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Novel combination of zero-valent Cu and Ag nanoparticles @ cellulose acetate nanocomposite for the reduction of 4-nitro phenol

Khan FU, Asimullah, Khan SB, Kamal T, Asiri AM, Khan IU, et al.

Int J Biol Macromol, 2017 Sep;102:868-877.
PMID: 28428128 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.04.062

A very simple and low-cost procedure has been adopted to synthesize efficient copper (Cu), silver (Ag) and copper-silver (Cu-Ag) mixed nanoparticles on the surface of pure cellulose acetate (CA) and cellulose acetate-copper oxide nanocomposite (CA-CuO). All nanoparticles loaded onto CA and CA-CuO presented excellent catalytic ability, but Cu-Ag nanoparticles loaded onto CA-CuO (Cu0-Ag0/CA-CuO) exhibited outstanding catalytic efficiency to convert 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) into 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in the presence of NaBH4. Additionally, the Cu0-Ag0/CA-CuO can be easily recovered by removing the sheet from the reaction media, and can be recycled several times, maintaining high catalytic ability for four cycles.
Lignocellulosic biomass supported metal nanoparticles for the catalytic reduction of organic pollutants

Akhtar K, Ali F, Sohni S, Kamal T, Asiri AM, Bakhsh EM, et al.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Jan;27(1):823-836.
PMID: 31811610 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06908-y

Lignocellulosic biomass waste is a cheap, eco-friendly, and sustainable raw material for a wide array of applications. In the present study, an easy, fast, and economically feasible route has been proposed for the preparation of different zero-valent metal nanoparticles (ZV-MNPs) based on Cu, Co, Ag, and Ni NPs using empty fruit bunch (EFB) biomass residue as support material. The catalytic efficiency of ZV-MNPs/EFB catalyst was investigated against five model pollutants, such as methyl orange (MO), congo red (CR), methylene blue (MB), acridine orange (AO), and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) using NaBH4 as a source of hydrogen and electron. Comparative study revealed that among as-prepared ZV-MNPs/EFB catalysts, Cu-NPs immobilized onto EFB (Cu/EFB) exhibited maximum catalytic efficiency towards pollutant abasement. Degradation reactions were highly efficient, and were completed within a short time (4 min) in case of MO, CR, and MB, whilst AO and 4-NP were reduced in less than 15 min. Kinetic investigation revealed that the degradation rate of model pollutants accorded with pseudo-first order model. Furthermore, supported catalysts were easily recovered after the completion of experiment by simply pulling the catalyst from reaction system. Recyclability tests performed on Cu/EFB revealed that more than 97% of the reduction was achieved in case of MO dye for four successive cycles of reuse. The as-prepared heterostructure showed multifunctional properties, such as enhanced uptake of contaminants, high catalytic efficiency, and easy recovery, hence, offers great prospects in wastewater purification.
Recent advances in enhancing the sensitivity of electrophoresis and electrochromatography in capillaries and microchips (2014-2016)

Breadmore MC, Wuethrich A, Li F, Phung SC, Kalsoom U, Cabot JM, et al.

Electrophoresis, 2017 01;38(1):33-59.
PMID: 27678139 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201600331

One of the most cited limitations of capillary (and microchip) electrophoresis is the poor sensitivity. This review continues to update this series of biennial reviews, first published in Electrophoresis in 2007, on developments in the field of on-line/in-line concentration methods in capillaries and microchips, covering the period July 2014-June 2016. It includes developments in the field of stacking, covering all methods from field amplified sample stacking and large volume sample stacking, through to isotachophoresis, dynamic pH junction, and sweeping. Attention is also given to on-line or in-line extraction methods that have been used for electrophoresis.
Taxonomic significance of cypsela morphology in tribe Cichoreae (Asteraceae) using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy

Ayaz S, Ahmad M, Zafar M, Ali MI, Sultana S, Mustafa MRU, et al.

Microsc Res Tech, 2020 Mar;83(3):239-248.
PMID: 31713962 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23407

The current study deals with the detailed morphology investigation of eight Cypsela species belonging to tribe Cichoreae. The different Cypsela types were described, explained, compared, and their taxonomic significance is discussed in detail. Light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have been used to highlight quantitative and qualitative characters of underestudied species. Cypsela exhibit great diversity in macro and micromorphological features such as shape, color, length, width, anticlinal and periclinal wall patterns, surface patterns, epicuticular projections. Majority of Cypsela species were brownish in color and their size ranges from 2.16 to 3.98 mm in length and 1.16 to 0.82 mm in breadth. A great diversity in Cypsela shapes like oblanceolate to obovate, obovoid to cylindrical, obvate, narrowly lanceolate were observed. Most of the platelets having epicuticular projections were observed. The surface pattern on the cypsela surface varied from rugose papillate, verrucose papillate, and striated. On the basis of considerable variations observed, the present study can assist as useful constraints at various taxonomic levels. The aim of the present study is to provide a comprehensive description of the Cypsela morphology and to determine the extent to which these micro morphological data can be used as a taxonomic character to delineate various taxa belonging to the tribe Cichoreae.
Lignin nanoparticles-reduced graphene oxide based hydrogel: A novel strategy for environmental applications

Sohni S, Hassan T, Khan SB, Akhtar K, Bakhsh EM, Hashim R, et al.

Int J Biol Macromol, 2023 Jan 15;225:1426-1436.
PMID: 36436599 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.200

In this work, facile fabrication of lignin nanoparticles (LNP)-based three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide hydrogel (rGO@LNP) has been demonstrated as a novel strategy for environmental applications. Herein, LNP were facilely synthesized from walnut shell waste through a direct chemical route. These LNP were incorporated into the continuous porous network of rGO network to fabricate rGO@LNP hydrogel. Characterization studies were carried out using various analytical techniques viz. scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. The efficiency of rGO@LNP hydrogel as adsorptive platform was evaluated by employing methylene blue and Pb2+ as model pollutants, whilst the effect of various experimental parameters was ascertained for optimal performance. Furthermore, Agar well diffusion method was used to check the antibacterial activities of the hydrogel using two bacterial pathogenic strains, i.e. Klebsiella pneumoniae (gram negative) and Enterococcus faecalis (gram positive). Results showed that after the inclusion of LNP into rGO hydrogel, there was a marked improvement in pollutant's uptake ability and compared to bare LNP and rGO, the composite hydrogel showed enhanced bactericidal effect. Overall, this approach is outstanding because of the synergy of functional properties of nano-lignin and rGO due to multi-interaction sites in the resulting hydrogel. The results presented herein support the application of rGO@LNP as innovative water filter material for scavenging broad spectrum pollutants and bactericidal properties.
Recent advances in enhancing the sensitivity of electrophoresis and electrochromatography in capillaries and microchips (2016-2018)

Breadmore MC, Grochocki W, Kalsoom U, Alves MN, Phung SC, Rokh MT, et al.

Electrophoresis, 2019 01;40(1):17-39.
PMID: 30362581 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201800384

One of the most cited limitations of capillary and microchip electrophoresis is the poor sensitivity. This review continues to update this series of biannual reviews, first published in Electrophoresis in 2007, on developments in the field of online/in-line concentration methods in capillaries and microchips, covering the period July 2016-June 2018. It includes developments in the field of stacking, covering all methods from field-amplified sample stacking and large-volume sample stacking, through to isotachophoresis, dynamic pH junction, and sweeping. Attention is also given to online or in-line extraction methods that have been used for electrophoresis.
Fulltext Visible light induced photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin using xC-TiO2

Adnan, Kalsoom, Zada FM, Sarwat, Soonmin H, Khan B, et al.

Heliyon, 2025 Jan 15;11(1):e41320.
PMID: 39831162 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41320

In recent years, antibiotic pollution has become a major environmental concern. The extensive production and widespread use of prescribed antibiotics have significantly impacted ecosystems. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the photocatalytic degradation of the antibiotic norfloxacin (NFX) under visible light. In this work photocatalysis of NFX was demonstrated under the source of visible radiation by using carbon dopped-titania (C-TiO 2 ) nanoparticles as catalyst prepared by a modified sol-gel method using n-hexane and benzene as carbon precursors. The synthesized samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. The effect of various parameters like initial concentration, catalyst dosage, irradiation time, pH, and inorganic ions were investigated on the photocatalysis of NFX. The XRD and SEM analysis exhibits that the synthesized C-TiO 2 nanoparticles were of anatase phase having spherical shape with a mean particle size of about 11-17 nm. The results shows that the best photocatalytic efficiency (74 % & 81 %) was achieved at pH = 8 in 150 min. The degradation of NFX follows pseudo-2nd -order kinetics, while favors Langmuir isotherm model. The inhibition effect of various inorganic ions on the photocatalysis of NFX was in the order of F⁻>SO4 2⁻>HCO3 ⁻>NO3 ⁻. The present study shows that C-TiO 2 is an optimistic and efficient catalyst for the photocatalysis of NFX antibiotics.
Fulltext Prophylactic potential of honey and Nigella sativa L. against hospital and community-based SARS-CoV-2 spread: a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Ashraf S, Ashraf S, Akmal R, Ashraf M, Kalsoom L, Maqsood A, et al.

Trials, 2021 Sep 15;22(1):618.
PMID: 34526081 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05510-3

OBJECTIVES: Considering the therapeutic potential of honey and Nigella sativa (HNS) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, the objective of the study is defined to evaluate the prophylactic role of HNS.
TRIAL DESIGN: The study is a randomized, placebo-controlled, adaptive clinical trial with parallel group design, superiority framework with an allocation ratio of 1:1 among experimental (HNS) and placebo group. An interim analysis will be done when half of the patients have been recruited to evaluate the need to adapt sample size, efficacy, and futility of the trial.
PARTICIPANTS: All asymptomatic patients with hospital or community based COVID-19 exposure will be screened if they have had 4 days exposure to a confirmed case. Non-pregnant adults with significant exposure level will be enrolled in the study High-risk exposure (<6 feet distance for >10min without face protection) Moderate exposure (<6 feet distance for >10min with face protection) Subjects with acute or chronic infection, COVID-19 vaccinated, and allergy to HNS will be excluded from the study. Recruitment will be done at Shaikh Zayed Post-Graduate Medical Institute, Ali Clinic and Doctors Lounge in Lahore (Pakistan).
INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: In this clinical study, patients will receive either raw natural honey (0.5 g) and encapsulated organic Nigella sativa seeds (40 mg) per kg body weight per day or empty capsule with and 30 ml of 5% dextrose water as a placebo for 14 days. Both the natural products will be certified for standardization by Government College University (Botany department). Furthermore, each patient will be given standard care therapy according to version 3.0 of the COVID-19 clinical management guidelines by the Ministry of National Health Services of Pakistan.
MAIN OUTCOMES: Primary outcome will be Incidence of COVID-19 cases within 14 days of randomisation. Secondary endpoints include incidence of COVID-19-related symptoms, hospitalizations, and deaths along with the severity of COVID-19-related symptoms till 14th day of randomization.
RANDOMISATION: Participants will be randomized into experimental and control groups (1:1 allocation ratio) via the lottery method. There will be stratification based on high risk and moderate risk exposure.
BLINDING (MASKING): Quadruple blinding will be ensured for the participants, care providers and outcome accessors. Data analysts will also be blinded to avoid conflict of interest. Site principal investigator will be responsible for ensuring masking.
NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE): 1000 participants will be enrolled in the study with 1:1 allocation.
TRIAL STATUS: The final protocol version 1.4 was approved by institutional review board of Shaikh Zayed Post-Graduate Medical Complex on February 15, 2021. The trial recruitment was started on March 05, 2021, with a trial completion date of February 15, 2022.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial was registered on February 23, 2021, www.clinicaltrials.gov with registration ID NCT04767087 .
FULL PROTOCOL: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). With the intention of expediting dissemination of this trial, the conventional formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol. The study protocol has been reported in accordance with the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Clinical Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) guidelines.