Indoor air pollution (IAP) is a serious threat to human health, causing millions of deaths each year. A plethora of pollutants can result in IAP; therefore, it is very important to identify their ...main sources and concentrations and to devise strategies for the control and enhancement of indoor air quality (IAQ). Herein, we provide a critical review and evaluation of the major sources of major pollutant emissions, their health effects, and issues related to IAP-based illnesses, including sick building syndrome (SBS) and building-related illness (BRI). In addition, the strategies and approaches for control and reduction of pollutant concentrations are pointed out, and the recent trends in efforts to resolve and improve IAQ, with their respective advantages and potentials, are summarized. It is predicted that the development of novel materials for sensors, IAQ-monitoring systems, and smart homes is a promising strategy for control and enhancement of IAQ in the future.
Several epidemiologic and toxicological studies have commonly viewed ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5), defined as particles having an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm, as a significant ...potential danger to human health. PM2.5 is mostly absorbed through the respiratory system, where it can infiltrate the lung alveoli and reach the bloodstream. In the respiratory system, reactive oxygen or nitrogen species (ROS, RNS) and oxidative stress stimulate the generation of mediators of pulmonary inflammation and begin or promote numerous illnesses. According to the most recent data, fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is responsible for nearly 4 million deaths globally from cardiopulmonary illnesses such as heart disease, respiratory infections, chronic lung disease, cancers, preterm births, and other illnesses. There has been increased worry in recent years about the negative impacts of this worldwide danger. The causal associations between PM2.5 and human health, the toxic effects and potential mechanisms of PM2.5, and molecular pathways have been described in this review.
During the last decade, hydrogels have been used as potential adsorbents for removal of contaminants from aqueous solution. To improve the adsorption efficiency, there are numerous different ...particles that can be chosen to encapsulate into hydrogels and each particle has their respective advantages. Depending on the type of pollutants and approaching method, the particles will be used to prepare hydrogels. The hydrogels commonly applied in water/wastewater treatment was mainly classified into three classes according to their shape included hydrogel beads, hydrogel films, and hydrogel nanocomposites. In review of many recently research papers, we take a closer look at hydrogels and their applications for removal of contaminants, such as heavy metal ion, dyes, and radionuclides from water/wastewater in order to elucidate the reactions between contaminants and particles and potential for recycling and regeneration of the post-treatment hydrogels.
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Over the past few decades, two-dimensional (2D) and layered materials have emerged as new fields. Due to the zero-band-gap nature of graphene and the low photocatalytic performance of MoS2, more ...advanced semiconducting 2D materials have been prompted. As a result, semiconductor black phosphorus (BP) is a derived cutting-edge post-graphene contender for nanoelectrical application, because of its direct-band-gap nature. For the first time, we report on robust BP@TiO2 hybrid photocatalysts offering enhanced photocatalytic performance under light irradiation in environmental and biomedical fields, with negligible affected on temperature and pH conditions, as compared with MoS2@TiO2 prepared by the identical synthesis method. Remarkably, in contrast to pure few layered BP, which, due to its intrinsic sensitivity to oxygen and humidity was readily dissolved after just several uses, the BP@TiO2 hybrid photocatalysts showed a ~92% photocatalytic activity after 15 runs. Thus, metal-oxide-stabilized BP photocatalysts can be practically applied as a promising alternative to graphene and MoS2.
Public isolated due to the early quarantine regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increasingly used more social media platforms. Contradictory claims regarding the effect of social media use ...on mental health needs to be resolved. The purpose of the study was to summarise the association between the time spent on social media platform during the COVID-19 quarantine and mental health outcomes (i.e., anxiety and depression).
Studies were screened from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Regarding eligibility criteria, studies conducted after the declaration of the pandemic, studies that measured mental health symptoms with validated tools, and studies that presented quantitative results were eligible. The studies after retrieval evaluated the association between time spent on social media platform and mental health outcomes (i.e. anxiety and depression). The pooled estimates of retrieved studies were summarised in odds ratios (ORs). Data analyses included a random-effect model and an assessment of inter-study heterogeneity. Quality assessment was conducted by two independent researchers using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS). This meta-analysis review was registered in PROSPERO ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ , registration No CRD42021260223, 15 June 2021).
Fourteen studies were included. The increase in the time spent using social media platforms were associated with anxiety symptoms in overall studies (pooled OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.30-1.85), and the heterogeneity between studies was mild (I
= 26.77%). Similarly, the increase in social media use time was also associated with depressive symptoms (pooled OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.30-1.85), and the heterogeneity between studies was moderate (I
= 67.16%). For sensitivity analysis, the results of analysis including only the "High quality" studies after quality assessment were similar to those of the overall study with low heterogeneity (anxiety: pooled OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.21-1.96, I
= 0.00%; depression: pooled OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 0.69-2.90, I
= 0.00%).
The analysis demonstrated that the excessive time spent on social media platform was associated with a greater likelihood of having symptoms of anxiety and depression.
In recent years, interest in the health effects of natural antioxidants has increased due to their safety and applicability in cosmetic formulation. Nevertheless, efficacy of natural antioxidants in ...vivo is less documented than their prooxidant properties in vivo. Plant extracts rich in vitamins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds can induce oxidative damage by reacting with various biomolecules while also providing antioxidant properties. Because the biological activities of natural antioxidants differ, their effectiveness for slowing the aging process remains unclear. This review article focuses on the use of natural antioxidants in skincare and the possible mechanisms underlying their desired effect, along with recent applications in skincare formulation and their limitations.
This study investigated the effects of particulate matter (PM) on human skin diseases by conducting a systematic review of existing literature and performing a meta-analysis. It considered articles ...reporting an original effect of PM on human skin. From among 918 articles identified, 13 articles were included for further consideration after manual screening of the articles resulted in the exclusion of articles that did not contain data, review articles, editorials, and also articles in languages other than English. Random-effects models and forest plots were used to estimate the effect of PM on the skin by Meta-Disc analysis. According to people's reports of exposure and negative skin effects (atopic dermatitis (AD), eczema, and skin aging, etc.) due to air pollution, the summary relative risk (odds ratio) of PM
was determined to be 0.99 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89-1.11) whereas PM
was determined to be 1.04 (95% CI 0.96-1.12). Simultaneously, there was a different extent of impact between PM
and PM
on atopic dermatitis (AD) for those of young age: the odds ratio of PM
and PM
were 0.96 (95% CI 0.83-1.11; I² = 62.7%) and 1.05 (95% CI 0.95-1.16; I² = 46%), respectively. Furthermore, the results suggest an estimated increase of disease incidence per 10 μg/m³ PM of 1.01% (0.08-2.05) due to PM
and 1.60% (0.45-2.82) due to PM
. Following the results, PM
and PM
are associated with increased risks of human skin diseases, especially AD, whose risk is higher in infants and school children. With its smaller size and a high concentration of metals, PM
is more closely related to AD in younger people, compared to PM
.
We have developed a simple approach for the large-scale synthesis of water-soluble green carbon nanodots (G-dots) from many kinds of large food waste-derived sources. About 120 g of G-dots per 100 kg ...of food waste can be synthesized using our simple and environmentally friendly synthesis approach. The G-dots exhibit a high degree of solubility in water because of the abundant oxygen-containing functional groups around their surface. The narrow band of photoluminescence emission (400–470 nm) confirms that the size of the G-dots (∼4 nm) is small because of a similar quantum effects and emission traps on the surfaces. The G-dots have excellent photostability; their photoluminescence intensity decreases slowly (∼8%) under continuous excitation with a Xe lamp for 10 days. We carried out cell viability assay to assess the effect of cytotoxicity by introducing G-dots in cells such as Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1), mouse muscle cells (C2C12), and African green monkey kidney cells (COS-7), up to a concentration of 2 mg mL–1 for 24 h. Due to their high photostability and low cytotoxicity, these G-dots are excellent probes for in vitro bioimaging. Moreover, the byproducts (not including G-dots) of G-dot synthesis from large food-waste derived sources promoted the growth and development of seedlings germinated on 3DW-supplemented gauze. Because of the combined advantages of green synthesis, high aqueous stability, high photostability, and low cytotoxicity, the G-dots show considerable promise in various areas, including biomedical imaging, solution state optoelectronics, and plant seed germination and/or growth.
Antioxidants (AOs) play a crucial role in the protection and maintenance of health and are also integral ingredients in beauty products. Unfortunately, most of them are sensitive due to their ...instability and insolubility. The use of liposomes to protect AOs and expand their applicability to cosmeceuticals, thereby, is one of the most effective solutions. Notwithstanding their offered advantages for the delivery of AOs, liposomes, in their production and application, present many challenges. Here, we provide a critical review of the major problems complicating the development of liposomes for AO delivery. Along with issues related to preparation techniques and encapsulation efficiency, the loss of protective function and inefficiency of skin permeability are the main disadvantages of liposomes. Corresponding development strategies for resolving these problems, with their respective advantages and drawbacks, are introduced, discussed in some depth, and summarized in these pages as well. Advanced liposomes have a vital role to play in the development and delivery of AOs in practical cosmeceutical product applications.
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•Classification of antioxidants and their action mechanism in scavenging ROS.•Benefits of liposome for antioxidant delivery in cosmeceutical applications.•Challenges to expansion of liposomal applications in cosmeceuticals.•Development strategies of novel techniques and advanced liposome-based carriers.•New generations of liposome for delivery of antioxidants in cosmeceuticals.
Recently, the appeal of 2D black phosphorus (BP) has been rising due to its unique optical and electronic properties with a tunable band gap (≈0.3–1.5 eV). While numerous research efforts have ...recently been devoted to nano‐ and optoelectronic applications of BP, no attention has been paid to promising medical applications. In this article, the preparation of BP‐nanodots of a few nm to <20 nm with an average diameter of ≈10 nm and height of ≈8.7 nm is reported by a modified ultrasonication‐assisted solution method. Stable formation of nontoxic phosphates and phosphonates from BP crystals with exposure in water or air is observed. As for the BP‐nanodot crystals’ stability (ionization and persistence of fluorescent intensity) in aqueous solution, after 10 d, ≈80% at 1.5 mg mL−1 are degraded (i.e., ionized) in phosphate buffered saline. They showed no or little cytotoxic cell‐viability effects in vitro involving blue‐ and green‐fluorescence cell imaging. Thus, BP‐nanodots can be considered a promising agent for drug delivery or cellular tracking systems.
Black phosphorus (BP)‐nanodots are prepared using a simple ultrasonication‐assisted solution method. Compared to conventional semiconductor quantum dots, BP‐nanodots present little in vitro cytotoxicity and further blue‐ and green‐fluorescent bioimaging roles under excitations of UV and visible light, showing potential as novel drug delivery carriers in biomedical applications.
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