Search

Simple Summary: The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren poses a significant threat to biodiversity, agriculture, and public health in its introduced ranges. Chemicals are the main methods for S. invicta control. To explore more active ingredients for fire ant control, the toxicity and horizontal transfer effects of sulfoxaflor, triflumezopyrim, and flupyradifurone baits against S. invicta were determined and their field effects were assessed. Sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim did not have affect the feeding behavior of the fire ants. However, they significantly reduced the climbing, walking, and arrest abilities of the fire ant workers after 10 days of treatment, and their toxicities were horizontally transferred from workers to alates or larvae. Specifically, the field trials showed that sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim at 0.05% concentration were the most effective in exterminating fire ants. The mortality rates of the mounds on Day 28 were 81.21% and 84.44% in 1.5- and 2.0-times 0.05% sulfoxaflor-treated plots, and the mortality rates of the mounds on Day 28 were 83.51% and 82.50% in 1.5- and 2.0-times 0.05% triflumezopyrim-treated plots. The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is native to South America; however, its introduction to other countries has caused serious biodiversity, agricultural, and public health problems. As toxic bait is an effective method to control fire ant populations, the aim of this study was to determine the most effective concentration of sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim as ingredients for baits against S. invicta under laboratory and field conditions. Sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim had no effect on the feeding behavior of the fire ants. However, they significantly reduced the climbing, walking, and arrest abilities of the fire ant workers after 10 days of treatment, and insecticides were horizontally transferred from workers to alates or larvae. Specifically, sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim at 0.05% concentration were the most effective in exterminating fire ants. Sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim are nonrepellent and effective insecticides against S. invicta. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to catalytically degrade organic pollutants, a CoAl-layered double hydroxide catalytic membrane (CoAl-LDH-M) was fabricated for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Notably, at the dosage of 50 mg/L PMS and flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, 99.7% removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) was obtained. The corresponding removal efficiency of total organic carbon (TOC) was 59.9%. This demonstrated that CoAl-LDH-M possessed high efficiency for PMS activation. Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) results showed that the leached amount of cobalt and aluminum were 0.13 and 0.04 mg/L, indicating the high stability of CoAl-LDH-M. The CoAl-LDH-M /PMS system could also effectively degrade several other contaminants, obtaining removal efficiencies of 92.7–99.6%. The effects of pH and co-existing ions were investigated as well. Reusability of the catalytic membrane was evaluated in both distilled water and synthetic wastewater. Mechanism studies showed that both reactive oxidative species (ROSs) and non-radical electron transfer were involved. The non-radical electron transfer played the primary role. The degradation pathway of RhB was unraveled by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry measurements and theoretical calculations. Furthermore, the ecotoxicity of the reaction intermediates was evaluated by utilizing quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternariol (AOH), an emerging mycotoxin, inevitably exists widely in various food and feed commodities with cereals and fruits being particularly susceptible, raising global concerns over its harm to human and livestock health. The development of eco-friendly and efficient strategies to decontaminate AOH has been an urgent task. This study provided insight into the utilization of crude soybean hull peroxidase as a powerful biocatalyst for degrading AOH. The results confirmed that crude soybean hull peroxidase (SHP) could catalyze the oxidation of AOH by use of H2O2 as a co-substrate. The optimum reaction conditions for SHP-catalyzed AOH degradation were recorded at pH 4.0–8.0, at 42–57 °C, and at H2O2 concentration of 100–500 μM. Mass analysis elucidated the degradation of AOH through hydroxylation and methylation by crude SHP. Moreover, toxicological analysis indicated that crude SHP-catalyzed AOH degradation detoxified the hepatotoxicity of this mycotoxin. The performance of crude SHP to degrade AOH in food matrices was further evaluated, and it was found that the enzyme agent could achieve AOH degradation by 77% in wheat flour, 84% in corn flour, 34% in grape juice, and 26% in apple juice. Collectively, these findings establish crude SHP as a promising candidate for effective AOH degradation, with potential applications in the food and feed industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese oxide loaded on activated alumina beads (MnOx/AABs) was prepared by one-pot hydrothermal method and applied to activate periodate (PI) towards the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and other organic dyes. The catalyst was first characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N2 sorption. Subsequently, the effects of catalyst dosage, oxidant dosage, initial pH as well as co-existing inorganic anion and humic acid on the performance of the MnOx/AABs/PI system were studied. Under optimum conditions (catalyst dosage = 15 beads, PI dosage = 0.2 g/L), the removal efficiency of 50 mg/L RhB reached 99.4%, with a total organic carbon removal efficiency of 51.0%. The removal efficiencies of several other organic dyes were in the range of 70%-95.1%. The leached amount of Mn was measured to be 0.027 mg/L. Mechanism studies revealed that 1O2, IO3⋅ and O2⋅− were identified to be responsible in this reaction system, and 1O2 played a decisive role. In addition, IO4− was converted to IO3− without other toxic products during the degradation process. Reusability test in both the batch and continuous modes showed that the catalyst could be efficiency regenerated by calcination. Combining the results of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) and density functional theory calculations, the possible degradation pathway of RhB was proposed. Finally, toxicity evaluation of the degradation products of RhB was performed by theoretical calculations as well as experimental tests with Vigna radiata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphorus esters (OPEs), exemplified by tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), find extensive application in diverse industries such as construction materials, textiles, chemical manufacturing, and electronics, consequently resulting in an increased concentration of these compounds in industrial wastewater. The fundamental objective of this investigation was to examine the degradation of TCEP through the implementation of US/Fenton oxidation techniques in a solution. The findings revealed that the US/Fenton system effectively facilitated the degradation of TCEP, with the Chan kinetic model precisely elucidating the degradation process. Under optimized reaction conditions, the degradation efficiency of TCEP reached an impressive 93.18%. However, the presence of common co-existing aqueous substrates such as Cl−, HCO3−, H2PO4−, and HA hindered the degradation process. Bursting tests and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies affirmed ∙OH oxidation as the principal mechanism underlying TCEP degradation. Detailed degradation pathways for TCEP were established through the utilization of density-functional theory (DFT) calculations and GC/MS tests. Moreover, the ecotoxicological evaluation of TCEP and its intermediates was conducted using the Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (T.E.S.T.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates, for the first time, the effects of UV/PMS and UV/H2O2/PMS processes on the degradation of sunscreen agents in synthetic and natural water matrices and compares their effectiveness with the more conventional UV/H2O2. Investigations were conducted using a mixture of organic UV filters containing 4-methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) and 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate. Among the investigated UV-driven AOPs, UV/PMS/H2O2 was the most effective in synthetic water, while in natural water, the highest degradation rate was observed during the degradation of EHMC by UV/PMS. The degradation of UV filters in the UV/PMS system was promoted by sulfate radical (68% of the degradation), with hydroxyl radical contributing approximately 32%, while both radical species contributed approximately equally to the degradation in the UV/H2O2/PMS system. The Vibrio fischeri assay showed an increase in inhibition (up to 70%) at specific stages of UV/H2O2 treatment when applied to natural water, which further decreased to 30%, along with an increase in UV fluence and progressive degradation. The Pseudomonas putida test recorded minor toxicity (<15%) after treatments. Magnetic biochar utilized in conjunction with UV-driven AOPs exhibited superior performance in eliminating residual contaminants, providing an efficient and sustainable approach to mitigate sunscreen agents in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne contaminants are closely related to anthropologic activities and represent an important food safety hazard. The study of metabolic transformation and toxic side effects of foodborne contaminants in the body is important for their safety assessment. Liver microsomes contain a variety of enzymes related to substance metabolism and biotransformation. An in vitro model simulating liver metabolic transformation is associated with a significant advantage in the study of the metabolic transformation mechanisms of contaminants. This review summarizes the recent progress in the application of liver microsomes in metabolic transformation and toxicity evaluation of various foodborne pollutants based on metabolic kinetics, molecular docking and enzyme inhibition studies. The purpose of this review is to distinguish the existing studies involving liver microsomes and provide strategies for their application in the future. Finally, the prospects and challenges of the liver microsomal model are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an electrochemical-assisted ferric ion/persulfate (EC/Fe3+/PS) process was proposed to degrade bezafibrate (BZF), a widespread hypolipidemic drug, in water. By promoting the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ at the cathode, the introduction of an electric field successfully overcomes the limitation of non-regenerable Fe2+ inherent in Fe2+/PS systems, significantly improving the degradation efficiency of BZF. The predominant reactive species identified were •OH and SO4●−, with 1O2 also playing a role. Various key operational parameters were investigated and optimized, including the current intensity, Fe3+ dosage, PS concentration, and initial pH. With a current intensity of 50 mA, an Fe3+ concentration of 50 μΜ, a PS dosage of 50 μM, and an initial pH of 3, the degradation efficiency of BZF demonstrated an exceptional achievement, reaching up to 98.8% within 30 min. The influence of anions and humic acid was also assessed. An LC/TOF/MS analysis revealed four major degradation pathways of BZF: hydroxylation, amino bond cleavage, dechlorination, and fibrate chain removal. The acute and chronic toxicities of BZF and its degradation intermediates were then assessed using the ECOSAR program. These findings highlight the wide-ranging applications of the EC/Fe3+/PS system and its potential for remediating water contaminated with micropollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic, which can be divided into inorganic and organic arsenic, is a toxic metalloid that has been identified as a human carcinogen. A common source of arsenic exposure in seafood is arsenolipid, which is a complex structure of lipid-soluble organic arsenic compounds. At present, the known arsenolipid species mainly include arsenic-containing fatty acids (AsFAs), arsenic-containing hydrocarbons (AsHCs), arsenic glycophospholipids (AsPLs), and cationic trimethyl fatty alcohols (TMAsFOHs). Furthermore, the toxicity between different species is unique. However, the mechanism underlying arsenolipid toxicity and anabolism remain unclear, as arsenolipids exhibit a complex structure, are present at low quantities, and are difficult to extract and detect. Therefore, the objective of this overview is to summarize the latest research progress on methods to evaluate the toxicity and analyze the main speciation of arsenolipids in seafood. In addition, novel insights are provided to further elucidate the speciation, toxicity, and anabolism of arsenolipids and assess the risks on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is native to South America; however, its introduction to other countries has caused serious biodiversity, agricultural, and public health problems. As toxic bait is an effective method to control fire ant populations, the aim of this study was to determine the most effective concentration of sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim as ingredients for baits against S. invicta under laboratory and field conditions. Sulfoxaflor, flupyradifurone, and triflumezopyrim had no effect on the feeding behavior of the fire ants. However, they significantly reduced the climbing, walking, and arrest abilities of the fire ant workers after 10 days of treatment, and insecticides were horizontally transferred from workers to alates or larvae. Specifically, sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim at 0.05% concentration were the most effective in exterminating fire ants. Sulfoxaflor and triflumezopyrim are nonrepellent and effective insecticides against S. invicta.

Alternariol (AOH), an emerging mycotoxin, inevitably exists widely in various food and feed commodities with cereals and fruits being particularly susceptible, raising global concerns over its harm to human and livestock health. The development of eco-friendly and efficient strategies to decontaminate AOH has been an urgent task. This study provided insight into the utilization of crude soybean hull peroxidase as a powerful biocatalyst for degrading AOH. The results confirmed that crude soybean hull peroxidase (SHP) could catalyze the oxidation of AOH by use of H2O2 as a co-substrate. The optimum reaction conditions for SHP-catalyzed AOH degradation were recorded at pH 4.0–8.0, at 42–57 °C, and at H2O2 concentration of 100–500 μM. Mass analysis elucidated the degradation of AOH through hydroxylation and methylation by crude SHP. Moreover, toxicological analysis indicated that crude SHP-catalyzed AOH degradation detoxified the hepatotoxicity of this mycotoxin. The performance of crude SHP to degrade AOH in food matrices was further evaluated, and it was found that the enzyme agent could achieve AOH degradation by 77% in wheat flour, 84% in corn flour, 34% in grape juice, and 26% in apple juice. Collectively, these findings establish crude SHP as a promising candidate for effective AOH degradation, with potential applications in the food and feed industry.

A magnetic composite of CoFe2O4 and carbon nanotube (CNT) was prepared using the solvothermal approach and then employed for the activation of peroxydisulfate (PDS) to degrade reactive black 5 (RB5) and other organic pollutants. Characterization results of the composite catalyst revealed the successful loading of spherical CoFe2O4 particles on CNTs, possessing abundant porosity as well as magnetic separation capability. Under the degradation conditions of 0.2 g/L CoFe2O4-CNT dosage and 4 mM PDS dosage, the removal efficiencies of 10 mg/L RB5 and other pollutants were in the range of 94.5 to ~ 100%. The effects of pH, co-existing ions/humic acid, and water matrices as well as the reusability of the catalyst were also investigated in detail. Furthermore, the degradation mechanism and pathway were proposed based on quenching experiments, LC–MS analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and the toxicity of the degradation products was evaluated in the quantitative structure–activity relationship approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MASM, a structurally modified derivative of matrine, exhibits superior efficacy in reducing inflammation and liver injury in rats when compared to matrine. This study aims to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile and acute toxicity of MASM. Pharmacokinetic results revealed that MASM exhibited rapid absorption, with a Tmax ranging from 0.21 ± 0.04 h to 1.31 ± 0.53 h, and was eliminated slowly, with a t1/2 of approximately 10 h regardless of the route of administration (intravenous, intraperitoneal, or intragastric). The absolute intragastric bioavailability of MASM in rats was determined to be 44.50%, which was significantly higher than that of matrine (18.5%). MASM was detected in all rat tissues including the brain, and through the utilization of stable isotope-labeled compounds and standard references, ten metabolites of MASM, namely sophocarpine, oxysophocarpine, and oxymatrine, were tentatively identified. The LD50 of MASM in mice was determined to be 94.25 mg/kg, surpassing that of matrine (83.21 mg/kg) based on acute toxicity results. Histopathological and biochemical analysis indicated no significant alterations in the primary organs of the low- to medium-dosage groups of MASM. These findings provide valuable insights into the efficacy and toxicity profile of MASM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a synthetic phenolic antioxidant (SPA), is now widely present in natural waters. To improve the degradation efficiency of BHA and reduce product toxicity, a combination of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and Ferrate(VI) (Fe(VI)) was used in this study. We systematically investigated the reaction kinetics, mechanism and product toxicity in the degradation of BHA through the combined use of PMS and Fe(VI). The results showed that PMS and Fe(VI) have synergistic effects on the degradation of BHA. The effects of operational factors, including PMS dosage, pH and coexisting ions (Cl−, SO42−, HCO3−, K+, NH4+ and Mg2+), and different water matrices were investigated through a series of kinetic experiments. When T = 25 °C, the initial pH was 8.0, the initial BHA concentration was 100 μM, the initial concentration ratio of [PMS]0:[Fe(VI)]0:[BHA]0 was 100:1:1 and the degradation rate could reach 92.4% within 30 min. Through liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) identification, it was determined that the oxidation pathway of BHA caused by PMS/Fe(VI) mainly includes hydroxylation, ring-opening and coupling reactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that •OH was most likely to attack BHA and generate hydroxylated products. The comprehensive comparison of product toxicity results showed that the PMS/Fe(VI) system can effectively reduce the environmental risk of a reaction. This study contributes to the development of PMS/Fe(VI) for water treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagram of (a) the contraction and expansion mechanism and (b) mass transfer mechanism for ZMPC. [Display omitted] • Abundant large pores and open channels are created by confined expansion pore-making strategy. • Energetic Zn-MOF and ZIF-67 are utilized as pore forming additive and precursor of active sites. • Possible degradation pathways of TTCH were proposed by DFT and LC-MS calculations. • The confined expansion pore-making strategy enriches the theory of porous carbon preparation. Electrospinning MOFs nanoparticles derived porous carbon nanofibers with rational structure and design are recently as environmentally friendly and highly efficient catalytic materials for wastewater treatment. However, most of the pore-making strategies are based on precursors structural shrinkage during pyrolysis, which is a challenge to create abundant large pores and open channels. Here, a confined expansion pore-making strategy with active MOF is introduced, where energetic Zn-MOF (Zn2+/triazole) and ZIF-67 (Co2+/dimethylimidazole) are utilized as pore forming additive and precursor of active sites, respectively. The high nitrogen content gives triazole the ability to puff up and realizes N -doped during pyrolysis. Moreover, degradation mechanisms and pathways of pollutants were measured by 3D EEM, LC-MS, quenching experiments, and Fukui function. This pore-making strategy via energetic MOF local contraction and expansion provides a novel method to prepare diversiform function porous carbon materials for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction of oxygen vacancies (OVs) into the heterogeneous catalysts is an efficient method to improve their catalytic activity for persulfate activation. The OVs-rich Zn x Cu 1-x Fe 2 O 4 nano-catalysts were synthesized by a facile co-precipitation method and analyzed using various characterization techniques (XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, BET surface area and XPS). OVs-rich Zn x Cu 1-x Fe 2 O 4 nano-catalysts exhibited a significantly higher catalytic activity for the removal of tetracycline (TC) by activating peroxydisulfate (PDS) than ZnFe 2 O 4 and CuFe 2 O 4 nano-catalyst. TC degradation efficiency in different Zn x Cu 1-x Fe 2 O 4 /PDS systems demonstrated that Zn 0.6 Cu 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 showed the best catalytic performance due to its highest OVs content, largest specific surface area and pore volume, and 90.09% of TC (20 mg/L) was degraded by Zn 0.6 Cu 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 with PDS after 60 min. Cu in-situ introduction can increase the amount of OVs in ZnFe 2 O 4 and affect the cross-occupancy of Zn and Fe, thus promoting the generation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PDS-activated process; moreover, doped Cu can also act as an activation site for PDS and boost the formation of active Fe(Ⅱ). Mechanism study showed that all of ROS (1O 2 , O 2 •−, SO 4 •− and •OH) generated in Zn x Cu 1-x Fe 2 O 4 /PDS system simultaneously engaged in TC elimination, and 1O 2 played the main role. The probable TC degradation pathways in Zn 0.6 Cu 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 /PDS system were proposed. The practical application potential of magnetic Zn 0.6 Cu 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 nano-catalyst in the treatment of TC-contaminated wastewater was assessed by investigating the reusability of Zn 0.6 Cu 0.4 Fe 2 O 4 , the removal of TC in real water matrix and the toxicity of TC degradation intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CaO2 was activated by Fe(II) and ultrasound (US) irradiation to degrade 2,4-dichlorphenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for the first time. Among transition metals (Fe, Cu, Mn and Co), Fe(II) had the best performance for the activation of CaO2. The impact of pH, CaO2 and Fe(II) concentration was studied, and under optimal situation ∼91% of 2,4-D was degraded during 60 min reaction time. The quenching experiments showed that the hydroxyl radical was the main factor for the destruction of 2,4-D while superoxide anions had a minor role. The bicarbonate ions and acid humic exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on the performance of CaO2/US/Fe(II) process. Carbon and chlorine mineralization of 2,4-D degradation was investigated; around 41% of C and 35% of Cl were mineralized during 60 min reaction time. The function of CaO2/US/Fe(II) process was studied on real drainage and other organic pollutants, and the results showed that the CaO2/US/Fe(II) process can be practical for water treatment. Finally, intermediates of 2,4-D degradation were identified, a pathway was proposed, and the toxicity of intermediates was assessed by ECOSAR software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solubility is an essential criterion for attaining desired concentration of the drug within the systemic circulation to ensure intended pharmacological action. The main setback for the formulation development of new chemical entities and generic drugs is their lower aqueous solubility. Therefore, a drug carrier system is needed which not only enhances the solubility of low aqueous soluble drugs but also maintains a constant pharmacological action of drugs within predetermined intervals of time. For this purpose, authors prepared carbopol 934-co-poly(itaconic acid) (CPcPIA) nanogels by the free radical polymerization technique for the solubility enhancement of Valsartan. The polymeric nanogels were characterized and studied for further evaluation. FTIR studies indicated no interactions between the drug and nanogel contents. SEM showed a porous and sponged structure of particles without any agglomeration. Similarly, higher thermal stability was detected for the fabricated nanogel compared to its constituents, while reduction in crystallinity of the drug and excipients was shown by XRD analysis, indicating the amorphous nature of the polymeric nanogels. Average particle size and zeta potential of prepared nanogels were found 290.32 nm and –8.32 mV, respectively. Furthermore, various studies such as sol-gel fraction, dynamic swelling, drug loading, in-vitro drug release studies, solubility, and toxicity study were conducted for the developed nanogels. A significant increase in the solubility of Valsartan (2.002, 2.976, and 3.543 mg/mL) was observed by polymeric nanogels in pH 1.2, deionized distilled water, and pH 7.4 as compared to reference product. Toxicity study indicated no toxic effect of prepared nanogels on rabbit's species. Thus, it can be demonstrated from the results that synthesized nanogels are not only limited to a specific class of drug but the solubility of all low aqueous soluble drugs can be enhanced by the prepared networks of nanogels.

Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), one widely used organophosphate flame retardant, has attracted accumulating attention due to its high detection rate in human biological samples. Up to date, the effects of TPHP exposure on intestinal health remain unexplored. In this study, BALB/c mice were used as a model and exposed to TPHP at dose of 2, 10, or 50 mg/kg body weight for 28 days. We observed Crohn’s disease-like features in ileum and ulcerative colitis disease-like features in colon, such as shorter colon length, ileum/colon structure impairment, intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis, enrichment of proinflammatory cytokines and immune cells, and disruption of tight junction. Furthermore, we found that TPHP induced production of reactive oxygen species and apoptosis in intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells, accompanied by disruption of tight junction between cells. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying TPHP-induced changes in intestines, we build the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework based on Comparative Toxicogenomics and GeneCards database. The AOP framework revealed that PI3K/AKT and FoxO signaling pathway might be associated with cellular apoptosis, an increase in ROS production, and increased inflammation response in mouse ileum and colon tissues challenged with TPHP. These results identified that TPHP induced IBD-like features and provided new perspectives for toxicity evaluation of TPHP.

[Display omitted] • Systematical SO 4 •− oxidation of solid-phase pharmaceuticals was first explored. • SO 4 •− effectively oxidized different pharmaceuticals in solid and liquid phases. • Mechanistic differences between solid and liquid pharmaceuticals were proposed. • The degradation products of pharmaceuticals remained some environmental risks. As a class of organic micropollutants of global concern, pharmaceuticals have prevalent distributions in the aqueous environment (e.g., groundwater and surface water) and solid matrices (e.g., soil, sediments, and dried sludge). Their contamination levels have been further aggravated by the annually increased production of expired drugs as emerging harmful wastes worldwide. Sulfate radicals (SO 4 •−)-based oxidation has attracted increasing attention for abating pharmaceuticals in the environment, whereas the transformation mechanisms of solid-phase pharmaceuticals remain unknown thus far. This investigation presented for the first time that SO 4 •−, individually produced by mechanical force-activated and heat-activated persulfate treatments, could effectively oxidize three model pharmaceuticals (i.e., methotrexate, sitagliptin, and salbutamol) in both solid and liquid phases. The high-resolution mass spectrometric analysis suggested their distinct transformation products formed by different phases of SO 4 •− oxidation. Accordingly, the SO 4 •−-mediated mechanistic differences between the solid-phase and liquid-phase pharmaceuticals were proposed. It is noteworthy that the products from both systems were predicted with the remaining persistence, bioaccumulation, and multi-endpoint toxicity. Therefore, some post-treatment strategies need to be considered during practical applications of SO 4 •−-based technologies in remediating different phases of micropollutants. This work has environmental implications for understanding the comparative transformation mechanisms of pharmaceuticals by SO 4 •− oxidation in remediating the contaminated solid and aqueous matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern era, the Indian Ayurvedic system of Medicine is believed to treat diseases from the root cause. The ayurvedic system claims to have many indigenous plants and herbal preparations, which provide therapeutic benefit in the treatment of kidney diseases. Aim - To study the benefits of herbal preparation Eladi quatha for kidney disease Urothalisis. Method - This study was undertaken to explore the effects of Eladi quatha in animals to treat kidney stone diseases. However, no safety profile for this formulation has been reported to date; thus, in this study, freshly prepared Eladi quatha was evaluated for acute toxicity. Acute toxicity test was evaluated as per OECD 423 guidelines with 5000 mg/kg as a limit test in Wistar strain Albino rats. Test formulations were administered to overnight fasted animals and parameters like body weight, behavioral changes, and mortality were assessed for 14 days. Hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed on the 14th day after administration. Result - No significant changes were noted in terms of behavioral changes, mortality, and body weight. The samples did not affect any of the hematological parameters. However, an increase in blood urea level was observed. Conclusion - This study concludes that freshly prepared Eladi quatha is relatively safe up to the dose of 5000 mg/kg. However, further chronic toxicity evaluation is necessary to establish its safety profile on chronic administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Glycol chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) have emerged as an effective drug delivery system for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Although they have great biocompatibility owing to biodegradable chemical structure and low immunogenicity, sufficient information on in vivo toxicity to understand the potential risks depending on the repeated high-dose have not been adequately studied. Herein, we report the results of in vivo toxicity evaluation for CNPs focused on the number and dose of administration in healthy mice to provide a toxicological guideline for a better clinical application of CNPs. Results The CNPs were prepared by conjugating hydrophilic glycol chitosan with hydrophobic 5β-cholanic acid and the amphiphilic glycol chitosan-5β-cholanic acid formed self-assembled nanoparticles with its concentration-dependent homogeneous size distributions (265.36–288.3 nm) in aqueous condition. In cell cultured system, they showed significantly high cellular uptake in breast cancer cells (4T1) and cardiomyocytes (H9C2) than in fibroblasts (L929) and macrophages (Raw264.7) in a dose- and time-dependent manners, resulting in severe necrotic cell death in H9C2 at a clinically relevant highly concentrated condition. In particular, when the high-dose (90 mg/kg) of CNPs were intravenously injected into the healthy mice, considerable amount was non-specifically accumulated in major organs (liver, lung, spleen, kidney and heart) after 6 h of injection and sustainably retained for 72 h. Finally, repeated high-dose of CNPs (90 mg/kg, three times) induced severe cardiotoxicity accompanying inflammatory responses, tissue damages, fibrotic changes and organ dysfunction. Conclusions This study demonstrates that repeated high-dose CNPs induce severe cardiotoxicity in vivo. Through the series of toxicological assessments in the healthy mice, this study provides a toxicological guideline that may expedite the application of CNPs in the clinical settings.

In this study, an electrochemical-assisted ferric ion/persulfate (EC/Fe3+/PS) process was proposed to degrade bezafibrate (BZF), a widespread hypolipidemic drug, in water. By promoting the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ at the cathode, the introduction of an electric field successfully overcomes the limitation of non-regenerable Fe2+ inherent in Fe2+/PS systems, significantly improving the degradation efficiency of BZF. The predominant reactive species identified were •OH and SO4●−, with 1O2 also playing a role. Various key operational parameters were investigated and optimized, including the current intensity, Fe3+ dosage, PS concentration, and initial pH. With a current intensity of 50 mA, an Fe3+ concentration of 50 μΜ, a PS dosage of 50 μM, and an initial pH of 3, the degradation efficiency of BZF demonstrated an exceptional achievement, reaching up to 98.8% within 30 min. The influence of anions and humic acid was also assessed. An LC/TOF/MS analysis revealed four major degradation pathways of BZF: hydroxylation, amino bond cleavage, dechlorination, and fibrate chain removal. The acute and chronic toxicities of BZF and its degradation intermediates were then assessed using the ECOSAR program. These findings highlight the wide-ranging applications of the EC/Fe3+/PS system and its potential for remediating water contaminated with micropollutants.

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) has been actively pursued as a therapeutic target for osteoporosis, given that RANKL is the master mediator of bone resorption as it promotes osteoclast differentiation, activity and survival. We employed a structure-based virtual screening approach comprising two stages of experimental evaluation and identified 11 commercially available compounds that displayed dose-dependent inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. Their inhibitory effects were quantified through TRAP activity at the low micromolar range (IC50 < 5 μΜ), but more importantly, 3 compounds displayed very low toxicity (LC50 > 100 μΜ). We also assessed the potential of an N-(1-aryl-1H-indol-5-yl)aryl-sulfonamide scaffold that was based on the structure of a hit compound, through synthesis of 30 derivatives. Their evaluation revealed 4 additional hits that inhibited osteoclastogenesis at low micromolar concentrations; however, cellular toxicity concerns preclude their further development. Taken together with the structure–activity relationships provided by the hit compounds, our study revealed potent inhibitors of RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis of high therapeutic index, which bear diverse scaffolds that can be employed in hit-to-lead optimization for the development of therapeutics against osteolytic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are water and soil contaminants causing the development of multi-resistant bacteria, calling for advanced water treatments. For instance, photocatalysis is a promising technology to remove antibiotics at low cost. The tungsten disulfide (WS2) catalyst should be efficient because it possesses a small band gap of 1.35 eV which allows a wide range of light absorption; however, in practice, WS2 shows poor efficiency for antibiotic degradations. Here, we hypothesized that this drawback is due to the insufficient generation of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, we designed a thermo-photocatalytic process with in situ-generated heat under illumination for tetracycline degradation over WS2. We studied catalytic activities, the catalytic mechanism, reactive species, the degradation pathway, and the toxicity of degradation products. Results show that the removal of tetracycline reached 87.4%, which is 2.4 times that of individual thermal catalysis and 3.5 times that of room-temperature photocatalysis. Remarkably, mineralization was enhanced by 7.6 times and 30.9 times, respectively. Moreover, the acute toxicity, developmental toxicity, and mutagenicity of the aqueous solution were reduced after the thermo-photocatalytic degradation. This is the first time that WS2 is demonstrated as an efficient catalyst for visible-light-driven degradation of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic is a poisonous semi-metal (metalloid) and has been identified as a human carcinogen. Arsenic poisoning can cause a variety of health damage to the human body. Arsenic can exist in both inorganic and organic forms. It is generally considered that inorganic arsenic is more toxic than organic arsenic. Arsenolipids are organic arsenic and widely exist in tissues of marine organisms. Arseniolipids have been previously thought to be extremely low toxic. With the progress and development of science and technology in recent years, intensive research has been conducted on arsenolipids, and the speciation analysis and toxicity evaluation of arsenolipids have gradually become a hot spot. At present, there are three known species of arsenolipids, namely arsenic-containing fatty acids (AsFAs), arsenic-containing hydrocarbons (AsHCs) and arsenic-containing phospholipids (AsPLs), which differ in their toxicity. However, due to the complex speciation pattern, low bioavailability and low content of arsenolipids, and the difficulty to extract and detect them, the mechanism of arsenolipid toxicity remain unclear. Therefore, this paper reviews the latest progress in the methods for speciation analysis and toxicity evaluation of arsenolipids in marine organisms, with the aim to provide an inspiration for further elucidating the speciation, toxicity, and human health risk of arsenolipids.

The magnetic composite of Fe3O4 and carbon nanotube (MCNT) was fabricated in a facile one-pot solvothermal method and employed to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and other pollutants. The effects of operational factors including MCNT dosage and PDS dosage were studied, and high removal efficiencies of 84.2–99.5% were achieved for these pollutants with 0.3 g/L MCNT and 4 mM PDS. The effects of environmental factors including initial pH, inorganic cations, inorganic anions, humic acid and water matrix were also studied. Reusability test showed that the removal efficiency declined in four consecutive runs, which was attributed to the adsorbed oxidation products on the catalyst surface. Based on quenching experiments, solvent exchange (H2O to D2O), inductively coupled plasma and open circuit potential tests, it was concluded that radicals of ·OH/SO4·− and the non-radical electron-transfer pathway were involved in the MCNT/PDS system, and the contributions of O2·−, 1O2, high-valent iron-oxo species and homogenous activation were insignificant. Moreover, the orbital-weighted Fukui functions of RhB were calculated by density functional theory, and its plausible degradation pathway was proposed based on the calculation results. Finally, toxicity evaluation of the degradation products was performed in the quantitative structure-activity relationship approach. HIGHLIGHTS RhB and other organic pollutants were efficiently degraded with the MCNT/PDS system.; OH, SO4·− and the non-radical electron-transfer pathway were mainly responsible.; The degradation pathway was proposed based on LC-MS and DFT calculations.; Toxicity evaluation of the degradation products was performed using ECOSAR.;

Boron nitride nanoparticles have been reported for boron drug delivery. However, its toxicity has not been systematically elucidated. It is necessary to clarify their potential toxicity profile after administration for clinical application. Here, we prepared erythrocyte membrane-coated boron nitride nanoparticles (BN@RBCM). We expect to use them for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) in tumors. In this study, we evaluated the acute toxicity and subacute toxicity of BN@RBCM of about 100 nm and determined the half-lethal dose (LD50) of the particles for mice. The results showed that the LD50 of BN@RBCM was 258.94 mg/kg. No remarkable pathological changes by microscopic observation were observed in the treated animals throughout the study period. These results indicate that BN@RBCM has low toxicity and good biocompatibility, which have great potential for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large amount of nano-/microparticles (MNPs) are released into water, not only causing severe water pollution, but also negatively affecting organisms. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate MNP toxicity and mechanisms in water. There is a significant degree of similarity between the genes, the central nervous system, the liver, the kidney, and the intestines of zebrafish and the human body. It has been shown that zebrafish are exceptionally suitable for evaluating the toxicity and action mechanisms of MNPs in water on reproduction, the central nervous system, and metabolism. Providing ideas and methods for studying MNP toxicity, this article discusses the toxicity and mechanisms of MNPs from zebrafish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glycol chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) have emerged as an effective drug delivery system for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Although they have great biocompatibility owing to biodegradable chemical structure and low immunogenicity, sufficient information on in vivo toxicity to understand the potential risks depending on the repeated high-dose have not been adequately studied. Herein, we report the results of in vivo toxicity evaluation for CNPs focused on the number and dose of administration in healthy mice to provide a toxicological guideline for a better clinical application of CNPs. Results: The CNPs were prepared by conjugating hydrophilic glycol chitosan with hydrophobic 5β-cholanic acid and the amphiphilic glycol chitosan-5β-cholanic acid formed self-assembled nanoparticles with its concentration-dependent homogeneous size distributions (265.36–288.3 nm) in aqueous condition. In cell cultured system, they showed significantly high cellular uptake in breast cancer cells (4T1) and cardiomyocytes (H9C2) than in fibroblasts (L929) and macrophages (Raw264.7) in a dose- and time-dependent manners, resulting in severe necrotic cell death in H9C2 at a clinically relevant highly concentrated condition. In particular, when the high-dose (90 mg/kg) of CNPs were intravenously injected into the healthy mice, considerable amount was non-specifically accumulated in major organs (liver, lung, spleen, kidney and heart) after 6 h of injection and sustainably retained for 72 h. Finally, repeated high-dose of CNPs (90 mg/kg, three times) induced severe cardiotoxicity accompanying inflammatory responses, tissue damages, fibrotic changes and organ dysfunction. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that repeated high-dose CNPs induce severe cardiotoxicity in vivo. Through the series of toxicological assessments in the healthy mice, this study provides a toxicological guideline that may expedite the application of CNPs in the clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of typical antibiotics (norfloxacin (NOR), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH)) by Ag/CNQDs/g-C3N4 under visible light irradiation was studied. Various strategies were applied to characterize the morphology, structure and photochemical properties of the Ag/CNQDs/g-C3N4 composites. The superior photocatalytic activity of Ag/CNQDs/g-C3N4 was attributed to the wide light response range and the enhancement of interfacial charge transfer. At the same time, the effect of the influence factors (pH, Humic acid (HA) and coexisting ions) on the antibiotics degradation were also investigated. Furthermore, the electron spin resonance (ESR) technology, free radical quenching experiments, LC/MS and DFT theoretical calculations were applied to predict and identify the active groups and intermediates during the photocatalytic degradation process. In addition, Ag/CNQDs/g-C3N4 exhibited the obvious antibacterial effect to Escherichia coli due to the addition of Ag NPs. This study develops a new way for the removal of emerging antibiotic pollution from wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MASM, a structurally modified derivative of matrine, exhibits superior efficacy in reducing inflammation and liver injury in rats when compared to matrine. This study aims to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile and acute toxicity of MASM. Pharmacokinetic results revealed that MASM exhibited rapid absorption, with a Tmax ranging from 0.21 ± 0.04 h to 1.31 ± 0.53 h, and was eliminated slowly, with a t1/2 of approximately 10 h regardless of the route of administration (intravenous, intraperitoneal, or intragastric). The absolute intragastric bioavailability of MASM in rats was determined to be 44.50%, which was significantly higher than that of matrine (18.5%). MASM was detected in all rat tissues including the brain, and through the utilization of stable isotope-labeled compounds and standard references, ten metabolites of MASM, namely sophocarpine, oxysophocarpine, and oxymatrine, were tentatively identified. The LD50 of MASM in mice was determined to be 94.25 mg/kg, surpassing that of matrine (83.21 mg/kg) based on acute toxicity results. Histopathological and biochemical analysis indicated no significant alterations in the primary organs of the low- to medium-dosage groups of MASM. These findings provide valuable insights into the efficacy and toxicity profile of MASM.

Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), a synthetic phenolic antioxidant (SPA), is now widely present in natural waters. To improve the degradation efficiency of BHA and reduce product toxicity, a combination of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and Ferrate(VI) (Fe(VI)) was used in this study. We systematically investigated the reaction kinetics, mechanism and product toxicity in the degradation of BHA through the combined use of PMS and Fe(VI). The results showed that PMS and Fe(VI) have synergistic effects on the degradation of BHA. The effects of operational factors, including PMS dosage, pH and coexisting ions (Cl−, SO42−, HCO3−, K+, NH4+ and Mg2+), and different water matrices were investigated through a series of kinetic experiments. When T = 25 °C, the initial pH was 8.0, the initial BHA concentration was 100 μM, the initial concentration ratio of [PMS]0:[Fe(VI)]0:[BHA]0 was 100:1:1 and the degradation rate could reach 92.4% within 30 min. Through liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) identification, it was determined that the oxidation pathway of BHA caused by PMS/Fe(VI) mainly includes hydroxylation, ring-opening and coupling reactions. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that •OH was most likely to attack BHA and generate hydroxylated products. The comprehensive comparison of product toxicity results showed that the PMS/Fe(VI) system can effectively reduce the environmental risk of a reaction. This study contributes to the development of PMS/Fe(VI) for water treatment applications.

As a representative pollutant with carcinogenesis, mutagenicity and teratogenicity, nitrobenzene (NB) has devastating harm to human health. Herein, a unique three-dimensional (3D) stack Z-scheme photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) system was built by self-assembled different photoelectrodes for efficient NB removal. The effect of initial NB, bias potential, pH and electrolyte concentration on NB removal efficiency were investigated. The intermediates and oxygen-active radicals were determined and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), density functional theory (DFT) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to propose the NB degradation pathways and mechanism. The results showed that holes were utilized to produce ·OH to oxidize NB on the photoanode surface, the electrons excited from photocathode could reduce NB under UV irradiation; thereafter, the reduction product (aniline) was oxidized to phenol to achieve mineralization by the synergistic effect of anode (oxidation) and cathode (reduction). 3D stack Z-scheme PEC system exhibited a high NB degradation efficiency of 98.18% after 90 min reaction and a mineralization efficiency of 75.08% at 150 min. With ECOSAR software, the system toxicity was speculated. This study has advantages in NB removal and provides direction for other refractory organics. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Obviously, the use of insulation materials from renewable resources in buildings could provide benefits regarding environmental protection and sustainable management. Nevertheless, their market share in Germany is estimated to be about 7% because of a partial lack of knowledge about their properties, and therefore, of construction certifications. This work was intended to close a knowledge gap concerning emissions during pyrolysis, smoldering, and combustion of commercial insulating materials made from wood, cellulose, meadow grass, hemp, jute, cork, and seaweed as well as polystyrene for comparison reasons. Laboratory‐scale experiments were conducted and the measurement of thermal decomposition products was done with gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). It was realized that almost all the products could be assigned to the following eight substance classes: carbohydrates, aldehydes/ketones, carbonic acids/esters, substituted phenols, furans, aliphatic hydrocarbons, substituted benzenes, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Substance spectra were generated that showed certain conformities, especially between the insulating materials made from wood, cellulose, and meadow grass as well as hemp and jute. Comparisons of the sum of peak areas in the GC/MS‐chromatograms provided indications of the relative extent of thermal decomposition product emissions. Calculations according to (∑peak areas renewable material)/(∑peak areas polystyrene) revealed factors between 0.18 (wood, cork) and 0.028 (meadow grass). In the thermal emissions, defined hazardous substances or substance groups were frequently measured. These were included in a toxicity evaluation by which, inter alia, advantages of the natural products compared to polystyrene could be demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study investigated the degradation effect of curcumin‐mediated photodynamic technology (PDT) on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in oysters, and evaluated the safety of PDT‐treated oysters through acute and subacute toxicity experiments. The results demonstrated that curcumin‐mediated PDT could effectively degrade multi‐component PAHs in oysters, the maximum removal efficiency could reach 80.20% (10 μmol L−1 curcumin concentration and 54 J cm−2 light energy density). Acute toxicity experiment revealed PDT‐treated oysters did not cause any mortality and adverse symptoms in mice at an oral dose of 40 g kg−1 BW. Besides, after being treated at the dose of 10 g kg−1 BW for 28 days, the rats showed no obvious abnormal change in the indicators including the body weight, food utilisation, urology, haematology, serum biochemistry, organ index and histopathology. These findings show curcumin‐mediated PDT is a potentially efficacious method to degrade PAHs in oysters, and PDT‐treated oysters have high edible safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory distress syndrome and pneumothorax are the foremost causes of death as a result of the changing lifestyle and increasing air pollution. Numerous approaches have been studied for the pulmonary delivery of drugs, proteins as well as peptides using meso /nanoparticles, nanocrystals, and liposomes. These nano/microcarrier systems (NMCs) loaded with drug provide better systemic as well as local action. Furthermore, natural polysaccharide-based polymers such as chitosan (CS), alginate (AG), hyaluronic acid, dextran, and cellulose are highly used for the preparation of nanoparticles and delivery of the drug into the pulmonary tract due to their advantageous properties such as low toxicity, high hydrophobicity, supplementary mucociliary clearance, mucoadhesivity, and biological efficacy. These properties ease the delivery of drugs onto the targeted site. Herein, recent advances in the natural polymer-derived NMCs have been reviewed for their transport and mechanism of action into the bronchiolar region as well as the respiratory region. Various physicochemical properties such as surface charge, size of nanocarrier system, surface modifications, and toxicological effects of these nanocarriers in vitro and in vivo are elucidated as well. Furthermore, challenges faced for the preparation of a model NMCs for pulmonary drug delivery are also discoursed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride over EDTA-2Na mediated supermolecule-based g-C 3 N 4. [Display omitted] • Application of supramolecular self-assembly strategy. • Hollow lamellar structure promoted light harvesting. • Na/O dopants enhanced separation/transfer ability of photoelectron. • TC degradation pathway and photocatalysis mechanism. • Potential risk of byproducts form TC degradation evaluated. Photocatalysis technology is a promising green route to eliminate antibiotic residues, but current performance still cannot satisfy the practicality. Herein, an EDTA-2Na mediated supramolecular self-assembly strategy was employed to modulate the morphology and microstructure of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN). The obtained EDTA-2Na mediated supermolecule-based GCN (ESGCN) was proved to possess ultrathin flake-like morphology with developed porous structure and Na/O dopants to enhance visible light harvesting. Compared to the pristine GCN and the supermolecule-based GCN (SGCN) without the EDTA-2Na mediation, the ESGCN has more photogenerated charges, decreased charge recombination and accelerated transport/transfer rate, which thus greatly improved photocatalytic activity for degrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) and the apparent rate constant is 37.3 and 6.0 times higher than those of the GCN and the SGCN. Additionally, it exhibits excellent universality in degrading various tetracycline antibiotics with a wide pH range and good stability/durability. A possible mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of TC by the ESGCN was elaborated. And the toxicity assessments and mung bean germination experiments also indicate the photocatalytic process can effectively decrease the toxicity and the potential risk of TC to the environment. This work provides a feasible and effective approach to enhance photocatalytic activity of graphitic carbon nitride, which has prominent potentials for elimination of antibiotic residues in environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offshore aquaculture's explosive growth improves the public food chain while also unavoidably adding new pollutants to the environment. Consequently, the protection of coastal marine eco-systems depends on the efficient treatment of wastewater from marine aquaculture. For the sulfamethazine (SMZ) of representative sulfonamides and total organic pollutants removal utilizing in-situ high salinity, this work has established an inventive and systematic treatment process coupled with iron-electrode electrochemical and ultrafiltration. Additionally, the activated dithionite (DTN) was being used in the electrochemical and ultrafiltration processes with electricity/varivalent iron (FeII/FeIII) and ceramic membrane (CM), respectively, indicated by the notations DTN@iron-electrode/EO-CM. Quenching experiments and ESR detection have identified plenty of reactive species including SO 4 · -, · OH, 1O 2 , and O 2 · -, for the advanced treatment. In addition, the mass spectrometry (MS) and the Gaussian simulation calculation for these primary reaction sites revealed the dominate SMZ degradation mechanisms, including cleavage of S–N bond, hydroxylation, and Smile-type rearrangement in DTN@iron-electrode/EO process. The DTN@iron-electrode/EO effluent also demonstrated superior membrane fouling mitigation in terms of the CM process, owing to its higher specific flux. XPS and SEM confirmed the reducing membrane fouling, which showed the formation of a loose and porous cake layer. This work clarified diverse reactive species formation and detoxification with DTN@iron-electrode/EO system and offers a sustainable and efficient process for treating tailwater from coastal aquaculture. [Display omitted] • Dithionite assisted with iron-electrode electro-oxidation could degrade sulfamethazine under high salinity conditions. • Various reactive species were identified in DTN@iron-electrode/EO for SMZ removal. • Breakage of S–N bond and hydroxylation were speculated as the main mechanisms. • Membrane fouling in ceramic membrane process was alleviated due to involved DTN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis has been proven to be an excellent technology for treating antibiotic wastewater, but the impact of each active species involved in the process on antibiotic degradation is still unclear. Therefore, the S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst Ti 3 C 2 /g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 was successfully synthesized using melamine and Ti 3 C 2 as precursors by a one-step calcination method using mechanical stirring and ultrasound assistance. Its formation mechanism was studied in detail through multiple characterizations and work function calculations. The heterojunction photocatalyst not only enabled it to retain active species with strong oxidation and reduction abilities, but also significantly promoted the separation and transfer of photo-generated carriers, exhibiting an excellent degradation efficiency of 94.19 % for tetracycline (TC) within 120 min. Importantly, the priority attack sites, degradation pathways, degradation intermediates and their ecological toxicity of TC under the action of each single active species (·O 2 −, h+, ·OH) were first positively explored and evaluated through design experiments, Fukui function theory calculations, HPLC-MS, Escherichia coli toxicity experiments, and ECOSAR program. The results indicated that the preferred attack sites of ·O 2 − on TC were O20, C7, C11, O21, and N25 atoms with high f+ value. The toxicity of intermediates produced by ·O 2 − was also lower than those produced by h+ and ·OH. • S-scheme heterojunction Ti 3 C 2 /g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 (TCNTO 580) was synthesized using melamine and Ti 3 C 2 as precursors. • The formation mechanism of TCNTO 580 was studied through multiple characterizations and theoretical calculations. • Priority attack sites and degradation pathways of TC by single active species were explored through HPLC-MS and Fukui index. • Toxicity changes of intermediates by single active species were evaluated using micro toxicity experiment and ECOSAR. • The preferred attack sites of ·O 2 − on TC were O20, C7, C11, O21, and N25, and the toxicity of intermediates was the lowest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Engineered near-infrared carbon dots enhance mitochondrial imaging signal-to-noise ratio by 2–3 folds. • Charge-driven dense blinking of carbon dots enables rapid super-resolution mitochondrial imaging with minimal frames. • Novel graph structure with GNN analysis achieves 98% accuracy in cellular typing and drug toxicity prediction using mitochondrial morphology. • Pioneering interpretability in GNN models elucidates mitochondrial features' impact on predictive outcomes in cellular functions. Mitochondrial morphology is crucial for cell identification and drug toxicity evaluation, yet it is challenged by mitochondrial complexities and limitations in imaging technologies. We develop an ultrasmall (∼1.5 nm) fluorescent carbon dot (CD), specifically designed to target mitochondria in live cells. These CDs exhibit near-infrared fluorescence at 685 nm, enhancing fluorescence imaging's signal-to-noise ratio by 2–3 times. Their dense-blinking behavior enables rapid fluctuation-based super-resolution imaging with as few as 10 frames, thereby allowing for detailed visualization of mitochondrial morphology and dynamics. We further propose a graph-based deep learning framework that integrates multidimensional mitochondrial features, which are updated using a Graph Neural Network (GNN), to achieve precise mitochondria-based cellular typing and drug toxicity analysis with up to 98% accuracy. Additionally, we pioneer the use of interpretability algorithms to elucidate the GNN model, revealing how the depicted mitochondrial features by the CDs drive these predictions. This approach has significant implications in cellular and toxicological research, offering a unique tool for deciphering cellular behaviors and drug interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Resource utilization of chrome shavings (CS) has attracted a lot of attention from scientists and technologists in leather industry. Especially, the collagen hydrolysates extracted from CS are expected to find potential application values in agricultural field. However, there is no biotoxicity analysis of collagen hydrolysates from CS. Herein, the collagen hydrolysates with different molecular weights were produced from CS by three hydrolysis dechroming methods including alkaline hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis and alkaline-enzymatic synergistic hydrolysis, and the optimal hydrolysis process of CS was designed and conducted. To evaluate their toxicity, the three collagen hydrolysates were formulated into a nutrient solution for zebrafish development. The obtained results indicated that the hydrolysates with low concentrations (less than 0.6 mg/mL) were safe and could promote the development for zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, the three collagen hydrolysates were utilized as organic nitrogen sources and formulated into amino acid water-soluble fertilizers (AAWSF) including alkaline type fertilizer (OH), enzymatic type fertilizer (M) and alkaline-enzymatic type fertilizer (OH–M) for the early soilless seeding cultivation of wheat, soybean and rapeseed. It is worth mentioning that the chromium contents in the prepared AAWSF were less than 10 mg/kg, which is far less than the limit value in the standard (China, 50 mg/kg). The growth and development of seedlings (germination rate, plant height, fresh weight of leaves, soluble sugar content and chlorophyll content) were investigated. The corresponding results showed that the growth of seedlings watered with AAWSF was better compared with the other treatments, and the OH–M fertilizer had the best promoting effect on the seedlings growth and development, followed by the M and OH fertilizers. The safe toxicity assessment of the collagen hydrolysates will expand their application scope, and the use of collagen hydrolysates extracted from CS for seedlings growth also provides an effective and reasonable way to deal with the chromium-containing leather solid waste, which is an effective way to realize its resource utilization. Graphical Abstract

Cells regulate protein synthesis under stressful circumstances by forming cytoplasmic RNA granules, termed stress granules (SGs). SGs are membrane-less organelles that function as a protective mechanism in response to stress. They function through liquid-liquid phase separation, which is a vital process comprising 2 distinct de-mixed liquid phases. The components of SGs, such as G3BP1, can serve as biomarkers of cell toxicity. Respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of death globally. After the humidifier disinfectant disaster in Korea in 2011, social concerns over respiratory disease-related deaths have been raised, and the importance of inhalation toxicity testing has been emphasized. Traditionally, in vivo animal models have been used to assess inhalation toxicity, but these models still have limitations owing to physiological differences between species. To overcome these limitations, human immortalized lung epithelial and lung cancer cell lines have been used to evaluate lung toxicity in vitro. Human stem cell-derived 3-dimensional organoid technology has recently been developed in various research fields, including lung toxicity. This review discusses SG-related proteins as potential biomarkers for lung toxicity assessment, especially in human lung organoids under stress conditions, such as exposure to toxic chemicals.

Aconitine hydrolysis is deemed to be the guarantee for the safe application of Aconitum phytomedicine. Studies have suggested that hydrolysates of aconitine not only include benzoylaconitine and aconine, but other hydrolysates. Moreover, these hydrolysates maybe have a mutual transformation relationship, which has not been confirmed. Herein, hydrolysates of aconitine and their mutual transformation relationship were studied by the theoretical quantum chemistry, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, the separation and identification of target products, etc. Then the toxicity of its hydrolysates was evaluated. The results demonstrate that the probability is the same for aconitine hydrolysis to pyroaconitine and benzoylaconitine, but they are difficult to convert to each other. Aconitine hydrolysis has three independent hydrolysis pathways, 1) to indaconitine, 2) to benzoylaconitine, and aconine, 3) to pyroaconitine and to 16-epi-pyroaconine. The result of embryotoxicity evaluation on zebrafish was aconitine > indaconitine > benzoylaconitine > α-pyroaconitine > β- pyroaconitine > aconine > 16-epi-pyroaconine. In conclusion, aconitine have three independent hydrolysis pathways and the hydrolysates of different pathways cannot be transformed into each other. Pyroaconitine is a hydrolysate of aconitine except for benzoylaconitine, and its toxicity is lower than benzoylaconitine. More importantly, it clarifies the long-standing debate and provides scientific evidence for the processing and detoxification of Aconitum phytomedicine.

Natural prescriptions are yet serving for the treatment of a significant number of the wellbeing needs of huge populace of the world. Nevertheless, the quality control and quality confirmation stay a test in light of the fact that polyherbal plan has high fluctuation of synthetic parts included. No single part is answerable for the adequacy of the home grown detailing either in single structure or in blend with other natural medications. This makes a test in laying out inside quality control norms and normalization of completed natural medications. Systematically, the interest of Ayurvedic details are expanded however, because of absence of value control boundaries there might be issues in acknowledgment as like allopathic medications. Additionally occasionally, there are opportunities for connection between the recommended medications and spices. In this way, normalization of homegrown drugs is exceptionally fundamental to guarantee dependability particularly concerning quality, immaculateness, adequacy and wellbeing of the detailing. Numerous arrangements are been referred in Ayurvedic books for the treatment of urolithiasis. Eladi kwath is one such known plan, which is exceptionally compelling. In this review, Eladi kwath is exposed to organoleptic examination, pharmacognostical examination, phytochemical investigation, and subjective examination, natural investigation to recognize the presence of different parts its quality as per WHO Rules. The examination uncovered the presence of essential and auxiliary metabolites. Aim - To study the benefits of herbal preparation Eladi quatha for kidney disease Urothalisis. Method - This study was undertaken to explore the effects of Eladi quatha in animals to treat kidney stone diseases. However, no safety profile for this formulation has been reported to date; thus, in this study, freshly prepared Eladi quatha was evaluated for acute toxicity. Acute toxicity test was evaluated as per OECD 425 guidelines with 5000 mg/kg as a limit test in Wistar strain Albino rats. Test formulations were administered to overnight fasted animals and parameters like body weight, behavioral changes, and mortality were assessed for 14 days. Hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed on the 14th day after administration. Result - No significant changes were noted in terms of behavioral changes, mortality, and body weight. The samples did not affect any of the hematological parameters. However, an increase in blood urea level was observed. Conclusion- This study concludes that freshly prepared Eladi quatha is relatively safe up to the dose of 5000 mg/kg. However, further chronic toxicity evaluation is necessary to establish its safety profile on chronic administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]