Recovering nitrogen from separately collected urine can potentially reduce costs and energy of wastewater nitrogen removal and fertilizer production. Through benchtop experiments, we demonstrate the ...recovery of nitrogen from urine as ammonium sulfate using electrochemical stripping, a combination of electrodialysis and membrane stripping. Nitrogen was selectively recovered with 93% efficiency in batch experiments with real urine and required 30.6 MJ kg N–1 in continuous-flow experiments (slightly less than conventional ammonia stripping). The effects of solution chemistry on nitrogen flux, electrolytic reactions, and reactions with electro-generated oxidants were evaluated using synthetic urine solutions. Fates of urine-relevant trace organic contaminants, including electrochemical oxidation and reaction with electro-generated chlorine, were investigated with a suite of common pharmaceuticals. Trace organics (<0.1 μg L–1) and elements (<30 μg L–1) were not detected at appreciable levels in the ammonium sulfate fertilizer product. This novel approach holds promise for selective recovery of nitrogen from concentrated liquid waste streams such as source-separated urine.
Silica nanoparticles (SiO
2
NPs) have potential utility in controlled release. Despite significant research in this area, there is a gap in the understanding of the correlation between SiO
2
NP ...physicochemical properties on the one hand and their degradation in solutions, in cells, and
in vivo
on the other. Here, we fabricated SiO
2
NPs with variations in size, porosity, density, and composition: 100 nm Stöber, 100 and 500 nm mesoporous, 100 nm disulfide-based mesoporous, and 100 nm disulfide-based hollow mesoporous. Degradation profiles over 28 days were investigated in simulated biological fluids and deionized water. Results show Meso 100, and 500 nanoparticles degraded faster at higher pH values. Results from macrophages indicate Meso 100 nanoparticles showed the highest degradation amount (~3.8%). Cytotoxicity evaluation of the particles in Human Aortal Endothelial Cells (HAECs) shows concentration-dependent toxicity for the particles. Results from CD-1 mice show ~53% of Meso 100 nanoparticles (25 mg kg
−1
) degraded and were detected in urine after seven days. It was shown nanoparticle porosity and composition as well as pH and ionic strength of the medium play the predominant roles for degradation of SiO
2
NPs. Based on histological evaluations, at the injected doses investigated, the particles did not show toxicity.
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Platinum nanosheets (Pt NSs) were fabricated on fullerene (C60) decorated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) (denoted as Pt NSs/C60/GCE) through a simple potentiostatic deposition method. ...In the coexistence of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA), the as-prepared Pt NSs/C60/GCE electrode exhibited three well-resolved voltammetric peaks (ΔEAA–DA=176mV, ΔEDA–UA=132mV, ΔEAA–UA=308mV) in the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) measurements, allowing a simultaneous detection of these biomolecules. There are linear relationships between current intensities and concentrations in the region of 10–1800μM (AA), 0.5–211.5μM (DA), and 9.5–1187μM (UA), and the limits of detection (LOD) (S/N=3) are down to 0.43μM, 0.07μM and 0.63μM for AA, DA and UA, respectively. The as-prepared Pt NSs/C60/GCE electrode displayed a good reproducibility and storage stability and was successfully used for detection of AA, DA and UA in real plasma and urine samples.
Nowadays various inorganic nanoparticles that generate highly reactive hydroxyl radical (·OH) on the basis of Fenton‐like catalytic activity of metal ions have been designed for chemodynamic therapy. ...However, the high level of adaptive antioxidants glutathione (GSH) in cancer cells could effectively consume ·OH to compromise the treatment efficiency and biosafety of these inorganic nanoparticles, and this is a general concern in chemodynamic therapy. Herein, a new biodegradable nanoscale coordination polymer (NCP) is developed by integration of cisplatin prodrug (DSCP) and iron (III) ions through a reverse microemulsion method. The DSCP in the NCPs could react with GSH to release free cisplatin, while the iron (III) ions could be reduced by GSH into iron (II) to enable Fenton reaction, subsequently leading to amplified intracellular oxidative stress. After surface modification of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cycloArg‐Gly‐Asp‐D‐Phe‐Lys(mpa) peptide (cRGD), Fe‐DSCP‐PEG‐cRGD shows an excellent targeting effect against αvβ3‐integrin overexpressed tumor cells. Furthermore, Fe‐DSCP‐PEG‐cRGD enables significant chemo and chemodynamic therapy with dramatically enhanced therapeutic efficiency in comparison to relative monotherapies. Importantly, Fe‐DSCP‐PEG‐cRGD could be efficiently cleared out from mice through feces and urine postinjection 7 days. The NCP presented in this work is simple and economical, which shows great biodegradability and biosafety for potential clinical translation.
In this work, a biodegradable nanoscale coordination polymer of Fe‐DSCP based on iron ions (III) and cisplatin prodrug, c,c,t‐(diamminedichlorodisuccinato) Pt (IV) is fabricated through a reverse microemulsion method. After surface modification, the resulting nanoparticles achieve targeted chemo‐ and chemodynamic combination therapy with amplified oxidative stress for cancer cells.
Recent evidences suggest that insulin delivery to the brain can be an important pharmacological therapy for some neurodegenerative pathologies, including Alzheimer disease (AD). Due to the presence ...of the Blood Brain Barrier, a suitable carrier and an appropriate route of administration are required to increase the efficacy and safety of the treatment. Here, poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone)-based nanogels (NG), synthetized by e-beam irradiation, alone and with covalently attached insulin (NG-In) were characterized for biocompatibility and brain delivery features in a mouse model. Preliminarily, the biodistribution of the “empty” nanocarrier after intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection was investigated by using a fluorescent-labeled NG. By fluorescence spectroscopy, SEM and dynamic light scattering analyses we established that urine clearance occurs in 24h. Histological liver and kidneys inspections indicated that no morphological alterations of tissues occurred and no immunological response was activated after NG injection. Furthermore, after administration of the insulin-conjugated nanogels (NG-In) through the intranasal route (i.n.) no alteration or immunogenic response of the nasal mucosa was observed, suggesting that the formulation is well tolerated in mouse. Moreover, an enhancement of NG-In delivery to the different brain areas and of its biological activity, measured as Akt activation levels, with reference to free insulin administration was demonstrated. Taken together, these results indicate that the synthesized NG-In enhances brain insulin delivery upon i.n. administration and strongly encourage its further evaluation as therapeutic agent against some neurodegenerative diseases.
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•Vapour-phase hydrothermal method was utilized to synthesize nanocrystalline Ni2P on CFC.•Ni2P/CFC exhibited bifunctional electrocatalytic activities of UOR and HER.•Ni2P/CFC ...constructed two-electrode system was established for simultaneous H2 production and urea decomposition.
Ni2P nanocrystallines grown on carbon fiber cloth (Ni2P/CFC) was successfully achieved by a facile vapour-phase hydrothermal method. The as-prepared Ni2P/CFC, as an electrocatalyst, exhibited superior electrocatalytic activities toward urea oxidation reaction (UOR) with a potential of 1.42V (vs. RHE) delivering a current density of 10mAcm−2 and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with overpotentials of 90 and 155mV at current densities of 10 and 100mAcm−2 in alkaline media. On this basis, a Ni2P/CFC constructed two-electrode system for high-efficiency H2 production and simultaneous urea decomposition was therefore established using commercial urea as reaction source. Besides, such two-electrode system as proof of concept study was also evaluated using human urine as urea source for highly efficient H2 generation with a rate of 0.35μMmin−1 at an applied potential of 1.48V, delivering a current density of 10mAcm−2.
A facile, economic and green one‐step hydrothermal synthesis route using dopamine as source towards photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) is proposed. The as‐prepared CNPs have an average size ...about 3.8 nm. The emission spectra of the CNPs are broad, ranging from approximately 380 (purple) to approximately 525 nm (green), depending on the excitation wavelengths. Due to the favorable optical properties, the CNPs can readily enter into A549 cells and has been used for multicolor biolabeling and bioimaging. Most importantly, the as‐prepared CNPs contain distinctive catechol groups on their surfaces. Due to the special response of catechol groups to Fe3+ ions, we further demonstrate that such wholly new CNPs can serve as a very effective fluorescent sensing platform for label‐free sensitive and selective detection of Fe3+ ions and dopamine with a detection limit as low as 0.32 μM and 68 nM, respectively. The new “mix‐and‐detect” strategy is simple, green, and exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity. The present method was also applied to the determination of Fe3+ ions in real water samples and dopamine in human urine and serum samples successfully.
Mix and detect makes sense: A new preparative route toward distinctive fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) by using dopamine (see figure) is described. Such CNPs can be used for multicolor bioimaging and also serve as a very effective fluorescent sensors for label‐free sensitive and selective detection of Fe3+ ions and dopamine with a detection limit as low as 0.32 μM and 68 nM, respectively. This work may provide new insights into the design of CNPs and their application in bioimaging and sensing.
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More than 75% of hospital-acquired or nosocomial urinary tract infections are initiated by urinary catheters, which are used during the treatment of 15–25% of hospitalized patients. ...Among other purposes, urinary catheters are primarily used for draining urine after surgeries and for urinary incontinence. During catheter-associated urinary tract infections, bacteria travel up to the bladder and cause infection. A major cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infection is attributed to the use of non-ideal materials in the fabrication of urinary catheters. Such materials allow for the colonization of microorganisms, leading to bacteriuria and infection, depending on the severity of symptoms. The ideal urinary catheter is made out of materials that are biocompatible, antimicrobial, and antifouling. Although an abundance of research has been conducted over the last forty-five years on the subject, the ideal biomaterial, especially for long-term catheterization of more than a month, has yet to be developed. The aim of this review is to highlight the recent advances (over the past 10years) in developing antimicrobial materials for urinary catheters and to outline future requirements and prospects that guide catheter materials selection and design.
This review article intends to provide an expansive insight into the various antimicrobial agents currently being researched for urinary catheter coatings. According to CDC, approximately 75% of urinary tract infections are caused by urinary catheters and 15–25% of hospitalized patients undergo catheterization. In addition to these alarming statistics, the increasing cost and health related complications associated with catheter associated UTIs make the research for antimicrobial urinary catheter coatings even more pertinent. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the history, the latest progress in development of the coatings and a brief conjecture on what the future entails for each of the antimicrobial agents discussed.
Hybrid Volatolomics and Disease Detection Broza, Yoav Y.; Mochalski, Pawel; Ruzsanyi, Vera ...
Angewandte Chemie (International ed.),
September 14, 2015, Volume:
54, Issue:
38
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
This Review presents a concise, but not exhaustive, didactic overview of some of the main concepts and approaches related to “volatolomics”—an emerging frontier for fast, risk‐free, and potentially ...inexpensive diagnostics. It attempts to review the source and characteristics of volatolomics through the so‐called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emanating from cells and their microenvironment. It also reviews the existence of VOCs in several bodily fluids, including the cellular environment, blood, breath, skin, feces, urine, and saliva. Finally, the usefulness of volatolomics for diagnosis from a single bodily fluid, as well as ways to improve these diagnostic aspects by “hybrid” approaches that combine VOC profiles collected from two or more bodily fluids, will be discussed. The perspectives of this approach in developing the field of diagnostics to a new level are highlighted.
Ill‐gotten gains: Volatolomes enable identification of the collection of volatile organic compounds in a biological cell, tissue, or organism that are the by‐/end products of cellular processes in the living organism. The new analytical approach of volatolomics allows the large‐scale scientific study of chemical processes involving volatile organic compounds.
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