Polysaccharides are essential macromolecules which almost exist in all living forms, and have important biological functions, they are getting more attention because they exhibit a wide range of ...biological and pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumour, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, antiviral, and hypoglycemia activities, making them one of the most promising candidates in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Polysaccharides can be obtained from many different sources, such as plants, microorganisms, algae, and animals. Due to their physicochemical properties, they are susceptible to physical and chemical modifications leading to enhanced properties, which is the basic concept for their diverse applications in biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. In this review, we will give insight into the most recent updated applications of polysaccharides and their potentialities as alternatives for traditional and conventional therapies. Challenges and limitations for polysaccharides in pharmaceutical utilities are discussed as well.
The nature of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) varies with the change in oxidation conditions. In this work, the effect of treatment temperatures on the acidity of MWCNTs was studied. Oxidation ...was performed by refluxing the MWCNTs in nitric acid or mixtures of sulfuric acid and nitric acid at different temperatures. After oxidative treatment, a quantitative characterization of o-MWCNTs has been performed using acid-base titrations which show that the number of surface acidic functional groups increased by increasing the treatment temperatures. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) measurements show that the oxygen content increased with increasing treatment temperatures. Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR) was used for qualitative characterization. It has been demonstrated that the acidity is a function of the type of oxidizing agent used and the treatment temperatures. Due to the importance in attachment strategies and functionalization, this study adds to the global discussion of the possibility of controlling the MWCNTs' surface chemistry which plays a crucial role in determining its reactivity.
The remarkable increase in the number of vehicles worldwide; and the lack of both technical and economical mechanisms of disposal make waste tires to be a serious source of pollution. One potential ...recycling process is pyrolysis followed by chemical activation process to produce porous activated carbons.
Many researchers have recently proved the capability of such carbons as adsorbents to remove various types of pollutants including organic and inorganic species. This review attempts to compile relevant knowledge about the production methods of carbon from waste rubber tires.
The effects of various process parameters including temperature and heating rate, on the pyrolysis stage; activation temperature and time, activation agent and activating gas are reviewed. This review highlights the use of waste-tires derived carbon to remove various types of pollutants like heavy metals, dye, pesticides and others from aqueous media.
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•A doubly effective solution for waste rubber tires is reviewed, where waste rubber tires are converted to porous carbon.•The tire-derived activated carbon was reviewed for its production methods.•The tire-derived activated carbon was reviewed for its characteristics and applications.
Evidence suggests that air pollution, specifically the particulate matters PM2.5 and PM10, plays a key role in exacerbating the risk of prolonged symptoms following COVID-19 infection. Aim: This ...study endeavors to elucidate the potential interaction between chronic air pollution exposure and the manifestation of long COVID symptoms within a cohort based in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Methods: Participants included residents from the Makkah region who had recovered from COVID-19 between 2022 and 2023. A comprehensive questionnaire was utilized to gather detailed demographic data and assess the persistent symptoms seen during the post-COVID period. To gauge the environmental exposure to potential risk factors, air sampling for PM10 and PM2.5 was systematically conducted in various locations in Makkah over a year. Results: Significant positive associations were found between PM2.5 and PM10 exposure and long COVID. Furthermore, specific symptom analysis revealed a significant association between air pollution and shortness of breath (for PM2.5). Only PM2.5 exposure remained statistically significant (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.67). In contrast, the association with PM10 remained on the cusp of significance, with an RR of 1.27 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.61). Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of reducing air pollution levels to mitigate the long-term health consequences of COVID-19.
This article presents the development and testing of a survivability-based method for assessing the possible impacts of load-side activities on power systems. The developed method is based on ...defining a survivability index <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">\Gamma</tex-math></inline-formula>, which is based on the difference between the preactivity and postactivity power injection into a load bus. In order to accommodate steady-state frequency and voltage tolerances, boundary values for the index <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">\Gamma</tex-math></inline-formula> are defined for each load bus. The proposed survivability-based method is implemented and tested for the Barbados power system. Tests are conducted for integrating distribution generation units, and for implementing demand response at several load buses. Results of conducted tests show that the proposed method can accurately quantify the impacts of load-side activities on the functionality of a power system. In addition, test results demonstrate that the accuracy of the survivability-based method is not affected by the type or rating of distributed generation units and/or times and durations of demand response actions.
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an active compound of green tea and its role in diseases cure and prevention has been proven. Its role in diseases management can be attributed to its antioxidant ...and anti-inflammatory properties. The anti-cancer role of this green tea compound has been confirmed in various types of cancer and is still being under explored. EGCG has been proven to possess a chemopreventive effect through inhibition of carcinogenesis process such as initiation, promotion, and progression. In addition, this catechin has proven its role in cancer management through modulating various cell signaling pathways such as regulating proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and killing of various types of cancer cells. The additive or synergistic effect of epigallocatechin with chemopreventive agents has been verified as it reduces the toxicities and enhances the anti-cancerous effects. Despite its effectiveness and safety, the implications of EGCG in cancer prevention is certainly still discussed due to a poor bioavailability. Several studies have shown the ability to overcome poor bioavailability through nanotechnology-based strategies such as encapsulation, liposome, micelles, nanoparticles and various other formulation. In this review, we encapsulate therapeutic implication of EGCG in cancer management and the mechanisms of action are discussed with an emphasis on human clinical trials.
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•Graphene was modified with polyamide by interfacial polymerization.•The polyamide-graphene was evaluated for the removal of Sb(III).•The tests indicated high adsorption performance, ...high capacity and regeneration efficiency.
Graphene was modified with polyamide by using a facile interfacial polymerization method to obtain an effective composite. The produced polyamide-graphene (PAG) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis methods. The adsorption efficiency of the adsorbent for the removal of Sb(III) was evaluated under the effects of concentration, temperature, contact time, medium pH, and re-usability. The results of the study showed very good adsorption performance and high regeneration efficiency. The Langmuir modeling results revealed that the synthesized PAG sorbent had a considerably high adsorption capacity (158.2mg/g) for Sb(III) ions from aqueous solution. The adsorption data fitted well into pseudo-second order model. The exothermic enthalpy change of −65.6kJ/mol and negative Gibbs free energy change assured the viability of the adsorption process under the considered temperature conditions. Moreover, by taking into account all results it was concluded that the PAG composite material leverages its cheap source and ease of regeneration in combination with its high and fast uptake capacities to offer a great promise for the remediation of Sb(III) ions from aqueous solutions.
Nanomaterials (NMs) are gaining significance in technological applications due to their tunable chemical, physical, and mechanical properties and enhanced performance when compared with their bulkier ...counterparts. This review presents a summary of the general types of NMs and provides an overview of the various synthesis methods of nanoparticles (NPs) and their functionalization via covalent or noncovalent interactions using different methods. It highlights the techniques used for the characterization of NPs and discusses their physical and chemical properties. Due to their unique properties, NMs have several applications and have become part of our daily lives. As a result, nanotoxicity research is gaining attention since some NPs are not easily degraded by the environment. Thus, this review also highlights research efforts into the fate, behavior, and toxicity of different classes of NMs in the environment.
•Nanomaterials have fueled the development of new generation in several areas.•The review discusses the latest developments of these materials.•The review introduces the environmental impact and toxicity of nanomaterial.
Water pollution caused by numerous pollutants has become one of the critical problems globally. Different technologies and materials are used for the treatment of wastewater. There is a need for ...protocols and procedures that act as guidelines for researchers to develop and evaluate new adsorbent materials for wastewater treatment. This review takes a step toward developing organized protocols and procedures for the synthesis of nanomaterials, polymers, and green materials as adsorbents used for water purification. In the present review, protocols, and procedures for the synthesis of adsorbents, such as nanomaterials, waste-derived materials, and polymers are proposed Furthermore, protocols for evaluating these materials for water treatment are provided. The reported protocols and procedures will provide guidelines for researchers and industrial workers to develop and evaluate new materials for water treatment.
•Protocols for preparing various adsorbents for water treatment have been highlighted.•Protocols of testing adsorbents for water treatment have been designed.•Procedures of column testing for water treatment have been designed.•Protocols and Procedures provide guidelines for researchers to develop and evaluate new materials for water treatment.
Acrylamide (AA) is a food contaminant present in a wide range of frequently consumed foods, which makes human exposure to this toxicant unfortunately unavoidable. However, efforts to reduce the ...formation of AA in food have resulted in some success. This review aims to summarize the occurrence of AA and the potential mitigation strategies of its formation in foods. Formation of AA in foods is mainly linked to Maillard reaction, which is the first feasible route that can be manipulated to reduce AA formation. Furthermore, manipulating processing conditions such as time and temperature of the heating process, and including certain preheating treatments such as soaking and blanching, can further reduce AA formation. Due to the high exposure to AA, recognition of its toxic effect is necessary, especially in developing countries where awareness about AA health risks is still very low. Therefore, this review also focuses on the different toxic effects of AA exposure, including neurotoxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and immunotoxicity.
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