A biocompatible stepping stone for the removal of emerging contaminants

Aggregation, toxicity, and biodegradability study of an ionic liquid-based formulation for effective oil spill remediation

Chemical dispersants are extensively used for marine oil spill remediation. However, the increased toxicity and low biodegradability of these dispersants restrict their employment in the marine environment. Hence, in this work, we have developed an eco-friendly formulation composed of an ionic liquid,1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium lauroyl sarcosinate [BMIM][Lausar] and sorbitan monooleate (Span) 80. Micellar and interfacial parameters, dispersion effectiveness, as well as the toxicity and biodegradability of the developed formulation were investigated. Micellar properties confirmed a high degree of synergism among the surfactant molecules and the formation of stable micelle. The dispersion effectiveness, at dispersant-to-oil ratio (DOR) of 1:25 (v/v), against three crude oils (Arab, Ratawi, and Doba) was assessed. We achieved a dispersion effectiveness of 68.49%, 74.05%, and 83.43% for Ratawi, Doba, and Arab crude oil, respectively, using a 70:30 (w/w) ratio of Span 80 to [BMIM][Lausar]. Furthermore, the results obtained from optical microscopy and particle size analysis (PSA) indicated that the oil droplet size decreased with higher DOR. Additionally, acute toxicity experiments were conducted on zebrafish (Danio rerio) using the developed formulation, confirming its non-toxic behavior, with LC50 values of 800 mg/L after 96 h. The formulation also exhibited high biodegradability, with only 25.01% of the original quantity remaining after 28 days. Hence, these results suggest that the new formulation has the potential to be a highly effective and environmentally friendly dispersant for oil spill remediation.

Phase Behavior of Ionic Liquid-Based Aqueous Two-Phase Systems

As an environmentally friendly separation medium, the ionic liquid (IL)-based aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) is attracting long-term attention from a growing number of scientists and engineers. Phase equilibrium data of IL-based ATPSs are an important basis for the design and optimization of chemical reactions and separation processes involving ILs. This article provides the recent significant progress that has been made in the field and highlights the possible directions of future developments. The effects of each component (such as salting-out agents and ILs) on the phase behavior of IL-based ATPSs are summarized and discussed in detail. We mainly focus on the phase behavior of ATPSs by using ILs, expecting to provide meaningful and valuable information that may promote further research and application.

Advances Brought by Hydrophilic Ionic Liquids in Fields Involving Pharmaceuticals

The negligible volatility and high tunable nature of ionic liquids (ILs) have been the main drivers of their investigation in a wide diversity of fields, among which is their application in areas involving pharmaceuticals. Although most literature dealing with ILs is still majorly devoted to hydrophobic ILs, evidence on the potential of hydrophilic ILs have been increasingly provided in the past decade, viz., ILs with improved therapeutic efficiency and bioavailability, ILs with the ability to increase drugs' aqueous solubility, ILs with enhanced extraction performance for pharmaceuticals when employed in biphasic systems and other techniques, and ILs displaying low eco/cyto/toxicity and beneficial biological activities. Given their relevance, it is here overviewed the applications of hydrophilic ILs in fields involving pharmaceuticals, particularly focusing on achievements and advances witnessed during the last decade. The application of hydrophilic ILs within fields involving pharmaceuticals is here critically discussed according to four categories: (i) to improve pharmaceuticals solubility, envisioning improved bioavailability; (ii) as IL-based drug delivery systems; (iii) as pretreatment techniques to improve analytical methods performance dealing with pharmaceuticals, and (iv) in the recovery and purification of pharmaceuticals using IL-based systems. Key factors in the selection of appropriate ILs are identified. Insights and perspectives to bring renewed and effective solutions involving ILs able to compete with current commercial technologies are finally provided.

An emerging integration between ionic liquids and nanotechnology: general uses and future prospects in drug delivery

There is a growing need to develop drug-delivery systems that overcome drawbacks such as poor drug solubility/loading/release, systemic side effects and limited stability. Ionic liquids (ILs) offer many advantages and their tailoring represents a valuable tuning tool. Nano-based systems are also prized materials that prevent drug degradation, enhance their transport/distribution and extend their release. Consequently, structures containing ILs and nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed to attain synergistic effects. This overview on the properties of ILs, NPs and of their combined structures, reveals the recent advances in these areas through a review of pertinent literature. The IL-NP structures present enhanced properties and the subsequent performance upgrade proves to be useful in drug delivery, although much is yet to be done.

Organic contaminants in African aquatic systems: Current knowledge, health risks, and future research directions

Organic contaminants (OCs) are increasingly being reported in African aquatic systems, yet a critical evaluation of the literature is still lacking. The objectives of this review were to: (1) identify hotspot reservoirs, transfer pathways and ecological and human risks of OCs, (2) identify potential interventions to minimize the health risks, and (3) highlight knowledge gaps and research constraints. OCs widely reported in aquatic systems include pesticides, pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, solvents, endocrine disrupting compounds, and antimicrobial resistance genes, originating from applications in crop protection, veterinary and animal husbandry, human sanitation and hygiene, human vector and disease control. Potential hotspot reservoirs of OCs include wastewaters, on-site sanitation systems, leachates from non-engineered landfills and contaminated recharge of shallow groundwater systems. OCs could be transferred into humans via drinking of contaminated water, consumption of contaminated crops and aquatic foods, and to a lesser extent, inhalation and dermal contact. Ecological effects including intersex, estrogenicity, and acute and chronic toxicity occur in avian and aquatic species. Although the evidence base of human ecotoxicological effects of OC remains weak, pesticides have been reported in human milk, serum and sperms, pointing to potential chronic and acute toxicity and endocrine disruption. The prevalence of antimicrobials and their resistance genes could in turn lead to antimicrobial resistance in humans. The lack of OC monitoring in drinking water, coupled with over-reliance on untreated drinking water vulnerable to OC contamination predisposes humans to OC health risks. Appropriate water treatment methods, were identified, and a conceptual framework developed to minimize the ecological and human health risks. Future research directions on OC hotspot reservoirs, environmental behaviour and fate, ecotoxicology, epidemiology and interventions to minimize health risks are highlighted. However, lack of advanced analytical facilities in most African countries and other developing regions will continue to constrain OC research for now and in the foreseeable future.

Liposomal Formulations for an Efficient Encapsulation of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate: An in- Silico/Experimental Approach

As a part of research project aimed to optimize antioxidant delivery, here we studied the influence of both salts and lipid matrix composition on the interaction of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) with bilayer leaflets. Thus, we combined in silico and experimental methods to study the ability of neutral and anionic vesicles to encapsulate EGCG in the presence of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ divalent salts. Experimental and in silico results show a very high correlation, thus confirming the efficiency of the developed methodology. In particular, we found out that the presence of calcium ions hinders the insertion of EGCG in the liposome bilayer in both neutral and anionic systems. On the contrary, the presence of MgCl₂ improves the insertion degree of EGCG molecules respect to the liposomes without divalent salts. The best and most efficient salt concentration is that corresponding to a 5:1 molar ratio between Mg²⁺ and EGCG, in both neutral and anionic vesicles. Concerning the lipid matrix composition, the anionic one results in better promotion of the catechin insertion within the bilayer since experimentally we achieved 100% EGCG encapsulation in the lipid carrier in the presence of a 5:1 molar ratio of magnesium. Thus, the combination of this anionic liposomal formulation with magnesium chloride, avoids time-consuming separation steps of unentrapped active principle and appears particularly suitable for EGCG delivery applications.

Ionic-Liquid-Mediated Extraction and Separation Processes for Bioactive Compounds: Past, Present, and Future Trends

Ionic liquids (ILs) have been proposed as promising media for the extraction and separation of bioactive compounds from the most diverse origins. This critical review offers a compilation on the main results achieved by the use of ionic-liquid-based processes in the extraction and separation/purification of a large range of bioactive compounds (including small organic extractable compounds from biomass, lipids, and other hydrophobic compounds, proteins, amino acids, nucleic acids, and pharmaceuticals). ILs have been studied as solvents, cosolvents, cosurfactants, electrolytes, and adjuvants, as well as used in the creation of IL-supported materials for separation purposes. The IL-based processes hitherto reported, such as IL-based solid-liquid extractions, IL-based liquid-liquid extractions, IL-modified materials, and IL-based crystallization approaches, are here reviewed and compared in terms of extraction and separation performance. The key accomplishments and future challenges to the field are discussed, with particular emphasis on the major lacunas found within the IL community dedicated to separation processes and by suggesting some steps to overcome the current limitations.