A study on the removal of propyl,butyl, and benzyl parabens via newly synthesised ionic liquid loaded magnetically confined polymeric mesoporous adsorbent

This study investigated the effectiveness of ionic liquids (ILs) loaded onto the surface of a polymeric adsorbent (βCD-TDI) grafted with modified magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) via an analysis of water treatment, which resulted in high removal of selected endocrine-disrupting chemicals (parabens). The syntheses of MNPs, MNP-βCD-TDI, and IL-MNP-βCD-TDI were characterised and compared using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, carbon–hydrogen–nitrogen (CHN) analysis, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results of SEM and TEM indicated that the pore size distribution exhibited mesoporous characteristics with a small surface area (BET analysis: 42.95 m² g⁻¹). Furthermore, a preliminary sorption experiment demonstrated the ability of IL-MNP-βCD-TDI to enhance not only the sorption capacity, but also the removal of propyl paraben (PP), butyl paraben (BP), and benzyl paraben (ArP). The adsorption process appeared to be pH-dependent, and hence the optimum pH of 6 was selected for a subsequent batch adsorption study of all the studied parabens with an equilibrium time of 80 min. Next, in an attempt to investigate the interactions that occur between the adsorbent and the adsorbates, adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies were performed. All the studied parabens were found to best fit pseudo-second-order kinetics and the Freundlich isotherm with R² > 0.98 at room temperature (298 K). The interaction of the host–guest inclusion complex and the π–π interaction between βCD and a selected paraben compound (ArP) were identified by performing ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), together with ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopic analysis. Finally, the adsorption efficiency of the developed material was practically tested on tap water, drain water, and industrial wastewater, which revealed a significant removal of parabens of up to 60–90% in comparison with a prior analysis.

The main interaction between the synthesized material and the targeted paraben compounds.     

Enhanced removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous media using a highly stable and magnetically separable rosin-biochar-coated TiO2@C nanocomposite

Recently, nanosized metal-oxides have been extensively investigated for their ability to remove metal ions from aqueous media. However, the activity and capacity of these nanosized metal-oxides for removing metal ions decrease owing to their agglomeration in aqueous media. Herein, we synthesized a highly stable and magnetically separable rosin-biochar-coated (RBC) TiO₂@C nanocomposite through a facile and environment-friendly wet chemical coating process, followed by a one-step heating route (pyrolysis) for efficient removal of Cr(vi) from aqueous solution. An array of techniques, namely, TEM, HRTEM, TEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, VSM, BET and TGA, were used to characterize the prepared nanocomposite. The pyrolysis of rosin into biochar and the fabrication of Fe onto the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite were confirmed by FTIR and XRD examination, respectively. Moreover, TEM and HRTEM images and elemental mapping using TEM-EDS showed good dispersion of iron and carbon on the surface of the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite. Sorption of Cr(vi) ions on the surface of the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite was very fast and efficient, having a removal efficiency of ∼95% within the 1^st minute of reaction. Furthermore, thermodynamic analysis showed negative values of Gibb''s free energy at all five temperatures, indicating that the adsorption of Cr(vi) ions on the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite was favorable and spontaneous. Conclusively, our results indicate that the RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite can be used for efficient removal of Cr(vi) from aqueous media due to its novel synthesis and extraordinary adsorption efficacy during a short time period.

A biochar-coated RBC-TiO₂@C nanocomposite was synthesized using a wet chemical coating followed by a one-step heating route (pyrolysis) for the efficient removal of Cr(vi).     

Recrystallization techniques for the synthesis of ZnO nanorods: an in situ process for carbon doping and enhancing the dispersion concentration of ZnO nanorods

Zinc acetate is recrystallized as lumber-shaped tetragonal rods by a novel recrystallization technique. Subsequently, the recrystallized zinc acetate is converted into ZnO nanorods in a glass vial by the simplest and cheapest method without utilizing any expensive instrumentation. Carbon is doped in ZnO nanorods during the preparation ZnO nanorods without any extra steps, chemicals, or effort. The carbon-doped ZnO nanorods can be dispersed in a solvent at very high concentrations and are also stable for a very long time, which are comparatively higher than those of the other existing ZnO nanoparticles. The higher dispersion concentration and higher stability of ZnO nanoparticles are explained by a scheme that demonstrates the suspending mechanism of the ZnO nanoparticles at higher concentrations with higher stabilities in a solvent through the anchoring groups of carbon. No materials are used for surface modification; no surface coatings, ionic materials, or pH controlling materials are used to increase the dispersion concentration and stability. This is the first observation of the doped carbon playing a significant role in the dispersion of ZnO nanoparticles at higher concentrations by withholding them in the solvent. Therefore, doped carbon at the surface of ZnO nanoparticles prevents the self-aggregation of ZnO nanoparticles in the solution phase by interfacial barrier layers among ZnO nanorods and interfacial interactive layer between ZnO nanorod and solvent.

Dispersed ZnO hexagonal nanorods in ethanol solvent and its interfacial behavior in this liquid phase.     

Angiopoietin-2-induced lymphatic endothelial cell migration drives lymphangiogenesis via the β1 integrin-RhoA-formin axis

Lymphangiogenesis is an essential physiological process but also a determining factor in vascular-related pathological conditions. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) plays an important role in lymphatic vascular development and function and its upregulation has been reported in several vascular-related diseases, including cancer. Given the established role of the small GTPase RhoA on cytoskeleton-dependent endothelial functions, we investigated the relationship between RhoA and Ang2-induced cellular activities. This study shows that Ang2-driven human dermal lymphatic endothelial cell migration depends on RhoA. We demonstrate that Ang2-induced migration is independent of the Tie receptors, but dependent on β1 integrin-mediated RhoA activation with knockdown, pharmacological approaches, and protein sequencing experiments. Although the key proteins downstream of RhoA, Rho kinase (ROCK) and myosin light chain, were activated, blockade of ROCK did not abrogate the Ang2-driven migratory effect. However, formins, an alternative target of RhoA, were identified as key players, and especially FHOD1. The Ang2-RhoA relationship was explored in vivo, where lymphatic endothelial RhoA deficiency blocked Ang2-induced lymphangiogenesis, highlighting RhoA as an important target for anti-lymphangiogenic treatments.