Chitosan-based hydrogel beads with molecularly imprinted receptors on halloysite nanotubes for tetracycline separation in water and soil.

Tetracycline (TC), a commonly utilized broad-spectrum antibiotic, is frequently detected in water and soil, posing a significant risk to the natural environment and human health. In the present study, the composite hydrogel beads based on chitosan (CS) and halloysite-supported molecularly imprinted polymers, synthesized by two procedures with significantly different solvent volumes (Hal@MIP), were obtained and used to adsorb the antibiotic. The presence of Hal improved the thermal stability of the hydrogel beads.

Development of a novel LED-IoT photoreactor for enhanced removal of carbamazepine waste driven by solar energy.

This study introduces an innovative LED-IoT photoreactor, representing a significant advancement in response to the demand for sustainable water purification. The integration of LED-IoT installations addresses the challenge of intermittent sunlight availability, employing LEDs with a spectrum mimicking natural sunlight. Passive Infra-Red (PIR) sensors and Internet of things (IoT) technology ensure consistent radiation intensity, with the LED deactivating in ample sunlight and activating in its absence.

Innovative microwave in situ approach for crystallizing TiO nanoparticles with enhanced activity in photocatalytic and photovoltaic applications.

This investigation introduces an innovative approach to microwave-assisted crystallization of titania nanoparticles, leveraging an in situ process to expedite anatase crystallization during microwave treatment. Notably, this technique enables the attainment of crystalline material at temperatures below 100 °C. The physicochemical properties, including crystallinity, morphology, and textural properties, of the synthesized TiO nanomaterials show a clear dependence on the microwave crystallization temperature.

The Influence of TiO-Lignin Hybrid Fillers in Low-Density Polyethylene Composites on Photocatalytic Performance and UV-Barrier Properties.

The main objective of this study was to discover new packaging materials that could integrate one of the most expected properties, such as UV protection, with a self-cleaning ability defined as photocatalytic performance. Accordingly, new hybrid additives were used to transform LDPE films into materials with complex performance properties. In this study, titanium dioxide-lignin (TL) hybrid systems with a weight ratio of inorganic to organic precursors of 5-1, 1-1, and 1-5 were prepared using a mechanical method.

Effects of Spherical and Rod-like Gold Nanoparticles on the Reactivity of Human Peripheral Blood Leukocytes.

Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are widely used in the technological and biomedical industries, which is a major driver of research on these nanoparticles. The main goal of this study was to determine the influence of GNPs (at 20, 100, and 200 μg/mL concentrations) on the reactivity of human peripheral blood leukocytes. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the respiratory burst activity and pyroptosis in monocytes and granulocytes following incubation with GNPs for 30 and 60 min.

Quantification of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in environmental samples using imprinted polyethyleneimine with enhanced selectivity as a selective adsorbent in ambient plasma mass spectrometry.

Detection and quantification of various organic chemicals in the environment is critical to track their fate and control their levels. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is a widely applied phenoxy herbicide with potential toxicity to fish and other aquatic organisms. In this study, we address the need for improved detection of 2,4-D by introducing a novel analytical method for its quantification.

Unraveling the impact of microwave-assisted techniques in the fabrication of yttrium-doped TiO photocatalyst.

In this study, we investigate the role of microwave technology in the fabrication of yttrium-doped TiO through a comparative analysis of hydrothermal techniques. Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis offers advantages, but a comprehensive comparison between microwave-assisted and conventional methods is lacking. Therefore, in our investigation, we systematically evaluate and compare the morphological, structural, and optical properties of yttrium-doped TiO samples synthesized using both techniques.

Unveiling the Latest Developments in Molecularly Imprinted Photocatalysts: A State-of-the-Art Review.

Responding to the growing concerns about environmental pollutants, scientists are increasingly turning to innovative solutions rooted in the field of environmental science. One such promising avenue combines the robustness of traditional photocatalysis with the precision of molecular imprinting, leading to the proposition of molecularly imprinted photocatalysts (MIPCs). These MIPCs hold the potential to specifically target and eliminate environmental pollutants, marking them as a promising tool in modern environmental remediation.

Recent Developments in the Detection of Organic Contaminants Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Combined with Various Analytical Techniques.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) encompass a diverse array of polymeric matrices that exhibit the unique capacity to selectively identify a designated template molecule through specific chemical moieties. Thanks to their pivotal attributes, including exceptional selectivity, extended shelf stability, and other distinct characteristics, this class of compounds has garnered interest in the development of highly responsive sensor systems. As a result, the incorporation of MIPs in crafting distinctive sensors and analytical procedures tailored for specific analytes across various domains has increasingly become a common practice within contemporary analytical chemistry.

Hybrid chitosan/molecularly imprinted polymer hydrogel beads doped with iron for selective ibuprofen adsorption.

Pharmaceutical pollutants are a group of emerging contaminants frequently found in water streams. In this study, the composite chitosan beads with incorporated molecularly imprinted polymers (monoliths or microparticles) and iron(III) hydroxide were fabricated to remove ibuprofen from aqueous solutions. The adsorptive properties were investigated in different conditions to evaluate the influence of solution pH, adsorbent dose, ibuprofen initial concentration, adsorption time, and temperature.

Explosives removal and quantification using porous adsorbents based on poly(2-oxazoline)s with various degree of functionalization.

Polymeric porous adsorbents are reported for removal of explosives, namely picric acid, 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX), and pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and their subsequent quantification using direct analysis with ambient plasma mass spectrometry. The adsorbents are obtained by functionalization of short-chain poly(2-oxazoline)s with methyl ester side chains using 4-(aminomethyl)pyridine with a degree of functionalization equal to 0, 5, 10, and 20%. The subsequent step consist of cross-linking using a high internal phase emulsion procedure by further side-chain amidation with diethylenetriamine as crosslinker.

Editorial: Advance in Molecularly Imprinted Polymers.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), due to their unique recognition properties, have found various applications, mainly in extraction and separation techniques; however, their implementation in other research areas, such as sensor construction and drug delivery, has also been substantial [...

Rapid quantification of 2,4-dichlorophenol in river water samples using molecularly imprinted polymers coupled to ambient plasma mass spectrometry.

Rapid quantification of environmental pollutants is important for water quality control and environmental monitoring. In this work, we report the development of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) obtained from poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) polymer. The synthesized materials were used for selective preconcentration of 2,4-dichlorophenol, a priority pollutant which creates a threat to public health.

Poly(2-oxazoline)s as Stimuli-Responsive Materials for Biomedical Applications: Recent Developments of Polish Scientists.

Poly(2-oxazoline)s are the synthetic polymers that are the products of the cationic ring-opening polymerization (CROP) of 2-oxazoline monomers. Due to their beneficial properties, from which biocompatibility, stealth behavior, high functionalization possibilities, low dispersity, stability, nonionic character, and solubility in water and organic solvents should be noted, they have found many applications and gained enormous interest from scientists. Additionally, with high versatility attainable through copolymerization or through post-polymerization modifications, this class of polymeric systems has been widely used as a polymeric platform for novel biomedical applications.

Mucus-penetrating nanoparticles based on chitosan grafted with various non-ionic polymers: Synthesis, structural characterisation and diffusion studies.

Transmucosal administration offers numerous advantages for drug delivery as it usually helps to avoid first pass metabolism, provides rapid onset of action, and is a non-invasive route. Mucosal surfaces are covered by a viscoelastic mucus gel layer which acts as a protective barrier preventing the entrance of harmful substances into the human tissues. This function of mucus also inhibits the diffusion of drugs and nano-formulations and can result in a significant reduction of their efficacy.

EGDMA- and TRIM-Based Microparticles Imprinted with 5-Fluorouracil for Prolonged Drug Delivery.

Imprinted materials possess designed cavities capable of forming selective interactions with molecules used in the imprinting process. In this work, we report the synthesis of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-imprinted microparticles and their application in prolonged drug delivery. The materials were synthesized using either ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) or trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TRIM) cross-linkers.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as State-of-the-Art Drug Carriers in Hydrogel Transdermal Drug Delivery Applications.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) are polymeric networks capable of recognizing determined analytes. Among other methods, non-covalent imprinting has become the most popular synthesis strategy for Molecular Imprinting Technology (MIT). While MIPs are widely used in various scientific fields, one of their most challenging applications lies within pharmaceutical chemistry, namely in therapeutics or various medical therapies.

The Electrospray (ESI) and Flowing Atmosphere-Pressure Afterglow (FAPA) Mass Spectrometry Studies of Nitrophenols (Plant Growth Stimulants) Removed Using Strong Base-Functionalized Materials.

The functional silica-based materials functionalized with a strong nitrogen base TBD (SiO-TBD) deposited via a linker or with a basic poly(amidoamine) dendrimer containing multiple terminal amine groups -NH (SiO-EDA) and functional polymers containing a strong phosphazene base (Polymer-Phosphazene) or another basic poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PMVEAMA-PAMAM) were tested as sorbents dedicated to a mixture of nitrophenols (-nitrophenol and 2-methoxy-5-nitrophenol), which are analogs of nitrophenols used in plant growth biostimulants. The adsorptive potential of the studied materials reached 0.102, 0.

Mass Spectrometric Investigation of Organo-Functionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles Binding Properties toward Chalcones.

Chalcones are naturally occurring compounds exhibiting multiple biological functions related to their structure. The investigation of complexes formed by chalcones, namely 2',4'-dihydroxy-2-methoxychalcone (DH-2-MC) and 2',4'-dihydroxy-3-methoxychalcone (DH-3-MC), with organo-functionalized FeO magnetic nanoparticles using mass spectrometric techniques is reported. The magnetic nanoparticles were obtained by the silanization of FeO particles with 3-aminopropyltrimethosysilane, which were subsequently reacted with 3-hydroxybenzaldehyde (3-HBA) or 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (2-PCA), resulting in the formation of Schiff base derivatives.

Reduction-Responsive Molecularly Imprinted Poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) for Controlled Release of Anticancer Agents.

Trigger-responsive materials are capable of controlled drug release in the presence of a specific trigger. Reduction induced drug release is especially interesting as the reductive stress is higher inside cells than in the bloodstream, providing a conceptual controlled release mechanism after cellular uptake. In this work, we report the synthesis of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based on poly(2-isopropenyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPOx) using 3,3'-dithiodipropionic acid (DTDPA) as a reduction-responsive functional cross-linker.

The influence of cross-linking agent onto adsorption properties, release behavior and cytotoxicity of doxorubicin-imprinted microparticles.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic polymers that possess cavities selective towards their molecular templates and have found many applications in separation science, drug delivery, and catalysis. Here, we report the synthesis of doxorubicin-imprinted microparticles cross-linked with two different compounds (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate or trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate) and examination of their physicochemical properties. During the synthesis methacrylic acid was used as functional monomer and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate was added into polymerization mixture to increase hydrophilicity of the obtained materials and therefore improve interactions with aqueous release medium.

Alginate/PAMAM dendrimer - Halloysite beads for removal of cationic and anionic dyes.

The alginate beads have been widely used for dye removal. However, most of the systems described in literature refer to one type of dyes and the adsorbents of cationic ones are dominant. In this study, the composite alginate beads were prepared and characterized.

Molecularly imprinted polymers as selective adsorbents for ambient plasma mass spectrometry.

The application of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) as molecular scavengers for ambient plasma ionization mass spectrometry has been reported for the first time. MIPs were synthesized using methacrylic acid as functional monomer; nicotine, propyphenazone, or methylparaben as templates; ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker; and 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile as polymerization initiator. To perform ambient plasma ionization experiments, a setup consisting of the heated crucible, a flowing atmospheric-pressure afterglow (FAPA) plasma ion source, and a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer has been used.

Determination of conditional stability constants for phytic acid complexes with Mg, Ca and Zn ions using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry competitive method has been used for the determination of the conditional stability constants of phytic acid complexes with Mg, Ca and Zn ions. The competing complexation between ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and phytic acid was studied. For EDTA complexes with Mg, Ca and Zn ions, the values of the conditional stability constants are known and were used for the calculation of this constant for the phytic acid complexes.

Flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow combined with laser ablation for direct analysis of compounds separated by thin-layer chromatography.

A thin-layer chromatography-mass spectrometry (TLC-MS) setup for characterization of low molecular weight compounds separated on standard TLC plates has been constructed. This new approach successfully combines TLC separation, laser ablation, and ionization using flowing atmospheric pressure afterglow (FAPA) source. For the laser ablation, a low-priced 445-nm continuous-wave diode laser pointer, with a power of 1 W, was used.