision, speed, and at a lower cost than traditional clinical procedures. In this regard, while focusing on specific biomarkers, molecularly imprinted technology has enabled novel diagnostic techniques for a variety of diseases. Due to the well-known advantages of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), this review focuses on the current trends of MIPs-based extraction/microextraction methods, specifically targeting cancer biomarkers from various matrices. These optimized methods have demonstrated high selectivity, accuracy, sorbent reusability, extraction recovery, and low limits of detection and quantification for a variety of cancer biomarkers, which are a powerful tool to provide early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring, with potential clinical application expected soon. This review highlights the key progress, specific modifications, and strategies used for MIP synthesis. The future perspectives for cancer biomarkers purification and determination by fabricating MIP-based techniques are also discussed.

Magnetic nanomaterials as sorbents for trace elements analysis in environmental and biological samples

This review focuses on magnetic nanomaterials as sorbents for trace elements analysis in environmental and biological samples. The design and preparation of magnetic nanomaterials with specific functional groups for trace elemental analysis are summarized, along with relevant adsorption mechanism. The application of these magnetic sorbents in different operation modes for the quantification of trace elements and their species in environmental and biological samples are discussed. The trend of development in this field is also prospected.

Single-step assembly of gold nanoparticles into plasmonic colloidosomes at the interface of oleic acid nanodroplets

Plasmonic gold colloidosomes (Au CSs) of sub-200 nm size are formed by the self-assembly of spherical gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) of ca. 4 nm size at the interface of oleic acid (OA) nanodroplets formed in n-hexane. Au NPs are prepared through the mild decomposition of [Au(C₆F₅)(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene). These Au CSs display tunable surface, size and shape-dependent collective plasmonic absorptions, leading to interesting photothermal and stimuli-responsive properties.

POSS nanostructures in catalysis

In this review we highlight the use of appealing POSS-based nanostructures for both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic applications.

Development of carbohydrate functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for aminoglycosides magnetic solid phase extraction

Magnetic nanoparticles decorated with d-galactose and galactitol (Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactose and Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactitol) were synthesized and employed as sorbent in a magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) procedure prior the analysis of aminoglycosides (AGs) in honey samples by LC-MS/MS. AGs are broad spectrum antibiotics, characterized by aminosugars, widespread used in therapeutic and veterinary applications. AGs can be found in the environment and food of animal origin. Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactose and Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactitol were synthesized via copper catalyzed alkyne azide cycloaddition and the synthesis was efficiently followed by infrared spectroscopy. They were characterized by electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and magnetization curves. The nature of the loading (acetonitrile:water, 50:50 v/v) and elution solution (formic acid 190 mM) were studied in order to optimize the MSPE. Quantitative difference between MSPE with Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactose and MSPE with Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactitol in terms of recovery was found. The final optimized method using Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactose and Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactitol was applied in the determination of AGs in honey. The MSPE performance of Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactitol was found to be superior to that of MSPE with Fe₃O₄@SiN-galactose. The limits of quantification were between 2 and 19 μg kg^-1 for amikacin, dihydrostreptomycin, tobramicyn and gentamycin. A good correlation between predicted and nominal values of AGs in honey was found (trueness from 84% to 109%). This MSPE procedure not only requires a minimum amount of sorbent (1 mg) and sample (0.2 g), but it can also be accomplish in a rather short time.

Ionic liquids skeleton typed magnetic core-shell molecularly imprinted polymers for the specific recognition of lysozyme

The novel ionic liquids skeleton typed magnetic core-shell molecularly imprinted polymers (Fe₃O₄-COOH@IL-MIP) were firstly constructed with 1-vinyl-3-aminoformylmethyl imidazolium chloride ionic liquid ([VAFMIM]Cl-IL) modified magnetic particles as the substrate materials, [VAFMIM]Cl-IL as functional monomer, 1,6-hexanediyl-3,3'-bis-1-vinylimidazolium dichloride ionic liquid as cross-linker and Lysozyme (Lys) as template protein via surface-imprinting technique. The structure of Fe₃O₄-COOH@IL-MIP were confirmed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, thermo-gravimetric analysis, fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. The adsorption mechanism was discussed from the perspective of amino acid residues of Lys. The maximum adsorption capacity of MIPs was 166.36 mg g^-1 and imprinting factor was 2.67. The competitive adsorption experiments demonstrated the favorable recognition ability of MIPs toward Lys. Reusability studies indicated MIPs can be reused ten times without obvious loss of rebinding ability. The Lys conformation maintained intact after elution and the elution rate was as high as 74%. The adsorption experiment of egg white manifested that MIPs can effectively separate Lys in practical samples. Only ILs and Fe₃O₄ were utilized to fabricate MIPs, this strategy realized the goal of energy and cost saving while achieving simple synthesis of imprinted materials, and is expected to provide a new feasible idea to exploit synthetic methods for protein-MIPs.

Adsorption of Hexavalent Chromium by Eucalyptus camaldulensis bark/maghemite Nano Composite

In the present study, Eucalyptus camaldulensis bark/maghemite composite (ECMC) was used for potential application as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. The structural characterization, morphology and elemental analysis of ECMC were performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). The effects of various independent parameters, contact time, initial Cr(VI) concentration, temperature, pH, and adsorption were investigated. It was found that the adsorption capacity of ECMC increases with increasing Cr(VI) concentration and temperature. The optimum pH was found to be 2 for the removal of Cr(VI) by ECMC. The adsorption capacity was found to be 70.1 mg/g with 0.1 g ECMC at pH 2 and 30 °C. Additionally, 10 and 50 mg/L Cr(VI) were removed from 100 mL aqueous solution by 0.1 g ECMC with 99 % and 93.46 % removal efficiencies, respectively. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Jovanovic, Smith, Koble Korringen, Vieth-Sladek and Sips Isotherm Models were applied to the experimental data to understand the adsorption mechanism better. The Freundlich Isotherm Model described the adsorption process better (R2 = 0.991) among the other isotherms studied.